Knowledge/Experience!

[sensei8]

This topic is of my thoughts and/or my feelings, and in that, they are my own. Others might or might not differ/agree from/with mine, but nonetheless, either way...it's just an honest opinion.

Knowledge/experience are paramount over any rank, over any title, and/or any other preceived conception(s), otherwise missed or not, in the martial arts.

Without knowledge/experience, the battle, no matter what type of a battle it might be, is already lost. The battle's only lost when one refuses to obtain that knowledge/experience. Once obtained, and only for that moment because knowledge/experience changes, that battle's no longer lost. Even then, knowledge/experience aren't always on the same plane as others in the martial arts. As Mr. Miyagi stated so well...(pointing to his head)..."Karate here", (pointing to his heart)..."Karate here"...(pointing to his waist)..."Karate not here".

There are two types of knowledge/experience:

1) HAS

2) HASN'T

To gain knowledge/experience is based on relevent and practical exposure by doing it, by training in it, by learning it, by living it, by learning from it, by accepting it, by discarding it, and/or by trail and error.

A white belt [inexperienced] doesn't have the same knowledge/experience as a black belt [experienced]. Yet, that same white belt [inexperienced] might have a difference set of knowledge/experience than a black belt [experienced] doesn't have outside of the martial arts, and this is important to that white belt [inexperienced].

Example...

A white belt [inexperienced] in karate might be a doctor. Being a doctor adds a dimension to that white belt [inexperienced] that that black belt [experienced], that's not a doctor, doesn't have. That black belt [experienced] is extremely versed in where, what, when, how, and why to strike and with what weapon to strike with through years of training under a qualified instructor, but, that same black belt [experienced] won't have that intimate knowledge of the human anatomy as that doctor would.

Having said that, this topic isn't about that knowledge/experience that's gained outside of the martial arts, as important as it might or might not be, because, most of us here are martial artists of varying knowledge/experience.

Shouldn't knowledge/experience be something that it's not? It's not something to sneeker at. It's not something to take lightly. It's not something to be made more serious than what it is. It's not something to laugh about or to laugh off. It is what it is, and that is, that having knowledge/experience in the martial arts is vitally important across the board.

To me, knowledge/experience in the martial arts speaks in volumes that can't be ignored nor can it be denied, or, imho, neither should be.

Either one has or one hasn't! This doesn't mean that either martial artist is more valuable than the other because each one of us are students of the martial arts, and in that, each one of us are always gaining more knowledge/experience day by day, and each one of us are deserving of more than just that.

[Martialart]

I wholeheartedly agree that life experience adds to the depth of a martial artist. Especially at the black belt level where one is expected to teach the lower ranks. The more outside knowledge one has, the better teacher they will make in that they can make more connections between the material and the student's frame of reference.

Gichin Funakoshi, I understand, was a school teacher, for instance.

[Sibylla]

I don't understand how some people place titles and rank above experience. There is no rationality in it, which means it's a matter of belief/faith of some sorts.

[Chitsu]

OK Question for you guys, fingers on buzzers....

What's the difference between a wise man and a knowledgeable man???

[Jeffrey]

OK Question for you guys, fingers on buzzers....

What's the difference between a wise man and a knowledgeable man???

A wise man knows how to apply knowledge and knowledgeable man just knows stuff.....

Do I win?

[Jeffrey]

I wholeheartedly agree that life experience adds to the depth of a martial artist. Especially at the black belt level where one is expected to teach the lower ranks. The more outside knowledge one has, the better teacher they will make in that they can make more connections between the material and the student's frame of reference.

Gichin Funakoshi, I understand, was a school teacher, for instance.

Well put statement.

On the other side of the coin bad experience can also bring bad teaching. It is not so much the outside knowledge that one brings to the Dojo but the type of knowledge and experiences.

[Chitsu]

OK Question for you guys, fingers on buzzers....

What's the difference between a wise man and a knowledgeable man???

A wise man knows how to apply knowledge and knowledgeable man just knows stuff.....

Do I win?

Fraid not

[Jeffrey]

OK Question for you guys, fingers on buzzers....

What's the difference between a wise man and a knowledgeable man???

A wise man knows how to apply knowledge and knowledgeable man just knows stuff.....

Do I win?

Fraid not

Fair enough. Thought I would take a crack at it. I would very much like to know your answer to this. I can't remember Yoda's email address..

I enjoy these kinds of thoughts and tend to learn something new every time. At least it puts the brain in a different mode of thinking. I'm way to much a logical thinking most times.

[Chitsu]

I'll give you a clue.

It's about the folly of fighting - even if you are very good at it.

Chitsu

[Jeffrey]

I'll give you a clue.

It's about the folly of fighting - even if you are very good at it.

Chitsu

There will always be losses.