No, I’m not thinking of a sex-change. Or even of dressing up in womens clothing. [Hell, I’m not Stacey]
After reading Willow Sword’s post, I’m posting this little anecdote, and yes Mr.Lek, it is martial arts related. Sort of.
Three months ago my lass was complaining about my MA. A “typical, male neandertholic thing” apparantly. However, when she found out that about 2/3 of the class were female, she thought that was a good idea, and that female empowerment etc. was a fundamentally positive concept of the late 20th century.
Apparantly the idea of me getting hot and sweaty with a dozen lithe females wasn’t so good.
Anyway, my point is that over the last 30 years, this trend of role-reversal has grown steadily. Is it a bad thing for guys to do MA’s now. You usually get a “typical male” comment from lasses, and a “so how hard are you then” moronic comment from most blokes.
No matter how we justify our aims to ourselves [self-defence, fitness etc] a large proportion of the non-MA public will see is in a narrow minded stereotypical view.
And if I can’t get away with MA, can I get away with f arting in public?
If you are, Nexus, by any chance a small bearded man with severe dandruff and a mullet, who has a fondness for lime green anoraks and goloshers, then please leave.
If not, man did that sound cool, in a Mr.Miyagi sort of way.
And Nexus, whilst on a fundamental level I do agree [as I believe that within ourselves is the necessary potential to achieve all we could ever want to achieve], I do not believe that we are “all” we could ever want to be, as without the exertion and determination to reach our zenith, our potential, we can never be fully satisfied.
“No, I’m not thinking of a sex-change. Or even of dressing up in womens clothing.” [Hell, I’m not Stacey]
And you actually made me load this post?
"Anyway, my point is that over the last 30 years, this trend of role-reversal has grown steadily. Is it a bad thing for guys to do MA’s now. You usually get a “typical male” comment from lasses, and a “so how hard are you then” moronic comment from most blokes.
No matter how we justify our aims to ourselves [self-defence, fitness etc] a large proportion of the non-MA public will see is in a narrow minded stereotypical view." ETC.
I have been thinking about releasing a post slightly like this from time to time,thanks to you I might just do that next time I remember that…
Yes,it´s quite ridiculous.
Could it be it is a cause of pure ignorance.
If only understanding of the subject comes from movies it is now wonder that ignorant mind makes things like this up,combined with no actual study,ever.
I would say ignore it,overflowing full glasses are of no use.
You can use a friendly response of calling people to a class or two if they act open minded and pay respect,maybe that would crush a couple of myths.
It is at times,reminded,that you should not make a big number of it “in public” to avoid unnecessary “blokes” from challenging you to prove something,dangerous and bad reputation.
i can´t really say anything else right now,let me know what you think.
i think that problem may be more of an individual thing. unless she thinks of you as neanderthal-prone, she should know better than to say that something that makes up so much of who you are is neandertholic.
take my girl. she knows i’m harmless – that i’m a decent person and don’t like violence and … – so for her to say that something that is such a big part of my life is contrary to who i am would be out of line.
we all know that MA are misunderstood by the vast majority of non-MA people, so we’re going to have to deal with the typical dolt who, upon learning of our activity, has to ask, “so, have you ever killed someone with your bare hands?” but such is life. but when someone who knows us better still makes such a claim, turn it back on them and say, “is that your opinion of me?”
if they say yes, show 'em what a neanderthal can do.
Women seem to be wierd in Northern Europe. No non-lesbian non-academic chick here would say that, unless you were some kind of show-off and really deserved it. No women here say “typical male”, I would say “what do you prefer, to munch carpets?” They might complain about men but not for liking/participating in contact sports.
I agree with fa_jing. However, in the US there is the pussification of the American male to deal with. Most guys nowadays have the emotional instability of a woman during her cycle and are insecure little girls. This forum is a good refelection of that.
Well maybe your hareem of lithe Japanese hottie hasn’t succumb to the greater evil. But one day they will Ryu. And whilst they’re driving HGV’s, refusing to shave their legs and fisting each other you’ll be alone, alone and afraid. And you’ll think;
“Ooooh no, I wish I’d have played an active part on that discussion at KFO that time, rather than turning a blind eye. Then I might have been OK… sob sob…”
Trust me. When you see Aki drive past behind the wheel of a Wal-Mart Home Delivery Service [TM] van, her butch arms lifting a range of garden furniture, her Jay Leno haircut, not even wavering in the breeze, you’ll know.
The problem I see is that martial media (UFC, movies, magazines) and the way mainstream culture depicts martial arts (commercials especially) paint martial artists in a bad or even worse, humorous light. The truth is that most of the martial artists that I know personally are some of the fiestiest, coolest and most well adjusted people I know. Everybody else just needs to get on the boat…martial arts=all the things that they should really be teaching in public schools.
Just play it all cowboy-like and say, “yep” to all questions.
As for the pussification of the US male- gotta agree there. Nobody knows how to be a standup guy anymore. We’re either “d1cks” or “A ssh0l3s”..which makes me wonder: what’s the difference?
Are “A ssh0l3s” just louder “d1cks”, or are “d1cks” just sneaky gits? And how do you navigate around either???
Oh, uh, Martial arts…no one’s asked me very much about it, and certainly not anything negative. Prob’ly an age-related thing- being older, no one much gives a dam n. They are more like, “you’ve got time for that?”
This is because people get it confused with “pussification” or whatever nonsense they call it.
If you want to be a “stand up guy” you need to take responsiblity for ALL your actions, be both in touch and in control of your emotions, strive to keep up good values, morals, and dignity, treat women with respect, stop being controlled by your d1ck, and have a little discipline in your life.
Whoever isn’t willing to do that stuff, don’t complain. You made your bed, now lie in it.
This isn’t meant for anyone in particular, but if guys and gals want their images to change it’s up to them to do something about it.
However, in the US there is the pussification of the American male to deal with. Most guys nowadays have the emotional instability of a woman during her cycle and are insecure little girls
Amen!!! This is true over here in Oz too. I can’t understand all these wussy little biotches…why why why? I am horrified everytime our prime minister goes overseas to bend over for George W Bush. To think that people of other countries might see that pathetic snivelling piece of puke and think that he actually represents Australia is terrifying! God have mercy.
I think Billy Connely (my favourite social critic ) summed it up nicely in one of his videos. He said something along the lines of the womens movement being a group of strong self organised women who demand this, expect that, require this, want that, they want it now, they want it yesterday, they want it full stop and they won’t take no for an answer.
He then said the mens movement was a bunch of guys sitting round in circles crying “My father didn’t love me…”. It only stands to reason that chicks don’t respect lots of guys.
What really makes me sick is the complete reversal that’s going on. How many ads are there now with chicks treating guys like dirt and laughing it up, because now they’re empowered. Things that would have had feminists foaming at the mouth if it had been the other way around.
There was a billboard around for a while with this chick in high heels holding two big, naked, muscley guys on a leash. The guys were on all fours. Now, reverse the genders in that ad and see how long it would have lasted.
Seems to me that chicks justifiably made a fuss because there was a definite mysoginist vibe happening. So things started levelling out, treating women like objects became frowned upon and a whole new balance was achieved.
Now the bitches are throwing it back and acting up in all the ways that they had such a problem with before. Knee-jerk power trip with their new found equality. Yet still they call the sexism card at the slightest opportunity, riding the PC bandwagon for all it’s worth.
The result? Chicks with ego trips like guys used to have and guys that are pussy-whipped into scared little mama’s boys.
"There was a billboard around for a while with this chick in high heels holding two big, naked, muscley guys on a leash. The guys were on all fours. Now, reverse the genders in that ad and see how long it would have lasted. "
That’s disgusting, and I completely agree with you 100%, Serpent.
Man… I should quit reading these threads because all it does is get me POed sometimes. People just bicker back and forth, but in the real world no one takes a stand to do anything about it.
