I’ll never have the cathartic moment I was dreaming about when I was a teenager where I learn martial arts and get to beat the crap out of some massive asshole who totally deserves it and everyone in the room would agree. I did the hard part of learning martial arts but I’m just not hot-headed enough to fight someone anymore. I resolve conflicts with words and any time I’ve had to defend myself, I’ve just kind of been able to separate myself from the initiator without really hurting anybody and they gave up once they didn’t have a hold of me. There aren’t many realistic scenarios where I have absolutely no choice but to hurt someone, and I can see those scenarios ahead of time and avoid them anyway.
As someone who has only been training for a couple years, that’s the point, no? Martial Arts is a self defense. The first lesson is always de-escalation and then removing yourself from the situation.
I’ll never have the cathartic moment I was dreaming about when I was a teenager where I learn martial arts and get to beat the crap out of some massive asshole who totally deserves it and everyone in the room would agree. I did the hard part of learning martial arts but I’m just not hot-headed enough to fight someone anymore. I resolve conflicts with words and any time I’ve had to defend myself, I’ve just kind of been able to separate myself from the initiator without really hurting anybody and they gave up once they didn’t have a hold of me. There aren’t many realistic scenarios where I have absolutely no choice but to hurt someone, and I can see those scenarios ahead of time and avoid them anyway.
As someone who has only been training for a couple years, that’s the point, no? Martial Arts is a self defense. The first lesson is always de-escalation and then removing yourself from the situation.
Yeah, it is. That’s why I felt it was an appropriate response to the question. Because I hate to admit that it still bothers me.