What Kind of Pie is Best? (Finding a Martial Art)

[mograph]

From Fearless, my favorite martial arts movie:

Love that scene.

 

[Steve]

Love that scene.

Not sure I've seen this one. I'll add it to the list.

 

[Damien]

I think this is an excellent metaphor. different pies for different people who have different needs and preferences. A nice message.

Even if we're as generous as possible, we're making some presumptions about these pies.

first, I think folks typically think about excellent examples of whatever pie they're thinking about. Not all pies are exceptional. Most aren't worth the calories, to be honest. Gummy, mushy, or burnt crusts. Fillings are too sweet or not sweet enough, soupy, or too dry.

For example, Apple pie is great, but most of them look like this... more of an apple soup with pie-crust dumpling. Yuck.

View attachment 28698

Some pies are so poorly baked the food is dangerous to eat.
View attachment 28699

Some of them look like pies, but aren't even real food. They are pie like objects, made to mimic pie, but intended for some purpose other than to eat (e.g., print ads)

Some aren't even pies at all, but the person who baked it thinks it's a pie because they really don't know what a pie is.

and then of course there are cultural differences between the pies. Because if we're really honest, those pictures are of tarts, not pies.

This is a pie:

Got to have a top to be pie

 

[Buka]

Is that like a puff pastry on top? Nice.

Eight layers of Filo dough all around.

Might get up the courage to try making Baklava later in the week.

 

[Steve]

Eight layers of Filo dough all around.

Might get up the courage to try making Baklava later in the week.

Baklava. Oh man.

 

[Xue Sheng]

It’s Marionberry for me but I think @Xue Sheng would prefer the bacon pot pie.

Nope. I like Lemon meringue..NO Wait....Blueberry...I meant Cherry...or was it pumpkin..... i think I'll go with Apple...maybe... I got it....I LIKE PIE!!!! Unless it has bacon in it...then I don't like pie

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

Nope. I like Lemon meringue..NO Wait....Blueberry...I meant Cherry...or was it pumpkin..... i think I'll go with Apple...maybe... I got it....I LIKE PIE!!!! Unless it has bacon in it...then I don't like pie

You ain’t gotta lie to kick it homie, we know what the story is…

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

and then of course there are cultural differences between the pies. Because if we're really honest, those pictures are of tarts, not pies.

This is a pie:
View attachment 28705

Got to have a top to be pie

and then of course there are cultural differences between the pies. Because if we're really honest, those pictures are of tarts, not pies.

This is a pie:
View attachment 28705

Got to have a top to be pie

I guess that is true, most of the tarts I have known do go topless.

 

[Xue Sheng]

You ain’t gotta lie to kick it homie, we know what the story is…

Good then you know I hate bacon

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

Good then you know I hate bacon

I know you SAY that you hate it. I believe thou dost protest too much.

 

[Pokitren]

A very common question on MT is something along these lines:

"Hi! I'm new and I'm looking to begin training in martial arts. Which art is best?"

An alternative attempts to be more focused:

"Hi, I'm new and I'm X years old and my body type is Y and I've trained in Z arts but not since childhood and I was wondering what art is best for me?"

What kind of pie is best? Or alternatively, what kind of pie is best for me?

Martial arts is LOCAL. On any given day, a student from dojo A can be called a better martial artist than a student from Temple B and vice-versa. It depends on so many factors, which is why there has never been a 'best style' even when one defines 'best' by strict rules.

What I mean by that is that there are great and lousy instructors in every art you can name. None are free of frauds. Few are so bad that they have no good instructors.

Furthermore, a great instructor whom you can't get along with isn't a very good instructor for YOU in many cases. A facility that doesn't appeal to you, fellow students who leave you cold, none of those are good things for you, even if 'everyone says' the instructor, facility, and students are top-notch.

Bottom line, although we are happy to help in any way we can, most of us are going to say the same thing every time this question comes up.

1) Find out what schools are available where you live.

2) Determine if the style of martial arts taught is something you're interested in. Some people prefer to grapple. Some like high kicks. Some like stand up fighting. Some want to learn self-defense only. Some want to compete in tournaments and potentially win trophies. Some want to get in better physical condition. Or any combination of those. All are legit reasons to train, but you want to match your desired outcome with what's being taught or it won't work for you.

3) Make sure the costs and times of instruction work for you.

4) Do your best to investigate the instructor and their stated credentials. There are many frauds out there. Some have very convincing certificates and group memberships hanging on their walls; check them out anyway. There are quite a few fraudulent organizations that exist to confer these things on anyone who sends them money.

5) Attend as a visitor. Go more than once. See how things are done, and decide if that's something you think would interest you.

6) Self-assess. If you're seriously overweight, out-of-shape, older, less flexible, or differently abled, there may be things you cannot physically do unless you are willing to put in the time and effort to do those things along with training, if you are able to.

7) If the training facility uses contracts, ask what happens if you move, become unable to train, or decide it's not for you. Consider how you'll feel paying a monthly fee for several years when you're not able or willing to train anymore.

But what pie is best? The pie you like. The pie you're willing to commit to. The pie that's available near you, at a price you're willing to pay. The pie baked by a good baker, who has access to good ingredients. That's the best pie.

These kinds of notes should be brought to the attention of every seeker. But the problem is that there's not much choice in small towns... So students have to be engaged wherever there is an opportunity.

Hi all, let me join your forum.

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

These kinds of notes should be brought to the attention of every seeker. But the problem is that there's not much choice in small towns... So students have to be engaged wherever there is an opportunity.

Hi all, let me join your forum.

Welcome to MT.

 

[Steve]

These kinds of notes should be brought to the attention of every seeker. But the problem is that there's not much choice in small towns... So students have to be engaged wherever there is an opportunity.

Hi all, let me join your forum.

You're in. Welcome.