Friday, January 26, 2007

Samurai Steve...

I've recently taken a part time job at Logan's roadhouse for some extra cash. My night trainer was a guy everyone calls Samurai Steve. He's called this because he wears a small pony tail that resembles a top-knot....and because he takes 8 different martial arts. After talking with him a few minutes I gleaned some info about his martial experiences. First off, he's been taking some form of martial art for 3 years. He takes some form of Kung fu, Taekwondo, grappling Hapkido (I didn't know Hapkido was distinguished as two separate things), some form of martial art that's his own design and was approved by his karate teacher, whatever the form of karate is he takes that he's changed into his own, and a few weapons martial arts. He holds a black belt in two of the arts mentioned (let's hope at least one is in his own). Now the reason I bring up Steve is that after asking me about Judo and Aikido and telling me how lame it was and me just blowing his comments off as ignorance, this grill cook who works next to us came over after eavesdropping on, well on Steve's one sided conversation. He was interested in taking some form of martial art and wanted some advice from the two of us. Now Steve can say whatever he wants to me, I don't care, but I didn't want to give off a false impression to this grill guy. So as Steve's telling how you need a strong stance and widening his legs, I casually mention that it depends totally on the style and what you're looking for. Steve basically tells the grill guy that I take a "weak" martial art so I don't know what I'm talking about, and I'm patient...but after 3 straight hours of him berating Aikido and Judo I thought a little check was in order so after him saying that he was in an immovable stance, I gave him a little tug down the line. His feet were so far apart his back leg had to pop up to catch himself so he didn't fall. He blamed it on the wet floor and I went back to prepping since orders finally started coming in again. My latest quandary is, what should I have done? In that situation is it best to just let the grill guy's experience start off with someone like Steve, who's a self proclaimed innovator of his own style, just because of some flashy punches? I don't have the time or desire to argue or even discuss things concerning martial arts with Steve because he's only waiting for his turn to talk. I think Bryce would say "Let Steve talk, let the grill guy figure it out for himself" but I don't like the idea of ignoring someone's who's interested and leaving them to, well to Steve, lol.

3 comments:

uchi deshi said...

Cool! A new Aikido blog! I will add you to my links. Keep up the good work.

Silverstar said...

Hi,
Man I can't stand the egomaniacs (like this Steve person)that are in martial arts! Really dampens the fun for the rest of us. Personally, I think you should have told "Steve" that he had his turn to talk and you would like a chance to discuss with the cook. Also maybe you could take the cook aside one day and tell him where you train, that way he learns first hand for himself.:)

John Wood said...

Samurai Steve. I haven't thought about that in a long long time. Also, this marks the first time I started reading uchi deshi's super entertaining blog! The way I would handle this now is I would do exactly what Bryce suggested. I'd just let Steve talk and let the grill guy listen. If the grill guy is looking for something more then he'll find it, and if not then he won't. I don't volunteer Aikido info anymore except to my class and friends (who are obligated to listen to my rants).