Trouble explaining the lifestyle to friends and fam?

[Gerry Seymour]

I mean, doesn't everybody do bo kata in the backyard in a snowstorm?

No. I use the driveway. The yard is far too steep.

 

[kuniggety]

No. I use the driveway. The yard is far too steep.

You're not living life dangerously enough. You do it in the yard... naked.

 

[Tames D]

Bill...that is pretty much how we view you on MT too

But to the kids in his neighborhood, he's affectionately known as "the grumpy old man"

 

[Gerry Seymour]

But to the kids in his neighborhood, he's affectionately known as "the grumpy old man"

I'm pretty sure it's "crazy ol' Mr. Mattocks down the street".

 

[Ironbear24]

I learned that when it comes to martial arts the old people always beat you up the most.

 

[Xue Sheng]

I learned that when it comes to martial arts the old people always beat you up the most.

And don't you forget it sonny...gall darn kids today...never repectin' thier elders.....now GET OFF A MY LAWN!!!!!

 

[JR 137]

Most people don't care. I get asked every now and then by coworkers and friends (not close friends). I used to tell people all about it when they asked until I realized everyone got bored after about 15 seconds. So now I just tell them I hate cardio machines, so I do karate instead. They all give me the look like "that makes sense" and it's over with. Or if I'm in a clown mood, I'll tell them I like getting beat up and trying to beat other people up without getting arrested. That ends the conversation pretty quickly.

People who I know actually value what I have to say get a different answer. Such as when I was driving my mother to an appointment 2.5 hours away. She started the conversation out of no where...

Mom: Why do you like karate so much?

Me: I like beating people up and getting beat up

Mom: Why can't you give me a straight answer?

Me: Ok. It's the only place I can go and the outside world ceases to exist. I don't have time to think about your kidney transplant when someone's trying to punch me in the stomach. I don't think about the kids not listening to me when someone's trying to kick me in the head.

Mom: nods her head and starts to get it

Me: And just as importantly, it's about outdoing myself. I see things that I think I can't possibly do, and work hard to do them. I learn something new and think it's really difficult. A few months later, I ask myself why I thought it was so difficult. It's all about exceeding my own expectations.

Mom: That makes sense.

 

[drop bear]

I mean, doesn't everybody do bo kata in the backyard in a snowstorm?

Just so long as you are not that guy who does shadow boxing in a night club.

 

[Steel Accord]

Just so long as you are not that guy who does shadow boxing in a night club.

But that means the nice man at the door will come on over to be my new sparring partner.

 

[Buka]

God, I so love this place.

 

[crazydiamond]

Ppl at work think I'm insane and are afraid of me.

Same.

I have told very few people.

Honestly I am already a big guy, telling people I do a form of MMA - in a regular office setting - or on the street waiting for the bus with my kids and neighbors - does not help make people comfortable.

Neither do some understand why a guy my age would do this.

I remember once one of the younger female staff brought a pair of gloves to work in her bag, I saw them and said "oh you box! what type of mouth guard do use ? I need a new one " she looked at me horrified and said she takes a fitness class, no one hits her.

 

[Balrog]

Here's a question. Have you ever had any trouble explaining your study of the martial arts to friends and family? Have they ever misunderstood why you do it? Have you ever heard them either assume it's all about violence or merely a niche hobby?

Not really. My friends all know that I train in Taekwondo and most of them have trained with me. At best, the ones that haven't will occasionally ask how the school is going, but that's about it.

 

[JR 137]

Just so long as you are not that guy who does shadow boxing in a night club.

I saw a guy practicing a few katas in a mosh pit. Seriously. He wasn't very good, but I've seen worse.

 

[Jedmus]

I don't tend to get asked about it really and if I do, people only really ask how long I've been training. Everyone at work knows as we have to say something "interesting" about ourselves when we start. My co-worker is a 3rd Dan in Karate so whenever we go into meetings we get jokey comments of "there go the ninjas again" aha

 

[hoshin1600]

most of my close friends are black belts. so we all relate to each other and can talk about it. you should have seen my wedding, more black belts there than any school around. but sadly as time passes things change.

and i practice my 1980's ninja moves in the back yard, that way no one can see me.

 

[Gerry Seymour]

Very few of my friends and family ask about it or talk about it. My brother and I talk about it a bit, but he's been in martial arts a fair amount, too (about half as much as I have) and holds rank in TKD. So he gets it.

@yak sao Did you actually dislike something in this, or just a mis-click?

 

[yak sao]

@yak sao Did you actually dislike something in this, or just a mis-click?

Sorry , fat fingers..... Your honor has been restored good sir

 

[Buka]

Then there's the other side of the coin - when you've trained a long time, everybody knows. You've trained kids, their dads, their grand dads, their favorite uncles. They tend to discount everything else about you and you become "that Martial Arts guy". And because you've trained so many people, many of whom have told stories over beers, everybody thinks you're ten times better than you ever actually were, or ever will be.

But you can get away with practicing in the yard, or anywhere else for that matter. Even if you ain't praticing for real, but just doing Master Ken stuff.

 

[Monkey Turned Wolf]

By chance, half my friends are martial artists of varying styles. When we get together it will come up briefly, and then we'll continue with whatever else we were getting together for. With my friends who don't train, they are all aware that I practice, that I have times where I will be practicing obsessively and they may not see me, but in day to day conversation it doesn't come up.

 

[KangTsai]

I'm surrounded by sports-fan golfers as a lot of family friends. They think doing MMA is cool.