tallgeese

Very true, MP. It is a different sort of dicipline though. Discipline in the sense of karate based arts is certianly more formal, which might be a better descriptor. Dicipline in the mma realm revolves around maintaining your training schedule of the upcoming fight, conditioning, watching what you eat so you properly cut weight, ect. It's certainly dicipline, but it's geared towards successful competitive preparation, not any sort of philosophical or ethical underpinning of an art. Now, as to formailty, this will clearly be much more a factor in karate than just about anything else. The mma gyms I've competed out of and/or coached out of were pretty laid back: show up, sweat, hit something to exhaustion, grapple someone to exhaustion, rinse and repeat. All while a round timer occassionally bleats in thru the Metallica pounding in the background to remind you how much your life sucks while your doing this on 1500 calories that day. In BJJ, you pretty much call everyone "bro", slap hands alot, and lounge on the mat during instruction all while Bob Marley plays in the background. Conversly, karate gyms are much more likely to demand a certain decorum while training. Repetitive bowing to show respect, certain rules about when one can and can't speak or who one can and can't address during class. There is a chain of command so to speak that is very formalized. Really, I know we had the trappings of formality back in the day, but having been around to some different places I can say we got real lucky in the LACK of formality we did have to observe. It's a misunderstanding that often occurs between the two training mindsets. The mma crowd gets portrayed with a lack of dicipline, it truth, it's just a different form.

One of my coworkers who trains with me got into a fight with a suspect a while back and ended up holding the combative individual in side mount after an extended fight that turned into an ugly grappling match. He got control and was able to hold there until back up arrived and they were able to take him into custody. He was really glad we'd taken the time to really drill position and talk about different options available from there.

5/13 2 mile run chest/ tris abs

I'll second MP on his assessment. Regardless of art, given what you've stated, I'd look for a small and friendly school. The atmosphere and the way the personalities there fit with yours will be much more important, at least at the outset, than even the kind of art you pick or it's nation of origin. It's pretty easy to get a vibe off a school during a short visit or trial period. Each club also has a sort of "group think" that dictates it's priorities and training standards. See if it matches yours. Also, a few trial lessons will give you a feel for the personalities that are large and frequent at the club. See if you can function and fit with them. The more you enjoy going ot class, the more likely it will be that you'll keep it up. Find that first, early on, with you stated goals, about any art will suffice. Once you start to meet your fitness goals and overcome the initial nervousness of training, you'll be able to shop around with a better idea of what you want. If cultural stuff is important to you, you're probibly looking in the right direction with arts from Asia. If you're concerned about vibe, consider a traditional BJJ school as well. If you walk in and there are surfboards on the wall you'll probabaily have an easy transition into socializing with the group. A caveat, stay away from mma if you look in this direction. I'd guess the vibe will be wrong for you. But a laid back BJJ school is pretty easy to fit into. Groinstrike, who hangs out here, famoulsy told me once while working out that I'd become a jiu-jitsu hippie. It happens. Just thowing the suggestion out there based on the social aspects you mentioned. But if karate is really what you want to do, go with MP's advice and look for the smaller, friendlier club. Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

Which one? The guy that wants extort money (via contracts / deals) or the guy that wants value for money? Heck - you should be able to get the best training in the world for $ 7.00 per hour max otherwise you are just entering into the Mc Dojo. Sojobo I can't quite agree with the contract thing. It's become an industry standard across the board. From the "mcdojo" concept to actual schools. From an coaching standpoint, you're going to invest a great deal of time in making an individual better. If they drift off after 6 month of work, then you're out that investment of building, usually really slowly, a training partner. The contract has to help with actually showing up to training. I just don't see an issue with contract, and I've trained at schools both with and without. I have yet to hear a pitch that didn't include a way out for either medical reasons on forced lifestyle change (ie. loss of job, job transfer to another city, ect.) At the rate of 7/hour you quoted, assuming that you're going to class 3 times per week (around my average I'd guess) and that you're there about 2 hours per session, you're looking at a monthly fee of 168. That's actually above what you're average BJJ school will charge per month. I don't think that's an issue most of the time. So, even if they are using a contract this does not mean that you're being exploited finacially for the knowldege and coaching you're recieveing. I just think it's a reality in this day and age.

5/12 BJJ nite: Drilled guard passing, counter to knee on belly, arm bar off counter. 6, 2 min rounds of closed guard v. pass 45 min free roll. 2 rounds of maintaining mount v. escape after.

5/11 60 min free roll.

5/10 30 min of doubles and singles, sprawls and counters 30 min free roll

Dinner and drinks with my instructor and guys at the club. Then more drinks after dinner and drinks.

5/9 BJJ nite: Drilled triangles set a couple of different ways. Moved into transtion to omo, then sweep. 6, 2 min rounds of closed guard v. pass 45 min free roll

Welcome to KF!

Nice work!

5/6 Finished up with a three week block of teaching CT at the department. Got in a few extra reps during demo and live training. Boy am I glad that's done. 5/7 BJJ: Drilled over triangle and armbar. 75 min free roll.

5/5 1 mile run back/ bis abs

5/4 BJJ nite: Drilled double under pass. Moved into defending the double under via movement under arm and then via shoulder lock. 6, 2 min rounds of double under v. pass 45 min free roll

Nice. 5/3 Drilled takedowns. Single, double, underhooking trip, body locks, ect for 45 min. 45 min free roll.

I disagree. The roots of it are of more import, as ps1 eluded, to people outside BJJ than inside. The radical evolution that occured in BJJ after it's formation under Carlos and Helio took it in an entirly different direction. Further, the evolution didn't stop with them, current cutting edge stuff wasn't heard of back then. It doesnt' make one version better than the other, it just goes to show the evolution that occured over the years of specilization. Now try and trace that back to some scrolls left over from a century and a half back. Doubtful they look the same. I can't imagine X guard was really a valid choice for battlefield combantants. Sure, we can talk about fundimentals and hip control and trace similarities based on the fact we all share physiology and biomechanics but that does not make tactics the same.

Just saw this...Happy belated Birthday, MP! Although you announcing that you're almost 30 does make me feel quite a bit older .

Ok, GS which TKD gym did you barbarians invade? 4/2 BJJ nite: Drilled more no arm triangle and armbar work to get the hips moving. Moved into no arm triangle for technique off the drill and omo to armbar set off the second drill. 6, 2 min rounds of closed guard v. pass 45 min free roll.

Congrats! Glad to hear your expeiance was a good one.

5/1 2 mile easy run legs/shoulders abs 10 min cooldown with hip and movement drills on the mat. Followed by an organizational marathon getting fishing stuff sorted for the warm weather.

Welome aboard!

Welcome aboard KF!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvLOncMKDYc&feature=related Seriously, tell me we don't know a guy like this.

4/29 off- family time 4/30 BJJ: Drilled no hands triangle and armbar to work the hips. 60 min free roll.