Martial arts sayings or proverbs

[Gweilo]

I read a martial art saying from a top instructor ,of an art I train in, I wanted to share it with you, and ask if you have any, that may have inspired, encouraged, or been thought provoking.

" every one you train with, is your instructor, those who wish to beat you up, are your best instructors".
Mikhail Ryabko.

 

[drop bear]

 

[Gerry Seymour]

A personal favorite of mine (because I needed it more than most): "More isn't better. Better is better."

 

[JowGaWolf]

"Everyone starts from zero"

This helped beginners in my classes to put things into perspective when they have difficulty.

 

[dvcochran]

This relates to everything in my life, not just MA.

"You have to be smarter than what you are working on."

When I say this I usually get some hard looks and it sometimes offends people before they think it through. I almost always follow the statement up with the truth that I am usually in trouble because I am not.

 

[Deleted member 34973]

Speed + ignorance=injury

 

[Buka]

"Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake".
Napoleon.

 

[Deleted member 39746]

There might be a "eye for a eye.." version in a lot of them as well.

I think i heard/saw a variation of that used for FMA once.

 

[Monkey Turned Wolf]

This one from my signature: "A warrior may choose pacifism; others are condemned to it"

One of the most meaningful and important sayings, IMO, and something that does a great job of explaining why everyone should train.

 

[skribs]

Here are a few I've heard from my guitar instructor, that I've used in martial arts:

1. I'm not impressed by speed, I'm impressed by accuracy.
2. Do it until you get it right 3 times in a row. (Which is similar to one I've heard in martial arts: "Don't do it 'til you get it right, do it 'til you can't get it wrong.")

 

[DocWard]

Here are a few I've heard from my guitar instructor, that I've used in martial arts:

1. I'm not impressed by speed, I'm impressed by accuracy.
2. Do it until you get it right 3 times in a row. (Which is similar to one I've heard in martial arts: "Don't do it 'til you get it right, do it 'til you can't get it wrong.")

But some of the best guitarists play sloppy! But yes, I get your point. When someone starts talking playing guitar and speed, I am reminded of Debussy's comment that music is the silence between the notes. It can be taken a lot of ways. Come to think of it, it can probably be analogized to the thread subject. It isn't the contact in a technique that matters, but the movement delivering it, or something of the sort.

My instructor used to have a sign in his dojo that said "Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect Practice makes perfect." I was reminded of that as I was working on the kata for my black belt.

 

[Gerry Seymour]

But some of the best guitarists play sloppy! But yes, I get your point. When someone starts talking playing guitar and speed, I am reminded of Debussy's comment that music is the silence between the notes. It can be taken a lot of ways. Come to think of it, it can probably be analogized to the thread subject. It isn't the contact in a technique that matters, but the movement delivering it, or something of the sort.

My instructor used to have a sign in his dojo that said "Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect Practice makes perfect." I was reminded of that as I was working on the kata for my black belt.

I think that's true for kata/forms. But for actual application, it's imperfect practice that we learn the most from. I mention it not as a pedantic correction, but as a reminder that our practice should include enough challenge that we occasionally fail (resistance in training), because that's where we actually learn the most.

 

[DocWard]

I think that's true for kata/forms. But for actual application, it's imperfect practice that we learn the most from. I mention it not as a pedantic correction, but as a reminder that our practice should include enough challenge that we occasionally fail (resistance in training), because that's where we actually learn the most.

I would agree, wholeheartedly. I would add, though, that one can do everything correctly and still fail. While it may seem counter-intuitive, as both a lawyer and a medic I have had that simple fact brought home to me on several occasions. For me, it was both important and difficult to take those experiences and attempt to use them as learning moments. It is much easier in the dojo, whether working on a technique or sparring.

 

[skribs]

I think that's true for kata/forms. But for actual application, it's imperfect practice that we learn the most from. I mention it not as a pedantic correction, but as a reminder that our practice should include enough challenge that we occasionally fail (resistance in training), because that's where we actually learn the most.

I wouldn't call that imperfect practice. I'd call it failure drills.

 

[W.Bridges]

never say i cant, if you do follow it by yet.
failure is the first step to succedding

 

[skribs]

never say i cant, if you do follow it by yet.
failure is the first step to succedding

Within reason, of course.
"I can't rob a bank...yet."

 

[Gerry Seymour]

Within reason, of course.
"I can't rob a bank...yet."

Agreed. Like most sayings, it's best not to take it too literally. I heard someone teaching their people to literally NEVER use the word "can't", and to replace it with "won't". This lead people to say things like:

• I won't find any paper.
• I won't reach that.
• I won't straighten my leg anymore, since the injury.

All of which should actually have been "can't". And this guy was serious about the need to eliminate "can't".

 

[Xue Sheng]

Agreed. Like most sayings, it's best not to take it too literally. I heard someone teaching their people to literally NEVER use the word "can't", and to replace it with "won't". This lead people to say things like:

• I won't find any paper.
• I won't reach that.
• I won't straighten my leg anymore, since the injury.

All of which should actually have been "can't". And this guy was serious about the need to eliminate "can't".

however there is an awfully big difference between "I can't breath" and "I won't breath"

 

[skribs]

Like most sayings, it's best not to take it too literally

Where's the fun in that?

 

[Deleted member 34973]

These latest post, remind me of the saying.

"There is an Art to destruction, but the true art is in control"