I got into a friendly debate with some buddies over the weekend that I thought was amusing at any rate. I would love to hear this esteemed panels opinion on this most profound subject: Superman (the Man of Steel) and the martial arts.
The question to be answered is: Would Superman benefit from studying the martial arts or would it be simply a waste of time for him?
Personally, I think it is a waste of time for him. He is super-strong, super-fast and invulnerable (as long as that solar energy holds out) ... what difference is martial arts going to make? However, some of my friends think that Superman would be able to defeat supervillians more quickly and easily armed with the martial arts (I presume they mean with perhaps nerve strikes, etc).
Like I said, a not very serious subject at all, but if you want to have some fun answering feel free.
Osu!
Jason
A *very* light subject (not serious at all)
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Jason Bernard
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Bill Glasheen
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A *very* light subject (not serious at all)
Jason
I'm sure superman could really impress the chicks while doing super kata while dressed in whites. And the gi would sure beat those effeminate lycra tights.
Sexist remarks aside....
This might be equivalent to dealing with your child, your spouse, or your dog. Would it be any easier to play or deal with them if you were skilled in martial arts? Consider that karate do (as opposed to karate jutsu) is about developing the person so that violence is not necessary. I can remember at my wedding that my future in-laws were expressing their concern that I would be using my martial abilities on my wife during our next spat. Funny....my personal experience has been that most martial artists wouldn't even think of getting violent with a loved one. It's the insecure ones (and the drunks) that are more likely to take it out on the relatively helpless.
On the other hand, I have found kote gaeshi (applied gently) to be very handy for getting something out of a child's had without hurting them or making a big deal about it. And I got my Great Dane's respect very early on when he discovered I could break his center with ease. In fact the art of aikido (sometimes called the gentleman's art) is all about being so good that you can disable and disarm someone without hurting them. Imagine superman today with all his superhuman strength going up agains some punk armed (after the fact) with an ambulance-chasing lawyer. The superhero would be sued for excessive force. The poor helpless criminal was a victim of this excessive power, blah, blah, blah. Superman saves the day and loses a $10 million civil lawsuit because he didn't take the time to learn crime fighting with restraint. Sigh....
I wonder if sanchin training (with proper gaze) could help him focus his X-ray vision?
J.D.
Maybe superman would benefit from a little kriptonitekitae.
-- Bill
I'm sure superman could really impress the chicks while doing super kata while dressed in whites. And the gi would sure beat those effeminate lycra tights.
Sexist remarks aside....
This might be equivalent to dealing with your child, your spouse, or your dog. Would it be any easier to play or deal with them if you were skilled in martial arts? Consider that karate do (as opposed to karate jutsu) is about developing the person so that violence is not necessary. I can remember at my wedding that my future in-laws were expressing their concern that I would be using my martial abilities on my wife during our next spat. Funny....my personal experience has been that most martial artists wouldn't even think of getting violent with a loved one. It's the insecure ones (and the drunks) that are more likely to take it out on the relatively helpless.
On the other hand, I have found kote gaeshi (applied gently) to be very handy for getting something out of a child's had without hurting them or making a big deal about it. And I got my Great Dane's respect very early on when he discovered I could break his center with ease. In fact the art of aikido (sometimes called the gentleman's art) is all about being so good that you can disable and disarm someone without hurting them. Imagine superman today with all his superhuman strength going up agains some punk armed (after the fact) with an ambulance-chasing lawyer. The superhero would be sued for excessive force. The poor helpless criminal was a victim of this excessive power, blah, blah, blah. Superman saves the day and loses a $10 million civil lawsuit because he didn't take the time to learn crime fighting with restraint. Sigh....
I wonder if sanchin training (with proper gaze) could help him focus his X-ray vision?
J.D.
Maybe superman would benefit from a little kriptonitekitae.
-- Bill
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JOHN THURSTON
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A *very* light subject (not serious at all)
Well, since we're on the topic, and I hope this story is not one I told before;
Seems there were two guys sitting at a bar.
Both pretty drunk.
Guy one says to guy two (this being New York you understand) "Ya know, if ya jump off the Empire State Building just at thish time of year, the wind just blows you right back uppp"
BArtender rolls his eyes.
Guy two:
"No Way, no way"
Guy one: Cmon. Ill shhhhow ya!"
and they proceed to the ESB observation deck.
Guy one jumps off, and sure enough, he is wafted back to the deck.
Guy Two (of limited vocabulary) :
"No Way-No Way------do it again!
Guy one repeats the procedure.
Guy Two: "Well, if you can I can", and leaps off.
Silence.
Splat!!
Guy one looks ruefully over the edge and shakes his head, and heads back to the bar.
BArtender says "Where's the other guy"
Guy One: "Splat" (and relates story)
Bartender:
"You know Superman, you're a real pain in the butt when you're drunk"
Your pardon if this is a repeat.
------------------
Seems there were two guys sitting at a bar.
Both pretty drunk.
Guy one says to guy two (this being New York you understand) "Ya know, if ya jump off the Empire State Building just at thish time of year, the wind just blows you right back uppp"
BArtender rolls his eyes.
Guy two:
"No Way, no way"
Guy one: Cmon. Ill shhhhow ya!"
and they proceed to the ESB observation deck.
Guy one jumps off, and sure enough, he is wafted back to the deck.
Guy Two (of limited vocabulary) :
"No Way-No Way------do it again!
Guy one repeats the procedure.
Guy Two: "Well, if you can I can", and leaps off.
Silence.
Splat!!
Guy one looks ruefully over the edge and shakes his head, and heads back to the bar.
BArtender says "Where's the other guy"
Guy One: "Splat" (and relates story)
Bartender:
"You know Superman, you're a real pain in the butt when you're drunk"
Your pardon if this is a repeat.
------------------
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Moe Mensale
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- Location: Boca Raton, FL
A *very* light subject (not serious at all)
Then there is the one with Superman that involves Wonderwoman, a beach,
and the Invisible Man which I cannot repeat here.
Hah, hah, hah, hah!!!! JD, you BETTER not repeat it here!!
Moe Mensale
and the Invisible Man which I cannot repeat here.
Hah, hah, hah, hah!!!! JD, you BETTER not repeat it here!!
Moe Mensale
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Brian Barry
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Now there have been lots of discussions on these forums about whether a sensei needs to have been in a real defense situation to be qualified to teach martial arts.
Now, if Superman learned karate and decided to open his own school, we would all say that he has "been there" more times than probably any other Sensei alive. However, due to his use of superpowers, does that do anything to validate his karate expertise? I think not. So therefore, anybody who believes that one must "be there" to become a sensei would probably not be able to apply the same rules to the man of steel.
To anybody in this camp, I ask you: what criteria will his knowledge of the art be judged by?
Now, if Superman learned karate and decided to open his own school, we would all say that he has "been there" more times than probably any other Sensei alive. However, due to his use of superpowers, does that do anything to validate his karate expertise? I think not. So therefore, anybody who believes that one must "be there" to become a sensei would probably not be able to apply the same rules to the man of steel.
To anybody in this camp, I ask you: what criteria will his knowledge of the art be judged by?
In the spirit of friday night;
I think this is how superman actually dodges bullets:
http://www.kollaboration.org/kolla2001.wmv
I think this is how superman actually dodges bullets:
http://www.kollaboration.org/kolla2001.wmv
Superman
Love that video, amazing what one can learn with his body!
As far as Superman is concerned, can you imagine the 'Alpha Male' he would be. I wonder if he would attract even more women in his dojo?
Vicki
As far as Superman is concerned, can you imagine the 'Alpha Male' he would be. I wonder if he would attract even more women in his dojo?
Vicki
As is my fashion- I think Superman would benefit from the spirtual awakening and growth that accompanies Uechi and karate. How would someone like that deal with all that super human power without the "inside" techniques" associated with karate? Just the act of attaining black can sometimes seem super-human- it brings out a little of the heroe in all of us-
"I can't stand to fly- I'm not that niave-"
" men weren't meant to ride- with clouds between their knees"
"Even heroes have the right to dream and it's not easy...to be.... me."
(song I love on the radio- can't remember who sings it but it's about superman lol)
K
"I can't stand to fly- I'm not that niave-"
" men weren't meant to ride- with clouds between their knees"
"Even heroes have the right to dream and it's not easy...to be.... me."
(song I love on the radio- can't remember who sings it but it's about superman lol)
K
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Bill Glasheen
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The song is Superman by Five for fighting.
See lyrics.
Timing is everything. This band wrote the song just before 9/11. With that backdrop, Superman makes a great dominant metaphor for The U.S. - young, naive country and superpower - in a tumultous and jealous world.
- Bill
See lyrics.
Timing is everything. This band wrote the song just before 9/11. With that backdrop, Superman makes a great dominant metaphor for The U.S. - young, naive country and superpower - in a tumultous and jealous world.
- Bill
Last edited by Bill Glasheen on Wed Jan 15, 2003 8:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Superman
Kerry,
That song is by the group 'Five for Fighting'. Absolutely love that song, especially the lyrics. You got good taste girl.
Vicki
That song is by the group 'Five for Fighting'. Absolutely love that song, especially the lyrics. You got good taste girl.
Vicki
Remember folks - Superman got KILLED by someone who was bigger, badder, meaner and stronger that he was.
Better training and better fighting moves might well have helped. I read the issues with the fight and he COULD have done a LOT better.
Lee Darrow, C.Ht.
Better training and better fighting moves might well have helped. I read the issues with the fight and he COULD have done a LOT better.
Lee Darrow, C.Ht.
"No matter where you go, there you MIGHT be!" - Heisenberg
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Scott Danziger
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f.Channell
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He would probably have his own ryu from krypton.
Sanchin stance is unnecessary when fighting at 2,000 feet.
His gi would have some mineral barrier for keeping out kryptonite rays.
He would probably be too busy in his pro sports career to get to the dojo. $$
He could pay his dues in freshly squeezed diamonds.
You guys forgetting about the Kinks song superman.
Oh no did I date myself as an 80's child.
f.
Sanchin stance is unnecessary when fighting at 2,000 feet.
His gi would have some mineral barrier for keeping out kryptonite rays.
He would probably be too busy in his pro sports career to get to the dojo. $$
He could pay his dues in freshly squeezed diamonds.
You guys forgetting about the Kinks song superman.
Oh no did I date myself as an 80's child.
f.
Sans Peur Ne Obliviscaris
www.hinghamkarate.com
www.hinghamkarate.com
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Bill Glasheen
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