Add KarateForums.com
Username:    Password:
Remember Me?    
   I Lost My Password!
Post new topic   Reply to topic    KarateForums.com Forum Index -> General Martial Arts Discussion
Goto page Previous  1, 2
 See a User Guidelines violation? Press on the post.
Author Message

Shizentai
Green Belt
Green Belt

Joined: 01 Mar 2009
Posts: 417

Styles: karate

PostPosted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 8:19 pm    Post subject: Re: Is experience really essential? Reply with quote

Spartacus Maximus wrote:
Does a lack of experience using martial arts in live situations or full-contact type bouts really disqualify someone from being a knowledgeable and skilled martial artist? How about as an instructor?


There are two ways I'd like to divide up this question:
1. Would a competition/street-fight inexperienced person be to teach students how to win in a competition or a street fight?
2. Can a competition/street-fight inexperienced person have insight into marital arts in general?

1. I think the best way to learn to compete is by being taught by people who have competed well. I think the best way to learn how to deal with self-defense is to be taught by people who have successfully defend themselves against the threats you'd like to defend yourself against (guns, knives, empty hand, multiple attackers, throws, etc.).

...but, that's not all a martial art is.

singularity6 wrote:
I wouldn't dismiss a martial artist who's never used their craft on the street, or in a ring as "fake." On some level, "art" is the key part of "martial art."


^ this is kind of getting at my thoughts on number 2.

I remember the first time I heard the definition of "do" that really rang home with me. I mean, I can read kanji. I know it means "road" or "way," but up till I was almost a ni-dan I interpreted the deeper side of "karate-do" as "karate is a way of life." which... isn't wrong, but wasn't really complete either.

While on a business trip, I decided to visit a nearby friend and instructor who grew up in Japan. I arrived early to take his advanced class. At this time he was finishing up with the kids' class, and had all of them sitting around in a circle. He asked them "What is 'do' from "karatedo'." One kid said "way," another kid said "journey," but this wasn't the answer he was looking for. The instructor proceeded on to explain that "do" implied that whatever else the activity was used for before in terms of practical application, people had changed their reason for practicing it over time to something independent from that original purpose. He said that the act of practicing "do" becomes its own meditative and complete experience in and of itself.

This kind of blew my mind. It was something I kind of knew deep down to be the case, but I never had heard the words or ideas so well formed in that manner. I myself appreciate the times in my life that karate has spared me from harm, but I don't keep coming back to the dojo because I'm banking on being attacked in the future to make it all worth while. I don't keep coming to the dojo because I can't get enough medals. ...it's something else. I'm pretty sure it's "do." After than I began to think about many other types of "do" and to think about the common threads it has with karate.

To answer the original question, I think having experience as a streetfighter helps you master "jutsu" (practical use). However, I don't think you need to be a competitor or a street fighter to get and to teach "do." Each is its own thing, and technically a competition could judge either, depending on what type of competition it is.

...but a person can have one, both, or neither. Both are good.

For reference check out these really striking videos of other "do"
kyudo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh-ohspuCmE
sado - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmukjUoevf4
judo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kni91-FC2io
_________________
"My work itself is my best signature."
-Kawai Kanjiro
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message

Spartacus Maximus
Black Belt
Black Belt

Joined: 01 Jun 2014
Posts: 1901

Styles: Shorin ryu

PostPosted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 9:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

maybe this will complicate the initial subject, but here is a follow-up question: How about someone who lacks experience, but was taught by an instructor who does? If the instructor has experience(competition or whatever else) and is a competent teacher, should it not follow that the student's skills be credible and legitimate even though said students do not have their teacher's experience of applying their skills?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    KarateForums.com Forum Index -> General Martial Arts Discussion All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Goto page Previous  1, 2
Page 2 of 2
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


< Advertising - Contact - Disclosure Policy - DMCA - Staff - User Guidelines >