Stereotypes

That must be like the toughest government office to work for in the world, Chief. "Find the biggest guy in the room and take him out."

My office is mostly women, who employ far more subtle and damaging methods to challenge a rival than mere fisticuffs.

Anyway -- New England has so many "quiet warriors" walking around, there is such a big number of quality schools here (and the usual number of bozo schools). You never know who you're really challenging. A few weeks ago I went to the retirement party of a co-worker and one of his friends said something like "now you're going back to the quiet life of a karate teacher, ha ha." Turns out he is a major figure in a well-established system here. You never would know it to look at him.

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"Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san

"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes...

I've never had any problem with people being disrespectful.

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Faith itself, compelled by the Holy Spirit, possesses an inner dynamism that necessitates deeper understanding. ~Thomas Weinandy O.F.M.

I guess it depends on the approach. Another person in my office frequently came around to talk about tai chi with me. He had learned a couple of forms (Yang 108 & the PRC 24 form) from videotapes & had studied theory from books, as he didn't have an instructor nearby. His moves actually weren't bad, considering, and he had a better grasp on theory than I did, so we would talk a lot about different aspects of the forms.

Which is different from someone who just wants to see you bust out a few moves, when you aren't sure what their intent is. Maybe for a sifu it's no problem to say "sure I'll show you" but as a student there's a couple of issues, one is feeling uncomfortable with your level of skill, the other is that many traditional schools frown on students showing techniques to anyone.

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"Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san

"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes...

I liek the "quiet Warriors" idea. There is actually aguy i worked with for 2 years before I found out he has been studying aikido for 18 years. It's a completely different outlook than I am taught, but it's good to chat with him to see how he looks at similar technique

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"When the battle is over, tighten your chin strap." ~Old Japanese Saying
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Hung Gar/Win Chung student

I just smile and keep walking.

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It's all about the nitty gritty.......

I've had people joke around with me a bit in the last several years, but I have yet to be challenged outright. My neighbors can often find me practicing forms in the street in front of my house, so I'm not usually asked to demonstrate anything. They have suggested that I'm more or less the Sergeant at Arms at our homeowner association meetings.

Very occasionally when I am asked to demonstate something, I show the least flashy thing I can think of - usually a simple palm strike in the air (at jaw level), followed by a wrist/hand rotation and ending with the formation of a cup hand. (It's so non-flashy, they think I'm mocking them....and I am). I tell them that, although the move appeared deceptively simple, there was actually a few very dangerous techniques shown. If they don't undestand the technique when I show it the first time, I tell them they have to feel it for themselves the second time. The questions generally stop there.

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Then we can laugh together until I crack a bottle over their head for being stupid enough to pick a fight with somebody they knew nothing about. - CLFSean

I just joke about hong kong fooey... there was a great story in black belt magazine years ago about a welder in peterhead who's colleagues found out he was a black belt and thought they'd test his secret powers - he caught them sneaking up behind him to belt him over the head with an iron bar - expecting him to either move out of the way when his mystic powers warned him to dodge or bend the bar...

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Consider Phlebas, who was once handsome and tall as you
High mountains are a feeling
I don't need to sell my soul, he's already in me

get that a lot the "hey you should have seen that coming or blocked that" and I hate all the what if questions that I get

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"Holy bat farts"
"Just remember there's many kinds of toughness in this world and not all of them involve kicking in someone's teeth to prove a point." SammyGirl Fan Club

“	Originally Posted By: Sammygirl Which is different from someone who just wants to see you bust out a few moves, when you aren't sure what their intent is. Maybe for a sifu it's no problem to say "sure I'll show you" but as a student there's a couple of issues, one is feeling uncomfortable with your level of skill, the other is that many traditional schools frown on students showing techniques to anyone.	”

Its interesting, my sifu says to us sometimes, "You can demonstrate if someone asks. But if you show them, make sure you do it with full intent, no messing around." So basicly, people can see it all, but they have to feel it all as well.

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PlumDragon Herbs: Dit Da Jow and Iron Palm Liniments

"When a handshake passes the elbow, it becomes Judo."

Showing and teaching is different. I think thats very fair. If somone wants to see what Martial arts can do... sow them, with full intent

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"When the battle is over, tighten your chin strap." ~Old Japanese Saying
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Hung Gar/Win Chung student

“	Originally Posted By: PlumDragon Its interesting, my sifu says to us sometimes, "You can demonstrate if someone asks. But if you show them, make sure you do it with full intent, no messing around." So basicly, people can see it all, but they have to feel it all as well.	”

That's pretty similar to us as well. Except we at the very least will leave with an apology.

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It's all about the nitty gritty.......

“	Originally Posted By: HungFamilyFist Showing and teaching is different. I think thats very fair. If somone wants to see what Martial arts can do... sow them, with full intent	”

yeah but i can't really just blast my boss at work for saying something about my training!! although it would be nice some times.......

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"Holy bat farts"
"Just remember there's many kinds of toughness in this world and not all of them involve kicking in someone's teeth to prove a point." SammyGirl Fan Club

It happens all the time once people find out i play martial arts. How i respond depends on the person. I hate the ppl that once they find out you know MA, they want to ask "what would you do, if i did this?"

I usually just say yes i dabble in martial arts, and try to leave it at that. If i show them something, it's usually a simple technique that can work for everyone. I would never do some fancy showoffish type of move eventhough, i know that's what most want to see.


jeff

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History will be kind to me for I intend to write it ~ Sir Winston Churchill

“	Originally Posted By: Jeff C. I hate the ppl that once they find out you know MA, they want to ask "what would you do, if i did this?" jeff	”

That's where the line.... "hold on, why don't you try it"... comes in handy.

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It's all about the nitty gritty.......

“	Originally Posted By: jawsman That's where the line.... "hold on, why don't you try it"... comes in handy.	”

:::sigh:::

But they never do......

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Then we can laugh together until I crack a bottle over their head for being stupid enough to pick a fight with somebody they knew nothing about. - CLFSean