Martial Arts to Become Manlier?

[Pecker]

As some of you might know, I started taking martial arts because I wanted to a) feel proud of myself for something b) develop an i-don't-give-a-crud attitude. It's a good distraction.

It's also a pretty hardcore passtime. I will not feel intimidated if I'm in a room of jocks because I will know they are all ruff tuff creampuffs compared to me. My prediction is eventually I'll emit a really comfortable-in-my-own-skin vibe.

Anyone begin to feel this way becaue of martial arts?

 

[TheMinistered]

I am an purple belt in kajukenbo, which isn't saying too much. However, I have learned this: martial arts will not make you bigger, stronger, or more physical. Martial arts teaches you how to defend yourself, which doesn't require great physical strength. In fact, a couple of years ago I was downtown at a coffee shop and a *BIG* black kid tried to steal my calculator. I confronted him and he literally tried to stab me, a long story short, he ended up with a broken shoulder & jaw.

 

[Kuen1]

A ton of people begin to feel that way after spending some time in a Martial Arts system. I call it "technique based confidence" among other titles. What it means is that people will take some Martial Arts, learn some moves in a structured environment using structured drills, and then start to feel like a tough guy. Don't make that mistake. I've been there and it sucks. Martials Arts provide confidence etc because of the work that one does, and the goals they acheive. One basically gets to see the fruits of their labor, and so they feel good. This is not the type of confidence or mental state that makes one a fighter.

What system do you train in? And, how long have you been doing it?

 

[Pecker]

I was a second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do by age twelve. Then I quit. I'm nineteen now and I just started Sambo.

I don't want to walk around feeling like a big tough guy. I want to be able to handle myself if a situation arises. I understand martial arts don't make you bigger and stronger. What I meant by "manly"is the attitude it gives you.

 

[Kuen1]

Hmmm...Sambo. That is one that I have not really looked into. I'll check it out. All I can say about being able to handle yourself in a situation is to start adding that element into your training. Since you just started your current system then you'll obviously have to learn the foundation of it etc. Then get some of your boys or other students together, put on some light sparring gloves (UFC style), and a mouthpiece, and then start having some fun. Start thinking of what could happen in a situation and train for it. Will a mugger or a drunk throw high round kicks to your head, and then jump back and yell "point"? Nope. The only way to develop the attitude that you speak of is to do just that...develop it. It comes with experience just like anything else. Doing drills with classmates etc will not develop this unless your teacher really, really focuses on the "street" applications. If not then you'll basically have an empty and false confidence or the infamous "techniques based confidence". Table on weak legs grasshoppa. You feel me?

Anyways...train hard, and good luck.

 

[Don Corleon]

sambo is actually pretty cool. i train brazillian jiu jitsu and it has infact made me very confident all around. but not to the point to where i want to start fights with people even though i know i can more than likley take them. chicks actually kinda dig it too when i tell them i train no holds barred. although i try not to bring that up because it freaks others out.

 

[Walden]

I think martial arts are like DJing. IT's not enough to know a lot of techniques , you have to throw a few punches and take a few knocks before you're competent JJ and Sambo (and kickboxing) are great styles for that.

 

[Shadow Dancer]

"A ton of people begin to feel that way after spending some time in a Martial Arts system. I call it "technique based confidence" among other titles. What it means is that people will take some Martial Arts, learn some moves in a structured environment using structured drills, and then start to feel like a tough guy."


That, right there, has so much truth to it. Those jocks will still kick your ass if you get into a fight. They have the attitude, the mental state, needed to do so. They don't question themselves, they just do it. Their actions have led to their confidence. Right now, you're THINKING about everything, and that's natural. It will be a while, and will take real dedication, before you reach the necessary mental level to put your art to work in the real world.

Always remember that the way you train is the way you WILL fight. So train as if you're life depended on it, because someday it might.

 

[Pecker]

I understand that it will be awhile before I can really handle myself with real tough guys. You are right, they have the aggressive attitude that I do not, despite training. Last year my roommate's friend was drunk and belligerent and he had to throw two missed punches for me to feel ballsy enough to hit back. It was not an instant response for me, I had to feel incredibly threatened.

But getting back to the topic at hand. I think there is something very fundamental about an implied violence-based male hierarchy. You act MUUUCHH different to a big giant mean looking guy than you do to a little shrimp, don't you?

I am trying to imagine how I would act if I knew that I could take most guys in a fight. I am not an idiot, I would never go around challenging people, but I would clearly show with my attitude that no one intimidates me. And if I have this attitude chances are I am one step closer to being perceived as an Alpha male.

I will need about 5+ years of training to accomplish this, but I'm still young and you gotta start somewhere.

 

[So pimp its scary]

Consider this : If you take two grandmasters of any two martial arts, and put them in a fight, the one that would lose the fight would be the one to attack first. This is because EVERY martial art teaches to block then retaliate, therefore the master to attack first would be out of form and thus at a disadvantage.

I forget where I read that... too bad.

 

[confus4ever]

I took martial atrs way back to 7th grade. A car accident ruined that for me. Anyways, not only is it great for you mind,soul, and body, but in the end, i feel a chick always wants a guy to protect her.

How would she feel when she's with a man that can take care of buisness if it were ever to come up. Someday....i'm getting back into it. Not to just be able to defend myself, but to learn the wisdom that comes with it..and be my ladies protector

 

[Shadow Dancer]

"If you take two grandmasters of any two martial arts, and put them in a fight, the one that would lose the fight would be the one to attack first. This is because EVERY martial art teaches to block then retaliate, therefore the master to attack first would be out of form and thus at a disadvantage."


Don't let talk, heresay, and what you've read fool you. The one who attacks first always has the advantage. The attack can be countered, but Martial Art or no, the ATTACKER ALWAYS has the initial advantage.

What we've often heard; Wait for someone to attack before hitting them...is bad advice. Never wait for someone to swing at you. There are signs, body language, that will tell you when someone is about to go at you. If you really feel they are about to attack you, hit them hard, hit them fast, and hit him till they can't fight back. If you've decided not to fight, for whatever reason, run.

 

[Virgin DJ]

I saw this older asian men basically beat the living crap out of two black guys in front of sub way station not too long ago. He busted out all the crazy martial art moves and ****. He took one guy on the ground so fast, i couldn't believe my eyes. After seeing him fight with those two guys, now i believe that you don't have to be big and strong to be a good fighter.

 

[Don Corleon]

Pecker, it doesnt take five years to reach that confidence level or advanced level of training. i've been training JJ for only 2 years, and i'd say after about 6 or 7 months of training i was overly confident. this is because again, its not about the size of your oponent, its all about ones skill level. and since most all fights go to the ground, the majority of people are lost. to quote one of the machado brothers "the world is an ocean and i am a shark, and most people don't know how to swim." i also agree with shadow dancer. the one who hits first does have the advantage not the other way around. so if you are stuck in a situation that you feel a fight is just inevitable, better to strike first and clinch until somebody breaks it up. either that or just run

 

[MVPlaya]

MARTIAL ARTS and CONFIDENCE

Hey Pecker,

When I read this thread on DJ hobbies I noticed that a surprising number of DJs had martial arts under them (I don't know if they're |3VLL$H!TT!NG or if they're telling the truth, but I do know this.

Martial Arts won't help you with your game with women. Unless your game is beating up the chick, what the hell would martial arts do? Also, if youre already at a disadvantage to women in that respect you have manhood issues. The thing that martial arts does, more than teach you how to kick ass, is teach you not to freak out. I did Judo (3 yrs), Wrestling (3 yrs), and Tae Kwon Do (6yrs - Brown Belt). What I can tell you is that even when I became a brown belt, I was still an AFC. Chicks won't f___ you for your belt nor will they go out with you. The one thing the belt does is if you get in a combat situation you can defend yourself... and her... and do this without sweating to much (if you're good). Also, martial arts will probably lessen your desire to fight, TKD tamed me... if you wan't women, you need to focus on something else than martial arts, it may be cool to some people if you're REALLY good... but for the most part its a way to become athletic (which could impress her when you're wrestling her) and learn to relax.

If you want to game women, work hard at it, one way to do it is join the DJ BIBLE BOOTCAMP CLASSES:
http://www.sosuave.com/vBulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39893

 

[Kuen1]

1. Grappling is some nasty stuff. We have a little in my system, but it's Fukien Ground Fighting which is a little different. The only issue I've ever had with grappling is how to deal with multiple opponents, and how to use it on the street. Do you guys (grapplers) feel that there is a disadvantage in these areas? I mean...what if there is 2-3 guys etc? If you take one down, won't the others just kick you in the head when you're on the ground? I'm not saying that this is accurate, but I'm just curious about it.

2. Shadow Dancer is on point. Most Martial Arts do focus on how to react and defend etc rather than attack from the start, but they do all have attacks. The defensive aka reactive aspects are what happens when you wait or get surprised etc, but when a situation comes up and you know that it's going to get violent then it's best to attack first, take the guy out, and then bounce rather than waiting for him/them to start throwing punches. Offense wins the fight. Anyways...just my opinion.

3. 5 years is a long time, and you don't have to wait that long before being able to throw down. Now, if the teacher and system are good then after 5 years you'll be a dangerous man for sure, but once you learn some basic attacks and blocks then it's time to put on the gloves and start smacking your classmates and getting smacked. Add this element to your training as soon as possible.

4. Shadow Dancer...what system do you train in?

 

[Shadow Dancer]

I trained in Tae Kwon Do for two years when I was younger and Wing Chun for 2 years as well. After getting into an altercation, when i was 16, which really shook my confidence, I realized I needed to change. I had a bad case of thinking I could whoop ass with my techniques. That changed real quick when I got jumped by 7 dudes, for literally no reason, as my friends left me there. haha what a phucked up time that was.

From then on I started learning about every aspect of combat I could. Trained in Boxing, Kickboxing, Grappling, and studied military info from book like Kill or Get Killed by Rex Applegate. Sparred guys 80 pounds heaver than me, regularly, with only the bare UFC style gloves, anything goes.

Striking styles have always come pretty easy to me. Grappling is my weakest poing which I what I want to work on more. I also plan to take some escrima and knife fighting classes cause they just fascinate me.

You seem to have knowlege, as well. Would be interesting to hear your story.


-Shadow

 

[joey37]

Martial arts are not all they're cracked up to be. In real life situations, it's the guy who has more experience fighting in general that will kick your ass no matter what belt you are.


As for women, I think anything that builds confidence helps.

 

[Wysiwyg]

Martial arts are not about girls, but about yourself. It's about making goals and trying to reach them. And feeling good about it.

I've been training Kung-fu for a year, and damn, it feels good! It's not about the fights, but the moves, and helping others to make the moves. It's good to feel that a kick that you just couldn't do right two months ago now come so easily. I feel mentally stronger, and everyone around me notices that.

 

[Enduro]

I train in Muay Thai, Greco-Roman/submission wrestling and boxing. I find that in a room full of jocks and whatnot I am friendly no matter what my pasttimes are, even if they include beating people up. Some have said I have the killer instinct, but I've found that being friendly with people as opposed to exerting a cold, dead feeling about yourself brings you more friends.