Do the old rivalries still exist?

[shotochem]

Nowadays, a more reasonable thing to do would be for a school to go to another and ask in a respectful manner if they might spar against each other. This is done sometimes, and if, indeed, the goal is to further one's understandings of the art, there is no reason why it couldn't be done in this way, instead of barging in with an inflated ego and condescendingly issuing challenges.

 

In todays society this would be an acceptable way of heightening ones understanding of anothers art. Brazen egotistical challenges IMO, are not what MA are about.

[aefibird]

So instead challenging other schools to duals you should go challenge them with the task of working with you to help the local community.

 

Excellent point, Shane.

 

IMO, Martial Artists often get enough bad press from those outside of the MA world, without stirring up trouble within it as well. Working together for the good of the community is something that MAists should strive to do much more.

[SevenStar]

rivalries are huge in the capoeira world, from what I've seen/heard.

[SevenStar]

 

IMO, Martial Artists often get enough bad press from those outside of the MA world, without stirring up trouble within it as well. Working together for the good of the community is something that MAists should strive to do much more.

 

I dunno about that one. In an ideal world, sure. But we're all human and will not like everyone we reun across just because they are MA. People tend to think there there is some type of brotherly bond among MA, or at least that there should be. MA are just like anyone else. Some like eachother, some do not. Not liking them does not mean you go to their school and drop challenges, though.

 

As for MA getting bad press. Where? I really don't see or hear alot about that anymore, in general. Specifically, yeah, when talking about things like mma fighting, but not about MA in general.

[aefibird]

 

IMO, Martial Artists often get enough bad press from those outside of the MA world, without stirring up trouble within it as well. Working together for the good of the community is something that MAists should strive to do much more.

 

I dunno about that one. In an ideal world, sure. But we're all human and will not like everyone we reun across just because they are MA. People tend to think there there is some type of brotherly bond among MA, or at least that there should be. MA are just like anyone else. Some like eachother, some do not. Not liking them does not mean you go to their school and drop challenges, though.

 

Well, I wasn't meaning that we live in a happy little world where everyone is lovely and nice to one another with birds singing all day long... I know that MAists don't always get on - I've experienced that with my own dojo. However, I was trying (very badly, obviously!) to say that it's better to have the goal of working together rather than challenging one another. It ain't gonna happen, though, and if a MAist doesn't agree with another MAist then they should just stay away from them, rather than issue challenges.

As for MA getting bad press. Where? I really don't see or hear alot about that anymore, in general. Specifically, yeah, when talking about things like mma fighting, but not about MA in general.

 

That's probably more to do with the press in the UK rather than the press in the USA. Only last week there was a big story in one of the tabloid newspapers about how a 'deranged' and 'dangerous' martial artist was caught with a 'deadly weapon'. It turns out that the guy was a well-respected instructor who was practicing a sword form in his own garden... However, the media blew the story out of all proportion. One account of it that I heard of even called for all martial arts weapons to be banned, as they were a 'real danger to the safety of the ordinary people'. Ordinary people!! Obviously MAists aren't 'ordinary'...

[MenteReligieuse]

Well thats just the americans .

[47MartialMan]

Well thats just the americans .

 

Hmmnn....actually the Asian arts had done this also....more so because they had to maintain "face"....

 

IMHO, I had seen this a lot in the late 60's to late 70's, but with legal issues nowadays, I would think it would happen less.