I’ve been pondering the importance of ignoring what Professor Presas once called “the barking dogs.” He often said, “Ignore the barking dogs and do your thing.” There are many naysayers out there who espouse absolutism. They fail to recognize what is true for themselves, and their worldview does not apply to everyone. In other words, just do your freaking thing!

I’ll delve into two examples. The first example concerns martial arts, and the second concerns the issue of cochlear implants. While they seem unrelated issues, the naysayers in both camps are similar.

Let’s start with cochlear implants. I was born deaf. Until December 2013, I wore hearing aids since I was two. One day, during the summer of 2012, I woke up with significantly changed hearing in my left ear. I shrugged it off, thinking I had either an ear or a sinus infection. Unfortunately, I did not have either, and it turned out to be a permanent loss with an unknown etiology. I have been told that it’s not uncommon.

Long story short, I got my first cochlear implant on the left in December 2013, followed by implantation on the right in November 2015. It’s been an amazing journey. My hearing is better than at any point in my entire life. That said, I still heavily rely on lip-reading. It’s so hardwired that it will likely never change.

  • Me in 1968
  • After my 2nd CI surgery in November 2015.

Anyway, I was astonished to find that there are those in the deaf community who oppose cochlear implants because they may destroy deaf culture.

Before I go any further, some in the hearing world think cochlear implants are “a cure.” They are not. We’ve all seen cochlear implant porn videos that give a false impression. There is this notion that it’s equivalent to turning a light switch on, and presto! Instant comprehension! That’s not the case at all. Adjusting to sound filtered through cochlear implants takes substantial time and effort. The bottom line is that it’s not a cure and, most assuredly, not an instantaneous fix.

A portion of the deaf community views cochlear implants with deep suspicion. From their perspective, their deafness is a problem that needs to be “fixed.” The more extreme faction of the deaf community goes further and views this as oppressing the deaf community and even eradicating the deaf community. They have shunned deaf people who have received cochlear implants.

I have yet to encounter criticism from anybody in the deaf community about my cochlear implants. On the other hand, look at the comment section of any cochlear implant activation video on YouTube, and you will see a brawl unfold. The absolutism of the anti-cochlear implant crowd is something to behold. The implied criticism is often, “You are not a truly deaf person if you get cochlear implants.“

Fun fact: folks with cochlear implants ARE deaf. When I take them off, I am stone-cold deaf. I can’t hear a thing.

Some are open-minded about the CI issue and tend to tolerate all kinds of deaf people. This philosophy states, “It’s up to each person to decide how to live their lives, and I’m not going to judge them for their choices.”

I am with this crowd. Let each deaf person live their life as they choose to do so. Ignore the absolutists at both ends of the spectrum and just do your freaking thing.

Martial Arts

I see a similar kind of absolutism in martial arts. Some repeatedly insist on their pet training methods. Further, they imply that we are not legitimate martial artists if we don’t adopt those training methods. I reject this view.

This view usually espouses hard-core training methods. I’ll leave it to your imagination what those hard-core methods are.

On the one hand, I agree with those espousing some hardcore training. Otherwise, how well can you hold up under stress? Do you know your breaking point? Further, can you overcome your freeze point? All these issues are legitimate end goals of various hardcore training methods.

But, this is a HUGE but hardcore training is not meant for everyone. Ignore them and do your damn thing.

It’s certainly not appropriate for a 5-year-old child or an 80-year-old senior citizen. I have taught the young ‘uns and seniors. As an instructor, I have to level up or down the intensity of training according to their ages and skill levels. They are not, in any way, less legitimate than those who train in MMA, for example.

Every martial artist has a different path, and each path is personal. Their journeys may change throughout their lives. Take me, for example. At 56, I have a cranky right hip, which will require a replacement down the road. In addition, I have hardware inside my skull. Besides bilateral cochlear implants, I have a tube shunt in my right eye. So, my training is different today than at age 25. This means less hardcore training.

I reject the absolutist view that if you don’t engage in hardcore training (whatever form that is), that delegitimizes you as a martial artist. “Ignore the barking dogs and just do your thing.“

It is one thing to say, “If you don’t train the way I think you should, you are not a legitimate martial artist.” It is better to say, “I respect your journey and training methodology. Whatever works for you!“

Take seniors. Based on my experience, I would wager that they will look for an enjoyable training activity that may include self-defence. I don’t expect a 70-year-old grandmother with osteoporosis to engage in hardcore Muay Thai training or full-contact stick sparring.

Do you?

Additional Reading