Taken from this thread here -

http://www.fightingarts.com/ubbthreads/s...page=0&vc=1

Is it a given that martial arts training is appropriate for anyone and everyone? Is being exclusionary mean or practical?

Your thoughts.

IMO, no.

Can pretty much everyone benefit and improve their skills thu MA training?

Sure.

That being said however, MA takes discipline, patience, desire, and effort--and sadly many people don't have much of those.

Without them, progress and overall achivement is going to be limited.

Not eveyone is "coachable."

CXT nailed it for the most part.


But I would add that there is a martial art for just about everyone. Don't want to work or sweat? There's one for you. Just want to pay for your rank? There's one for you.

Want to train hard, get hit in the face, have your ass kicked and your arms locked? Well...that's probably not for everyone.


-John

I voted yes, because honestly I think if someone is really enthused enough to come to classes and try hard, then they will progress. Perhaps progress will be uneven amongst different people, but everyone can progress.

We don't ask the question "is soccer for everyone?" do we? The answer is obviously yes, but soccer players have to want to play and work hard, have the right attitude etc. This is a given. How is learning a martial art any different?

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I think if someone is really enthused enough to come to classes and try hard, then they will progress.

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the "if" implies that some will not be enthused. Hence, not for "everyone" only those who want to. On that pretext, I agree. Everyone can do it to some extent and get benefits. But, it's not necessarily FOR everyone; some don't like it, don't want to do it, don't even see the point, etc.

So, I said no. Just the way I read the poll question.

I said 'no'. Even acknowledging the varying degrees of 'martial-ness' found in different schools/styles/teachers, not everyone will find value in training. If that were so, no one would be crying about student attrition, or 'how to get women interested' in their school.

No. If it was... the group we call "everyone" would be doing it.

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the "if" implies that some will not be enthused. Hence, not for "everyone" only those who want to. On that pretext, I agree. Everyone can do it to some extent and get benefits. But, it's not necessarily FOR everyone; some don't like it, don't want to do it, don't even see the point, etc.

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yes, I think we agree on this pint then. I am just trying to make the point that I really don't see martial arts as any different from countless other hobbies- football, tennis, stamp collecting, whatever(maybe not the last one )

Nothing is for everyone, thats why there are choices. Opportunities to do something else if something is not right for you. People's tastes, values, interests, and goals are all different from person to person. It would be nice to think that since everyone could benefit from MA that it would be for everyone but it is not.

Not smoking has been medically proven to be good for everyone but how many people smoke? Exercise is good for everyone but how many people dont? Somethings people simply do not have the desire or motivation to participate in, whether it is good for them or not, whether they will benefit from it or not. It is just that simple so from a stand point of desire, motivation, and committment, no, MA's isnt for everyone.

Scottie