Beer, alcohol and MA

[Patrick]

Hello,

We removed a post from this thread in error. It is quoted below. cross' post, above, quotes it. Sorry for the confusion. Thanks.

Since most self-defence situations occur when those involved have been drinking, it's important to get drunk before as many karate classes as possible. I try and do one sober class per month just so I can remember my kata. Otherwise, the drunker the better.

[A. Orstrom]

I have heard that Shihan Midori (president of Shinkyokushin) once said: "Whatever you do, you have to do it 100%. If you train, train as hard as possible. The same goes for drinking and partying"

(Quoted freely from memory. My sensei who have met Midori told me the story)

I don't drink too often (about once a week or so) but when I do I drink hard

[Sensei Rick]

I don't drink. I don't believe that as Sensei, I should drink. One must be mindful of their appearance at all times. I am conscious of my behavior in public. I tell my students (the youth ones at least.) that to resist the temptations that others fall into so easily is part of being a black belt. It falls into discipline. All of my friends drink, even the policemen that are friends. I also play in a jam band. When we have parties, and when people who don’t know me are in attendance, they often think I’m a crazy drunk. I can have a good time without alcohol. My friends, who used to think that it was strange that I didn’t drink, are always quick to “defend” me, and tell the new found friends that I don’t drink. Now I am looked up to, just for not drinking. (weird) They are always the first to point it out and I simply keep silent. The funniest thing about no drinking is that people assume that you’re an alcoholic and you’re in recovery. Or that you’re a diabetic or something. Not simply that you just don’t want to drink.

I am the host of our tournaments, so I play the music and MC the entire event. I am very well known to all the students from the other instructors in our organization. When I least expect it, and I’m just out with my wife or something, some little kid will some up to me and say, “are you Sensei Rick?” Always surprised that I would wanna eat at olive garden or something. I think that it’s a good thing that I’m not a drunk at these moments.

I am in my forties. My teenage students see that they tire before me, even when I lead the classes and match them kick for kick, working out right along side of them. When they see me demonstrate a jump turning RH kick or something, I want them to believe that they can do it too; I want them to aspire to something higher within themselves. Leading by example, and not just because I said so, is something that I have tried hard to work on. I very well can’t tell a kid to stay away from drugs or alcohol, if I partake of them myself. Just as I wouldn’t ask them to perform better and harder, if I can not do it myself.

I know there are instructors that drink, and that’s there choice. I have studied though with many people, and I think about who influenced me the most, and try to emulate them. It’s just my thing though, and if you’re an instructor that drinks, I hope that it is as others have said, only in moderation.

[Sensei Rick]

Hello,

We removed a post from this thread in error. It is quoted below. cross' post, above, quotes it. Sorry for the confusion. Thanks.

Since most self-defence situations occur when those involved have been drinking, it's important to get drunk before as many karate classes as possible. I try and do one sober class per month just so I can remember my kata. Otherwise, the drunker the better.

Thanks for the clarification, I thought I was drunk for a minute.

[Existence_is _suffering]

It's all good as long as you know your limits etc... Getting blind drunk every night seems kind of pointless (and expensive!) to me. But, as some people have pointed out, it is handy knowing how you would react/handle in a situation when you're affected by alcohol etc.

[NY_Karatedork]

I don't drink and I always try to tell people the dangers of drinking but I guess people just gotta pour foul tasting liquids down their throats. It kills brain cells and damages your liver. Plus if you are a career drinker you could wind up with alcohol coming out your pores. Yeah grosses me out too.

[username8517]

Karatedork,

There are benefits to drinking alcohol in moderation.

Here is an article from MayoClinic.com stating benefits of drinking alcohol in moderation.

And here is a article from the National Council of Alcohol and Drug Dependence (NCADD) stating that while there may be some benefits to drinking alcohol, you must do so in moderation, and take into account the potentially negative affects if you're considered high risk.

All in all, I believe alcohol is alright as long as responsiblity and moderation is practiced.

P.S.--Personally I think some forms of alcohol takes quite good.

[YoungMan]

Whether or not you drink is a personal choice guided by you values.

However, we are martial artists, not monks. You only live once, and I have seen too many colleagues enjoy rum and Cokes to really think teaching martial arts precludes you from imbibing. We also, as far as I know, are not training in monastaries. We have every right to enjoy ourselves like other people. Just don't overdo it. And if you do, don't drive and don't do it around students.

I head storues that my original Korean Instructor, when he was with fellow Koreans, really put them away (drinks). He always came to class ready to teach though.

[marie curie]

Yeh, individuals who don't drink at all have higher risk (of death at any given age) than those who drink moderately.

http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh27-1/39-51.htm

http://kirbymtn.blogspot.com/2007/07/health-benefits-of-moderate-drinking.html

http://www.wynboer.co.za/recentarticles/200607health.php3

[bushido_man96]

Whether or not you drink is a personal choice guided by you values.

However, we are martial artists, not monks. You only live once, and I have seen too many colleagues enjoy rum and Cokes to really think teaching martial arts precludes you from imbibing. We also, as far as I know, are not training in monastaries. We have every right to enjoy ourselves like other people. Just don't overdo it. And if you do, don't drive and don't do it around students.

I head storues that my original Korean Instructor, when he was with fellow Koreans, really put them away (drinks). He always came to class ready to teach though.

I agree 100%, YoungMan. Everything in moderation, including moderation.