What makes a martial artist?

Buffy · Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2004 10:43 pm Post subject: What makes a martial artist?

I'm curious - it's a topic that was started on the crashaid boards a while ago, but I'm not sure how many of you frequent those boards, and I wanted to see what y'all think.

The basic questions is: Is everyone who does martial arts a martial artist? Do you have to achieve a certain level to be considered a martial artist? Is it more to do with the state of mind you train in?

If you don't consider everyone who does a martial art to be a martial artist, why not? What is it that defines martial artist for you, and why are/aren't you/someone else a martial artist, and not just someone who trains?
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m0x1e · Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2004 4:14 pm Post subject:

I'd tentatively say that anyone who is dedicated and trains regularly with a martial art qualifies for the label. I once heard a saying that you drop two belts in standard for every year during which you don't train so, by that rationale, mebbe you're a martial artist for as long as you're worth your belts.

Mox
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Winter · Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2004 4:17 pm Post subject:

I'd define it as someone who has a genuine dedication to it, as opposed to mister and missus well I have taekwondo tonight but well the lads are getting pizza so I think maybe, um, ah etc.
Plus I'd define a real martial artist as someone who appreciates his/her skills and doesn't consider being a black belt something worth bringing up for the sake of impressing.
That's just moi
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Capt. Flame Retardant · Living it up Joined: 28 Jul 2004 Posts: 462

1. a martial artist has to have a minimum sphincter aperture of between 2-4mm less than the girth of his/sensei's truncheon of instruction.

2. martial artists tend not be white heterosexual males, or least if they are then they will maintain some modicum of a suppressed homo-eroticist demeanour both on and off matt..

3. most 'martial artists' will either be strict people or into crafts (make and do). few master both elements to be both severe and retain a love of primary colours and potpourri.

4. big bellies are in. it accentuates your sexual libido, to compensate for you impotence.

5. martial artists are male.

6. martial artists are jujitsu people.

any questions?

m0x1e · Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2004 5:45 pm Post subject:

Yes, I have two questions:

1. The above being the case, why is only one of those rules true for you, mister Chi-Tank?

2. Why do I feel that giving you a warning and/or editing your post would somehow be conceding defeat?

Mox
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You knows it, clart.

Capt. Flame Retardant · Living it up Joined: 28 Jul 2004 Posts: 462

actually, i based those rules on sincere reflexion. i defy you to prove me wrong, o creator of the death star...

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

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

Yeah I kind of have an answer.
Ok I'm comparing this to dancing now but when I started dancing I didn't consider myself and "irish dancer" until the first time I got out in a dancing dress and curls etc at a competition. That's when imo I became an Irish dancer ie: you've to be good enough to do that first.

With martial arts I'd say that when you're good enough to get a grading (in your little costume----I'm not attempting to call it anything else just in case sorry.) Then you become a martial artist of that level/grade whatever. Me thinks Confused

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Bon · Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2004 3:28 pm Post subject:

1) Petals, never ever ask for definitions, esp of things like the Death Star!

2) Personally, I'd define a Martial Artist as someone who can train on their own and doesn't have to have the Sensai or a Senior there to step them thru techniques. Someone who can think up defenses for attacks without pausing to think about them. Someone who lets their training take over and lets instinct prevail....

But that's just me!
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Shadowcat · Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2004 3:39 pm Post subject:

When I think martial artist I think of Jet Lee someone who uses martial arts instictively to protect themselves someone who is so good they don't have to pause and think about what they are doing it's all just fluid motion.

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

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

Arthus · Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2004 6:28 pm Post subject:

I found it out.

The dogi.
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crashaid · Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2004 8:46 pm Post subject: Re: What makes a martial artist?

m0x1e · Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2004 8:06 pm Post subject:

Hmmm...you're right, that is pedantic. <Grin> I wouldn't be too quick to make the martial artist/prectitioner distinction in case it prompts impressionable low-grades to try innovating on a foundation of entirely too little training and next to no knowledge of principles.

I've seen this mentality go the wrong way once or twice before with some of the neo-traditional styles taught (e.g. a dodgy "Practical Tai-Chi" school I once encountered), where students will spend twenty minutes ensuring their santien stance is correct only to change guard and begin bouncing like light-contact tournament kickboxers. What we have in a case like that is an unholy mess because of an instructor who "personalised" his style from a good solid traditional style without first understanding the original style properly...i.e. a complete mess!

I stand by my vote that everyone can eventually be classified as a martial artist with just a little dedication and effort.

Mox
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You knows it, clart.

crashaid · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2004 12:49 am Post subject:

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

Ragdoll · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2004 10:00 pm Post subject:

I think with enough dedication and preserverance and love for your discipline you are a martial artist. Although there are those whom as in evertring you'll ever do in a group or life situation have a more innate ability for the discipline, but that doesn't necessarily entail them to be anything over special in my mind. It just means that others who are slower and need to expend more concentration to learn the control and techniques necessary are equally deserveing of the term martial artist, if not more so. With preserverance will come adaption and everyones physic is different and we all favour certain aspects of our discipline over others. If we are doggad enough and apply the necessary effort and push to do our best then that is all that can be hoped or asked for at certain points in time. I don't like the idea that you ahve to suddenly be Bruce Lee to be considered a martial artist- also the whole male/ female is bull.

archdukefranz · Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2004 12:27 pm Post subject: hmmm

You (plural) don't seem to be asking whether or not someone is a martial artitst but rather whether people think of that person as a martial artist which is more based on stereotypes, how frequently you see the person practicing the martial art...

crashaid · Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2004 9:37 pm Post subject: Re: What makes a martial artist?