Is there a particular reason why you've called me buttercup and dearie? Did I offend you? If I did, I'm sorry, I'm just trying to explore a particular mindset with other people.

Well, that's not quite true either. Martial arts have been developed as forms of physical education, as entertainments (which may involve fighting), for religious and cultural reasons, etc. In the end, you're just making the same error. You think there is some essence to the martial arts that you are pursuing and that other people are not...thus, they should stop pursuing martial arts in their own way because you're better.

Let me rephrase the question. Why would I decide to start training in martial arts if my goals are not to learn fighting? What would the motivations be to choose martial arts over other activities if my goal is not to become good at fighting?

Let me rephrase the question. Why would I decide to start training in martial arts if my goals are not to learn fighting? What would the motivations be to choose martial arts over other activities if my goal is not to become good at fighting?

Although this has already been addressed, I will state it again for the record:
A wide array of benefits other than fighting capability are conferred in unique ways through study of the martial arts.

You stated it yourself martial arts are a tool used to teach a mindset. That's it. You already knew this but your perspective as Rivington is so bluntly pointing out to you is keeping you from realizing this.

Essentially what you are saying is that since some people are inferior to others they should not strive to achieve things that they are incapable of doing. In other words "Know your place, boy."

Every instructor on here has a story about the person who came in to the dojo tripping over their own two feet but after only 10 years of training became one of the most technically proficient students that they ever trained.

So who wasted 10 years?

Although this has already been addressed, I will state it again for the record:
A wide array of benefits other than fighting capability are conferred in unique ways through study of the martial arts.
I understand that, but why would I choose martial arts training OVER another activity if that activity can confer on me benefits more efficiently and without having to deal with doing things I don't want to do.

Do you train in a gi based style like BJJ or Judo? If so why do you make sure the ends of you belt is even? If not I will tell you.

You stated it yourself martial arts are a tool used to teach a mindset. That's it. You already knew this but your perspective as Rivington is so bluntly pointing out to you is keeping you from realizing this.
You're right, they do teach a mindset, but the main point there was how they teach it. And they teach it through teaching fighting. That's what the second sentence of that paragraph was about.


Essentially what you are saying is that since some people are inferior to others they should not strive to achieve things that they are incapable of doing. In other words "Know your place, boy."
That's not at all what I'm saying. Everyone has the right to be bad at something, I'm bad at martial arts myself. But I'm training in martial arts because I want to learn hand to hand fighting. I would never try to put someone down in terms of skill. I'm questioning end goals and motivation, not whether someone is good or bad at something.


Every instructor on here has a story about the person who came in to the dojo tripping over their own two feet but after only 10 years of training became one of the most technically proficient students that they ever trained.

So who wasted 10 years?

I'm not sure yet. That's why I started this thread.

Do you train in a gi based style like BJJ or Judo? If so why do you make sure the ends of you belt is even? If not I will tell you.
I train in a gi based jiujitsu style, yes. I don't know why the belt ends have to be even, but I'd like to know. I try to keep them even because I have a mild form of OCD.

I'd like to hear Coach Josh's explanation on the even ends of the belt, too.

So the skills that the military gets from martial arts training develops a mindset that will allow the soldier to better perform his duties. The physical skills that he learns do not apply to shooting a gun or planning a raid. The soldier develops a greater mental focus from training in martial arts.

Would not the average person benefit from the same type of training? Could training in martial arts help me be better at my job of teaching drafting and electronics? Could the combination of physical exercise and active problem solving make me better at handling different situations that may arise in my life?

You tie your belt evenly to symbolize the balance between the mind and the body. Without the mental progression in martial arts the true purpose will be left out which is the development of both the mind and the body. You are out of balance because you are just dealing with the physical aspects of training and not the mental.

“Once you've wrestled, everything else in life is easy.”

Dan Gable

So the skills that the military gets from martial arts training develops a mindset that will allow the soldier to better perform his duties. The physical skills that he learns do not apply to shooting a gun or planning a raid. The soldier develops a greater mental focus from training in martial arts.
How does training martial arts to develop a warrior spirit develop focus? And why can't that kind of focus training be developed through playing chess for example? Much more time is spent developing focus on problem solving there than when doing pushups or learning how to punch someone. I would think.


Would not the average person benefit from the same type of training? Could training in martial arts help me be better at my job of teaching drafting and electronics? Could the combination of physical exercise and active problem solving make me better at handling different situations that may arise in my life?
I would think that teaching drafting and electronics would help you be better at that job. To me "active problem solving" is a very general term and I would think that finding solutions to problems is directly related to the time spent with the problems you want to solve.

To a certain extent, the thinking that prompted this thread is related to me having recently read papers about "directed practice".


You tie your belt evenly to symbolize the balance between the mind and the body. Without the mental progression in martial arts the true purpose will be left out which is the development of both the mind and the body. You are out of balance because you are just dealing with the physical aspects of training and not the mental.
Where is this from just out of curiousity?

How does training martial arts to develop a warrior spirit develop focus? And why can't that kind of focus training be developed through playing chess for example? Much more time is spent developing focus on problem solving there than when doing pushups or learning how to punch someone. I would think.

None of the activities that you have mentioned require you to think and exert yourself at the same time. Martial arts requires both, well any competitive sport for that matter. Funny you say this the best chess player in the world does BJJ with Marcelo Garcia. **** someone name that book about that talks about that I think Mav should read it.



I would think that teaching drafting and electronics would help you be better at that job. To me "active problem solving" is a very general term and I would think that finding solutions to problems is directly related to the time spent with the problems you want to solve.

Problem solving on any facet will make you better at problem solving. Because I am problem solving while I am being attacked and under physical exertion while doing martial arts how do you think I will handle a problem when I am sitting at my desk in the AC? How will I handle a problem at work when my boss is on my ass and it needs to get fixed now and the pressure is on and everyone is depending on me?

How would you train that scenario for specifically your job? You can't but by training in martial arts you can handle the pressure better than most because you know what it feels like to be under pressure.


To a certain extent, the thinking that prompted this thread is related to me having recently read papers about "directed practice".
Would have to see them to comment.


Where is this from just out of curiousity?

The belt tying thing I have been told that by virtually every instructor in TKD Judo and BJJ

Fighter's Mind (http://www.amazon.com/Fighters-Mind-Inside-Mental-Game/dp/0802119352)

Fighter's Mind (http://www.amazon.com/Fighters-Mind-Inside-Mental-Game/dp/0802119352)
I want to think on what you said in the previous post before I reply. But that book reminds me of another book that's on my list right now, The Inner Game (http://www.amazon.com/Inner-Game-Tennis-Classic-Performance/dp/0679778314/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1305133772&sr=1-1).

Would have to see them to comment.

The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance
http://projects.ict.usc.edu/itw/gel/EricssonDeliberatePracticePR93.pdf

The Role of Deliberate Practice in Chess Expertise
http://centauri.erin.utoronto.ca/uploads/tx_researcherprofile/TheRoleOfDeliberatePracticeInChessExpertise2005.pd f