“Even after having a black belt”? One of the people I beat is a twice national champion, instructor with a very reputable agency and san dan in karate. They are seriously impressive good at it. If we agreed to do something predictable, I would be crushed. They are faster, stronger, have better form and balance, know more moves, have better reflexes. I’m in awe of them. They are good. I do think what they do deserves to be called an art, and that they are much, much, much (!) better than I am.
But their actions also presuppose that I will act sensibly (e.g. avoiding injury, using opportunities), and within the rule set in which they were trained.
I really don’t think I could replicate this feat in the exact same way. Having once lost in such a bizarre way, they have learned and adapted. Many beginners only have few moves available, and suck at suppressing their intentions, so they may beat you once, but you’ll destroy them if they try the same trick again. It might work again if they try something new, but again, if you paired the experienced fighter with that specific beginner for a while, pretty quickly, they would constantly win, as they have learned about the unexpected factor.
But in a first fight? I wouldn’t bet on a beginner in such a fight. But nor would I be that surprised by a win.
And I definitely would not believe that having a black belt makes you invulnerable towards streetfighters, or even simply angry incompetent strangers, without one. Nor do I know any martial art trainer who would make such a claim. Safer, for sure. Your punches and kicks more effective, your balance and falls better, better confidence and situational awareness, more strength, faster reflexes, ingrained good responses rather than rookie mistakes, a knowledge of weak body parts, pain trigger points and ways to twist the other person to induce severe pain, knowledge of redirecting strength, of mobilising multiple body parts of yours against one of theirs, all the great stuff. But perfectly safe, no.
“Even after having a black belt”? One of the people I beat is a twice national champion, instructor with a very reputable agency and san dan in karate. They are seriously impressive good at it. If we agreed to do something predictable, I would be crushed. They are faster, stronger, have better form and balance, know more moves, have better reflexes. I’m in awe of them. They are good. I do think what they do deserves to be called an art, and that they are much, much, much (!) better than I am.
But their actions also presuppose that I will act sensibly (e.g. avoiding injury, using opportunities), and within the rule set in which they were trained.
I really don’t think I could replicate this feat in the exact same way. Having once lost in such a bizarre way, they have learned and adapted. Many beginners only have few moves available, and suck at suppressing their intentions, so they may beat you once, but you’ll destroy them if they try the same trick again. It might work again if they try something new, but again, if you paired the experienced fighter with that specific beginner for a while, pretty quickly, they would constantly win, as they have learned about the unexpected factor.
But in a first fight? I wouldn’t bet on a beginner in such a fight. But nor would I be that surprised by a win.
And I definitely would not believe that having a black belt makes you invulnerable towards streetfighters, or even simply angry incompetent strangers, without one. Nor do I know any martial art trainer who would make such a claim. Safer, for sure. Your punches and kicks more effective, your balance and falls better, better confidence and situational awareness, more strength, faster reflexes, ingrained good responses rather than rookie mistakes, a knowledge of weak body parts, pain trigger points and ways to twist the other person to induce severe pain, knowledge of redirecting strength, of mobilising multiple body parts of yours against one of theirs, all the great stuff. But perfectly safe, no.