tallgeese

Glancing over your list of areas of study, I'll throw out some recommendations. On the BJJ front, the truly must have is Jiu JItsu University by Saulo Ribeiro. By far and away the best text on BJJ on the market that I have seen. Another excellent instructional on a related note is Wrestling for Fighting by Randy Couture. Excellent resource on all things takedown. There are other secondary volumes that are of note, but these are the big two I recommend putting in your grappling library. I aikido is of interest to you, I think that Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere by Ratti and Westbrook is a good read. In fact, if one is in to any sort of energy redirecting or soft art, it's probably worth the read. I seem to recall from your introduction that the first art you have listed has Japanese roots. If that is the case, I think that Secrets of the Samurai, again by Ratti and Westbrook, is an important historical read and should be on the shelf and required reading list of any martial artist. Lastly, there are some general subject matter books that I think are important to anyone in the fighting arts. First up, Tao of JKD by Bruce Lee. Even though it's a haphazard (at times) collection of notes, they are worth reading and studying for anyone interested in making the most of his or her art. Next, Living the Martial Way by Forrest Morgan. Not haphazard at all, but instead a step by step manual for warrior thinking, this is a great start on how to live the arts. His methodology can be used across any discipline despite the authors love of kata. I also think anyone involved in the arts for self defense should read The Gift of Fear by DeBecker. It's an excellent psychological and behavioral analysis of self protection. Along those same lines, but dealing with the bodies physiological reaction to combat is Grossman's On Combat or Siddell's Wharpening the Warrior's Edge. On a truly last note, I also think it's important to occasionally immerse oneself in the classics of the field. The Book of Five Rings, Art of War, Karate Do: My Way of Life, should all occasionally be revisited and pondered. I'm in the middle of slowly working thru Five Rings again and am finding that the wisdom in there never goes out of style and find much of it an applicable reminder of today.

10/28 Drilled takedowns for 30. Worked counter to whizzer off sprawl. Running the pipe. 10 min of takedown randori 20 min free roll

Welcome to KF! Glad to have you.

Bummer about the pepper spray. That can be a major advantage in the kind of conflict we're talking about here. Well, let's move on. If you worry about mentally being able to treat a ganger like an adult in conflict then I think cross training in some grappling might be a great idea for you. I'd focus on some form of standing grappling. Stay up, stay mobile, but have the ability to put one down by constricting blood flow to the brain. Maybe see if there is an aikijujutsu clubs nearby willing to help out with some tactical options. There are certain sects of JKD that work on this sort of thing as well. I'd also, considering the understandable adverse reaction to busting up a 12 year old, work on some visualization in regard to the situation. If you start to mentally desensitize to the idea, execution under pressure will be more viable. I recommend it since the aggressors in question are outside of you scope of experience and not what you probably think of when your training. As it happens, there's a thread on the subject GS started just below. Lastly, file a report despite your misgivings. You want to start a paper train should anything happen. If nothing else, it points the finger at the cops if something happens and nothing was done. Nothing irritates me more than cops that don't want to go do cop things.

Very nice guys. Just remember...they're customers. 10/27 90 min of free roll. Focused on passing and defending the guard pass. Spent time working counters to pass specifically.

Welcome aboard KF!

I'm guess the source of the plague. Like that we created it ourselves. That would be big information and at the same time wouldn't matter to that little group of survivors like was put out over the air when they were leaving Atlanta. What I want to see, is a flash back to the world the day the outbreak started.

Be careful with Wal-Marts. Everyone thinks that. Your friend is right of course, but holding that against hordes of desperate, unprepared sheep will be next to impossible with limited manpower. Not to mention that all those flocking there will turn the parking lot into a buffet. Hitting a Wal Mart is a good idea, but do it early in the outbreak, clean it out, and move on to safer locals from both the undead and looters.

First up, I'm sorry you have to deal with this kind of garbage in the 21st. century. Unfortunately, idiocy is everywhere and we have our share bigots as well floating around here. I have; however, never had to deal with it directed towards me. There are a couple of things to consider when we start looking at situations like this. First up, is there any conceivable way to avoid these individuals? Not because what they are doing is in anyway alright, but simply because it's easier for you to not have to put yourself thru this. It alleviates any concern about unintentionally setting case law in your jurisdiction. Groups like this will often claim certain territory or hang outs. They may or may not venture too far afield from these. It might be worth some research with others in the neighborhood to find out what their usual hangs are. This makes staying out of their way all the easier. Next up, report every incident to your authorities. Even if they can't do anything (I'm not up on what your legalities are there, but here, the incident you describe would itself lead to some sort of action), you start a paper trail on the incidents there. This will help build a case for action. It will also lead to the identification of the offenders and bring their behavior to the attention of the police. Once locals get a lead on this kind of thing, they tend to keep and eye out for the trouble makes on their beat and intervene in their lives whenever possible. This often makes them hang out elsewhere and while it does not solve the problem, it alleviates your having to deal with it. That's a win. As to the group dynamic, I'd give a couple things consideration. One, don't underestimate them. Ever. Don't think of them as kids, they are predators. Just smaller than average. An FBI study here in the states showed that your average violent offender who attempts to kill a cop committed his first violent felony at about age 12-13. Right in your range. Don't be the first victim. Getting away is always best. I prefer thinking about the destruction of the nearest, loudest one at the outset to set the tone. Then flee. In a best case world I leave his broken body between me and the rest of them to serve as a psychological barrier to attack. Stepping over your groups maimed alpha male to continue an attack that you didn't start takes some work. I understand this is harder with 12 year olds. Consider training movements to a rear naked choke from standing. Then you get to use him as a limpish body shield from the others while you negotiate your escape. Never assume they won't have weapons. Even kids this young have plenty of precedence for carrying. If one presents itself realize you're in a deadly force encounter regardless of the age of the hand it's in. Treat it accordingly. Lastly, regardless of age, they are a pack. You might need to treat them as such. If you can carry pepper spray in your neck of the woods it might be a good idea. Remember to get an inert trainer and practice deploying during you sparring sessions at a minimum. This will let you do it under duress. There is not 100% guarantee it will work, however, it works enough of the time to give you an edge. In most places, if a subject is aggressive or refuses to get away that's enough to deploy. If they are saying they are going to hurt you, it's more than enough. Again, start with the instigator and hose the pack. Then beat feet and report the incident. That's the route I'd go. In that order. Be ready to move between and and all of the force options available to you. If hostilities ensue, and I can't stress this enough, don't consider them to be misguided kids. They are the enemy. They are a target. Engage them like that. Mindset cannot account for how they should act, only how they are acting. To do less is to lessen your chances of successfully resolving the situation. Good luck and keep us posted on the situation.

Yes, we've always incorporated head movement. Still, even at that, when I trained for a time a college boxing I came away with even more movement. It's a science that really makes those bobbing and weaving motions part of their core belief system. For a reason, it's very effective against all types of artist. I brought that movement away from boxing and have used it to one degree or another ever sense. MMA fighters (which I did for a time) also use head motion like that that of boxers, again, depending on the fighter, to a high degree. Because it works. The addition of the larger gloves will alter parries a bit. You'll find covering more useful and I'd encourage you to learn to do it. I still use this as part of my defensive scheme as well. I learned alot from brief stint training in boxing. I think it's something that all martial artists can benefit from training in.

Will do, GS. 10/26 1 mile run shoulder press neck pull ups dead lift abs

That tends you to happen. You'll have a similar impression of shootfighting if you actually manage to find a sample in the states these days. Both suffer (at least 10 years ago at least) from a lack of codified rules that MMA was finally able to establish. Usually, there is little oversight as well and quality control is a major issue. There were so few ISFA (shootfighting's largest organization in the states during my involvement) schools operating that most tournaments would cater to outside arts, meaning anyone wanting to try their hand at it could enter. Thus, schools that might not actually have any ground chops would be in there flopping around and bringing the level down. Granted, this started to change as more people started cross training and the levels of skill started to rise. However, by that time MMA had already figured itself out and most of that talent started gravitating towards that arena. Both are great ideas, heck I competed in the ISFA's banner before doing some MMA, but they really never seized the small window that was open for a short time during the outset of MMA.

You can heavily influence what he's giving you as well. Getting him to step to set up the single or double is a wrestling staple. Granted, I'm no judo player, so most of my takedown work is more along the wrestling lines, but by cutting angles, giving and removing pressure, you can get an opponant to present a leg for attack. Then art form to it is coordinating that with your under hooks or arm drags.

bushido man makes great points, so I won't rehash. Needless to say, I think it's good advice. I'd make a quick point that's related but goes to mindset more than methodology. There's a saying I heard at a school somewhere: "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast" Slow down, make your motions perfect. This makes them smooth. When they start getting smooth, they'll speed up naturally.

It really depends on what form of Kung Fu you end up in. It's become an even more generic term for fighting arts out of a given country (China in this case) than karate has for the numerous systems out of Japan and Okinawa. I occasionally worked out with a guy in college that was a Kung Fu stylist and aside from some circular hip work and stepping patters, all of his strikes were very linear and what one might "hard style" Check out the local flavor and see how it sits with you. If nothing else it will give you an appreciation for arts that are out of the box from your familiar set.

10/25 Timed PT test for the team. 1.5 mile run bench abs stretching

It's the General Chat section. No worries about off topic posts here, it's what the section is about. We have a zombie plan thread going on here somewhere (really, zombies ) so BMX advice for a local isn't a problem. Now, as to someone being in the know about the subject and the location, we might have more of a problem. Myself, I am ignorant of both, despite my pathetic efforts at single track occasionally . Good luck.

Good advice all around. Another consideration is what you're training for. Judo had some new rules that will limit how to deal with this. Self defense training, as MP pointed out will have certain answers. From a BJJ perspective here would be my hat in the ring: Pummel for double under hooks ( I know- easier said that done, but that just gives you an excuse to train) and then work a level change to double or single. I'm assuming that what you're talking about working already is a standing single, the easiest way to get the leg from a leaner. A level change double will allow you to run the pipe or pick him up (no sprawl from that). A level change single will allow you to really lift and own the leg he gives you. Either also has the benefit of easily transitioning to a body lock take down. It's elementary, but don't forget it. Too many people do and it makes them vulnerable. Not to mention, a good body lock is hard to defend. It's often said that there is no secret to BJJ. To a degree, that is true. If there were a secret, it would be the under hook. Most problems you'll encounter in grappling can be made better (not solved but made better) by the application of the under hook. Leaners are also susceptible to getting their backs taken for body locks from there. Again, you'll need under hooks. I'd also look at arm drab solutions depending on the grips. If your leaner is giving you the opportunity, why not get both his weapons across center and take back or a side body lock with lift. Can't get much better than that. Lastly, and I'll take a beating for this but I'm willing, think about pulling guard. Yes, you go to your back. However, if leaning is the best he's got, and it's shutting you down then why not take the fight to a position where you can start an offense? Are you offensive from the lean pressure? If the answer is no (and it may or may not be depending on how well you can do the above or the other suggestions) then by all means get to a position where you can be offensive. IF your guard game is solid then you might have the opportunity here. Especially if he's unprepared to deal with it. Often, leaners tend to give too much away against a solid guard pull due to momentum. Lastly, take all the suggestions you get here, or elsewhere, and try them. Who cares if it doesn't work out. It's training, that is what it is for. See what you can make work with some reps. Let us know what you find.

No experience with that fitness program, but welcome back anyway Glad to hear that you're starting up again. Defiantly utilizing kata daily out of your system will get you heading in the right direction. In fact, in Ginchin Funikoshi's book Karate Do: My Way of Life, he pretty much states that about anything can be dealt with via kata. I don't know that I agree with him, but in your situation it certainly is a way to get back in shape and back into the arts. I'd try scrounging around for schools that might fit your schedule. Also, don't neglect your personal contacts that might train on the side. Some of my best memories thru the years are training in informal, but highly beneficial settings. Good luck and keep us posted.

10/24 15 mins of rounds of pummel to takedown position Drilled guard to high guard transition. Worked armbar from there. Move to omo. Finished with escape for omo and a counter to rear naked. 45 min of free rolling. Tonight was one of those nights I love about jits. We're talking about the omo plata and the rear naked choke. Two very well documented positions that I use often. Tonight I learned more about each. On the omo we worked an escape that just made me feel stupid that I hadn't realized it and on the RNC we discussed methods of implementing it that made it much more effective. So, with a few minutes of instruction and some reps, I just made two aspects of my game better. Like, way better. Last week, I was working with another purple that had just come back from a Rickson Gracie seminar who showed me some detail on the upa escape from mount that totally changed the percentage I hit with it. I know, we've all seen it since UFC1. That's part of the beauty of jits to me. And to a certain degree probably all martial arts. It's in the details. Don't show me the newest super cool move from Brazil (at least not first), show me how to make what I have work more. Probably like it is supposed to. That's the magic of it. Super cool night. Now, I will step off my soapbox and go off to ice my eye where a wayward heel left a mark during free roll.

I've never been a TKD stylist, brickshooter. Sorry if I mislead you somehow, so take my numbers with a grain of salt here. For me, out of my base art, it was about 3 years or so before I felt comfortable with the idea of real conflict if I recall. Then we realized (thanks UFC 1) that there was a whole range we hadn't trained in. That was probably a couple more years to feel comfortable with, and that's just to augment self defense skills with ground work. Not being comfortable in a grappling bout. Bear in mind about the striking numbers though, I'm coming out of a different striking pardigm there. Hand were always up, heavy focus on combinations and movement. Follow up control, ext. You mileage may differ with different arts. In the end, we usually train, if we train past say brown in most karate based arts and blue in BJJ, we're not training for just self defense anymore. Skills at those levels will greatly improve your odds in a street altercation if that's all you're looking for. Not saying more time won't make you better, just that in MOST altercations you'll have an ADVANTAGE. I bold it because that's all you'll ever get. There are no guarantees. Past those time frames you're really training to prepare yourself against that 1 percent violent offenders who really want to kill you if you're focusing on self defense. One last point, don't let me mislead you. It's not time in just any art training for whatever reason. The methodology must be sound and realistic in implementation and the mindset focused for ANY art to give you an edge.

That's a really good point. I think that's why note taking works well for me. Because it makes me mentally rehearse the movement I'm annotating after class several times to get it to paper. Then again when it get put to hard drive. It's likely the mental rehersal that aids me more than the actual notes, of course when I review that again give me the opportunity to mentally image the movements again.

"Rule number one...cardio."

I'm a big fan of it. It goes to hardwiring responses and shortcuts the decision and action phases of the OODA loop. Mental rehearsals have been show at high levels of athletic competition to improve performance in single blind studies. I'll have to hunt thru some materials to find the reference if anyone is interested. Grossman is a fan of it as well and offers what I think are some good points. You've heard some of them before, but they are worth repeating. First off, they actually have to be used like training. Not ninja killing fantasies. I can be guilty of this from time to time. Realism is key to imagery. The more detailed the better. The more realistic attacks used the better. The more accurate your responses the better. Try to get the environment detailed as well. Include your senses beyond sight once you get better. Smell, feel, ect. A high level of this is also imagining the physiological effects that the combat will have on you. This lets you work on controlling your heart rate and breathing as well. Of course, getting these last parts right will mandate either previous combative experience or realistic physical simulation. There is some debate about how deep you should go into putting yourself in the weeds. Obviously, you don't want start visualizing getting a curb stomping level beat down each time you do this. Some will say to avoid it all together. Others, will advocate working thru negative elements to ensure victory. You'll have to do the research and decide for yourself. Personally I"ll work thru setbacks and injury from time to time but never let myself loose the encounter. I'll get injured in these from time to time, but with the idea of pre-encounter preparing myself for that possibly and fighting thru it. Just my thoughts.

10/23 45 min free roll 15 min sparring 15 min sparring with takedowns