What defines a Martial artist? (Taekwondo)

You think that the majority of people equate martial arts with effective fighting? I think most equate it with prancing about in pyjamas, Jet Li flying about on a wire, or Mr. Miyagi type self-improvement through platitudinal riddles and menial labour.

This all started with here:

Which just comes across, to me, as a no true Scotsman argument that has more to do with self image and ego than anything else.

 

Ask them. See what happens when there is a news feature or newspaper article.

MMA has placed martial arts in the public eye more than ever and what are they? Fighters

When a Pro-Wrestler has a martial arts gimmick it is seen as "something extra"

In D&D and other RPG's they are seen as "exceptional fighters"

In movies anyone fighting skilfully "does martial arts"

So claiming otherwise is a bit awry given that the mass market OVERWHELMINGLY defines "martial artist = good at fighting"

 

Maybe you're right. I'm not going out to take surveys to find out

That still doesn't change the fact that most martial artists have no clue about war or fighting. A Karateka who wins gold in a kata competition isn't a martial artist now unless they have a scrap to prove it?

 

It isn't MY definition of choice, as I outlined earlier - you were the one who made the appeal to popular opinion as being definitive.....now look what has happened!

 

OK, My bad !

Few people on this forum would disagree with your definition of a martial art.

 

I think it's a question of practicality really. Which seems more practical? Regulating the use of the term "martial artist" the world over in perpetuity? OR being more specific about the practices you find value in and why?

To me, the first is a fool's errand.

 

You're sunk by your presentation honestly. Since so many people remarked that they didn't get past the 6-minute mark, I started skipping ahead. You have some good thoughts in there. And I share many of them, having started in taekwondo myself before going on to other styles.

Disclaimer: When I switched styles, it was theoretically to learn a new skillset and improve myself as a fighter. But I was getting pummeled by a classmate and friend. I could also have improved in taekwondo and that would have, in some ways, been a more effective way to get that particular monkey off my back.

Truthfully, as you point out later in the video, taekwondo provided a good foundation for many things I did later. I don't regret it for a moment.

That video should be reshot. With a SCRIPT. You know what you're trying to convey. People who make presentations for a living aren't up there winging it. They have a script. They may stray from it, but having a place to call home keeps them from straying too far and getting lost in the weeds. You guys needed to keep this more tightly focused on your actual points, many of which are solid.

Also, bear in mind that, while 15 years is not an inconsiderable length of time, a good deal of your audience is going to have more. So bear that in mind as you're uttering sentences like "we're going to inform you what martial arts are all about." Remember that many viewers are likely to have been where you are right now. And have either arrived at your view on their own or moved on from there. You're not done either. Believe me.

 

Yep! Old, bald and opinionated. But still, it's not so bad if you consider the alternatives.

 

What, young, open-minded and with a full head of hair?

 

No kidding. If you could see my hair at the moment, you'd thank your lucky stars for baldness.

Old and opinionated, I'm with ya. These mixed martial artists need to git off my lawn!

 

Chill dude... They just want to practice their shrimping

 

Yeah, but I live 10 minutes outside of DC. I don't actually have a lawn. It's just concrete. And broken glass. And lava. And scorpions.

Reap the whirlwind, shrimpers!!

 

I'm just glad to hear that the city council have cleaned up the AIDS needles.

 

Which is easier? Having to explain every time that you actually train to use force or asking people every time if they use force when someone identifies as a martial artist...or having an accurate term to describe the people who do so?

If the term can't be recovered we need a commonly recognized modifier like 'functional' or 'combative' to denote the people who actually train to use force. Unspecific, verbose language, is inefficient and bad language.

I guess that's why the JKD folks started using the term "combative arts."

 

The easiest thing is to recognise that when anyone - outside a discussion on the semantic - uses the term to describe themselves or others then they are more than likely a vainglorious delusional family friendly, remember.

 

There's no point.

A month later, that modifier will be used by dozens of mcdojos as part of their marketing spiel.

 

If people keep using the part of "martial", as meaning "war", then technically, only the military are "martial artists"

 

How about trainers of the military?

 

Do they have previous military experience?