This video really resonated with me and I think it'll do the same for you guys.
Do you agree with the sentiment or not? Feel free to go into detail in the comments section.
Train Hard,
Josh Skinner
Showing posts with label philosophy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label philosophy. Show all posts
Monday, April 9, 2012
Everyone's a Fighter.
This video really resonated with me and I think it'll do the same for you guys.
Do you agree with the sentiment or not? Feel free to go into detail in the comments section.
Train Hard,
Josh Skinner
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Am I Making Myself Clear? (WARNING!!: Opinion Post!!)
One thing you have to understand is he is NOT a fan of MMA - by any stretch of the imagination. It isn't the activity that bothers him, it's the attitude. (I actually agree with him on this point. It seems as though MMA in general attracts assholes. I personally know some really nice, super cool MMA fighters and trainers but I also know a lot of MMA assholes. The whole culture that is being promoted alongside MMA is what is truly to blame and it is a shame)
He places a huge emphasis on the philosophical and spiritual aspects of the martial arts. It is important to him that a martial artist be able to defend themselves or others should a situation arise where serious injury or death is a possibility. However, improved confidence and mental/emotional/spiritual balance is of primary importance to him as a martial artist.
I respectfully disagree.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
What Golf can Teach Us About the Martial Arts.
“It’s all about the swing, not the club.”
I heard this phrase from a golf instructor once and it stuck with me. I mean, if you really think about it, it’s very true.
Let’s say you and Tiger Woods decide to play a round of golf. You get to play with the most expensive, well-designed clubs on the market. Tiger Woods has to play with a used driver he bought at a flea market, a 60 year old putter he found in his father’s garage, and a broomstick. I’d bet dollars to donuts that Woods would still get a significantly lower score than you. Why?
“It’s all about the swing, not the club.”
+ 
I heard this phrase from a golf instructor once and it stuck with me. I mean, if you really think about it, it’s very true.
Let’s say you and Tiger Woods decide to play a round of golf. You get to play with the most expensive, well-designed clubs on the market. Tiger Woods has to play with a used driver he bought at a flea market, a 60 year old putter he found in his father’s garage, and a broomstick. I’d bet dollars to donuts that Woods would still get a significantly lower score than you. Why?
“It’s all about the swing, not the club.”
+ 
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Traditional Martial Arts vs MMA
Mixed martial arts (MMA) has become very popular recently, both as a spectator sport and as a method for gaining combat proficiency. This popularity seems as though it will only increase. However, this rise in popularity has also been accompanied by a great deal of controversy within the greater martial arts community. It isn’t difficult to find articles or internet discussions by mixed martial artists and traditional martial artists describing the faults of each others system. While both sides have valid points, I’ve compiled a list of pros and cons for both MMA and Traditional Martial Arts (TMA).
MMA Pros:
• MMA Training involves all ranges of combat: Striking, takedowns and throws, and submission grappling.
• MMA Training involves a lot of sparring. Sparring is the most specific and effective training method when preparing for an actual fight. Most TMAs avoid sparring or only engage in it occasionally.
• MMA training places a greater emphasis on strength and conditioning work. Most mixed martial artists are in better shape than your typical traditional martial artists. Don’t believe me? Go and watch the guys at your local MMA gym, then watch a class at the local TMA school (Dojo, Kwoon, Dojang). You’ll see what I mean.
• The actual combat methods (strikes, takedowns, grappling) of MMA are far more realistic and useful against actual human beings.
MMA Cons:
• MMA is a sport. For some this point may not be considered a con, but in terms of training for a real world self defense situation this is a major downside. MMA training and competition assumes two roughly equal sized fighters fighting under perfect and, relatively, safe conditions. Such conditions NEVER exist in a real fight. For those of you saying, “Well I only train for the ring/cage. So, it doesn’t matter.” I say that your skills are pointless and you are training yourself to be nothing more than a monkey who can throw punches and kicks.
• MMA lacks the tradition and discipline of TMA. Some may not like the formality of a TMA school, but such traditions create connections to warriors past, develop discipline, and respect and turn a fighter into an individual with a strong character. Now, I’m not saying mixed martial artists don’t have respect for their trainers and training partners, it simply seems as though a lot of mixed martial artists don’t have respect for those they fight against and there should always be respect among martial artists. To put it another way, it seems as though – quite often – assholes gravitate towards martial arts. Usually, a TMA school would send such individuals away or the aforementioned assholes would be discouraged by the traditional etiquette. This isn't always the case in a MMA gym.
TMA Pros:
• Self Defense Mentality. The general idea behind TMA training is that the skills are only for self defense. While I don’t necessarily agree that self defense is the only use for martial skill (it is fun test one’s skill in competition) this focus on the need to apply ones skill in the real world is highly beneficial and practical.
• Better Body Mechanics. Now a lot of mixed martial artists are going to shit in their board shorts over that statement, but it is true. The striking mechanics taught in a MMA gym are good, but the subtle (internal) mechanics taught to practitioners of Kenpo, Xingyiquan, and Tong Bei are far superior. Luckily, these subtle mechanics can be applied to any striking method.
TMA Cons:
• Not Realistic. Despite TMAs focus on needing to use one’s martial skill in an actual combat situation, TMA fighting techniques aren’t really useful against another human being who wishes to do you harm. Most of the training involves one trainee feeding and unrealistic attach to another while the trainee on the receiving end responds with an equally unrealistic defense and counter-attach.
• Most TMAs are one Dimensional. Some arts only focus on striking, like Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Muay Thai, and Boxing. Other arts, like Judo, Shui Chao, and Aikido only focus on takedowns. Catch wrestling and jujutsu train only grappling. A true martial artist should be proficient at all levels of combat.
Obviously this list is only my personal opinion. I’d like to make it clear that I feel MMA and TMA both have strong points and weak points. I’ve trained in Xingyiquan
(TMA), Tae Kwon Do
(TMA), San Shou
(neither), and Donjitsu Do (self defense oriented). I currently train out of a MMA gym so I feel I am uniquely qualified to compile such a list and I don’t want to receive any emails from people accusing me of ignorance regarding either TMA or MMA. However, if you’re a traditional martial artist or mixed martial artist take some time to think about your personal journey in the arts and ask yourself some questions. What do you want to get out of your training? How do you want to carry yourself as a martial artist? What is important to you? While I don’t feel anyone necessarily needs to leave their current gym or training hall, if you feel something is lacking in your current training hopefully this article is helpful in helping identify what your training needs and furthering your martial journey.
MMA Pros:
• MMA Training involves all ranges of combat: Striking, takedowns and throws, and submission grappling.
• MMA Training involves a lot of sparring. Sparring is the most specific and effective training method when preparing for an actual fight. Most TMAs avoid sparring or only engage in it occasionally.
• MMA training places a greater emphasis on strength and conditioning work. Most mixed martial artists are in better shape than your typical traditional martial artists. Don’t believe me? Go and watch the guys at your local MMA gym, then watch a class at the local TMA school (Dojo, Kwoon, Dojang). You’ll see what I mean.
• The actual combat methods (strikes, takedowns, grappling) of MMA are far more realistic and useful against actual human beings.
MMA Cons:
• MMA is a sport. For some this point may not be considered a con, but in terms of training for a real world self defense situation this is a major downside. MMA training and competition assumes two roughly equal sized fighters fighting under perfect and, relatively, safe conditions. Such conditions NEVER exist in a real fight. For those of you saying, “Well I only train for the ring/cage. So, it doesn’t matter.” I say that your skills are pointless and you are training yourself to be nothing more than a monkey who can throw punches and kicks.
• MMA lacks the tradition and discipline of TMA. Some may not like the formality of a TMA school, but such traditions create connections to warriors past, develop discipline, and respect and turn a fighter into an individual with a strong character. Now, I’m not saying mixed martial artists don’t have respect for their trainers and training partners, it simply seems as though a lot of mixed martial artists don’t have respect for those they fight against and there should always be respect among martial artists. To put it another way, it seems as though – quite often – assholes gravitate towards martial arts. Usually, a TMA school would send such individuals away or the aforementioned assholes would be discouraged by the traditional etiquette. This isn't always the case in a MMA gym.
TMA Pros:
• Self Defense Mentality. The general idea behind TMA training is that the skills are only for self defense. While I don’t necessarily agree that self defense is the only use for martial skill (it is fun test one’s skill in competition) this focus on the need to apply ones skill in the real world is highly beneficial and practical.
• Better Body Mechanics. Now a lot of mixed martial artists are going to shit in their board shorts over that statement, but it is true. The striking mechanics taught in a MMA gym are good, but the subtle (internal) mechanics taught to practitioners of Kenpo, Xingyiquan, and Tong Bei are far superior. Luckily, these subtle mechanics can be applied to any striking method.
TMA Cons:
• Not Realistic. Despite TMAs focus on needing to use one’s martial skill in an actual combat situation, TMA fighting techniques aren’t really useful against another human being who wishes to do you harm. Most of the training involves one trainee feeding and unrealistic attach to another while the trainee on the receiving end responds with an equally unrealistic defense and counter-attach.
• Most TMAs are one Dimensional. Some arts only focus on striking, like Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Muay Thai, and Boxing. Other arts, like Judo, Shui Chao, and Aikido only focus on takedowns. Catch wrestling and jujutsu train only grappling. A true martial artist should be proficient at all levels of combat.
Obviously this list is only my personal opinion. I’d like to make it clear that I feel MMA and TMA both have strong points and weak points. I’ve trained in Xingyiquan
(TMA), Tae Kwon Do (TMA), San Shou (neither), and Donjitsu Do (self defense oriented). I currently train out of a MMA gym so I feel I am uniquely qualified to compile such a list and I don’t want to receive any emails from people accusing me of ignorance regarding either TMA or MMA. However, if you’re a traditional martial artist or mixed martial artist take some time to think about your personal journey in the arts and ask yourself some questions. What do you want to get out of your training? How do you want to carry yourself as a martial artist? What is important to you? While I don’t feel anyone necessarily needs to leave their current gym or training hall, if you feel something is lacking in your current training hopefully this article is helpful in helping identify what your training needs and furthering your martial journey.
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