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Master at Arms Badge for Boy Scouts (1925) [pdf]

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Re: Master at Arms Badge for Boy Scouts (1925) [pdf]

#91

Post by makeitdouble »

mistrial9 wrote: post #57
jvanderbot wrote: post #48

I really love this. I am a firm believer in everyone studying _some_ martial art (player's choice). For the following reasons: - It teaches an insane amount of respect when two people have to hold themselves back to practice - It teaches self-discipline, mostly in the long-forgotten art of keeping yourself from becoming so angry you cannot function with form. - It gives a crazy amount of confidence to know you are at…

not sure how anyone can recommend boxing now ; all those interactions require the right social environment, things can go wrong quickly. I reflect on learning about places in the USA where they take wrestling seriously, which at the time seemed like low-income, blue collar sort of places.. but now I realize that the social interaction between men there was rugged, but they had norms and ways to regain equilibrium. Me…

> Meanwhile multi-cultural urban school, really a bad idea to have regular and repeated situations where students strike others, IMHO.

I see it as a chicken and egg problem.

It can be hard to manage situations where people from different background and culture have to intensely interact with each other, especially as they are pushed to their limits. But it is also by having multi-cultural people regularly interact with each others that you help improve their relations and make these situations better.

If it seems hard to enter the cycle, a smaller first step to have the kids get used to be around each other could help.

Re: Master at Arms Badge for Boy Scouts (1925) [pdf]

#92

Post by throwanem »

kiernanmcgowan wrote: post #15

I'm just thinking back to my time in scouting and can only imagine what it would be like to teach a bunch of 14-16 y/os the 1920s equivalent of MMA. Probably about 30min of fun until kids just start hitting each other as hard as they can with sticks. Still sounds more fun than the basket weaving merit badge though.

> Probably about 30min of fun until kids just start hitting each other as hard as they can with sticks.

BB gun fights were a regular feature of childhood where and when I grew up. I never took part myself - my mom had already instructed me in the correct use, care, and safe handling of actual firearms, for one thing, and for another I knew she'd take my own Daisy air gun away if she heard of me doing anything so foolish - but lots of kids I knew did, and regularly had the injuries to prove it. Their folks never fussed so far as I knew.

That was in the late 80s and early 90s. So I feel like in the 1920s kids hitting each other with sticks is going to be about 50% "builds character," and the balance "well, it'll help get them ready for the next war".

Re: Master at Arms Badge for Boy Scouts (1925) [pdf]

#93

Post by jessaustin »

eric4smith wrote: post #90

I got the badge for knots, hiking and camping. 45 years later I can still mess with some of those knots! Boy Scouts we’re awesome. Pity in the USA they are a little under attack now.

Perhaps the greater pity is that they have sheltered child molesters for decades?

Re: Master at Arms Badge for Boy Scouts (1925) [pdf]

#94

Post by Isamu »

jvanderbot wrote: post #48

I really love this. I am a firm believer in everyone studying _some_ martial art (player's choice). For the following reasons: - It teaches an insane amount of respect when two people have to hold themselves back to practice - It teaches self-discipline, mostly in the long-forgotten art of keeping yourself from becoming so angry you cannot function with form. - It gives a crazy amount of confidence to know you are at…

Does anybody have a recommendation for learning two-handed longsword technique?

Not that I made my daughters full size wooden practice claymores or anything. I’m asking for a friend.

Re: Master at Arms Badge for Boy Scouts (1925) [pdf]

#95

Post by pmoriarty »

amalcon wrote: post #77
throwawayboise wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I could support kids learning boxing if it was limited to body blows. With what we are learning about concussion, it seems to be more and more understood that blows to the head are never OK. Maybe you still need to teach defense against head blows, but they should probably not be allowed in competition. Getting battered in the head until you cannot stand up or respond should be right out.

There are martial arts where even in competition, concussion is relatively rare. E.g. grappling sports like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu don't usually involve impacts of that intensity, to the head or otherwise.

BJJ has another problem -- at least for little kids who are taught to choke. That could lead to death if they try applying the skill they learned in an unsupervised setting.

Re: Master at Arms Badge for Boy Scouts (1925) [pdf]

#96

Post by kiernanmcgowan »

EVdotIO wrote: post #42
kiernanmcgowan wrote: post #15

I'm just thinking back to my time in scouting and can only imagine what it would be like to teach a bunch of 14-16 y/os the 1920s equivalent of MMA. Probably about 30min of fun until kids just start hitting each other as hard as they can with sticks. Still sounds more fun than the basket weaving merit badge though.

Hey, basket weaving and leather work were super fun, and I have all cool ones like shotgun, archery and rifle. The most boring are probably your citizenship badges. Don't knock it till you try it.

Oh I have the leather working merit badge, I loved it! The particulars of how to work with hide and stamp it was a neat arts-and-crafts activity that I hadn't realized.

Basket weaving was considered the slacker badge (for my troop at least) to work on during summer camp because it had 2 requirements and it generally took a day to complete. I was more interested in rock climbing / canoeing / forestry etc - we're in the wood for a week, why waste it?

Re: Master at Arms Badge for Boy Scouts (1925) [pdf]

#97

Post by bradknowles »

Isamu wrote: post #94
jvanderbot wrote: post #48

I really love this. I am a firm believer in everyone studying _some_ martial art (player's choice). For the following reasons: - It teaches an insane amount of respect when two people have to hold themselves back to practice - It teaches self-discipline, mostly in the long-forgotten art of keeping yourself from becoming so angry you cannot function with form. - It gives a crazy amount of confidence to know you are at…

Does anybody have a recommendation for learning two-handed longsword technique? Not that I made my daughters full size wooden practice claymores or anything. I’m asking for a friend.

The Society for Creative Anachronism is one option, but you'd have to find someone willing to teach youngsters about heavy weapons combat.

There are other heavy weapons martial artist organizations out there. Jill Bearup (on YouTube) is a stage combat person, but she's also had contact with people who do martial arts in the space.

Of course, if you want to learn Japanese style sword combat, go down to your local Kendo Dojo.

Re: Master at Arms Badge for Boy Scouts (1925) [pdf]

#98

Post by bradknowles »

amalcon wrote: post #77
throwawayboise wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I could support kids learning boxing if it was limited to body blows. With what we are learning about concussion, it seems to be more and more understood that blows to the head are never OK. Maybe you still need to teach defense against head blows, but they should probably not be allowed in competition. Getting battered in the head until you cannot stand up or respond should be right out.

There are martial arts where even in competition, concussion is relatively rare. E.g. grappling sports like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu don't usually involve impacts of that intensity, to the head or otherwise.

Just wait until you get thrown to the ground by a 350lb black belt Judoka.

And the Gracie school seems to specialize in choking. Which might be unwise with certain candidates.

Re: Master at Arms Badge for Boy Scouts (1925) [pdf]

#99

Post by SapporoChris »

jvanderbot wrote: post #48

I really love this. I am a firm believer in everyone studying _some_ martial art (player's choice). For the following reasons: - It teaches an insane amount of respect when two people have to hold themselves back to practice - It teaches self-discipline, mostly in the long-forgotten art of keeping yourself from becoming so angry you cannot function with form. - It gives a crazy amount of confidence to know you are at…

I can't disagree, but I offer I hope an amusing counterpoint I heard from my uncle. It was Korean war or earlier and during basic training they were learning bayonet fighting. One soldier protested and said he did not need to learn bayonet fighting as a knife wound to the ass is not fatal.

My counterpoint being, it's good to know the skills but avoidance when possible is best.

Re: Master at Arms Badge for Boy Scouts (1925) [pdf]

#100

Post by jvanderbot »

mistrial9 wrote: post #57
jvanderbot wrote: post #48

I really love this. I am a firm believer in everyone studying _some_ martial art (player's choice). For the following reasons: - It teaches an insane amount of respect when two people have to hold themselves back to practice - It teaches self-discipline, mostly in the long-forgotten art of keeping yourself from becoming so angry you cannot function with form. - It gives a crazy amount of confidence to know you are at…

not sure how anyone can recommend boxing now ; all those interactions require the right social environment, things can go wrong quickly. I reflect on learning about places in the USA where they take wrestling seriously, which at the time seemed like low-income, blue collar sort of places.. but now I realize that the social interaction between men there was rugged, but they had norms and ways to regain equilibrium. Me…

This is not written from a place of experience, i think.

Boxing is a perfectly fine sport, with reputable, kid-friendly gyms all over. My favorite gym, where I trained for years, had an after-school program for kids, in fact.

And I always take the opportunity to dispel a common misconception: You can study boxing your whole life and never have anyone throw a real punch at you, or strike you violently. Just like you can study karate your whole life, and never have to kick anyone in the head. You should look up videos of boxing training techniques (not sparring) and see what it's all about.

Technique, conditioning, mental preparation, combos, footwork are what you learn. Sparring is for those who want to compete.

Honestly, why do people still believe this? Movies?

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