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kids and martial arts?
saint:
--- Quote from: shmokes on November 02, 2009, 08:24:49 pm ---Saint? Surely you don't think that I'm coming completely from left-field on this?
--- End quote ---
No, not at all. I thought you were incorrectly dismissive of the value of martial arts. I concur whole-heartedly that there is a tremendous value in team sports. As a social activity, team sports such as baseball or football or basketball will serve you well in life more so than martial arts. At company picnics, you play softball. You don't throw each other around on the mat. On the other hand, when someone at the picnic has too much beer and picks a fight with you, martial arts will let you stop him with as much or as little force as you deem necessary, protecting not only you and your loved ones but also the drunk from his own actions.
I have my kids in both martial arts and team sports and non-physical extracurricular activities.
Xiaou2:
To counter...
Just because a person learns a martial art, does not mean they are incapable of
teamwork, friendship, etc. You dont have to play a sport to learn these things.
In fact, there are plenty of instances were playing a sport badly, can cause
traumatic results. As was my case. Being picked on, pushed around, made fun
of, and made to feel worthless and inferior.
I have friends, and have no problem making more. And no, I dont go round
throwing people round at outings :P (unless they ask for that :P )
I respect anyone's decisions to enroll their kids in sports, and heck I even liked
playing some of them even if I wasnt good at them... but you cant tell me that only
learning and art is damaging. That simply is not true.
shmokes:
--- Quote from: saint on November 02, 2009, 10:04:28 pm ---
--- Quote from: shmokes on November 02, 2009, 08:24:49 pm ---Saint? Surely you don't think that I'm coming completely from left-field on this?
--- End quote ---
No, not at all.
--- End quote ---
My comment was largely a response to the Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon stuff in Xiaou's post before mine. Of course I believe that studying and practicing martial arts can make a person a better fighter. I've seen UFC. But UFC is what it's like. The Matrix is not what it's like. Children, and Xiaou, have this backwards. But, whatever. I suppose thinking that you will grow up and be able to catch poison darts out of mid-air with chopsticks or balance weightlessly on the tip of a sword held in someone's outstretched arm is no more unrealistic than dreaming of playing in the NBA. Well, of course it is infinitely more unrealistic since you have impossibility on the one hand and (very low) probability on the other. But anyway . . . yeah, as I said, many people have an unrealistic and a bit goofy idea of what is possible with martial arts.
I guess what I'm trying to get at is usefulness. If martial arts were what as they are portrayed in popular media, I would ask where to sign up. But they're not. And in my admittedly limited experience they do not save kids from bullies. And I just think that there are better options out there, at least if you're going to put your kid in only one sport. Swimming, for example. You said your daughter swims. THAT's one that fits Chad's suspicions about me. I didn't learn to swim till I was 10 or 11, when I finally had lessons one summer. I have always been a weak swimmer, and even after lessons later in life and quite a lot of practice as an adult, I cannot swim long distances. Four laps at my university's pool tucker me out completely but I see other swimmers go for 50, including people who aren't in nearly as good shape as me. I REALLY wish my parents had got me swimming earlier.
In the end, I think that martial arts don't provide what many parents and children are looking for (cure for bullying and magical powers, respectively). I think being good at mainstream sports often goes a long way to curing bullying because it helps kids be cool and fit in, and nothing builds confidence like being cool, and nothing cures bullying like confidence and being cool.
Xiaou2:
--- Quote ---
--- Quote ---I've seen UFC. But UFC is what it's like.
--- End quote ---
--- End quote ---
- No. UFC is useless slop compared to Good martial artists training.
--- Quote ---The Matrix is not what it's like. Children, and Xiaou, have this backwards.
--- End quote ---
- Ive plenty of people to vouch for what Ive accomplished in the martial arts,
and how I maintained traditional form instead of Bunny Hopping slop.
--- Quote --- But, whatever. I suppose thinking that you will grow up and be able to catch poison darts out of mid-air with chopsticks or balance weightlessly on the tip of a sword held in someone's outstretched arm is no more unrealistic than dreaming of playing in the NBA.
--- End quote ---
- Umm.. I punch and kick hard. I dont do magic. I train on wall mounted sand bags,
and a 10lb bad filled with Steel BBs. It called Realism. Training on a heavy bag isnt
realistic. They are too "Gushy". I also kick 4" diameter 3mm thick steel pipes.
These are realistic tools for real Combat situations. IE: A Need to break a leg real fast...
Unlike MMA, I train to Parry, Redirect, Block. Amazing Magic ehh? ::)
--- Quote --- Well, of course it is infinitely more unrealistic since you have impossibility on the one hand and (very low) probability on the other. But anyway . . . yeah, as I said, many people have an unrealistic and a bit goofy idea of what is possible with martial arts.
--- End quote ---
- Ohh, considering Ive fought many sparring matches against many various
arts, I think I know a LOT more about them than your uneducated Ideas.
--- Quote ---I guess what I'm trying to get at is usefulness. If martial arts were what as they are portrayed in popular media, I would ask where to sign up. But they're not.
--- End quote ---
- Your girl friend being grasped by a guy right in front of you by a punk or two.
A belligerent drunk who pushes or swings at you. A terrorist on an Airplane...
A guy beating a child up in the middle of the street... What will you do? And will it
be too late???
But more importantly...
I can tell you almost immediately, that when you are walking down
the city streets and or a darkly lit parking lot.. you are feeling nervous and maybe
even scared. When some punk gets rambunctious in a public area... you cower,
run, and your heart feels like it will explode from your chest.
I dont have that feeling anymore. And if I had been in school without that feeling...
I may have been more at ease, with my mind more focused on school work instead
of the next bullying.
--- Quote --- And in my admittedly limited experience they do not save kids from bullies.
--- End quote ---
Already refuted. Bullies like to pick on the weak, as they are Easy targets. A Bully is
a spineless soulless person. They sink to the lowest levels. Proof of this can
be found all over the place.
--- Quote --- And I just think that there are better options out there, at least if you're going to put your kid in only one sport. Swimming, for example.
--- End quote ---
- Swimming takes a while to learn. For most of us, its not a sporting event. Its something they do in gym class every so often, and something you do in the summer to keep cool and have fun.
I learned it late in school, but I learned it. I still had plenty of time to learn the arts.
In fact, much more time.. as finding an open pool isnt always easy to do. Nor not
always what you want to do often.
--- Quote ---In the end, I think that martial arts don't provide what many parents and children are looking for (cure for bullying and magical powers, respectively).
--- End quote ---
Martial arts bring focus and awareness to children on a level that typical sports just
can not compare with. As the arts are so much more complex, and are "Self" related.
As such, this inner awareness soon spreads outwards as well. I suspect it forms
higher intellect levels as well.. especially when taught young.
The lessons teach Willpower. Triumph through hard work and dedication. They
Instill confidence like nothing else does. They quiet the noisy mind... leaving more
room for concentration and focus on school work. And so much more. Sorry... but
playing football just doesnt reach this level of returns.
--- Quote ---I think being good at mainstream sports often goes a long way to curing bullying because it helps kids be cool and fit in,
--- End quote ---
Wrong. I played little league, and was horrible. I was hated just as much as before...
if not even more so... for ruining the teams chances.
--- Quote ---and nothing builds confidence like being cool, and nothing cures bullying like confidence and being cool.
--- End quote ---
You certainly are not cool...
And again, I can vouch this as false. If you are bad at a sport, you will not be
considered Cool. And no matter if you did make a good catch or something... the
Bully does not care. They still see you as the weak target with brilliant past history
of laughable moments.
Im not saying martial arts can always solve a bully problem. However, it can help
considerably to build up a "dont mess with him" rep.
I noticed a big difference in treatment when I told people that I had training in
the arts. Respect level. Some were even a little fearful / nervous. Others felt safer
in my company. Few occasions asked for my assistance in a situation (sister needing
help moving out from Ex bf place). Some are amazed at what Ive shown them,
and wish they had the ability themselves. Many get excited to see demos,
and or want me to show their children some things. Some beg for lessons.
Few people have ever challenged me, knowing what I do. Usually only a few
drunks, to which I laugh off. The few others Ive talked down from fighting... However,
I didnt feel threatened because of the arts, and I stood a better change had
talking failed.
Being that the Arts is about self perfection.. you grow much faster than in a typical
sport. Your progress is not mocked or degraded. You gain progress quickly, and
can see those results clearly. You gain confidence in yourself, By yourself,.. not from
other peoples opinions of you. There is no better confidence builder I know... and I
couldnt tell you anything else that teaches the value of hard work, as well as the
morals (Mercy, Code of conduct...) ... and value of life, and meaning of death.
ChadTower:
Distance swimming is very hard. Those people who swim 50 laps without a problem took a long time and practice to get to that point. Just the conditioning to do that is very impressive. The technique for distance is not easy for even someone like a lifeguard to get right without hours upon hours of practice. Trust me, I learned the hard way training for that race, even someone who swims very well is going to get slapped hard with the reality of distance swimming. I only got to the point where I could do it but was horribly slow and I was only training for a half mile swim portion.
Comparing the average person's participation in a martial art with the UFC or a movie is just ignorant of what they are really doing. While you're at it you may as well give up on football since none of us will ever be Adrian Peterson or Paul Crewe.
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