Do you live to love or love to fight?

[Maui Jim]

Americans love to fight. All real Americans love the sting of battle.
Gen George S. Patton

As an American I fall into this area of loving to fight rather than living to love.
Am I normal to like the sting of battle?
Is this a cultural mind set or are we disciples of the fighting arts blind to this love to warring?

Football players love the moment of impact and I love the same in fighting.
Because I carry this ability it seem to make me demand more respect for myself and draw the weapon from its sheath in haste, so to speak.

I worry this has slowed down my ability to fulley development my potential
as a more considerate person as a fighter.

I fear if I show any kindness I will be walked on retuning to the cycle to loving to fight vs. living to love.

It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.
(Epictetus (50-138 A.D.)

What's your thoughts on this strange love of warring?

Maui Jim

[El Luchador]

Originally posted by Maui Jim
Americans love to fight. All real Americans love the sting of battle.
Gen George S. Patton

As an American I fall into this area of loving to fight rather than love.
Am I normal to like the sting of battle?
Is this a cultural mind set or are we as disciples of all the fighting arts blind to this somewhat violent love to the strategy of warring?

Football players love the moment of impact and I love the same in fighting.
Because I carry this ability seem to make me demand more respect for myself and draw the weapon from its sheath in haste, so to speak.
I worry this has slowed down my ability to full development of my potential
as a more considerate person and fighter.

I fearing if I show any kindness I will be walked on, retuning to the cycle to loving to fight vs. living to love.

It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.
(Epictetus (50-138 A.D.)

What's your thoughts on this strange love of warring?

Maui Jim

I Also Love Tooooo Fight.
I feel Most Alive When im in a Fight.
I've Done MMA- Kumite Ju Jitsu - Submisson Wrestling.

[ceasarx]

I never look for a fight and I really do try to avoid them but I must admit than when its on it is all good. I love the feeling of impact and the rush of emotions and adrenalin mixed together. I think at that point is when your mind body and spirit are truly linked and all of your years of training have meaning.
But then again I our country was founded of war and battle

[Maui Jim]

There's just something about seeing the technique come together yet on the edge of the battle this feeling of mercy and peace to see somehow good come out of it not to mention my ass.
I think Americans just have been brought up on mayhem.
Maui Jim

[Tom Yum]

Fighting in the ring is fun. Same kind of fun you experience in childhood baseball or playing HS football.

MA aren't popularly excepted among the masses, especially in places like offices with posturing and politics. Its easier to act tough and talk smack than it is to perfect a thai kick in sparring or tap out a larger/stronger grappler.

Just makes MA more appreciated and makes fighting an art you work to perfect over time.

[Maui Jim]

What I'm talking about are guys who love to fight so much they will even act drunk in a bar to beat your ass for fun , this lack of control and fondness to fighting has a controlling addiction that boggle my mind.
It seems the best answers are the most simple.
I would say its some how ego or money.
But the fighting game is fun in a healthy way as must as water and fire can be your life or death.
But what's the addiction to the violets then?
Maui Jim

[mr. bond]

Originally posted by Maui Jim
But what's the addiction to the violets then?
Maui Jim

I imagine it's the addiction to the power they feel over others when they beat the living hell out of them. it feeds the ego.

however, enjoying a fight is not the same as being violent. if you purposefully put yourself in situations where you will fight, then you're a violent person. however, if you are a defensive person but enjoy the rush of a hard sparring session or an all out fight, then you are very normal. it's like you said, a football player enjoys the moment of impact and martial artists are the same way with their art.

[Great Sage]

America doesn't have that long a war history as many other countries. However, all civilizations have been created from war, from hand-to-hand combat to more global, modern warfare. Therefore, I wouldn't agree that Americans in general like to fight... If anything, I think we Americans are very civilized and would rather rely on the Judicial system.

That said, I think perhaps YOU, Jim, and people who go out looking for a fight need help. While I respect someone who appreciates good techniques, there's no glory or gratification in knowing you can beat someone up. The real test of a warrior is mastery over himself.

I'm not proud of any of my fights outside the ring... I'd rather avoid any confrontation, but when push comes to shove, I'll give you a good fight if you want one. In the present world, fighting in the streets has become almost unnecessary, except for remote alleys, etc... Therefore, the smart thing to do is train for the unexpected, but stay smart in all your endeavers.

[Maui Jim]

I never said I LOOK for a fight

[Tom Yum]

Maui Jim, did you see 'changing lanes'? The ex-wife of Jackson's character accuses him of being egotistically addicted to chaos; obviously both characters are. Is it not a reflection of some real world people?

Best thing to do is be respectfull, think critically, stay keenly aware and step with your weight behind it.

Regarding self-defense/weapons:
Its better to know it and not need it
Rather than need it and not know it.

Ever hear of Lance Armstrong, the jeweler in LA?
He has had 5-6 attempts on his life from some hard core gang bangers and has produced 6 confirmed kills. Some of the scenarios are quite interesting: two guys outside his store randomly fire in, he dives - draws and hits the assailant's vitals with surgical precision.

[Maui Jim]

I have no tolerance for rude pissed off people, a friend of mine got his ass beat by a bunch of punk ass ice heads, after that if I see someone for no ****ing reason full of piss and vinegar I now assume it's drug or alcohol and if not there looking for drug and alcohol.
There's no reason for anger coming from anyone as I see it and this is where I get overly defensive in a sadly changing world where being high and combatives in normal?

[Tom Yum]

I try to say far away from any place that is not 'people friendly.' That sometimes includes places where there's a high concentration of young folks and no law enforecement.

[Maxetai]

Originally Posted by HandtoHand

BTW: I know many people hear are fans of japanease culture but they are extremely violent. The moment that they are not under the control of their harsh criminal justice system and are unleashed on a populus they are vicious. Look at what they did to china, and how they treated the phillipino, and american pows. They were just as bad as the germans as far as human rights were concerned.

I don't know about the Japanese, but what you claim about the Germans is simply not true. The Germans went "by the book" as far as their POW were concerned. The Germans were in line with the Geneva Convention on War and Treatment of POW more than any other people.
Please don't misunderstand me, I'm not taliking about the Holocaust issue here, but the way they treated their enemy's soldiers (POW).

[Nick]

I love to spar, but I hate the idea of fighting on the street and hurting someone seriously as a result.

Later...

[m.artist]

i love sparring. but same thing with nick. i don't want to hurt neone. but sparring is always all in good fun