The practice of Martial Art.

[Japaholic]

Its been a while since I came here, to be honest I only do when I want answers or an opinion from people who don't actually know me.

I've been practicing martial art for about 18 months. This includes the physical art and also the philosophical side.

Do any of you practice martial arts? Who do you see yourself in that field? Generally I am a peaceful person. I love a quiet life. I dont know, perhaps its a mid life crisis but studying violence and self defence I feel has given me something emotionally/spiritually. I say that being merely a beginner.

Is there a point where is clicks mentally? It wasn't until I had a few playfights with mates that I accepted I had any skill at all. Whether I have the skill to apply appropriate techniques if I am ever attacked in the street is another question.

Although my own martial art is 30% wing chun and 70% jeet kune do I have an open mind about all of them. I believe there are only so many ways to move your arms and legs in attack or defense so I study them all but practice 2.

I learn purely for self defence / self betterment BUT that said I have once or twice wanted to intervene in anothers problems because of what I know. Should you use your skill for the common good? I mean teachers do it, truck drivers do it, why not martial artists? I am not talking vigilantyism (? spelling) but for example stopping someone getting beaten up or breaking up a fight.

Is it confidence that comes from the practice that changes your view or what you learn about yourself while doing it?

 

[Storm]

I recently took up Aikido, mainly for self-defense and fitness. I adore it. Once I'm competent, I would definitely use it to defend others, though it's not a particularly aggressive discipline. Of course, I'd step in to defend others already, that's just how I was raised.

 

[sandandfoam]

I did a good lot of boxing and kickboxing when I was younger. I loved it. I loved the discipline of training and I loved the feeling of calm that follows the fear when you get into the ring. I loved the speed and the excitement and I loved to win (though that never happened often enough).
On the other side of the coin I am a pacifist. I detest violence and I have never been in a brawl in my life.
I think that in most circumstances if you have to engage in a physical fight in real life it is a sign that you have failed.

 

[Storm]

Out of curiosity, Stephen, were you a pacifist while you were competing?

I don't mean to pick on you, but I've never understood people who practice martial arts and claim pacifism simultaneously.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

I practice Smith-Wesson-do.

 

[sandandfoam]

Out of curiosity, Stephen, were you a pacifist while you were competing?

I don't mean to pick on you, but I've never understood people who practice martial arts and claim pacifism simultaneously.

Feel free to pick

I was a pacifist. Probably the only vegetarian, tofu munching fighter for miles at the time
Boxing is a sport. It's fighting for fun - most times I used to like the people I'd be fighting. I think it's perfectly compatible with pacifism.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I practice iaido. Since I don't carry around a sword on a regular basis, most of the practical techniques I learn in the dojo aren't directly applicable to my day-to-day life, though the idea of avoiding conflict by projecting an air of confidence is, and in a pinch, I could probably manage a face-strike like in Ganmenate with whatever I happened to be carrying.

Realistically, I don't take martial arts for self-defense, and I've got training in other areas that would conflict with it... especially race marshalling, where it's drilled into us not to jump into a hazardous situation without a plan and a way out (because otherwise, you risk simultaneously adding another casualty and taking away a responder, thereby making things even worse).

As far as the martial arts themselves go, I do think there's a point at which things start to "click" and all of the different ideas you've been taught suddenly start to work together... though I don't think I'll ever reach a point where I feel like I'm "done": it's always possible to improve.

 

[sandandfoam]

I practice Smith-Wesson-do.

what happens when you meet someone who practices ak47 - do?

 

[Zephyr]

I'm a pretty alright fencer and a mediocre boxer. You really should never rely on martial arts for self defense. They are terrible for that function.

 

[discoblitz]

I've done a number of martial arts over the years, such as Shotokan Karate, Archery, Iaido and I'm now doing Tai-Chi and have done for about a year and a half now and I teach others. I think all martial arts are different and for different purposes so you choose depending on what you want to do. I personally think that fighting other people is pointless and to an extent fairly primitive. In a modern society we should be able to live peacefully but I learn for those who are too backwards thinking and try to hurt me and for the betterment of myself, both mentally and physically.

With regards to stepping into somebody elses problems, it comes down to whether you believe people should use violence to solve problems. Most problems can be dealt with non-violently so there is that to consider when deciding whether to help someone. Granted there are some things which I believe condone an eye for an eye, such as murder or torture however revenge for this isnt likely to happen in public. Personally if I was walking down the street and I saw somebody being mugged or beaten up etc I would intervene, even if its not my business. I suppose it all comes down to how confident you're feeling about actually being able to break it up.

 

[cardero]

I've done a number of martial arts over the years, such as Shotokan Karate, Archery, Iaido and I'm now doing Tai-Chi and have done for about a year and a half now and I teach others. I think all martial arts are different and for different purposes so you choose depending on what you want to do. I personally think that fighting other people is pointless and to an extent fairly primitive. In a modern society we should be able to live peacefully but I learn for those who are too backwards thinking and try to hurt me and for the betterment of myself, both mentally and physically.

I understand that there are other purposes to this art other than the means for defense and offense. Out of all the talents that I have pursued and developed over my lifetime, martial arts is a practice and a means I truly regret for never having learned. I suppose with my peaceful disposition, my uncanny ability to not find myself in a situation to employ these techniques and my age would be reason enough to justify not taking courses now.

Of course, I could be wrong.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I understand that there are other purposes to this art other than the means for defense and offense.

Definitely. I got into mine mainly for physical fitness, but I think it's helped a lot in other ways as well.

Out of all the talents that I have pursued and developed over my lifetime, martial arts is a practice and a means I truly regret for never having learned. I suppose with my peaceful disposition, my uncanny ability to not find myself in a situation to employ these techniques and my age would be reason enough to justify not taking courses.

Well, like I said, it's not like I carry around a sword on a regular basis, so I don't think I'll ever find myself in a situation to employ the techniques I'm learning.

As for your age, that's not really an obstacle. I didn't start martial arts until I was 30. Several senseis at the kendo club where I train are in their sixties, and there are a large number of members in their 40s and 50s.

If you're worried about a specific physical ailment, you can find a discipline where it isn't as big an issue. Because of all the kneeling and leaping up from sitting positions, my choice of iaido probably isn't the best if you have bad knees, but there are a number of martial arts that tend to be low-impact. Tai Chi is the most famous one, but AFAIK Aikido is fairly low-impact as well... maybe Storm can speak to that.

Of course, I could be wrong.

I dunno. It's not for everyone, but I get a lot out of it.

 

[Japaholic]

I got in a few fights when I was a younger man, not these days. However, when I was younger I would have looked the other way through fear and violence was usually always the result of alcohol consumption.

I don't posture like I used to, I guess because I am more confident. Playfighting with somone who hasn't trained is the only measure I can go on. I train with other martial artists BUT I dont think your average martial art practitioner is going to break into my house to steal to buy crack nor mug me at the ATM.

Thanks for your thoughts and input, very useful.

 

[Storm]

If you're worried about a specific physical ailment, you can find a discipline where it isn't as big an issue. Because of all the kneeling and leaping up from sitting positions, my choice of iaido probably isn't the best if you have bad knees, but there are a number of martial arts that tend to be low-impact. Tai Chi is the most famous one, but AFAIK Aikido is fairly low-impact as well... maybe Storm can speak to that.

Well, there's a lot of falling, but other than that....

We do kneel at the beginning of class, but one of my fellow students has bad knees and seems to do fine.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Well, there's a lot of falling, but other than that....

We do kneel at the beginning of class, but one of my fellow students has bad knees and seems to do fine.

Yeah - I think there's at least a bit of kneeling like that in any Japanese martial art. In Iaido, though, about half the kata start in a kneeling position and from there you have to jump up suddenly, spin around on one knee, or do something equally hard on the joints.

 

[Storm]

Oh, wow. Yeah, definitely not for bad knees. Bet it's pretty, though.

 

[discoblitz]

Yeah - I think there's at least a bit of kneeling like that in any Japanese martial art. In Iaido, though, about half the kata start in a kneeling position and from there you have to jump up suddenly, spin around on one knee, or do something equally hard on the joints.

True, I remember doing the first few katas (cant for the life of me remember what theyre called) and then Shihan said we were going to try to learn a new kata where we rotated 180 degrees on our to a kneeling position and slice down to the side. That was the worst one on my knees that I remember.

One of our members also does Kyudo and I was going to give that a try as he has his own shrine and range in his garden but I never got around to it.

 

[discoblitz]

I understand that there are other purposes to this art other than the means for defense and offense. Out of all the talents that I have pursued and developed over my lifetime, martial arts is a practice and a means I truly regret for never having learned. I suppose with my peaceful disposition, my uncanny ability to not find myself in a situation to employ these techniques and my age would be reason enough to justify not taking courses now.

Of course, I could be wrong.

Martials Arts can be learnt at any age, particularly the softer arts such as Tai-Chi, which I'm doing at the moment, theres a few members in my class who are in their 80's and can still stand on one leg and tie their shoelaces. Dont let your age hold you back from something you want to do. They can be learnt peacefully as well, I myself find it incredibly relaxing when doing some of our exercises and I employ fans when I study as well, the music that accompanies of which is very soothing.