Tuesday, June 10, 2014

No True Scotsman in the Martial Arts



I've come across so many fallacies when discussing traditional martial arts with people. But I think No True Scotsman has to be my absolute favorite. From traditionalists trying to distance themselves and discredit fellow traditionalists that don't quite meet their performance standards, as well as ways to distance themselves from me...me being a former traditional martial artist. People have claimed I trained in a McDojo, because a real Karate teacher would have made me appreciate the teachings of Karate, kata, etc..so he must not have taught me right... The general way the No True Scotsman fallacy works is, if someone carries your label, and you don't like them for the things they're saying, doing, etc...you say "well, no true so and so would do or say this, so you must not be one of us." It's a clever ruse for distancing yourself from the "fakers" out there, while stille maintaining that what you do is legitimate.

Where I see it the most, is in the gutter of the internet and social networking: Youtube comments. Search for any video of an MMA/BJJ/Wrestler, Boxer, etc...beating the snot out of a traditional martial artist and one of these comments will be near the top. I made it a game to find these hilarious and fallacious comments. I've made a collection out of it. I could probably turn it into a trading card game. Gotta catch the most fallacies!



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