How are you viewed as a foreigner that has a knowledge of the history of the martial arts? Are they sceptical of your opinions (if you share them) or do you generally keep your thoughts to yourself?
Honestly, it generally doesn’t come up much. I’d say most of my interactions with Japanese people in day-to-day contexts are…fine? Like most people tend to accept that I’ve got a degree in what I have a degree in. Some people have this weird thing where they think only Japanese people can truly understand Japanese culture/history, however. (This extends to things like martial arts in which foreigners are expected to be good, but never eclipse Japanese people completely… what I mean by that is that it’s fine to be better than 90% of Japanese people but the “heights” of the art are reserved for Japanese people). Some of these types ask me why I don’t study “my own” history. Usually this isn’t asked in a confrontational way, but it has always struck me as insecure in a way. I’m of the mind that history is for everyone and would be pleased to discover a foreigner had a passion for U.S. history, for example-the good, the bad, and the ugly. I generally avoid bringing up knowing martial arts history around high ranking martial artists. The social hierarchy makes it a minefield from the first step. I’m sure some teachers would be fine about it, others would humor me, but many-especially in the 60+ age bracket-see themselves as inheritors of a tradition that young people (let alone foreigners) simply don’t understand. This is very much a “back in my day!” sort of thing. I don’t think these types care if you could source your views or not; they aren’t really historically motivated. I couldn’t say for sure, but my opinion is that at that age, possessing “traditional knowledge” is how many of them feel relevant in the martial arts space. But again, I’d stress most Japanese people will hit me with “you probably know more than I do about Japanese history, then!” which is meant completely innocently. I usually laugh and say nothing to avoid being smug. But, yes, obviously I know more… I studied it for 6 years at a collegiate and then graduate level lol. If I didn’t know more than most people on the street, something would be wrong! Hopefully that answers your questions
Dude at this point, whatever it takes lol Nothing can really happen without my language getting that formally recognized level up, but it’s definitely one of a couple scenarios I’ve been playing with for sure. Even if I don’t go that route, I’d maintain that the trades are a pretty solid career choice. I love history and don’t regret the things I’ve gotten to experience through it, but from a purely career perspective there is a part of me that wished I’d gone to school for a trade. Young me (foolishly) looked down on that kind of work; too young and stupid to realize it’s the tradespeople the keep most of society afloat.
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How are you viewed as a foreigner that has a knowledge of the history of the martial arts? Are they sceptical of your opinions (if you share them) or do you generally keep your thoughts to yourself?
Honestly, it generally doesn’t come up much. I’d say most of my interactions with Japanese people in day-to-day contexts are…fine? Like most people tend to accept that I’ve got a degree in what I have a degree in.
Some people have this weird thing where they think only Japanese people can truly understand Japanese culture/history, however. (This extends to things like martial arts in which foreigners are expected to be good, but never eclipse Japanese people completely… what I mean by that is that it’s fine to be better than 90% of Japanese people but the “heights” of the art are reserved for Japanese people). Some of these types ask me why I don’t study “my own” history. Usually this isn’t asked in a confrontational way, but it has always struck me as insecure in a way. I’m of the mind that history is for everyone and would be pleased to discover a foreigner had a passion for U.S. history, for example-the good, the bad, and the ugly.
I generally avoid bringing up knowing martial arts history around high ranking martial artists. The social hierarchy makes it a minefield from the first step. I’m sure some teachers would be fine about it, others would humor me, but many-especially in the 60+ age bracket-see themselves as inheritors of a tradition that young people (let alone foreigners) simply don’t understand. This is very much a “back in my day!” sort of thing. I don’t think these types care if you could source your views or not; they aren’t really historically motivated. I couldn’t say for sure, but my opinion is that at that age, possessing “traditional knowledge” is how many of them feel relevant in the martial arts space.
But again, I’d stress most Japanese people will hit me with “you probably know more than I do about Japanese history, then!” which is meant completely innocently. I usually laugh and say nothing to avoid being smug. But, yes, obviously I know more… I studied it for 6 years at a collegiate and then graduate level lol. If I didn’t know more than most people on the street, something would be wrong!
Hopefully that answers your questions
trade school would be cool. you could be a caucasian master of martial arts and HVAC repair in the far east
Dude at this point, whatever it takes lol
Nothing can really happen without my language getting that formally recognized level up, but it’s definitely one of a couple scenarios I’ve been playing with for sure. Even if I don’t go that route, I’d maintain that the trades are a pretty solid career choice.
I love history and don’t regret the things I’ve gotten to experience through it, but from a purely career perspective there is a part of me that wished I’d gone to school for a trade. Young me (foolishly) looked down on that kind of work; too young and stupid to realize it’s the tradespeople the keep most of society afloat.
🇵🇱👊🥋