What are martial arts for?
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David Turton
Chris
Nick Hughes
Socrates
8 posters
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What are martial arts for?
A thread about a skillful but prickly MMA coach is going downhill fast... However, I think there's a deeper issue at stake. What are martial arts for?
(A) Just fighting, including self-defence.
(B) Self-development / character building / self-protection.
(C) A bit of both. If you take MAs too far from fighting, you end up with ballroom dancing. But if you only concentrate on fighting and absolutely nothing else, you lose a lot of the other benefits.
Personally, I would go for (C). Staying calm under pressure is a skill that the average person will be able to use every single day of their life. But how often will they have to knock someone out?
What do you lot think?
(A) Just fighting, including self-defence.
(B) Self-development / character building / self-protection.
(C) A bit of both. If you take MAs too far from fighting, you end up with ballroom dancing. But if you only concentrate on fighting and absolutely nothing else, you lose a lot of the other benefits.
Personally, I would go for (C). Staying calm under pressure is a skill that the average person will be able to use every single day of their life. But how often will they have to knock someone out?
What do you lot think?
Socrates- Number of posts : 1628
Localisation : Barcelona
Registration date : 2006-08-15
Re: What are martial arts for?
Brilliant question and I'll be back to throw in my two euros worth soon...right now I have some clients to deal with.
Nick
Nick
Re: What are martial arts for?
Crickets... Tumbleweed... Brazilian footballer weeping in the corner as everyone ignores him...
Socrates- Number of posts : 1628
Localisation : Barcelona
Registration date : 2006-08-15
Re: What are martial arts for?
It's a good question Soc.
I think any pastime you choose gives you whatever you are willing to take from it. For good or bad.
The individual will take as much or as little from what they do as their own makeup allows.
As for the martial arts, they can potentially be beneficial in all of the ways you mention above, and many more. Whether they actually WILL be is down to the individual involved.
Horse to water and not being able to make it drink comes to mind. I tend to add, the horse will DRAG you to water if it is thirsty enough. People tend to take what they NEED from the activity they take part in.
I think any pastime you choose gives you whatever you are willing to take from it. For good or bad.
The individual will take as much or as little from what they do as their own makeup allows.
As for the martial arts, they can potentially be beneficial in all of the ways you mention above, and many more. Whether they actually WILL be is down to the individual involved.
Horse to water and not being able to make it drink comes to mind. I tend to add, the horse will DRAG you to water if it is thirsty enough. People tend to take what they NEED from the activity they take part in.
Chris- Moderator
- Number of posts : 2042
Localisation : Trollville
Registration date : 2006-08-14
Re: What are martial arts for?
I got into Martial Arts as a kid to enable me to defend myself as I was brought up on a Council estate in Liverpool. So its always good to be able to be able to look after yourself a little.
Started with Ju-Jitsu (at my fathers insistence) With Jack Britten. Alpha Ju-Jitsu
Next Shotokan Karate at 13 or 14 (because I wanted to) With Andy Sherry and Frank Brennan. Red Triangle Karate Club
Discovered Kickboxing at 16 (because I realised that Karate lacked the contact aspect be it sparring or bag / pad work) With Jeff and John Bullock, Hawthorne Health and Fitness
From kick boxing got introduceed to Thai-boxing, which in turn gave me my interest in boxing.
Its been a long time since I've actually attended any Martial arts class. I take from everything I've ever studied and add to it what I think is suitable for me as an individual, be it headbutts, pre-emptive strikes, a little ground work etc.
To this day I have a small arsenal of techniques that I drill and practise and would fall back on in a confrontation.
In short I never wanted anything else from the Martial Arts but the ability to defend myself. I never reached black belt in any art I studied the closest would be Shotokan were I achieved my brown belt. But that was when I was young and still didnt understand the difference between real fighting and Martial Arts training.
Started with Ju-Jitsu (at my fathers insistence) With Jack Britten. Alpha Ju-Jitsu
Next Shotokan Karate at 13 or 14 (because I wanted to) With Andy Sherry and Frank Brennan. Red Triangle Karate Club
Discovered Kickboxing at 16 (because I realised that Karate lacked the contact aspect be it sparring or bag / pad work) With Jeff and John Bullock, Hawthorne Health and Fitness
From kick boxing got introduceed to Thai-boxing, which in turn gave me my interest in boxing.
Its been a long time since I've actually attended any Martial arts class. I take from everything I've ever studied and add to it what I think is suitable for me as an individual, be it headbutts, pre-emptive strikes, a little ground work etc.
To this day I have a small arsenal of techniques that I drill and practise and would fall back on in a confrontation.
In short I never wanted anything else from the Martial Arts but the ability to defend myself. I never reached black belt in any art I studied the closest would be Shotokan were I achieved my brown belt. But that was when I was young and still didnt understand the difference between real fighting and Martial Arts training.
Dave- Number of posts : 735
Localisation : CHESHIRE
Registration date : 2006-09-15
Re: What are martial arts for?
Pyjama sales ?
combatnige- Number of posts : 242
Age : 55
Localisation : Cheshire
Registration date : 2009-04-21
Mr Nobody- Number of posts : 933
Age : 48
Localisation : NZ
Registration date : 2007-01-20
Re: What are martial arts for?
After some thought on the subject. Its obvious that its different things to different people. Some do it for the spiritual, some for the fighting (self defense). some for the sport competition / trophy side of things, others to imitate their childhood heroes, other the feel that they are actually achieving something (grades. belts etc). Some people do it as a form of physical exercise.
Dave- Number of posts : 735
Localisation : CHESHIRE
Registration date : 2006-09-15
Re: What are martial arts for?
Where it gets confusing is that lots of people say they want to do it for one thing but are training for something else. I blame the clubs to start with but people should realise at some point. As far as I can see this mainly happens when people want to train for self protection.
Ace Ventura- Number of posts : 187
Registration date : 2009-04-24
Re: What are martial arts for?
Ace,Ace Ventura wrote:Where it gets confusing is that lots of people say they want to do it for one thing but are training for something else. I blame the clubs to start with but people should realise at some point. As far as I can see this mainly happens when people want to train for self protection.
by this do you mean where a club advertises itself as teaching self defense but then teaches things that are far from real world self defense?
Dave- Number of posts : 735
Localisation : CHESHIRE
Registration date : 2006-09-15
Re: What are martial arts for?
Hi Dave
yes, exactly that.
One example, a local clubs poster for kids self potection.
Pic 1, car with guy leaning out of window talking to kid (age around 6-10)
Pic 2 Adult getting out of car, kid now standing in fighting guard
yes, exactly that.
One example, a local clubs poster for kids self potection.
Pic 1, car with guy leaning out of window talking to kid (age around 6-10)
Pic 2 Adult getting out of car, kid now standing in fighting guard
Ace Ventura- Number of posts : 187
Registration date : 2009-04-24
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