Request for Opinions

[Triangle]

Thanks to all you guys who responded. I received about 50 replies from martial artists all over the country. Most of them were BJJ guys because it was marketed that way (BJJ forums and my email list). I'll let you know some results when I compile it all. A very unscientific study, but interesting nonetheless. Again, you guys helped me out tremendously!

Triangle
Howard Combat Kimonos East

http://www.hckeast.com

SURVEY:

1. What martial art do you primarily train in?

2. How long have you studied it?

3. What is the total amount of years you have studied any and all martial arts?

4. a. What is the PRIMARY reason you continue to train today?

b. Secondary reason?

5. a. Have you been in a street fight?

b. Did martial arts training adequately prepare you for the fight? If no, why not?

6. What is the SINGLE most effective established martial art for SELF-DEFENSE?

7. Should martial arts or self-defense be part of Physical Education in public schools?

8. Is there too much violence on TV?

9. Does violence on TV or in video games negatively affect children?

THE END

Please send responses to hckeast@aol.com

[Edited by Triangle on 11-29-2000 at 03:06 PM]

[Mr. Miyagi]

I'm not embarassed about my answers since none of you know me anyway.

1. bjj

2. 1 1/2 years

3. 1 1/2 years

4. a. because it's fun.
b. makes me much more confident, less self conscious

5. never

6. brazilian juijitsu (there are only 4 or so possible answers unless you're a clueless bum)

7. no

8. no

9. no

[PassiveGuy]

I'll post mine too,

1.Boxing/kickboxing
2.2 years
3.6 years
4.A It's fun B.It is good for self-defence
5.a.Unfortunately yes b. yep
6.a combo of Muay Thai and BJJ(you must have skills in both)
7.no, because there would be no spiritual conditioning, plus being a highschool student I know how some kids would use their knowledge.
8.Not on TV, but in movies yes
9. Yes, but it is not the cause of school shootings. Playing duke nukem is a waste of time, but it doesn't turn kids into mindless killing machines.

[david a]

1. What martial art do you primarily train in?

Brazillian Jui Jitsu/ Defendo
2. How long have you studied it?

BJJ- 5+ years, Defendo 4+ years
3. What is the total amount of years you have studied any and all martial arts?

10 years
4. a. What is the PRIMARY reason you continue to train today?
Self Defense
b. Secondary reason?

Be a complete fighter
5. a. Have you been in a street fight?
Yes

b. Did martial arts training adequately prepare you for the fight? If no, why not?
No, did not know what to do on the ground.
Only practices TKD at first

6. What is the SINGLE most effective established martial art for SELF-DEFENSE?

Defendo/+ grappling
7. Should martial arts or self-defense be part of Physical Education in public schools?

Sure.
8. Is there too much violence on TV?

Yes. (For Kids especially)
9. Does violence on TV or in video games negatively affect children?
Yes and no, depends on the childs maturity

[Ronin]

1) BJJ
2) 12 formal classes, 3 years of tape-training
3) Almost 14 years
4a) I love martial arts
4b) If I get in a fight, I want to win
5a) No
6) BJJ + any style which teaches effective hand-skills
7) Yes, but they have to be taught correctly
8) I don't know, I don't watch much T.V. these days
9) Some yes; most no

[Chopstix]

actually, martial arts is on the daily curriculum in china and japan i believe... its mostly for exercise, but it builds a good base..

[SweepEm]

I will also pitch in to this survey although I've been lucky to have been hooked up with some market research groups that pay pretty good. I have had a few studies for about one hour for $100.

1. BJJ

2. Too long for the skill level I am at. 8 years.

3. Boxing and Kung Fu for about 4 years, total 12 years

4. A)I train to stay in shape
B)to keep my reactions and instincts for self defense at a higher level.

5. No street fights YET, unless you consider one that I was in, in the 5th grade.

6. I don't believe that there is just ONE martial art that is the single more effective martial art.

7. YES

8. NO

9. Yes, I believe that violence on TV and especially video games will de-sensitize young kids to violence and death.
But you have to look at the critics, a long time ago, TV critics thought that the slap stick routines with the 3 stooges hitting each other over the heads with frying pans, poking their eyes out and hair pulling was also not good for young eyes. But as a kid, I never saw someone get shot on TV, nor saw any dead bodies from war or violent crimes.

[Underdog]

1.Ruas Vale Tudo

2.Two years

3.20 years, on and off

4.Being able to strenghten your opinion with physical force, made your opinions stronger...
b)I love fighting

5.Hell of yes..
b) The only martial art that has been useful for the streets, has been the one that employed weapons; i.e. pratical shooting and knife pratice. Enter a SERIOUS streetfight barehanded is amateurish and a fool act. If you get caught in a streetfight without being armed, well, either you are an amateur or you are a fool...

6.100 yards dash... (tie with 110 yds hurdles..)

7.Maybe, but consider that in that manner a lot of sh!theads will learn how to kickaxx; not a wise thing for the weaks..

8.It's not that there's too much, the real fact is that violence is presented in a sterile and false manner, and worse, that is glorified.

9.It depend alot by the children, that is something that only a wise parent can judge.

[klif]

1. What martial art do you primarily train in?

BJJ now.

2. How long have you studied it?

three years off and on

3. What is the total amount of years you have studied any and all martial arts?

twenty years

4. a. What is the PRIMARY reason you continue to train today?

fun/hobby

b. Secondary reason?

It helps being a police officer

5. a. Have you been in a street fight?

Yes

b. Did martial arts training adequately prepare you for the fight? If no, why not?

Yes

6. What is the SINGLE most effective established martial art for SELF-DEFENSE?

None

7. Should martial arts or self-defense be part of Physical Education in public schools?

No

8. Is there too much violence on TV?

Yes

9. Does violence on TV or in video games negatively affect children?

Yes (of course I believe that TV violence alone isn't the problem, it's a combination of many factors)

[Hookah Smokin Caterpillar]

1. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
2. 4 months
3. 4 months
4. a) hobby
b) conditioning
5. a) yes
b) no, didn't use it back then
6. None
7. No
8. No
9. Yes

[Shimora]

Triangle my friend.

I emailed you my answers.

[SweepEm]

Shim Dude
I am not surprised that you decided to e-mail your answers.
HA!

[Evilution]

1. What martial art do you primarily train in?

Boxing primarily but also MT,BJJ and greco.

2. How long have you studied it?

Boxing 7 years, other stuff 1 to 2, also studied stick fighting a few years back for a few years but haven't in a while.

3. What is the total amount of years you have studied any and all martial arts?

7

4. a. What is the PRIMARY reason you continue to train today?

Fighting is in my blood.

b. Secondary reason?

Fun, keeps me in shape, self confidence, self defense

5. a. Have you been in a street fight?

If, by street fight, you mean being jumped by a random stranger on the street or in a bar, no.

b. Did martial arts training adequately prepare you for the fight? If no, why not?

All the fights I've been in were with people I knew. My boxing skills allowed me to inflict pain on my opponent efficiently and the fights ended fast, but things could have gone differently, maybe I was lucky I wasn't tackled. I've been able to talk my way out of any potential street fights with strangers.

6. What is the SINGLE most effective established martial art for SELF-DEFENSE?

A combination of boxing and wrestling, but you gotta be functional in BJJ and MT too.

7. Should martial arts or self-defense be part of Physical Education in public schools?

I think wrestling and positional BJJ might be good for kids but they probably shouldn't be taught how to actually hurt people. With some wrestling skills a kid could maybe pin a bully and prevent himself from getting beat up without hurting anybody. I dunno though.

8. Is there too much violence on TV?

Too much fantasy violence. People get a distorted image of what violence is. But really people should know better.

9. Does violence on TV or in video games negatively affect children?

I think a good parent will make sure their child knows the difference between real life and a freaking game. I think stupid parents negatively affect children more than games or movies. So no.

[Joe Manco]

1. What martial art do you primarily train in?

Boxing/BJJ.

2. How long have you studied it?

6 yrs/4 years.

3. What is the total amount of years you have studied any and all martial arts?

Off and on, 20 years.

4. a. What is the PRIMARY reason you continue to train today?

I don't - I'm a lazy bum today.

b. Secondary reason?

The main reason I trainED was because I like fighting and wanted to be better at it. No secondary reason.

5. a. Have you been in a street fight?

Yes, many.

b. Did martial arts training adequately prepare you for the fight? If no, why not?

Boxing did. Never had a stret fight w/ BJJ.

6. What is the SINGLE most effective established martial art for SELF-DEFENSE?

Established? Man, that's hard to say. If you are "defensive," and not a natural, and are just looking to protect yourself, I'd say BJJ. If you like to fight and want to take someone out who you're mad at, I'd say boxing.

7. Should martial arts or self-defense be part of Physical Education in public schools?

Yes, BJJ.

8. Is there too much violence on TV?

Yes. Too much violence and sex. In fact, this is what the whole presidency was contested over. Bush said there was too much gore, and Gore said there was too much bush

9. Does violence on TV or in video games negatively affect children?

Truthfully, yes. I agree w/ SweepEm. It de-sensitises a kid to it. The subconscious mind is like impressionable FILM ... and when the content comes through the LENS of the eye it is IMPRINTED on the subconscious and never leaves. It is far better to have the favorable impressions of (say) a nature film occupying one's subconsious mind as a matter of repetition ... than it is to have several dozen serial killer flicks.

Anyone who says different is just kidding themselves.

Yours truly,

Joe