From: spacefox@acs.bu.edu (Godfrey Degamo)
Newsgroups: alt.self-improve
Subject: Re: neuro linguistic programm
Date: 7 Jan 93 05:50:32 GMT
Distribution: alt
Organization: Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

In article <1993Jan6.2539.1023@dosgate> "glen mead" <glen.mead@canrem.com> writes:
>curt@access.digex.com (curt williams) writes:
>
>CW>This might be just the ticket you need, but you have to be careful.
>CW>Martial arts schools/clubs are notorious for inconsistent quality,
>CW>and some of them are out-and-out theives.
>
>Yes, I've heard this as well.  I'll be checking out as many as I can.  Any
>ways that you recommend which might help me in weeding out the low quality
>schools and/or thieves?
>
>CW>You ought to check out rec.martial-arts.  Very active net, with a
>CW>lot of experienced, interested and helpful folks.
>
>Will do...I have been intending to do this but I haven't gotten around to
>this yet.  My mail packet has blossomed to quite a size these days. :-)
>
>Glen Mead - RZ/RD 500 Owners Group
>---
> * Amiga-Reader V2.00B * 
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>Canada Remote Systems  - Toronto, Ontario
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The best schools are the ones that aren't advertised.  I don't know
how you can find one if you don't know about it!  Look out for
enthusiasm, if he's a good teacher, than he won't give you a sales
talk.  He'd be interested in knowing whether you are comitted to a
life time pursuit.
     It would be nice if you can find a master who teaches on his own
spare time and does not teach as a living.  Those that do teach for a
living have interest in making profits.  I would start truly doubt a
school that costs more than $50 dollars a year.  Anything over $100
dollars and you're being ripped off.
     A friend of mine goes to this "school."  (It was never advertised
as one.  It spread by word of mouth.)  He had to take a personality
test to see if he would use it for any "wrongful purposes."  If he
passed and was accepted.  The master was traditional.  All fighting
was full contact, no protection.  (Except, optionally, a cup.)  Each
student was had to take written tests.  Training included such things
as being swept on concrete floors.  Lifting logs with arm extended to
strengthen grip and forearm muscles.  Ability to take punches,
weapons, etc... The school was tiger-claw, a kung-fu style.  (I
believe the master came from fu ja pai (sic?) a famous kung-fu school
in New York City.)  All this and much more for $20 dollars a month.
And, that was to cover for the cost of the building they trained in.
-no profit.  The master was an IBM employee.
     If you're in it for the fighting, I recommend you look at kung-fu
schools first.  Kung-fu is more practical than Tae Kwon Do in fights
that are at close range.  Tae Kwon Do usually stresses kicks which is
ideal for open spaces, although such situations are few, most fights
take place at close range in such places as bars. -more suitable for
Kung-Fu which stresses the hands.  (yes, generalizing here.  Respond
to me if you like, but don't make this group something that it isn't.)
Additionally, typical of Kung-fu tournaments, there is no rules.
Every part of the body is a legitimate target.  You may do anything
you wish.  This is potentially dangerous -usually is.  But, does
prepare you for the "no rules" of street fighting.  (Where "no rules"
are carried out even further: use anything you want!  fight to the
death if it suits your fancy.)
     Furthermore, in terms of legality, if you kick someone, you can be
brought up on charges with assault with a deadly weapon. -your legs.
This may vary from state to state.  In New York -or at least in my
county, or either my school ripped me off- you have to register as a
lethal weapon and you get this nice id that comes along with it.
(Great for impressing the babes looking for excitement. -just kidding.)
     If you are looking for quality of schools, I again suggest that
you take a look at Kung-Fu schools first.  I'm often embarrassed that
I started off in Tae-Kwon-Do, a popular martial arts technique in
America and also very commercialized.
     My experience tells me that martial arts will not give you added
self-confidence nor concentration.  It can only refine them.  Negative
images about oneself are self-enforcing.  I've seen many timid people
looking for self confidence get beaten horribly in school fights.
     One of the worst things that can result from martial arts
training -aside from physical injury- is a sense of "false
confidence."  Confidence that is unjustified is perhaps worse than
fear.  I've seen a friend, black belt in Tae Kwon Do, get the living
daylights knocked out of him in a bar room brawl by someone who did
not know any martial arts.  And there is another case where a cocky
friend of mine thought he could take on a gang with his training and
he ended up in a hospital.  (If you are a master at martial arts, and
you are approached by large gang of thugs, what do you do?  My master
puts it nicely, "Run!")
     There are other benefits to martial arts other than fighting, but
that's a subject for another posting.  But, enough of the fighting,
which, nowadays, can be simply done with a gun.  If any other
situation, perhaps this quote may help you.  I forgot who it's from.
It has given me inspiration at times:

     "When in doubt, play the fool."

                                ----------
                                -G. Degamo,
                                 spacefox@acs.bu.edu