we as martial artists

[Ronson]

Notice how "true Martial Artist" know alot about all kinds of Martial Arts like the complete arsenal of a Ninja, Chi, weird stances, weird strikes/blocks (sun fists ), No touch KO's, how to defend against multiple opponents, and other such things.

Ask real fighters about these things and most will say that they know very little to nothing about it. Asking them about fighting (or punani) is a different matter though.

I'm embarrassed to even to tell people I do martial arts. I usually get this "ooh I won't mess with you" reaction or the "chop-socky" ribbing. I don't even mention it, or if I do I just say BJJ/Grappling/MMA.

Don't worry EmptyneSs, your mother only said what she said because she knows you're a martial artist, NOT a fighter. Oooooh burn!

[EmptyneSs]

Notice how "true Martial Artist" know alot about all kinds of Martial Arts like the complete arsenal of a Ninja, Chi, weird stances, weird strikes/blocks (sun fists ), No touch KO's, how to defend against multiple opponents, and other such things.

Ask real fighters about these things and most will say that they know very little to nothing about it. Asking them about fighting (or punani) is a different matter though.

I'm embarrassed to even to tell people I do martial arts. I usually get this "ooh I won't mess with you" reaction or the "chop-socky" ribbing. I don't even mention it, or if I do I just say BJJ/Grappling/MMA.

Don't worry EmptyneSs, your mother only said what she said because she knows you're a martial artist, NOT a fighter. Oooooh burn!

yawn ^

its funny when jackoffs make assumptions about people they dont even know.

[EmptyneSs]

think what you will. i can't cure your silliness. but as long as we're both making our opinions known, you're obviously weak-minded since you let yourself fall victim to the fashion of useless martial arts.

i have personally benefited from martial arts in many ways as do many others around the world. how is that useless? its anything but. i think being in shape, building confidence,flexibility,building character and strength,meeting new people, and learning to be in tune with ur body is actually very useful and beneficial. it may be useless to u, but then again u have the completely wrong attitude to begin with, so u wouldnt be able to see more into what certain things have to offer.

u say im weak minded, but ur the one with a narrow mind who thinks all martial arts are about is fighting. theres alot more to it than that. u evidently dont know that, so stfu and die UncleHermie k? thx

[Hermosa]

Well..this really is a complex subject. Entire doctrines are written around this..indeed entire Dogmas. So I won't be so arrogant as to think that I can clear it up here on this forum..but my take is something like this..

First of all I guess we kinda need to know what Einstien's definition of "preparing" for peace or war is. However I tend to think that our perception creates our reality. And I do mean "create" literally. I believe that circumstances can and will bend themselves according to how we percieve them.

So..if you see the world as a hostile place, full of fear and enemies, I imagine you are gonna feel like you need to prepare for war, and once you prepare for it..you will probably get to experience it.

On the flip side, if you view the world as essentially good and all mankind as part of yourself, you will most likely feel peaceful, and in turn, get to experience that.

The final question to me then is...are martial arts, especially ones like Judo or Aikido..preparations for war, or pursuits of peace?

I think it's up to the individual..you decide for yourself. Then your experiences will most likely reflect your decision.

Great question though Mike.

[EmptyneSs]

Good call, Emptyness!

I met my wife through martial arts.

Just a thought...

thats awesome^^

[Ronson]

Enjoyed your post Mike Brewer,

Actually, up until my twenties (I'm 26 now), I was a pretty immature-macho type getting into scraps on the weekends. I came out of a neighborhood where your rep. and respect was everything - stupid and unfortunate.

Ironically, today I train for the love of the sport. If I'm giving off a vibe that MA training should be all about fighting, it was not my intention. My beef is with people who assume their "bullshido" MA is about fighting.

I'd also like to clarify that most fighter's do know alot about the history of their MA and other systems - they just wouldn't know alot or concern themselves about bullshido MA like the complete arsenal of a Ninja, Chi, weird stances, weird strikes/blocks (sun fists ), No touch KO's, how to defend against multiple opponents, and other such things.

At the same time, I agree with you that if it's your thing to know about various MA's, then it's your perogative. My comment about "true martial artists" in my earlier post was more of a personal dig towards emptyneSs.

[EmptyneSs]

who said i concern myself with any of those things? i do muay thai, western boxing, and judo. i just have an appreciation for all martial arts and would like to learn more about them. u need to not make bs assumptions about people u dont even know .

[Uncle Corny]

sorry. i think i was misunderstood. i respect martial artists if their goal is to be more agile, spiritual, and athletic. but when you think it'll help you win fisticuffs in the real world, you're very mistaken.

[Ahoym8e]

sorry. i think i was misunderstood. i respect martial artists if their goal is to be more agile, spiritual, and athletic. but when you think it'll help you win fisticuffs in the real world, you're very mistaken.

May I ask yor definition of Martial Arts? Are you saying that Tai Chi wont help you win fisticuffs? (I might agree with you on that one) Are you saying that boxing (western or thai) won't help? JKDC won't help? (I'd desagree on those).

I'm sorta lost why you would even think that. Why would someone who has thrown hundreds of thousands of strikes in training, who has learned and trained techniques to block/parry/intercept strikes, who has practiced Clinch-work and ground work NOT have an advantage over someone who didn't????? Not to mention the experience of actually getting hit while sparring.

It seems counterintuitive to me....

[Uncle Corny]

i've explained this twenty times on various threads. i don't have the energy for a long explanation so i'll keep it succinct...no. second thought. The animal has an idea:

"Is (Fill in ultimate fighting style) good for self-defense?
Before you even ask this question you had better know some realities about the bullshit terms and ideas that are being peddled out there regarding fighting. And what kind of trouble all these "ultimate fighting systems" will get you into if you don't use your head for something other than a punching bag. If you don't know a few fundamental differences you'll end up dead, crippled, sued or in prison.


Brutal reality vs. macho myth
Start by accepting the fact, that at least 50 percent of the people who engage in fighting lose. The savage truth is that you are not going to be fighting someone who will fold in shock and pain from your super-secret-kung-fu -dim-mak-death strike. He's been hit and hurt before and knows how to still keep on functioning. What's more, you'll be fighting someone with something up his sleeve that will cause you serious damage if he uses it and he does know how to use it.


Do I have what it takes?
While there is always the concern: Do I have what it takes? That is absolutely the last question where you want to find out that the answer is no.



Fantasy self-defense
There is a great tendency for instructors of the martial arts to promote themselves as competent to teach self-defense. Find out why that is not necessarily true and why you are risking your life if you accept what they are saying without carefully looking into the subject beyond their simplistic fantasies about self-defense.


Legal realities
Contrary to what many ultra-studly martial artists tell you, a fight doesn't end when the body hits the floor. That isn't true with self-defense, and it definitely isn't true if you were involved in starting the fight in the first place. You will be facing police, legal repercussions and probably jail.



Being tough = having leprosy
Contrary to what many young and inexperienced people might think -- being "tough" doesn't solve your self-confidence problems, make you feel better about yourself, impress people, make you more popular, prevent you from being picked on or get you laid more often. In fact, it tends to do just the opposite. Instead of lessening your problems, it makes them worse. It makes you more of a social outcast. And on top of that, you also have people trying to kill you.



Realities of streetfighting
It isn't glamorous. It isn't fun. And if you put yourself into situations where you are having to face real streetfighters, it means you are being an asshole yourself. That's right -- to be a streetfighter, you have to become the very thing you hate.



So you still want to be a streetfighter?
Ted Truscott, "The Fighting Old Man," has an excellent Web page about some of the other "realities." This is especially important for anybody who still thinks that being wild child or a streetfighter is a good idea.


Teach you to be tough?
Unfortunately, there are many martial artists who -- for lots of money -- claim to be able to teach you how to be an undefeatable, toughman, streetfighter. The simple truth is most of these programs are just glorified martial sports programs. That is if they aren't a cult.



What does it mean to be tough?
The idea that the martial arts can make you tough is erroneous. Being tough isn't about fighting. It is about being able to handle whatever life throws at you and keep on going. And what life is going to throw at you will be far worse than an imagined bad guy.



Pirates and self-defense training
Unfortunately much of the information that you will receive from most people claiming to be able to teach you how to streetfight, has been pirated. That is to say it has been lifted from somewhere else, not entirely understood and then repackaged and sold to you as the TRUTH(tm) about streetfighting. It will get you killed. Learn how to spot pirates before you become a victim of them."

[47MartialMan]

In My Humble Opinion:

my own mother told me she would rather die than see her son become a fighter. alot of us get no support from others, not even our own family members. yet we do what we do cause it means so much to us. yet we are so misunderstood. alot of people think we jsut want to beat up others and be voilent for the sake of being tough and voilent.
But that is why you got into MA in the first place-the lure of fighting.

i remember when my friend who is a blackbelt in karate told a girl that he was in fact a blackbelt, she replied " oh, so that means u could kill me if u wanted to? "
wtf kinda people do others think we are? why are we so misunderstood?
That was his mistake-why tell someone, who is not interested, your level? Sounds like a ego or boorish statement.

i guess in the end it doesnt really matter, because we do it for us, we dont do it for them.when people ask me what things im into, i dont even tell them i do martial arts and how much i love martial arts, because they will always get the wrong impression. they will think im trying to look tough, or think i have something to prove. they think i am a person who likes to beat others up when in fact im quite the opposite, i am peaceloving and kind and do not want to hurt anyone.
It depends on your audience. Everyone that know me personally-after finding out that I am-through another, do not harass me at all. Or even state stupid things.

we are alone in this world, and the only other people who do understand us is our fellow martial artists. much respect to anyone who practices martial arts and undestands what martial arts are really about.
Not really-many martial artists are in conflict with other martial artists. With that conflict is the same as non-martial artists that you state.
big big sadface

[mr goodcat]

the efficiency of no way will inspire us all

[Juicefree]

You might smell it but you sure can't spell it

LOL. Can't believe I read six pages of post for those last two lines, still the thread was most entertaining, I feel sorry to have missed it.

[Rickster]

sorry. i think i was misunderstood. i respect martial artists if their goal is to be more agile, spiritual, and athletic. but when you think it'll help you win fisticuffs in the real world, you're very mistaken.

FISTICUFFS - sounds lascivious

[NightStalker14]

i've explained this twenty times on various threads. i don't have the energy for a long explanation so i'll keep it succinct...no. second thought. The animal has an idea:

"Is (Fill in ultimate fighting style) good for self-defense?
Before you even ask this question you had better know some realities about the bullshit terms and ideas that are being peddled out there regarding fighting. And what kind of trouble all these "ultimate fighting systems" will get you into if you don't use your head for something other than a punching bag. If you don't know a few fundamental differences you'll end up dead, crippled, sued or in prison.


Brutal reality vs. macho myth
Start by accepting the fact, that at least 50 percent of the people who engage in fighting lose. The savage truth is that you are not going to be fighting someone who will fold in shock and pain from your super-secret-kung-fu -dim-mak-death strike. He's been hit and hurt before and knows how to still keep on functioning. What's more, you'll be fighting someone with something up his sleeve that will cause you serious damage if he uses it and he does know how to use it.


Do I have what it takes?
While there is always the concern: Do I have what it takes? That is absolutely the last question where you want to find out that the answer is no.



Fantasy self-defense
There is a great tendency for instructors of the martial arts to promote themselves as competent to teach self-defense. Find out why that is not necessarily true and why you are risking your life if you accept what they are saying without carefully looking into the subject beyond their simplistic fantasies about self-defense.


Legal realities
Contrary to what many ultra-studly martial artists tell you, a fight doesn't end when the body hits the floor. That isn't true with self-defense, and it definitely isn't true if you were involved in starting the fight in the first place. You will be facing police, legal repercussions and probably jail.



Being tough = having leprosy
Contrary to what many young and inexperienced people might think -- being "tough" doesn't solve your self-confidence problems, make you feel better about yourself, impress people, make you more popular, prevent you from being picked on or get you laid more often. In fact, it tends to do just the opposite. Instead of lessening your problems, it makes them worse. It makes you more of a social outcast. And on top of that, you also have people trying to kill you.



Realities of streetfighting
It isn't glamorous. It isn't fun. And if you put yourself into situations where you are having to face real streetfighters, it means you are being an asshole yourself. That's right -- to be a streetfighter, you have to become the very thing you hate.



So you still want to be a streetfighter?
Ted Truscott, "The Fighting Old Man," has an excellent Web page about some of the other "realities." This is especially important for anybody who still thinks that being wild child or a streetfighter is a good idea.


Teach you to be tough?
Unfortunately, there are many martial artists who -- for lots of money -- claim to be able to teach you how to be an undefeatable, toughman, streetfighter. The simple truth is most of these programs are just glorified martial sports programs. That is if they aren't a cult.



What does it mean to be tough?
The idea that the martial arts can make you tough is erroneous. Being tough isn't about fighting. It is about being able to handle whatever life throws at you and keep on going. And what life is going to throw at you will be far worse than an imagined bad guy.



Pirates and self-defense training
Unfortunately much of the information that you will receive from most people claiming to be able to teach you how to streetfight, has been pirated. That is to say it has been lifted from somewhere else, not entirely understood and then repackaged and sold to you as the TRUTH(tm) about streetfighting. It will get you killed. Learn how to spot pirates before you become a victim of them."

This is from Marc "Animal" MacYoung, at www.nononsenseselfdefense.com.

This guy's got a lot of good ideas. A bit of a foul mouth sometimes, but he knows what he's about.

Go check the site out when you have time.