I found that some schools were more accepting than others. I've trained with some great coaches, but I never really understood the mindset of those who thought their discipline was superior to others. In my experience, most disciplines overlap. Modern disciplines borrow from the traditional, adapted for practical use. New training equipment has made some methods appear, to me, outdated. Traditional martial arts still have their place, there's a reason some of them have been around for so long. One of the main selling points of traditional martial arts for me is, it's a glimpse into history. Martial arts is part of being human, the ability to fight and defend ones-self has long been an integral part of life, through the ages. It's evolution is as important as its source.
Modern martial arts are developed for the modern lifestyle. They are designed to be practical, easy to use. They are developed around modern thought, modern weapons and to work against multiple disciplines. Weapons like staffs, swords and nunchaku fighting has become a less imminent threat, whereas most traditional disciplines don't cover firearms etc. Modern martial arts can often be underdeveloped. They are simplified to make them easier and quicker to pick up. To develop them further requires looking into their origin.
Sporting martial arts have also changed the way in which martial arts develop. Introducing competition and a rule-set take out some weapons. I'll use boxing as an example. Boxing is a great sport, and most other full contact sports borrow from it heavily. However, a professional boxer taking part in mixed martial arts is usually a disaster. You can't box off of your back (with any real significance). As a method of self defence, boxing isn't great. Most street fights end up in a grapple, As both parties try to avoid getting hit. That being said, boxing is a tool used in most full contact sports. Generating power with your hands is, in itself, an art-form. It's also a really tough sport, you get hit in the head lots!
Mixed martial arts has helped to develop martial arts exponentially. It brings together multiple disciplines and has helped the evolution of martial arts. It shows which martial arts work well, and which don't, under (one of) the most realistic sporting rule sets. It brings together fighters from various disciplines and shows how the styles work against each other. It also emphasises the importance of grappling arts. In the early stages of the UFC most disciplines were rendered useless against Brazilian Ju Jitsu. As a martial artist I often get asked if I train in MMA, which technically I do and technically I don't. I don't (usually) train in the sporting aspects of it, though I do train in multiple disciplines.
The reason I train where I do, and teach where I do is because I train with somebody with a similar philosophy to me. Neil Walton of Pro Defence (where I train and teach) is a master of multiple disciplines. He's always exploring different methods, and inventing training methods. I have learnt a lot off him and I apply this, not only to martial arts, but to fitness training in general. With his background, Neil looks at the reality aspect of martial arts. From warning signs, defusing a situation, legality and escaping, to body mechanics, nerve points, and the science behind martial arts.
We all have different strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes. There is a martial art to suit everyone. A well rounded martial artist should have good grasp on both the traditional, and the modern. Once you have developed an understanding of your art, you should look at expanding your knowledge. There's more to martial arts than fighting, you can learn important aspects of movement, body mechanics, balance and discipline. Arts, especially modern ones, should look to constantly develop with new techniques to avoid becoming stagnant or obsolete.
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