americans think kung fu sucks

[drayconn]

Im a blond haired white average american child with his fair share of problems. So are all my friends, cept I goto kung fu 9 hours a week. All my friends thing kung fu is "stupid" (nice way of putting it) and they make fun of me for it. I really hate the fact that they think they could beat me up because they think kung fu doesnt really teach you anything. I really want to show them whats what (again nice way of putting it) but my schools creed number 5 is use kung fu only for good, and I dont feel like being the better man, any ideas?

[Repulsive Monkey]

Invest in Loss. As much as they bait you, yield to it so as to avoid fighting. The reason why we should fight are ones like protecting yourself from mortal danger or someone else who can't do so and is being abused in some way.
If you must fight use it for justice not to prove a point to some little squirts whos eem to be making a mockery out of nothing more than jealousy of your art.

[unkokusai]

Smite them.

[SanSoo Student]

Leave them to their thoughts, if you enjoy it, and it promotes good health/spiritual welfare...continue doing it regardless of others.

As all my friends have their fair share of problems, alot of them have turned to alcohol, I personally can commiserate with them. Drinking is the easy way for ephemeral happiness, but the best way IMHO is to find peace in martial arts. Whether its doing an extra round on the bag, or just chillin out in your horse stance. It seems to have a longer feel of euphoria.

[Ray Pina]

With all of that said, how is your martial ability?

Peace of mind can be gained by doing anything constructive: playing an instrument, painting, fishing going to yoga. But you chose martial arts. If the school you attend meeting your expectations? Are there guys there that can handle themselves using the technique not size?

Martial Arts is great! It will promote a lot of great attributes within in. But you can get all of those and be able to take care of yourself.

I recently hung out with a TKD guy a few days before a fight I had and he said, "well, we stress the other side of martial arts."

I know what he meant because I had that kind of training in karate as a kid, but you need to train on both -- or all -- sides of martial arts. Yin and Yang.

You want the confidence to be able to give a wise-ass smile and walk away, but be able to back it up if need be. Kung Fu can take awhile -- 3 to 5 years -- before you feel tough, and lifetime more to live it.

Enjoy.

[pest]

What about playfighting? then your not engaging in a real fight but you have a chance to explore technique's. I think in compliance with your schools rule you will be having fun, not hurting anyone and maby show off a little

[Ray Pina]

Play fighting is play fight.

Two hand touch football will make you familiar with running a pattern, catching/throwing a ball, and covering someone.

But football is a contact sport: can you catch and hold onto the ball when a linebacker comes up and pops you with the helmet and shoulderpads? Will you have the focus to even catch the ball when you know that's coming?

Can you tackle someone?

Play fight, or light sparring is one training tool.

I don't say these things to discourage and rank on anyone's training. Just speaking openly. You can aproach the full-out fighting and be relatively safe. Meaning you can somewhat control the amount of damage you receive giving priority to certain defense areas (covering the head, closing your lower door, ect). But that only opens other areas. That's all part of the "game" of fighting.

The main thing is to ask yourself what do you want. Of course, inside, everyone wants to be an arse kicker. No matter your size or ability, you can be. It just takes time, commitment, and a good teacher.

Forget about brand names (Tai Boxing, BJJ, Hung Gar, Wing Chun, Hsing-I). Go peak into as many school as you can and see which seems to be training the best way to suit what you're looking for.

Later, after you've learned, you can always break out into another style subject that interests you.

The hardest part is the truthful self evaluation: are you getting what you want from your martial art school?

The danger many have is that they invested one or a few years in a school and only have their eye on the black belt/sash/senior status. Can you kick arse? That's worth 10 black belts, four sashes and a bushel of bows from juniors. That will carry with you everywhere you go. That gains the respect of yourself, you know what you have put in, and you know what you have gotten out. That carries over into all things.

[Yung Apprentice]

Drayconn- Your about 15? A teen at least, right? I find it interesting, that most kids your age, wouldn't label themselves a "child", yet you chose to.

[blooming lotus]

if you're practicing ma for other people to approve, by all means "show off"...if you pracvtice for mind/body/soul reasons there should be no need. As for them thinking kungfu s*cks.....dude...most Americans dont even know what kungfu is let alone know whether they like it not......

Quote

"find peace in your practice"

Gene Ching

[GOT'EM]

I would'nt encourage playfighting with friends.It almost ALWAYS
leads into a real fight.Someone might hit you (vice versa),tempers flare,then you're not playing anymore.

[freehand]

I agree there should be no "play fighting"; it will almost always get out of hand. Even adults demonstrating their techniques to friends are asking for trouble, altho it will usually work if the friends are martial artists, too. "Here's how we might deal with that attack; how would someone from your art?"

But people who don't train will not cooperate with chin na, and they will ignore strikes that are pulled and flail away, either because they think you are superman, or more likely, because they want to show you up. The only counters to this silliness are the real application of techniques, which cause pain, can injure someone, create hurt feelings, and get you in trouble.

Instead, after you've trained for a year or so, invite them (not necessarily all at once) to come visit a class and watch, assuming it's OK with your teacher.

Let them see your hard work, and the progress you've made in this time. You can point out some senior students and say, "I hope to be like that in a few more years".

They may be jealous. Most martial arts classes are way more fun than aimless hanging out. Some might even decide to start taking classes themselves.

[Meat Shake]

Ego is a big thing. People dont like to admit that you can kick their ass.

[Odin of Wei]

Originally posted by unkokusai
Smite them.

If he was my age (I just turned 17 April 8th) he would be in high school. If he was to "Smite them" they would get in quite a bit of trouble, put on they're transcript and might be a bit hard to look for a good college. Believe it or not they're not looking for criminals here.
I had the same problem. I wasn't getting mocked too bad. But I just got simply annoyed. I checked my problem...what did I do wrong?

The thing that I did was that I told them I did a martial art.
No one has to know your business...no one at all. You should worry about what concerns you and only you.
And if you need to use it....like some honney is in trouble then use your Gung fu.

What Gung fu do you do? If you don't mind my asking.

With me I just completely stopped taking about my Gung fu and everyone forgot it within a year. I may fool around and do part of a form in class but people seem not to care.

Power to yea, bro.

[No_Know]

Practice and let them make fun. If you do not defend it. They might lose interest. If you beat them (fight them), they will/might tease you more, because they might think you can't beat them all all the time. But that it will be entertaining/funny/a laugh (you the joke) to watch you futally try.

We do not really have control of what Others do. But we do have at least some say in how we act towards them. Part of Successful Kung-Fuing might be Humility.

[TenTigers]

one, you need better friends. A friend will support you no matter what. Their friendship is unconditional. A friend will not judge you or criticize you for doing what you believe in, whether or not they agree. My friends admire me for my steadfastness throughout the years. Perhaps you will develop friendships with your training brothers.
two-forget playfighting-these "friends" will not playfight long before it gets out of control. Egos and testosterone are a bad combination. Besides, there will always be the guy who says, "Yeah, while you're doing thiat, I can do THIS..." trust me, it goes downhill from there. It isn't worth it. Walk away.
You don't have to justify it. Some people either just don't get it, or they are "Too cool for Kung-Fu"-which means...they just don't get it. Fine. Let them. Some kids are too cool for school, too. They will end up mowing your lawn, or washing your car, down the road. Stick to your guns.