What is the main reason you train?

[GungFuHillbilly]

It has been my experience that different physical activities can give entirely different work out . . . wc does not give workout that grappling or yoga does . . . many top grapplers swear by yoga . . . and I have seen martial artists drop from exhaustion in aerobics classes . . . lol.

Good points ghost...

-GFH

[anerlich]

how many overweight/out of shape black belts have you seen?

Absolute zero at my academy, the other branches in my org, or any BJJ school I've ever entered.

I'm somewhere between hobby and other.

Trying to make yourself "the best fighter ever" makes no sense unless you are doing it competitively.

To me the study of MA REQUIRES a fitness regimen outside of technical practice. Technical practice develops skill, a function of the nervous system, fitness has to come from elsewhere. Trying to get one from the other means you'll probably get neither.

Training primarily for a hand to hand street fight that will probably never come is IMO a foolish use of resources. The CDC says that you're somewhere between several hundred and 100,000 times more likely to die from lifestyle related heart disease than from criminal violence. So if you're training exclusively for "RBSD", rather than health, your priorities are screwed.

What's your lineage's defense against a bus bomb? a suicide bomber?

Martial skill is arguably the least important factor in surviving modern street crime. Read "Strong on Defense", it will prepare you better than ten years of MA training.

If you want to fight crime and injustice, do it properly and join the police or the military.

And do you really want to live in this constant state of paranoia?

Also, if a student is training merely for fitness I rather doubt they have the mindset (killer instinct/guts/aggression) it takes to prevail in a serious street altercation.

If a student doesn't have the fitness, tenacity or will to get through a set of tabata intervals or sprints, then he CERTAINLY doesn't have what it takes mentally to survive a violent assault. IMO sport is in many ways far better for the development of the attributes you are talking about than some of the weird **** that goes on, purportedly to that end, in most MA schools.

IMHO, I feel that too many 'recreational' martial artists have a false sense of security.

That's true, especially those that think they have any business fighting if they are out of shape.

[Hatsuyuki]

Just because you can spar 5 - 5 minute rounds does not mean that you are healthy and fit.
-GFH

Not all MA schools have the same training routine. Some schools, Sihing's included, do include a very extreme conditioning class. Having been through it myself, I can safely say it is not so simple as to be compared to somthing as simple as a sparring match.

[Fajing]

Most martial artists that are healthy and fit are because they cross train in running/cycling/resistance training/etc..

True dat.

Also, if a student is training merely for fitness I rather doubt they have the mindset (killer instinct/guts/aggression) it takes to prevail in a serious street altercation.

I think being smart and a good runner will prevail in most cases.

IMHO, I feel that too many 'recreational' martial artists have a false sense of security.

Recreational??? How about every martial art! Chances are your aggressor will have a glock. No empty hand art will save you.

Martial skill is arguably the least important factor in surviving modern street crime. Read "Strong on Defense", it will prepare you better than ten years of MA training.

Right on!!

Oh yeah, I train for fun and to have a certain level of knowledge concerning empty hand combat.

[Edmund]

LOL.

The best fitness choice is the one that you will stick with for life.

[stricker]

Mr James I am thinking that often we do not appreciate what others do especially if we have no experience with what others do . . . so I think it is fine and dandy to be happy with what you do but there is no need to compare it to others. It has been my experience that different physical activities can give entirely different work out . . . wc does not give workout that grappling or yoga does . . . many top grapplers swear by yoga . . . and I have seen martial artists drop from exhaustion in aerobics classes . . . lol.

Thanks,

Ghost

hahahaha you made me laugh out loud with this one! its just ive actually been to an aerobics class (dont ask :rolleyes). your sort of right different styles do make different demands of fitness. really though if you want a martial art that will get you fit dont do wing chun do thai boxing. wrestling or bjj or whatever is good too.

ps also apparently nowadays most people do martial arts like pottery or art or spanish or any other evening class because its something to do, a change from the pub or tv, or a bit of socialising or the big one "for confidence" ie false confidence is what people want, theyre probably never get in a fight anyway so why care?

pps aerobics was easy and im not very fit at all.

[Hendrik]

What is the main reason you train?



decades ago and years ago because of EGO.

Then,

Found out Ego is the source of Fear and suffering...

Now,

The Mind, Breathing, and Body training is similar to Food. One needs to eat everyday....... as soon as one still live.

[Ultimatewingchun]

My main reason for doing martial arts is to be the best fighter I can be.

But that said, the truth is there are many other reasons as well. And I agree with mortal and some of the others: staying fit is also a good reason. Keeping my mind focused (for martial arts requires concentration and discipline) is another good reason for me. And great recreation. And lots of friends (and interesting characters) I would not have met otherwise.

[GungFuHillbilly]

Not all MA schools have the same training routine. Some schools, Sihing's included, do include a very extreme conditioning class. Having been through it myself, I can safely say it is not so simple as to be compared to somthing as simple as a sparring match.

Where in my post did I say that martial artists do not condition themselves or engage in extensive training?

The generalization was regarding the dichotomy of health/fitness and martial arts; specifically how they are not the same.

No one was attacking your school or anyone else's.

[GungFuHillbilly]

pps aerobics was easy and im not very fit at all.

So now because you took one aerobics class you can speak to "aerobics" as an activity?

By way of comparison consider the following...

'pps I met this guy who said he was a wing chun instructor and he couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag. Therefore wing chun sucks for self defense...'

Please people, stop making such gross generalizations.

Again, fitness is activity specific. Martial arts and health/fitness are not synonymous. Let's move on shall we.

-GFH

[AmanuJRY]

I will say that MA motivates me to stay fit...

...and so does snowboarding (I'm feelin' it, need to shape up).

[AmanuJRY]

I look at it as a lifestyle. Doing it for seven years. Two diferent styles. Talk about it constantly with the many martial arts friends I have made. To me it is much more then a hobby.

You are troll baiting.

Troll baiting, ninja please, I'm dead serious about the question.

If you ask me it being a 'lifestyle' is a bogus excuse. I could say being a snowbaorder is a 'lifestyle' and that would be true but snowboarding is a hobby. It may feel like 'more than just a hobby' and that's great, but if it IS more than just a hobby, what is it?

In other words if you aren't training for fighting it is a hobby? Sorry I answered this thread.

Basically, yes.

If you're not training with fighting as your main reason, what else besides hobby is there?

Well, some brought up health/fitness.

And I ask, if you're not concerned with 'fighting' why a MA for fitness instead of something designed specifically for fitness. As GFH pointed out, breathing exercises are not found ONLY in chi gung.

...oh, there's always because it gets you out of the house, gives you some people to share time with and...oh, wait, that's a hobby.

sorry you answered this thread?

I'm not, thank you, come again.

[ghostofwingchun]

I have question for those who say they want to be best fighter they can be . . . do you really train for that? Here is why I ask . . . there are some lads at my jujitsu school who are training to be the best they can be . . . they are at the school rolling 5 to 6 days a week . . . they go the gym for workout several times a week . . . they run everyday . . . they watch their diets . . . they compete . . . one just got back from trip to Brazil . . . in other words they are obsessed with jujitsu . . . they live and breath jujitsu . . . it consumes their every waking moment . . . they work so they can support themselves to do jujitsu . . . lol . . . jujitsu is their life . . . one just broke up with girlfriend because she was interfering with his jujitsu! And this pattern of behavior seems to be in any sport where people are trying to be elite athlete . . . to be the best they can be . . . of course I would love to be the best I can be . . . at many things . . . including wc . . . but I have other interests in life that I need to balance . . . other areas of life that are more important to me than wc . . . so for me I know that being the best I can be is not a realistic option . . . instead I focus on getting as much out of my practice and training as I can . . . because I only have so much time and energy to commit to wc . . . I am wondering if those who say they want to be best fighter are really putting in this level of effort . . . or is it just nebulous goal.

Thanks,

Ghost

[AmanuJRY]

Mr. Ghost,

It sounds as though your friends are more in line with the 'to be the best ever' catagory.

To be the best that one can be, IMO, is determined by the individuals environment and obligations. If I were to want to be the 'best ever' I would probably train with as much enthusiasm, but I have other obligations and desires, therefore I train to be the best I can with that in mind.

Think about your statement...

"so for me I know that being the best I can be is not a realistic option . . ."

...then is that really the best you can be?

[stricker]

So now because you took one aerobics class you can speak to "aerobics" as an activity?

By way of comparison consider the following...

'pps I met this guy who said he was a wing chun instructor and he couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag. Therefore wing chun sucks for self defense...'

Please people, stop making such gross generalizations.

Again, fitness is activity specific. Martial arts and health/fitness are not synonymous. Let's move on shall we.

-GFH

Jeeeez, ok ok i know where your coming from about generalizing and i agree but really i wasnt being that serious.

ps i could argue that a typical thai boxing class requires much more fitness than aerobics class as it is very conditioning oriented but i wont bother. boxers and thai boxers are some of the best conditioned athletes in the world. lets move on.

anyway im with amanuJRY i want to be the best fighter i can be, but yeah i have other stuff, work and whatnot, and i like to relax and dont want to die just yet so my trainings pretty tame really, but still i want to be the best i can be.