I met a martial artist today outside of my dojo. We ate lunch and talked about martial arts. After half and hour, he wouldn't stop talking. He kept going about forms, applications, the arts he's studied, his opinions on MMA. The man was all over the page. At some points he talked at length about ninjutsu with authority, never knowing that I have studied Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu with the Bujinkan. During this time I simply listened and kept asking him questions, trying to learn what I could.
But at one point he said something that almost made me laugh. He said, "You know, it's great to talk a a martial artist who is better than me." I asked him if he though I was better than him. He replied, "Well, I think that you are more versatile." Looking like he wanted a response, I told him: "I don't see how you could know either of these things because you've never asked me any questions. You don't know anything about me. But I am learning everything about you."
He seemed thoughtful and said, "Maybe thats why your better than me."
Then he spent the next half and hour continuing to talk about himself.
I thanked him for the conversation (if you could call it that) and he was none the wiser. But I couldn't help but pity the guy. How he learned as much as he claims seems odd to me, considering his ability to talk but never listen. Had he listened, maybe he could have learned something from me. As it was, I was the only one really gaining from the conversation. Moreover, he could have embarrassed himself. For all he knew, I could have been an expert of the things he was talking about, and in some cases I knew much more than he might expect.
In the end, I see no point in challenging people like this. They only want to talk, so let them talk. They share all of their knowledge, and will never make you give any of yours. It's like a master who has decided he no longer needs to study, because he has achieved mastery.
As we parted ways, he said to me, "Don't worry Louie, you'll find the path."
I only smiled.
Tags: Talking Listening Jujutsu Budo Martial Arts Teaching
