I have trained Katate for a while, over 15 yrs in fact. I wouldnt say I was good at it.......dont think I could ever master it. How do you rank yourselves with your arts? Can you ever master your art? Are any of you masters yourselves? :)

Certainly wouldn't call myself a master, nor a beginner.

~15 years for me too... feel I have a solid basis now to build on.

Depends how you classify "good" there are so many factors. Do you mean in terms of personnal growth, competition results or being good in a street fight. I was really good at Kata in the dojo but sucked in competition due to nerves.
I don`t think i am that good, but my grades and competition results (nothing above local level) have made me feel "good".
I also believe it almost impossible to master an art, having read interviews with leading Japanese karate instructors who have being training,eating and sleeping Karate for 50 or 60 years plus,they claim to still be learning, who a we to say we are a master ?

Sometimes as much as we enjoy doing something,we never master it.As long as you enjoy it,thats the main thing.

21 years but Im still learning!

I have trained Katate for a while, over 15 yrs in fact. I wouldnt say I was good at it.......dont think I could ever master it. How do you rank yourselves with your arts? Can you ever master your art? Are any of you masters yourselves? :)

Ask me in a decade.
;)

Personal growth. Where you are on your own personal journey basicly

Going back to the 'do you call yourself a master' question...I've thought about it a bit moreand I think as a rule I'd steer clear of anyones instruction who called themselves 'master'.

People calling themselves master seem synonymous(sp?) with McDojos. It is a title that others refer to you by, not bestowed on oneself.

Going back to the 'do you call yourself a master' question...I've thought about it a bit moreand I think as a rule I'd steer clear of anyones instruction who called themselves 'master'.

People calling themselves master seem synonymous(sp?) with McDojos. It is a title that others refer to you by, not bestowed on oneself.

I was awarded the honour by Grand Masters in my martial art. I feel that my contribution to, and for my art, has been always a steep curve and the 'title' of master is an award/recognition to show your dedication, knowledge etc. has been acknowledged.
Rather like a soldier/police officer gains ranks.
You obviously havent had the pleasure to train along side true masters often enough. Your jugdement is way off and of a personal opinion that should have stayed with your self.
Do you refuse to train along side the masters in your art?

...Your jugdement is way off and of a personal opinion that should have stayed with your self.
In your opinion ;)

Do you refuse to train along side the masters in your art?
I don't know of anyone that calls themselves 'master'. There are people who have great respect within the game who could be considered masters I guess, but I don't think they would ever be called that. Acheivements/recognition as you mention are awarded by way of the dan ranks and there is no need for extra titles, except perhaps sensei.

In your opinion ;)


I don't know of anyone that calls themselves 'master'. There are people who have great respect within the game who could be considered masters I guess, but I don't think they would ever be called that. Acheivements/recognition as you mention are awarded by way of the dan ranks and there is no need for extra titles, except perhaps sensei.

Nice one Dafoot, looks like you have touched upon a raw nerve.
:hihi:

I was awarded the honour by Grand Masters in my martial art. I feel that my contribution to, and for my art, has been always a steep curve and the 'title' of master is an award/recognition to show your dedication, knowledge etc. has been acknowledged.
Rather like a soldier/police officer gains ranks.
You obviously havent had the pleasure to train along side true masters often enough. Your jugdement is way off and of a personal opinion that should have stayed with your self.
Do you refuse to train along side the masters in your art?

Touchy !! Here we go again.........
My instructor holds the title Master, he was a world class fighter, and now has trained many World,European and British champions.
I have never heard him refer to himself with that title and certainly not as an internet forum login name.

Touchy !! Here we go again.........
My instructor holds the title Master, he was a world class fighter, and now has trained many World,European and British champions.
I have never heard him refer to himself with that title and certainly not as an internet forum loggin name.

Hi Protekt
Nice one mate. I agree with you on that one. Fancy calling yourself "master" as a login name. That kind of login name gives out the wrong impression in my opinion.

Smacks entirely of the sort of ego I have always assumed of people who call themselves master.

All masters??????? You have lots to learn. So much to learn.

All masters??????? You have lots to learn. So much to learn.

Condescending too?
Now that's a quality I always look for in my instructors.

I am fully aware I have a lot to learn. it seems to me you could do with learning a few things too.

You have just successfully persuaded me not to bother trying your sessions.

I want an instructor that will help and support, not one that seems to think the sun shines out of his own arse.

And who precisely was that aimed at?

That sort of comment can only harm your reputation as an instructor surely (and your clubs reputation by proxy)?

Smacks entirely of the sort of ego I have always assumed of people who call themselves master.

I agree completely DaFoot. Some instructors do really take this oriental mysticism a bit too far. But comments like that, how unprofessional! Acting like this, all this "bully boy" mentality is totally unbefitting of a true martial artist (let alone a master). Would you see Master Sken or Toddy acting like this? Example of Master Sken, hes such a polite and humble person to speak to. Also people like Ronnie Green and Sandy Holt are perfect examples of how the true martial artist should behave.
Respect, Humility and Courtesy are signs of a true martial artist.

Can we discuss this like adults please without resorting to personal insults again?

Condescending too?
Now that's a quality I always look for in my instructors.

I am fully aware I have a lot to learn. it seems to me you could do with learning a few things too.

You have just successfully persuaded me not to bother trying your sessions.

I want an instructor that will help and support, not one that seems to think the sun shines out of his own arse.

Exactly ! You hit the proverbial nail on the head! Another thing I tend to avoid with regard to certain clubs is ignorance. Ignorance and lack of appreciation of cultures. There was a member of a certain martial arts group clearly showing the aforementioned ignorance.
People of ethnic minority backgrounds will read those posts and avoid that club like the plague! It is not nice for a martial arts club to have an image of "institutionally racism" just because of one or two individuals.

I work as a supply teacher in MANY of sheffields schools.Now quite often I get asked which martial arts clubs i think are worth going to. Now an instructor who gets off on insulting people is not likely to receive a good review.

Anyway, back to the topic.

Can we discuss this like adults please without resorting to personal insults again?

Woops sorry i apologise on behalf of my fellow "martial arts masters"

I think it interesting that the name calling and bad feeling generated on this thread were started by the only Martial Artist on this forum to use the term "Master".
What a shining example you and your ego are to your art, your school and your title.

I think it interesting that the name calling and bad feeling generated on this thread were started by the only Martial Artist on this forum to use the term "Master".
What a shining example you and your ego are to your art, your school and your title.

Defending ones honour is a true tradition, and defending it against true ignorance is unfortunately a compulsive thing on here to the minority who have no or very little respect to others.
By the way....you don't know me, but come down and introduce youself to me at my professional academy and then judge. Otherwise please keep your personal offending insults to yourself.

Last warning. Discuss the question like adults or bans will follow.

MOD NOTE Ban number one from this thread in place - please try and keep it civilised from now on or the thread will removed by my lightening peng-ch'üan!

Condescending too?
Now that's a quality I always look for in my instructors.

I am fully aware I have a lot to learn. it seems to me you could do with learning a few things too.

You have just successfully persuaded me not to bother trying your sessions.

I want an instructor that will help and support, not one that seems to think the sun shines out of his own arse.

Now this is an example of a martial arts instructor without any personal hang ups or ego.
A Taekwondo instructor who is a 3rd Dan Black Belt rang me up recently. He teaches classes up in Killamarsh. He asked me all about the ring sport of kickboxing and we discussed the similarities that TKD and Kickboxing have. We also discussed how the buzzword of kickboxing is used to described to used as an interpretation for various forms of punching and kicking martial art.
What is even more interesting is that he said that he needs to learn kickboxing from a kickboxer!

Well said, but also very open minded of him. Now he is coming to my classes tonight!!!
All of our fighters will give him a warm welcome and are under strict rules to keep the leather shinpads on and spar with control.
More high ranked instructors should be like him.

I would like to add 1 more question...........does any one think it is worth while to stick to one martial art or for one self to develop do you think that trying many different styles or arts will benefit?

Trying more than one certainly a good idea to develop your own more rounded knowledge and ability, but that's not to say there is anything wrong with concentrating on one style rather than being jack-of-all-trades-but-master-of-none.

It would require a big commitment to train regularly in several styles and I don't know that many folks would be able to dedicate the time with family comittments etc.

On topic I have been training in martial arts since 83ish
How do you rank yourselves in my art?
That’s easy I don’t I leave it to others to rank me I know where I am at and where I have to go, so I don’t worry about it.

Is it worth training in other arts (Complete system )???
This might come out wrong on the screen as im not a pc worrier like some lol
But I would have to say no to that question ;-)
But I do think you should look and try out other arts and how and why they do things their way.
I like to train with people that do things like Judo, MMA, JKD, TKD, Escrema, kickboxing and the list goes on and on lol
do I do the arts that I try no way I train 7 star mantis.

Off topic
I have not posted for some time a I got sick of the people on the forum bickering I have had the fortune to hook up with some like master J, chefkicker along with others and they come across totally different in person?
Master J is open and friendly willing to shear knowledge and experience in what he does, chefkicker well say no more he is as forward as he is on the forum but Open with what he believes And not frightened to speak out Also 100% friendlier in person willing to Help and talk to anyone, god he likes to talk lol.

I find it So Disappointing why two people like this and others find it so hard to get on?

Just a personal thought ;-)
sorry for the rant everyone i will go back to just looking at the posts now ;-)

Thanks Dave.......I enjoyed reading your post.

Been training for about 8 years. I started out with traditional martial arts (jujitsu, 2-3 years) and moved on to more hands on combat and sport oriented systems. My primary influences are brazilian jujitsu (6 years), kickboxing (1-2 years) and MMA (>1 year), which I currently train.

The MMA club I'm at tends to attract people who've previously trained martial arts of some form or who are at a reasonable level of athletic ability. A lot of ex-boxers and thai boxers. I'm working my way up to average in this setting, particularly in terms of physical fitness, striking and takedowns.

Wouldn't ever grace myself with the term 'master', unless possibly I had held UFC and pride titles, was running a successful academy and was advanced of age. Even then it'd sound a bit pretentious to my ears. I understand that it is more commonly used in traditional martial arts though.

im a black belt but i gt told something once by a freind of mine who is in his dans now and is probably a master grade he said to me ' you never master your martial art because you go from white to black and as the belt ages it frays and loses colour and goes back to white belt again' and i think that pretty much sums it up no one is realy a master there is too much for one man to understand

I have trained Katate for a while, over 15 yrs in fact. I wouldnt say I was good at it.......dont think I could ever master it. How do you rank yourselves with your arts? Can you ever master your art? Are any of you masters yourselves? :)

It depends on so many factors; how many hours you train per week, consitantly. Could be 8+ hours per day, or 2 hour per week. Stating the obvious I know, but makes a big difference.

Also, what does 'master' mean? Some would say, if you think you've got it mastered, then you're on the slippery slope (where is the humility, the emptiness, in being a 'master' - one should always have a beginners' mind - so 'they' say).

Off topic
Master J is open and friendly willing to shear knowledge and experience in what he does, chefkicker well say no more he is as forward as he is on the forum but Open with what he believes And not frightened to speak out Also 100% friendlier in person willing to Help and talk to anyone, god he likes to talk lol. ;)

Couldn't agree with you more Dave! :thumbsup: :clap:

Is it worth training in other arts (Complete system )???
This might come out wrong on the screen as im not a pc worrier like some lol
But I would have to say no to that question ;-)
But I do think you should look and try out other arts and how and why they do things their way.
I like to train with people that do things like Judo, MMA, JKD, TKD, Escrema, kickboxing and the list goes on and on lol
do I do the arts that I try no way I train 7 star mantis.

I've been doing Western martial arts for a couple of years now (mostly rapier) and I started Eastern martial arts a year ago (kobudo and a bit of ju-jitsu) and I find that they do complement each other, and you can start to see the similarities and differences between them. I suppose doing two systems that were close together might be confusing though.

satsuma
I've been doing Western martial arts for a couple of years now (mostly rapier) and I started Eastern martial arts a year ago (kobudo and a bit of ju-jitsu) and I find that they do complement each other, and you can start to see the similarities and differences between them. I suppose doing two systems that were close together might be confusing though.

its not about getting confused to me its about fill the gaps. you can start to see the similarities
to me all arts are the same to me its the theory of one art that makes the Difference for one another. but i do think you need to fill the gap's in the art you practice but you dont need to study another art to do that.
and Before chefkicker jumps in you have them to in kickboxing :hihi: lol

I'll stick my opinion in on this one too.. I can see Daves point in that he loves his style, appreciates other styles, but just doesn't want to train in them. I too felt the same up until a short while ago, I loved my karate, and although looked at other arts, and respected them. I just did not personally want to train in another style. Im still not quite sure why I changed my mind, I just had a short break (injury) and decided it was time for a change.
As for cross training two styles, I can see it does have benefits, in making you a more rounded martial artist, and gives you a more "complete system", if that's the right way to put it. But I guess the reasons for cross training are important when considering it. Such as if your aim is to fill in the gaps in your training that a current style does not cover, or is it just because you think you will enjoy another style. If for example someone was doing taekwondo, and then cross training in Karate, this would fill in some gaps, but still leave some big ones, much the same way as training kickboxing and Muay Thai would do. If looking for a more complete system then as most will no doubt know the best and simplest way is to combine a striking art with a ground fighting / grapping art. But what if someone wanted to cross train just because they like another style? Could someone train in two different striking arts at once if the sole aim was enjoyment? I think this can be done as long as a solid base in one art is already achieved, starting two arts that are similar both from scratch would be very hard, and confusing I think.

Jonny B - That quote is fantastci - There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Chuck Norris lives in Oklahoma.

Jonny B - That quote is fantastci - There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Chuck Norris lives in Oklahoma.

with reference to the above quote,

there are definitely no weapons of mass destruction the_rage's kneck of the woods!!

great signature though