31–40 of 112 posts
As a side note, having watched all 3 seasons of Kobra Kai, I find it amazing that in all 3 seasons they only managed to pronounce the word "karate" less than 5 times. Making a movie/TV show about something you cannot even say right
"Kawatee"...
"In a Western-style sport, the aim is gaining victory at all costs,” This statement most resonated with me. I had to give up playing hockey because - at the lowest grade - people paid no respect to you. If they could kick the ball and the ref didn't see it, they would continue play. If they could hit the ball hard at you from point blank, that is fine. You see similar in elite sport, players in "football" of whatever…
I think the west may put a lot less emphasis on competing honorably or whatever. But playing fair is still morally better than not. E.g. people get viewed negatively for real cheating in pro sports (steroids, the "Cheatriots"). In some sports, however, the ref and what they catch is just part of the game.
The tolerance of cheating/bending-rules as a general cultural issue is very interesting though. Generally ethical behavior is sort of a luxury, which is harder to maintain as it goes against one's economic benefit. Japan seems like something of an outlier in that regard.
I think there is an interesting YouTube series up by Jesse enkamp who kind of builds the theory that karate was more of a grappling martial arts but kind of got turned into a boxing sport when the Japanese adapted it from Okinawa. They already had Jiu-Jitsu and were kind of looking for another martial art akin to boxing. Basically Jesse visits China, finds people showing him Kung fu katas that resemble goju ryu katas…
That's because you can't have people permanently maiming each other during "friendly practice". If the village parents send their kids to the local monastery (or school, or wherever) for "training" and they come back with broken bones or just one of two eyes, they'll be rightfully very angry with the teachers of that martial art.
Hence, over time, every martial art accumulates restrictions, formalities, and the standard moves become just the safe ones. Grapples, deflections, etc...
A true "martial" art, the type optimised for maximising your chance at winning a fight to the death, cannot be taught safely in classes. Eventually people will get hurt. That's... the point!
People bringing up MMA are missing this: Even MMA has rules, and lots of them. If it was truly unlimited, very few people would escape without permanent, ruinous injuries.
What girls are told in self-defence classes is this: Go for the eyes, throat, and nose. Kick your opponent in the shins as hard as you possibly can. Knee men in the balls with full force.
If you did any of that even once in any formal training or competition, you'd likely be kicked out.
> “There are Western fantasies about every martial art,” explains Sánchez-García. “Karate is laden with mysticism and stories about secret cults, which are part of the stereotypical vision of ‘the Oriental.’ Films, in particular, spin fantasies of superhuman heroes, an 80-year-old man who can defeat ten assailants with his bare hands.” This "expert" seems to think that Westerners invented wuxia.
"There are Western fantasies about every martial art" doesn't mean "There are only Western fantasies about every martial art".
> “There are Western fantasies about every martial art,” explains Sánchez-García. “Karate is laden with mysticism and stories about secret cults, which are part of the stereotypical vision of ‘the Oriental.’ Films, in particular, spin fantasies of superhuman heroes, an 80-year-old man who can defeat ten assailants with his bare hands.” This "expert" seems to think that Westerners invented wuxia.
How so? "There are Western fantasies about every martial art" doesn't mean "There are only Western fantasies about every martial art".
A general observation that explains a lot about most martial arts is that over time they all become "watered down" to mere exercise or a strange stylised dancing. That's because you can't have people permanently maiming each other during "friendly practice". If the village parents send their kids to the local monastery (or school, or wherever) for "training" and they come back with broken bones or just one of two eye…
And in reality, many do.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
It is the confidence in being able to defend oneself that leads one to avoid having fights intitiated with them by virtue of how they comport themselves in a relaxed unthreatened manner. To top it off, training in something like muay thai will get the kid a great headstart on leading a fit lifestyle. Never done an aerobic activity more tiring or sweat inducing.
Ah yes I forgot Muay Thai… that’s the real deal for sure.
Only adding a specific one from my experience.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
How so? "There are Western fantasies about every martial art" doesn't mean "There are only Western fantasies about every martial art".
Is it a "Western stereotype of the Oriental" if it's also been part of Chinese culture since time immemorial?