I thought we'll take a break from the whining and cursing, and discuss a different topic. Been learning a martial art for 2 years and would like to share what i learnt.
Myths vs truths.....
1. Martial artists are very fit and have no problems getting IPPT gold.
Might be true for styles like boxing, where you need intense training to last a long match. But many practitioners train specially to survive a real fight, there is no need for great strength or stamina. Technique/ hitting the right places is most important.
2. Real martial arts moves are as awesome as Jackie Chan/Jet Li moves.
There are martial arts meant for exhibitions and looking good, then there are practical martial arts for self-defense. The latter usually involve short, undramatic, even ugly moves to disable an attacker in short time.
3. Real fights between top martial artists take a long time, like the movies.
A real fight usually lasts less than 10 seconds. A trained martial artist aims at the opponent’s vulnerable points and takes him out asap. Only amateurs brawl for a long time, and you can see many of these ‘street fights’ on youtube. For MMA or UFC, they have to obey rules and not use any lethal moves, thus prolonging the fight.
4. Qi Gong and Nei Gong is a myth.
They are real. I have seen and experienced it. The problem is too many frauds using their claims to cheat others, which leads everyone to dismiss all qigong practitioners as frauds.
5. Great martial artists are immune to attacks from ordinary punks.
Martial artists are still humans and if a fairly strong person can surprise him with a hit on a vulnerable spot, they’ll go down. A real right is different from a controlled match – it’s no rules and no holds barred. So even experienced fighters may not handle a real fight well.
6. Great martial artists can take on many enemies at once.
No matter how great you are you only have 2 hands, so how to block 10 attacks at once? However, the best I’ve seen is a 4-to-1 street fight in Turkey (it’s on youtube). So it depends on skill and what kind of attackers you’re dealing with.
7. Martial artists fear no one because they can use force to settle any dispute.
Making trouble is detrimental to anyone. You can beat one person, but you can’t stop his friends from threatening and harming your loved ones. If you break the law, you can’t stop policemen with guns.
A good martial art should nurture your character as well as your body – to the point of curbing your aggression. So you realize that martial arts is a fight with yourself…..not with others.
Myths vs truths.....
1. Martial artists are very fit and have no problems getting IPPT gold.
Might be true for styles like boxing, where you need intense training to last a long match. But many practitioners train specially to survive a real fight, there is no need for great strength or stamina. Technique/ hitting the right places is most important.
2. Real martial arts moves are as awesome as Jackie Chan/Jet Li moves.
There are martial arts meant for exhibitions and looking good, then there are practical martial arts for self-defense. The latter usually involve short, undramatic, even ugly moves to disable an attacker in short time.
3. Real fights between top martial artists take a long time, like the movies.
A real fight usually lasts less than 10 seconds. A trained martial artist aims at the opponent’s vulnerable points and takes him out asap. Only amateurs brawl for a long time, and you can see many of these ‘street fights’ on youtube. For MMA or UFC, they have to obey rules and not use any lethal moves, thus prolonging the fight.
4. Qi Gong and Nei Gong is a myth.
They are real. I have seen and experienced it. The problem is too many frauds using their claims to cheat others, which leads everyone to dismiss all qigong practitioners as frauds.
5. Great martial artists are immune to attacks from ordinary punks.
Martial artists are still humans and if a fairly strong person can surprise him with a hit on a vulnerable spot, they’ll go down. A real right is different from a controlled match – it’s no rules and no holds barred. So even experienced fighters may not handle a real fight well.
6. Great martial artists can take on many enemies at once.
No matter how great you are you only have 2 hands, so how to block 10 attacks at once? However, the best I’ve seen is a 4-to-1 street fight in Turkey (it’s on youtube). So it depends on skill and what kind of attackers you’re dealing with.
7. Martial artists fear no one because they can use force to settle any dispute.
Making trouble is detrimental to anyone. You can beat one person, but you can’t stop his friends from threatening and harming your loved ones. If you break the law, you can’t stop policemen with guns.
A good martial art should nurture your character as well as your body – to the point of curbing your aggression. So you realize that martial arts is a fight with yourself…..not with others.
