Man Escorted From Gym For Grunting

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Valkenar
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Post by Valkenar »

Bill Glasheen wrote: It's like the "stupid" argument going on in another thread on Thurston's forum. All your pejoratives (A-holes, jerks, show-offs, etc.) are highly judgemental.
So you don't think there are a-holes, jerks and show-offs at the gym? Are you saying that there aren't people at the gym who annoy others by going out of their way to grunt loudly to draw everyone's attention? I'm not saying that anyone who ever grunts is a problem. Just that disruptively loud grunting is a way that some people make a nuisance of themselves.
If over time you choose to train with extreme intensity, I guarantee that one day you will grunt.

Old people grunt when they get out of a chair, or get back up after reaching down for something. Why? (Go back to my physiologic explanations.)
How about because grunting comes naturally? Or because pain (which accompanies getting out of chairs when you're elderly) often causes verbal reactions. I'll say it again because I want it to be clear. In general, there's nothing wrong with grunting. But it's not as unavoidable as you're making it out to be. I have certainly exerted myself before, and I've certainly grunted in the process. I've also been in situations where I have exerted myself and chosen not to grunt. It's really not that hard. Why should you ever not grunt? Out of consideration for others.

As for lifting myself, I've tried to get into it a few times, but I find it excruciatingly dull. I've never been at all interested in exercise that wasn't a bi-product of some other activity (Karate, basketball, frisbee, dance, etc) that I find inherently interesting. Different strokes.
Take a deep breath and then breathe out, Justin. Then do the same, only while singing a note.
I'll do this at home, I don't think my co-workers would appreciate my experiment. I've taken voice lessons, sung in choruses and been in musicals. The act of singing is not totally foreign to me. My experience from singing in choruses and musicals is that it's only very slightly harder to exhale while singing a note. What's hard is using a small volume of air to make a lot of noise. You can exhale very quickly while singing a note if you don't mind being loud. In fact, one thing they teach you is how NOT to run out of breath quickly while singing loudly.
There's a difference between being discriminatory and engaging in discrimination. Check out your dictionary.
You have used both words several times. Instead of referring me to a dictionary, why not actually address the question? Previously I've used the word discrimination and you've said that there's nothing wrong with being choosy. Now I'm wondering how you're apply the word in this context. I certainly know the definition of it.
It's an intellectual curiosity, Justin, and something which I thought would appeal to your own political sensibilities.
Discrimination of the kind I would take political note of is the sort where you exclude someone based on a trait unrelated to the context. E.g. having terrible body odor is a justifiable reason to exclude a person from participating in the weekly sumo match. Excluding all computer programmers because they have a reputation as smelly nerds would be unfair discrimination. In this case, some people find grunting detracts from their workouts, so they forbid that particular activity. It's not a policy that bans all people who might have a tendency to grunt. They can choose not to grunt while on the premises.
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mhosea
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Post by mhosea »

I remember when Monica Seles used to stir up the dainty tennis traditionalists with her grunts, not very ladylike that. :lol:

I don't know to what extent there are Uechi kiai-ers. Alan Dollar kiais once in awhile on his early 1990's tapes/DVDs, IIRC, usually on the last move of a kata or prearranged sparring sequence.

I wasn't a big noisemaker even when doing heavy lifting, since I didn't really push myself very hard on the exercises that put the back at risk, and grunting never seemed to help on bench presses because it was more of an extended effort when the weight was high in relation to my capabilities. On the other hand, the idea of not being ALLOWED to grunt would probably make me want to. Go figure.

Anyway, here's an article on kiai. Not endorsing everything in it, but it covers pretty much everything I've heard.

http://www.fightingarts.com/reading/article.php?id=158
Mike
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Post by benzocaine »

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Bill Glasheen
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Post by Bill Glasheen »

Justin

I find it difficult to comprehend how you can make judgments about how to do something which you admit you don't do. It would be like me telling Marcus how to do a Shotokan kata.
Justin wrote:
So you don't think there are a-holes, jerks and show-offs at the gym?
To be honest, Justin, I'm amazed you would notice. The thought never occured to me to look.

When I go to the gym for weight training, I go there to work out intensely for an hour. Research shows this gives you the best anabolic effect. I'm way too busy working to worry about what others are doing. I have an elevated level of breathing for the entire hour. I sometimes have to remind myself not to "sign" people I don't know when I ask to join on a machine, because it bothers some people. (I'm usually too out of breath and too focused to want to talk.) I don't spend time gabbing with the chicks while I'm doing the weights, or trying to impress people. I have work to do, and then I need to get home to my life.

The only time I ever notice is when there are people whose lack of weight room etiquette causes them to create obstacles in the weight room. Fortunately where I work out, they have positioned machines and weights so that there are redundancies. If one machine or bar is busy, I go straight to another. And I choose not to work out at times most associated with "mating rituals." That's not what I go to the gym to do.

I try to resist judging people, Justin, because it's just as easy to be judged. Maybe it's my Catholic upbringing. I don't know...
Justin wrote:
How about because grunting comes naturally?
Exactamundo!!!!!!!

:multi: :multi: :multi: :multi:

Now... Re-read what I wrote, and just maybe you'll be able to figure out why it is "natural."
Justin wrote:
In general, there's nothing wrong with grunting. But it's not as unavoidable as you're making it out to be. I have certainly exerted myself before, and I've certainly grunted in the process. I've also been in situations where I have exerted myself and chosen not to grunt. It's really not that hard.
Indeed. And it's not that hard to spar someone in karate class while putting one arm behind my back. I dare say I could handle quite a few people like that.

But why should I?
Justin wrote:
Why should you ever not grunt? Out of consideration for others.
Should I lift less weight out of consideration of others who might be intimidated?

Should I choose not to do Olympic style lifts because someone might think I'm showing off?

Should I wear what you wear because you object to my style of dress?

Should I get a tatoo or pierce my ear because you do? Should I not pierce my ear or get a tatoo because it offends you?

Should I wear my hair a certain length because to do otherwise is not to be considerate of your sense of style or social order?

All these things are a matter of choice, Justin.

But here's the thing. You seem convinced that the noise is all about impressing others. Truth be told, old farts such as Leo and I do it because it makes what we do more effective and - take note - we really aren't paying attention to what you or the women think. We're too busy working out even to notice in the first place. I started weight training in 1967, Justin, when my parents gave me a Ted Williams weight set from Sears for Christmas. I am so over trying to impress anyone.

And besides, there's always someone out there better than me. I really don't want to know... 8O :lol:

- Bill
fivedragons
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Post by fivedragons »

:lol:

How awesome that a thread about someone getting kicked out of a gym for grunting could elicit so many trains of thought.

Justin, thank you for challenging me to explain my koan. I won't be able to do it, but for now I'll say that to me "kiai jutsu" means the study of the application of intent. Also, kiai can be silent. :o

By the way, movement is sound. :lol:

There is a point where science and mystical mumbo jumbo intersects and becomes one thing. The incomprehensible truth. :lol:
AAAhmed46
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Post by AAAhmed46 »

Why is "the gaze" so important in Uechi Ryu? It's just a facial expression, after all. Do we do it to impress the chicks?
What other reason is there? 8) Joking joking.


oh and the rest of the post was good too, but this is the only part i could comment on so.......yeah.
fivedragons
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Post by fivedragons »

As far as intent goes, one could use the words like soul, spirit, god, chi, truth, beauty, justice, energy, love, DNA, reality, will, karma, nature/nurture, experience/imagination, tao...... :B-fly: :silly:
MikeK
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Post by MikeK »

By the way, movement is sound.
These guys know that, how do you think what they know about sound and movement could influence their karate? What do they know about application of intent?

Image
I was dreaming of the past...
Stryke

Post by Stryke »

This is about understanding how we function as animals , and creatures of mental habit .

Bill brings up a good point with the facial exspressions .

People should take a look at the related sciences , how facial exspressions in them selves can affect moods and feelings .

the voice is a similar tool .


Mike asks why do you need it , cant you do it another way , the answer is of course almost anything can be done another way , it`s just it`s a tool that works .

true martial prowess comes form recreating feelings not techniques IMHO , if you recreate the feeling the technique takes care of itself , the voice can be a facilitator in this regard .

Show me someone who can at will unleash a primal scream and i`ll show you someone who at will can unleash .

to be honest most folks who kiai are an embaressment , it`s got to come from the soul .
AAAhmed46
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Post by AAAhmed46 »

Stryke wrote:This is about understanding how we function as animals , and creatures of mental habit .

Bill brings up a good point with the facial exspressions .

People should take a look at the related sciences , how facial exspressions in them selves can affect moods and feelings .

the voice is a similar tool .


Mike asks why do you need it , cant you do it another way , the answer is of course almost anything can be done another way , it`s just it`s a tool that works .

true martial prowess comes form recreating feelings not techniques IMHO , if you recreate the feeling the technique takes care of itself , the voice can be a facilitator in this regard .

Show me someone who can at will unleash a primal scream and i`ll show you someone who at will can unleash .

to be honest most folks who kiai are an embaressment , it`s got to come from the soul .
When are you gonna visit edmonton again?
Stryke

Post by Stryke »

Some time next year mate , probably later than sooner , but will happen next year .

we need to spar some !!!!
fivedragons
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Post by fivedragons »

Mike,

"Also, kiai can be silent."

:D

I think those guys understand human nature and know how to use it to their advantage. Those aren't sheepdogs, those are wolves. :lol:

I agree that stealth is a lot better than giving notice of strength or intent in some situations.

Christ, I operate in stealth mode 24/7.

I'm the grey man. :lol:

I figure if a situation ever occurs where I need to act decisively, at least I might be facing their back, instead of in the crosshairs. :wink:
Last edited by fivedragons on Sat Nov 04, 2006 8:21 am, edited 2 times in total.
AAAhmed46
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Post by AAAhmed46 »

Stryke wrote:Some time next year mate , probably later than sooner , but will happen next year .

we need to spar some !!!!
That would be fun i need to see if my IUPA-fu is is as good as my internet fu.

Show me some Kiai-jutsu too! Rick doesn't teach it, but I dont think he is against it either if my memory serves me.
Stryke

Post by Stryke »

Show me some Kiai-jutsu too! Rick doesn't teach it, but I dont think he is against it either if my memory serves me.
I dont do Kiai jutsu , I just yell and scream and curse bad enough to make a trucker blush ......

heck that is kiai jutsu !!! :lol: :lol: :lol:
AAAhmed46
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Post by AAAhmed46 »

Oh i get that, but how do you pull it off with spirit for every punch?

And truckers dont blush, to say such a thing is possible is entering th realm of fantasy.
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