There are a lot of martial arts misconceptions. I teach a Hong Kong based street-fighting system. What I’ve found to be one of the worst martial arts myths that I work to debunk is that training in sport-based martial art such as kickboxing and/or wrestling will make you ready for a street situation.

Approaching a self-preservation situation with a sport mentality gives the individual a false sense of confidence on the street. Training for realistic self-defense is much different than training for a rules-based combat sport.

There isn’t one myth… There’s a million that I hear all the time…

1) When you get a black belt you magically get a million times better in your martial arts ability…

2) That after four years you are entitled to a black belt…

3) That martial arts is for kicking someone @$$

4) After two years of training once a week you are an expert…

I could go on and on…

-That Muay Thai is the best striking art.
-That Brazilian Jujitsu is the best grappling art
-That MMA could defeat any art or is the best martial art.
-Tae Kwon Do is all flash but (FOR F*CK SAKE, learn the HISTORY of that art)

The age thing does bother me. Especially when it’s asked by people younger than me. But the worst probably come because of Naruto or Avatar cartoons: how do I open my chakras to use my chi or whatever. Also things like the Samurai/Shaolin monks/Vikings/Apaches/whatever were the greatest warriors in history. I mean, if that’s true, why didn’t they conquer everything? Also the idea that karate was developed to defeat armed samurai. Again, if that’s true, how come the Japanese still own Okinawa? I dunno. Maybe as a History major I just see some of these things with a different eye. Also about half the claims made about MMA. That those who participate are in it for the money (there’s no money in it); that they don’t know any martial arts (most are black belts); that it’s the end of civilization as we know it (have you seen Pluto Nash?) I don’t care if people aren’t fans, but make sure you know what you’re talking about when you criticize it.

the one that immediately comes to mind is the movie myth about trying to strike the nose bone into the brain It’s just not physically possible no matter which way you turn it

To defeat ourrselves.To defeat the evil inside human’s inner heart.That is the hardest part of martial arts.

There are many:

* Am I to Old to start training in ???

* A black belt has mastered the art

* A black belt is an expert

* Does a black belt have to register his hands as deadly weapons.

* You become a master when you reach XYZ rank

* You are a Sensei when you are a black belt that teaches or reaches a certain rank

* XYZ is the deadliest art

* What art can beat this technique/art/style

* XYZ is the worst art

* Traditional martial arts no longer work in todays society

* My master can pull your heart out and show it to you before you die

* Styles are either Hard or Soft

* Aikido is worthless as self-defense

* Kata is useless for teaching you self-defense

* Pressure points are of not use, Or pressure points are always deadly.

Many more but this covers the ones that come to mind right now.

like what others have said, that people think that black belts are the ultimate fighters.
i also hate it when people start talking about BJJ and MMA as a bunch of guys just rolling around on the ground
i have also heard people say that doing these sports is just a waste of time.

Where do I begin? My first favorite myth I have to dispel is one that you see me do quite often on Yahoo answers. The myth that you can teach martial arts on the internet. Most people here on Yahoo answers seem to believe you can. (Hear me out). If I were to ask some people here what’s the best website to learn from, they’d jump and say, Can’t learn it on the internet. But if I ask I’m a kid who has a fight tomorrow. How can I win? the same can’t-learn-it-on-the-internet people jump in with their whole Kick him here and punch him there, and that will really show him. Okay. Can you learn on the internet or can’t you? Your lip service says you can’t, but your conduct shows that you seem to believe you can. Okay, it’s more of a pet peeve than actual myth busting. But hell, it really annoys me.

Myth number two I like to dispel. I call it the one size fits all myth. Myth goes something like this Take Judo. It’s the best. EVERYONE can learn Judo. Or if your bias isn’t towards Judo, you can insert any style you want there. It’s really weird. It’s like we’re so obsessed with the superlative, that we’ve blinded ourselves enough to slap the good, better, best label on everything. Even things that don’t have a good better best, like Martial Arts. It’s based entirely on the individual, their interests, their personality, and what they want to accomplish with martial arts.

And number one is….. Kata are totally useless. That’s only true if you didn’t bother to learn their application and take the time to use the application against a partner. Otherwise, they can be very helpful. Especially in remembering moves. But like I said, you have to know their application. That means, you have to take time and train with a partner, in real life scenarios to know how and when they would work.

1. That there actually exists an ultimate system of martial arts.
2. That MMA has proven what the best arts to study are.
3. That being a black belt makes you some sort of super human weapon.
4. That martial arts, at their basic foundation, are all about combative fighting.