Post by allyourki on Apr 6, 2007 11:56:26 GMT -5
What Is Bullshido?
To truly understand the concept of “Bullshido” you have to look at the roots of the word. “Bull” referring to bullshit is obvious. “Bullshido” comes from the term “Bushido” which translates into “Way of The Warrior”
So then we can quite easily understand that “Bullshido” is basically, a bullshit path to becoming what we might call a real “warrior”. In this day and age, the closest thing the average person can do to become a “warrior” (short of joining the army or the police service) is studying a martial art. Martial arts are also becoming more and more important. We hear all kinds of reports about crime being on the raise, people being burgled, murdered and assaulted. What can we do but learn to defend ourselves? We can learn martial arts.
Now, in the slums, the rough areas, whatever, people are more likely to grow up “tough”. At least, they’ll know how to take care of themselves, so who then will pay to learn to defend themselves? I’ll tell you. The people, who have it good, but are, close enough to the real world to see danger. The people with (and this is the important part) a reasonable amount of exposable income .
This my friends, is the age of fear. And the conmen and panderers of society can use this fear for their own gain, namely money. Will a over-protective mother pay hundreds of pounds or dollars a year so that her scrawny child can get fit, have fun, and learn to defend himself? Yes, she will. Yet how does she know where to go? Has the average over protective mother studied martial arts? I would say, most probably not.
So they’ll look around the quiet and humble gyms that say it’s “a great social experience” or “the child will get pretty fit real quick”. And she thinks this is good. Then, she’ll see a flashy advert with little girls kicking through bricks and she’ll think “Oh my god, that’s amazing”. When complimented with how this is the “only no bullshit” or “street effective style known to man!” she’ll sign up her child straight away. Generally, these styles are only made to look good and impress, rather than actually protect anyone.
How do I recognise it?
Who makes these bullshit styles? The reasonably smart guys who know how to make a quick penny, or the sad individual just looking to satisfy his ego. When we keep this in mind, it’s easy to tell which gym is a “McDojo” (a gym more interested in money than training it’s students) and where the pathetic people try to feed their own ego.
That’s all very well you might say but how do I really see this? Well, if you walk into a gym and you’re immediately bombarded with credentials and testimonials, be wary. Try to test their authenticity, either using logic or research, or (if you’re familiar with street effective martial arts) watch the style itself. If you’re immediately told how much it all costs, or these things are posted very clearly on the wall (especially if this is really expensive) then be even warier. Various “moves” and techniques that you should look out for, are kicks to the head, jumping kicks, kicks that you might see in a cartoon (like ducking to the ground and sweeping people). These moves, no matter what anyone says, are tested and AMAZINGLY ineffective on the street, and are likely to get you beaten up if not worse.
Be careful to regard the people who may be teaching your loved one. This subject seems almost taboo but it is serious enough to warrant a mention in this article. Kids are more likely to start a martial art than adults, and where can you touch a child without it looking weird? In a gym or while teaching them martial arts. Be on the lookout for shady characters of all sorts. There are many documented cases of martial arts instructors using their position, and sometimes, physical prowess to take advantage of their students.
Instructors, who demonstrate their skill on people far weaker than them (generally in the form of a sparring match) are to be disregarded immediately. Instructors, who give seemingly fantastic and long winded anecdotes which have a basic moral at best should also be given wide berth.
Some styles which are infamous for being associated with bullshido
Taekwondo
Aikido
Ninjustu
Tai Chi
And Karate (so called “Street effective styles, if competition style is mentioned, it is not a defensive art)
Bare all this in mind while choosing a gym
Train hard.
Raitaro~ The Owl
To truly understand the concept of “Bullshido” you have to look at the roots of the word. “Bull” referring to bullshit is obvious. “Bullshido” comes from the term “Bushido” which translates into “Way of The Warrior”
So then we can quite easily understand that “Bullshido” is basically, a bullshit path to becoming what we might call a real “warrior”. In this day and age, the closest thing the average person can do to become a “warrior” (short of joining the army or the police service) is studying a martial art. Martial arts are also becoming more and more important. We hear all kinds of reports about crime being on the raise, people being burgled, murdered and assaulted. What can we do but learn to defend ourselves? We can learn martial arts.
Now, in the slums, the rough areas, whatever, people are more likely to grow up “tough”. At least, they’ll know how to take care of themselves, so who then will pay to learn to defend themselves? I’ll tell you. The people, who have it good, but are, close enough to the real world to see danger. The people with (and this is the important part) a reasonable amount of exposable income .
This my friends, is the age of fear. And the conmen and panderers of society can use this fear for their own gain, namely money. Will a over-protective mother pay hundreds of pounds or dollars a year so that her scrawny child can get fit, have fun, and learn to defend himself? Yes, she will. Yet how does she know where to go? Has the average over protective mother studied martial arts? I would say, most probably not.
So they’ll look around the quiet and humble gyms that say it’s “a great social experience” or “the child will get pretty fit real quick”. And she thinks this is good. Then, she’ll see a flashy advert with little girls kicking through bricks and she’ll think “Oh my god, that’s amazing”. When complimented with how this is the “only no bullshit” or “street effective style known to man!” she’ll sign up her child straight away. Generally, these styles are only made to look good and impress, rather than actually protect anyone.
How do I recognise it?
Who makes these bullshit styles? The reasonably smart guys who know how to make a quick penny, or the sad individual just looking to satisfy his ego. When we keep this in mind, it’s easy to tell which gym is a “McDojo” (a gym more interested in money than training it’s students) and where the pathetic people try to feed their own ego.
That’s all very well you might say but how do I really see this? Well, if you walk into a gym and you’re immediately bombarded with credentials and testimonials, be wary. Try to test their authenticity, either using logic or research, or (if you’re familiar with street effective martial arts) watch the style itself. If you’re immediately told how much it all costs, or these things are posted very clearly on the wall (especially if this is really expensive) then be even warier. Various “moves” and techniques that you should look out for, are kicks to the head, jumping kicks, kicks that you might see in a cartoon (like ducking to the ground and sweeping people). These moves, no matter what anyone says, are tested and AMAZINGLY ineffective on the street, and are likely to get you beaten up if not worse.
Be careful to regard the people who may be teaching your loved one. This subject seems almost taboo but it is serious enough to warrant a mention in this article. Kids are more likely to start a martial art than adults, and where can you touch a child without it looking weird? In a gym or while teaching them martial arts. Be on the lookout for shady characters of all sorts. There are many documented cases of martial arts instructors using their position, and sometimes, physical prowess to take advantage of their students.
Instructors, who demonstrate their skill on people far weaker than them (generally in the form of a sparring match) are to be disregarded immediately. Instructors, who give seemingly fantastic and long winded anecdotes which have a basic moral at best should also be given wide berth.
Some styles which are infamous for being associated with bullshido
Taekwondo
Aikido
Ninjustu
Tai Chi
And Karate (so called “Street effective styles, if competition style is mentioned, it is not a defensive art)
Bare all this in mind while choosing a gym
Train hard.
Raitaro~ The Owl
