Synaesthesia

Though not strictly overweight, I was actually suprised when I first started seeing muay thai fighters fighting. Although some are killing machines of rippling muscle, many many of them have a layer of fat, and in fact look less fit (in the static view of body shape) than vastly inferior athletes.

First of all, I agree that scenarios are important, and everybody involves should independently be trying to split and not freeze up. That being said I think that it is badly mistaken to rule out leaving sombody behind. It seems like a crappy thing to do, but perhaps getting the police/ambulance may be better than trying to escalate a fight you cannot win.

Just how much of an advantage ( in the ring ) can steroids provide? I of course have no inclination to use them, I would, however, be interested in finding out how effective they are. The limits of human physiology are interesting to me.

I'm sure there are bars...

Prodigal Son, I agree. That's why I don't totally buy it when martial arts masters preach peace and love. Sorry buddy, but you're a master because you've gotten into fights that you probably could have avoided.

Warp Spider, "You can use a knife the same as you use a fist, but there are more effective ways of using a knife. " Although there is definitely something to be said for the push-dagger, a weapon that's illegal to carry where I live. I would, however, take such a weapon over any other kind of knife due to the simplicity of it's use and the fact that my boxing practice can be applied to it.

Treebranch, Totally. For instance, in modern wushu, the sabre backswing is done only with the arm. However, traditional kungfu whips it off your hip, giving it way more power and speed.

"If you're a small guy, then your chances are not good." True, that's why you don't try to hit their jaw. A good kick to the nads will be easier to deliver and give more time for escape. (Survival is victory right?)

What next? Is the word "heterosexual" or "straight" going to be offensive enough to be removed? C'mon, that's just ridiculous. Even if you do 'disagree' with homosexual activity, it's hardly rude to refer to it's existence.

The dead should be kicked while they're down. Since they can't be offended we should take that golden opportunity to dicuss and hence learn from their shortcomings. I'll so some serious haunting if nobody comes to dance on my grave!

StoneSkin, Which part of your foot do you strike the shin with? Would you do a teep or a heel-thrust?

Aznkarateboi, Not all of them. I practiced for a time a form of Honan Shaolin Wushu, and it wasn't particularly flashy. Although it had flying kicks most of the moves, particularly in the more advanced forms, were not particularly flashy. It stresses a lot of sticky-hand skill and military weapons training.

I don't agree in the least battousai16. I'm not going to pay 8-15 bucks to see acrobatics. The fascination with fighting movies is deeply ingrained instinct. We want to see other people fight because it's very useful to us to see the various chaotic mechanics that come into play in real combat. I believe that there is a huge market for more realistic fighting scenes as proven from movies like kickboxer, or saving private ryan. It's too bad that the monkeys in hollywood are too wrapped up in fantasy to provide what could potentially be a huge market with more desirable products.

Similarly, although more force can be exerted on an ax near you, you always strike a tough log with full extension.

I'm 19 right now, although I'm turning 20. Still, there are a lot of 15-16 year olds who could use me as a punching bag.

"You should watch the first few UFC's. Full contact, bare knuckle, no rules." Didn't see anybody striking the throat, groin or eye-gouging or purposeful bone-breaking? No rules means no rules, full contact is a slightly different matter.

SaiFightsMS, One of my favorites is the rake. Nine sharpened teeth at 90degree angle, with one extra pointing straight up paralell to the pole. It's excellent for hooking down a guard before stabbing in with the spike.

I've never really understood keys. Seems to me their shape would hurt me a bit. When it comes to the eye, I'd much rather use a solid, well designed pen than key that's shorter than my thumb. But hey, if it works for somebody, good for them. I definitely like the bookbag, not as a weapon but a shield. It's one of the most effective tools you can get against something like a dog attack or even a baseball bat. Spiderco ready for counterstrike, bookbag for the defense.

Obviously the key is to escape the car whether you are driver or passenger. Be aware of what limitations to your escape present themselves. Are the doors unlockable? Any attack of the person with you should be executed with an eye towards getting yourself or them out of there, right? A second problem is seatbelts. I would like to hear some thoughts from experts on the sorts of techniques one could do if, for instance, their seatbelt was broken. Might you first unhook the shoulder strap, try to get a solid eye gouge on the person and hook them over to where you can disable them? A third potential problem is acceleratory forces of the car. This can be used, as we all know from the movies . All sorts difficulties might arise when a passenger tries to grab the wheel. (Whether or not you are that passanger)

battousai16, I've practiced it, though not against really serious punches, and I'm aware that it can be redirected or blocked if you're on top of things. (Although if you get some adrenaline induced tunnel vision, those babies can really hit you out of nowhere) What I would question, given my own level of skill, is whether I can really engage an attacker without hitting them and then get away. I would either just move to the side and away with at most a check of any blows coming in or actually try to attack the person. I'm not going to be redirecting his power when I could be moving away instead. Do you sort of understand where I'm coming from? I'm not saying it can't be done, just that I probably lack the aptitute for that sort of tactic.

Radok, I was wondering that myself. At any rate, I train the side kick to some extent despite being in Muay Thai. I like targetting the leg with it.

Venezolano "i think , it's gay..." I know very masculine gay men. Don't be fooled, not all gays are flamers, and they are certainly not all wimps. (Gays on the whole are in better physical condition, it seems.)

Breaking is never more then the transfer of momentum via body kinetics. No mysterious forces at work.

shotochem, I know exactly how you feel. (Not exactly,because I'm probably a helluva lot more lazy by nature then you. No offense, but I could probably out-loaf anybody here.) In such times, I feel that the worst thing is to give up physical activity alltogether. I can never feel like I rest properly unless I'm somewhat active. I find the best thing to do when I lack the emotional energy to train, is to just do light workouts. Fun stuff like some light shadow boxing, working on body angles. That not only helps prevent me from loosing tone, a little bit of exercise is actually necessary for the really *serious* relaxation for the seriously lazy.

Well if I was a super-master yea, I'd do it. In a real fight in which I wasn't lucky enough to get the first punch off, it would probably mean that I'm not GOOD enough to get the first punch off. That means I'm not skilled enough to do the Kung-fu movie thing where the super master defeats people without striking them.