I am not a Martial Artist

I’m involved in two of the most backwards industries:
fitness and martial arts.

I’ve spent a lot of time writing about the problems in fitness.
Being as I’ve been a martial artist far longer
than I have been intentionally practicing fitness,
I’ve amassed quite a few opinions on the state of the industry.

While each one deserves a full treatise,
I’d like to start off with just a couple of sentences on each.

Not all Martial Artists are Fighters
I’m not a fighter.
Been in a couple fights.
Nothing exciting.

But the connotation of being a fighter
means you fight in a ring or cage.
Haven’t done it.
May not do it.

Been a coach…
but make no mistake,
I’m not a fighter.

Neither Martial Artists nor Fighters are necessarily Warriors
I am not a soldier.
Don’t wear a uniform.
Don’t carry a gun.
Haven’t been shot at with anything other than a bb gun.

I am not a warrior.
Never been to war.
If you haven’t either,
stop referring to yourself or others who haven’t as warriors.
Makes you look like an asshole to the real warriors.

Martial Artists are just that – Artists
Not scientists.
Let me reiterate.
Martial Artists are not results first.
They are art first.
Just ask them which martial art is the best.
Even the most objective of the artists have a bias to their art.
I am not a martial artist.

Martial Science
I am a martial scientist
I am for what works.
Which means I am often against what doesn’t work…
which is most martial arts.

Martial Arts Training
Don’t get me wrong.
I train in the martial “arts.”
I train, taught an have coached in submission grappling.
Other call it submission wrestling.
Some people call it “no gi.”
Fuck, we can’t even agree on a name for it.

No Gi?
I don’t train brazilian jiu jitsu.
At least with a gi.
It’s not because I have a fundamental problem with it.
I just don’t like how it feels.
It’s slow.
It’s smothering.
It’s messy.
For me.

BJJ Sport
Maybe some day I’ll like it and train in it.
For now, I don’t like it.
I don’t train it.
But BJJ is a sport.
It’s a legit sport.

MMA Sport
I love MMA.
I don’t have delusions about it.
It’s isn’t real life violence.
I don’t think training in MMA is the best way to defend yourself.
MMA, like BJJ, is a sport.
MMA, though, is the future of all martial arts.

Combat Sports?
BTW, no such thing as “combative sports”
in combat, people generally die or give up so they don’t die.
While there is major risk of injury in MMA, the risk of death is slight…
Unlike combat.

MMA
Once I reach a degree of proficiency in submission wrestling,
I’ll train in MMA.
With a striking background,
I hope to be able to transition well.

Gi for MMA?
For those of you who want to train in MMA
and train in BJJ (with the gi),
I recommend you don’t.

Why?
It’s not scientific.

There are many who will disagree with me.
They are ranked.
They are accomplished.
They are respected.
They are traditionalists.
They are martial artists.

Why shouldn’t you listen to them?
They’re artists, remember?

Dress Up is for Halloween
There are many in the martial arts who like to play dress up.
They like the uniform
They like the rank.
It doesn’t matter what gi, rashguard, board shorts or fight shorts you put on,
your body is the biography of your abilities.
Invest in that.
Not the uniform.

What Belt are you?
I can’t tell you how many people who I roll No Gi with ask me what my belt is or my experience level is before they roll with me.

It’s simple: I’m either better or worse than you.
Only one way to find out.

Don’t be that Guy
That guy is the guy who makes excuses when he loses
because he lost to an upper belt.
That guy is the guy who likes to lord his rank
over those of lesser rank than him
and purposefully avoids those of lesser rank
that might be more talented.
Don’t be that guy.

Be Better Than That
Be better than that.
Be a martial artist.
Shit, be better than that.
Be a Martial Scientist.