Ok. I am gonna put an end to this once and for all with the reasons for all of this! 1) You are right slow to fast section. I believe that all begginers should go slow at first and then to medium until they have mastered the basic moves.. Even if that means they have to miss a few gradings. 2) The hands on the hips section, you are made to put your hands onto your hips for several reasons: i) This is used to get the technique right, if you are taught without doing this then your arm would be laying about next to your side and it would be a bit slow to punch with it. ii) It looks good: imagine if you have a really good, stronge, solid stance, a great punch, you are looking directly forward and your arm is dropping down aimlessly at the floor. It would all look good apart from the arm. 3) Stances: Low, solid and long stances are used to work your muscles. If you start making really low and long stances from a white belt stage then your muscles will hurt at first because they are not used to the pain, but after a while of hard working your muscles will gradually start to get stronger and you will be able to stay in this position for longer. See what I mean? E.G In Karate there is a stance called Kebadachi/quebadachi (not sure how it is spelt) better known as horse riding stance and if you make it long and low then it will really hurt at first but after some time it will gradually become less painful. Its the same with your arms. Hold a punch for ages and it will hurt but do it on a regular basis and it will become easier and easier. Does that make sense? 4) Sparing: Ok. When people fight at Karate or any other 'MA' then they gradually get better at their blocks, punches, kicks and striking techniques this way they will be so used to fighting that they most likely won't even get hit! Alternatively, since that is a bit of a stupid answer: People who do martial arts will know whats it's like to hit. For instance, they train on bags, some on wooden boards, etc... Everyone has hit someone before, thats what I reckon anyway. Also everyone has been hurt before, you can't say that they won't know what it's like if they get hurt! Oh and think about it, if you were in a fight and you hit someone you ain't gonna stop because your hand hurts, 2 reasons why: i) Martial Artists are trained how to punch with their knuckles to increase alot of pain... ii) They're in the middle of a bloomin' fight, they would get hit too easily. And another thing: if you're in a fight you won't suddenly stop fighting because you're 'afraid' to hit them or that you've never hit someone before. That would be so stupid what would you rather do? Get beaten the crap outta yourself or don't attack cause you don't like to hit someone? Anyway... I hope that sums most of it up And that this convinces you that it is not stupid or anything else negative about self defences. Wow... I hate essays and I just wrote a short one myself... DBB. P.S Whats Detrimental mean? P.P.S I just noticed that John G got quite similar stuff to me... Great.. 1/2 hour of my life wasted... P.P.P.S If you really don't like MA that much why did you join it?
