The way we act? What the...

[Martial Cartoonist]

Yeah... right.

I just get back here, and the first thing I see is somebody saying "this isn't the way martial artists should act."

Is there a particular way we SHOULD act, just because we study MA?

I personally don't think so. There are all types of people in MA, from the sportsman to the asshole, from the wise-and-grey old fella who likes to throw you a mile to the hardass ex-military guy who was really just an extra in Rambo III.

I just needed to rant (lightly) and get it off my chest.

My skill with a sword is formidable. My skill with the s-word is flat-out lethal.

[kusa]

all the decent ma i know act responsibly, have maturity, arnt showoffs, dont take things too seriously, have a sense of humour and have normally been in quite a few dodgy situations, normally avoid fights if they can, and if they cant throw down hard and fast.

[Wu De]

Well, there is supposed to be a certain code that martial artists follow, take Chinese styles for example, we're supposed to follow the 4 laws of the Wu De. Much like the tenets of TKD, the Budo for the Japanese stylists etc...

I just generally try and follow the laws, i think hanging out with Monks has helped with it.

By the way, Martial Cartoonist, i love your cartoons, keep up the great work!

[Dr_Santo]

MARTIAL:

adj 1: (of persons) befitting a warrior; "a military bearing" [syn: soldierly, soldierlike, warriorlike] 2: suggesting war or military life [syn: warlike] 3: or or relating to the armed forces; "martial law" [syn: martial(a)]

I think the word martial sums up in "Dicipline". If you are a fighter, it doesn't mean you are a martial artist. There's a code, mostly of values a person should have, not only a martial artist.

What i've seen the most, is that martial artist often don't fight unless is a really important matter, because of the damage they can cause and most of all, a martial artist must persue internal peace.
At least thats what i think.

[Amir]

Forget M.A.

There are ways a CIVILIZED HUMAN BEING is expected to act. M.A. has only a little to add to that (with power comes responsibility ...).

Amir

[Kensai]

Forgive me for my impending flame attracting comments, but this is my honest opinion.

Some arts like BJJ, MMA or Boxing (I deliberately didnt mention MT) are there to teach you to be good at fighting. I dont mean this is a demeanative way at all. There purpose is to make you fight as best as possible using training methods that achieve this as quickly as possible. These are MARTIAL ARTS in the strictest sence, they have no concern for teaching you anything but that.

Budo arts (I'm sure the CHinese have a similar word for this) are about more than techniques and fighting. Trying not to turn this into a TMA vs MMA arguement. They are about helping you grow as a person. People that study these arts should carry themselves in a certain way, as its part of the art.

Just my opinion ofcourse.

[Wu De]

I agree with you Kensai, it's all about the different mindset that you adopt when learning/teaching a certain style.

[Martial Cartoonist]

Wu De and Kensai catch my drift.

Just because we study MA, doesn't mean we have to be Mr. Upstanding Hero.

But yes, there is a way decent human beings should act, and we should follow that at least.

My skill with a sword is formidable. My skill with the s-word is flat-out lethal.

[Blad3]

change ur sig. martial cartoonist ffs <img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle>

"Wrestling is the Martial Art of America";
"If you don't know how to wrestle you don't know how to fight, that's the prerequisite to fighting" David Tank Abbott (http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/displayfighter.cfm?fighterid=110)

[gong sau]

I'm with Amir, MA has FA to do with it. As for the "rules of conduct" in many arts, I think they're just trying to offset the "badass factor" in MA. As has been said before, one should not be looking at the martial arts for a code of ethics.


Flame on.

[Phrost]

My two cents (personal opinion)...

If you're being honest with yourselves, fighting on the streets is not the most honorable thing a person could do, martial artist or no. Neither is training to hurt/maim/kill someone regardless of the reason.

People shouldn't have to get their morals from an "art" which is designed to hurt others. That would be like studying to be a dietician at the University of McDonald's. (No relation to this website stated or implied whatsoever, hummana hummana...)

Unless your school is an organization like the Shaolin Temple, for example, that blends "religion" (Buddhism isn't technically a religion in the Western sense) and martial skill, or an organization that has a specific purpose for martial arts (Police Force, Military, etc), then as individuals, it's not the responsibility of the instructor to teach you morals. In the above cases, morals are needed because each member of the "team" or each disciple at the temple is an integral part of a group working toward a goal. If there were no ground rules (codes of honor, for example) the group could not succeed.

But your average Dojo in the U.S, at least, doesn't need all that. People go there to train a few days a week, and then go home to their jobs and their lives. If one of them doesn't show up, the school goes on (or goes under if they're not getting enough business...) and nobody cares. If they use their skills to rob an old lady, they are individually responsible for their own actions, being private citizens.

[bruceleeroy]

it's all on the person,
the Art can only teach you so much..

[Phoenix]

Martial artists are merely a subculture of society. As such, it's not impossible (nor should it be surprising to anybody here) to find more than a few idiots as members of that subculture.

After all, there are stupid students, chefs, police officers, doctors, etc....

Not that I'm pleading anybody's case in particular here, but why can't there be stupid Martial Artists either?

Le Grill?? What the hell is that?!! - Homer Simpson

[CrimsonTiger]

ttt with Phrost.

Regards,
CrimsonTiger

"Good is the enemy of Great" - T-shirt seen on Queen Street, Toronto

[poet]

Phrost
Unless your school is an organization like the Shaolin Temple, for example, that blends "religion" (Buddhism isn't technically a religion in the Western sense) and martial skill, or an organization that has a specific purpose for martial arts (Police Force, Military, etc), then as individuals, it's not the responsibility of the instructor to teach you morals. In the above cases, morals are needed because each member of the "team" or each disciple at the temple is an integral part of a group working toward a goal. If there were no ground rules (codes of honor, for example) the group could not succeed.

How is the JD coming? you give good argument.

[The Mad Hatter]

Interesting points, one and all. I definately think there is something about taking mature and responsible approach to any martial art/style. It is simply about growing up and being an adult about things. People who go around spouting they can do this, or they can do that, are being immature and usually are the "idiots of the subculture" I think, as Rising Pheonix mentioned. The true martial artist/master has nothing to prove.