My
Ninjas: Choosing a Martial Arts School
Nick
Roberts
Smashwords
Edition
Copyright 2011 Nick Roberts
Smashwords Edition License Notes
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Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction
Matching
Expectations
Benefits
of Martial Arts
Style
Enlightenment
Lineage
Ranking
System
Honoring
Tradition
Teaching
Culture
Schedule
Location
Commitment
Understanding
What You're Getting
Sparring
Learning
Abroad
Internet/DVD
Sifu
Competitions
Common
Challenges
Weapons
Training
Tuition
Spread
The Word!
Acknowledgements
About
The Author
Preface
I would like to thank Sifu Michael Dasargo of Immortal Fitness Martial Arts in San Diego California. I am absolutely sure I could not have found a better teacher. I will be forever grateful for finding a world-class fighter, a world-class martial arts scholar, a world-class teacher, an awesome fitness coach, and a fantastic friend, all rolled into a single human being. I can recommend him unequivocally as THE person to learn from if you're interested in fighting. I'll be honest and say that almost everything in this book is a reflection of some tidbit of wisdom he passed along. At the same time, I take credit for any mistakes. Sifu Dasargo was not directly involved in the production of this book.
Something you'll no-doubt discover during your martial arts journey is that the arts provide limitless material to study. In such situations, it's best to have guides that can distill the most important information for you so that you can learn in the most efficient manner. In the back of this book (Acknowledgements section), I have listed some of the other teachers and schools that have guided my path. I hope you'll take the time to check them out.
Introduction
You're interested in martial arts! Good for you! It is wise because it's one of the few pursuits in life where you improve with age and will have numerous lifelong benefits.
The purpose of this book is to help you look within and help you understand your own motivations for pursuing martial arts. Hopefully along the way we'll dispel some common myths and help to lay a good mental foundation that includes reasonable expectations. Empowered with this foundation, you'll be able to find a school that matches your needs and desires to ensure your success in the arts!
This book is targeted at potential martial artists as well as students who may be seeking more than their current school provides. The idea is to provide objective ways to evaluate your desires and potential schools to see how well they match. The experience you'll encounter at various martial arts schools varies wildly. Objective, helpful information is hard to find. This book should help you to wade through the mess.
This book is also targeted at martial arts instructors. I lightly touch on the philosophy of martial arts. My hope is that this book will help schools and instructors to better understand their own identities and their own niche in the martial arts world. Hopefully when a student comes along that is clearly not a match for your school, you'll be able to articulate exactly why that is the case and you'll be able to direct them to a school that better matches their needs. If students have unsatisfactory experiences with their schools, the martial arts industry suffers as a whole.
I wrote this book because when I searched for a school, I didn't know where to begin. Through sheer luck of circumstance I happened to find a school that matches my needs and desires. But if you had asked me to tell you what I was looking for, there is no way I could have explained it other than to say “I want to learn to fight.” In the back of the book (About the Author), I go into more detail about my situation and the factors that influenced my decisions.
People who study martial arts may have zero interest in fighting. Different students have different goals; I didn't fully grok that when I started. I assumed everyone was like me. Now that I've studied under several teachers with students from a variety of backgrounds, I believe I've collected enough information to represent the most common perspectives.
I felt it was important to write the initial edition of this book while still relatively new to martial arts so that I could better empathize with the needs and perspectives of beginning martial artists. In light of that, I hope any major gaffes will be forgiven as I think the context in which a book is written should be understood to be a part of the value of the book. This book is a small part of my journey and hopefully will act as a quick first guide to help you find the best course for yourself.
Why Do YOU Want
To Learn Martial Arts?
Here are some common reasons people
search for martial arts schools. Take a moment to think about all of
the reasons that apply to your situation. Circle the ones that apply
to you. Feel free to write others that come to mind.
to "start somewhere"
participate in a sport
fitness
improve flexibility
competition
learn to learn
learn to teach
find focus / train mind
enlightenment / zen / tao
boredom
learn the culture
master a system
learn to fight
learn self defense
brotherhood / camaraderie
fill time
escape from real life
sparring
relieve aggression
How to Use This
Book
Take notes as you read this book. Write down the things
that resonate most with your desires so that later you may use that
information to make informed choices. If you write down your desires
and reactions now, you'll have a permanent record that you'll be able
to use to re-evaluate your choices later. Also, students who are
serious about martial arts inevitably keep journals detailing
everything they've learned. You'll have a head start in that process
if you start taking notes now.
This book is intended to increase your awareness of the finer points of martial arts culture that can distinguish one school from another. It will help you to understand statements or answers you receive about schools you are evaluating. Along the way I provide many questions that you can ask when the answers are not immediately obvious.
Matching Expectations
Many beginning martial arts students have unrealistic expectations. You should strive to maintain realistic expectations so you can select a school that fits your needs and so you will be happy with your training. This chapter is intended to reset your expectations so that as you read the rest of the book, you'll be able to more objectively extract the information that is most relevant to your needs.
Romanticism
Here
are a few ways that people idolize martial arts. Hopefully this
section will dispel some of the common myths:
#1 I'll be
famous!
Bruce Lee. Jet Li. Jackie Chan. These are great
martial artists who happened to make movies. Realize firstly that
they devoted their lives to the martial arts. Rarely can someone do
this. Realize secondly that they had many many peers that also
dedicated their lives to martial arts who are not famous. In today's
society very few people are paid to use their martial arts skills as
their full-time job. There is almost zero chance of having a career
in movies just because you are a great martial artist.
#2
Overconfidence
Li Mu Bai. Snake Eyes. Yoda. These are
fictional characters from movies whose skills in martial arts are
unmatched. However, even in the movies, nobody is unbeatable. Every
move can be countered. There is always someone faster, tougher,
trickier, luckier, or more skilled than you. Martial arts students
are particularly vulnerable to overconfidence because they learn
skills that most other people don't have. However, even an untrained
person can take a martial artist by surprise and win a fight.
As you acquire more skill, you should become less sure of the outcome of an encounter. This is a good thing, meaning that your expectations are no longer based in ego or fantasy. You should not train thinking you'll be “unbeatable” because the first defeat and any subsequent defeats can be psychologically traumatic.
#3 Wuxia
Movies
like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon contain choreographed
fights, frequently aided by wires or special effects. In a movie or
performance, the goal is to exaggerate movements and produce
drawn-out fights that are satisfying for viewers. Real fights, by
contrast, are usually finished in seconds if either of the fighters
have skill. The fights are never pretty. Rarely does someone walk
away unharmed. There are no backflips, 720 degree spins, or other
ultra athletic stunts. That being said, there are non-combative
martial arts forms that focus on athletic development and cultural
preservation and peformance.
Underestimation
of Intensity
Practicing martial arts is very taxing on your
body. Static exercises such as stretching and holding stances can be
exhausting. Two-person exercises frequently result in bruising and
lingering joint or muscle soreness. Accidents can happen when simply
learning techniques. Results can include a broken nose, lost teeth,
dislocated shoulders, or other relatively mild injuries. Even some of
the mild injuries (such as sprained joints) can result in
mild-but-chronic life-long discomfort or limited mobility. Sparring
takes risk to the next level, where the chances of more severe trauma
such as concussion, broken bones, paralysis and even accidental death
are greatly increased.
Risk
All
good martial arts schools try to minimize the chances of injury
because injury impedes practice and tends to act as a deterrent to
students. However, as a student you must decide the level of risk you
are willing to accept. Though your feelings may change over time, it
is best that you follow your current instinct in regard to risk. Some
martial arts practices will be less risky than others. Hand and
weapons forms, for example, carry little associated risk.
Sparring represents the highest level of risk short of an actual street fight, especially during competitions against strangers. Most martial artists you encounter won't have mastered their competitiveness, their egos, their tempers, and/or their bodies. Injury is a distinct possibility even when body armor is worn.
Popular
Trends
MMA or mixed martial arts is a recent trend that
incorporates aspects of different styles of fighting, such as
striking/boxing and ground fighting. MMA is frequently marketed as
the “ultimate” in fighting. MMA does represent a legal way for
martial artists of varying backgrounds to test some of their skills
in a safe way. However, one should not believe that training for
sport MMA will give you all the skills you need to protect yourself
in a street fight. At it's core, MMA fighting is consensual 1-on-1
fighting. Fighters prepare weeks in advance for a fight and the loser
merely gets a smaller paycheck and a few wounds that heal quickly.
Contrast this with street fights: stress, lack of consent, multiple
attackers, and severe consequences (physical, psychological, and
legal) are huge factors.
Beating People
Up
Fighting is not all it's cracked up to be. It might be
satisfying to know that your lunch money is going to actually buy you
lunch...but knowing that you've caused serious injury to somebody has
lasting effects, even for the “winner”. Fighting is not a pretty
process. Anything can happen during a scuffle. Innocent bystanders
can be hurt. Seeds of hatred can be planted causing repercussions
later in life. People can be killed (accidentally or intentionally).
Psychological trauma (PTSD) can occur. There can also be legal
ramifications whether or not it was done as “self defense”.
Beginning martial artists are more likely to injure others accidentally than intentionally. You need to be able to forgive yourself if you hurt another person (who might be a classmate, friend or family member). If you're having difficulty coping, your school should be equipped to help you through difficulty.
Self Defense and
Defensive Tactics
Most people think martial arts and self
defense training are the same. Martial arts training does not
necessarily prepare you to protect yourself. There are many
psychological, physical, and emotional barriers to overcome to learn
a martial art... but it is practiced on a consensual basis and under
(relatively) non-stressful conditions.
The best self defense training goes beyond technique and focuses on improving upon instinctual reactions while incorporating stress and surprise. This kind of training is not usually part of traditional martial arts training. It can be argued that self defense training is an entirely different skill set. Realize that like the martial arts, self defense skills are perishable and must be practiced and refined to remain effective.
Your History With
Martial Arts
Your martial arts training will be affected by
your past history with martial arts.
#1 No History
If
you've never trained martial arts before, everything is new. The
advantage is that you won't have too many preconceived notions or
existing bad habits. You'll be like a sponge soaking up water.
However, there will be a lengthy adjustment phase as you adapt to the
rigors of training and to the environment at your school. You may
need to build coordination skills and the physicality of martial arts
may feel very foreign in the beginning. Be patient with yourself and
know that it is not a quick process.
#2 Long
History
If you've got a history of martial arts training, you
may be:
Looking for a specific skill set to add to your repertoire
Adding another notch to your “style” collection
Looking for a change
Unsatisfied with your fighting skills
Understanding why you're seeking training will help you work with your school to achieve your goals. Be aware that if you have extensive training in martial arts, you may find it difficult to approach a new art with an “empty cup”. It is important to try to learn whatever is being taught without attaching your own biases to the new information. After you've mastered the new information, then you'll be in a good place to compare and contrast prior training to current training.
Your History With
Violence
If you've rarely or never fought before, you're going
to have different reactions than someone who has been in many fights.
If you were abused, you'll have different reactions than others.
Every aspect of your personal martial arts style will be affected by
your history with violence. It's important to let your teachers know
about your history so they can monitor your progress and make
adjustments as necessary. You don't have to share intimate details.
Just give them a general description of how you have been affected by
violence in the past. Know that as you train, some of these “demons”
will be faced as you re-program your relationship with violence.
Benefits of Martial Arts
This section discusses some ways the martial arts benefit people today since they are no longer needed for survival and are used less often in warfare (since the advent of guns).
Stress
Management
You learn to deal with stress and training yourself
to be ready in stressful situations; You'll be able to avoid panic so
you can do whatever is needed. Stress handling isn't a personality
trait. It's a learned skill. It's about learning to recognize
situational stress escalation so that you can be prepared for or
prevent bad things from happening. If someone insults you, do you
insult them back or find another way to handle the stress of feeling
insulted?
Safer Travel
The
world is ever-more connected. People travel much more than before.
The laws and local effective rules depend on the country and city and
culture. Public safety may not be the number one priority. Martial
arts training can help you to protect yourself when no-one else is
there to help you. Students who intend to study abroad should
consider training, perhaps with a focus on self defense.
Improved
Focus
The arts teach us to focus on the task at hand and not
worry about "external" pressures like winning a competition
or even beating an opponent. Taking one moment at a time and
recognizing what is happening and choosing both tactics and strategy
to deal with ever-changing situations is a real-life skill that can
be applied everywhere.
Connection
Connection
with people comes into play on two levels. Touch is the first level.
People are happier and feel more connected socially when physical
contact is involved. In this way, martial arts is like dancing. The
second level has to do with kinship and trust. By regularly
participating in group activities we grow lasting social bonds with
our classmates. We learn to trust other people with our safety and
depend on them to help us learn.
Learning To
Learn
You learn to own your personal development, become
comfortable with asking questions and receiving feedback, and
learning to "dig deeper" to find answers you need. Because
every student's body and learning style is different, every student
will have unique challenges that can only be addressed by learning to
be aware of those challenges and seek solutions.
A martial artist learns to see with “open eyes”. He is ready -in the heart- to learn and truly engage people with a quiet mind. Sometimes students try so hard to “do better” that they aren't able to absorb the subtleties that actually lead to improvement. They must learn to hold themselves accountable for learning impediments and remove subconscious defensive barriers that slow down learning. Ultimately, they become happier, more conscientious people.
Fitness
Fitness
is perhaps the most obvious benefit of practicing martial arts. By
regularly exposing yourself to the rigors of martial arts training
your body becomes healthier, stronger, and more resilient.
“Infinite”
Growth Potential
With literally thousands of potential
techniques, no-one can master everything. However, martial arts is
one of the few physical activities where your skills generally
improve until much later in life. As a martial artist becomes older,
he is forced to stop relying on athleticism and instead must instead
utilize strategy and leverage. With each year of practice comes
deeper understanding of previously learned techniques and the
situations in which those techniques are useful.
Self-Discipline
Martial
artists learn to deal with repetitive tasks. They learn to be
detail-oriented and understand how the slightest changes can have
cascading side-effects that must be understood to be mastered. They
learn to deal with physical discomfort which can be distracting and
causes mistakes for the untrained mind. To better understand this,
think about how easily a simple headache can slow down the average
person.
Unbiased
Observation
In the art world, there is the concept of looking
at a scene and seeing what is really there, visually. Instead of
seeing buildings and rivers and other concepts that we have
preconceived notions about... an artists sees "blue there".
"darker blue there". "grey over there". He sees
the real information that he needs to reproduce the scene on canvas.
A martial artist uses more of the senses in that same objective way. Sound, touch, and sight provide a constant stream of information that a martial artist must absorb and react to without over-thinking. When a situation changes and adjustments are necessary, a martial artist acts without worrying about the change.
Ego Control
Our
egos often lead us to have unrealistic expectations for ourselves.
Unrealistic expectations lead to disappointment with ourselves.
Martial arts training teaches us to "let go" of perceived
failure and look upon it as opportunity. "Mistakes" become
"lessons". Martial artists learn to be comfortable with who
they are and where they are at in their development process. They
learn to strive toward perfection without expecting to achieve it.
Style
There are many martial arts styles in the world. The martial arts are constantly evolving and improving to match current social context. So how do you pick the one that is right for you?
When Style
Doesn't Matter
If you're studying martial arts as a
time-filler or you know you're not serious about it at this time, any
style will do. You can skip to the next chapter. On the other hand,
if you think you could be serious, you should read on to help narrow
the choices.
When Style
Matters
It's quite common for serious martial artists to learn
several styles of martial arts as they fill holes in their
repertoires or when they have specific goals to achieve. Every
martial arts style has liabilities and limitations, depending on the
situation. It's important to choose a style that matches your goals.
Ultimately, you will want to determine how a specific school's style compares to your current needs. Here are some criteria to think about.
Critera for comparing styles:
Usage (sport, street,1on1,group)
Components (strike,kick,throw,ground)
Effective Range (close,medium,long)
Intended Danger (control,maim,kill)
Trained Athleticism (aerobic,stretch,speed,agility)
Internal Skills (balance,rooting,power)
Weapons usage (none,short,medium,long)
Time to (proficiency,mastery)
Is One Style
Better Than Another?
No. Different styles evolved to suit
specific purposes and contexts. The only question that really
matters is “What do I want to learn?”
It might be useful to understand the lineage of the style you're considering. Most styles are derived from one or more prior styles (see Lineage chapter). Understanding the influences and historical context of the style's inception can be helpful in making a choice.