Thugs
 

After reading a local newspaper a few nights ago, I feel it would be alright to comment on what it said. the article stated that the public had a view of marshal artists as thugs.

Not trying to get at the person who said this at all, as I used to train with the individual in question. But, and by the way mine is looking very fine on night shift tonight :freaky: :confused: :eek: :crazy: :hypno: :yuck: :drool: :grr:
If people wish to class something they have no idea about why do we feel the need to tell them they wrong . It is not just this comment but in our training and life in general. If someone have no time to get the facts about a subject, why do we feel the need to educate them. As the saying goes 'if ignorance is bliss, than it is foolish to wise' (T, Gray)

Re: Thugs
 

Never argue with a fool; people might not be able to tell you apart.

Re: Thugs
 

Well said, 'in the land of the blind is the one eyed man may not be king. He could be in the freek how is called names by the young childs'.

Re: Thugs
 

Very True! Fools can't be educated about the finer Arts in life. Why anyone would consider Aikido a "Thug" Sport knows not what they speak about!

Re: Thugs
 

Just say want you think Leslie. Dont mince your words, your with friend he,he,he :D ;)

Re: Thugs
 

Better to keep quite and let them think that maybe you are a fool, than open your mouth and remove all doubt. ;)

Re: Thugs
 

Nothing is fool proof, because fools are ingenious

Re: Thugs
 

It's not that I advocate killing stupid people... I just wish someone removed all the security labels and let Nature take its course.

/not mine but I agree nonetheless.

Re: Thugs
 

Tsk Tsk Yann, it's MA like you that give the public this impression...

Re: Thugs
 

This would make aikido practice very lonely for the luckiest member of the dojo. Everyone else would just watch you practice tenkan for an hour or so!

mike.

Re: Thugs
 

Ditto.

Re: Thugs
 

True story...I'm going for a hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, out in Colorado. About three miles down my favorite trail is an overlook, which is at the top of about eighty feet of sheer cliff. Perched there at the edge is a wooden sign that reads, "Do Not Descend."

Might as well have had the sign read: "Beware of Gravity."

:grr:

Re: Thugs
 

Because we're nice?

Shouldn't we give everybody a chance? If their parents sent them to break the bones of the kid that stole money from them (or worse, they didn't have a parent to talk about it) it's not their fault, they just need to be over-educated, and who knows, they may turn out to be wonderful Aikidokas.

Lucy.

Re: Thugs
 

Hi all.
I read the same article, If read 'fully' the person was getting over the point that 'in general' the public perception 'can' associate the 'martial arts' (generic) with aggression and thugs. Maybe by the way it is sometimes portrayed in film/media etc.
I also think the person was actually trying to generate some publicity for a martial arts event to raise money/ awareness for a major charity. And the martial artists involved were anything but thugs - in fact the very opposite - this was one of the objects of the exercise.
As for educating/not educating people - without knowledge - no change - no progress - no understanding. I thought one of the main concepts of aikido/martial arts was positive change through knowledge. To improve the individual!
My apologies if it was not the same article - but somehow I think it was!
Pete

Re: Thugs
 

Depends on how the message was conveyed..

We see Aikido as a cultured art (and other arts for that matter).... Unfortunately, Martials has been associated with bad instances of agression (as posted above).

I'm not really sure how it looks elswhere, but a lot of really skilled MA practitioners in my country.. come from the lower classes... and sadly (this is a statistical fact here) get involved in a lot of crimes and disturbances :(

Perhaps the article was addressing issues like this? Thuogh I guess they shouldn't have generalized?

Re: Thugs
 

It's probably common for someone with violent tendencies to look for an outlet for their own aggressions......but. The truth is that Martial arts contain people from all walks of life.

The dojo is a great melting pot. I am a walking example. Just look up juggalo.