When I first knew my teacher, he used to talk about what he called “the crab mentality”. When I asked him what that was, he said; “Ever see bucket of crab in night market?” I said I had. He said; “Next time you watch awhile. You will see when one tries to get to the top and get out of the bucket, the others will grab him with their claws and pull him back down.”
In my day, in the kuoshu tournaments, we fought and we fought hard IN THE RING. But outside, all promoted a spirit of friendship in the arts, through fighting and training. Two of my most treasured posessions still remain as a banner that was given to me by the Taiwanese team that reads “Friendship through martial arts.” and a plaque, given to me by the Japanese team that says “In the spirit of brotherhood, we compete.”
WHAT has happened to martial virtue in this country? Why all the bickering over useless things? A civilized comparison is the only thing worthwhile in a discussion forum. Since many things “must be shown to be understood” what is the purpose of denigrating other methods or practices through words alone?
I have, three times, tried to participate in such forums and or discussion lists. The first, a xingyi list started by Forest Chang back in the 90’s. The second, the early empty flower discussion board (same time I had one on my own site also). The third, THIS forum.
Always the same thing as I first stated when I got involved a few weeks back. Not much reason to post. The threads always derail and devolve into something that is either irrational chest thumping, a “look down my nose at what you do because you don’t think like me” mentality, a clown trying to be cute, or two clowns airing past grievances. What a waste of time in most cases. Where it COULD be SO much better if people would just extend a little, and I don’t ask for much, but a LITTLE martial spirit.
Too bad. Many could learn alot if properly handled I think. But I do understand the difficulty of where to draw the line between “free speech” and “abusive behaviour” in terms of moderation. It’s a very tough call sometimes and I ceased wanting to to that which is why I abandoned my own discussoin forum about a year after it came into being. Too much B.S. and not enough productive discussion.
If discussion were discussion.. put up a clip and then talk about what you see and think. Then let others do the same. All sides may learn from that. But put up a clip and say “give me a break” or some other similar comment having no merit for discussion and what’s the value?
Hat’s off to the mods for doing what they do as it’s not easy. But is surely would be nice if everyone could just extend that little bit of martial spirit.
