The Lessons..................?

This forum has taught me much. It has shown me that the average un-informed martial arts student, or wanna-be is very gullible. It has show me that there are many out there that still believe that you have learned/mastered a martial art upon reaching black belt. It has taught me that many students are more concerned about the color belt they wear than in weather they have and valuable skills. It has taught me that many people believe that it is reasonable to expect to be promoted in a set amount of time.

It has also taught me much of a useful nature. It has taught me that there are many fine martial artists here that I highly respect. It has show me that many times we have the same beliefs. Yet when we disagree on something, that we can accept and respect the other persons views.

It has taught me that most of the old timers are very humble and quick to credit others as being their superior in terms of knowledge, ability, incite, ...etc.

It has taught me that the most experienced martial artists here rarely if ever mention their rank, titles, awards. They prefer to be known by what they can contribute to others.

It has reminded me that there is always more to learn. It has reminded me that some of what I believe may be incorrect.

It has taught me that the real martial artists here are quick to defend each other when someone of lesser knowledge, training, ability, pops up and attacks them.

In the last year many things have happened in my personal life that have made me stop and evaluate what is important in life. A move to Georgia, my mother passing away recently, and other issues , have been a challenge. What I have gotten from my personal life and my time on Y/A has taught me this above all. The most valuable thing that I can have is to be close to family and friends. It has taught me that I have many new friends here on Y/A.

It has taught me that I should always take any opportunity to complement others when they deserve it. Life being short, we should always tell those that we care about that we appreciate them. You never know if they will be around tomorrow.

Thanks for the chance to say this.

I have learned a good bit of stuff.

I never took any form of karate so I learned that Karate is originally an Okanawan art not a Japanese art. I have learned many Japanese words and there translation and how they apply, along with proper translation. Though I completely understand why the practitioners here want these pronounced correctly, sometimes I feel you guys go a little over bored with how the things are said from those of us who have no back ground in these arts.

I asked the questions about different forms of Karate (Shotokan to Kyokoshin and Gojo Ryu to Isshin Ryu). I did not directly see some of the differences in these arts until I asked.

I have learned many things from the questions that I have asked. A lot of the questions I asked I already had my mind made up about what was right or not right but I put in there that I would pick the best answer on the most thought out answer. In a lot of those questions people would say things that I had not thought of before and on occasion change my mind a little bit.

I spent a good many years out side of Tae Kwon Do before I found out about Y!A. Though I disagree with some of the paths much of Tae Kwon Do schools and organizations have taken I disagree more with what the “knuckle heads” have to say about it. But I had not seen so much of the paths that Tae Kwon Do had taken until I joined this board.

I have learned that Chuck Norris can be the ultimate solution. I do not know which is more sad. The fact that I put have put him as an answer to the “who would win vs. who” fight questions or the fact that I have received many best answers because of it.

I was surprised to learn how many people think that some how Traditional martial arts do not work. I knew the breed already existed but I did not know that the following was so great. It saddens me.

Though I am a (very) opinionated I have learned even on online there are times to just shut up and let people believe what ever they want to believe until the truth slaps them in the face.

There is more but this place does have a character limit lol

With regards to Traditional Martial arts, I have learned a lot from experienced members like you, pugpaws2, Shihan J, nwohioguy and a lot of others whose names escape me at the moment who have more than once posted an answer that made me reevaluate my preconceived notions about the TMAs and serve as a constant reminder that despite what I think I know about the arts, it is but just a drop in the ocean and I still have a lot to learn. I should also mention the responsible advocates of the MMA who at the very least try to answer the questions regarding the sport as real as they can. Most of all, I have learned what my sensei has been telling me all along, that the world is full of knuckleheads and that you either choose to be one or choose to become a better person through discipline and dedication. It was why he taught martial arts, it was his contribution to society and I'm a better person for it. I have since learned to be more responsible with my answers here on YA, at least in the MA section anyway ; P I used to answer questions at the spur of the moment, sometimes when I was really bored and with no regard for what message it might send to impressionable kids. After reading all the idiotic questions and answers on this forum, I've realized that I was only adding to the problem and not helping this forum in it's aim of informing people. So I decided to answer only questions which I actually have an answers for and just leave all the flaming to others. Before submitting an answer in the MA section, I usually ask myself: "Will this answer reflect well on my sensei?" If it does, then I click the submit button without hesitation, but if I think it doesn't honor him or his teaching or if it reinforces the wrong idea of the MA as I was taught and muddles the subject for the person asking the question, then I either edit it or delete it altogether and keep my mouth shut. Of course, I still am guilty of making mistakes, but I can always count on other more knowledgeable members to correct me if I'm wrong. And sometimes, I can't help but answer those "Who will win a fight?" or "What's the best martial arts? " questions once in a while, but those are mostly because there are no good questions to answer for the day and I'm really bored, although I usually make it a point to indicate that I'm either being sarcastic or funny. After all, just because I've decided to be more responsible with my answers doesn't mean I have to lose my sense of humor as well.

I've learned quite a few things and not just from asking my questions, a lot of what I've learned has come from just reading the answers that other people have given someone. I've learned a ton of actually useful, important things from people like you, nwohioguy, pugspaw2 and Rob B (among others) and some not so useful things from.. a lot of people.

From the immature, "tough" guys on here I've learned that a lot of people today are very ignorant when it comes to traditional martial arts, that people much rather see someone get knocked out rather than a nicely executed submission, and that kids all over the world are way to caught up in all the UFC hype but nothing I or anyone else say to them is going to change that.

Edit: I really like Clowns answer. I agree with him about sometimes just having to shutup and let people learn for themselves.

Edit: To I'm kind of a big deal, do us all a favour and continue not to bother with this section please. I've been here for a while now and not once have I seen Sensei Scandal claim to be an expert. You sir, are one of the knuckle-heads on here.

Rei,

There is no doubt Sensei, that I have taught little here, and learned much. I have always known all martial arts are related, and that the difference is more in points of focus than entire arts. I have trained with folks of many styles, and learned from each of them. Here there are several who I have grown great respect for, and you are among them. Your "bad" attitude, and excellent answers benefit all who have the capacity to fathom them. Specifically, I have gained a much broader view of my art, and it has been strongly reinforced for me just how humble martial art can make people, when the likes of pugpaws2, yourself, ShihanJ, and several others treat me as equal. Someday I may be, if I live long enough! My only other comment is thanks guys, you often make my day.

J

edit; guess what mr big deal, this guy never has claimed 'expert' as long as I have been on this forum. Add that to the fact that you do not have the experience to tell a real teacher from a hole in the ground, means you make a fool of yourself. Good martial artists attempt to avoid that.

edit2: A few years training in a dojang gives you enough to judge men like Sensei Scandal? I think not...oh, sorry I forgot you are some kind of big deal, a legend in your own mind no doubt. Big deal!

Wow that was defiantly a good question that seems to have come from a very wise man. I don't think i have really tort but i would like to think i have learnt from the interesting people on here. I have not only learnt new fact's but a bit of the people behind them, but also has inspired me to further my education in martial arts. I would like to say thank you to all those people and hope that one day i might be a capable teacher that will inspire and well educated martial artists like the people on here :)

I've learned a lot of good and bad.

On the down side, I've learned that I think I am alot more open minded and optimistic than most people my age (late 30's) or older. This saddens me somewhat.

I've also learned that most people think that there are way more McDojo's than I think there really are.

But I have also been inspired and humbled by many regular contributors. I always like hearing other peoples point of view, even if I don't agree.

I've also learned that doing 1000 diamond push ups makes one a bad a$$..... lol

James

I learned that the understanding of martial arts in general is in SAD shape. Kids worship MMA and don't even know what it is. The average age of a person on this site is about 14. There are some informative answers too but just using this opportunity to vent.

I doubt I've done much teaching, but I've learned a lot. I've learned patience and humility thanks to all of the trolls and uneducated answerers of this section. I've met a few good martial artists with whom I hope to learn much more in the future. I must say that Pugpaws2 is a very knowledgeable martial artist (probably more so than any of us); I've learned so much from him and haven't even met him yet. I look forward to training with him soon. I must also mention Shihan J. An experienced and humble martial artist with wonderfully sarcastic answers. I've learned more about myself and my martial arts. I learned quickly that the style you learn is not nearly as important as who teaches it to you. I've learned a lot and I look forward to learning much more.

I totally agree with you. It is AMAZING how people from all around the world with different backgrounds in different MAs can come together, giving tips from each of their special ways and make not just the asker, but everyone a better martial artist. And it is true that all martial arts are related because in the end, face it, we're all human! We all have 2 hands and 2 legs, but we choose to express ourselves in different ways, but we are the same thing, human and thus, all of our "styles" or ways are going to be related. In my opinion, there is no such thing as the "Kung Fu" way of striking, or the "Japanese Kendo" way of moving, or the "Tae Kwon Do" way of kicking, because a martial art isn't meant to send students through training to learn the "Chinese" or the "Korean" or "Japanese" way of fighting, but to find their own honest way of expressing themselves in the end. And that's why I take Y! Answers as a great blessing in that we can all come together and give each other tips on what we can do to improve ourselves as martial artists, and overall, as human beings. We are all related and brothers in a common planet with a common way of expressing ourselves, but manifested in differ