long but important … to me
I understand exactly what you are getting at.
Know this, my introduction to martial arts was at the age of four and the first thing my sensei did was teach me how to sit quietly – actually kneel – fold my hands in my lap and just chill out. I did that for a while before he showed me my first kata, ect. Maybe I’ll scan some photos one day.
That school was very focused on discipline, I even had to show my sensei my report cards which were never too good and had “growing in self discpline” marked with a U(nsatisfactory) which no ine oculd understand since I was so disciplined about martial arts.
On top of that my mom dragged me to church every sunday until she died when I was 18. That brought a lot of questions I sought answers to and studied budhism and Toaism because they always interested me anyway; did the LSD thing in college, followed the dead, camped out with the Rainbow coalition, the full-on hippie scene and learned a lot. Basically learned that God is internalized and my mind/viewpoint/intention creates my life, ect.
On the otherside, can’t think of a single street fight I lost as a kid (except one when I was 8 or 9 and thr kid 11 or 12) but somehow thought my training was lacking something.
Bounced around with Wing CHun and Hung Gar until I met my S Mantis teacher and fought about 3 times a week. I learned that the aproach I took before was full of $hit … good, great for discipline and building a foundation, but leaving me over convident to face a real violent situation.
Complete with who I am – or at least happy with where I am now but wise enough to know I’m still growing/learning/experiencing, ect – I know want reality in my training.
My master stresses health and training smarter, but a MARTIAL artist has to be able to fight. My ears always go up when I hear too much focus on chilling out and alinging the planets, ect. I don’t need martial arts for that. I can study yoga, go to church, ect.
I am confident to say, I am one of the easiest going, layed back person you’ll ever meet – curtious to a fault. But what do you suggest I do if I’m down town with my girl and some guy bumps into her, calls her a dirty ho, and when I ask him to apologize he shoves me and BEGINS to make an offense motion?
Something like this hasn’t happened in a long time. About two weeks ago some wise ass called me out of the McDOnald’s bathroom insisting he was first after I got the key from the manager and when I asked him to repeat what he wanted because I couldn’t believe it, he said something punk-a$$ish and actually put his hands on me.
I gave him a “you’re fu(king rediculous” smile and said, go ahead and use it, just don’t touch me.
I wanted to not cause a scene, but at the same time show him I won;t take his **** and maybe bait him a little bit, because I’m not beyond beating a wise a$$ a little bit.
I could have easily cross his arms up, decked him in the face, kicked his legs out and either slammed his head into the sink or kick him while he was down a few times depending on how he landed. But that’s childish and can lead to a gun or knife (which I had) being pulled.
So, to me, MARTIAL arts is empowering one to trully be themselves what that may be. Confident to do and say what they want. When I see someone being a ******wood and I’m in the mood, I’ll say it. When I saw teenagers throwing **** as a fenced in dog I gave them a piece of my mind, ect.
I see too many martial artists – at the two TKD schools in my neighborhood – who simply can’t defend themselves. I can see it in their eye and the way they carry themselves. That is fine. Just not the road I am taking and so I found a place where I can train to meet my needs.
You can train at the same place and not feel that way. Because you get out what you put in and what you want. Some students are great fencers, all are strong.
But none of us do forms, none of us where sashes or swing fake weapons. We train with 10 or 12 oz gloves, full gear and try to keep it as real as possible without really hurting someone. This to me is martial arts … it just happens to be internal.
On the other hand, there is a park around the corner from my master school where people are doing Taiji … God, not only can’t they fight, but they break tons of principles as far as pushing angles, knees waaaaaaay over there front toes, ect. They are dancers not martial artist.
It’s too easy to say “we are too dangerous”, or “we are too high level to play with you” or “this fighting style is about not fighting.”
Don’t worry if you’re too dangerous – I’ll still try.
Forgive my low level, I’d still like to try. And if you are a very high ranking master, please, ley me give you $50 for the 5 minute pushhands lesson. If you beat me good it will be worth it.
If your style is “not about fighting” or better yet “beating (beacuse this is what I want” … then just get the hell out of here – you may have bought into, but I’m embarrassed for you. You can’t get to that high level without fighting. How do you know what works, what doesn’t work?
I am, and probbaly always will be, looking for a better way, testing a better way. To do that, you have to get dirty sometimes … you even have to lose a few confrontations here and there and take your lumps. It’s not for everybody. But don’t confuse being scared or unwilling to do it with a “higher than though” martial art attitude.
If you are already there, please excuse my rudeness. You are better than me and I mean no offense. I’m just trying to get there the only way I know how.
