Comments on: How to Piss Off Your Training Partner, Part 1 http://www.wimsblog.com/2009/05/how-to-piss-off-your-training-partner-part-1/ Wim Demeere's thoughts on Martial Arts and Self Defense Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:03:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Wim http://www.wimsblog.com/2009/05/how-to-piss-off-your-training-partner-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-732 Wim Sat, 30 Jan 2010 13:29:40 +0000 http://www.wimsblog.com/?p=209#comment-732 I totally understand Garry. I'm not your size but by no means a lightweight. I think there are several reasons why people pick on heavyweights. They seem to make a bunch of assumptions (we're all slow, have no technique and always rely on strength, etc.) that may or may not be true. Instead of actually checking to see if they are right with these assumptions, they just pretend all heavyweights are the same. It's probably easier that way. Another aspect is probably just insecurity. However much you might fool yourself into believing you can take on the world, when you're facing a heavyweight, even in class, it's confronting for lighter people. They are forced to acknowledge they might no be as good as they think they are. Nitpicking on the details of your technique is a way of stroking their ego and making sure they can hold on to their own beliefs. For the record: I'm not saying lighter people can't beat heavyweights. Happens all the time. I am saying that in the real world, size matters. It isn't everything, but it sure is an important factor. I totally understand Garry. I’m not your size but by no means a lightweight. I think there are several reasons why people pick on heavyweights. They seem to make a bunch of assumptions (we’re all slow, have no technique and always rely on strength, etc.) that may or may not be true. Instead of actually checking to see if they are right with these assumptions, they just pretend all heavyweights are the same. It’s probably easier that way.
Another aspect is probably just insecurity. However much you might fool yourself into believing you can take on the world, when you’re facing a heavyweight, even in class, it’s confronting for lighter people. They are forced to acknowledge they might no be as good as they think they are. Nitpicking on the details of your technique is a way of stroking their ego and making sure they can hold on to their own beliefs.

For the record: I’m not saying lighter people can’t beat heavyweights. Happens all the time. I am saying that in the real world, size matters. It isn’t everything, but it sure is an important factor.

]]> By: Wim http://www.wimsblog.com/2009/05/how-to-piss-off-your-training-partner-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-2117 Wim Sat, 30 Jan 2010 13:29:00 +0000 http://www.wimsblog.com/?p=209#comment-2117 I totally understand Garry. I'm not your size but by no means a lightweight. I think there are several reasons why people pick on heavyweights. They seem to make a bunch of assumptions (we're all slow, have no technique and always rely on strength, etc.) that may or may not be true. Instead of actually checking to see if they are right with these assumptions, they just pretend all heavyweights are the same. It's probably easier that way. Another aspect is probably just insecurity. However much you might fool yourself into believing you can take on the world, when you're facing a heavyweight, even in class, it's confronting for lighter people. They are forced to acknowledge they might no be as good as they think they are. Nitpicking on the details of your technique is a way of stroking their ego and making sure they can hold on to their own beliefs. For the record: I'm not saying lighter people can't beat heavyweights. Happens all the time. I am saying that in the real world, size matters. It isn't everything, but it sure is an important factor. I totally understand Garry. I’m not your size but by no means a lightweight. I think there are several reasons why people pick on heavyweights. They seem to make a bunch of assumptions (we’re all slow, have no technique and always rely on strength, etc.) that may or may not be true. Instead of actually checking to see if they are right with these assumptions, they just pretend all heavyweights are the same. It’s probably easier that way.
Another aspect is probably just insecurity. However much you might fool yourself into believing you can take on the world, when you’re facing a heavyweight, even in class, it’s confronting for lighter people. They are forced to acknowledge they might no be as good as they think they are. Nitpicking on the details of your technique is a way of stroking their ego and making sure they can hold on to their own beliefs.

For the record: I’m not saying lighter people can’t beat heavyweights. Happens all the time. I am saying that in the real world, size matters. It isn’t everything, but it sure is an important factor.

]]> By: Garry Hodgins http://www.wimsblog.com/2009/05/how-to-piss-off-your-training-partner-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-729 Garry Hodgins Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:33:50 +0000 http://www.wimsblog.com/?p=209#comment-729 I find that people are always picking on me whenever I do applications training, this may be because I'm 6 3' and about 260 lbs. When I started training I was very patient and used to think it was some strange moral lesson about humility which was part and parcel of training in the martial arts. I remember doing grasping bird's tail entry technique dozens of times with a guy who kept striking my arms so hard that both went dead and were covered in hideous bruises for weeks. I worked on being soft and getting the mechanics right because I was concerned the teacher was watching me. I soon discovered that it was o.k. to give as well as recieve. This helped me to enjoy classes considerably but didnt stop one training partner, who was constantly stubbornly resisting being thrown, explaining why I was doing the technique incorrectly and deigning to correct my mistakes every time he got up from the floor. I thanked him politely for the lesson. I've also had the training partners who assume that because you are a larger gentleman that means that they dont have to attack you in the way they are supposed to because, for some strange supernatural reason, you should be able to defend a sweep with a technique designed to defend against a straight punch. I've also been the asshole though. As a beginner, training with a bit of a legend who was about 70 lbs lighter than me, whilst training some throws I added the brilliant instinctive technique of grabbing the man's testicles whilst he was in mid air and falling to the ground at an amazing speed.(I know, the jokes are endless!) Luckily, I let go...Even more fortunate was his reaction. We both had a laugh about it. I think social embarassement saved me a beating that day. So, I think beginners should be gently directed to train in a way that will accelerate their learning of technique while minimising the damage they do to themselves and others when their blood is up. And, for goodness sakes give us big guys a chance to develop our techniques... I find that people are always picking on me whenever I do applications training, this may be because I’m 6 3′ and about 260 lbs. When I started training I was very patient and used to think it was some strange moral lesson about humility which was part and parcel of training in the martial arts. I remember doing grasping bird’s tail entry technique dozens of times with a guy who kept striking my arms so hard that both went dead and were covered in hideous bruises for weeks. I worked on being soft and getting the mechanics right because I was concerned the teacher was watching me. I soon discovered that it was o.k. to give as well as recieve. This helped me to enjoy classes considerably but didnt stop one training partner, who was constantly stubbornly resisting being thrown, explaining why I was doing the technique incorrectly and deigning to correct my mistakes every time he got up from the floor. I thanked him politely for the lesson. I’ve also had the training partners who assume that because you are a larger gentleman that means that they dont have to attack you in the way they are supposed to because, for some strange supernatural reason, you should be able to defend a sweep with a technique designed to defend against a straight punch. I’ve also been the asshole though. As a beginner, training with a bit of a legend who was about 70 lbs lighter than me, whilst training some throws I added the brilliant instinctive technique of grabbing the man’s testicles whilst he was in mid air and falling to the ground at an amazing speed.(I know, the jokes are endless!) Luckily, I let go…Even more fortunate was his reaction. We both had a laugh about it. I think social embarassement saved me a beating that day. So, I think beginners should be gently directed to train in a way that will accelerate their learning of technique while minimising the damage they do to themselves and others when their blood is up. And, for goodness sakes give us big guys a chance to develop our techniques…

]]> By: Garry Hodgins http://www.wimsblog.com/2009/05/how-to-piss-off-your-training-partner-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-2116 Garry Hodgins Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:33:00 +0000 http://www.wimsblog.com/?p=209#comment-2116 I find that people are always picking on me whenever I do applications training, this may be because I'm 6 3' and about 260 lbs. When I started training I was very patient and used to think it was some strange moral lesson about humility which was part and parcel of training in the martial arts. I remember doing grasping bird's tail entry technique dozens of times with a guy who kept striking my arms so hard that both went dead and were covered in hideous bruises for weeks. I worked on being soft and getting the mechanics right because I was concerned the teacher was watching me. I soon discovered that it was o.k. to give as well as recieve. This helped me to enjoy classes considerably but didnt stop one training partner, who was constantly stubbornly resisting being thrown, explaining why I was doing the technique incorrectly and deigning to correct my mistakes every time he got up from the floor. I thanked him politely for the lesson. I've also had the training partners who assume that because you are a larger gentleman that means that they dont have to attack you in the way they are supposed to because, for some strange supernatural reason, you should be able to defend a sweep with a technique designed to defend against a straight punch. I've also been the asshole though. As a beginner, training with a bit of a legend who was about 70 lbs lighter than me, whilst training some throws I added the brilliant instinctive technique of grabbing the man's testicles whilst he was in mid air and falling to the ground at an amazing speed.(I know, the jokes are endless!) Luckily, I let go...Even more fortunate was his reaction. We both had a laugh about it. I think social embarassement saved me a beating that day. So, I think beginners should be gently directed to train in a way that will accelerate their learning of technique while minimising the damage they do to themselves and others when their blood is up. And, for goodness sakes give us big guys a chance to develop our techniques... I find that people are always picking on me whenever I do applications training, this may be because I’m 6 3′ and about 260 lbs. When I started training I was very patient and used to think it was some strange moral lesson about humility which was part and parcel of training in the martial arts. I remember doing grasping bird’s tail entry technique dozens of times with a guy who kept striking my arms so hard that both went dead and were covered in hideous bruises for weeks. I worked on being soft and getting the mechanics right because I was concerned the teacher was watching me. I soon discovered that it was o.k. to give as well as recieve. This helped me to enjoy classes considerably but didnt stop one training partner, who was constantly stubbornly resisting being thrown, explaining why I was doing the technique incorrectly and deigning to correct my mistakes every time he got up from the floor. I thanked him politely for the lesson. I’ve also had the training partners who assume that because you are a larger gentleman that means that they dont have to attack you in the way they are supposed to because, for some strange supernatural reason, you should be able to defend a sweep with a technique designed to defend against a straight punch. I’ve also been the asshole though. As a beginner, training with a bit of a legend who was about 70 lbs lighter than me, whilst training some throws I added the brilliant instinctive technique of grabbing the man’s testicles whilst he was in mid air and falling to the ground at an amazing speed.(I know, the jokes are endless!) Luckily, I let go…Even more fortunate was his reaction. We both had a laugh about it. I think social embarassement saved me a beating that day. So, I think beginners should be gently directed to train in a way that will accelerate their learning of technique while minimising the damage they do to themselves and others when their blood is up. And, for goodness sakes give us big guys a chance to develop our techniques…

]]> By: Wim http://www.wimsblog.com/2009/05/how-to-piss-off-your-training-partner-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Wim Sat, 30 May 2009 10:31:21 +0000 http://www.wimsblog.com/?p=209#comment-35 Yes. That's what I meant with #10, going all out all the time. It's just silly and dangerous. But hey, they probably look real cool going that hard, at least in their own minds... :-) Yes. That’s what I meant with #10, going all out all the time. It’s just silly and dangerous. But hey, they probably look real cool going that hard, at least in their own minds… :-)

]]> By: Tannage the taijiquan dude http://www.wimsblog.com/2009/05/how-to-piss-off-your-training-partner-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Tannage the taijiquan dude Sat, 30 May 2009 10:25:38 +0000 http://www.wimsblog.com/?p=209#comment-34 Well said, there are an uncountable number of idiots out there who look upon training as an ego trip or some sort of "proving ground". Differences in attitude one can work around with efficient communication, but it's hard to work with someone if their attitude just plain stinks. What really raises my heckles is when your training partner keeps thinking that drilling a technique has to be a life-and-death training scenario and every time you punch at him he has a Vietnam flashback.. oh that and those who think that they're in some sort of amateur WWF ring. Well said, there are an uncountable number of idiots out there who look upon training as an ego trip or some sort of “proving ground”.

Differences in attitude one can work around with efficient communication, but it’s hard to work with someone if their attitude just plain stinks.

What really raises my heckles is when your training partner keeps thinking that drilling a technique has to be a life-and-death training scenario and every time you punch at him he has a Vietnam flashback.. oh that and those who think that they’re in some sort of amateur WWF ring.

]]> By: Tannage the taijiquan dude http://www.wimsblog.com/2009/05/how-to-piss-off-your-training-partner-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-2115 Tannage the taijiquan dude Sat, 30 May 2009 10:25:00 +0000 http://www.wimsblog.com/?p=209#comment-2115 Well said, there are an uncountable number of idiots out there who look upon training as an ego trip or some sort of "proving ground". Differences in attitude one can work around with efficient communication, but it's hard to work with someone if their attitude just plain stinks. What really raises my heckles is when your training partner keeps thinking that drilling a technique has to be a life-and-death training scenario and every time you punch at him he has a Vietnam flashback.. oh that and those who think that they're in some sort of amateur WWF ring. Well said, there are an uncountable number of idiots out there who look upon training as an ego trip or some sort of “proving ground”.

Differences in attitude one can work around with efficient communication, but it’s hard to work with someone if their attitude just plain stinks.

What really raises my heckles is when your training partner keeps thinking that drilling a technique has to be a life-and-death training scenario and every time you punch at him he has a Vietnam flashback.. oh that and those who think that they’re in some sort of amateur WWF ring.

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