Do your family and/or friends think your crazy because you practice ma

Wai Jia: The Kung Fu Forum Kung Fu Forum
1

My brother thinks I’m crazy because he says I’m acting like I’m always ready for a war.Like if there was someone ready to jump me around the corner.I can see why it would look schizoprhenic acting like everyone is out to get me but I’m not that waayyy out there.Plus I’m always talking abou break this or rip that.I don’t think bragging about my lated bruise helps either. :smiley:

Anyone in a similar situaton?

“Always be ready”

“right, that’s it!you’ve insulted me, and you’ve insulted the shaolin temple!”-Fish of Furry

2

always the same. “friends” (like i say i never have many people who i consider a real friend) think it’s wierd that when we were in the bad area’s of town, i used to take a maglite concealed in my jacket. my parents and family think that i am over reacting. when i walk with girls at night, walking them home or whatever, they ask why i turn around and look behind me every short while. people think i’m over reacting when i say i don’t drink incase i get into a fight and i don’t want to have that handicap. ppl ask why do you train all the time, life isn’t al about fighting, you can’t spend all your time dedicating your time to training for somethign that might never happen/happen rarely.

plus a million other things. the only person who doesn’t ask me these questions and give me a hard time, is my brother. like i said we alwys been best friends, true friends, but he 10 years older than me, and he knows what it’s liek growing up in the grimey manors. He’s had it worse than me.

so anyway, when people ask me these questions, i have learnt to lie. saves me the hassle.

=================================
What we really need is chicks with a whole new kinda orifice - Fish

Sharky, I should expect this level of immaturity from you after seeing your post titled “Hm.” regarding the woman that lives next door to you. I think everyone who unfortuneatly read that post is a bit more ignorant now for doing so. - Spectre

All i wanted was some RICE CAKES! Now? WE MUST BATTLE.

3

No, but I don’t brag about bruises. I brag about how good my hot chocolate is. (serious)

“Alright you primative screw heads listen up, see this, this is my BOOM STICK! 12 gauge double barrel Rimington, S-Marts top of the line. You can find this in a sporting goods department. Thats right, this sweet baby was made in Grand Rapids Michigan. Retails about, 109.95, its got a walnut stock, kolbolt blue steal, and a hair trigger. Thats right, shop smart, shop S-Mart, YOU GOT THAT?!? Now I swear, the next one of you primates, even touches me…” - Bruce Campbell, Army of Darkness.

4

what i am saying is - now i don’t tell anyone that doesn’t need to know that i train in anything, and i don’t tell them why i do certain things, just so i don’t have to go down that road in the conversation.

=================================
What we really need is chicks with a whole new kinda orifice - Fish

Sharky, I should expect this level of immaturity from you after seeing your post titled “Hm.” regarding the woman that lives next door to you. I think everyone who unfortuneatly read that post is a bit more ignorant now for doing so. - Spectre

All i wanted was some RICE CAKES! Now? WE MUST BATTLE.

5

Yep. I’m very involved with the church (Anglican) over here & I sometimes get the pathetic “Chrisians shouldn’t get into MA, they’re evil” debates. It really pi**es me off. My family think I’m a bit loopy for quitting work to train MA full time, but at least they’re supportive of it. And the paranoia thing. When asked by one of my churchy friends (another person completely ignorant of MA and the principles behind it) if I was paranoid because I don’t walk down dark unfamiliar streets late at night, don’t approach large abusive drunk groups outside pubs, etc I said:
“If you don’t try to look after yourself by learning Martial Arts or even simply being aware of your surroundings then you are walking through this world hoping that nothing bad will ever happen to you. That’s a huge gamble, and I’m not a gambler anyhow. Do you look both ways before crossing the road? Or do you just walk out hoping that there are no cars coming? Same principle.”
He now practises MA.
It’s worth the flak though :cool:

“Forfeit the game
Before somebody else takes you out of the frame
And puts your name to shame
Cover up your face
You can’t run the race
The pace is too fast,
You just won’t last!”

6

Straight Blast

I don’t think ma arts are againts Christianity.I think God would want you to learn how to protect your self and your loved ones and live a healthy life.Christianity is againts violence but not againts the belief of protecting your life and the life of others.

On a post a while back somone mentioned that Israel means Soldier of God.

Sharky-

Same thing here bro.I don’t drink at all for many reasons.Only time I drink is at mass and that’s not much!

“Always be ready”

“right, that’s it!you’ve insulted me, and you’ve insulted the shaolin temple!”-Fish of Furry

7

I believe I’ve mentioned before that my friends drastically overestimate my fighting ability. They think because I’ve been doing martial arts for barely a year and a half that I can take on six football players at once or something.

I explained a kimura to them once, and offered to demonstrate on one of them. None of them would let me - despite the fact that I gave them numerous assurances that they would not be hurt, that they could tap at any time, and so on…

It’s not like I’m a fighter or anything, I’ve never been in a fight in my life. Having them be afraid of me is equal parts flattering and irritating.

8

“I believe I’ve mentioned before that my friends drastically overestimate my fighting ability. They think because I’ve been doing martial arts for barely a year and a half that I can take on six football players at once or something.”

Same. People actually feel safe when i’m there, like i’m superman. If only they knew :smiley:

=================================
What we really need is chicks with a whole new kinda orifice - Fish

Sharky, I should expect this level of immaturity from you after seeing your post titled “Hm.” regarding the woman that lives next door to you. I think everyone who unfortuneatly read that post is a bit more ignorant now for doing so. - Spectre

All i wanted was some RICE CAKES! Now? WE MUST BATTLE.

9

Yes, my freinds think I’M NUTTS!!!

But that has nothing to do with Kung Fu mind you, I was nuts long before then!! :stuck_out_tongue:

Royal Dragon

Those that are sucessful are also the biggest failures. the difference between them and the rest of the failures is this, they keep getting up over and over again, until they succeed. “The more they try, the more they fail, BUT, the more they try & fail, the more opertunity they have to succeed, and succeed they do!!”

Check out the Royal Dragon Web site & Message Board.

http://www.Royaldragon.4dw.com or http://www.dreamwater.net/biz/royaldragon/

10

My family thinks I’m nuts for buying a lot of weapons like swords, staffs, and a chain whip. My friends also think I’m psycho cause I have all of this in my room. I must admit though, the chain whip is badass.

11

My Friends

I have been doing MA for quite a long time that when I lived in Canada I ran a school for a few years and taught allot of my childhood friends.

Now that I live in CA most of my friends are Martial Artist’s so we all have a common interest.

Most of my friends however are astonished at the intensity and amount I train with exception to my training partners and competing friends.

“Life’s a great Adventure, Mate”
Jacko Jackson

12

Always have, probably always will. Though, after 27 years, most of em have had time to get used to it.

Now what they REALLY think is weird is what I call my “voodoo”…all my energy medicine stuff.

13

Nice topic…(i think i’ll rate it a 4)

I, as u may know, do not actually study what some would say a “REAL” art…but i beleive i am a martial artist in a way…

I train in many ways(as many as i can)…wether its strenght training or technique training(also speed)…i am extremly devoted to learning martial arts, i scan the internet all the time(ATLEAST 1nce a day, twice if im not working out)…even if its just coming here…but i do know much more than the average bear, i wouldn’t say i know more than a true martial arts student though(cuz i dont)…

But to the question, Do my friends think im weird? Well, 2 of my friends know i train hard, as do they…1 of my friends i spar with(sorta) but i dont think he knows i train on a regular basis(he’s in for a big suprise next time he see’s me :slight_smile: ), The rest of my friends, and alot of my aqquaintances(not really friends, but like me n talk to me), just think i got really really quick hands, and its like natural or something, and im actually feared (by my aqquaintances, hah)…i think its kinda funny, cuz i dont pose any threat, im kinda like, an educated/nice thug…picture that, hah, i beleive(and can assume) i can fight 3 times better than i could before i started training, maybe people can jes sense it or something…

Keep this thread going, its interesting to hear peoples stories

—The Educated/Nice Thug— :mad:

“True victory is giving all of yourself without regret”-Ryu

“Your best move is the move you regret not doing”-Fei Long

“Are you prepared to fight today? Someone else is as we speak”-Apprentice

14

My friends think i’m weird when we’re walking at night, and i’m always looking at my surroundings, looking behind me every minute, i’m always alert when i’m out at night (wich isn’t very often). I’m the same way during the day time, but i tone it down a notch.

a few days ago i demonstrated wing chun one on of my friends, he now thinks i’m nuts, and doesn’t want me to kill him :slight_smile:

The thing i also hate about my freinds is that they sometimes overestimate my fighting ability and think i’m superman.

The object is not to hurt someone else, but to stop them from hurting you

15

It´s healthy to be aware,it´s called zanshin in japanese.
I understand your situation very well.

16

I used to be a blatant martial artitst.

Now, people think I’m kidding. I get a lot of “I know he does that stuff, but, I just don’t see it.”

I much prefer it that way. Better to blend in and be natural while still being aware.

17

My aunt thinks I’m a Satanist because the “breathing exercises” are a to induce a devil-worshipping trance. How else do you account for the feats of MA’s? Obvious innit. :smiley:

The powers of Kung Fu never fail!
– Hong Kong Phooey

18

Martial Stereotypists

I was on my way out of the Kwoon downtown and ran into a couple of guys I work with coming from happy hour. Of course I am in my gi and the questions started flying. They alway’s want to know “how long” you have been studying your art. Really what they are saying is “are you any good?” I then suddenly became the “Karate Guy” at work (because all martial arts are karate of course).

One day I am out to lunch with one of these guys and I see a class brother. We talk for a couple of minutes and then head our seperate ways. My class brother doesn’t exactly fit the “yuppie” mold, with his beard and longer hair, so my co-worker was curious as to how I knew this “construction worker”. When I told him that he was a class mate of mine, the co-workers response was “He looks like the kind of freak that would get into the martial arts… no offense.”

I just shook my head. People have such miss guided ideals on what the typical martial artist is. They think it is something we do just to be tough guys… despite the fact that most of us don’t even tell people that we study. One thing I know, its funny, but I have met people of all types in my class, and have forged relationships with people that I never would have before. These folks are salt of the earth. Some are “yuppies”, some are construction workers, some are black, and some are white. The bottom line is, these are just good people. I think that the folks that stick with it, are generally the ones with no prejudices or ego.

“There is no try…do, or do not.”

19

There are some funny stereotypes in MA.

i.e. the really tall fat guy who hovers around the sifu and tries to be the first one to talk to all the new perspective students…the pragmatic russian who always has a rock hard gaze…the tatooed semi-successful rocker star…the yoga guy…

Any others :)?

20

same here, no matter how much i try to make them understand i do it mostly for the fun and i’m not a good fighter, they still think i’m some kind of fighting god because i can kick someone in the head. I tried explaining i wouldnt even use that in a fight but still .. Oh well

Free thinkers are dangerous!