trilonaut wrote:i get the impression martial arts tend to be bs as far as actual combat/self-defense. look at the ultimate fighting championship -- no cool jumpkicks, just one guy sitting on another's chest pounding his face in or choking him. i get the impression that's closer to what real fights are like.
if martial arts supply you with exercise, discipline, focus, etc., cool. much like fencing or dancing.
i'd rather take dance classes, come to think of it, because i'd rather be able to get down to a song than throw a palm strike at a mugger who then shoots me in the face.
I still get down. I mean, on our anniversary, m'lady and I went out dancing and tore it up. I tore it up so much, that when "Thriller" came on, I did the routine the zombies do in the video and busted open the fly on my three-piece suit's pants.
junk.
out.
so "fatty needs to get some exercise". Personally, I prefer it to going to the gym (which is not for me), and I like the "goal oriented" progression that the belt system provides. I'm really excited about shit, but unless it's music or teaching, I'm not a go-getter enough to set my own curriculum.
re:the practicality of it/ultimate fighting. I don't think ultimate fighting is what real fighting is like at all. However, Even with my black belt, I've never been in a fight, so I may not be the one to judge. I have creeped people out, though. sorta "I'm going to put my hands in my pockets and let you take the first punch, then I'm going to fuck you up" sorta shit. every time, the dude backs down.
there's more practicality in balance, flexibility and coordination, which is super for dancing (I can (I mean 'could') after a spin, drop down into the splits (james brown style)). soon, once again, this skill will return.
and as far as the mugger shooting you in the face, one of the first things they teach you is, when someone pulls a gun, you give them the wallet, cause, who cares?
...and Jodi, when you call me, you can call me al (
qaeda).
Faiz