GeoGiant

Thanks Patrick. All I can is wow. I can't image a situation where someone is using MAs on regular basis to fend off an attack unless your in the military or law enforcement. This isn't a criticism to anyone but I can't image the videos you will receive... guys working the door at bar?.... 20 something year old guys creating a fight just so they can video it?...security camera footage? I guess this shift seems surprising to me considering some of thread categories and based on some of the people I've exchanged posts with. Again, I'm not criticizing or passing judgment and maybe my opinion is based on a lack of understanding how someone obtains a video of themselves like this, but it seems like you guys could be inviting trouble. Oh well, I have had fun here and gotten some good advice. Good luck, take care.

Maybe I'm the only one confused [certainly not the first time]. What is the probability of someone having a video of themselves being attacked? Are we talking about a real, non-staged, confrontation in the street? You want to see me in a fight... I giggled when I typed that. I enjoy talking with people here and I have the technology to record myself but I don't want to start a fight with someone so I can record it... again giggles. I guess my only other option would be to walk through bad neighborhoods with my bother in tow with a video camera... and I have to say if I'm not winning I hope my bro puts down the camera and helps me... again giggles. Please tell me that I'm misunderstanding your request.

I will be interested to see an example of how "proficient use" is defined.

DWx When i fight i don't block well. I attack and when my opponent retaliates I cover up and look for an opening to stage another attack. This strategy works well with lower belts [yes my back and legs are usually bruised:D] but not so much with higher belts. I've been trying to block and then instantly retaliate. When it works, it works really well. Something like a low block to the opponents leg then snap the blocking arm up into a backfist to the opponents head. I intend to take as many shots as it takes to learn to efficiently block kicks and punches.

Good point! I'm finding that stepping outside my comfort zone is difficult. I am doing it, but its difficult.

DMx - I've spoken with a few black belts since my first post. I think I need to learn to defend better so that is I'm working on. After reading a few of the responses to this thread I learned that I need to check my ego so I can learn. As for men - women sparring. I am also guilty of changing my fighting style when I fight a female... except for one woman in my class. This woman is only one belt higher than me and she is smaller in stature but if I easy up on her, she will knock me out... and I know it. My advice to any female that feels she is getting less than what she wants... go harder at your opponent. I know that I changed my opinion with this particular lady in my class after she twisted my head around after a SOLID right hook.

Yes but Sensei doesn't usually work leg kicks with lower belts. So, i could do it but I have not practiced leg kicks as part of the regular class.

DWx - The thing that hit home for me was being told that I haven't really been hit yet. I never thought about it, but its true. Don't get me wrong, I've been hit and felt pain, had the wind knocked out me, etc, but I've never had my bell rung in class. As most have suggested, intend to use a combo of proven and unproven techniques. Right now I just keep focusing on stepping in on an opponent and then dealing with the result. What usually happens is - I step in on a higher belt, that person lifts their front leg to either block or kick, as soon as I see the knee coming up I drop my left hand to block the leg (The one protecting my head!!!! while my right hand is cocked to punch) and then my opponent tags me in the head. Grrrrrr, it keep happening!?&%$?!

Welcome & good luck with all things that you have on your plate!

I'm from Pennsylvania in the US. Pennsylvania is located close to the east coast line, along the North American continent. The Philippines look like a beautiful place.

I would consider paying that much if I was hiring the instructor as a trainer.

Let us know how it goes

Punching is something that I need to work on. I'm more of a kicker that follows up with a punch. I've been trying to put more time in on the bag to correct this issue.

I pay $75 mon which seems cheap for the amount of instruction I get. I'm offered 3 karate classes a week & I have option to take 2 MMA classes a week at no additional charge. I think $100 would be the most that I'd be willing to pay in the current system I'm involved in.

Thanks everyone! Since my initial post I spoke with one of the BBs that instructs at my dojo. His response was (1) I had a good offense with good power & (2) no one has hit me really hard yet Well, needless to say, that conversation got me thinking. Now I see that my sparring time should be used to work out problems and learn… as opposed to using that time as an opportunity to kick & punch someone. Why is it that sometimes the most obvious things are overlooked?

It's not that hard to get used to not hiting head strikes. And also, I think it's good to learn that there is a lot more of places to drop the opponent than head. Very true. I'm still bitter about getting DQed at my first tournament for a throwing a right hook to the head. Seriously though, it seems like it would be very hard for a boxer not to take a head shot when its presented on a silver platter - only my opinion. Sure there more places to drop a person but point sparring allows one to guard a "point area" around the chest. My limited boxing exposure left me with the impression of maintaining a low chin & keeping my hands up to protect my head at all times. To me, point sparring felt like abandoning the fighting instincts that I've worked so hard to develop... but again, I'm bitter.

I mirror Toptomcat’s post. I will be interested to hear how do with “no contact to the head” rules. In my opinion, sport sparring techniques will really contradict your boxing instinct. When you get in close and your opponent drops his hands to protect the point area, your instinct will tell you knock-out punch to the head.... then you will hear, disqualified... get off the floor. As a person that enjoys competition and the personal challenges of training I think you will like MA training however you may have to find a dojo that trains to fight as opposed to trains to point spar.

Thanks Sokusen. I never thought of it as an ego thing but maybe it is. Over the past few months I’ve been working several things that are starting to come together. When I changed my fighting style I felt like I was regressing BIG TIME. I want to be more of a defense fighter so I’ve been working on covering up, getting in close by blocking, then working the body with punches… but I’ve been getting my head knocked off [and I guess my ego bruised too].

I think everyone that is new to a martial art tries to find some piece of information that will allow him / her to speed up the advancement of his / her skill level… I know I certainly did! Unfortunately there is no secret bit of information that will transform you, only hard work and repetition. If you want to impress the higher belts show them that you are dedicated. Try something like increasing your flexibility. Stretching is something that you can do at home at your own pace. Trust me, the higher belts will be impressed when they notice that the new white is working into a full split.

Preface – When I spar in class we don’t spar for points. We line up and engage in light [head shots] to medium contact… with moments of occasional heavy contact [body shots]. It is not uncommon for me to come home bruised. Our sparring is probably better characterized as controlled fighting. I’m a yellow belt. When I spar someone at my belt level I feel like I’m controlling the pace. I’m not sure that equates into domination but I feel like doing what I want to do while only receiving minimal damage from my opponent. I’m tall (6’4” or 1.9 meters) which must be intimidating to some so I tend to initiate contact first otherwise my opponent and I end up endlessly circling each other. The black belts tell me that I come hard and fast which they say is good but they say that I lack control. I have never hurt anyone but I have thrown some hard kicks to the body and occasionally I have tapped someone in the face. Again, I feel the need to point out that while I may spar aggressively I have never knocked someone down or caused someone to retreat due to too much contact. For the past 2 weks I have been trying to focus on pulling my punches and kicks, covering up and trying to work inside [as opposed to using my long legs kick the person back & and taking what I can get], stepping or turning out of an attack & blocking. I thought that doing the aforementioned would make me a better martial artist…. BUT… what its doing is getting my butt kicked. I understand that learning to do something new takes time and feels awkward when you first start doing it but I’m wondering if I’m taking the wrong approach. So once again I’m asking the forum… how did you evolve your fighting technique? Did you make a conscious effort, as I did the last 2 weeks, to fight a certain way and then over time the things you worked on just developed? OR Did you fight the way you felt comfortable and then over time your instincts sharpened and you slowly evolved into a better fighter?

I tried a version of this kick while sparring last week. I used a stomp-like kick to the chest although it felt more like a push-type kick. It worked and I shoved my opponent back about 2 feet. It worked so well that my opponent told me, "good job". I wouldn't consider my kick a stomp but I was thinking about the BB article when i tried it. I do like the kick that I did, whatever it was, because (1) i lifted my knee really high and the way I moved my leg really masked what I intended to do & (2) I'm tall with long legs which helps, but using this style of a kick allowed me to close a large gap very easily.

For me, I wonder how long it will take for me to get beyond the shock of being in an altercation. I’m 37 and I don’t think I’ve been a “fight” since middle school so it has been awhile. It is one thing if the fight occurs after some type of an exchange but what if it is a sucker punch type attack. Since I don’t train like a police officer I assume that there will some lag time between… “what just happened”… “I’m being attacked”… “Evaluate & defend”.

I found all the episodes on youtube.... wow, great find. Thanks Mr. Obvious.

I googled Fight Quest & it looks like the show was on in 2008. It does look like an interesting show! Hopefully I can find the full episodes on youtube.

Bienvenido!