Art affecting/reflecting personality?

[JusticeZero]

I've heard a few things that indicate that the strategies and tactics of one's martial art of choice have some bleedthrough into one's personality and vice versa.. not sure how true it might be.

I heard this most often written by ex-Wing Chun (and variants thereof) practitioners. These people wrote that their training taught them to respond to threats by attacking down the centerline, and that they eventually found themselves in relationships and conversation responding to perceived threats by attacking the other person 'down the centerline'.

As to myself, I note that I find it very difficult to force myself to resist verbal aggression directly, much in the way that my art goes to great lengths not to oppose or even to contact an opposing force.

Any thoughts on the matter?

[Jay]

Interesting thoughts

Just to clarify what you mean by directly does that mean just saying it how it is, as in straight up.

[JusticeZero]

The usual complaint, as written, is that when they felt threatened, they would retaliate verbally by attacking the "threat" directly and relentlessly, until the other person was cowed into conceding. They found that to be a poor tactic to use against their family and colleagues, and switched to other arts.

[bushido_man96]

Well, I don't think I do, but I've never really thought about it. I tend to be rather bullheaded and stubborn at times (ok, most of the time), and at times I get this way in my sparring, like by not retreating, taking a beating to give one, etc, but I'm not always like that. Nor is that the way everyone spars in TKD; there are counterfighters out there, for instance.

So, I'm not sure. Never really thought about it.

[tallgeese]

I think there is a certain element of this for sure. I know my approach to training has changed signifcantly since starting BJJ. Much more laid back and technique oriented than previously. I also listen to much more Bob Marley, but that's beside the point.

So yeah, I do think it bleeds over into personality if you're deeply invested. But I don't think your casual practicioner will see this. I think you're more likely to experiene it if you are really spending time mentally in the art as well as physically.