A Martial Artist by a look? You know, can you judge a martial artist by a look?
No.
You know that, but let me share a few stories with you to illustrate the point.
Big and Nasty
In talking with a bouncer. I asked him about his skills, the implication being, “What martial art training have you received, and how do you use it?” His response was, “99% of my job is intimidation.” He is big, stern-looking, tattooed, and goateed. He is on broadcast. He may have no real skills, he could be all thumbs when it comes to a confrontation, but we both know that is unlikely. And he trades on the potential response you may get if you step across the line of acceptable behavior. Like Swayze said in Road House, “Be nice until it’s time not to be nice.”
An Extra Arm
The judoka was pleasant; he was from Brazil and was a guitarist in town doing some music for a Microsoft project. That is the advantage of living on the Pacific Rim. With the world’s largest software company in your backyard, they can and do, draw in diverse and interesting people, and sometimes you get the benefit.
We found ourselves training together on the Judo mat, he was a good 25 pound less than me. I started slowly, no need to be a jerk, and, well he plays guitar for a living. He proved to be more than a match for me. I swear that Brazilian guitarist had a third arm, he was coming from so many directions. I was getting my hat handed to me.
Two examples. One was the potential threat, the display of potential power the other hidden. Both useful in their environments.
So no, you can’t always judge a book by its cover as the old saying goes.
A Beer and Boxing
One last story that made me smile. The television show COPS had an episode that began with a guy bleeding from his face lying on the Las Vegas sidewalk. He had tried to steal another guy’s wallet while in the bar. The wallet he chose to steal belonged to a man in his seventies, who looked like an easy mark.
The old man was a NAVY veteran who had been a professional boxer. He never made the big league as a boxer, but he paid his dues. When he wanted his wallet back the old guy demonstrated his well earn boxing skills. He got his wallet back on that Las Vegas sidewalk. When asked by the attending officer if he wanted to press charges replied with, “Naw, he’s had enough.”
So two examples. Plus one more. Yes, the old saying is true. You know, about knowing a book by its cover. And no you cannot tell how good a martial artist is by looking at them
MailOnline: 8 Year Old Girl Boxer Throws 100 Punches a Minute
Here are three podcasts you may enjoy, each is about three minutes long.
Let’s Connect
KRIS WILDER
Kris Wilder is a martial artist based in Seattle Washington. He has authored many martial art books, including the classic, The Way of Kata. Making no apologies for his obsession of Football he can be found telling any who will listen about the nuances of the Canadian Football League.