Been a lot of discussion lately on what Martial Arts are and what Martial Arts aren't. On the differences we apparently feel strongly about. About what self defense is and isn't, what's good, what's not, what's wrong and a whole lot of innuendo seemingly geared to "they just don't get it."
Your dog is better than my dog, but I don't care because I really love my dog. And he loves me.....or just wants cookies and is playing me like the lovable chump that I am.
I think there are more similarities in what everyone here does, than differences. There's a lot of fighting, self defense or whatever you want to call it, but it's bottom lined towards fighting another human being. There's a lot of physical training involved. And most of that training is hard, sweaty work. There's a lot of learning about the human body, how to make yours work better, faster, stronger, healthier etc. And how to break, beat, trap, hurt, sweep, stop etc the body of another. There's usually work geared towards reading the signs, the intentions of others and how what they are subconsciously showing may be different than what they are saying. There's usually work geared towards helping others.
There's usually a particular costume involved, different ones in different places, but usually similar or same ones in each grouping. There's a rank and file system in place. There's a ton of learning going on. There's a lot of trial and error involved in some of that learning and a lot of times it hurts. There's usually some form of salutation between group members that is different from the everyday life of said members. There's physical contact in each training that's geared towards never having to use that particular particular skill anywhere else. (which is both odd and fun)
We all are fiercely loyal and passionate about what we do. I think passion is important, otherwise I feel it's playing charades. We do it because it's fun, and when it is no longer fun, or doesn't meet our needs, we either quit or go someplace else....and become loyal and passionate about that.
But it all comes from different places, usually somewhere back in time. It comes from some guy who thought it up. Which, of course, is vastly different from some other guy when he thought it up. Or some other guy when he (gasp!) changes a little something of what some guy thought up.
To those of you who don't teach yet, if you saw your instructors bickering the way some of us do, you'll probably leave and find another place. To those who teach, if your students did it - you would kick their ***.
Thank Holy God we have computer forums so we can straighten all this stuff out. We won't be singing Kumbayah any time soon, but that's okay. Otherwise, our dogs might think we're crazy.
Your dog is better than my dog, but I don't care because I really love my dog. And he loves me.....or just wants cookies and is playing me like the lovable chump that I am.
I think there are more similarities in what everyone here does, than differences. There's a lot of fighting, self defense or whatever you want to call it, but it's bottom lined towards fighting another human being. There's a lot of physical training involved. And most of that training is hard, sweaty work. There's a lot of learning about the human body, how to make yours work better, faster, stronger, healthier etc. And how to break, beat, trap, hurt, sweep, stop etc the body of another. There's usually work geared towards reading the signs, the intentions of others and how what they are subconsciously showing may be different than what they are saying. There's usually work geared towards helping others.
There's usually a particular costume involved, different ones in different places, but usually similar or same ones in each grouping. There's a rank and file system in place. There's a ton of learning going on. There's a lot of trial and error involved in some of that learning and a lot of times it hurts. There's usually some form of salutation between group members that is different from the everyday life of said members. There's physical contact in each training that's geared towards never having to use that particular particular skill anywhere else. (which is both odd and fun)
We all are fiercely loyal and passionate about what we do. I think passion is important, otherwise I feel it's playing charades. We do it because it's fun, and when it is no longer fun, or doesn't meet our needs, we either quit or go someplace else....and become loyal and passionate about that.
But it all comes from different places, usually somewhere back in time. It comes from some guy who thought it up. Which, of course, is vastly different from some other guy when he thought it up. Or some other guy when he (gasp!) changes a little something of what some guy thought up.
To those of you who don't teach yet, if you saw your instructors bickering the way some of us do, you'll probably leave and find another place. To those who teach, if your students did it - you would kick their ***.
Thank Holy God we have computer forums so we can straighten all this stuff out. We won't be singing Kumbayah any time soon, but that's okay. Otherwise, our dogs might think we're crazy.
