Hello everyone. I know I've been gone from this community for awhile. Mainly, it's because I took a big break in training. Spent the last year playing league soccer, doing some yoga, and not really feeling like punching people. Decided recently that it's time to step back in. People who know me here know that I've trained mainly in Kyokushin for about 4 years before taking my hiatus. I'm feeling that I want something different. Found myself what appears to be a good MMA school that focuses a lot on BJJ (time to finally jump into that), and went for a free tryout session last Friday. I had so much fun that I stayed through their hour cardio/strength session, a BJJ class, and then did some light kickboxing with one of the owners after that. It's a great place, and I'll be back very soon, but that's not what this is about...just ties it in.
Later that evening I'm sitting at my local bar, and I've just made friends with a dude. Seems really cool. Into skiing and snowboarding and we're getting along great. About that time, another one of my friends, who knows that I tried the new school earlier in the day, asks me something about it, and I answer. My new "friend" perks up on the mention of martial arts, and the subject quickly goes to Bruce Lee (sigh). This guy is definitely one of the buyers of the mythology. I express my fandom for Bruce Lee, but then also mention the fact that he really doesn't have a competition record, and while a very talented martial artist, was also an action movie actor first. Basically, I'm respecting Bruce, but also educating the guy to the painful fact that Bruce wouldn't step out of a time machine and be UFC champion, which this guy seems to wholly believe.
Then, the guy says something about how "that new Brazilian stuff" is just BS, and that Bruce would easily handle someone doing that. I laughed a little and informed him that BJJ is in fact very effective, and that I, myself, had been tapped out by a 14 year old just hours before our conversation (completely true). His face nearly contorted as his opinion of me turned in an instant. He told me that I must not be very tough, or must've been letting the kid beat me. I said no, I was beaten fairly because the kid was training in BJJ, and I wasn't, and that the results would likely be the same if he'd stepped onto the mat with the kid.
He got really visibly upset, told me that I was crazy and full of it, and left the bar immediately. He really looked like I'd shattered his opinion of everything. 5 minutes before, he'd seemed like a completely rational person. I guess I'd just never seen the Bruce Lee blindness so firsthand before. I actually felt bad, but hopefully I've planted a seed or something.
Anyway, I know that's a little rambly, but I felt it was a good story for YMAS. Anyone else have a similar experience?
Later that evening I'm sitting at my local bar, and I've just made friends with a dude. Seems really cool. Into skiing and snowboarding and we're getting along great. About that time, another one of my friends, who knows that I tried the new school earlier in the day, asks me something about it, and I answer. My new "friend" perks up on the mention of martial arts, and the subject quickly goes to Bruce Lee (sigh). This guy is definitely one of the buyers of the mythology. I express my fandom for Bruce Lee, but then also mention the fact that he really doesn't have a competition record, and while a very talented martial artist, was also an action movie actor first. Basically, I'm respecting Bruce, but also educating the guy to the painful fact that Bruce wouldn't step out of a time machine and be UFC champion, which this guy seems to wholly believe.
Then, the guy says something about how "that new Brazilian stuff" is just BS, and that Bruce would easily handle someone doing that. I laughed a little and informed him that BJJ is in fact very effective, and that I, myself, had been tapped out by a 14 year old just hours before our conversation (completely true). His face nearly contorted as his opinion of me turned in an instant. He told me that I must not be very tough, or must've been letting the kid beat me. I said no, I was beaten fairly because the kid was training in BJJ, and I wasn't, and that the results would likely be the same if he'd stepped onto the mat with the kid.
He got really visibly upset, told me that I was crazy and full of it, and left the bar immediately. He really looked like I'd shattered his opinion of everything. 5 minutes before, he'd seemed like a completely rational person. I guess I'd just never seen the Bruce Lee blindness so firsthand before. I actually felt bad, but hopefully I've planted a seed or something.
Anyway, I know that's a little rambly, but I felt it was a good story for YMAS. Anyone else have a similar experience?