kontextmaschine:

I used to think the “martial arts will give your kids self-confidence” 80s-90s appeal was bunk but after going to the dojo yeah it totally works like that but it’s not mystical and not even some “learning self-respect” bs, it’s that in every interaction you feel comfortable pushing things cause in the worst case you’re like “What are you gonna do, fight me? I’ll win!”

>@theresponseblog said this is one of the reasons they’re talking about giving cops martial-arts training, not because Warrior Badass Motherfucker but because they now can think “all right, if this guy comes at me, I have an option OTHER than shooting the shit out of him”

Yeah when I was in the dojo sensei mentioned this cop who came in for private lessons, mostly in the context of gun and knife disarms, and at first that sounded kinda sus, this was the infamous Rampart Division and a cop who likes to fight as a hobby enough to pay for it on his free time?

And with retrospect I realize he was developing the skill and confidence to get past the “21 foot rule”, to be immediately ready to shoot anything getting closer lest it outspeed and overwhelm you. He could get close knowing if the guy went for a weapon he’d be able to lock his joints and stop or disarm him, if the guy tried to grab him he’d out-grapple him, if he rushed him he’d be ready for that. I think about that sometimes.