Tweet
FIrst, In many ways I think the following suggestion is rather stupid and simultaneously worth discussion.
Language is often a traditional concept where we use the same sounds to describe a thing, thought, concept, or action that were originally taught to us by a parent, family member, friend, community leader etc.
And many, many of us who have trained in the martial arts for year and years have come to feel comfortable with certain terms that may not properly describe the action we are undertaking and/or the term(s) may create a negative image in the minds of the general public.
For example, "choke".
I was eating lunch with a friend recently when he asked me what my favorite area to train was and without a pause I responded "I love to choke people". Now, there were four police officers sitting across from our group at the table and one of them gave me the "WTF is he saying?" look. And I've had similiar experiences several different times over the last year or two.
"Choke" brings to mind images of a psychopath wrapping his fists around their victim's throat and squeezing until they are left with nothing but a quickly cooling body at their feet.
I don't want people to think of a situation like that when I describe my art . . . it bothers the hell out of me.
So, why not change the term slightly to #1 better describe what it is that we are actually doing and #2 make sure we don't send the wrong message to the general public and potential students who might decide to train but may be a little nervous about the whole "choke" thing?
My suggestion: "Carotid restraint"
Ok, that's all . . . time to go train.
Language is often a traditional concept where we use the same sounds to describe a thing, thought, concept, or action that were originally taught to us by a parent, family member, friend, community leader etc.
And many, many of us who have trained in the martial arts for year and years have come to feel comfortable with certain terms that may not properly describe the action we are undertaking and/or the term(s) may create a negative image in the minds of the general public.
For example, "choke".
I was eating lunch with a friend recently when he asked me what my favorite area to train was and without a pause I responded "I love to choke people". Now, there were four police officers sitting across from our group at the table and one of them gave me the "WTF is he saying?" look. And I've had similiar experiences several different times over the last year or two.
"Choke" brings to mind images of a psychopath wrapping his fists around their victim's throat and squeezing until they are left with nothing but a quickly cooling body at their feet.
I don't want people to think of a situation like that when I describe my art . . . it bothers the hell out of me.
So, why not change the term slightly to #1 better describe what it is that we are actually doing and #2 make sure we don't send the wrong message to the general public and potential students who might decide to train but may be a little nervous about the whole "choke" thing?
My suggestion: "Carotid restraint"
Ok, that's all . . . time to go train.
Comment