tallgeese

Welcome back to KF!

Right. Now this is a major problem in a lot of arts. There is a certain reliance that is accepted as a given. All things being equal, there is no given for ANY tactic during a fight. That's one leg up competitive based arts have, they constantly test their tactics v. resistance to find out how they are working. If one is progressive enough, this can also be done with safety equipment and drilling v. realistic attacks in other arts as well. It's kind of the point I made about methodology, you HAVE to have a good one to train in no matter what you're coming out of. It also has to be safe enough to let you and your training partners all go home to train the next night. Too much is accepted across the ma realm without being vetted first. It's particularly a problem, I'll grant you, in many RBSD systems. But not one that is insurmountable given the right equipment and methods.

It's an Ewok. Nuff said.

Alright, here are my thoughts on the last run of activity on this thread. First up, there are alot of good points on both sides. To the competition issue, there is a lot to be said for the stress of comps. They mimic, to a certain degree, the adrean dump of actual conflict. This can be very useful. They are also a great lab to determine what does and doesn't work. However, this is not the only avenue to accomplish this. It is a way. A way that is better than a lot of others, but not the only way. Also, a ton of emphasis is placed on what happen inside the cage when x happens (eye gouge, groin kick, ect.). Let's remember, that in all cases here we are dealing with highly conditioned, highly motivated athletes, this is often not the case in real events. So, we much be careful not to read more into this one way or the other. Since bonifides seem to have become an issue, let me start this last part by saying my last time in the ring was appx. 10 years ago in an MMA venue. Two weeks ago in a BJJ venue. Further, since my job requres it, I was hands on in the street 4 nights ago. I'm not the be all, end all of combative expeience, but I have been there. A couple of things. One, it's hard to have "thousands of fights" and not end up in jail as a result of any. Self defense does not happen that often, not with concious effort to avoid them. Perhaps one has a job that requires it, this is my case, and I'd stretch the definition of "fights" to get near that number. Still, it's concieveable it could happen in the right location/ profession. Two, never, in all of the conflicts real world that I have been in, despite over two decades of training, MMA experience, ect., have I EVER taken it lightly or not been in a bit of an aroused state due to the unpredictable nature of combat outside of a ring. Here's what I'm getting to in a round about way. Everyone seems to be arguing that "this has worked for me" Great. The things I've done have worked for me, in the ring, and with modification on the road. Great. But the point is, what I do and you do probabily doesn't look the same. There might be similarities, but we'll differ. Again, we go back to no right answer. I'll grant, there are better answers than others. No way around it. In most cases, it's better or worse training and testing methods. With the unpredictiable nature of real world conflict, I won't take any weapon off the table. Now, there are better and worse places to apply everything. You'll never groin strike anyone off you if he's mounted. However, you might make sure he doesn't chase you groin strike him while he's down and you're up. Methodology and application are more important almost than weapon selection. For what it's worth.

I think this is, again, a look at how a certain body of knowledge has changed over the course of the years. In this case, education not the martial arts. I'm certain this is the way it was done. Since then, educational studies have shown that a studen of anything, not just martail arts, will learn better if he/she understands the "why" of a skill. I think we do a disservice to students if we don't change with the times to update the way we do things based on new methods that are far more advanced than old ways. I do like the repetition aspect of this. I think that often times, this is lost on the modern student. The need to rep a tactic into instinct. It's hard to make the current younger generation of students understand this. So, on that front, old wisdom prevails. The trick is balancing the two.

3/16 Drilled the hip bump sweep, then hip bump to triangle. 60 min free roll

I'm assuming that's what he means by "...and also in arms when I get to about blue belt..." And I still don't know a ton of MT schools that emphasis throwing.

3/15 2.25 mile run legs abs

Really. Did you check his requirements? Kicks, punches, takedowns, weapons. MT is great, but last time I checked I didn't see a ton of guys in MT doing weapons training. Or takedowns for that matter. Same argument for mma, which I 'm a big fan of, but again, not alot of knife training going on in those schools. It's about matching his wants to what's out there. Not force feeding him our preferences.

3/14 BJJ nite: Drilled passing the guard via a move to a reverse knee in. Taking side, then mount, close with armbar series. 6, 2 min free roll open guard v. pass 45 min free roll.

3/13 1 mile run back/bis abs conditioning. Focused on sprawl work with the swiss ball and balance work for knee in on same.

Agreed. No ranking system currently exsists. Success would be based on competition records, number of fighters doing well, ect. Now, one thing to look at is the credinitals of the instructors there. Is there grappling program run by someone ranked in bjj, or a wrestler type, if the latter then what is his lineage like. It's entirly possible that the instructors are ranked in something, but that should be spelled out. I'd be wary if the black belt in mma was what they hung their hat on.

3/11 Drilled high double leg. Moved on to using gi for underhooking from side. Chained that after standing guard break. Finished with bow and arrow from side control. 40 min free roll.

3/10 BJJ nite: Drilled hip bump, kimura, to taking back. Sweep from back to wrist lock then armbar. 8, 2 min rounds closed guard v. pass 45 min free roll LP, if you're interested plan on coming up that friday nite, we'll go into the city for the tourney on Sat. Talk GS into as well. I think Tim will be in as well.

So far so good. Met two, won a first in the IBJJF winter open absoulute division for my rank/age. I didn't even have to cut weight. Now, a couple of more tournies and a takedown and it'll be a pretty successful year.

I've trained with that guy. You're right.

3/9 Drilled guard to spider. Spider to triangle. Counter to triangle. 45 min of free roll. GS, are you guys still interested in coming up for the Chicago NAGA? I just talked to Tim tonight, he's considering. Let me know.

For me, making sure that I'm learning sefl defense skills, at least in some sort of cross over sense, still is my primary motivation. Now, I agree that there is nothing wrong with moving away a bit from this. I've become much more intrigued with the art of things since becoming involved with BJJ. However, I still go back to the goal of learning skills to defend myself at the core of it. Given my ocucpation, I've had opportunity to employ even the more "artsy" side of things while grappling for control. Even training heavily in the art of it gives me cross over work in posture, position, hip movement, ect. that come into play in all situations. So, at the end of the day, everyone should do an art for whatever reason they want. Even if they NEVER have an intrest in sd. I'd have never gone there 10 years ago, but I'm older and more mello about such things these days. The arts are big. Plenty of room there for everyone's reasons.

3/8 Range day for work. Marksmanship, combat marksmanship, live fire room entry. There are days I love my job. I'd like to say I worked out after the training day, but I napped then went out for dinner instead.

3/7 BJJ nite: Drilled high guard to flower sweep to arm bar. Transition to triangle. 6, 2 min rounds of high guard work 45 min free roll. Played alot of inverted guard.

Regardless of it's origin, you're seeing the concept out there in other arts. Even in modern origin American based arts. I'm sure it started as an Okinawanian concept, but obviously it's been adopted by other arts of other national origins. This, I have no problem with. Let's face it, it's a pretty good idea. It establihes a heirarchy based on the wishes of the founder and his designated line. It also establishes a sort of history. So, regardless of origin, why not adopt it if it suits one's needs.

Congrats!

3/5 2.5 mile run light back/ bis

GS, that will certainly happen after clinch training. I never get so beat up as I do when I train that free form. Espicially with you guys. 3/4 2.5 mile run legs abs light conditioning

3/3 Drilled guard pass, then counter to guard pass by taking back. Then counter to back. 6, 2 min rounds, open guard v. pass 45 min free roll