My mom thinks martial arts is a waste of time ??

Question

I like martial arts alot. everytime i see some matches or materials i get really interested in learning it's history and philosophy and unique styles and aim and health benefits etc.,

but everytime when i get caught up reading them or going to studio's/dojo's/wuguang visiting demonstration, my mom would say " oh please......it's 2007...stop wasting your time...." loll

what is your view on that?

not only on that but also your view on martial art as a subject if you're a martial artist thanks.

Answer 1

Well she can have you sitting at home watching TV and playing video games or playing a sport like baseball or soccer that requires her driving all over the place multiple days a week and taking you to tournamnets all summer. Or you can join a dojo that is close to home so you can get there and back on your own if need be. It's always the same place and you can train all year round as apposed to spending the money just to play for 4 months out of the year if your lucky. It will give your dicipline physical and mental health and help you be more confident and help in self defence situations.
Is it that she won't let you or that she just doesn't really care about it and thinks your silly. If she thinks it's silly but will still let you go. Then start going and after a few weeks or so invite her to watch and see the benefits of it.
I was fortunate to have parents who were involved in martial arts and I was able to go far with it as well as other sports. But there were alot of other things they or specifically my mother didn't want to go along with. I guess because of the cost of membership to a dojo unless you work and can pay for it you need her so ease her into it and don't use the UFC or other MMA shows/PPV as a reference. That will only turn her off more. Trust me my mother has seen me fight in national Judo tournaments and play rugby. But she hates the UFC and would be very upset if I ever faught in it. And I am 29 years old...
Good luck and hey even if you can't do it now you have alot of time left in life to learn. So even if you have to waite a few years it doesn't matter. The head sensei at my dojo is over 70 and he still gets on the matt a couple days a week. And he can still throw a 30 yo 10 feet across the mat with minimal effort.

13 years Judo training 5 years grecco/freestyle wrestling

Answer 2

I think if your son HATES Martial Arts you should not force him to take it, nor should you waste your money for years pushing him to get a black belt. Honestly martial arts really does not teach kids how to defend themselves. It teaches kids respect, and self esteem. You don't need Martial Art's for that. Any healthy hobby your child takes up will teach them that. I took martial arts as a child and was bullied until I graduated high school.I found my self esteem through art and music not Martial Arts. Let your child explore all his options. Maybe you should ask why he wanted to do it in the first place. What did HE want from the class? Did he realize how much effort it would take to begin with? If it is commitment you want from your child then find something that they are interested in. I don't know many people who are not commited to something they really love or have a passion for.

Answer 3

First the facts. If you stand in a room of 100 people, the fact is stats show that at least 10 of those people will be faced with violent crime in their life. Those numbers go up for women. I'd want to be able to deal with it if it happens to me.

Now opinion. I find the martial arts to be very spiritual, great exercises and a lot of fun. If nothing else it's a great and healthy pastime. It's better for you then video games or watching TV right? It's easily as good a workout as jogging or aerobics and you get the added bonus of being a little safer. On the spiritual side, it's not for everyone. I have studied Buddhism and Taoism very extensively and find them a lot more fulfilling then any western faith. But you can take or leave the philosophy of the martial arts. If you like it take Kung Fu, Tai Chi Chuan, Ju Jitsu, or another traditional art. If you dislike it take Krav Maga, BJJ, Jeet Kun Do, or another modern art.

The fast is violence is a part of life. There are people who will try to harm others, sometimes for no reason. It's better to be prepared. So always train like your life depends on it because it might. If your mother doesn't want you to train at a school get training videos and books if you can. It would be better then nothing.

Answer 4

Any form of Martial Art is good for every one. There many different forms to accomodate the need or prefference of any individual.

If you show an interest in any form, then your parents should give you support. There are many teachings that can better human life. If you look at Karate, Taekwondo, and Kung fu they teach decipline and self defence. If you decide to go deeper and study a more concentrated forms like Wushu and Tai Chi then its more on an aestetic view and more on individual growth.

You should first find what exactly you want to get out of doing Martial Arts. Then do research and call up some local martial arts dojos. Approach your mom with all these information and tell her exactly what you want to get out from it. And make sure you are willing to stick to it.

Good Luck to you!

Answer 5

I don't understand where you're mom is coming from?? She should be thankful that you're showing an interest in anything (other than drugs or violence). Martial arts has been around a long time and is a great way to learn discipline and get a good healthy workout as well. It's also a good mental workout as well, and I think you should pursue learning more about it.

Next time your mom says something negative about it, engage her in a discussion. Ask her why she thinks its a waste of time. Don't argue with her about, just be 2 people having an informative discussion. Perhaps she'll give you a chance to explain your point of view, and maybe you can sway her opinion.

Answer 6

Your mom is insane, brother, do not listen to the lies that your mom, school, and television bombard you with. Martial Arts, especially the philosophical aspects, are very enriching. You may not ever get in a fight, but that is not what martial arts are about. It will make you healthy for most of your life, keep you in shape, and save your *** if someone tries to harm you or your loved ones. Now is an important time to study philosophy, reality, existence, and be prepared for this is a violent age. Sure, this is not the matrix, we can not dodge bullets, but combat training may come in handy when there are tanks and infantry walking our urban streets.

Answer 7

tell her that she needs a history lesson, if martial arts were a waste of time she would be kneeling down before the furher saying "heil hitler".

No wait, even before that if martial arts were a waste of time she would not even be an american as there would be no way to fight the revolutionary war and gain independance. Tell her instead of "desperate housewives" she would be wasting her time watching "tea time with maud". Without the ability to fight- we would still be britian's colony instead of them bieng ours (pretty much).

Martial Arts is not just hand-to hand fighting, it is ALL fighting and ALL tactics used in war- including the bombs dropped on hiroshima and nagasaki. Including the firearm she may have squirreled away in her closet.

Martial arts is about learning to fight. she may think it is a waste of time because she is a woman and has likely never had a fight. Maybe it sounds sexist but it is also true that there are times men feel certain social and internal pressure that we need to fight, even if we know we are wrong in chosing to do so. True most times we fight out of ego and not out of necessity- however ask her if she would date a man who just let people bully him and beat him up instead of standing up for themselves.

The truth is she is probably afraid of you getting hurt.

If she doesn't want you to take one because it is a "waste of time" then tell her you want to take something that is not, and is applicable to real-world self-defence. Tell her to take you to a firing range and teach you how to shoot, and/or that you want to take a knife fighting class.


EDIT: or in the alternative you could just take some submission grappling style and next time she says it is a waste of time, take her down and arm bar her. Then scream "waste of time now isn't it b itch!". (of course this works with a striking art but it just seems more violent than a submission hold)

Answer 8

If it interests you it's not wasting your time.

Your aspirations in martial arts seem genuine and very similiar to mine when I was a child. My parents had the same attitude so I had to pull together money by cutting grass or shoveling snow and walk to lessons.

Take initiative and do it yourself. However don't get suckered into signing contracts, ridiculous fees for belt testing, or paying stupid fees for a special "black belt" club. Sure it's a business they are running but you are paying for it and make sure it is what YOU want first.

Answer 9

perhaps she think's it is a waste of time because she only see's the show's and the physical aspect of the sport and does not see a future for you in it but if she understood that martial arts is not about being stronger than somone else or being able to be the best fighter and beat everyone if she could see that it is about being stronger in yourself not only physically but mentally maybe she could accept that you see it as a strong base in your life that the rest of your life can work of off and use in all area's of your life

Answer 10

Your mom sounds the "new age type" or maybe she is tired of paying your dues. You hire some people to "mug" her and you fend them off and save her. She will never question martial arts again. Just kidding don't do that for real.