As a martial artist how have people described you?

Question

not as a fighter or even a sensei or student but as a person who knows martial arts

Answer 1

Why? This question has no real answer. I train with police officers, bouncers, doctors, lawyers, grad students (UC Berkeley, no less), chefs, professional actors (who you would recognize), immigrants, contractors, high school students, women, salesmen, teachers, slackers, stoners, musicians (classical and contemporary, rock and rap), writers, mechanics, engineers, business owners, entrepreneurs, tattoo artists, and on and on and on.  

I guess what i am saying is, being a "martial artists" will only help you better understand who you are, not mold you into some ideal persona. anyone who is telling you otherwise is just trying to get your money.

Answer 2

I get calls from friends and family quite often - to the point where it is annoying - because they "know I can answer" their "questions about anything".

I have been told that I am "stoic" in my demeanor.

Others say they are afraid to approach me sometimes because I look angry or indifferent. I guess that goes back to "Stoic".

Some say I am cold and unemotional.

Wow, I guess I am "stoic".  

Answer 3

Most people I know casually don't know that I practice martial arts and fight in tourneys.  They just know me as a friend, neighbor, co-worker, and a good father/husband.  

The few that know I train were all surprised to find out.  I'm very even-keel, not prone to violence or anger (I rarely use foul language); just a confident healthy person.  People attribute the fact that I don't drink or smoke to the "healthy guy" - not to a devout martial artist.

It's no secret, I just don't talk about my training outside of class. When a person finds out or figures out that I train, it seems like there is an "aha!" moment.  They realize WHY I am confident and HOW I keep in shape (and occasionally have a visible scrape or bruise).  But it suddenly makes sense.  Then I become an instructor, confidante, or ambassador for MA in general (which is why I don't talk about it much outside here/class - and why I stay anonymous in here.)

I constantly think of Bhudda in these situations - when he was asked "What did you do before enlightenment?" he shrugged and said - "chop wood, carry water".  The questioner then asked "What do you do now- AFTER enlightenment?" - Bhudda said "chop wood, carry water".

I think of a "true" martial artist as being like that - no different yet completely different from others.

Answer 4

Most of my friends and people who know me describe me as one of the mellowest and nicest people they know. I've had people who have known me for years professionally or just through association and not known anything about my background in martial arts just be completely shocked when they find out that I have 2 black belts and fought competitively for 20 years. The reaction is almost always the same, "Well I just can't believe it, your so mellow and laid back and such a nice guy. I never would have imagined you fighting for fun." My response is pretty much always the same to, when you know and i mean absolutely know that you can handle yourself in almost any situation, it just makes it that much easier to be mellow and polite and considerate toward others. I am a very happy very mellow person and I owe a good portion of that to the lessons I have learned in having done martial arts for most of my life.

Answer 5

They say I often look 'lost'.

Not really, though, I keep saying I'm just being pensive but they say 'lost' is better.

...b*stards...

Answer 6

Several times I've heard that other have described me as being straight forward. That I don't pretend, but tell things honestly.  I've been described as talkative, but informative Once an old student told my senior student that I was very picky about the smallest detail. In general those that know me know that I care about others and am always willing to help others. I've been described as being cool in dangerous situations. The same person said that they would never want to have to fight me. It surprises some people when they meet me after having been told about me. For some reason they are surprised to find that I'm only 5' 6-1/2" tall and 153 pounds.

Personally I like it when I hear that I'm honest and tell it as it is.  As I get older, I'd like to be remembered when I'm gone as soeone that always helped others.

Answer 7

I've been described as quiet and says it as it is.( outside the internet )

Other than that I honestly don't know what people think of me on yahoo but I have contacts on here who I consider to be very knowledgeable in their respective styles and very much appreciate having them as contacts.

Best wishes :)***

Answer 8

I never try to be what "others" want me to be, so we can just get that out of the way for public information, although, it is funny how I am in a career field of acting, so that is what my job entails.

I have always been called a wierdo, a dork, and a wealth of knowledge, an idiot, sweet, silly, funny, and crazy. I have also been told I'm a neat freak, I'm really strict, I don't give any chances or leeway, I'm kind, confident, and consistent with my emotions and thoughts.

People like me, and enjoy my help when they ask for it.  I tend to have a lot of people confide in me and ask for my help, even if they don't know me very well. I enjoy being trusted to that degree, but it can put me in some pretty precarious situations whenever one person's secrets affect another and I'm friends with them both.

Answer 9

Analytical, all technique, no recklessness, precise, fluid. I'm far too technical a fighter, and generally play defense in sparring, my goal isn't to win, but to be the last one standing. That's strategy, technique wise, people have noticed that I stick to low stances and feint a lot. I only block when I have to and evasion is key. Finally, I don't weaken by doing many hits, I control limbs. That's really what I do but people see me as very difficult to hit.

Answer 10

Hmm ... I stopped telling people (friends, work acquaintances and even some family members) that (I practised karate) about 6 months after I started karate because I got the impression that they didn't believe me or simply thought that I was just saying that I did karate to get attention or something like that.

LOL am I explaining this badly!!!

I suppose that I started to really understand the true meaning of humility and of not wanting any 'false glory' the 'hard way'.  This was all 4 odd years ago.

Nowadays, very few people know besides my immediate family.

Anyhow, no-one has really told me (to my face) what they think of me martial arts wise.