Martial Artist or Hobbyist?

Martial Artist or Hobbyist?

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Martial Artist or Hobbyist? - Mar. 8th, 2007, 7:05:26 PM

MrRobato

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Martial Artist or Hobbyist?

Printed From: Kenpo Thoughts
Forum Name: General Talk
Forum Discription: General discussions on various topics on Martial Arts and Kenpo/Kempo

Topic: Martial Artist or Hobbyist?

Posted By: taoist spider
Subject: Martial Artist or Hobbyist?
Date Posted: 13 January 2006 at 11:30pm

The other day I noticed that most of the other people I work out with take the belt home. I do not.

It got me to thinking about the mind set behind that simple decision and all that it might imply.

On one hand the guy who takes it home. Why? You can’t use it there. Is it really so valuable that you don’t trust the security of the lockers in the dressing room? Wont it just get smelly if left in the bag? Or is it something along the lines of just plain not wanting to leave one of your weapons or the symbol of your hard work so far from your home?

On the other hand am I. I have never taken my Black Belt from the Dojo. I don’t really know why other than my mind set is that the only place that I am a 1st degree black belt when out on the floor teaching and even then I remind my self and the student I am helping that we are all students and there is only one master teacher in this dojo.

So am I a martial artist or a hobbyist?

I practice as much as anyone and probably more than most if the truth be told. But I am not a professional in any way. I make my living in the construction world and not as a police officer or bouncer. (Yet I have helped several police officers understand the concepts of unarmed combat)

I help teach more than most, but I am not the best teacher.

I spar almost every week, but am by far not the bet point fighter (I tend to believe that I enjoy it the most!).

The only 2 goals I have is to learn how to protect my self and do the least damage possible to the person attacking me. (I believe that causing undue damage is wrong and yet I still believe in the right to defend your self and those weaker than yourself to the death and I would much rather break your arm than try and hold you down.) the other goal is to make it to seifu before my GGM (Ralph Castro) retires.

Is it how far and how hard you train or the mind set that makes a martial artist?

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look around inside, you just might like your-self

Replies:

Posted By: MAC1
Date Posted: 14 January 2006 at 8:52am

i'll agree with the portion of blood, sweat and tears,being part of a good/great ma, thats what it should be about, but the significants of the belt is one- you've will say earned it and two you've payed for it. the belt to most is their statement/ status mark to someone who only knows a belt level, to a M A we know that its the begining of your samadhi

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jbMAC

Posted By: MAnderson
Date Posted: 14 January 2006 at 9:03am

What a great thread.
Never have had a locker in the school I worked out at. I have always brought my gear home. Belt is just gear.
I am like you and work a lot more then I workout. I do have Kenpo on the brain though and many times during the day I go over many, many things I have learned, want to explore, etc.. in my mind. I never really stop working out its just the physical part that doesn't get enough time. My mind is far ahead of what my body can do, its always a "trying to catch-up" type of thing.
I have to say I am more of a serious hobbyist. Their is no way I could put myself up their as a Martial Artist. I practice it, but I know my mind is what you wouldn't call a Martial Artitst. I do not have the mindset of causing the least amount of damage possible for example. I am the exact opposite and try to inflict the most I am capable of until the "bad guy" is put down. Then I stop.
I practice in a "knuckle dragger" fashion. Work real hard, get scraps and bruisers from physical all the way to bruising my own ego and spirit. Its definitely not what a modern day Martial Artist would be doing. As I meet more people and converse (like on this board) I realize just how far I need to grow in that aspect of humanity. Then again when I come to that stage in my life that I dont need to rub elbows with like minded people who get drunk I am sure I will change a bit at that stage. Believe me I am working for it.
I have a hard enough time keeping my jab up to snuff, my knees powerfull enough, etc... then to work on forms that I very much want to study and explore, or take on a new weapon, or learn an original EPAK form. So many Martial Arts things I want to do, but my time with work and training I need to stay on target and work those basics so that I can get to that time that I am able to.
So no I am not a Martial Artist, but good God man I hope to get there someday!
In some way I am on the other extreme of the curve. You have those that want more and more and get quantity over quality and then you have me which just does a few basic things decent enough. I hope to find a bit of the quantity when I have time. Its hard to just go in the basemenet and work a jab for 90 minutes from every possible angle, grounded, 3pt. stance, etc... you do it, its boring somedays, but you do it.
A big dream of mine... Take a private with Mr. Sav again and run the techniques. Someday :)

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Mike Anderson
Kenpo/CACC/WWII Combatives

Hit First - Hit Hard - Hit Often

Evil will only succeed when good men allow it to.

Posted By: MAC1
Date Posted: 14 January 2006 at 9:09am

ditto anderson, we all shall reach samadhi in time

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jbMAC

Posted By: jyturralde
Date Posted: 21 November 2006 at 8:45pm

Personally I do take my belt home. I feel wierd training without it. I
train at home often. I find it too painful for this to just be a hobby.

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It is what it is.

Posted By: taoist spider
Date Posted: 22 November 2006 at 10:28am

So how this for a thought process…

I am a Martial Artist because of how I conduct my self (both in & out of the Dojo.) who only has enough time to study as if it were a hobby.

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look around inside, you just might like your-self