CodeRed's blog
Modesty and Attitude
Tue May 01, 2012 5:05 pm
"A black belt can fight a hundred matches and win. A master can fight a hundred matches and win without harming his opponents." -My SaBomNim
Whenever I meet a martial artist, I usually find they have one of two mindsets.
Type Alpha
-This man is modest.
-He does not go seeking fights.
-He has peaceful confidence.
-He speaks softly but carries a big stick.
Type Omega
-This man is boastful.
-He seeks fights whenever he can.
-He is cocky and believes he cannot be defeated.
Unfortunately, I find that the majority of martial artists I meet are Type Omega. Obsessed with UFC, they wear Tapout gear and fight trunks every day. They boast constantly about their perceived skills. They usually don't take jiu-jitsu or karate classes, instead opting for MMA classes. They often overindulge in alcohol, cigarettes, and other toxic substances. They always spar or grapple at 100% strength and intensity. They say, "I never tap." They are obsessed with being the ultimate fighter, the ultimate tough guy, bad boy, cage fighter, womanizer, butt kicker around. They will out-alpha you in the ring, in the bar, on the street, or even online. Instead of sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll; sex, drugs, and ground-n-pound.
My teacher is one of the Type Alphas. He is a very kind man. He'd give you the shirt off his back if you needed it more than he did. When people come into the studio and say, "I think I can beat you," he just smiles and replies, "I bet you could." (Usually his challengers chicken out when he asks them to remove their shoes.) He is not boastful. The only martial arts shirts he wears are the ones of his studio that he owns, operates, and teaches daily.
I wish I understood why people wear shirts that broadcast the slogan, "Tap or snap!", and "You'll tap faster than your girlfriend did!" Are they so insecure that they constantly have to convince themselves and others that they're the best fighter in the room?
I would rather others talk about me so I don't have to talk about myself. I want to be known as a teacher, not a killer. I prefer silence to any cocky slogan a t-shirt could boast.
This ends my rant.
(edit: I'd like to thank everyone who's read my first blog post. I promise the next one won't be a rant.)
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