tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18465541.post2326579749647992960..comments2023-10-01T10:41:23.092-05:00Comments on Going my Way: Sociology, psychology, and Anthropology in KarateMirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01918610819952156537noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18465541.post-26433574010622269892011-12-02T12:53:25.886-06:002011-12-02T12:53:25.886-06:00A very insightful post. I would like to use some ...A very insightful post. I would like to use some of your arguments in a paper that I am writing in the course of my graduate studies at the University of Iowa. For bibliographic purposes, I was wondering if you could PM me your name? If you are willing to do so, just drop me a line at noahcgjohnson @ gmail . com Thank you.noahcgjohnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02173281026473088588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18465541.post-89408578271843915222007-05-04T07:43:00.000-05:002007-05-04T07:43:00.000-05:00"Can this "sub culture" intimidate newcomers?"Sub ..."Can this "sub culture" intimidate newcomers?"<BR/><BR/>Sub cultures always have that effect on newcomers. They are thrust into an environment that has different terminology, rituals, and signals. It is the manner of a subculture to exist like this. It happens by the demands of the actions, and necessary created words, and moments to make a certain activity run smoothly.<BR/><BR/> Take for example the subculture of "fishermen". I don't know if it's as noticeable but those who live the hobby of "fishing" with more dedication than the usual person have developed their own subculture. They have their own fishing outfits, and know which brand of rubber pants works better in a river as compared to a low lying lake. They have terminology, and discussions based on accumulated knowledge, and if you were a beginner at fishing you would be drowned in the complexity of how someone could bait a hook, or the differences between bank fishing, balloon fishing, trolling, casting.. etc. etc.<BR/><BR/>"Does this mean she is less of a karateka? No."<BR/><BR/>My question would be "How can anyone be "less" of a student of anything? We all learn, and therefore are all students regardless of how comfortable we are with the culture around us. <BR/><BR/>However, Does her discomfort with the rituals associated with Traditional Martial arts training affect her as she trains in this particular style of karate? That is a given. <BR/><BR/>If she is uncomfortable with the Sempai/Kohai relationship, with bowing, with the Japanese/ Okinawan/ Chinese/ or Korean terminology.. Then it would be a mental challenge to face those moments during her daily training. I would like to state that we all have our challenges as we pursue an avenue. For some of us it is financial, for some it is physical limitations, for some it is a difficulty comprehending certain patterns of movement, for some it is the interaction of people, and for some it is the different aspects of subculture. I could list even more things that could challenge us as we follow a path.. any path.. including fishing.<BR/><BR/>"So is this sub-culture really necessary? Not for everyone."<BR/><BR/>Like I mentioned before, the sub-cultures create themselves through the needs of that desired set of actions, words, and teachings. To study the art of war, certain aspects have to be in place. Discipline, and respect for our Instructors, and training partners for example, otherwise too many students would not be able to walk home after a class. Whether we respond with "Osu", "Si", "Oui", "Yes SIR!", or "Hooyah!" depends on what we have been taught by our Instructor and more experienced students as being the desired response. If one chooses to train in a Traditional Martial art... ( emphasis on Traditional) Then I'd have to say that the Oriental based subculture is an central aspect of that training. If one only chooses to learn various methods of self defense in an informal atmosphere, there are clubs that exist with no bowing, no other language, no meditation, etc. I would like to emphasize that these "modern" clubs would still have some form of subculture to make studying the art of fighting run smoothly. (Such as in a military, or police academy)<BR/><BR/> "In that case, should it be imposed to everyone?"<BR/><BR/>Subcultures exist of their own.. Gather a group of young new mothers together once a week and watch, and listen to the subculture that exists and will develop. They will talk about the complexities of potty training, teething, etc. You will see how they will develop their own jokes, signals, and group dynamics. It's part of being human. We create "groups", and unite in various ways. Those who do not conform to a certain group will look for places in which they can belong.<BR/><BR/>For example, I do not enjoy extreme sports, therefore I would not be inclined to hang around with extreme sport people, wear the outfits, buy the equipment, and learn the terminology.Mirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01918610819952156537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18465541.post-6381528568157922772007-05-03T12:00:00.000-05:002007-05-03T12:00:00.000-05:00Can this "sub culture" intimidate newcomers?With t...Can this "sub culture" intimidate newcomers?<BR/><BR/>With the little military experience that I have, I am at home in a dojo because our behavior is quite similar (in fact, the "dojo" behavior has some of his origins that come from the Japanese military). This is not the case for my wife.<BR/><BR/>For her, she is a client of the dojo. She pays a service. She understands the teacher-student relationship but not the need for a strict hierarchy. She likes the art but not the "sub-culture" surrounding it. That is something she has accepted in order to continue practicing an art she now loves.<BR/><BR/>Does this mean she is less of a karateka? No. So is this sub-culture really necessary? Not for everyone. In that case, should it be imposed to everyone?<BR/><BR/>Great post!<BR/><BR/>MarcMrXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12143891013477605254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18465541.post-77574655839573341592007-05-02T18:02:00.000-05:002007-05-02T18:02:00.000-05:00Oops.. I didn't answer the main question.. "Can Ma...Oops.. I didn't answer the main question.. "Can Martial arts practice benefit our lives at large?"<BR/><BR/>Oh yes! I am a great believer that the skills that we learn in the dojo can be translated, and useful to us in the real world. However, we need a different environment than the everyday in which we can explore, and build these skills up.Mirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01918610819952156537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18465541.post-41738157585538924142007-05-02T18:00:00.000-05:002007-05-02T18:00:00.000-05:00Hi Martial Development, and welcome.You said "If w...Hi Martial Development, and welcome.<BR/><BR/>You said "If we do need a separate "culture" in which to employ our skills and knowledge, does this mean that martial arts practice cannot benefit our lives ar large?"<BR/><BR/>I feel that the separate karate "culture" allows us to create a new role within our psyche that permits us to explore areas within us that we normally wouldn't look at in regular life. i.e.: violence, humility, obedience, perseverance, pain control, emotional control.<BR/><BR/>As a wife, mother, or worker I would not allow someone to strike me on the chest, or grab my wrist and put me into a painful lock, but as a Black Belt it's just part of my training, and I actually look forwards to learning through this action.Mirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01918610819952156537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18465541.post-86689233735164530092007-05-01T15:17:00.000-05:002007-05-01T15:17:00.000-05:00If we do need a separate "culture" in which to emp...If we do need a separate "culture" in which to employ our skills and knowledge, does this mean that martial arts practice cannot benefit our lives ar large?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18465541.post-42879813992872179762007-04-30T14:45:00.000-05:002007-04-30T14:45:00.000-05:00:-)What a very nice comment.cheers!:-)<BR/><BR/>What a very nice comment.<BR/><BR/>cheers!Mathieuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06914289317924626891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18465541.post-60384741035400032762007-04-27T14:30:00.000-05:002007-04-27T14:30:00.000-05:00Thank you for the compliment, Colin.*Big blush*Thank you for the compliment, Colin.<BR/><BR/>*Big blush*Mirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01918610819952156537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18465541.post-75990467961089807382007-04-27T09:54:00.000-05:002007-04-27T09:54:00.000-05:00I think that Westerners are far more interested in...<I>I think that Westerners are far more interested in "looking out for number one" in their attitudes, behaviors, and language. I don't know why we developed this type of "placing ourselves as first on the list" kind of mentality... but it sure seems ingrained in there. "</I><BR/><BR/>Not in you Mir.<BR/><BR/>Just so that everyone knows - I have met Mir before, and I would say she is walking on the path. <BR/><BR/>ColinColin Weehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01777513509370303056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18465541.post-50376059979293749232007-04-27T08:47:00.000-05:002007-04-27T08:47:00.000-05:00That was really eye-opening Colin.. I enjoyed lear...That was really eye-opening Colin.. I enjoyed learning more about the mindset of the Shinto religion, and how the Japanese culture and language is based on maintaining each person's honor. <BR/><BR/>I think that Westerners are far more interested in "looking out for number one" in their attitudes, behaviors, and language. I don't know why we developed this type of "placing ourselves as first on the list" kind of mentality... but it sure seems ingrained in there. "I only want what is due to me", "Why did he/she get more than I?", "What's in it for me?"Mirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01918610819952156537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18465541.post-13695896081194733252007-04-27T08:42:00.000-05:002007-04-27T08:42:00.000-05:00Wow Anonymous! Another fantastic link! I remember...Wow Anonymous! Another fantastic link! I remember studying that experiment, and how shocked I was by the results. The webpage that you referred us to really brings all of that information into a well organized, and readable format. I love the last couple of sentences:<BR/><BR/>"Before you make assumptions about a person based on his or her behavior, remember that behavior is also a function of the situation, which can be more powerful than you might expect. "<BR/><BR/>It's so obvious that the situation that we are placed in, the expectations, and assumptions that we hold within us, and the authority figure's presence will affect how much we allow ourselves to be manipulated by others.Mirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01918610819952156537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18465541.post-36002241212245617482007-04-27T07:22:00.000-05:002007-04-27T07:22:00.000-05:00An interesting and related article at Budo BluesCo...An interesting and related article at <A HREF="http://budoblues.blogspot.com/2006/12/heart-spirit-mind.html" REL="nofollow">Budo Blues</A><BR/><BR/>ColinColin Weehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01777513509370303056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18465541.post-79023578486632627652007-04-26T21:15:00.000-05:002007-04-26T21:15:00.000-05:00http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~wwu/psychology/compli...http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/<BR/>~wwu/psychology/compliance.<BR/>shtmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com