frank raud
Master of Arts
Although he is much better known for training and teaching with guns. Jeff Bloovman is a lifelong martial artist.
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What does anyone's sex life have to do with MA ? Whether you support it or are against it, It is as relevant as discussing someone's skin colour or religion as it pertains to MA.
It has an impact in that you're disclosing it to the business owner, which may or may not be one of the instructors, but it doesn't have any impact on any other member of the dojo. And its not effecting your martial ability in any way."Sex life" doesn't have any business in a martial arts school, sure, but "family" is a different matter. If, say, it's "parents train free month" and one kid brings his two moms, that's not in any way discussing sex life, but it is inherently disclosing the orientation of the parents. Or it can be as simple as listing a domestic partner as your emergency contact in case of injury. Nobody says I'm talking about my sex life when I list my wife as my emergency contact in the school's records, even though it inherently identifies my sexual orientation. Why would two men be any different?
It has an impact in that you're disclosing it to the business owner, which may or may not be one of the instructors, but it doesn't have any impact on any other member of the dojo. And its not effecting your martial ability in any way.
I have heard a guy say he wouldn't work with a gay man because of his sexual orientation, but that same guy had a habit of pairing up with woman. I pointed this out, and he just pretended not to hear.
Gotcha. Misunderstood your statements.I know it doesn't affect their martial ability in any way. I'm defending their right to be "out" without being accused of either "flaunting" or "discussing sex lives."
I believe that is the best way I have ever heard it explained.I never gave it much thought. But on personal note..
Vacationed on the east Coast last month. My dear friend, and longest tenured student, Kathy, came out. She mentioned it to my wife. My wife asked her if she had told me. Kathy laughed and said all Buka ever cared about was I'm happy and I keep my damn hands up when I fight.
So....everybody please keep your hands up when you fight.
So what difference does it make if a kid has two moms or two dads instead of one of each as it pertains to MA ? What does their sex life or sexual orientation have to do with being an emergency contact?"Sex life" doesn't have any business in a martial arts school, sure, but "family" is a different matter. If, say, it's "parents train free month" and one kid brings his two moms, that's not in any way discussing sex life, but it is inherently disclosing the orientation of the parents. Or it can be as simple as listing a domestic partner as your emergency contact in case of injury. Nobody says I'm talking about my sex life when I list my wife as my emergency contact in the school's records, even though it inherently identifies my sexual orientation. Why would two men be any different?
For a “normal” person (one that doesn’t think any of this matters, such as you and I), nothing. For someone who looks down on it and would treat the person differently because of it, it means a lot. For the person who has been mistreated in the past because of who they go home to, it can become a stressful situation for them. Why people get stupid about finding out someone’s homosexual is another conversation; the issue is people don’t want to deal with people being stupid about it. And people can get very stupid about it.So what difference does it make if a kid has two moms or two dads instead of one of each as it pertains to MA ? What does their sex life or sexual orientation have to do with being an emergency contact?
Out of all of the time I've spent in martial arts, stuff like that never really came into play with me to take notice. It might have registered for a quick minute and after that it just didn't register as anything to take notice of. I'm there to train so I get lost in my training, forget any problems that I may have, and just be more concern about getting things right and avoiding punches and kicks from my training partner. I would probably have a difficult time telling you the hair color of my sparring partners.Does anyone know of any prominant lgbt martial artists?
As a lesbian and a MA practitionar I always like to see people like me. I know of a few MMA fighters, but are there any TMA masters or high level people who are lgbt?
This is what it means to be accepted by a group. A person's difference doesn't become a highlight. "Not an issue." I have a gay uncle and the only time I even remember he's gay is when conversations like this come up. Other than that it's just not an issue. In terms of martial arts everyone trains and the only thing that hits the radar is how good or how bad someone is at doing the techniques or sparring. I remember all of those people. I can tell you who hits too hard, who is really fast, who does really good forms, who knows the most kung fu, who is lazy with their kung fu, who shows up most often. Things like that register for me.There are plenty. I don’t think it gets much attention because the practitioners I know of don’t make it an issue. The ones I know aren’t closeted, but they’re not advertising it any more NOR LESS than heterosexual people are advertising their sexuality. To me it seems they’re making it a non-issue.
It is pathetic but I think we should do our part and not even discuss this question as it really has nothing to do with MA. If a person does or doesn’t support it, they should know enough to not participate in a Highly charged topic that has nothing to do with an interest in MA.For a “normal” person (one that doesn’t think any of this matters, such as you and I), nothing. For someone who looks down on it and would treat the person differently because of it, it means a lot. For the person who has been mistreated in the past because of who they go home to, it can become a stressful situation for them. Why people get stupid about finding out someone’s homosexual is another conversation; the issue is people don’t want to deal with people being stupid about it. And people can get very stupid about it.
I teach at a private elementary school. There’s a girl in 2nd grade with 2 fathers. One of them works part time to take care of her and spends a good amount of time in the school - helping out in and out of the classroom. He’s a nice guy, is nice to all the kids, genuinely helps more than he gets in the way, and doesn’t “flaunt his sexuality” by any means. 2 kids in the class’ parents have pulled their kids out of the school because he’s around. They made BS excuses and made sure to say it wasn’t because he’s gay (which everyone easily saw right through), but they both said if he was around their kids they’d go elsewhere. If he was a woman or was heterosexual, they wouldn’t have any objections. There’s others who are around almost as much and aren’t nearly as good with the kids, and not a single thing was said.
It’s pathetic. But it’s stuff like this that makes some of them them not want to disclose things, including things as simple as emergency contacts. It’s not a perfect world.
I don’t see a question being posed in the post you quoted. But either way, I was just responding to you saying (paraphrased) you didn’t understand why people would have an issue listing their significant other as an emergency contact. Perhaps I misunderstood your post, which is likely. Either way, yeah... I’ve said all I have to say about the topic too. In a good way, same as you.It is pathetic but I think we should do our part and not even discuss this question as it really has nothing to do with MA. If a person does or doesn’t support it, they should know enough to not participate in a Highly charged topic that has nothing to do with an interest in MA.
My two cents and will say nothing more on the topic but I appreciate the time you took to respond.
I believe I was responding to a suggestion that an lbgt person may have to put their partner down as an emergency contact and thus alert people to their sexual orientation. I still think that is a load of malarkey that people should even care to notice. It really has no bearing on anything in my book. Good people are good people regardless of who they have sex with.I don’t see a question being posed in the post you quoted. But either way, I was just responding to you saying (paraphrased) you didn’t understand why people would have an issue listing their significant other as an emergency contact. Perhaps I misunderstood your post, which is likely. Either way, yeah... I’ve said all I have to say about the topic too. In a good way, same as you.
Exactly. As I said in my original post, as long as it’s a consenting adult, it shouldn’t matter who is going home to who.I believe I was responding to a suggestion that an lbgt person may have to put their partner down as an emergency contact and thus alert people to their sexual orientation. I still think that is a load of malarkey that people should even care to notice. It really has no bearing on anything in my book. Good people are good people regardless of who they have sex with.
I agree with what you are saying but have to disagree with the example of an emergency contact though. It could just as easily be their brother, or their father if they are an adult and we would not know. The way you say it however is the standard defensive position that is so common today. If we don't want people to think that way, don't make it an issue, in any respect including the converse.I know it doesn't affect their martial ability in any way. I'm defending their right to be "out" without being accused of either "flaunting" or "discussing sex lives."