This Might Be A Tough Queston...

[sensei8]

You've been in the MA for [insert] years...

What do you know for sure??

[OneKickWonder]

You've been in the MA for [insert] years...

This is a tricky one for me. I started at 9, but ceased regular in class training at about 15, so you could say 6 years there. Add on 4 years since restarting class attendance something like 25 years after I stopped.

So if we're going by regular class attendance, 10 years for me I guess.

But in the 25 years I was out of regular classes, I kept practicing, albeit nowhere near as much as I should. And I attended occasional one off sessions with vastly more experienced martial artists. So I'd let others judge how many years I've been a martial artist. Some might say only 4. They might say my previous experience was just too long ago to count. I'd accept that.

What do you know for sure??

Another good question. What do I know for sure? Not a lot. Each day I think I've figured something out then another day I'll think I was either completely wrong or only partially right.

At this moment in time, what do I Believe I know for sure? That there's an enormous amount of politics, misinformation, myth and outright lies in the martial arts scene. Far too much. That each style or association is better than all the others, and that hypocrisy is rife. But those that can see past all that will find a beautiful,simple truth that doesn't recognise style or hierarchy or ego or politics. That is the simple truth of human nature, physical, mental and spiritual.

Oh there is one thing I know for sure. Sometimes the complete beginner teaches more than the master. The beginner by definition doesn't have the experience to react in the manner whatsoever pelted. Working with a complete beginner is a good way to find out if you really know the techniques and principles you're trying to show them.

[ashworth]

been training for over 22 years now..

One thing I know for sure... I still have a lot more training to do!!

[JR 137]

6.5 years during my first stint. 3.5 years currently, so I guess 10 years total.

What have I learned that’s unquestionable...

There’s no substitute for hard work

There’s no substitute for consistency in training

There are no secret techniques that’ll make me invincible

Belts, ranks, and/or titles don’t prove anything; “the proof is on the floor” (thanks sensei8)

The more experience I gain, the less I’m impressed by 95% of the people out there and the more I’m impressed by the other 5% of the people

Oh yeah, and just when I think I’ve got things finally figured out, it’s back to the ole’ drawing board.

Outside of MA, in my 42 years of life, I’m only really sure of 2 things...

There is a God.

I’m not Him.

The rest is subject for debate.

[JazzKicker]

This is a great question, I read it yesterday and wanted to sleep on it before responding.

Not counting judo as a little kid, I started karate (and some judo) when I was 18. When I went off to college I switched to Tang Soo Do, and stayed with it until I made 3rd dan, I think I was 30. Towards the end of that I was exposed to Ryu-kyu kempo and pressure point theory, which opened my eyes to things I wasn't getting from TSD. Training in Jeet Kune Do, Hapkido, boxing, grappling, and Tai Chi followed that, along with certification as a personal trainer, specialist in martial arts conditioning.

That may seem like a lot, but it's been spread out over 37 years!

Things I know for sure:

Training keeps you young and healthy

Overtraining beats up your body

There is no magic, mysticism, or religion in real martial arts

Traditional Asian arts are a great foundation to learn basics, discipline, and focus, but the other trappings and methods are a waste of time.

Non-traditional, modern systems may be effective, efficient, and scientific, but they're not "art"

Speed, power, and size all matter, but not as much without practice.

Simplify, avoid the tendency to overcomplicate

Practice, repetition is the key to moving automatically and naturally

[bushido_man96]

Been training 25 years...

I know I don't train nearly enough, that's for sure!

Edited July 16, 2018 by bushido_man96

[mazzybear]

I've been in the MA for 10 years (over two stints with 20+ years in between)

One thing I know for sure is:

FAIL TO PREPARE? PREPARE TO FAIL!

Mo.

[tallgeese]

29 this year.

The only think I really know after all of that is how little I really know. That and just how unpredictable actual violent encounters can be and how difficult it can be to prepare for them despite all those years.

[sensei8]

Great responses, everyone, thank you!!

I've been on the floor for 53 years, and the one thing I'm sure of, MA wise, is...

Proof is on the floor!!

It's always been that way, and it'll always be that way. The floor will judge you extremely harshly with cause, and unapologetic; can't hide from it, and can't fool it either, even though many have tried to fool the floor, and many have failed in their attempts, and many will continue to do so. If one thinks that their better than the floor across the board, then that's when the floor is at its most resolved.

[MatsuShinshii]

July makes 40 years of training.

What do I know? I know I do not know enough.

I know there is so much more to learn than what I have learned. I know that I am not as knowledgeable as my teacher or his teachers or their teachers. I know that no matter how much I learn I will never know as much as I think I know. I know some with little time in the arts think they know much and others that have vast amounts of time realize they know very little.