Martial Arts Misconceptions

[DWx]

What are some of the common misconceptions about your style and about martial arts that you'd like to dispel?

Give us an explanation of why its wrong.

[evergrey]

Myth: "Kyokushin people never punch to the head and can't deal with it when they get punched in the head. They're like dandelions- punch them in the head an they fall to pieces!"

Truth: Many dojos do head punches. We just don't do them in tournaments. My dojo, for example, has sparring sessions where we put on MMA gloves and throw controlled punches to the face. I've gotten a couple split lips, and once in a while someone will get a black eye, but that's about as bad as it gets. Usually we punch light enough that there is no damage, because hey, most of us have jobs to go to in the morning.

They always say, at my dojo, "the one thing you can't toughen is your brain. It's going to slosh around inside your skull, and you can't stop that."

Because of this, and because we do KICK to the head, INCLUDING in tournaments, we are always encouraged to keep our guard up. When I don't keep my guard up, my instructors smack me in the face, and they will encourage my fellow students to punch me in the head (controlled) to help me learn to keep my guard up. Heh.

Myth: Kyokushin is just a sport style of karate!

Truth: Kyokushin is a martial art that is considered to be a way of life, not a sport. There are people and dojos that focus mostly on tournament fighting, this is true, but there are more that do not, and it is a complete system. Kyokushin has budo. Kyokushin, when one gets deep into it, does have a spiritual aspect (which does not conflict with the karateka's individual religions) and is not about trophies.

Observe our Dojo Kun:

Hitotsu, wareware wa, shinshin o renmashi, kakko fubatsu no shingi o kiwameru koto.

We will train our hearts and bodies for a firm unshaken spirit.

Hitotsu, wareware wa, bu no shinzui o kiwame, ki ni hasshi, kan ni bin naru koto.

We will pursue the true meaning of the martial way so that, in time, our senses may be alert.

Hitotsu, wareware wa, shitsujitsu goken o motte, kokki no seishin o kanyo suru koto.

With true vigour, we will seek to cultivate a spirit of self-denial.

Hitotsu, wareware wa, reisetsu o omonji, chojo o keishi, sobo no furumai o tsutsushimu koto.

We will observe the rules of courtesy, respect our superiors, and refrain from violence.

Hitotsu, wareware wa, shinbutsu o totobi, kenjo no bitoku o wasurezaru koto.

We will follow our religious principles and never forget the true virtue of humility.

Hitotsu, wareware wa, chisei to tairyoku to o kojo sase, koto ni nozonde ayamatazaru koto.

We will look upwards to wisdom and strength, not seeking other desires.

Hitotsu, wareware wa, shogai no shugyo o karate no michi ni tsuji, Kyokushin no michi o mattou suru koto.

All our lives, through the discipline of karate, we will seek to fulfill the true meaning of the Kyokushin way.

Myth: Because their training is so crazy and hardcore, Kyokushin people are thugs! They are violent and will run around beating people up!

Truth: Some of the sweetest, most humble people I've met in my life have been advanced Kyokushin karateka. One of the first things my Shihan ever said to me was "I abhor physical violence." We prove everything we need to, not to others, but to ourselves, out on the mat. There's no need to run around trying to prove ourselves. Acting like a thug is against the teachings of our Sosai, Mas Oyama.

We train to defend and to protect, not to bully.

I haven't met any Kyokushin karateka that were total thugs or bullies, but I have met many who are soldiers and law enforcement officers.

OSU!

[Drew]

There is one thing that always bothers me when I walk onto a judo mat.

I am primarily a no gi sub wrestler. I use whatever works, freestyle, greco, bjj, judo, catch, heck I have even used some pro wrestling moves to great effect. But my number one, go to move to get it to the ground fast is an arm drag to rear body lock to suplex. Pure greco. Nigh unstoppable by mere mortals.

Here is the thing that bothers me: Almost every time I use it, someone tells me "Oh well an uchimata will stop that no problem. You never want to be behind a Judoka." This is after I have successfully ipponed (sp?) them with it. And immediately before I perform the feat again, on another person.

So I guess the misconception in a nutshell is that the rear body lock to suplex is so amazingly easy to counter if you are a Judoka.

[darksoul]

Myth - Shaolin Kempo has nothing to do with Shaolin

Truth - USSD style Shaolin Kempo has LITTLE to do with Shaolin until higher ranks. Other, non-franchised, Shaolin Kempo schools teach the Shaolin aspects earlier on.

Myth - Shaolin Kempo is kung fu in a karate gi

Truth - While Shaolin Kempo pulls a lot of techniques from kung fu, especially when you have an instructor with a strong kung fu background, Shaolin Kempo is a combination of Japanese Shotokan Karate and Chinese Kung Fu. The gi and Pinans comes from the Shotokan side, while our many hand-strikes, use of the 5 animals, and katas tend to be more Kung fu.

If I think of more, I'll edit

[bushido_man96]

Not many hand strikes in TKD: not true. In fact, there are more hand strikes then types of kicks, when you get down to it.

MAs only come from the East: there are so many great Western styles. Just because there aren't uniforms, bowing, and a foreign language involved, doesn't mean it isn't an MA.

[DWx]

Great posts

Here's one of mine:

That Taekwondo is all one thing: in fact Taekwondo is as diverse as Karate is. Just as you have Shotokan, Kyokushin and Wado Ryu, there are a number of different types of TKD.

[JusticeZero]

Capoeira is one style; this is most frustrating to see in students of the art. It also isnt completely false at the upper levels since the art has an open source aspect to it. But from a teacher you will be learning a very specific structure and strategic layout. Your teacher by and large will look like their teacher and so on.

You cant fight with that.. we were banned because we were a bunch of thugs, and Bimba re-popularized us in part by kicking the snot out of people in the NHB matches of the day.

[Shizentai]

"I hear you're a black belt. So can you kick my butt then? I bet you can't take me. Come on, let's find out"

misconception: The above is appropriate for a man to say in casual conversation.

truth: THIS IS INAPPROPRIATE and IRRITATING!!! Usually I don't even dignify this sort of comment with a response, but sadly, saying nothing doesn't seem to get rid of guys like that either. The worst part is that deep down, I wish I could kick everyone's butt who ever considered saying such a thing to a lady... ESPECIALLY when I'm dressed up nice at dinner or something. I mean really!!

[darksoul]

"I hear you're a black belt. So can you kick my butt then? I bet you can't take me. Come on, let's find out"

misconception: The above is appropriate for a man to say in casual conversation.

truth: THIS IS INAPPROPRIATE and IRRITATING!!! Usually I don't even dignify this sort of comment with a response, but sadly, saying nothing doesn't seem to get rid of guys like that either. The worst part is that deep down, I wish I could kick everyone's butt who ever considered saying such a thing to a lady... ESPECIALLY when I'm dressed up nice at dinner or something. I mean really!!

Since getting my dan, I've noticed it, but I find it completely appalling that a man would say that to a woman. It's just not right.

[jaypo]

When I first started taking Shotokan years ago, I noticed that I didn't have the urge to respond to those types of comments. Before, I would have punched the guy before he finished the sentence. After I passed my first test, I didn't have that urge. For 2 reasons- I knew that if it came down to it, I had the skill (coupled with the aggression) to really hurt somebody, and 2- I didn't want to do something stupid and get beat up and prove the guy right if he happened to be "badder" than me! But I found that as time went on, more and more of those same people actually treated me with more respect. And a good friend of mine told me a story-he was at a gas station and ran into a guy from another school that didn't like me (for no real reason other than he was just a moron!). He saw me pass by and wave to my friend. When my friend said who it was, the guy said "I heard that guy's a real bad a__!" Now, I'm not the kind of guy that goes around looking for trouble, and I am actually very courteous. I always treat people politely and with respect. But stories like that make me feel good because that guy was the opposite type of person. He was a bully, and he loved to let people know how "bad" he was. But he feared me just from knowing that I was a martial artist!

Now, I'm 38 and have a lot more skill, power, and control. I don't get offended by people when I know they're acting out of ignorance. And I'm no longer in the "did you just stare at my wife???" stage. The only time I plan on using my skill is if I'm in danger or if someone has the nerve to put my family in a bad spot.

Sorry for the rant. But I also don't like when people do the "if you're so good, block this" and throw a slap boxing punch toward you. I usually let it land and then tell them that I don't slap box, and if I had to do something about it, I'd probably go for their throat first, their eyes second, and then try to break something on them. That usually gets them thinking!