True Brilliance of Martial Arts

[RichardZ]

I have always been confused with martial arts and character building. I mean what is it defined as. I guess it depends on the person. But to tell the truth I am no different now than I was before but I can fight better.

I dont know if it help build my charecter either. Thougfh it had developed a better sense of mild temper for me.

[bushido_man96]

I have always been confused with martial arts and character building. I mean what is it defined as. I guess it depends on the person. But to tell the truth I am no different now than I was before but I can fight better.

There's something to be said about humble and level-headed application of Martial Skill. Look at Mike Tyson, for example... That guy could have used some "character building" early in his boxing training. Instead, his trainers armed an already powerful individual, with the skill to level most other human beings with one blow. Look where it got him -- broke, beat up and incarcerated. Now add the skillset most MAs train with -- kicks, elbows, jointlocks, throws, etc... Making sure the head is firmly attached should, rightly, be part of the MA equation IMHO.

I see what you are saying here, mr_obvious, but I think what it boils down to is people will find what they want, if they are driven enough. There is a misconception that every Martial Artist out there is or should be a 'good guy.' Its a nice thought, but just not realistic. Even if they didn't learn it in a structured training environment, they would likely learn it some other way. Its like trying to instigate harsher gun laws to stop gun crime. The point is, the criminal is going to have or get the gun, no matter the law. It just makes it tougher on those of us who feel obligated to follow the rules. The good guys just suffer for it in the end, because we aren't likely to be on a level playing field.

[hx35543]

In the word's of Peter Parker's (AKA-Spiderman) grandfather, " With great power comes great responsibility". There was a guy I knew, nice guy when I knew him, whose parents were some of the nicest people you could know. At some point they put him in the MAs, for what ever reason. Years later he repaid them by almost beating them too death and ended up in jail. What happened, I'm not sure.

It seems to me that there are a lot of factors that come in to play when you grow as a MAist.

I myself had a good life and a stable environment to grow up in. My parents taught me humility and respect and to have pride in what I do. I was also taught to realize that there are consequences to decision I make. In other words, the person I am has not changed because of the MAs.

I do however believe in trying to better myself. I can always become a better person in all aspects. I took up bodybuilding because I enjoyed weight lifting and I got stronger in the process. As a side-effect, it also helped improve my self-esteem (which I didn't get a lot of from my parents). MAs is something I have always wanted to do only because it was interesting to me. The confidence in knowing that, in a fight, my chances of coming out on top is a plus. But the reality is that no matter how good I am, there is always someone " bigger and badder " than me. I don't boast about what I do. There will always be someone who will want to test you out. I feel no need to prove who I am or what I can do to anyone.

To me, the drive and passion to better yourself in whatever you is admirable. But if the MAs is the means to just be better than everyone else and think that you can kick anybody's but, think again. It's just an invitation for trouble.

[RichardZ]

I see what you are saying here, mr_obvious, but I think what it boils down to is people will find what they want, if they are driven enough. There is a misconception that every Martial Artist out there is or should be a 'good guy.' Its a nice thought, but just not realistic. Even if they didn't learn it in a structured training environment, they would likely learn it some other way. Its like trying to instigate harsher gun laws to stop gun crime. The point is, the criminal is going to have or get the gun, no matter the law. It just makes it tougher on those of us who feel obligated to follow the rules. The good guys just suffer for it in the end, because we aren't likely to be on a level playing field.

Grand post. Indeed, just because someone had acquired skill, doesnt mean they are going to use such with moral obligations.

This is why there is a evil-nemisis towards anything.

[DarkEye]

“When you win a world championship, it is for that day, so you might want to remember that you will spend much more of your life not fighting than fighting. Once your fighting days are over, what are you going to do?” The answer to that question is character development.

well said!

[bushido_man96]

“When you win a world championship, it is for that day, so you might want to remember that you will spend much more of your life not fighting than fighting. Once your fighting days are over, what are you going to do?” The answer to that question is character development.

well said!

Now, to me, the answer to that question is that I start to figure out what it is an older person can do and use to keep himself or herself safe, as far as self-defense goes.

[RichardZ]

Now, to me, the answer to that question is that I start to figure out what it is an older person can do and use to keep himself or herself safe, as far as self-defense goes.

The same thing all older people do, many-the majority who did not study a martial art to survive to such a prime old age.

[mr_obvious]

I see what you are saying here, mr_obvious, but I think what it boils down to is people will find what they want, if they are driven enough. There is a misconception that every Martial Artist out there is or should be a 'good guy.' Its a nice thought, but just not realistic. Even if they didn't learn it in a structured training environment, they would likely learn it some other way. Its like trying to instigate harsher gun laws to stop gun crime. The point is, the criminal is going to have or get the gun, no matter the law. It just makes it tougher on those of us who feel obligated to follow the rules. The good guys just suffer for it in the end, because we aren't likely to be on a level playing field.

I agree (on the gun stuff too). Even if the lesson is wasted on some students -- and I'm afraid there are some who train at my dojo -- the lesson should still be taught.

Going 360 back to the OP.... For instance would I claim my style superior or inferior to any other? Nope. Competence, opponent competence and environmental factors are all continuously and too widely variable to predict any potential superiority in a given conflict.

......and if all else fails, just get the Mossberg outta the trunk

[devroy]

Why, even after the initial "ninja craze" of the 1980's, when the art of ninjutsu became widely known in the Western-world, are the Ninja considered to be on top of the martial arts "food chain?" Why do even trained martial artists revere the Ninja as super martial artists, not to be messed with, and capable of single-handedly taking on any enemy?

Perhaps it has something to do with the way we are wired on a subconscious level. Perhaps the Ninja feeds some kind of need for a super-hero figure who can, in this case, swoop in from out of the darkness to save the day.

Each person has his or her own reasoning, but I think that, for practitioners of authentic Japanese Ninjutsu - as opposed to other martial arts programsbeing called "Ninja training" - ninjutsu is seen as best for several reasons. And the reason that these modern-day ninja have chosen this martial art id related directly to what they are looking for as a means to gain the confidence, power, and control to produce real results in the Today's turbulent world.

Why is Ninjutsu better than other martial arts? Perhaps it has something to so with the fact that ninjutsu...

Is Not Just A Martial Art!

The goal of ninjutsu is not to produce black belts. The goal of ninjutsu is to produce a "no-limits person." The art of the ninja is one of "completeness." This is not just about the training being holistic and allowing the practitioner to attain a sense of oneness of body, mind & spirit.

This completeness also refers to the make-up of the art of ninjutsu.

On a smaller scale, the Ninja focuses not on self-defense, but on self-protection. And, while those two terms may sound similar, they are actually quite different. As I define it for my students, "self-defense" is typically limited to the concepts and skills for protecting oneself against another human being who is trying to hurt you.

Self-protection, on the other hand, is much grander in scope. It involves, not only self-defense, but also the protection of the whole person from anything that might threat to harm you.

There are many more dangers, threats, and problems which face us in the world than just physical attacks from human assailants. Lessons from the art of ninjutsu teach us how to overcome the effects of stress, deception and manipulation, and even our own laziness and tendencies at self-sabotage.

ninja gear http://www.ultrashock.com/a/preview/6624-ninja-silhouette-series.jpg

[Throwdown0850]

Why, even after the initial "ninja craze" of the 1980's, when the art of ninjutsu became widely known in the Western-world, are the Ninja considered to be on top of the martial arts "food chain?" Why do even trained martial artists revere the Ninja as super martial artists, not to be messed with, and capable of single-handedly taking on any enemy?

Perhaps it has something to do with the way we are wired on a subconscious level. Perhaps the Ninja feeds some kind of need for a super-hero figure who can, in this case, swoop in from out of the darkness to save the day.

Each person has his or her own reasoning, but I think that, for practitioners of authentic Japanese Ninjutsu - as opposed to other martial arts programsbeing called "Ninja training" - ninjutsu is seen as best for several reasons. And the reason that these modern-day ninja have chosen this martial art id related directly to what they are looking for as a means to gain the confidence, power, and control to produce real results in the Today's turbulent world.

Why is Ninjutsu better than other martial arts? Perhaps it has something to so with the fact that ninjutsu...

Is Not Just A Martial Art!

The goal of ninjutsu is not to produce black belts. The goal of ninjutsu is to produce a "no-limits person." The art of the ninja is one of "completeness." This is not just about the training being holistic and allowing the practitioner to attain a sense of oneness of body, mind & spirit.

This completeness also refers to the make-up of the art of ninjutsu.

On a smaller scale, the Ninja focuses not on self-defense, but on self-protection. And, while those two terms may sound similar, they are actually quite different. As I define it for my students, "self-defense" is typically limited to the concepts and skills for protecting oneself against another human being who is trying to hurt you.

Self-protection, on the other hand, is much grander in scope. It involves, not only self-defense, but also the protection of the whole person from anything that might threat to harm you.

There are many more dangers, threats, and problems which face us in the world than just physical attacks from human assailants. Lessons from the art of ninjutsu teach us how to overcome the effects of stress, deception and manipulation, and even our own laziness and tendencies at self-sabotage.

ninja gear http://www.ultrashock.com/a/preview/6624-ninja-silhouette-series.jpg

so your saying that Ninjutsu is superior to all other MA's?? IMO I think that an actual Ninja wouldn't say that. Wouldn't you say?