Fenris-wolf Posted July 9, 2003 Posted July 9, 2003 OK, I've read a lot in here about MA bashing. Most people say not to tell anybody that you practice a MA because that invites antagonism. Huh?? I live in New Zealand (wee island below Australia! ), and I've never experienced this kind of bias. I am young and proud so sure, maybe I have been known to boast a bit. But always in good spirit and because MA makes up so much of my life and personality. Most people I talk to about it are interested and want to know more, or at worst just think you're a little odd for getting up @ 5am to get beaten up by your compatriots. I was just wondering if this is something that only happens in America or if it's a worldwide phenomenom. Look forward to your replies! P.S. I confess I am female so maybe the intimidation factor is taken out, but I've never witnessed or heard of any prejudice with males either, excluding brawls. Let Us Turn The Jump Rope In Accord With Socialist Principles!
CheekyMusician Posted July 9, 2003 Posted July 9, 2003 I'm from Scotland, and its the same here as it seems to be in NZ. Most people are intrigued when you mention martial arts to them, but I'm female too, and I'm quite quiet and shy so that probably is what intrigues them most. Smile. It makes people wonder what you've been up to.
Treebranch Posted July 10, 2003 Posted July 10, 2003 I live in the US in California and I do get that attitude sometimes. They have the attitude like it wouldn't work in a real fight. Sometimes if I know the person fairly well I'll get them in a wrist lock or take their balance and hold them at that point where if I let go they will fall. This usually shuts them up pretty fast. Others are just plain ignorant, so I just let them think what they want. Most Americans are pretty ignorant about anything Non-American. They think foreign things are some how not good. I disagree with these types of people. I've noticed that people from other countries seem to be more interested in things that are foreign to them, maybe not the French. For the most part Americans don't share an interest in foreign things. "It is easier to find men who will volunteer to die, than to find those who are willing to endure pain with patience.""Lock em out or Knock em out"
G95champ Posted July 10, 2003 Posted July 10, 2003 I think most people are intrested by MA reguardless if they train in them or not. Sort of that idea about something MAGIC or UNKNOWN. LOL. People always will make jokes and talk about things that are differant to them. Be it MA, race, religon, policy, laws, music, clothes, money issues, etc. However I do think on the whole most people wish they knew MA in some form or another. (General George S. Patton Jr.) "It's the unconquerable soul of man, and not the nature of the weapon he uses, that ensures victory."
delta1 Posted July 10, 2003 Posted July 10, 2003 Usually when people find out they're uncomfortable I don't get it a lot. But some people are just insecure by nature and either come across with "that **** doesn't work", or they want to show you how much they know (???). Some really annoying types want to regale you with stories of how they, or their (pick one: father, brother, cousin, uncle, mothers' half sisters' fathers' uncles' wifes' third cousin) killed (pick one: 10, 100, 1000, so many they couldn't count them) (pick one: men, enemy soldiers, rabid dogs, 'they' weren't sure what th' heck those thangs were). A lot of people know I study martial arts, but I don't brag or dwell on it with non practitioners. When they ask what I study, I tell them Tai Chi, and they just think I'm a health nut and don't say much. It's easier that way. Freedom isn't free!
battousai16 Posted July 10, 2003 Posted July 10, 2003 well, i live in a roughly secluded state (wisconsin) and i'd say that people aren't ignorant so much as they're uninformed. a lot of people will find out i'm in martial arts and will either go "psh! why bother? that stuff aint worth #$%! in a real fight" or they make up some accent and do a little bow or strike a pose and make a high pitched noise that i think is supposed to resemble yelling but i've never quite been able to place it but my dad used to be one of those people, but as he kept coming to my classes (because he had to drive me there) and kept watching me and my class mates do more and more impressive things, he started believing and such. i think a lot of the problem, at least here in WI, is that a lot of the people think that all martial arts can only be done in the movies. they see a straight punch and don't see how you could get any power; that you would have to swing your arm way back, y'know? "I hear you can kill 200 men and play a mean six string at the same time..."-Six String Samurai
GrrrArg Posted July 10, 2003 Posted July 10, 2003 "I live in New Zealand (wee island below Australia! )" And I thought NZ was in the US...? Most people who have reacted badly to finding out about my training do so more out of ntimidation than anything else I find. They see movies like Crounching Tiger (very over-rated IMO) I expect me to be able to run up tree's etc: They say something like-"Just cos you do MA do you think that makes you hard?" which you know kinda the whole point-karate being about self-defense and all. But as I've said on other threads im very open about my training and eventually people get used to it and it doesn't become a problem.
granmasterchen Posted July 10, 2003 Posted July 10, 2003 many people are interested, and impressed when you show them some demos....yet there still seems to be those that think it is all about getting in the "crane stance" from karate kid and making alot of silly noises...many don't really understand too much about it.....but it is becoming more widely accepted today. That which does not destroy me will only make me stronger
Rich_2k3 Posted July 10, 2003 Posted July 10, 2003 I live in the UK, I think ppl who don't do martial arts are very ignorant of them. I showed my mum an injury I once had from karate and she said "I thought there was no contact in karate", what the hell! ppl seem to think karate is all tap, tap and kicking air, well its not. I also find that ppl seem to call all martial arts kung fu for some reason, now thats for watching to many movies! "When my enemy contracts I expand and when he expands I contract" - Bruce Lee
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