Respect ...

[JKDChick]

How has martial arts affected your opinion of other people (friends, co-workers, etc)? Have you lost/gained respect for someone, based on your changing attitiudes and abilites?

(board breaks with a kick)
"Is that it? I feel like I should bow, or have honor or something."
-- Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "Once More, With Feeling"

[Blad3]

Not at all - if anything I would gain resepct for people, just because I'm that bit happier about taking MA and training in something I love to do...but sometimes I think I personally annoy people by trying to get them to come to MA - with some I've just stoped because I know they don't like MA anyway - but some still do...there's still hope to get them to go at least once <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

I've gained respect for how fragile and precious life is, and how lucky we all are to have it. God doesn't owe us three breaths in a row. Be thankful for every day.

It is also kinda cool to think .. yea, so that guy has a Porche, I could still kick his ass. But I never look down on people who can't fight. I feel like I was blessed with my ability so I could help them. They have their own skill sets to help the community, just like I do. Everyone has something to contribute.

[Blad3]

agreed 9C.

[Middlemoor]

Martial arts hasn't done anything to change my systems of respect.

[Vargas]

My respect system with regards to martial arts in general has changed some. Before I got involved, I tended to have more respect for the 'pillars' of the martial arts community. Now that I know some of the politics behind the scenes and have met some of the movers and shakers, I've lost some of the respect I used to have for some well-known martial artists. I'd rather not name names. I also didn't realize the growing problem of fraud and mis-representation in the martial arts until I got involved, so I suppose I've lost respect for the businessmen that have created the McDojo phenomenon. This is something I've seen across the board, not just in a certain style or type of martial art. The MMA and self-defense communities have their snake-oil salesmen just like the TMA population.

On the flip side, I now have enormous respect for the professional boxers, kick-boxers and MMA fighters that train like crazy and get in the ring or cage for our entertainment. I knew that wrestlers trained hard from my high school and college days, but these guys train just as hard and take tons of punishment in the process. I watch events like UFC, Pride and KOTC with a whole new appreciation these days.

So I would say that I've lost some respect in some areas of martial arts but gained it in other areas. I don't think I'm really that much of a badass now. If anything, I've realized that it's hard to spot the really tough people in a crowd. The three toughest bare-knuckle fighters I personally know actually look kind of dorky. You would never walk into a bar, look at these guys and say to yourself, "Hey, don't piss those guys off, they're bad news". Great martial artists can look and act just like any normal joe on the street, so I now make it a point not to assume anything from how a person looks or presents themselves. Sure, some guys have the cauliflowered ears and broken noses that give their skills away, but you can't always depend on that kind of clue. I just treat everyone as nicely as possible and don't look for trouble. Respect everyone, because you never know who you might be dealing with.

"Go cry about it Vargas. Aren't you late for your shift at McDonald's?"

[rellik_yzarc]

nothing changed. though i feel better about being able to handle myself.

[poet]

Not changed my feelings for friends and co-workers, I don't socialize much anyway.

I have changed back and forth on fellow students and gained more respect for the instructors because of the types of students they put up with.

"I do not agree with what you have to say but, I will defend to the death your right to say it."
-Voltaire

[Mercurius]

When I was younger, it was a big part of my learning respect for adults, since I was the only son in an Asian family (kind of the Filipino version of a Chinese "little emperor"). To this day it amazes me how kids my age and younger do things like calling their parents or teachers by their first name, I mean, shit man, I didn't even KNOW my parent's first names until I was 10.

More recently though, martial arts has contributed to the respect I bear for my seniors (especially at work). Most people think, unless someone's an assistant manager or something, that it doesn't mean shit if they've been there longer, but they're missing out on everything they can learn from someone with more experience.

[I Give BJJs]

I definitely respect how easily someone can get hurt now, and if I got into a street fight, assuming my life is not at risk, I'd probably go easy on the guy, since being hurt just sucks.

[Punisher]

Martial arts has helped me respect myself, and to treat others with the respect they are due. I give everyone the benefit of the doubt and others have my respect until they do something to lose it.

I once had a guy get upset because I bowed to him the "wrong" way. After I apologized I told him that, although I was sorry he felt slighted, that a bow was an external and artificial show of respect and what really mattered was the intentions and internal feelings of the person doing the bow, and in my view he was confusing the "how" with the "why". After he implied I was further disrespecting him by challenging him in this matter, I told him I would be disrespecting myself if I didn't speak my mind.

[Martial Cartoonist]

A lot of people mention that MA makes them realize how fragile they are. Yeah, I may be six feet even and solidly built enough for the varsity defensive line, but I know that the little bald guy who's five inches shorter than me can pound me senseless.

Some guys of large/muscular build act intimidating, since people automatically think "big muscles, man, he must be able to kick ass." Funny, that.

While it's kind of a bad way of putting it, I treat everybody like they'd be able to make short work of me. Everybody's due respect for just being a person, but it's what you do that shows just how much respect you get.

Makes me kinda wonder how the world would be if everybody could handle themselves in a fight.

Bullies? What the hell are those?

10th degree. Yeah, I said 10th degree. White belt, o'course. This long and I haven't been promoted once? I must really suck.

[Blad3]

I've realized that it's hard to spot the really tough people in a crowd.

Definitely.

I agree with this, and if we're taling about respect for other martial artists - well in mnay cases my respe

"Sure, some guys have the cauliflowered ears and broken noses that give their skills awayct if far less now I'm informed." - lol, cus they've taken loads of hits in the gym <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

definitely have + respect.

lol I GBJJs.


MC - it gebneraly is the case that if some1 is a lot bigger than you, they'll probably be able to kick your ass.

[CrimsonTiger]

1) I'm probably more arrogant (confident?) now...not that I need that much, because I was apparently a cocky bastard before.

2) I do see people differently now, and I will be the first to admit that in some ways, my existing friends dropped a bit in my esteem for their lack of dedication and conviction for some things. I love them no less, but my respect levels have changed.

3) I respect those martial artists I never thought of as MAs before. Boxing, etc. Others don't "get it"...but now the flashy stuff doesn't impress me, the quality stuff does.

Regards,
CrimsonTiger

"You kicked me in the HEAD! You NEVER throw kicks! How'd you do that? Wires?!" - Sempai Phil (my last sparring partner)

[GRECO]

no