Taekwondo
Let's talk about martial arts.
I think it's both hilarious and depressing how awe-struck people are by martial arts and martial artists. I've gotten TONS of comments over the years that range from one end to the other, and sometimes are a little of both. People see my CMK trophy or dan certificate and are stunned that taekwondo is an actual thing that actual real people do. It seems like, to the layperson, all martial arts are karate...unless it's in a movie, in which case it's kung-fu. And it's so impossibly badass that 'normal people' don't do it. It's only monks, in mountain temples, or weird Kobra Kai fight clubs. Alternately, it's a sign of hubris to say that you practice martial arts. It means you think you are better than everyone else, that you think you are a big tough street-fighting thug. Easily the most common question I get when it comes up is "are you a black belt?" Frequently it's said in a mocking tone, sometimes serious. Yes, I am a black belt. Rather, I have a black belt. I have earned the rank of black belt. (And, I guess, throughout the training I have been personally transformed, so it is not specifically incorrect to say that I am a black belt, but it is somewhat disingenuous to say that and nothing else.)
And people think that 'black belt' is all there is to it. Like, now I'm this impossible amount of badass and can kill you with my pinky. I will never need to take any other martial arts class in my life, because I am There. I Have Arrived. It's such bullshit. And it's so annoying when you run across somebody who thinks that a casual mention of your sport/hobby/discipline/art is a challenge to be met. I have never ever challenged someone to a real fight, and I don't intend to. I don't think that I can kick everyone's ass forever. I think that I'm in better shape than some people, and have better focus and mental discipline in some areas than some other people, and know certain effective strikes and points at which to apply them, and I think my wits and reflexes have been sharpened past where they used to be, to the point where I think that if I were attacked suddenly on a street I would stand a better chance than some untrained persons of similar age and size and mental acuity, and certainly a better chance than I would have stood before I learned to be aware of my surroundings and to have good control of my body. And I know that I am calmer, and happier, and stronger, and in better shape, and more sure of myself, and more proud of my accomplishments, than I was before I started training. I know that. I don't know that I can take down 7 knife-wielding ninja assassins and then wipe the blood casually from my face, drop a one-liner, and disappear into the night. (Or go shag some pretty lady...whatever movie tradition you follow. And yes, I know that now I'm engaging in some seriously ridiculous exaggeration. There's some official logical fallacy that applies here. Whoops.)
Anyway. Yes, I have a black belt. And yes, I earned it. I did not train at a McDojo. I'm absolutely positive that there are more difficult belt tests out there, and harder training methods, and all sorts of shenanigans. I'm also absolutely positive that I earned my belt. It was not a handout, and I did not simply pay for it. Part of the reason I adore my taekwondo organization is because they are very good about pushing you, but allowing you to work at your own pace. No one belittles you (except in rare and unpleasant occasions, because some people are just dicks and you can't stop them), and everyone training with you has, at one time or another, been just as stuck on a certain technique. We push each other very hard, and work our asses off, but there's no insane Master in the corner beating us with sticks and humiliating us. There are multiple people of various ranks, experiences, and persuasions around to help you out and cheer you on. It took me three years (and a few months) to earn my black belt. And I got lucky. Well no, not lucky, but I was at a stage of my life where I could train 2, 3, 4 nights a week, where I could go to tournaments, where I could study at home. Taekwondo was basically my life in high school. I went to school, and I went to the gym. Because of that, and a lot of encouragement and hard work, I was able to pass each of my belt tests on my first try, learn quickly, and zoom through the ranks as fast as possible. I have pages and pages (and pages and pages and pages) of notes that I pored over, and stacks of boards that I broke, and equipment that I bought to train at home or with friends. It makes me a little bit crazy when people imply (or even say) that my black belt is worthless, that I must have obviously paid someone off. I would rather they fall prey to the "inconceivable badass" misconception than tell me that because I am smallish (though certainly not tiny) and female-bodied (rather than Brock Lesnar or someone), I did not (literally) bleed, sweat, and cry for my rank.
I know I sound pretty pissed off or defensive. This was not intended to be a rant. I just think it's interesting how foreign martial arts is a lot of people. Even with the massive upswell of popularity for MMA in various venues and forms, people are still constantly baffled or amused. No one seems to realize that they could do this. Anyone can. The people I've trained with have been overweight, underweight, male, female, hobbyists, serious fighters, young, old, parents, kids...everything. They all have different reasons to do it, too. Some want a way to work out, some want self defense. Some people bring their whole family and train together. Some people train once a week; some people train with every free moment. It's an individual 'sport'; you don't have a team to work for, or to let down if you suck at something. But you do have training partners, people who go through the same things you do and eventually accomplish the same things. It's a pretty phenomenal balance, and if you find the right school, stick with it. Taekwondo has become my "thing", and I couldn't be happier with it.
I think it's both hilarious and depressing how awe-struck people are by martial arts and martial artists. I've gotten TONS of comments over the years that range from one end to the other, and sometimes are a little of both. People see my CMK trophy or dan certificate and are stunned that taekwondo is an actual thing that actual real people do. It seems like, to the layperson, all martial arts are karate...unless it's in a movie, in which case it's kung-fu. And it's so impossibly badass that 'normal people' don't do it. It's only monks, in mountain temples, or weird Kobra Kai fight clubs. Alternately, it's a sign of hubris to say that you practice martial arts. It means you think you are better than everyone else, that you think you are a big tough street-fighting thug. Easily the most common question I get when it comes up is "are you a black belt?" Frequently it's said in a mocking tone, sometimes serious. Yes, I am a black belt. Rather, I have a black belt. I have earned the rank of black belt. (And, I guess, throughout the training I have been personally transformed, so it is not specifically incorrect to say that I am a black belt, but it is somewhat disingenuous to say that and nothing else.)
And people think that 'black belt' is all there is to it. Like, now I'm this impossible amount of badass and can kill you with my pinky. I will never need to take any other martial arts class in my life, because I am There. I Have Arrived. It's such bullshit. And it's so annoying when you run across somebody who thinks that a casual mention of your sport/hobby/discipline/art is a challenge to be met. I have never ever challenged someone to a real fight, and I don't intend to. I don't think that I can kick everyone's ass forever. I think that I'm in better shape than some people, and have better focus and mental discipline in some areas than some other people, and know certain effective strikes and points at which to apply them, and I think my wits and reflexes have been sharpened past where they used to be, to the point where I think that if I were attacked suddenly on a street I would stand a better chance than some untrained persons of similar age and size and mental acuity, and certainly a better chance than I would have stood before I learned to be aware of my surroundings and to have good control of my body. And I know that I am calmer, and happier, and stronger, and in better shape, and more sure of myself, and more proud of my accomplishments, than I was before I started training. I know that. I don't know that I can take down 7 knife-wielding ninja assassins and then wipe the blood casually from my face, drop a one-liner, and disappear into the night. (Or go shag some pretty lady...whatever movie tradition you follow. And yes, I know that now I'm engaging in some seriously ridiculous exaggeration. There's some official logical fallacy that applies here. Whoops.)
Anyway. Yes, I have a black belt. And yes, I earned it. I did not train at a McDojo. I'm absolutely positive that there are more difficult belt tests out there, and harder training methods, and all sorts of shenanigans. I'm also absolutely positive that I earned my belt. It was not a handout, and I did not simply pay for it. Part of the reason I adore my taekwondo organization is because they are very good about pushing you, but allowing you to work at your own pace. No one belittles you (except in rare and unpleasant occasions, because some people are just dicks and you can't stop them), and everyone training with you has, at one time or another, been just as stuck on a certain technique. We push each other very hard, and work our asses off, but there's no insane Master in the corner beating us with sticks and humiliating us. There are multiple people of various ranks, experiences, and persuasions around to help you out and cheer you on. It took me three years (and a few months) to earn my black belt. And I got lucky. Well no, not lucky, but I was at a stage of my life where I could train 2, 3, 4 nights a week, where I could go to tournaments, where I could study at home. Taekwondo was basically my life in high school. I went to school, and I went to the gym. Because of that, and a lot of encouragement and hard work, I was able to pass each of my belt tests on my first try, learn quickly, and zoom through the ranks as fast as possible. I have pages and pages (and pages and pages and pages) of notes that I pored over, and stacks of boards that I broke, and equipment that I bought to train at home or with friends. It makes me a little bit crazy when people imply (or even say) that my black belt is worthless, that I must have obviously paid someone off. I would rather they fall prey to the "inconceivable badass" misconception than tell me that because I am smallish (though certainly not tiny) and female-bodied (rather than Brock Lesnar or someone), I did not (literally) bleed, sweat, and cry for my rank.
I know I sound pretty pissed off or defensive. This was not intended to be a rant. I just think it's interesting how foreign martial arts is a lot of people. Even with the massive upswell of popularity for MMA in various venues and forms, people are still constantly baffled or amused. No one seems to realize that they could do this. Anyone can. The people I've trained with have been overweight, underweight, male, female, hobbyists, serious fighters, young, old, parents, kids...everything. They all have different reasons to do it, too. Some want a way to work out, some want self defense. Some people bring their whole family and train together. Some people train once a week; some people train with every free moment. It's an individual 'sport'; you don't have a team to work for, or to let down if you suck at something. But you do have training partners, people who go through the same things you do and eventually accomplish the same things. It's a pretty phenomenal balance, and if you find the right school, stick with it. Taekwondo has become my "thing", and I couldn't be happier with it.