Does ignorance in martial arts annoy you?

Question

I was at my school today (6TH form) and speaking to a few friends. Martial arts seemed to creep up out of nowhere and suddenly we were all talking about it. Now, I don't know everything there is to know about martial arts, I'm only 17, but I have taken Karate before, which I stopped after a month and finally settled on Fujian White Crane Kung Fu. I also love to delve into the philosophy of martial arts, which I find really interesting, and this actually convinced me become a Buddhist, I wouldn't call my self a Buddhist, as a do not believe in re-carnation and many other believes they have (probably because I grew up in the UK!), but I do believe in the self-development of myself.

Anyway, everyone was talking about what's best to do in a fight, what martial arts are the best, most deadly etc... I kept saying 'No martial art is better than another!, no, it entirely depends if he is doing this or this could happen!...' One guy was convinced Karate was more complicated, and more energetic than kung fu (more correctly zhongguo wushu) because of the forms. Now referring to Fujian White Crane and the fact I took karate, I can safely say kung fu forms are generally more complicated than Karate... I asked when you think of kung fu what do you think of, and he did a little karate chop (which I swear is typical of karate) and then Karate and he did some kind of stupid, uncoordinated striking, which I should probably explain as waving your arms about with flailing fingers.

I think I went off on a tangent.. Does ignorance to martial arts annoy you, a lot?

Answer 1

I'm not bothered by those who don't know but would learn. Or those who have misconceptions but who are willing to be corrected. I love to teach and talk on the subject. So to discuss martial arts with someone who is a blank slate in the subject, is something of an honor and a privilege to me - one which I take great pleasure and pride in doing.



It breaks my heart when people are stubbornly close minded to the point of unwillingness to learn or to try to understand or even to hear what I have to say on the subject. I still try to explain or correct where I can, but often, it's a lost cause and I know it. It's frustrating, but nothing more to me.



What does actually bug the hell out of me is when people don't respect my knowledge or understanding. Guys who take offense at the idea of me knowing more about fighting than them, as if I'm questioning their manhood or something. The type of guys (or even gals) who think they know more about fighting than me, because they watched a movie about it that I haven't seen or something. But, there's just nothing that can really be done about that. If they refuse to try to understand me/martial arts, then that's all.



The important thing to remember is that you know what you know, and anyone who isn't willing to learn, or expand their minds, are the ones who are missing out.

Answer 2

Yes, it does. Even more than that is the bias against martial arts in general. I often hear many sports jocks argue that martial arts is useless and they would be thrown to the ground. Then, most martial artists look at sports jocks as egotistical wimps. You can't compare the "1st seed of the football team" to some skinny twerp who just got his blue belt. Nor can you compare a high level "real" martial artist to some delusional baseball player... if everyone would stop comparing the elites to the average joe things would be more logical. Unfortunately humans are idiots and that will never happen.



Though, there are differences in martial arts. I practiced Shaolin Kenpo whole-heartedly for a few years before we moved and I enrolled at Taekwondo. I was completely out of shape as we did not do much conditioning (USSD, go figure) but the difference in style was huge.... Taekwondo is about getting better at the basic offensive skills, while shaolin kenpo had a lot more in-depth technique training, especially defensive. We learned how to use roughly everything as a defense technique in shaolin kenpo but after 3 years in TKD I don't think we have practiced more than ten blocks.



I guess there are just people with both weak and strong mentalities and egos...

Answer 3

Ohh geez, don't get me started. I too started out in Karate and ended up in Kung Fu.

Here is how I deal with it.

I know you want to choke the daylight out of the ignorant fools and make them listen to you but they won't. If you think about it really your story is actually quite amusing. Since I train in both arts I know you are right. If you would ever have to fight one of those ignorant people they may know you train in Kung Fu but still would have no idea of how you fight which will give you a definite advantage. If you are as fast in Kung Fu as you are supposed to be they will have bought it before they even realize what hit them. So I keep my mouth shut and let them run their mouths. Walk away from ignorant conversations if you have to. They are not having the conversation to learn what it right and what is wrong but to show off what they think they know. You can't teach a person like that.

BTW Buddhism is a path (of self development) not a religion. You can be Buddhist and Christian. As a matter of fact I have Chinese friends who are both. Dig a little deeper.

Answer 4

It can be funny listening to them. The important thing I found is to keep an open mind and always be courteous and willing to listen. Sometimes you can learn from the most surprising sources.



The funniest comments are usually "If they do this, then I would do x" when actually doing "x" would take a lot more training and ability than they think they have. I have many times had the experience where I have heard things like this, gone away and given it some thought, and trained to do "x" - only to find that "x" would actually work.



Always remember that just because someone is ignorant, it does not mean they are wrong.

Answer 5

If you truly understand martial arts than you will know that there are SINGLE superior styles... MMA is mixture striking and grappling which they can mold to suit their aptitudes. Despite the popularity and watering down of Gracie Jiujitsu, it is still superior to most styles. It IS superior because the opponents, who will be of Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu, Hapkido, and other descents, do not know how and are not taught how to prevent takedowns, submissions, and body control that make GJJ superior. If your SINGLE style were to incorporate any of these sets of knowledge, it would not be a single style, it would be a mixed martial art.



But to answer your question properly, yes, ignorance is a constant aggravation.

Answer 6

It is not so much about ignorance in the aspect of martial arts. People are who they are and even if the subject was different, you will still have people who are for it, oppose it, the in betweens..... who can't make up their minds and those who don't want to get involved. For those who feel like they have to prove something for the sake of their style shows their own insecurities. The martial arts should not be a display (except in competitions) in public. This is something one should keep to them self. Like anything in this world, even an occupation, some are better then others at it. What one puts into something like time and dedication is what you get out of it. Each style of martial arts is unique in its own way contributing something very valuable to martial arts. Be leary of those who have the need to put down another style for I would question their integrity as a martial artist.

Answer 7

arguing over styles is a waste of time imo



there's guys at the BJJ place that I go that are always taking shots at Muay Thai (they know I take muay thai also) I just grin and laugh because I do find it funny, if a bit ignorant. I guess it doesn't annoy me, it's just sophomoric. To me it all comes down to the instructor, the intensity of training, and time...



edit: I watched that vid... tragic situation. Not sure what it has to do with the topic, but yes guns should be respected, and something as simple as a bump should be ignored. Martial arts is supposed to protect you not put you in harm's way (unless you're a fighter)

Answer 8

karate, kung fu, japanese jujutsu, have your friends seen just out of those 3 have your friends seen everyone, there are over 50 karate styles, over 300 known kung fu styles, over 600 japanese jujutsu styles over 75, tkd styles, and thats just from 3 of the 180 some odd countries. choosing a best style is like choosing the best fruit.



if there was a best style, every military and police academy would be teaching it as it stands they all teach various styles



there are 2 things that are abundant in the universe hydrogen and stupidity.

just ignore the narrow minded people, life is so much easier once you do. besides there are far more important things in life, like the sound of one hand clapping.

in fact i think i here that sound now.

Answer 9

Ignorance like what you are referring to here does not bother me. Martial arts and especially MMA are very popular right now and you have many people out there that get so many notions and ideas from movies and television or have an opinion based on their own limited experience at probably what was a Mc Dojo it isn't funny. Ignorance like that I think you just have to forget about for the most part and just move on. I went to highschool in a very rural area but before that traveling like I did as a military dependent really showed me how removed some people are from what is going on out there in the real world and different aspects of it including martial arts. I myself travel to a very rurual area sometimes and compete at a friend's tournament. The availability and quality of martial arts in that area is mediocre at best but I tend not to blame that on anyone indivdually unless they show their ignorance in some other way directly towards me. It is not someone's fault necessaryily that they are born and grow up in such an area and there are some aspects that are positive about that so I am not going to bash that or go there.



I think you have to take the same approach with martial arts as there are so many types and styles of martial arts out there and many of them don't stress the same things the same way and some aspects they even directly confilct with one another. Given that and the lack of knowledge and experience of those like what you are referring to in your situation you are then going to have some ignorance. There are I think different kinds or types of ignorance in the world and the ignorance in your situation is pretty lame and harmless in most ways and so I would just forget about it and move on and not waste any energy over it.

Answer 10

Most people are ignorant of the arts as much as they are ignorant of anything else. I tend to avoid

conversations about the arts. In fact, most people

who know me know that I took "karate" a long time

ago but have no idea I still train.

The questions on this board are reasons why I avoid the topic-

I do not want to argue with someone

who thinks that Hanzo and Pai mei are real poeple

(like Sherlock Holmes believers) nor do I wish to revisit the old debates about whether Bruce Lee can beat a pride of hungry lions all by himself.

Answer 11

http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpp/news/local_news/Old_City_Shooting_01_17_10



Here is a real situation caught on tape. The brutal reality is when one party has a gun knowing a martial art will change little in the outcome. In a real world circumstance the outcome is totally unpredictable. Knowing a martial art will not significantly change anything at the wrong end of a gun. Maybe being smarter about your surrounding before you enter them would be your smartest recourse.-- Not what form of martial arts you practice.

__

You can't really control what other people think, let them think what they wish... be cordial and respect their opinion. Optimally maybe change the conversation to some other topic or not speak about comparing styles at all. Talking about who has the better martial art is like talking about someones religion or political opinion. Only an arguments comes from these discussions.

Answer 12

This is true about opinions. Everyone has one. Don't waste time being annoyed at others ignorance and willingness to display their ignorance with an uninformed uneducated opinion. This is a common condition in any society. You will find over time in life those who know the most are often the quietest in conversations.Those willing to flaunt their ignorance have no time to learn, their cup is running over with the nonsense they are filled with. Wisdom comes from discernment. Discernment comes with patients.

Answer 13

What is more annoying is when they are fixed with the opinion that one art is better than another. It's even worse when they don't even do martial arts and they are not prepared to listen to someone who does.

Answer 14

---Yeah Most people are posers. they all want to be like us but dont want to or cant put in the blood, sweat, and tears to be us so the watch a few movies and say they know somthing but movies say one style and do another or mix styles and call it one. those who have not trained dont know and talk on it. i hate that also.

---like religious intrest people who do train know about there art and make assumptions on other arts with out training in them just movies.

Answer 15

The mountain does not laugh at the river because it is lowly, nor does the river speak ill of the mountain because it cannot move



- A wise old Japanese man



no martial art is "greater" than the other one

Answer 16

no martial art is better than another. It all depends on the individuals. I do think some have advantages over others but true masters can adapt.

Answer 17

yes it do,s annoy me but i am inspired by people of your calibre and maturity.its the easiest thing in the world to follow the herd and criticise through ignorance.keep on doing your thing and good luck and best wishes for the future.respect Terry

Answer 18

No not really. Ignorance is usually because they don't practice and art. But I must admit I do like watching all that flying s**t in the kung fu movies. Ain't movie fun!

Answer 19

Pshhhhh, What a bunch of losers! Everybody knows BJJ and Judo are the best!



... lol



It doesn't bother me all that much. I'm usually friends with guys who are into martial arts and guys who aren't. The guys who aren't tell me Lyoto Machida is going to tear Brock lesnar up but they do that just to make fun of me. It simply doesn't bother me. I know I enjoy BJJ and want to get into Judo and for those guys interested in martial arts I'll teach them whatever I can and encourage them to get into martial arts for the many aspects that martial arts can help a person with. For those guys who talk about a style being better than another or making any other statement that seems ridiculous it simply doesn't bother me, they are just going to be a waste of valuable energy and time.



Enjoy your martial art and allow others to do what they want, brother. Be happy you found something you enjoy to do.

Answer 20

Yes it bothers me but I have to keep in mind that people are ignorant to what they do not know.

Answer 21

Yeah definitely, but people are like that about other things too. It's the people who do MMA and put down anything but MMA without trying it that annoy me more.

Answer 22

bjj just looks like 2 guys rolling around hugging each other to those who don't know about it

Answer 23

by ignorance u mean fedor nuthuggers and GSP nuthuggers then yes

Answer 24

Yes it does annoy me. I hate when people try to tell me things when they have no clue what they are talking about haha...

Answer 25

Yeah, it annoys the hell outta me.

Answer 26

it does not really annoy me i take it as a challenge

Answer 27

I find it rather funny that they are that stupid.