You don't need a martial art to be a good fighter. What you need is to live in a tough neighborhood, have a death wish, and buy knife or gun. Then, if you're not dead from your first fight, have a good lawyer on speed dial. I question whether or not most people understand the definition of a street fight. As I have previously said before, a cage fight involves a referee and rules, whereas a street fight involves lop-sided odds usually not in your favor and weapons (usually guns). A street fight is neither a cage match, nor a hair-pulling shoving match you get in junior high. When someone asks this question, you not only get the idea that they have a serious problem with thinking fights are cool, but they are exactly looking for the anti-thesis to self defense- never start shit.
2) Do you think if I train real hard, I could be a UFC fighter?
No.
3) My parents won't let me train in (insert art here). What do I do/how can I convince them?
A parent, when it's their money, will part with it for you if it's a necessity or it benefits them to do so. If, by some chance, they believe that the particular gym/studio is too expensive, they will refuse a child's request. At least, most sane parents do. A kid cannot convince them otherwise, nor is it polite to try to. Welcome to one of the most important pillars of martial arts- if you want something bad enough, you have to work for it. That means, you might actually have to get a job. This is not a bad thing. When you pay for your own lessons, you appreciate them more. You try harder, you go whenever you can- because it is an unsound investment if you do- and that in turn makes you a better, more mature martial artist than a child ever will be.
4)How much is too much for classes?
If you cannot make the monthly payment without difficulty, it's too much. If the place you are looking at offers you a "deal" meaning you have to sign a contract, run don't walk out. Remember that for most of us, as much as we swear it's a "lifestyle" it's not necessary to keep living and breathing. Unless you can make a substantial living at martial arts,- you are a great businessman hell-bent on taking our money, or an action star- you need to consider it a hobby. If class dues come before your family's needs or your own health, then it's not worth it.
5) What art should I study?
You can only study what is in your area. If it means driving 2 hours every day from home or work, then it's not worth it. Start by opening your phone book or looking on Google, cross off any that you are not willing to drive to, and if you don't live in a metropolitan area, it will leave you with a small list of candidates. If you have no preference for one art over the other (and do NOT listen to what other practitioners tell you. They are so knee-deep in their own junk that they have stopped emptying their cup years ago) then your question really becomes "what school/gym should I go to?" Make time to visit each school on your list. Come prepared with questions, and ask to watch a class. Most schools will let you watch and try a class for free. Don't leave without speaking to the head honcho. If he/she seems nervous, pushy, rude, or not-forthcoming, leave. When you find the right place for you, you know it. For experienced people looking for a new place to train, it's not always that simple, especially if it's impossible to study the art that you have been doing. You have to let go of all the preconceived notions of what the perfect a martial arts place should be, because you won't find it. Again, it's a timely and personal journey.
6) What does it take to be in the UFC?
Money, hard work, a good gym, top coaches, a positive training environment, getting noticed by promoters, sponsors to pay for training, a chance-of-a-lifetime fight (and winning that fight), an entourage to spread your name around, oh and ALL-AROUND SKILLS IN MARTIAL ARTS!
7) How would win in a street fight between (dead martial artist, martial artist/actor) and (animal-usually a grizzly bear or lion)?
The animal. Unless a shotgun is involved.
8) Which art is better, (art A) or (art B)?
Better for what? "Street fighting"? UFC? Pinochle? There is no "better" unless you provide some sort of abstract for weighing the pros and cons of studying certain arts, even then it is a personal question with a different answer for everyone. Better questions to ask would be "What kind of arts practice grappling?" or "What arts teach semi-contact sparring?". If you ask this question, you will inevitably get that one guy who says mma (not an art), the couple of douchebags who claim their own arts are the best, and two or three people with common sense who say "there is no better art. It depends YOU."
9) Can a girl defeat a guy?
Yes. In the end, it is not the gender, but the level of skill in an art (or self-defense or sparring, as the case may be) one possesses. A highly-skilled person will always beat a no-skilled person. I will take htis time to address some myths perpetuated by 15 year olds who think they understand anatomy:
- MYTH: Women can't stand a blow to their breasts. FACT: It's not really that bad. It's not like getting kicked in the balls. Although there are some nerves there, it's 95% fat. It's sort of like getting kicked in the ass. It stings, but it's not the end of the world. Lame-brained guys who punch a girl with martial arts training and muscle mass will see a rather unimpressed girl staring back at them...right before she knocks him out.
- MYTH: Women are the weaker sex so they will always lose the fight. FACT: You have never sparred with a competent female, have you?
- MYTH: Women aren't good at grappling. FACT: Women anatomically have a lower center of gravity and are the more flexible of the genders. This makes grappling an educated woman (in martial arts)similar to grappling a good wrestler. In time, we will see more women learning, teaching, and showcasing grappling arts.
Upon reading this, I want to answer one more question that gets asked all the time. How old can my child start martial arts? Of course, technically, you could sign him up at whatever age any teacher is willing to take him, some do as young as 2. However there are many, MANY issues to consider. Number one; does your child want to do it, or do you? Number two; does your child have any attention span? In other words, can he sit and watch a 30 minute cartoon without getting up to wander. In most classes, a kid most survive at least 45 minutes without becoming unglued. Number three; what do you hope to accomplish by taking him to martial arts? Self confidence, discipline, burn energy? Sure, your kid can get these at martial arts class, but we as teachers can only do so much for your child. Don't confuse martial arts class with daycare, either. Number four; Are you willing to pay for the classes, the uniform, the weapons, etc, even if he quits? Classes are an investment. If your child gets bored, and quits (and 90% of all kids do before black belt, by the way), can you deal with that? So how old can your child handle martial arts? Well, I have theory. Number One- your child should be potty trained, so at least three at the earliest. Number Two- your child should be able to dress himself or herself, provided that there are no mental deficiencies, so about...5, let's say. Number three- the child should at the very least be out of kindergarten. Why kindergarten? Because if your child can pass that, I know he/she can read their own name, which means that they understand the alphabet and then can effectively (even if they can't completely understand) their style's manual...so that's about 6. I will add that out of the 6 years olds that I have seen in my 6 year stint at the school I am at, only two have survived a full year of training. Odds get better of staying the older your child is when he starts. I have seen the best results from kids who started at 8 or 9, and many of those had a sibling already in the class. Although your child can start whenever you want him to, there are many things to consider. It's not like football or hockey where it's a race to get as much playing time in as possible to be able to go to a professional organization (no, UFC doesn't count). Most likely, your child will quit martial arts, and you have to be okay with that. That being said, it's up to you.
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