General MA

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As we see droves of children going to martial arts classes on a daily basis and a dojo on just about every street corner, it is hard to believe that what they are learning today is one of the same deadly fighting skills that garnered the moniker martial art.

As its name implies, this is an art based on warfare. There were no judges on the battlefield giving you points and the first one up to 3 wins.  People died in battle, often in ugly and brutal ways. You, have one purpose during war stay alive and kill the other guy. Do you really think on the field of battle when people lost their weapons they gave each other space bowed and then in a highly stylized form punched and kicked each other until one either gives up or is submitted? Death, maiming or severe injury was the only outcome that was acceptable.

So the question is, how much of what we learn today as a martial art is what was originally taught? We are essentially learning killing arts in a recreational form for exercise and entertainment. If that is the case all of the really violent and ruthless things each martial art has shouldn’t, won’t, or can’t be taught because we are not learning it for war, and by extension true self-defence.

I remember watching the Karate Kid III, Mr. Miyagi was the clam Zen like teacher of Daniel san. The other guy was this macho, pony tailed martial arts guy that was everything we are told martial arts isn’t. He was arrogant and pursued martial arts for all the wrong reasons. He was vicious. I remember him saying, if your opponent can’t breath he can’t fight, if he can’t see he can’t fight, if he can’t walk he can’t fight, excellent advice for anyone wanting to finish someone off quickly with complete disregard for the consequences. How common was this thinking during the times the various martial arts were created? In a life and death situation more likely than not this attitude is used to great effect. 

Is this considered the wrong use of martial arts? In today’s world probably, but this depends entirely on the situation of course. Injuring someone so save another is noble, isn’t it? Injuring someone for something to do, or to show complete dominance is obviously a character flaw that can’t be fixed. For these types of people there is no recourse, they will always be like that. The question you need to ask yourself is, if they approach you and after you have repeatedly walked away from the conflict find there is no choice but to engage him do you have the skills as well as the mental attitude to subdue your opponent effectively or permanently?

Most street fights don’t take long to finish; in combat it is the same injure/kill your opponent as fast as possible without getting injured yourself. Does it really make sense to fight for 10 minutes when 10 seconds does the job? The longer the fight the greater the possibility of getting hurt.  Martial arts from my perspective was designed to kill/maim your opponent as fast as possible without getting injured yourself. If we agree that was the point back then what is the point today? I think learning a martial art today is less about learning to defend yourself and more about exercise, self-defense is second possibly third.

If you are learning martial arts as exercise or something else how prepared are you for hand to hand combat of any kind? I am also curious to know how many people actually feel they can handle themselves in any form of hand-to-hand combat because they have taken martial arts. This is not the same question, what you can do is different than what you think you can do. If martial arts gives people a false sense of security is it doing anything legitimate with regard to self-defense? It may boost someone’s confidence but is that all it is designed to do? Confidence is great and in many cases can diffuse a situation just by the mere act of not being scared or intimidated, but what happens when that isn’t enough?

The world is a very different place today than when marital arts were developed back in the day. Kung Fu for instance, was created/developed around 1500 years ago when life was substantially harder and more ruthless. Do you really believe that people learned the arts as recreation or sport? There was a practical need to know and understand martial arts back then so is what we are taught today in keeping with that?

As we evolve, society norms change and If martial arts have changed in keeping with the norms of society, which I believe they have, can it still be called a martial art when the entire purpose has changed from protection and warfare to exercise and entertainment?

If that truly is the case, do a majority of the people who practice marital arts have the ability to defend themselves using the skills they have learned in class or do they just think they can? In real life no one bows, or uses a point system to determine a winner. You can either subdue your opponent or not, if and when the day comes does the martial art you learned come in handy or escape you in your time of need?

For a majority, I think the answer is more the latter than the former.

Walking on your way to work, browsing in a bookstore, and even picking up toothpaste at the health food market – you’re bound to see an ad for martial arts training in any of these places. But how do you know if these instructors or classes offer the real thing? Before you decide to answer the ad, review these steps to help you find the martial arts program right for you.

What kind of martial art is it? Do your research
There are hundreds of types of martial arts to learn. Some are more challenging than others because of various physical and mental requirements. It’s important to do research on the art because it will help you understand what’s expected in training and what you may achieve with proper instruction. For absolute beginners, The Martial Arts Encyclopaedia or Martial Arts for Dummies by Jennifer Lawlor are basic reference guides that provide initial direction on martial arts types and learning outcomes.

Why do I want to join? What are my goals? Make a list
Making a list of goals and reasons for learning will help you choose the martial art that best fits your needs. For example, if you want to learn how to defend yourself, but aren’t interested in participating in competitions, Wing Tsun may be more suitable for you than Kendo. If you want to earn “belts” or other markers of achievement, there are certain arts that offer these designations and others that don’t.

Ensure that you can also answer these basic questions:

• How much time can I dedicate?
• How much am I able to spend on lessons?
• Do I want private training or group classes?
• Where do I want to train? Am I willing to travel far for training?
• What do I want to achieve within a certain time period?

Be honest and realistic with yourself. Don’t expect to become Bruce Lee in a month because, in reality, these arts take a long time to perfect. Every martial arts type is great for personal fitness, increased self confidence, and even cultural knowledge, but it’s a more fulfilling experience when your personal goals and needs are met.

Where do I start my journey? Start at the top and work your way down
Legitimate and professionally trained martial artists are members of not-for-profit associations or international federations that regulate, promote, and develop the art. These organizations operate with executive level staff or committee and have an independent body (like a board of directors) that monitor the organization’s operations. Information about an instructor’s or school’s qualifications are usually available to the public and inquiries are welcome.

Contact these organizations for a list of local instructors or schools, keeping in mind that these references are just a starting point. Universities and colleges may have student level martial arts associations and federations that offer classes at campus athletic centres. Your city’s community centres may also offer programs or direct you to programs in your area.

Here are a few links to associations and federations found online:
Canadian Martial Arts Association: http://www.cnmaa.com/home.htm
International WingTsun Association – North America: http://www.wtdefense.com/
Wushu Canada – Confederation of Canadian Wushu Organizations: http://www.wushucanada.com/
World Tae Kwon Do Federation: http://www.wtf.org/
International Kung Fu Federation: http://www.internationalkungfu.com/

Online forums are another way to find instructors and schools, and get peer reviews of them. Links can be found on popular martial arts media sites (e.g., Black Belt Magazine: http://www.blackbeltmag.com/), university or college websites, and martial arts web portals like www.MartialArtsWorldwide.com and www.USAdojo.com. You may gain a better understanding of what you need to look for in a school and get first hand account of student experience.

Don’t forget to talk to your network of friends and family

Their connections could provide you with good leads to instructors, schools, and students of the martial arts.

Which one do I choose? Observe or participate in more than one trial class
Create a list of the instructors/schools, then and ask each one if you can observe or participate (Note: Only if you’re in good physical condition.) in a free trial class. Only by seeing a class live can you truly judge whether or not it’s right for you.

While your there ensure that you:

1. Review any legal or contractual documentation.
2. Review any certification from professional associations.
3. Review any school regulations, uniform requirements, and class syllabus
4. Discuss the costs of participation up front: fees, equipment, testing fees, extra costs outside of the class, payment methods and refund policy.
5. Understand the instructor/school expectations of students
6. Ask about special seminars, workshops, and testing

Judge each experience using your own criteria, which may include the number of participants, age and sex range of students, class environment, philosophy, rules, regulations, teaching style of instructor, and learning outcomes within time frame of the class.

How do I know it’s legit? Review the telltale signs
On your search, be aware of these telltale signs of poorly operated schools and questionable instructors:

Pressure to sign up right away
It’s not in your best interest to make a split decision unless you’re absolutely certain. Don’t sign up until you’re ready to do so.

Outrageous fees and hidden costs
Fees vary, but generally instructors and schools should offer a variety of fee levels (usually by year, month or number of classes), and outline all the costs of becoming a student. This may include membership fees, uniform costs, testing fees, and association or federation membership fees. Get this information up front and in writing.

Outrageous claims and advertising
Is it really the number 1 school in the world? Are those trophies and awards genuine? Can they really teach you to be an expert in a month? The truth is, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is. Any martial arts instructor or school that operates commercially, but honestly, won’t have to gain your attention with outrageous ads. The high quality of instruction and the genuine dedication to students is more important than flashy awards, titles or claims.

Unhealthy teaching style and class environment
Does the instructor remind you of John Kreese, the hardened and merciless leader of the Cobra Kai in the movie The Karate Kid? Are the students more interested in competing or collaborating with each other? Martial arts classes do have rules of conduct and etiquette that encourage respect and discipline; however, it shouldn’t feel like military school. You should feel comfortable enough to ask questions, make mistakes, and ask for help.

Unsafe location and physical environment
The location of the class should meet basic safety standards, including access to first aid, fire exits, and enough room to accommodate a number of people in class. Ask questions about the environment before you visit and bring a friend as a safety precaution – especially, if the class operates out of a private home. If you don’t feel safe, it’s not the place to be.

Am I ready to take the class? Always check with a medical professional
As with any sport or exercise, check with a medical professional beforehand to ensure you don’t have any prior medical conditions that may prevent you from safely participating in the class. If you’ve got the okay, you’re ready to go!

Steven Seagal – Shihan (teacher of teachers)
7th Dan Black Belt in Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido and Aikikai Aikido
6′ 4″ (193 cm) Trained and became a teacher in Osaka and Tokyo, Japan
Current Status – Non Competing but as deadly as ever. Teaches regularly.

Like him or hate him, Steven Seagal is the man

He has a commanding knowledge of Aikido and he can prove it. He has worked very hard and there is no doubt in anyones mind that he is a real master of Aikido. His students know it through learning from him and all the pain that comes along with that.

Even with all the bumps and bruises his students still have the greatest respect for him. Even if its sometimes out of fear.

He started martial arts like most masters training at a young age with excellent teachers

I believe he started in Shotokan Karate (woot woot) and then switched to Aikido later on. Moved to Japan and trained with the real hard core aikido masters. Ended up running his own school and becoming a high rank in Japan (which is no small feat). In Japan they train hard, and when I mean hard its “oups you broke your arm quietly and respectfully get off the matt so as not to disturb others training and take yourself to the hospital”.

In this video you will see Shihan practicing on some students coming at him full throttle. This is how he liked to train Aikido to show people that it is effective and that contrary to popular belief can be very effective in many common self defense situations.

Steven Seagal is known for violence

But that is not how he want’s to be known. He trains his black belts very hard because he believes that Aikido should be shown that it can be effective in self defense situations. If you have ever been to an Aikido class or seen some of it on you tube, you will know what I mean when people say it looks fake, but do not fool yourself. If you attack the teacher you will get a rude awakening of extreme pain should he or she choose to inflect it.

He has a reputation of being very hard on students and stuntmen. Is this his fault? His impression is the black belts need to be ready for live combat at all times and should train full pace, as for the stuntmen he just want’s to make sure it looks real enough for the viewers.

Coming back to America

After opening Aikido dojo’s in LA he started to get some celebrities and movie bigwigs into the schools. At the time Warner Brothers was looking for a new martial arts action star to fill the viewers demand at the time for martial arts related action movies. Someone brought him to warner brothers to do an Aikido demonstration and the rest is action hero history.

In his movies he is using martial arts for violence (but he is the good guy).

After the movies

After the action hero genre ended he focused on training Aikido and another love in his life music. Now I know that people right away say Steven Seagal? Music?…singing? I too was very skeptical but I am here to say that he is no B.B.King or Steve Ray but he is not that bad.

His stuff is a little 80’s blues cheese, easy rock station for me but he can play the guitar and sing and really he is not that bad. You can check it out here, he tours and everything. Steven Seagal Music

In Short He has done some pretty cool stuff with his life. More then most who criticize him. I say until you have walked in someone’s shoes you dont really know them.

Wicked Aikido Master, Sweet Hollywood Action Movies and now Blues Guitar Player in a touring band. I think that some of us should cut the guy a little slack.

There’s always that one guy or gal in the class that seems so “in to it” that they look like they are changing into the hulk when their eyes are bulging “kee yai” during a punch or kick. I am talking about the loudest yellers and the most aggressive in the class. I am sure they’re thinking they are giving it that little extra more then everyone else in the class, and I am not saying that they are not, but sometimes it appears like they may be taking it to another level…possibly an unhealthy one.

In this article we are looking at people who join martial arts and why teachers need to be aware of their reasons

I joined martial arts because like all parents (my god parents included) thought that martial arts would give a young man confidence and maybe assist with some weight loss with the regular regiment of exercise. I was fifteen years old and very fortunate to go to a school that taught in a way that was to really reach out and teach the students the traditional ways of martial arts. Joining this school was actually a fluke because like most parents I joined the closest one to our house and the price was right.

This school taught ShotoKan Karate primarily and dabbled in some weapons, Aikido and Judo. At first I thought that this was cool and I was going to be Bruce Lee when I got my black belt, but those thoughts faded fast as the extensive strength and flexibility training kicked with the endless Kata drills that were not much fun, crushed my dreams in of an easy going Karate class rendered in reality with my sweat soaked gee every night.

But these are the thoughts of a lot of first time students and they eventually change quickly as you really do improve and get better with every class. I found myself changing and getting better every time I went to class. Inside grows this “I really can do this” mentality and you really do want to stay, learn and succeed. And I eventually did go far.

I believe these feelings are felt by most students and they eventually get their black belts and stay in martial arts for a long period of time getting higher degrees and eventually becoming teachers themselves (providing they find the right club to join).

But there are others who join for different reasons.

Students have many reasons for joining a club, some join on their own, some forced by parents, some because of exercise and others for self-defense and confidence. There are many more reasons I am sure.

But there has always been a more hidden aggressive type. They are those who join because of a confidence issue or something lacking in their life. Maybe a traumatic incident leads them to martial arts to fight a now lingering emotional difficulty they face. Now again, I am not saying that martial arts cannot fill this void for these people, but an emotional gap in someone’s life to be filled with this sometimes very aggressive complex activity may not exactly be the best way to approach difficulties in your life. (I wouldn’t mind some feedback comments by readers on this)

An example of what I mean would be a student who has personal self confidence issues because of bullies at school or work may be in need of some constructive self confidence building programs and activities to rebuild what was taken from them and get them starting to feel good about who they are again.

Martial arts is a great way to work out these issues and teach the person that they can overcome many things in their life and they are in control of their own destiny as it were. But unfortunately this can only be taught through martial arts if the teacher is aware of these issues and adjusts his or her teachings in a way to deliver this message in a non-violence constructed way.

The Short: You need a great teacher

A good school has good teachers, a great school has great teachers. Some classes are taught in high end training facilities and some are in church basements. The greatness of the school is dependent upon the teaching abilities of the instructors. This is just me but I don’t think that teaching someone who has very low self esteem and personal confidence issues, that also may have some burning vendetta against some bullies, the way to kick them in the head or kill them with one touch (see Dim Mak) is the best way to go about things.

People need to have teachers that are aware that they need to build up their martial arts training not only in the physical but the mental way as well. Teachers who can help a person realize that they are someone who can achieve great things and that violence is never the answer will always have loyal students to his or her club.

A teacher’s message should be that we are teaching you how to be a better person and not to hurt people but helping to achieve great skill in yourself.

This was the message I got from my first instructor

We do not hurt people, we help them. We are not learning martial arts to fight but to stop fights. The lessons we learn are to help us realize our true self’s and that through these lessons we will realize the way to lead a good life is by always advancing yourself and helping others to do the same.

This message stays with me and I try to pass it along when I can.

If more teachers adjusted their teaching styles to add a clearer message to their students about the real reasons to learn martial arts the less misguided children with highly trained skills will turn into misguided adults with a deadly arsenal of ways to hurt people.

Filling an emotional void is not what martial arts is about, but it can be with the right teacher.

Martial arts can be a lot of things and teachers need to be aware (and I think a lot of them are) that the people who come to the club to learn may many reasons why they wanted to join. They may tell you one thing but the real reason could be hidden inside them. Teachers need to understand that, like all clubs and places where people go to interact, provide an emotional outlet for humans to immerse themselves in learning how to improve themselves socially in a group setting.

If they come to “kick some ass” then its not helping the student or the school to have that kind of person going out into society with their newly discovered “butt kicking” tools ready to snap and looking for any opportunity.

Schools need to be responsible for whom they are teaching to and what they are teaching to these people. Teaching someone to hurt if they show a lot of aggression to others in class is not only unfair to the student but it’s unethical for the school. If a gun store sells a gun to a cracked out eye-twitching psycho looking person, legally they are not liable for the actions of this person, but some personal responsibility should take place at some point.

Students come to learn the way of martial arts and to learn to become better, I believe that their lessons should be geared to where their emotional level can handle it. A squirrely kid leaning how to be stronger and walk with confidence is a great example of how martial arts can help someone. Teaching an aggressive kid how to really damage should not be taught until this person learns and really understands that what they are learning should not be taken for granted and as spider mans grandfather put it “with great power comes great responsibility”