The minute someone finds out that I practice martial arts, I find myself immediately bracing for the same questions I hear all of the time. And I feel like most martial artists can probably relate. So I figured I would answer some of the more common questions I have been asked.
1.Q: Can you beat me in a fight?
A: Probably, but what kind of fight are we talking about? Every time I get asked this question I always answer it with that follow up. I don’t know the skill level of the person asking me that; and I’m not going to assume what skills they do or don’t have either. Also what kind of a “fight” are we talking about? Is it point sparring, and we aren’t really landing blows? Sure you might get some points in on me in that scenario and win that fight. Are we just messing around and going 50% trading techniques back and forth, and the focus is good technique and skill? Again, maybe you might land something here and there on me, Or is it a fight for my life? Now there are no rules and there is no such thing as a fair fight. I get to pull out everything I have in my arsenal and no holding back, more than likely you will not enjoy the result of that kind of a fight.
2. Q: Do you break boards/bricks? / Why do you break them?
A: Yes! I have broken boards and bricks using various techniques over the years. I’m going to be honest; breaking is not one of my favorite things to train, because I get very in my head about it. That being said, breaking is a great way to judge the effectiveness of your different techniques. Breaking is a great way to gauge where your strengths and weaknesses are. For example, I found out that the speed of my techniques was not nearly fast enough to break a board doing a speed specific technique. So I knew that was something I really needed to work on. After hammering that into my training over and over again I was finally able to do a speed break about a year ago.
3. Q: Which martial art is better?
A: I truly don’t think that one is better than another. Martial arts is this living, breathing, all encompassing art form. Every art is unique in its own way. Each one has its own specific how and why it was developed. There are many similarities and differences, but that doesn’t make one better than the other. It all depends on what you are trying to accomplish. If you want to learn striking techniques you would find yourself looking at karate, tae kwon do, muay thai etc. If you want grappling, you would want to look into Brazilian jiu jitsu or judo. You get the picture.
4. Q: Wow, so are you a really aggressive person if you like learning how to fight people?
A: I really don’t consider myself a very aggressive person at all. I would also argue that most practitioners that I have interacted with over the years are also very calm non-violent people. I didn’t join martial arts to be violent or aggressive. I joined to better myself, learn self defense, and get in a good workout. The martial arts teach you what to do in an absolute last resort, worst case scenario. We don’t go seeking a fight, but we know how to end one.
I’m curious Urban Martial Artists; what common questions have you been asked when people find out you’re a practitioner of the martial arts? If you have been asked any of the above questions, what are your answers?
