Why do untrained fighters think they can nullify years of dojo training?

Question

I see this all the time as a martial artist in my town. Some untrained lamer hears that I do martial arts, they get their tiny little egos challenged, they start acting like they're tough because they saw the Karate Kid or some McDojo student do some weird martial arts stance. They think because the stance looks weird, they can probably win in a fight against these students. The funny thing is, these students have probably forgotten more about how to throw a punch or kick than these "street trained fighters" have learned. The dojo student probably is more flexible, is quicker than the "street trained fighter" just because while the street trained fighter probably spends his evenings playing wii, the dojo fighter was busy practicing.

And why do they, for the love of god, always try to throw that wimpy looking roundhouse punch to the head that's easily countered if they do try to start a fight?

Note, I'm not counting McDojo students, I mean real students who probably spar daily.

Answer 1

I agree with "the punchers chance" In a fight anything can happen, those people want to be that person who overcame.

Answer 2

Don't spoil their fantasy, just walk away!

Answer 3

No man wants to think of himself as a bad fighter. So if he fights the best and wins then he thinks he's the best. Untrained people will lead punches with their shoulders and they will throw a huge slow moving hay maker. They want to think they're tough and can fight. I love fighting them and watch as they try so hard.

Answer 4

Spar daily? in my dojo we spar maybe once a month but we still win world kickboxing titles

Answer 5

bc they want to get curb stomped

Answer 6

anyone has a punchers chance, grow up champion maybe you should check your own ego

Answer 7

My guess is that for most young men nowadays, fighting becomes a masculinity issue. I can't say much about women since I don't see much women doing what you've described.

Monkey see, monkey do. I'd give most of them some pity points for at least being confident enough to stand up to a seasoned fighter. Too bad most of them fall flat on their face, I've seen it happen a couple of times.

Sorry but sparing everyday can get pretty stressful, twice a week is enough for me.

Answer 8

I know what you mean! Everyone at school knows I know martial arts and I told some people beause its something I'm proud of you know any way know people always think there bad a$$es and try to take me on. I've never fought because it looks bad on applications etc. But none the less they make weird stances and make noises they've seen on mortal combat. It really pains me that the martial arts have become main stream and anybody who see's it in a movie or plays it in a game think they can automatically do it.

Answer 9

Ignorance!  It never ceases to amaze me how ignorant people are. It would seem that the average person has no ability to use common sense and logic. If they did, they would come to the conclusion that someone that has spent years perfecting something, just might be better than someone that has not. Or perhaps it is just that they think that they are smarter than those that studied a fighting art proven over hundreds of years. In any case it seems that people think they are smarter than the knowledge that was gained from centuries of trail and error. Trail and error that cost many lives, yet save many more.  

"Wisdom comes after much study, and many years of contemplation.  Stupidity and ignorance we are born with, and some never progress beyond it."

My quote!

Answer 10

You answered your own question.  From what I've seen, the majority of martial arts schools in the US are McDojos.  A good street fighter probably could take someone with a couple of years of McDojo taekwondo training.