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Hey, Show Me Something Karate
October 9, 2008 | Author: Matthew | Filed under: Martial Arts, Tips and Tricks, karate, mindset
Here is a classic problem that every martial artist will run into sooner or later. If you’ve experienced it already, you probably cringed just reading the title of this post. If you haven’t…well let’s say you have something to look forward to.
There is a strange biological occurrence that happens in people when they initially find out that you do a martial art. First, they will give you a quick look up and down. This is a flash of assessment that basically leads them to think one of two things:
1. Ohh great, this crazy is gonna punch a hole in my wall or something.
2. THAT guy/girl does karate? Haha yea right.
Of course this occurs very quickly and is promptly covered up with a pleasantry, such as: “ohh wow, cool.” or “ohh like Jackie Chan. Sure, sure.”
You, the martial artist, will find this moment awkward. Luckily these brief exchanges are usually filled with a nervous, complimentary energy. The person is trying to get on your good side just in case you’re a death touch ninja.
Unfortunately, it is unlikely to end there. If the ‘friend’ who has just found out about your training is a bold, forthcoming individual, they will meet you with skepticism very shortly after the pleasantries have subsided. People with average temperament will wait until the evening has worn on, or even until you’ve hung out a couple of times. Sooner or later, they will remark:
“Hey! Show me something karate!”
And they will demand it with this look on their face:
They’ve seen plenty of kung fu movies after all, and they are pretty sure you can’t do the stuff they’ve seen. Now you’re put into a bad spot. You’ve probably been taught over and over again that you should never use your abilities unless it is absolutely necessary. Chauvinistic displays only serve to stroke egos and intimidate innocent people.
But then, on the other hand, you don’t want to be prodded and snickered at every time you see this person. And in a lot of cases (close friends, family members, coworkers, etc.), you are GOING to be seeing this person again.
What to do?
I’ll give you the three escape routes that I have developed that coincide with martial arts theory, and leave your assailant satisfied (at least to a degree).
Option 1: Excuse Yourself From the Situation
This is the most temporary solution, but still works for the short term. You can excuse yourself from demonstrating your abilities with a legitimate concern. For example, if you are in the workplace, you can very easily suggest that such activity would be inappropriate for the office and you fear repercussions from the boss.
If you are in your home, or someone else’s home, you can use the excuse of tight quarters for fear of breaking something. Most people will begrudgingly accept this, although if it’s a nice day, you’ll have to be ready for the ‘let’s just go outside’ suggestion.
A good catch-all excuse is injury. Cite sore shoulders or a tweaked knee. If you’ve got a real injury story, launch right into it. This will probably take the conversation away from karate and into different topics thereafter.
Option 2: Make It A Lesson
This is a pretty good option. If you’ve got the time, take your questioner’s challenge as a chance to enlighten him/her. This works especially well if there are a few people around. Start off by using your questioner as uke for a few self defense techniques. Do it at a fairly speedy pace at first otherwise you’ll just get more skepticism about “that fancy stuff not actually working.” After you’ve shown it work for real, gather everyone in a little closer and begin to explain WHY it works. Most people will be really interested and entertained.
Once you’ve hooked everyone’s attention, let them try the technique on you. People have a natural comfort zone that they don’t like crossed, which is why going around and doing your technique on people is a bad idea. Instead, put them in the driver’s seat. Reassure them that you won’t be hitting them or fighting back, and that they can simply try the technique on you. Make sure you don’t resist too hard as it will shatter their trust.
Once everyone is interested, laughing, and feeling surprised by their new found technique, let them pair up with each other and try it out some more, very slowly. By the end of this impromptu class, people will be happy to know that you know karate and will begin to ask you earnest questions with little sense of incredulity.
Option 3: Everything I Do Is Karate
This is the hardest one to pull off actually, but for veterans of getting asked to do awkward demos, it can be the most fun. What you do is explain the reality of what karate is all about (sounds simple, right?)
Karate, when practiced with your full heart, seeps into every movement you make. The way you walk, the way you breath, the way you think, all becomes extensions of your martial art. Furthermore, your martial art becomes an extension of you. In the dojo, you’re no longer doing kata by the textbook. You are doing your kata, even though an impartial observer wouldn’t recognize the significant difference.
When someone asks you to do something karate, you simply respond that everything you do is karate. Standing in front of them. Talking to them. The distance you are standing away from them and the angle your body has adopted in regards to their centerline. The timing in the sway of their stance. The look in their eye.
You’ve assessed it all and needn’t even think about how to respond because the outcome has been predetermined, like surrounding your opponent’s king in chess.
If your questioner is brazen and continues to push the issue, you can prompt him/her to throw any technique they like, and you simply respond with a controlled counter (hint: heads up for a right punch). This small example of effectiveness + technique will likely quiet any further concerns they might have.
Once again, only use option three if one and two seem out of the question…or if you feel like hearing yourself wax poetic about martial arts philosophy.
Not that I do, of course.
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11 people have left comments
[...] Sport news by Matthew [...]
Hey, nice post! I really enjoyed how you provided three options and broke each one down in such a clear and concise manner.
Great article, as always! Keep up the great work!
I used to get this a lot when I worked with teenagers at my church. They always wanted me to show them something. I almost always used option 2. They liked learning that kind of stuff. And since most of the stuff I worked on (Bujinkan Ninjitsu) was self defense, it was appropriate
I like number two very much. I may have to use that the next time I get questioned by a guy from the distribution department at my company as to “why are you taking karate if you can’t defend yourself?” I rather like the idea of making HIM actually try it out himself!!
I have found that my reputation as the most boring person imaginable keeps me from being asked any question that might actually result in me giving an explanation.
Method Number 2 is probably the best out of the choices you put up, it’s often the one used. This allows you to actually get them hands on and interested which has a lot more “wow” factor then just doing it yourself.
There seems to be one method you left out, which I tend to use myself. It’s something along the lines of this: “Oh, I’m not too great, I’ve got a long way to go. ^_^;;”. Putting yourself at a very low and humble level a lot of times puts people off simply because they don’t usually care unless you’re actually really good. They want to see the “tricks”.
If they say that’s fine, they’d just like to see some moves and are curious, then that usually proves they aren’t going to be childish about the situation. This becomes a good chance to then move to Method Number 2 as they’ll most likely respond with good intent to your directions.
At least, that’s just my opinion.
Marguerite - I’m sure you get it even worse, what with a few puffy chested guys walking around your office. I have the luxury of making it a dude-to-dude talk.
Savage - Haha, I fully endorse your unusual self defense method of boringness.
Zyaga - Excellent addition. It’s good advice for disarming the situation and keeping with the humble spirit of the arts.
I really enjoyed this post (as I do most of your posts). I especially liked the response that EVERYTHING you do is karate. So very true…which makes that answer good enough.
Option #4) Shoot a Ki Ball and knock a lamp off of a coffee table. Works every time…
In all seriousness, Well said as always. I quite like Zyaga’s option as well. “oh I’m the bottom of the barrel.” Takes mucho self denial and guts, but in the long run, who wants everyone knowing your true skill level anyway, right? He/she might be the one to have a few too many drinks, or want to impress someone (or both) and pick you as the perfect example.
Then again, maybe that scenario is a completely different post in itself
Thanks you Matt-san.
On a short second note (hit submit way too fast). As you’re likely to get the ever wondering question “WHAT BELT ARE YOU!??!!?!?” (Followed by expressions closely related to those when you’re one number away from hitting the power-ball lottery). Simply lift your shirt (if it’s tucked in omit this step) and cite whatever color belt you happen to have on that day.
That works great for me, seeing as I’m no black belt and it would just be a disappointment to them anyway!
Good post! If I have reasons for not wanting to show someone something I’ll usually just start talking about technique and style and use lots of foreign words, you know- go all martial arts nerd on them. They quickly become bored listening to me and leave.