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View Full Version : Gang like, clubs?

mmafiter
17-Jun-2002, 11:58 AM
Here's an interesting observation. I've noticed here in Canada, that the BJJ club members stick together in almost a gang like fashion. They talk about a "family like" atmosphere but they have rituals and initiations that I wouldn't put a family member through. Also, when at at tournament, they will stick up for each other no matter how trivial or ridiculous one of thier members views are. I've seen near fights break out at tournaments between schools over something as stupid as excessive coaching!:rolleyes:

Bloody ruffians!:p
STASH
17-Jun-2002, 10:18 PM
Oh boy...I know what your saying mmafiter. Here in Toronto I see that all the time. I got initiated by my friends when I finally got my blackbelt and we definetly have the "gang mentality" (I will never say what they did to me, so dont bother asking, lol).

I believe that this is not a bad thing, it just makes our bond stronger, we trust eachother 100% and we will never disown eachother. Now even though I'm not allowed to return to that school and my instructor has lost all respect for me, my boys havent. They treat me like one of them even though I've been banished. They come over here all the time and train with me and they are doing everything possible to get my instructor to take me back.

Yea, I'll admit that as a group we can be very, very hostile and disrespectful to other schools and sometimes it costs us but I think theres more pros then cons with the whole gang mentality.
mmafiter
18-Jun-2002, 04:57 AM
I agree Stash, that mentality does make for a strong club, but it also has downfalls. I think the positives probably outweight the negatives though.:)
YODA
18-Jun-2002, 07:29 AM
Sounds like a familiar situation - ours is not at all limited to grade or ability, but to who becomes a "team player". We are a small club. We train together, we hang together. New people of the right mentality fit in very well.

If anyone goes up against any of my guys (and gal) they'd better have backup :D
Freeform
18-Jun-2002, 09:40 AM
Yoda, just like my first Dojo. A lot of the older students kinda took the younger ones 'under their wing' and even though a lot of us have moved on theirs still a lot of friendship/respect going on. In my home town when I first started MA their were 2 dojos in the town a Shototkan Karate one and a Goshin Do Tai Jitsu one and there sure was a gang mentality going on. About 7/8 yrs after I started Tai Jitsu I thought that it would be good for me to expand so I started going to the Karate class as well, and boy did thoughs guys try to destroy me for the first couple of months, but now I've got the respect of both clubs (although the fact that I don't take any crap probably helped) and I think its helped cool things down a bit too.

Thanx
Sonshu
17-Jun-2003, 04:15 PM
You thug! :D

SONSHU
YODA
17-Jun-2003, 05:34 PM
Thanks :D
pgm316
17-Jun-2003, 07:00 PM
Originally posted by YODA
Sounds like a familiar situation - ours is not at all limited to grade or ability, but to who becomes a "team player". We are a small club. We train together, we hang together. New people of the right mentality fit in very well.

If anyone goes up against any of my guys (and gal) they'd better have backup :D

Sounds like a familiar situation with most of us. And not just looking after each others safety, I've seen a lot of work been passed round!

I do prefer to go out around town with the people I train with, all watching out for each other, thats the best martial arts...

But we've also had to repremand our own for being aggresive etc, can soon go too far.

Having said that, any trouble and there dealing with the cat!
JessyBlue
18-Jun-2003, 09:19 AM
Can anyone tell me, why you are hanging out with your MA mates?
Doesn´t it -somehow- implie, that you feel strong because you all are doing MA and you have the feeling that you are protected against any offenders?
Sonshu
18-Jun-2003, 09:30 AM
Reason for me is.

There is a common intetest and they are decent guys - thats all.

SONSHU
pgm316
18-Jun-2003, 10:07 AM
Originally posted by JessyBlue
Can anyone tell me, why you are hanging out with your MA mates?
Doesn´t it -somehow- implie, that you feel strong because you all are doing MA and you have the feeling that you are protected against any offenders?

Why I hang round with my MA mates? You answered the question yourself, becuase they are mates!

We train together, socialise together, life seems to start revolving around MA's after a while and its not because we feel safer together.
YODA
18-Jun-2003, 03:41 PM
Because they're the only mates I have.
Sonshu
18-Jun-2003, 04:22 PM
I'll be your mate YODA!

SONSHU
YODA
18-Jun-2003, 04:23 PM
:D

But you're in martial arts too :D
Zen Master
18-Jun-2003, 10:26 PM
Jus what we need, fraternity cults of martial arts!
big e
18-Jun-2003, 10:32 PM
think its time for a group huuuuuuuug
dont ya think ? :D :D :D
Freeform
18-Jun-2003, 11:43 PM
I'm not hugging you whilst yer wearing that Lycra!!!
YODA
19-Jun-2003, 07:22 AM
Big E in lycra? They don't make his size :D
Freeform
19-Jun-2003, 04:12 PM
EEEUUUGGGCCCHHHH!!!!!!

Mental image of a 'rotund individual' in Lycra! :eek:

Hey Dave, after your time off that'll be you! ;)

Col
YODA
19-Jun-2003, 05:07 PM
I can assure you Big E is not "rotund" :D

As for me; however, I'm a big fat whale - I don't think my Vale Tudo shorts would get past my ass on their way to my waist :(
sn0w8lade
19-Jun-2003, 10:49 PM
Originally posted by YODA
Sounds like a familiar situation - ours is not at all limited to grade or ability, but to who becomes a "team player". We are a small club. We train together, we hang together. New people of the right mentality fit in very well.

If anyone goes up against any of my guys (and gal) they'd better have backup :D

Sound jus like the guys I train with an to me that's the way it should be. The bond between u an ur MA brothers is a damd strong thing!

:D