Originally posted by unixfudotnet
If only all schools stuck to being true to their arts, and not making it all about the money and insulting the arts, I think the general American public, at least, would have a better outlook on martial arts.
I don't think it's as cut and dry as that. Today, you still have traditional systems that are quite "true to their arts", yet they don't spar. you have systems that are "true to their arts", yet most of their time is spent training forms. lack of fighting ability in schools in not only due to the greed of some teachers.
Last I checked, there was not a 'Curl up into the fetal position and blink a 1000 times' or 'Freeze up like a big Oak Tree' move in any martial art. In a fight, even if you never have taken a ma class ever, you know you should just react.
here's where the difference between theory and reality come in. In theory, yeah, it seems common sense to react. In reality, when adrenaline rushes, you resort to two options - fight or flight. when you aren't conditioned to fight, yet you have chosen fight mode, you will freeze. once the body's heartbeat raises above a certain rate and adrenaline is rushing, you tend to forget everything you've learned, unless it's firmly ingrained. Some people have a "killer instinct" and automatically respond in fight mode. Not everybody does.
In addition, MA training is generally counterproductive to that response. you are taught to only use your skills for self defense, you are taught to always be kind, respectful and humble. you are taught not to fight unless you absolutely have to. That peaceful frame of mind sticks with you. Who has the advantage in a fight - the street fighter with no remorse at all for his opponent, or the peaceful, trained MA who doesn't want to fight anyway?