Character

[Tom Yum]

What defines it?

For some people it is who you are on your own. For others, it is who you really are when you are with others.

I thought I'd start this thread on the art side of martial arts to talk about character and character development - an aspect that is still emphasized, allthough to a lesser extent in the modern MMA game. Good sportsmanship could be a sign of good character. Extending your hand and patting your opponent on the back after you've just blasted through a few rounds.

How about leadership? Does someone exhibit good character when they demonstrate leadership in a diverse group and sincere dealings with those from different backgrounds? How about when they give freely to others without expecting much in return? Volunteering to help the unfortunate when no one is looking?

These are just minor examples, but it'd be nice to hear from some of you guys about character and character development in general or in the martial arts.

Thanks!

[Szczepankiewicz]

To presume I know the answers to your questions would be a bit arrogant on my part.

However, I can take a stab at explaining my pov on the subject. I think that character is the mixture of how you are around others AND when you are on your own. What you do and say all the time is what counts.

People put up with a lot of crap from me because deep down they know I am a good guy. When TSHTF I am the guy they want around. Not because I'm the toughest,smartest, best looking or anything beyond the fact that they know that I will not leave them to face things alone. Win or lose.

However, my true friends shouldn't have to put up with my bs. That's something I work on minute by minute. I'm good under fire. It's the slack time when I start to become self-destructive. When I relax and get comfortable is when I get into trouble.

I'm good in a pinch, but if there isn't any pressure I spend too much time seeking the pressure out. I can't relax and enjoy the problem free days.

I look at it by thinking what my friends will think (not say, but think) about me when I'm dead. Will they say "He was an asshole, but he sure was a good guy when the chips were down"?

I don't want that. So I try to improve second by second.

"It's always showtime."

[cakegirl]

I'm good under fire. It's the slack time when I start to become self-destructive. When I relax and get comfortable is when I get into trouble... I'm good in a pinch, but if there isn't any pressure I spend too much time seeking the pressure out. I can't relax and enjoy the problem free days.

Lol Spanky you sound like you're talking about ME!

[Garland]

who's to define "good character"?
And what the hell does it have to do with being a good fighter?
In getting to train with alot of different people, and a whole bunch of very well acclaimed and note worthy instructors, I can tell you this, they vary from braggarts, liars, and theives, to quiet and withdrawn...being a complete asshole, or being withdrawn and sessile in daily life has very little to do with technical knowledge of the fight game, or even the physical attributes of a good fighter.

I think it depends on your idea of what it means to be a fighter. A true fighter, at heart, won't back down from anything, and once their mind is set on something, stick like a pitbull.
A good fighter.....fights. I know guys that can easily handle themselves, but you probably wouldn't be able to guess, simply based on their demeanor, and on the flip side, I know people who literally do almost nothing but TALK SHIT...and couldn't help themselves from being beat down by gril scouts.
Some people can handle themselves, others can't. It's not just a skill thing, or a physical thing, alot of it has to do with what a person is willing to do when engaged in a really bad situation. It varies here even moreso in that some people like inflicting pain, or simply fighting out of competitive drive, or whatever their neurosis is, and others simply do what they have to do in a fight, some people harbor animosity afterward, and others can laugh stuff off.

People are unique. You should NEVER try and guess the ability for damage of somebody based on just their personality, because even whiny wimpy dudes can snap and hold their own. And bulky, testosterone driven meat sacks can turn out to be less of a match.

Personal character means nothing in a fight, because there is no such thing as a fair fight. A match, yes, but remember, gentelmen's rules are for duels, and most ring fights are interesting not simply due to the skill of the fighters, but the spectacle the can provide...viz, Mike Tyson, Ernesto Hoost, Vanderlie Silva, etc...which are far more interesting to WATCH than people like some of the boring assed top grapplers (BJJ was interesting when it first came out, nobody'd seen it, and now it's common place, and takes forever to finish), or any of the top grapplers that don't talk enough trash, and don't show enough action to draw attention anymore.

[Tom Yum]

Garland, I wasn't talking about fighting, never the less you gave some good insight.

[Garland]

To me, character lies within one simple thing, integrity. If somebody is honest, and has heart...that's all that matters.
Being well rounded, certainly, doesn't hurt...personalble, to an extent, and not taking themselves too seriously all of the time.
too bad the only way to test integrity is trial by fire.

[EmptyneSs]

always be humble and polite to all. respect everyone, even though most people dont even respect themselves, let alone other things and other people. for me, everywere i look i see people of the shittiest moral character(especially since im in college) and for some reason it just really makes me want to carry myself with high moral character and integrity, even though i know nothing will ever come of it and that being bad is so much easier and probobly funner. its like a test i guess.

[Garland]

always be humble and polite to all. respect everyone, even though most people dont even respect themselves, let alone other things and other people. for me, everywere i look i see people of the shittiest moral character(especially since im in college) and for some reason it just really makes me want to carry myself with high moral character and integrity, even though i know nothing will ever come of it and that being bad is so much easier and probobly funner. its like a test i guess.

you're in college and you use a word like "funner"...damn dude.
I wanna be in your class...the curve must be like...kapow..all up in dat ass.

[Garland]

wait...I missed something else....probobobobobobly...I didn't know you could type a stutter. Jesus bro...off your meds or something?

[Garland]

Moral character is for nuns...
which brings me to a joke.

So this nun is walking past a bar, you know, doing the little nun penguin walk or something, and this drunk comes out...and just starts wailing on her.
Hits her with a picture perfect left jab and finishes her with an uppercut. As continues to pummel the be-jesus (get it) out of her, his friends come out and pull him off her...
He spits on the bloodied nun, and staggers off saying,
"not so tough now, are you batman!"

[Tom Yum]

"not so tough now, are you batman!"

Have you been drinking at the bars again?...(see the irony )

That one gets a 7 out of 10 on the shameless joke scale.

[Memnoch1207]

Here is a quote I have on my wall in my office.

Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow.
The shadow is what we think of it;
The tree is the real thing.
-- Abraham Lincoln