Superstitions

[Alan Armstrong]

Are you superstitious?

Could there be some truth to being superstitious?

There is alot of superstition in the world, in many cultures, in the Chinese culture it also has its fair share, that spills in to the martial arts.

Can you honestly say that you are superstition free?

What are you superstitious about?

Perhaps Friday 13th is not the best day to be tested for your black belt and the 7th of July is preferable?

[sensei8]

I've not the time nor the inclination to be superstitious whatsoever; it only gets in the way of my progress!!

[bushido_man96]

I'm not superstitious. Too many other things to worry about.

[Alan Armstrong]

It's bad luck to admit to being superstitious, so I avoid the temptation of admitting it, just in case that it could be true.

[bushido_man96]

It's bad luck to admit to being superstitious, so I avoid the temptation of admitting it, just in case that it could be true.

Yeah, that's the kind of mess I don't need to be wrapping myself up in. Too much to worry about, and then worry about not admitting it, so that I won't jinx myself. Its a vicious cycle...

[Alan Armstrong]

Almost 100 years ago, a visitor, an American arrived in a small village in China, to help with the starvation and diseases there.

All he had with him was a letter of recommendation from the American government.

The villagers were very curious of this American, so he showed them this important looking letter.

One Chinese woman, that had never seen or herd of such thing, asked the American to explain "what is a letter of recommendation?"

The American explained to her, that when traveling to distant places, or meeting people for the first time, that if you have a letter of recommendation to show, then this makes it easier to be accepted wherever you go.

Later that evening, the woman that was curious about the letter, visited the American, at the place where he was staying.

He was surprised to see her, he asked her, if there is something he could do for her, she answered "Yes"

She explained that her baby had just died, and if it would be possible if her baby could have this important letter of recommendation.

The American gave her the letter, she smiled at him with the deepest gratitude possible, with tears of happiness in her eyes, she thanked him and walked away.

[singularity6]

I'm not superstitious at all. I'll enjoy supernatural things in entertainment, but beyond that, they have no impact or meaning on my life.

[Spartacus Maximus]

Superstition never got in the way of training although there probably were some superstitious people in the dojo. If anyone had superstitious beliefs about anything it was never made obvious in any way.

The martial arts are a physical endeavour that require nothing but the utmost concentration of mind and full physical capabilities. This cannot be possible with mental obstacles such as superstitions, negative thinking or a weak self-defeating attitude towards practice and training. Those things prevent and disrupt progress in martial arts and in general.

[DWx]

I'm not personally but having coached a fair amount, TKD competitors are a superstitious bunch. I've got fighters who have to wear certain underwear or have a lucky dobok. Some of them have set warm up routines that they have to do meticulously. Our ladies team make a point of standing in a huddle in a specific way when waiting to go onto the mat. Best just to let them get on with it if it helps psychologically.

[Alan Armstrong]

As a kid in the 70's a rabbit foot key chain was the in thing to have (not so lucky for the rabbit) and for the girls, a lucky charm bracelet, with as many different kinds of stuff considered to be lucky attached.

Who doesn't know their astrological sign, besides very young children?

What do you do if you spill salt, do you throw some over your shoulder?

As for those that belive that breaking a mirror causes seven years bad luck, then how about Bruce Lee, breaking all those mirrors in the movie "Enter the dragon" as he never lived long enough to see the premier.