Has anybody else had this problem??

[Beka]

I'm a little bit bashful about admitting this...

 

Since starting with Cuong Nhu 4 months ago, I have gotten increasingly militant. Now, I would never bully anyone around, but I've had fighting on my mind a lot. I'm constantly thinking about fighting and moves and katas and better ways to do such and such, and if some guy came up on the street i would do X Y and Z to escape and win a fight, etc. But I guess it's good because at the same time I'm not afraid to fight or get involved in violence if it is absolutely necessary. Today I broke up a fight between two boys, granted, they were both smaller than me, but one was throwing bricks, and I felt I'd rather get hurt than let them fight. There was no way I could just stand there and let it happen. They are my neighbors and I couldn't pretend I didn't see it. I think I have a larger sense of responsibility to those around me since starting taking karate lessons, and I would rather not see others use violence to solve things (because we all know that leads nowhere).

 

Still, my friends have started to notice a change in me, and so have I. I've got fighting on the brain, and I'm so excited by my new skills that I want to use them all the time. I know I'm not very experienced, and I know it would be best to avoid conflict, but at the same time, I want to practice them. I get my butt to the dojo every possible day I can, and I practice at home as well. I absolutely love what I do and how much self esteem I have grown since starting, but sometimes I worry that I am getting too aggressive. Maybe it's because I don't let men walk all over me anymore?

 

I was talking with a friend at my dojo about this, and he says he went through the same thing when he first started. That made me feel better that I'm not alone in this. He says he got over it after a while. Right now I like it because it means I am progressing really quickly, but still, I worry. Hopefully I'm not a crazy nut job? Please? Is this something I talk to my Sensei about? or somewhere in there...

 

thanks.

[aefibird]

I went through that problem when I first started karate. Before, I was always very quiet and shy and would hardly speak to people, especially if I didn't know them well. Karate gave me a new-found confidence in myself and my abilities and I quickly became a bit over confident. I was always thinking about karate and I even got to the point where I was agressive with people. I've since learned that agression is not a sign of a true Martial Artist. You can be forceful and confident but without jumping down peoples throats every time they speak to you. I didn't get as bad as that, but I've since learned to try and be confident in situations but without being agressive and argumentative. Martial arts can teach a person humility and respect, but I think a lot of people go through the 'look at me,I'm 'hard' now, I can take on the world' stage when they start training. I think that for me, I went into that mode of thinking because I was so shy before and now I had all this confidence and self esteem that I didn't know how to handle.

 

I'm sure that it will pass in time, but if you're really worried then you can always have a chat to your sensei about it or feel free to Private Message me anytime.

[delta1]

That's pretty common, but not a problem. Your self confidence is growing, and your awareness is developing. Both are good. Running scenarios in your mind is good training also. The problem would be if you were getting overconfident and/or getting an attitude. Your concern indicates that is probably not the case.

[equaninimus]

I call it "white belt fever."

[Beka]

I call it "white belt fever."

 

OOOOHH! I think I'll write a country song about that. It will sound much like Merle Haggard's "White Line Fever" because I lack creativity.

[White Warlock]

Lol Beka. I was thinking the exact same thing. Maybe we should co-write it.

[TheDevilAside]

I had the same 'problem' as you (still do, a little) but I was worse, I actually started fights all the time, usually with guys bigger and stronger than me.

 

But, lol, it went away eventually.. but I still always ask myself the same question everywhere I go, "think I could take that guy? How would I do it?"

[ramymensa]

We've all went through it or some even got stuck

 

After some time you'll feel the opposite ... you lack any good technique, you'd get your ..tt kicked and so on ... afterwards you'll feel overconfident again and so on.

 

Just don't get carried away. Don't let these feeling controll you. Use them to better yourself and to reward your efforts but always try to relate to better coleagues and you'll be more realistic

[shotochem]

Do you guys mean to tell me that everyone walking around dosen't have those little red dots and cross hairs on them????

 

For a while I thought I might be losing it.

[Mc. Steve]

M'in that stage. Quite often I'll do techs on friends but not connect. Seems ok, some spar back, some just boot me in the leg. It's all part of the learning curve I guess.