Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Brewer
However, I personally feel like most martial artists suffer from a delerious sickness that makes them feel like they've got to prepare for some kind of nuclear holocaust of a streetfight that'll never ever happen as long as they live.
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Also known as
fear or
paranoia usually present in men who were not athletic and humiliated often as kids. I don't find it much around the SBGi crowd.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Brewer
We martial artists are delusional and maniacally egotistical in the way we tend to pursue our Holy Grail of "Fighting Effectiveness" and we almost always refuse to acknowledge that the average person will never ever have to deal with the kinds of fights we say we're preparing for, or the fact that they're going to spend hundreds of times the dollar amount on lessons and seminars as they'd ever lose in a mugging. It kills our egos to think that maybe there are some valid reasons for training that don't involve killing people with our bare hands or tapping guys out in a competition. But the simple fact is, there are more martial arts out there that suck for fighting than there are martial arts that will help you fight, and most of them are littered with devoted practitioners who really love what they do.
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I train in an art that has utility, and quit worrying about the "Mugging and death" mentality. At the training circle, we train because it's fun to train. We do make sure our game is tight, so if we have to use it, it will be there. But there is little reason to dream up dark scenarios after you find something that has utility in itself. Just
have fun and play games. The Judo guys understand this better than
anyone in my opinion. "Want to Play?" is how they ask if you want to fight. That's beautiful, and healthy, and free of ego, image or paranoia
No one's ego need be attached to his fighting. Fighting needn't be about image, nor does anyone's ego need be killed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Brewer
I've said it before: There are as many valid reasons for training in martial arts as there are people who do it. Not everyone needs to be Chuck Liddell or Bruce Lee. Some people just flat out like the cameraderie of being around like-minded people who want to have some fun doing something unique.
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Which is totally fine, so long as the teacher isn't collecting people's money to teach them a "martial art" that sucks for fighting. Because that is not only fraud, but its going to get some people put in the hospital.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Brewer
In the end analysis, I'd submit to you that it's all just about doing what we like anyway.
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Totally agree. But "what we like" may not be very "martial."
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Brewer
I realize that without being able to hear my tone of voice or see the smile on my face right now, that post may come across as a little belligerent
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You? Belligerent? Please. That would be like saying *I* am belligerent.
Oh, crap. I often
am.