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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Drakmar" data-source="post: 695124" data-attributes="member: 1318">Interesting.  Lannon, would you be able to see if you can find statistics on "Fights involving Martial Artists" and statistics on "Fights that don't involve Martial Artists".  That would be quite an interesting statistic to know.  I don't know what the results would be... but my guess from my life experiences, there will probably be more fights out there involving people who haven't studied any martial art.I do agree with some of your points.  It is possible to find alternate forms of exercise, or mental exercises suitable for your own version of mediation.As for the Musahsi story.. I agree with you and your interpretation of the story.  However..... In my mind that just means that if you study Martial Arts, you must be concious of your humanity.   And.. the lesson I learnt from it when I first heard it was different.When I was in high school I had been studying Tae Kwon Do as well as a small amount of Hung Gar and Aikido.  I had also done some amateur wrestling.  Most of this had been done at a private school.  A single sex private school.  So much testosterone in the air you could almost feel the potential violence.  As someone who has been raised to believe that violence against another is completely unacceptable except in dire circumstances, I found it very stressful.  I was an Angry Young Man.. however, the ONLY place I could release this violent anger was during my Martial Arts classes.  There, it was acceptable to do so. That is not to say that I ran around beating the bejesus out of people.  Now, when I changed high schools, to a co-ed public school in year 11, I changd dramatically.  I no longer had that anger.  I gained the nickname of "Hippie" because I grew my hair long, and wore a peace symbol.  (I am 26).  However, this bugged one of the Seniors.. A 6'5" bully, who was a junior kickboxing champion.  I knew this.  He knew it.  He was one of those buff people with all de muscles.So.. when he tried to provoke me to a fight.. All I did, was take a deep breath and try to promote an "aura" of peace.  I had a neutral and peaceful face.  You know what his reaction was?  He back down and left.  Never had any problems with him.Now.. you might say that this is a good example of why you don't need a martial art.  Why a non-violent approach can work.  I definately agree with you.  But.  I learnt this ability to control my fear and emotions from Martial Arts.Mind you..  At the same time my little story does highlight a bully who was a Martial Artist.  Yup.  But.. at the private school, almost none of the bullies studied a martial art.Now.. about 10 years latter.. I have just gotten serious with my training.  I am training everyday.  I don't study Hung Gar, to become a Great And Mighty Warrior.  I don't study it because I want to defend myself in a fight.  I study it because I like the feel of the exercises.  I like focusing my mind into my body.  It is my meditation and my exercise.Weights.. bores me.  So does running.. and a whole slew of other "non-violent" activities.I like couple dancing though.. that's fun. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" /> So.  In my mind, I don't believe that Martial Arts promote violence.  I believe that society, and media, promote violence ( you should watch Bowling for Columbine sometime).  And I don't consider them to be a waste of time.You get out what you put in.  I don't focus on violence.Now.  Whether or not you have been trolling, doesn't really matter.  For me, I have known what I have just written for about 5 years.  This thread may assist others in achieving something similar.  There is always a use for a Devil's Advocate.</blockquote>

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