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I am Martial Arts by Sensei J. Richard Kirkham B.Sc.

Whether you're a martial artist, self-defense practitioner or mma fighter, this has to sound like a very egotistical statement, but read on with my explanation and find out if you too are martial arts....

Tags: street fighting, martial arts, self-defense, self-defence, mental training, stress training,fighting strategies,mma

http://martialarts808.com/index.php/topic,193.msg275.html#msg275
If you're already on this martial arts instruction, sharing and comments page there's no reason to click the above link, but please copy the link through the title and email it to your friends. You may also copy the entire article WITH my courtesy link at the end for my work. Otherwise this is a copyright violation.


Didn't You Mean to State You're a Martial Artist?

No I didn't, hopefully a reader will have a better term for what I'm trying to explain. I welcome explanations better that stating I am martial arts. I can already see the monitor martial artists stopping their reading of this article right now as they do with self-defense videos so they may immediately boast their opinion without stopping to figure out what I am trying to say.

What Ifs

This answer may vary among martial arts instructors, but when someone asks you,

“What do you do if...?”

Let's say against a right cross. If you immediately verbalize exactly the techniques you would do as your self-defense instructors words flash into your head you are a martial artist, but you are not martial arts.

If on the other hand, you honestly reply,

“I don't know”, shrug your shoulders and say, “do it let's find out.”

You are martial arts, not just a martial artist. So if you're too stupid to verbalize an answer then you're martial arts? No, I'm stating if you don't know what you are going to do until the threat is perceived whether real or practiced, you are martial arts.

State of Awareness

Do you walk around, slightly tense and at the ready in case of an attack? Consciously scanning the area for the slightest hint of danger? Then you may be a good martial artist or self-defense practitioner, but you are not martial arts.

If, however, this state of awareness is done subconsciously, without thought. When a threat is perceived your awareness and senses heighten and your muscles relax as your adrenaline kicks in, making you a very dangerous individual. You are martial arts.

What is Kung-fu

As I was explaining to a kung-fu instructor friend of mine my concept, I asked him,

“If someone asks you to demonstrate kung-fu, what do you do?”

He then shook his wrist and said,

“That is kung-fu”

I then asked him,

“And what do you say when they ask for a further explanation?”

My friend said he tells them,

“If you don't know what that is, you won't know what kung-fu is.”

When Do You Use Martial Arts?

Now, stop and think about this. If you answered,

“In a street fight”
“In a martial arts tournament”
“Twice a week at the dojo”

You are a martial artist, but you are not martial arts.

If you answered,

“Everyday with everything I do”

You are martial arts.

Now Are You Getting It?

A martial artist practices the martial arts and separates everyday life from his/her martial arts practice. Someone who becomes martial arts assimilates it as part of his/her everyday life.

So Once We Are Martial Arts, Do We Stop Learning?

Absolutely not! Our lessons are not just in the martial arts or self-defense school however, we can learn our lessons in all parts of our lives.

It's in our lives in business
It's in our social lives
It's in our pursuit of love
It's in the way we raise our families

Conclusion

It's not just when a punch becomes just a punch. It's when our lives both inside and outside martial arts training become one. It's simply a part of us and we wouldn't have the slightest idea what we would do if we didn't have the martial arts. If we weren't martial arts. If you enjoyed this article, please check out my book and video, “Bringing The Martial Artist Out from Within” http://MartialArts808.com/FightingTechniques/

About The Author

Sensei J. Richard Kirkham began martial arts training 1973. He is a dual certified teacher, expert in behavior modification and has spent years studying the fear factor in relation to self-defense and martial arts.

He's the author of Bringing The Martial Artist Out from Within with it's Full Bonus Video Over Coming Fear and Self-Defense http://martialarts808.com/FightingTechniques/

You may post this article in its entirety including the About The Author Section

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Most folks would answer the statement with  their typical  self defense explanation and "in theory" I'm quite sure if they practice  enough,  they may be able to reproduce "exactly" as they state, their style of  self  defenses answer to most any attack. "In theory'" all things work but in  reality.......well there the truth lies. In our studio we say that a  "willing  participant" is great. In reality it rarely works totally like the  techniques  depict they will work because no human being reacts the same. So, my  answer is  always," I have a rough idea of how I would defend but you don't know  until that  moment that which you would really do. I actually had a gentleman throw a  punch  at me when I was on my delivery route. The goof ball stood between me  and the  side of my truck. Without thinking, I threw up an extended outward  hooking parry  and held his wrist with my left hand and with my right, did an eagles  claw to  his "Adams apple" and pressed him up against the truck. Not enough to  hurt him.  I told him at that time the first lesson was free but the next one I  would have  to charge him $60.00. I asked him if he wouldn't rather come to our  studio and  get some proper lessons instead of the street version but we teach both.  I told  him either way, we teach respect, self respect and attitude adjustment. I then   asked him if maybe he would like to pick what's behind door number three  and opt  for attitude adjustment. He said if I take my hand off his throat he  would  strongly consider it. I just told him, "good choice" and slowly removed  my hand.  I then slowly backed away and he left cursing me. All I could do was  chuckle. I  really couldn't help that part. I kept thinking about all of the things I  had  learned over the years and it came down to a block. Who knew! The point  made  after this long winded example is you just don't really know what you  will do  until that given moment. I had no idea he would throw that punch other  that he  was getting a bit irate. He came up to me while I was taking off my load  for  that particular delivery. I work for the City of Long Beach and this  person  clearly did not like City of Long Beach employees. He gave me no  "pre-signals"  he would throw a punch. He did say something "smart" to me so I gave him  a smart  answer back. He asked me if I was being a smart ass and I said, "No sir,  but you  have to admit. It's much better than being a dumb ass." He then asked me  if I  was calling him a dumb ass and I told him of course not. I just said it  was  better than being one. For some reason he took offense at that but it  wouldn't  have mattered what I said and that was basically the only clue I had.  What would  I do if someone throws a punch at me......I honestly don't know until  the moment  it happens. It is then you react with control. That sir is "only my  opinion"  right or wrong but that is how I see it. I have practiced many hours on  my  techniques, with "willing participants" and imaginary opponents but the  best  thing is to just stay aware of what's happening around you. You don't  have to  walk around like your next moment you will have to fight 26 bad asses.  Just  stay aware!