TheArtofDave

Some where I think the topic took a twist, and personal opinion mixed in along with covering the topic, instead of just covering the topic itself. But I digress because I'm not saying anything is wrong with that but a foundation for understanding is what we are seeking. Now to my point. If white belt is the "foundation" and black belt is "the greater foundation" of the basics you'll notice if the teacher is credible by how he carries himself, and how he instructs his school. He must have the experience to instruct you from white to black, and to the highest level of the style, or art you're learning. What makes him qualified however is while you're learning at your own pace can he be patient, take the time with you, or get other students to show you. Will they correct, and give you the inspiration to push yourself to get to black belt. A qualified instructor will have both love and respect for his art. And for martial arts also. Seminars aren't inherently bad. It's what you take away from them, and how you want to analyze what was there that will give you the best benefit anyway. Also I do not like the term "Master" although its incorporated into a lot of arts. I prefer the term "Student" because even if you're a traditional 9th degree, or in some cases a 10th if the art allows, you're still a student of martial arts who loves your art respects your art, and you love all martial arts, and all styles, and are intrigued by what you can learn from them. I also don't see MA's as strictly fighters. MA's can be doctors, lawyers, contractors, teachers, actors, etc. There are varying jobs you can hold, you're not a "fighter" even if you constantly train. You're a student. If you forget you're a student of the Martial Arts you need a reality check. If they were so easy to master everybody would claim to be a master. Nobody can claim to be a master. Not even an instructor. Through many years of experience they've learned a scientific way to teach that you can follow. What makes them credible, is how well they know the material, and how well they teach it. You do fight how you train, but when you're training for sport you do not train to fight. You train for sport. If somebody is lacking in an area regarding sport in a tournament I do not feel its necessary to "belittle" them, or make light of their short comings. But as Martial Artists we offer encouragement, ways to improve, and for people who come away empty handed they're still learning. It's only learning from our mistakes that we grow, and get better in our art. That being said I don't believe you should train like you're going to kill yourself. If I practice my jab 1000 times, my instructor is going to make me do that many sit ups because I did not practice my forms. I came to learn Martial Arts. If I wanted to learn how to be a boxer I would have joined a gym. One last point I need to offer. When you're in a class. Whether you're getting the knowledge for free, or some of us have to pay I do not agree with an age restriction for the quality of a black belt. You're learning how to be more responsible in your MA training, we can all agree on that. Would you want to diminish that quality with a child who earns their black belt? As they age while in the school they're going to become more responsible, learn more respect, and what it means into place respect in their art, in their parents, in their instructors. With adults its the exact same. The training within classes are may not be the same but the quality of the training, and the quality of the black belt is too. 3 years to get to black belt is not a short time to get there. Also it doesn't mean the quality of the black belt is going to be "poor" more time doesn't always mean better quality. Its up to you the student to train. An hour or two a day will yield the same results as 3 or 4. Some time spending a couple hours a day is better than over loading yourself. Each one of us is different. The reason a lot of black belts are poor is because you have working individuals who cannot always train like they should. They work 2 to 3 jobs so maybe they don't always get to show up to class. Also you have these McDojo's and belt mills catch the eye of the uneducated to what they actually are. So wouldn't also be our job to warn people to stay away from these places, and find quality instruction in their area? I know none of us are perfect. But my love, and respect for Martial Arts is great. With that comes a certain responsibility to be a better person. To hold yourself at a higher standard than the average person. You have to think and act as a martial artist even when you have your low points great lessons can be learned from humility. Ok.. I'll shut up now... lol...

They won't remove Ryu, Ken, or Guile. I've heard its a great game though. Fei Long in the other versions was a straight rip off of Bruce Lee. But a code for Evil Ryu, and I always liked Akuma. Thought he was a worthy adversary for both Ken, and Ryu.

Bruce Lee was a martial artist. He trained in Wushu, but he didn't like the forms, nor the foot work. So I don't know exactly how much experience he had, but he never completed it. He would have done better in boxing because he liked Ali's footwork. So a lot of his foot work for JKD was heavily influenced by boxing. Also he didn't like rules, and even challenged the very committee who discourage him from teaching things that were sacred. He did it in defiance of them. So he was not just some actor who practiced martial arts. He was a martial artist. But he did not train for competition like others have said. I read an interview one time where it got so bad for Bruce when his movies opened. A lot of people didn't realize he wasn't that character on the big screen so he had to fight people off on the street just to have a normal life. I think if Bruce were alive today he'd most likely be apart of the UFC camp to train fighters. but he himself would have no interest in competing in it.

Instead of thinking this kid is annoying. Maybe you could say hey I noticed while sparring you flinch, and act immature about this process. Do you mind if I take some time out of my day to help you out. Often some people can be nervous. They need an example to show them that they have to put everything they have into this experience to get anything out of it. Maybe if he saw somebody in the class who was inclined to help him improve he'd be more comfortable with you and then he wouldn't be such a head ache when you were paired up with him. We as martial artists should be humble. We should never be selfish with our training. That is often while other students become instructors because they want to pass along their knowledge. The other bonus is you get a pay check for teaching what you love, but you don't have to charge anything. I think in this instance this kid needs a little guidance, and since you're paired up with him. What better chance than to work with him and help him improve.

Here in lies the problem with the statements regarding whether he is a "real" or a "fake" black belt. For one I might say who cares where a martial artist draws his inspiration from. I know tons of MA's who were inspired by Street Fighter 2 to learn the martial arts. That doesn't make them any less credible in learning their style, nor does it put them in a lower class regarding their motivations. I've always loved the martial arts for the self discipline. But I'm just now getting back into a style I truly enjoy. I voted real. I'm not ashamed to admit it, and I still believe he is a real black belt. The over all consensus where the debate split is this guy was wearing his ego. He wasn't. I'll give you a valid reason why. I didn't like Shotokan because of its forms. And at the time it was the only game in town and it took me over 20 years before a style moved into my town that I truly enjoy. After I graduate college in 2 weeks I'm back to training. This kid didn't like kata. So he was inspired and motivated by a video game. If he had quit, after ward I'd agree with you. But he kept it up. Why because the black belt kept his confidence up, and motivated him to train. Using "The Art of Fighting" probably was not the best name for it, but I don't judge. Now at 13, and even at 15 it's going to take you a very long time to perfect your style of fighting. If its a style of fighting, even your own style, it can be deemed an art. And if it can be an art it can be a martial art even though an organization wouldn't recognize it. But you're training to be a better person & for fitness, and for self defense. Do you actually need an accredited organization to document what works for you? Martial Arts is about how you train, who am I to question somebody else's methods. The only way for me to test their effectiveness would be to actually see them. I do question the competition. It makes me wonder if he was being seen an outcast for localizing a style effective for him. Did he have to stand up for himself? Usually most honorable instructors will not compete against a student who is learning the fundamentals. I wasn't there but it does make me wonder. Now the thing to do would be for him to take his style into a seminar if he wanted more exposure. But he'd have to be very methodical, and know every stance. It would have to be a very fluid, and proper way to it. But he doesn't train to teach. He trains to improve himself. So my question, or observation rather... If you have no formal training, but you have the skills, and all you do is train. Does it make a difference where the inspiration comes from? I certainly wouldn't go around picking fights. But if all the elements are there to be effective, and if a black belt gives you confidence, and motivates you to train who are any of us to say he is not a real black belt? The discussion is split. A black belt is a belt. It's used as a symbol. Would it matter if you were taught backwards in a reverse system? Probably not. Your experience, inspiration, and motivation define you as a black belt whether you hold one or whether you carry yourself as such in daily life. Everybody has reasoning for getting their black belt, and even continuing on after they get it. But its a belt. It doesn't give you the authority to discredit anybody else. Would you want to be treated in the same fashion? Don't martial arts teach you respect for yourself, your instructor, and the people around you regardless of whether you disagree? When you see it for what it more than likely was, which was a motivational tool to keep training, that proves he is indeed a real black belt. A fake would lose interest and wouldn't go to such lengths to train. Even if he is a natural skilled fighter, shouldn't he be embraced for his love of martial arts, instead of cast out for doing something "out of the box" My two cents and food for thought.

Another thing is UFC is about conditioning. Learning how to gain, and cut weight without it doing damage to you. Unless you decide to stay in a particular weight division. Also in combat situations, or possible combat situations it depends largely on how your train should you ever be presented with one. A lot of UFC fighters had MA backgrounds, Mir, Serra, Liddel, Hughes, Machida all of the UFC fighters have a martial arts background, or most do in TMA's but it's still a sport. It has been toned down so it can be regulated. It still shows you the effective techniques you can use in a fight. And it also shows you the techniques of MA's in the real world. In UFC you have tape, to break your opponent down, and you can find a strategy that will take the other fighter out of the fight. But in combat you're only strategy is not to fight. Unless you're put in a situation in which you cannot avoid, and fighting is the only option. Intelligent fighters avoid combat. And the ones that do have to use it only use enough to end it quick. I've got a friend who tried out for the UFC. He was on the lower tier of the UFC. He said he made it in 3rd place in the competition. But it wasn't enough to get him into the national spot light. But good luck on your training.

I've got to agree with people who said you're getting a combo of both. Because fitness, and training go hand in hand. You're going to be about even in skill, and fitness. I'm sure there are plenty of exercise drills your instructor can put you through. Also the other question becomes what are you training for? Are you training to be fit, or are you training to improve your skill, and fitness. Both go hand in hand as mentioned before.

Thank you all for all the useful information. I am a fellow student of Pasaryu, and some time it gets me down about where I'd be in my car didn't break down, and leave me stranded. But the good news is after I graduate college this old dog.. lol.. is going back, and this time I'm putting in all the dedication to at least get myself to 4th degree black belt. That's a good goal to motivate me. Then I can go from there and get even higher. The school I use to take at has a new building right next to the old building. I still have my uniform from that class. When I call should I ask about wearing the uniform I have. Or should I get another?

Actually fighting is only half of it. You're learning the self defense but with the idea that you'll never have to use it. It's just for extreme emergencies only, and I stress that heavily. Martial Arts is actually about internal conflict. What drives you to even be interested in them. Not the social locales, or international Holly Wood corporate machine that wants your money to push out more movies you can initially frown at. You're overcoming yourself. It's a self discipline, that also increases your health, reduces stress, and some people say it can add years to your life. You're taught to be an example for your art. To respect yourself, and other people. While its true not all Martial Artists are honorable. "We" who are the honorable martial artists should lead by example.

Actually I wouldn't call Dana White the Wyatt Earp of the UFC. He is more like the Doc Holiday if you really stop to think about it. He has a quick temper, and he can be somebodies worst nightmare, but the ends justify the means, and he'll always do what's right for the business, and he'll always defend the sport he saved, when everybody else had turned their back on it.

In regards to the OP, (Young Man) I think his name was. I'll get straight to the point now. IFL, Elite XC (before it folded), and even (WEC), Cage Rage, whatever. UFC is determined to be the pros. Anything outside of it is considered to be the amateurs. Not to say that some great matches don't happen, but that's the general mentality. There's blood in boxing. Mickey Ward, and Arturo Gatti, fought 12 rounds a few years ago. From the time the bell opened to the time it stopped the punched each other until I thought both of them could no longer stand. At the end of the fight they were talking about doing it again. They did, but it never touched the first fight. Blood is in a lot of sports. Boxing for one. Boxing is a scientific sport for the most part, but its not any worse than MMA. You have to give fighters some lee way when they are learning. IFL has use of camps. So its the camps winning points, and not the fighters. Each fighter is just a representative of that camp. So its more like a team effort than an individual. WEC is more like you'd expect for MMA fights. UFC is determined to be the best. Look into women's MMA. That's definitely something that will grow especially with all its untapped potential.

I would also think that deception would achieve them in their missions. To make one thing seem as it if was, when it was the complete opposite would be a great disadvantage to your enemy, and put you in a great position of power. Also I remember reading an article that suggested the ninja uniform was not what we came to know it as today. It was a perpetuated marketing ploy to keep the myth alive. This interests me greatly as to see what kind of feudal uniforms they would have had.

I hope this is not a very long list. But I have some that were not listed. Don "The Dragon" Wilson (had a cameo in Say Anything, he bloodied up John Cusacks nose.) Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Gary Daniels, Cynthia Rothrock, Buelo Yueng, Matt Damon (The Bourne Identity, gotta love that style Kali), Michael Dudikoff (who didn't love American Ninja?) Sho Kusugi, Chuck Norris, Frank Mir and there are a lot more but I don't want to be writing all night. lol...

The age limit for most school that will allow teens to compete in MMA training is 16 & up. With all the protective gear and the right kind of supervision that it requires. I hope this catches on. I would love to be offered to help teach this at my old school.

There has also been a lot of discussion among media, and people who just generally don't understand what "MMA" really is. If you take the martial arts out of it what you do really have? A mixed opinion. Put the martial arts back in and what do you have? You have a round based martial arts system that heavily focuses on technique. It also relies on boxing. But not to the extent of pro boxing. Also safety rules have been implemented to protect the fighters, even though its full contact inside that octagon. I think "artistic strategy" is a one good to put it. Most people give it a bad name because they don't understand it. It gives you a really good idea what you can accomplish with your technique. Especially if you see a ground fighter (like Frank Mir) for instance be on top of his technique like no other. A lot of people think you can pick it up easily. I don't think this at all. I think you should have a traditional martial arts background. Have at least 2 to 4 years training before you even consider it as a career choice. The conditioning is really effective. Probably the best conditioning you have from a fitness stand point. And I also don't believe you have to have the standard styles for "MMA" what make's it unique is the fact people from all styles can test their technique against what is currently out there.

It would mostly depend on the background of the wrestlers in question. If they were martial arts related then yes it would be difficult. But you can never question your skill if you're ever need to rely upon it.

I just don't think there is one. And this is coming from a guy who it took close to 30 years to find a style he loved enough to pursue even after all the hiccups, and things not working out in my favor. I'm still going back to attain something close to mastery. A true master doesn't exist. The true master would be consumed with training, and teaching. Martial Arts is about being dedicated to over coming the fear that you cannot complete your techniques. It's only when you overcome yourself that you find yourself. That is why Black belt is not the end but only the beginning. The same could be said for cross-training which would keep you very busy. A true master would be "perfect" in all area's and flawless in dedication, teacher. He would be able to make you learn the first time he went over it. Then you would practice it until you mastered every technique. Sadly, however this is the real world. We'll never achieve that level of perfection so we must strive to attain it by being very proficient in our drills and techniques. I think mastery is impossible. But attaining a very high level of skill is not. you're always going to suffer in one area, so that is why you can never be a master. But you can always train to get better in those areas. For each area you find another weak spot will show. But constant training will always help you improve into a well rounded martial artist.

To an extent I would say you're correct. But here is the thing eventually a punishment would have to be issued, even if it was only temporary. I feel that wearing a white belt for a week, and having to test white after that week is appropriate punishment to make problems straighten up. Or to even suppress the rank. You're going to wear a white, and test white white until you're out of this phase of misbehaving in class. A verbal warning should be given. For the students who do not listen then while the rest of the class is rewarded for acting respectfully, those who did not will have to revisit the very beginning until they can act how a bb should act. Some people have to learn the hard way. You want to have fun while you're learning but you need to provide a good example for the rest of the students.

I've never understood what the benefit of this was. Usually everybody likes to make something a competition. They won't listen when you tell them I'm not competing with you. I have just as much love and passion as you do for martial arts. My life, and my art helps me achieve a greater purpose so I'm content with all things. Everything doesn't have to be a competition. No art is really better than the other one. If that were the case so many of them would not be available for us to learn. So I agree that it is definitely and honor and a privelige to be able to train. One we should all appreciate, and enjoy discussing instead of arguing

Some time I feel like the odd man out but then I hear so many inspiring things like people starting martial arts at 50. And it inspires me to just work and cross train with as many styles as I can. I'm going to be 30 in November. But at least I'm going back to a style I really love. I really am going to work hard for my black belt.

It's a respect factor for me. I bring a spare shirt with me because I'll usually wear my pants, and I realize it would look dippy with my work boots on too but I'm not too concerned with that. As I've had shoes in the past. When your at your dojo, its a respect factor between the instructor and the students. Where you can practice, anything, and strengthen your weaker areas. You're learning the fundamentals of self discipline, respect for other art's, and a greater respect for people over all. I agree that outside of class its probably better to bring a change of clothes, or just wear bottoms with a shirt. In my training, and I'm about to revisit, and hit it hard, you were always reminded once, and then it was your responsibility to honor the fundamentals of the dojo. I usually bring a change of clothes unless I'm getting off work, and changing into the gi is the only thing I have at the time.[/b]

Hello everybody, I trust all of you are well, and for those who are not, I do hope things get better for you. I'm Dave. Originally my interest started in Shotokan. Mainly because at the time, that is all that was around when I was a kid. I had just started and I didn't finish, which is now driving me to succeed in another art. I found it to be too awkward for me when I later to tried to go back to it to complete where I failed. It didn't work out that way and I'm happy for several reasons. 1) Later, I discovered the art of PasaRyu, and while I didn't finish that either after I graduate tech college I am going back, and I will be getting my black belt in 2 to 3 years. Once I have it I'm not stopping there. I want to get to 9th degree. Knowing that it's going to be a challenge that doesn't surprise me. But if I also want to cross train in Isshinryu, and will have to make the trip to Knoxville. I figure if I have a knack for teaching that I can teach the blended styles of Pasaryu, and Isshinryu. Although I'd have no idea what they'd be called if you blended them as an extended cirriculum. I'm getting way ahead of myself though. I'm going to take this one step at a time. Work heating & air, and overcome myself with a style I truly love. When I was taking PasaRyu I love the style, and all the forms, and stances. Then their building closed, and I got lost. But I know where the new building is now (right next to the old one) So I can refuel the passion I had, and I've been a martial artist all my life. I've always loved the martial arts, and that has made me critical of other ma related sports. Even things that may be inspired by ma but I love it. I love that I am that way because I don't just accept anything I see. I don't know whether I wear my gi from a few years ago, or get another one. I was taking from John Wade, and it looks like he is a 3rd degree in tkd, and maybe a 5th or 6th in Pasaryu. I forget and would have to look it up to make sure I am not catching myself in an error. Anyway I'm here to post, learn get back to the korean art I love so much. [/i][/b]