tallgeese

1/2 early: 1.5 mile run abs late: BJJ nite- Drilled standing guard pass, moved on to working high guard series. Guard-high guard-armbar-omo-rolling arm bar- golgo plata. 30 min free roll. Had one of those great notes where you find one of those tinly little details that m akes something you already use way better. I love jits

Right, as with most things, quality control tends to be an issue. The core idea of the art is sound and it's been tested under adverse conditions in a lot of settings. But, there are watered down versions and classes to get certified via minimal attendance in Krav "concepts" or such. As with any art, I'd check out the school before I bought in, verify the lineage back to what branch it comes out of and go from there.

I'd agree and haven't seen a school that did anything BUT this practice when it comes to returning to a style that you're graded in.

I've never seen any of his instructional stuff, so I can't comment on the quality. I agree with ps1 to a degree, the hype is largely the marketing machine that he has created. He's been a business man for years, even prior to his involvement in BJJ so he knows how to generate interest. I have heard the rumors that he recruits pretty hard from other camps. I'm not sure this is entirely unique to him, but he's certainly fingered in the practice quite a bit. However, all the talent in the world won't carry you to success alone, just as technical instruction won't. When you look at his training methodology, it's very intense and competition oriented. I think this, more than his tactics or business practices account for his tournament success. When you watch his guys compete, it's very obvious they've game planned to the highest degree. Put this together with insane competition focus and it breeds success.

Having trained with guys that directly worked with the Juko Kai guys, I can say that despite being sold as "internal energy" what is really used is primarily body mechanics and breathing patterns (particularly important for taking throat strikes). That's not to say that those guys aren't tough dudes, they are, and they practice a particularly hard style of aiki jutsu that has no real definition for "taking it easy" on joints. One area that they truly corner the market in is mindset. They are always going into a fight, taking aggressive action to respond, never "defend". This is highly useful and makes their art aggressive. I can't comment on some of the low-grade internet bashing about business practices of the organization, I've never been part of it. They are, to my knowledge, rumors. The people I know who were part of it have nothing bad to say about any of it's leadership, granted they were affiliated some time ago. Here's the thing, from my own evaluation of training on the outskirts of such things for a time, it's a lot of time to build up to training this way. And it plants you statically, from a training stand point, each and every time you work it. Studies have shown, over and over again, that you will respond under stress the way you train. If I train to stand and take punishment, then under stress there is every likelihood that I will do that when an adrenaline dump hits. So I've taken a potentially really good response (moving- even if it's running) and rooted it in place. Now when bad guy produces weapon I'm really out of luck. Even more than I would have been if I were at least mobile and attempting to avoid. Personally, hard sparring will condition you (as LP stated) to deal with the psychology of getting hit. Proper mindset will keep you attacking if you've really looked at violence. It's more important, at least the way I've structured my response patter, to keep mobile and work on evading attacks. Keep in mind that the Juko Kai guys are known for taking strikes, but that's not the sole focus of their art. It is what you see all the time in demos and you tube clips, but again, they practice a very aggressive style of joint manipulation and hit like sledge hammers from my experience.

So, my theft of a crutch for use as a weapon is documented. Very nice. Looking back, I think that having black belt candidates do a major portion of their test doing technical instruction for lower ranks is a really good idea. It means squaring away a couple of newer guys for a day of activity, but it's still a good idea. How a black belt can transmit technical details to a newer guys is important, plus guys who have been around a while will fill in any blanks he leaves out more readily than less experienced guys.

Welcome to KF!

1/1/12 jog to warm up hip drills leg extensions leg curls calf raises abs

This vid is going on three years old; however, it's some of the best positional transitions I've seen to date. Absolutely awe inspiring:

Very true. The site there is fantastic, but in the end it exists to sell the magazine of the same name. It's still a great source of information about the sport.

12/31 90 min free roll. Worked about a quarter of it no gi.

12/30 75 min free roll. More work on my new spider guard from the Robson seminar.

Another bit of opinion on the matter: http://www.graciemag.com/en/2011/12/whens-the-right-time-to-teach-students-leg-attacks/ I now have to go and pull the IBJJF rules. I had heard thru the rumor mill that some leg tactics had been moved around for the 2012 season, I'll have to check againg now.

12/29 jogging warm up abs bench shoulder press pull ups curls abs hip drills on mat

Bummer, and sorry for your loss. I see you study shorin ryu. I'm under the impression that they have a fairly well organized structure, so maybe try going thru your organization. I'd guess that by 3rd dan you'd have exposure to some of the workings of it. Start there and go up the line from your instructor. His coach and up. That's probably the best way. Past that, you're kind of our of luck. Possibly go thru other blackbelts that were present at your promotion? Other than that, hang your second and go to work. Good luck, let us know how it works out.

I think the dude doing the choking was probably trained better in that particular tactic (and probably interpersonal conflict control) than most cops.

And lastly, some more, stand up focused sparring with spaceman craig: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyImzJd7Jrw and some club work with MP: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAQaxy_4ups http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH9y8r4eyNM I think all forum members from the test are now accounted for! GS, I have some more footage that you might want to breakdown and look at, but it's fairly repetitive from here. I'll email the rest.

Depth might be incumbent on the user; however, it's predicated on time spent first learning the insights of an instructor on just about every aspect of the arts. You can, as mentioned, learn gross motor function from videos. What you can't get is the interactive experience of someone who has "been there, done that" coaching you thru each new movement. Walking you thru how to integrate said movement into your overall pattern. It's that integration that's hard without first hand correction for newer people. And, as Justice said, the depth of correction isn't there. I have seen the Gracie University stuff. I can say, as to instructional, it's well done. Well broken down, lots of detail. It's perfect for where I grew up, an area with no BJJ in an hour and a half's drive. However, it still lacks the interactive component from situation to situation. If I wanted to dabble, and lived within distance of a school, it's be more advised to go to the school. Could you learn, sure, but not as fast or as well as you could if you got to a mat and trained with a coach. It's a well done video. But still just a video.

This. Very nice, Justice.

I actually have that on video. I was nice enough to edit it out prior to posting. Don't worry. I'll keep it just in case.... I do have you and Craig sparring as well slowing loading now. After that, I have some club work and finally some pure grappling that will eventually get up.

Some spontaneous attack and defend drills from the test: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_klI_veXWCA and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMlv4tZVzPk

I had to do an oral presentation once about the art I was testing for. I've been associated with guys who did require a written component. Conversely, I've been at schools where you just get handed your belt at a seminar as well. I don't think there is a right or wrong answer in regards to this. Personally, I've handed out two black belts my entire career in ma's. I've required written exams of neither. That said, I like the idea. I want guys who reach that level to have a certain level of thought about their chosen field, to be well read in regards to it. This is a nice way to show it.

I am the same way, bushido man. I don't keep it on my belt, and I flat out tell new guys (everyone else knows) to never, ever deploy that stuff around me. It's as likely to turn me into a blubbering pile of jello as the bad guy, who according to Murphy's Law will not even be phased by it. I'll wrestle the guy, thanks.

That's really cool. And I hope that my dislike of leg attacks doesn't come across as an indictment of your friend. In fact, I think his arguments are very intelligently laid out. I didn't start looking at leg attacks in BJJ till I got my purple. I'd dealt with them in mma, but looking at things thru an entirely BJJ perspective, I and my peers didn't deal with them till purple. Now, my coach will occasionally work them with us so we can defend them, largely due to their use in comps we go to. I do agree with the above post that working them to what's allowed at your level in competition seems to be a nice middle ground.

MP, yes, yes I do. I am working on getting them uploaded a little at a time. My in law's connection is a bit hit and miss so it's taking a bit. I will post the gun/knife work today with luck.