There is much talk about getting slapped or getting spit on.
Have any of the readers ever slapped someone? Why did you do it? Did it do what you expected? How did you feel afterwords? How did the person you slapped react? Were there long-term consequences?
I don't really expect folks to respond on the forum. But I think it is very important for martial artists to explore if they use violence in their day to day life - and how that may be in conflict the goals of being a martial artist depending on your personal definition of that term. (There are exceptions of course - LEOs, military, etc.)
I was slapped by my father, once. I did nothing but stare in wonder at what just happened. And I lost a great deal of respect for him that day. Which now on it's way to being re-built. I was slapped because our Atari video game machine fell off the table it was on because I pulled away on the joystick controller too quickly. I don't think he even thought about what was happening. As soon as the machine hit the deck his palm hit my face.
No, he didn't hit me hard. No, it didn't leave a bruise and nothing was broken. And I was raised with spankings...but not slaps.
To me, a slap is something you throw at someone you no longer respect. And that is how I interpret any slap thrown at me.
When you get slapped
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Dana,
Excellent question.
A lot is cultural. Where I come from it is also an accepted form of mild corporeal punishment for the misdeeds of a child, not necessarily a put down.
I was slapped in the face by my parents and nuns and priests in parochial school, and took as par for the course.
However, according to the unwritten "honor code" _ you slap an adult in an argument, or even "threaten” to slap someone in public, and you may well end up dead in the next few days in “mysterious” circumstances.
Spitting? You spit in someone’s face in Sicily or Naples, you are most surely about to die.
Serious business.
Excellent question.
A lot is cultural. Where I come from it is also an accepted form of mild corporeal punishment for the misdeeds of a child, not necessarily a put down.
I was slapped in the face by my parents and nuns and priests in parochial school, and took as par for the course.
However, according to the unwritten "honor code" _ you slap an adult in an argument, or even "threaten” to slap someone in public, and you may well end up dead in the next few days in “mysterious” circumstances.
Spitting? You spit in someone’s face in Sicily or Naples, you are most surely about to die.
Serious business.
Van
Guess I didn't Grow Up In
an environment where we slap folks we have relationships with...
In my other, every day environment, why slap or spit. Man... If you're gonna "do it..." DO IT! Why "F" around? Any unwanted move initiated move should be treated with the mal intent that gave rise to the action.
I come back to simplicity. Don't make a move unless you mean to finish it 'cause they may be the response of one on the receiving end.
End of my discussion. My world is different, I guess.
david
In my other, every day environment, why slap or spit. Man... If you're gonna "do it..." DO IT! Why "F" around? Any unwanted move initiated move should be treated with the mal intent that gave rise to the action.
I come back to simplicity. Don't make a move unless you mean to finish it 'cause they may be the response of one on the receiving end.
End of my discussion. My world is different, I guess.
david
Neither...
which is my point.
And, if I were going to do anything with someone like that, it should be done quickly, quietly and with finality. Why mess up with stuff that will leave me hanging and wondering, "What's next?"
All the other precursive action is about "show" and "machismo." I will admit to having little use for it.
david
And, if I were going to do anything with someone like that, it should be done quickly, quietly and with finality. Why mess up with stuff that will leave me hanging and wondering, "What's next?"
All the other precursive action is about "show" and "machismo." I will admit to having little use for it.
david
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Guest
Dana, I have never slapped anyone but I have been slapped...only once...by a family member. It occurred as a result of a heated argument in a car. I remember seeing it coming and to be honest I couldn't wait for it because it gave me an excuse to hit back. I didn't slap, I punched..and I punched hard. It took a long time to build that relationship back up as well. The interesting thing was, I knew it was coming, I anticipated the pain and truthfully, I don't remember the pain or being shocked at all...for me it was just an invitation to retaliate. Looking back, it annoys me that I wasn't able to diffuse the situation at the time but being a teenager I wanted to push that boundary I guess.
I remember taking a self-defence for women course once where I first learned to hit - we learned how to slap...not your namby-pamby girly slap...this was a two handed, double-barrel, rotate the hips and slam the other person into next week slap (of course we used pads) but what a surprise it was to (1) learn that I could generate power and (2) that I had that much power.
Long and short is I don't dismiss slapping at all.
It's all in how you do it.
I remember taking a self-defence for women course once where I first learned to hit - we learned how to slap...not your namby-pamby girly slap...this was a two handed, double-barrel, rotate the hips and slam the other person into next week slap (of course we used pads) but what a surprise it was to (1) learn that I could generate power and (2) that I had that much power.
Long and short is I don't dismiss slapping at all.
It's all in how you do it.