In fairness to contact sports / martial arts, when done properly, they can be significantly less dangerous, teach discipline and respect, instill a sense of realism and proportionality regarding the application of violence, keep you in decent physical shape, provide your life with a routine structure, and provide some real world socializing/social group.
Many also come with some kind of a philosophy that stresses self defense and essentially a ‘duty to retreat’ mentality: violence is always the last resort.
Many also come with some kind of a philosophy that stresses self defense and essentially a ‘duty to retreat’ mentality: violence is always the last resort.
Can confirm, every sensei I’ve had pushed this mentality constantly. The people who joined to “learn how to beat people up” never lasted very long when the first thing we’d teach is “how to run away”
See also: monster trucks, demolition derbies, fireworks, contact sports, and so much more. Wasteful and dangerous? Yep. Fun? Also yep.
In fairness to contact sports / martial arts, when done properly, they can be significantly less dangerous, teach discipline and respect, instill a sense of realism and proportionality regarding the application of violence, keep you in decent physical shape, provide your life with a routine structure, and provide some real world socializing/social group.
Many also come with some kind of a philosophy that stresses self defense and essentially a ‘duty to retreat’ mentality: violence is always the last resort.
Can confirm, every sensei I’ve had pushed this mentality constantly. The people who joined to “learn how to beat people up” never lasted very long when the first thing we’d teach is “how to run away”