sensei8

Spar spar spar spar spar spar spar spar....and then spar some more!

I admire Bruce Lee and many other notable figures throughout the history of the martial arts, but, I'm not them and they're not me, as a matter of fact, their not "you" and "you're" not them! "Fight Like..." is the usual tagline for a story about some martial artists way of fighting/grappling/etc. There's nothing wrong with these "How To" articles/stories/books at all. Anything and everything that can help/improve/etc of the skills/knowledge/etc and the like of the martial artist is important because absorbing what is useful and discarding what isn't is what it's all about. Having said that and while I admire their abilities and the like, I don't want to be "like" anybody. No, I just want to fight MY WAY and my way alone and be myself. Is that so bad? Is that so wrong?

Shortest distance between point A and point B IS A STRAIGHT LINE! Flapping arms and excessive sine wave destroys the power curve. Why? The STRIAGHT line is now elongated and no longer provides the SNAP/POP because the sharpness of the same course line has been interupted. STRAIGHT LINE....STRAIGHT LINE...STRAIGHT LINE!!!!!!!!!.... This can't be and it shouldn't be ignored! Again...regardless of whether it’s a thrust or strike, for any striking blow with foot or hand to be truly efficient the return course must also be the same. In other words when we send a punch, for example, with the elbow behind the fist we must take care that the elbow returns first with the fist following. This sounds obvious, but, it's frequently not done. A punch should not thrust out and return looking like an backfist. A side thrust kick should not thrust out and return as a snapping kick or, equally commonly, looking like a roundhouse kick. Don't ignore the obvious importance of how vital a STRAIGHT LINE is to a technique! Even a hook kick/punch must follow a straight line at THAT point that the straight line DOES exist. Being TOTALLY AWARE of the punch, for example, from its start to it's finish is required to understanding the punch. Drill the very point just after the punch contacts its target including the returning path UNTIL it is more understood. A snapping towel analogy is about as crude and is about as accurate as I can explain it to you.

Yes...Congrats to all!!!! Wow...Member of the Year! WOW! Thank you all for this honor! Totally unexpected and totally appreciated!

...and effectively!

Most org/feds/assoc support the sensei of that dojo. For example, the ATA headquarters will refer someone with a concern right back to that instructor. The ATA heaquarters won't calll that instructor and make any judegement one way or another. Someone who's been/in the ATA, please let me know if what I'm saying here is correct or not.

I thought my post you quoted explains my reasoning. Everything about any said technique is CRUCIAL. From the start to the end "it" must return as "it" left; flapping elbows are great if I'm trying to fly like a bird, but, not in a technique. The quickest way from point A to point B is a STRAIGHT LINE. Anything else is wasted motion and ineffective. What happens after impact is the beginning of the recoil/return of said technique. If after the impact is considered mute, then two things happen, imho. One: The technique is just a push! Two: My next technique isn't aided at all by the returning technique NOT returning. A technique birthed as a backfist, for example, MUST return AS a backfist the same way/course that it took to the previous target. Flapping, excessive sine waves, and the like aren't helping/aiding in the technique at all. To stop a technique prematurely only can arrest the power curve. But, if I've snapped my wet towel at you but I just let my arm drop which will prevent my arm/hand from returning to me on the same course, well...again...my wet towels going to just get you wet. Yet, if I do with the towel as I've explained in the post of mine that you've quoted, well...OUCH because that snapping towel is going to take a big bite RIGHT AFTER IMPACT!

Then don't do "smash" techniques, do something else that you can do! I'm sure that the "smashing" techniques are solid, but, like every style of the martial arts, there's many other optional techniques to use besides 'that one' particular technique.

Welcome to KF! Glad to have you!

Cowboys beat the Raiders...24-7. I wasn't expecting anything less even though the Cowboys lost to the Raiders this year in an exhibition game. That don't count because it doesn't! The Cowboys go on the road next against the Giants! That will be a barn-burner or it should be! Kansas has Denver at home, that will be a close game. I hope the Chiefs win for Brian's sake! Miami at home against the Patriots, another game that will be close. I hope the Dolphins win for Patrick's sake! GO COWBOYS!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, that makes perfect sense to me! Cool!

I've seen that the standard Kanji of Seiyunchin to mean... To control and pull in battle! I've also seen other Kanji of Seiyunchin to mean... Blue eagle battle! I think you, WNM, probably have better access to Kanji on the 'puter than I do, otherwise, I'd show the Kanji of the two above. Sorry!

Well...as wishy washy as this sounds...My students make me good! A good martial artist has the ability to see the Yin within the Yang and the Yang within the Yin. My students help me to see that both the Yin and the Yang are seperate although interwined because one can't be without the other. A martial artist learns to accept life in it’s totality with it’s ‘advantages’ and ‘disadvantages’. Aside from the skills of self defence, Martial arts paves the road to becoming a better person.

Well...my tenure as the November 2009 Member Of The Month is nearing an end. It's been both an honor as well as a priviledge. I pray that I've not let anyone down and that I've not made KF think that they made a mistake when they selected me for this honor! I've been in great company having been listed amoungst past Member Of The Month inductee's. Good luck to the December 2009 Member Of The Month as well as future awardee's! Again...I thank you all!!!!!!!!!!!

Yepper!

I've been before, but, I don't think I'll be back there anytime soon and not at all in 2010!

Not as of late! Imho, any Kata that's been "tweaked" can't be called traditional. But, I'm sure it depends on how one views the word "traditional"!

You forgot your signature Kata...Haku Tsuru! I'm just funning with you!

I employ my HIPS! No hips = Nothing! Drill until the cows fly over the moon, but, without proper hip usage, nothing is all one will achieve. Everything must be in concert: start and end at the same time and traveling the same course: Out and back. I wish I had something long and fantastic to answer your question, but, I'm sorry, that's all I employ, it's just that basic and it's just as specifically speaking as I can be!

I'm for being physically fit at all, but, how does one being able to do 150 push-ups and/or the like equate with being able to do effective techniques? I've not done 1 push-up and/or the like during any testing in my past 45 years in the martial arts, nor have I ever required any of my students to do the same because if I can do the push-ups but I can't do any effective technque(s) effectively, then, I just might as well learn to run a marathon so that I can outrun my attacker.

Was the 22% gratuity supported/protected/enforced by some law? If so, then, imho, your student who is a police officer that flashed his badge...is he now above the law?

You know, this is just me and I like the Code of Bushido, but, I love and obey God...ONLY!

No, but it can make someone note that there's something there to be aware/forewarned about. The possibility that this very large person might be able to pick up the Empire State Building like it was just a feather or that this very large person can crush the Empire State Building like it was a piece of paper...well... it's a possibility that I can't ignore. I'll only know for sure when the very large person and I engage one another in combat.

Sherdog.com! OK! I'll try that. I do my own research on-line just as you've listed above, but, not with sherdog...so...I'll try that. Besides, I was sure that Ortiz was going to win no matter what stats were telling me, but, sheech, I went with my emotions over stats......DUH! I'm such a dork!

Please let us know what happens.