Why did, do, or would you want to practice a martial art?
Hey, all, I'm posting this because it's one (very infrequent) attempt by me, a mdoerator, to get some good general martials arts discussion going, beyond the MMA fan discussion, which is really just specialized sports discussion.
Plus, it's a little bit of market research. I'll be surveying my own students in a while, and I thought I'd get some outside impressions.
Additionally, this is a very non-scientific trial poll; I'll be able to better figure out what questions/options I want to put in the survey of my students.
Please add additional comments in your reply; the additional information you give will be helpful.
I like martial arts for all of the reasons listed to some extent or another. Sometimes the level of machismo in a lot of sports gets annoying and I like the spiritual side of traditional martial arts, even though this doesn't seem as prevalent in MMA. But the main reason I ever wanted to learn martial arts was for self-defense. So I guess, to a certain extent, sprinting is a martial art. lol
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"Is there no standard anymore?" - Walk, Pantera
I started MA for the allure and confidence now I'm more into fitness and for competition. My son now competes so I have passed the torch We went to US team trials last month in vegas and goin to Hawaii to train at Bj Penn's
Chris C - originally I started MA for two main reasons.
1. Growing up a non-redneck in a decidedly redneck town I needed to know how to fight (and it really helped because I fucking hate rednecks). Simple enough yeah?
2. The mind-body/Eastern philosophy aspect.
Later on MA became primarily a great way to stay fit but also cultivate mental toughness, etiquette, respect for elders, and civility - all a big part of my school in Japan (and if you didn't learn you got your ass whipped).
Another aspect that might fit your poll is the group/social aspect that becomes a big part of any school.
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Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
I've always been drawn to contact sports but lacked the size and strength as a kid growing up.
Now with Judo/BJJ I like the combative aspect and the competition. Winning is a high for me. Also, being able to pick up, throw, flip, choke, kick and arm bar people feels awesome.
Plus as a trainer and coach I feel that you should compete in something to better understand how hard to push, when to stop and to know what your clients/athletes are going through. You can relate better. In other words, it can make you better at what you do.
Fitness...was the only sport/activity that ever appealed to me....then competition....then the confidence....then the discipline and personal development.
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Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable. -- Sidney J. Harris
When I was younger, I always wanted to take martial arts because I was small. But, I never had the opportunity.
I started Shingitai Jujitsu and Russian Sambo a couple weeks ago. It's not to kick ass though like it would have been when I was younger. Now it's more along the lines of rounding myself out. I want to be stronger, more mobile, and gain some body awareness.
So far, I've been choked, thrown, kicked, kneed and have sweated more than anytime I've ever been in the gym. Loving it! Who would have thought that physical violence could be so fun?!
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Those who live by the sword, get shot by those who don't.
Chris, I voted the way I know my son would have voted (since he practices Kung Fu and I don't do any martial arts). When the Y where I work offered Kung Fu and Tai Chi he was interested because he wanted to learn to fight. Some of the demonstrations were of Wushu, but they don't let the students move into that for a long, long time.
I encouraged him to get involved because I wanted him to round out his baseball with something that increased his strength through a big range of motion (increasing his mobility too). I felt this would benefit his sport and strengthen him in a way that would prevent the types of overuse and contact injuries more common in baseball. I think it's done that. He's more flexible and more mobile than anyone on his team.
What he ended up getting out of it that neither of us were thinking about was learning the mental toughness, disciplined respect (he was already a pretty respectful kid, but it's different in martial arts), and control. He appreciates those qualities of the martial arts too and sees that his Shifu is a tougher/cooler man because he does NOT show off.
I guess my point in this longer-than-intended post is that what draws you to the martial arts is not necessarily what keeps you there.
I guess my point in this longer-than-intended post is that what draws you to the martial arts is not necessarily what keeps you there.
I guess one could say this about exercise in general. We all start for one reason or another (losing weight, sports performance) but continue when we understand more of its benefits.
__________________ The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same. -- Carlos Castaneda
I guess one could say this about exercise in general. We all start for one reason or another (losing weight, sports performance) but continue when we understand more of its benefits.
That's certainly been true for me. What I've found most interesting in this small poll is the full diversity of initial motivations.
It is not easy to try to appeal, as an instructor/school, to that full array of interests. Ultimately, most of it (sport aside, to some degree) the same, and it all converges. But on the front end, there are certain things I can say/do/market, and I can't present myself as being everything to everyone.
when i started it was to learn self defence, but also for more self confidence, since that kinda sucked. And it helped alot!
But i cant say it wasnt to learn how to kick ass, or have people think i can. I was (am) a small kid, and been picked on alot for it. And it really helps that if something was to happen, i stand a much higher chanse now than i did before.
The social\competitive aspect. Train as a team, compete as an individual.
As an adult my ego couldn't handle getting destroyed playing most sports for years until I got to the point to where I was "average" and likely never "good". In MMA you might get destroyed for years before you get to be average but at least it's over in 3 seconds. You don't have to to accept an ass beating for an hour or sit on the bench. If you're in the ring then you have a "chance", it might be slim as hell but there's a chance.
I started karate with my kids primarily as I wanted them to learn self-defense, and I always try walking whatever walk I teach my kids.
I'm finding out now that I utterly adore many aspects of the art - the coordination, the self-discipline, and the indescribable, well, *fun* of being pushed to the limits of your physical strength and still beg for more. I never before realized quite what a warrior spirit I have residing in my 5'3.5" frame.
My favorite martials arts right now is kendo (the way of the sword). Every sparring bout leaves me utterly toasted....but someday (some day!) I'll be able to hold my own. I'm looking forward to that day.
My favorite martials arts right now is kendo (the way of the sword). Every sparring bout leaves me utterly toasted....but someday (some day!) I'll be able to hold my own. I'm looking forward to that day.
Enjoy,
Barbara
Good for you, Barbara. You speak to the exact reasons I started my ladies only class.
I also practice Kumdo (Korean). Nice to know you can put the hurt on someone with a broomstick. LOL
I started BJJ 6 weeks ago mainly to get back in shape but I'm sure somewhere in the abck of my mind I also wanted to prove that at 35 I could still hang with the younger guys. Best move I ever made! I professionally rodeo'd for 10 years and the rush from rolling with a guy is the same as stepping into an arena with a bull.
Make me feel young again. Not to mention, the fat is falling off not only form the exercise but also from the urge to eat right now that I am exercising again.
I started BJJ 6 weeks ago mainly to get back in shape but I'm sure somewhere in the abck of my mind I also wanted to prove that at 35 I could still hang with the younger guys. Best move I ever made! I professionally rodeo'd for 10 years and the rush from rolling with a guy is the same as stepping into an arena with a bull.
Make me feel young again. Not to mention, the fat is falling off not only form the exercise but also from the urge to eat right now that I am exercising again.
I started BJJ back in May. I always wanted to study something growing up, but there was no schools in my area. There was one guy who taught something, but after some drunk guy beat him up, nobody really took him seriously.
Anyways I finally got the initiative to go and do it. I never wrestled in high school as I was about 60lbs lighter then now. I was active then though. I researched my schools and decided upon one offering karate, mt, and bjj. I havent been now in almost a month because of the schedule change there conflicting with my school schedule. However as soon as I can get over there at least once a week, I will continue. Im only a white belt with 1 stripe but that doesnt even matter. I know if I need to I can rear naked choke, triangle, sweep, guillotine, etc.
Main reasons: to learn it, self defense, confidence
i grew up wrestling. since i started at 4 i cant say i had a motivation other than my dad saying "hey, you're going to wrestle." that and i had two brothers that were both wrestlers and state champs and one of them went to nationals once or twice. so i guess it was obligatory that i follow suit.
but i used to watch all those chop socky kung fu theater movies on saturday afternoons as a kid and wanted to learn that stuff. then i went to college and they had an aikido school there so i joined just for somethign to help me blow off steam from classes. and then i took a judo class as a PE elective and loved it so i signed up at a school and was doing it along with aikido. it was a lot like wrestling in canvas pajamas. but the school closed down.
then one day i found a shaolin school and it was awesome. so basically it was me jsut stumbling from one activity to another just looking for a hobby to pursue that keeps me active.
the school i am in now does full contact sparring and thats a lot of fun and the more i do it the more motivated i become to do it. and jiu jitsu is the toughest workout i can think of. plus its similar to wrestling except they let you do all the stuff you wished you could do in a wrestling match (choke people, lock hands, etc) so i like it for that. but if i had it to do over again i think i would have found a judo school. i just like throwing ppl.
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I intend to live forever, so far so good.
Swim! Bike! Run!
1.5k!, 40k!, 10k!
Intelligence is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in fruit salad.
I was raped as a teenager and don't ever want that to happen again. I take Krav Maga and have a CCW permit. My friends call me paranoid. :-)
I'm really sorry to hear that Judging by your avatar, it seems like you've been thriving since!! KICK ASS
Quote:
Originally Posted by Maki Riddington
I've always been drawn to contact sports but lacked the size and strength as a kid growing up.
Now with Judo/BJJ I like the combative aspect and the competition. Winning is a high for me. Also, being able to pick up, throw, flip, choke, kick and arm bar people feels awesome.
Plus as a trainer and coach I feel that you should compete in something to better understand how hard to push, when to stop and to know what your clients/athletes are going through. You can relate better. In other words, it can make you better at what you do.
Is that you in your avatar, when you were younger or something? Whoever it is, is a real cutie!
Pure self improvement. There are aspects of myself that I can address on the mat and no where else. I train in Aikido, so it's not competitive or offensive and that allows me a level of relaxation that is unparalleled by anything else I do. I also am able to train with my wife, so it's a family activity that we do. And, it's a heck of a lot cheaper than counseling.
IAlso, being able to pick up, throw, flip, choke, kick and arm bar people feels awesome.
judo and bjj are amazing all around workouts but none of my friends would ever join up bc of that. i think something about hard work scared them. so my selling point was always this. i always told them that few things are as gratifying as throwing someone. one of the few things that is as gratifying is choking them and you get the opportunity to do both. that approach never worked either. i think that after something about me scared them.
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I intend to live forever, so far so good.
Swim! Bike! Run!
1.5k!, 40k!, 10k!
Intelligence is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in fruit salad.
I like martial arts for all the reasons above. I mostly have done strength training in the past, but a friend recently got me into some simple MMA stuff. I like how it requires strength, quickness, and endurance - not to mention all the technical aspects to grappling and submissions. 10 minutes rolling around on the mat makes me more tired than any other sort of cardio
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"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." -- T.S. Eliot
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit."-- Aristotle
When I left active service in the Marine Corps, I think I felt a lack of performance of my masculine identity. Being a Marine was (in some ways still is) my masculine identity, and my ideas of competency, worth, and virtue are very much tied up in that.
I started kickboxing right after that, I think as a way to repair my identity, and to engage in a new performance of identity. I have never been anything more than mediocre, but getting in a ring in front of a hundred or so (mostly) drunk people who want to see someone get their ass beat was--is--one of the scariest things I have ever done.
My first fight was before NC got a boxing commision, so there was no real regulation. It was modelled on PKA superfights. I lost a split decision in a brutal fight. We wore 10oz gloves (which is just like a piece of leather over your hand) and those little foamy booties over our feet/instep. We beat each other to a pulp, and the crowd loved it. I know that a big part of my satisfication and my continued interest was the fact that I was performing a "tough guy." Someone with the balls to risk spectacular, humiliating failure, and the physical distress of fighting.
After NC got a boxing commission we started boxing (TuffMan) and did that for several years. I got TKO'd in Christmas of 2003 at a club called "The Frontier Club" (metal detectors to get inside) and decided to hang it up. it was the first time I had lost anything but a split decision, and it felt really crappy.
Competing as a powerlifter (in this case, I've gone from mediocre to teh suck) is an attempt to perform a maculine identity.
I suppose I got into Taekwondo for self defense, but also for fitness. I am a red belt and looking to get my Black beforethe year ends, but here is hoping. My Son already has is Black and is looking for his second degree this year. Although he is a big boy at 6 foot 250 pounds he really needed a boost in his self esteem and Master Song has really helped him out there.
My biggest problem at the age of 48 is controlling my weight and being able to stretch as required for some of the kicks. I could really use some help there.
I suppose I got into Taekwondo for self defense, but also for fitness. I am a red belt and looking to get my Black beforethe year ends, but here is hoping. My Son already has is Black and is looking for his second degree this year. Although he is a big boy at 6 foot 250 pounds he really needed a boost in his self esteem and Master Song has really helped him out there.
My biggest problem at the age of 48 is controlling my weight and being able to stretch as required for some of the kicks. I could really use some help there.
Nice site, by the way.
Thanks for chiming in! Best wishes to both you and your son on promotion tests.
It's great that you both are active in Taekwondo with your respective "non-traditional" situations (size and age). But, as you know by now, a wide range of people can achieve quite a bit. Good for you both!
My advice to you as another 48 year old is to just be patient, but also be consistent. Even one drop of water a day can eventually wear down the biggest stone. You have to train as/for who you are. Just try not get discouraged, and just keep at it, one day/one session at a time.
Hmmm.....Not sure I should go here. We had a Kempo World Championship here in Jersey a little while back. Was it the real Kempo championship? Are there more than one? Local guys did well... Now I've seen them in action...
Sweet Jaysus they were awful... No technique, no timing, no focus... Pretty much nothing!
I see that and wonder why anyone would take up a martial art!?!?!!
How do we get a standard...How can we rate and certify people on a universal scale so that newbies can have an idea where they should be training?
I got lucky...I walked into a great club at random and they taught me to fight..not sport nonsense - to fight.
These guys have a whole world wide network of terrible trainers and endorse and reward it at an international level!?!?!?
In addition... One of my guest care announced to me that he was a 1st dan going for his second (18yrs old and not lying) and he can't throw a mawashageri!?!?!?
No wonder people laugh at TMA. I have now given up defending TMA in general - I will never recommend an art again - only a club - that I've trained at!
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Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable. -- Sidney J. Harris
I got into it for fitness (started in cardio kickboxing and then joined TKD class). Switched to kajukenpo karate because it's so practical and teaches real-life applications of the classroom skills. I also took (and now teach) women's self defense for the same reasons. If I am ever attacked, I want RL skills that will work. I also think EVERY woman should have some basic tools that she will hopefully never need to use.
At this time, I am still in martial arts for the challenge of mental and physical self-improvement -- I feel fear (of injury and failure) every time I bow onto the mat. I force myself to face it and work through it and hopefully one day past it. I am improving both my body and my mind: discipline for me includes facing and working through the fear.
Too many schools just hand out belts (like the first school I was at - got my 2nd degree black belt, but knew I could never really hold my head up at any other school with my skills). The school I'm at now has high standards and fails some people at nearly every belt test. It takes many years (not just 1-2) to earn a black belt, there's no guarantee that everyone will (or should) earn a black belt -- and I have never seen a senior belt student from my school who I didn't believe could really defend him or herself.
Why did, do, or would you want to practice a martial art?
We went to US team trials last month in vegas and goin to Hawaii to train at Bj Penn's
It started as self-defense...
Judging by your avatar, it seems like you've been thriving since!! KICK ASS 
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