Attitude

m0x1e · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 10:57 am Post subject: Attitude

Right, I gave my students a talk before I left to the effect of "Ju-Jitsu doesn't stop when we bow out of training, it's an attitude that we should carry around with us day to day." Two weeks later, I find myself curious about what people in general think. Is there still a place for martial arts in the day to day of the 21st century or are we really just hobbyists keeping obscure oriental forms of morris dancing alive?
I'll probably add to this thread and change the title as the ideas develop more in my own head but y'all get the idea.

Mox
_________________

You knows it, clart.

Batfink is decent · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 10:58 am Post subject: Re: Attitude

Asmo · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 11:00 am Post subject:

Depends on what kind of attitude you are talking about. Awareness of ourselves and others? Confident outlook? What?
_________________

This post comes in User and Supermod form.
Please select form as appropriate as both may not always apply.

the cat · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 11:01 am Post subject:

No, self defence is still needed, and its ideals can be applied to everyday life its all well and good to have the right attitude in class but you have to have the right attitude outside of class in order to be a sucessful martial artist.
_________________
Sex Appeal: Please give generously

In the words of porky pig....p..p..piss off lou.

www.seoultrain.com Get groovy

Batfink is decent · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 11:04 am Post subject:

but.. is it necessary to be a martial artist at all? i reckon not. not trying to disparage from it whatsoever but it seems to me like he hit the nail on the head with the hobbiest remark. fine if you want to do it but it's completely redundant otherwise.

the cat · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 11:10 am Post subject:

m0x1e · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 11:13 am Post subject:

It partly stems from this artificial delineation of "dojo" and "street" techniques and partly with certain students' reservations about one of the grading criteria ("aggression", now renamed "commitment").

"Dojo" and "street" were lines originally drawn so that people didn't apply full breaks in training, etc. but it seems to have spawned the conceit that if one never gets into fights "on the street", one needn't take the techniques and their execution seriously.

Mox
_________________

You knows it, clart.

Batfink is decent · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 11:13 am Post subject:

yes

now gun defence, thats a different matter

or even mortar defence

the cat · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 11:29 am Post subject:

Batfink is decent · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 11:32 am Post subject:

Asmo · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 11:56 am Post subject:

The 'commmitment' thing I would agree is needed both on the matt (in a certain amount) and on the street (in much larger amount).

Do you mean having the martial arts attitude outside of combat too though?
_________________

This post comes in User and Supermod form.
Please select form as appropriate as both may not always apply.

Darth Antares · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 12:24 pm Post subject:

I definitely think there is a place for martial arts in modern society. I don't think it's for everyone, but definitely, it's a good attitude to have. Certainly I think it's helped me.
_________________
Geology is like sex. Sure, it might produce some practical results, but that's not why we do it.
--
Smiler: attack the post, not the poster.
Chiggy: You stupid post, why don't you start with a capital letter? You make me so mad!
--
KGB: I mean for God's sake, women are insane!

Batfink is decent · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 12:33 pm Post subject:

Buffy · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 2:52 pm Post subject: Re: Attitude

crashaid · Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 2:56 am Post subject: Re: Attitude

m0x1e · Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 7:27 pm Post subject:

Asmo · Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2005 10:11 am Post subject:

I think sometimes giving the illusion tat you can back up what you are saying with physical 'persuasion' will help calm down a situation. People usually wont attack if they think their opponent has any kind of skill at fighting.

So yes, the attitude of confidence in ones own ability helps to diffuse situations and makes you feel safer while walking alone or with a group of 'untrained' people.
_________________

This post comes in User and Supermod form.
Please select form as appropriate as both may not always apply.

petals · The Shy One Joined: 21 Feb 2004 Posts: 4962 Location: gone

I dunno if it's confidence is ones ability with all of us but generally off mats it seems to give people more confidence
_________________
sometimes life breaks in mysterious ways

Everyday is a brand new start

Ragdoll · Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 5:06 pm Post subject:

At the end of the day if I'm attacked unprovoked I hope not to freeze instantly(especially if there is a knife involved), that is the least I hope to gain from training. I trust that agression, especially that inherent in some quantity for preservation of our own life will kick in to some extent if I can't escape such an attack after that muscle memory and adrenaline are all really we got to go on.
Having said that the -hard man, nothing could beat me attitude do ya want a scuf mister, is the very wrong one to have. It is stupid to underestimate or overestimate a person no matter how big/small, under or over trained you are.

Buffy · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2005 1:16 pm Post subject:

I think that relying on that life-preservation agression is a pretty bad attitude to have as well. People who'll say "If you touch my kid, I'll kill you" or "You may have the training, but I'll go down taking lumps out of you" or "I'll turn mad when provoked" or any variant on a theme kinda make me laugh a little.

While I'll admit that there's a desire for the preservation of ones own life and the life of those we care about, there's only so far that can take you. If you're out of shape, unfit, and untrained, its not going to take you very far at all.

I suppose thats to do with attitudes towards threats though - people may say all of the above, but I don't think many of them would carry it out. Lets face it, you can be annoyed and provoked and aggressive all you want, but if you don't even know which direction to apply it in, then you're just either going to freeze up and fume afterwards, or end up windmilling your arms or kicking out randomly and not doing much good at all. If someone's determined, it won't put them off. And if someone has an amount of the right training (although they certainly shouldn't be putting it to use to attack/mug/etc other people) they'll laugh you all the way to the ground.

The best attitude to have, I've found, is not quite the middle ground, but almost there. Obviously, walking around with the atitude that nothing can beat you, etc. isn't ideal, but its closer to the ideal than walking around with a victim complex. I guess I think you should try to walk around exuding the attitude that you could beat anyone, and that no one can touch you. Because if you do so successfully, then you're far less likely to get into a situation where you need to back up the attitude.

I think its good to be mindful of the fact that, no matter how big and strong you are, there's always someone bigger, stronger and/or better trained. And also, with all that aside, all someone needs is a lucky shot. There isn't really a block for someone hitting you across the back of the head with a 2x4. But I think that if you do walk around with the attitude that no one can touch you, you're less likely to have those pot-shots taken against you. If you look like someone they shouldn't take on, they won't try.

I think its even more important to embody this if you are smaller than most - a 6ft something guy is less likely to be attacked than a 5ft girl. But, if as a 6ft guy, you project the image of a big softy, then maybe they'll give it a go. And if, as a 5ft girl, you project an aura of confidence in your ability, and not blind terror at walking alone in the dark, then maybe they're less likely to give it a go with you.
_________________