Stereotypes

One day, after kung fu clas, I stopped off at the Salvation Army to drop some donations off. Upon seeing my uniform, one of the truck loaders asked me to show him some moves. He excitedly wanted to see fancy kicks and I was sort of standing there like a deer in headlights, not sure what to show him. I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this or had any sort of stereotypes (both positive and negative) placed on them once someone finds out they study kung fu. For instance, people at work always joke that I can kick anyone's butt because I study kung fu, but I'd hate to ever be placed in a position where I needed to prove them right.

I get some of that from my frat, light-hearted jokes about me being the frat bouncer and enforcer. Nothing serious though, it's all in good fun. Sometimes I've been asked to demonstrate something, but it's not like I know anything particularly flashy or impressive either. I usually just shrug and tell them anything I could show them wouldn't be anything special to look at. Unless they volunteer to "assist" me in a throw or joint lock. Sadly, that only works once . . .

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Always fear the man with nothing to lose
- J

I try to defuse a lot of that with humor. Some of my co-workers know I do martial arts, because of my coming in looking tired with bruised knuckles & because I usually ask for time off around Chinese new year. So if I'm asked I usually go "yeah, I'm an expert in Judooooo CHOP!" and just joke a little about it. Or I'll say I mainly do it for fitness, and if they say "Oh, like Tae Bo," I leave it at that and they usually don't ask more.

I don't do moves or throw techniques even in jest, I'm just uncomfortable doing that.

In Boston you'll rarely see kung fu people running around in their uniforms (except during special events, jumping into their car to go home sometimes, that's it). Honeybunny explained that it's easy to get challenged by "idiots" if you're walking around Chinatown wearing a school shirt. Not so much from rival martial arts schools these days, just the generic street idiot.

It's different in Orlando, I used to go straight from the school to the supermarket in my uniform, then home. Every once in awhile I had to field a question or get a request to "do some kung fu" like above. If they want to see moves I just tell a joke instead. And invite them to come by the school to watch a class and see "the good stuff."

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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...

Yes, I just laugh and invite them to view or try a class.

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I was at a freinds house a few months ago, and was sitting at a table with my chin resting in my palms. My freind flicked his hand at my face without warning, and just tapped my nose. I didn't move. So he says 'Where's your super kung fu skills there?"

The only way I could reply was "It's not magic".

Another freind was amazed when I told her that what I study is more scientific than anythign else. It teachees you to break down the human body in the most efficient way while exherting the least amount of energy possible.

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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 get up in everyones hostile little face and tell them:
Yes these are bruises from fighting. Yes I am ok with that. I...am enlightened.

Actually, I dont try to explain to people at work what I do. They just assume its not even worth trying to ask me when they see me stroll into the office with a duffle bag and a pair of Kali sticks. Although...the one person that was interested enough to actually inquire seriously about it is now a student of mine.

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PlumDragon Herbs: Dit Da Jow and Iron Palm Liniments

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

For a long time I would just go ahead and kill them, now not a lot of people talk to me anymore

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You are not where you have been and you are not where you are going you are only here.

“	Originally Posted By: aqira For a long time I would just go ahead and kill them, now not a lot of people talk to me anymore	”

lol.

it came to me pretty quickly that noone really wanted to hear what I had to say abotu KF when I started it. So now I don't even talk about itunless somone askes me. Now that I think about it, if that perpetuates the mystique of martial arts, then thats an advantage I have over the people who think it's voodoo magic.

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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

Just smile and say I be glad to show you but you will have to come a little closer.

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Blessed be the lord my strength which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight ...Psalms 144.1

I normally invite them to come along to a class.... ....then sweep their legs (not really)

It is hard to think of a way to show off, i suppose the easiest way is to do your best looking form, but often you need to be warmed up for that/dont have enough space etc

I often get asked questions and to demonstrate etc. I am happy to oblige, I enjoy talking about Wing Chun and the Karate/ Judo etc I have learned over the years.
WC is great to talk about because it is so tactile and doesn't really involve any big, flashy moves. I think most people who know me think I am some kind of lethal weapon, it doesn't really bother me but I think because I train, I know soooooo many people who are soooooooo much better than me I find it amusing. I agree with what's coming across in this thread- that the general public at large tend to think training an MA automatically makes you Bruce Lee and many revel in that kudos (unfortunately). I think if you are a true martial artist you understand how vast the world of MA is and how hard it is to achieve any level of proficiency- let alone mastery.

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

“	Originally Posted By: aqira For a long time I would just go ahead and kill them, now not a lot of people talk to me anymore	”

yeah...
the best thing is that people know not to mess with ya...

I found that hitting huge metal objects that make a lotta noise will keep the mortals away as well...
that and occasional breaking a door half by closing it by a gentle kick works great for me

as long as you keep 'em frightened they won't bother you....

“	Originally Posted By: green_tea I'd hate to ever be placed in a position where I needed to prove them right.	”

my closest co-worker thinks it's funny to challenge everyone that we meet
well...
she tells them I can kick their butts
and she can go on and on about that 'till someone gets angry/ upset about that (women can do that to you...)
i only had to take on the biggest baddest strongest guy in the building once tho...

after that people just tell her "yeah... I know" and they hide under their desks again...

Chief108

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“	Question Authority. Question Society. Question Reality. Question Yourself. Question your conclusions, your judgments, your answers. Question this. If you question everything thoroughly enough, the truth will eventually hit you upside the head and you will know. But here’s a warning: It won’t be what you imagined. It won’t be even close.	”

all hail Martyr Fakka

My boss calls me a ninja and all kinds of crap.

Similar to someone above, he hit me on the head with a pen and went "Where was your ninja skills then???" Lets be honest, I hardly saw it as threatening did I, so why react.

If someone asks me to show them something, I will do. Normally with judo people are impressed by the fact that you do not do any lifting what so ever. The amount of strength required is negligable also, and this is both intriguing and frightening!

Craig

FF, that is about as perfect an expression of how I feel as I have found.

I have a freind who is always trying to test me too. I think he thinks he's doing me a favor. Every once and While he'll start throwing punches at me. Never really gets me any more.

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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 don't show off, I think it's stupid
I'm not a circus monkey that performs a trick when someone asks for it

also at work I've had a$$es that wanted to kick and punch me by surprise or do some kinda powergame to "test my skills"
they won't do that again, nor will others....

as I said before, you just gotta hurt one or two of biggest/ baddest/ strongest dudes around and you'll be fine

it's an agreement done in silence
I don't talk about MA and they don't ask.

simple

Chief108

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“	Question Authority. Question Society. Question Reality. Question Yourself. Question your conclusions, your judgments, your answers. Question this. If you question everything thoroughly enough, the truth will eventually hit you upside the head and you will know. But here’s a warning: It won’t be what you imagined. It won’t be even close.	”

all hail Martyr Fakka