I’ve been involved in the Martial Arts for nearly two decades now training, teaching and researching. Not just learning technique, but learning ideas, beliefs and philosophy. In my time I’ve experienced, witnessed and heard a lot about martial arts. What I’ve come to learn is the fact that many people are clueless as to what the martial arts are, what they used to be, what they’re becoming and everything in between. However, this is to be expected as you have to practice it to understand it. This is true in anything you do, whether it be dancing, playing football, learning to play music or learning to sew. There are myths and misconceptions in all of these from the outside looking in.

What’s startling to me is how many martial arts students and even seasoned instructors STILL seem to cling to these myths and misconceptions. So I’ve decided to write up some of my thoughts on this matter and post them here. I’ve categorized these subjects below. Please keep in mind these are all based my own opinions through my experiences in training, teaching, speaking with students, speaking with non-students, and speaking with fellow Instructors. I highly encourage discussion of any and all of these subjects as I am by no means finished learning and understanding the martial arts and I’m sure over the years my thoughts will be added to or even changed with further understanding of the arts. If you believe I am wrong in my thoughts, tell me and prove me wrong! I encourage this! It’s when we close off our minds and never open ourselves to changing our minds that we halt all gains of intelligence and stop learning. So open your mind, ask why, and accept the fact that even the most trusted teacher could be wrong.

Know of other myths and misconceptions that I’ve missed? Contact us with what you’d like to see posted and discussed here and we’ll get to work on it!

[ul style=”11″] [li]Martial Arts are all about fighting [/li] [li]Sport vs. Self Defense [/li] [li]Horizontal Punch vs. Vertical Punch[/li] [li]Dim-mak (pressure points)[/li] [li]Size and strength in martial arts doesn’t matter [/li] [li]My martial art is better than your martial arts [/li] [li]Military fighting systems, such as Krav Maga, are the best self defense systems to be learned for self-defesense [/li] [li]The Hook punch is the most powerful punch you can throw[/li] [/ul]
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More Myths and Misconceptions about Martial Arts

Part I – Martial Arts are all about Fighting

Part II – Sport vs. self-Defense

Part III – Size and Strength are of no importance in Martial Arts

Part IV – Horizontal Punch vs. Vertical Punch

Part V – Dim Mak (pressure points)

Part VI – Military fighting systems, such as Krav Maga, are the best self defense systems to be learned for self defense.

Part VII – My martial art is better than your martial art

Part VIII – The Hook punch is the most powerful punch you can throw