| Every once in a while I get an email from some | | | | Because that's what it all comes down to: ego. Hey, I |
| misguided and offended martial artist with his or her | | | | know you have a lot of time an effort invested into |
| knickers in a twist telling me where I go wrong by | | | | your study and this is the last thing you want to |
| saying "Martial Arts will Fail You Every time". But facts | | | | hear, but earning a black belt doesn't make you a |
| are facts. | | | | superhero. Having a black belt does not give you the |
| Just because you have a black belt doesn't mean | | | | ability to take on all comers in all any and all situations. |
| you can fight and just because you can fight, doesn't | | | | A street fight or close quarters battle has entirely |
| mean you are a black belt. | | | | different dynamics than a competitive sport. In a |
| Can martial artists, boxers, judo players, wrestlers, | | | | competitive fight, the possibility of being seriously |
| mixed martial artists bee good street fighters? Sure. | | | | injured or killed is not a paramount concern. You have |
| But a fight is an entirely different proposition than | | | | the normal injuries associated with contact sports, |
| combative sport or a hobby. The problem is that | | | | but if it were really lethal you would have people |
| martial artists have propagated this "myth" about the | | | | dying in the ring regularly. The combative sport is only |
| black belt since they realized money could be made. | | | | SYMBOLIC of the real thing. This is where we all get |
| To compound the problem, most instructors are true | | | | confused. The term symbolic |
| believers. Thinking that what they are saying is 100% | | | | So why bother getting a black belt or what does it |
| true. | | | | mean to earn a black belt? This subject has been |
| The techniques used by successful street fighters | | | | beaten to death and I offer my opinion only to ad |
| range from the simple and straight forward to brutal | | | | some perspective. First of all, I hold a special place |
| and down right nasty. Never underestimate the | | | | for those of you who have the determination to see |
| depths of human nature or the levels to which some | | | | your training through to the end and I hope those |
| people will go to impose their will over another human | | | | same people continue to study for an entire life time. |
| being. | | | | It does set you above all others as having |
| The difference between a successful and | | | | accomplished a great task that requires years of |
| unsuccessful street fighter is attitude and no | | | | dedication and sacrifice. But learning to fight is only a |
| hesitation. Contrary to the old school yard Marcus of | | | | small part |
| Queensbury rules, who ever strikes first in a real | | | | Do you think the night before your black belt exam |
| fight usually wins. I'm not talking about people in the | | | | you are immediately transformed in to the Ultimate |
| local pub having a shoving match. Leave the bar fight | | | | Warrior. Martial Arts use fighting and combative skills |
| out of it. I am talking about a real street smart | | | | to affect and overall change on the practitioner. If |
| criminal. So you think that junkie is just trying to slap | | | | you study martial arts to learn how to fight, you will |
| you- no he's got razor blades between his fingers | | | | find your self very disappointed. Fighting is and should |
| and he's trying to slice your face open. (Thanks for | | | | be a smaller percentage of why you study. If you |
| the example Bill). If you wait for him to make his | | | | study just to learn how to fight or just to learn how |
| move, you're done. If you pause, wait for them to | | | | to compete you will not last very long. Because after |
| "throw the first punch" you'll lose. And before you | | | | your competitive career is over, now what? Once |
| question my motivation as one of those guys who | | | | you start coaching, training and teaching you really |
| never spent time in a real dojo or never received his | | | | begin to understand that competition is a useful tool, |
| black belt (I have 3 of them) go to I am a real | | | | but it's not what martial arts is about. |
| person and I can be found any day of the week | | | | Street fighting is not about honor and fair play. That's |
| working out at this location teaching none other than | | | | how you live your life, but when push comes to |
| martial arts. But like my Sensei, I refuse to limit my | | | | shove, knowing how to street fight requires very |
| self by the confines of my ego and insecurity. | | | | little skill, just a lot of attitude and nerve. |