Synaesthesia

A picture of and note from one of Bruice Lee's better known JKD students sits on the wall of the (Muay Thai) Gym I attend.

I am trying to develop some more punching power and am wondering what sort of pushups would train the various muscle groups involved? How many pushups should I be doing? Six sets of fifty in fourty minutes? Twenty minutes? Ten?

No, I think neurologists are and have been essentially active participants in the mind. I think AndrewGreen has the appropriately skeptical attitude. This is only one study, and much more questions have to be posed before we stop going to the gym and start going to meditations. It's certiainly possible that there is a new mechanism at work, but it's possibly the result of things we already know about. Experimental error of some sort or unconscious increases in the use of the muscles upon which subjects were meant to focus. (It can be VERY hard for an individual to identify an increase in use while they are focusing on mentally using it, even if they specifically try to avoid it.)

Are you kidding? Of course you can kick the bag with any part of the shin. But there's no getting around the fact that if somebody uses their shin to block yours, it's going to like a . I don't know what the evidence, one way or the other, on toughening the bone itself. I do know that kicking the bag rules. Not only is it fun and vigorous exercise, it lessens the pain of hitting things like ribs dramatically.

A lot of useful information I have gathered about Muay Thai has been done simply by watching the experts at work (either training or fighting). Try to emulate, and subsequently get a feel for, how they move, deliver techniques and counter. Study in front of a mirror. As you may know, human beings have a tendency to get inaccurate body images while under stress (be they working out or actually fighting),mistakes like letting your back leg drift directly behind the front one, or letting your guard down before, during or after delivering a blow are easy to miss. The mirror does help isolate and eliminate such habits, although it is no substitute for an expert's perceptual capabilities. I would suggest you go with interval sprints rather than pure jogging. The high-power endurance you develop is exceedingly useful when training. Besides, it's a fantastic way to get around!

Never using a fist? Wow, that seems quite unusual. (Not implausible though.) I still remember trying to punch these guys, I was screaming in rage and scaring them off, but each time I punched I wreched out my shoulder due to improper body mechanics. It took months to recover. Ahh, the lessons leant the hard way: Doing pushups is nothing like punching.

I love that 5lb exercise. Not only does it provide real gains in speed of punches (and the equally important withdrawl to guard), it provides the fun illusion of feather-like hands after your exercise.

I'm interested in finding out how to schedule rest in workouts. I have a naughty habit of working out three days in a row, then finding myself burnt out for two or three days. Sometimes I work out too much on one day, and find myself unable to walk for four. What sort of signs should I look for that tell me I should slow down (over the course of a single workout, or in the pacing of how the heavy exercise days are placed.)?

Thanks for the advice Radok. I sure hate the bloated feeling of gulping down too much water. (I can feel the brain cells exploding!)

A crook who practices Bushido, Christianity, Buddhism, what-have-you is still a crook. Maybe even a atheistic pragmatist could be a good guy... Nahh, that's just a little too outrageous for imagination.

I find the best strategy is to go for the eye gouges. Most people don't think of going for it, so you have a huge advantage. Shh, don't let the word get out!

You understand, sir, that it is your civic duty to share this tape with us. You know that, don't you?

I have no idea myself. I've been working out fairly often, including a lot of biking and interval sprints. Although I'm putting on bulk, I have gained a good bit of body fat. I imagine if I keep this routine up the body fat will level out a bit since most of my strength exercises are bodyweight based. Frankly, I don't mind it one bit, although it looks less impressive than many people who work out far less than I do. The only potential problem is that it insulates me so I can't get rid of heat effectively. But that's a good thing in a place like Calgary where we get a couple of feet of snow several times in May.

I found the movie painful to watch. I like some realism in my martial art flicks. They took that movie and carefully cut out any hint of plausibility.

I sometimes wonder what it's like to be hit really hard. Then I'll do something like trip my shin into a cutting board and realize that I don't really want to know.

There were these very bizarre reverse blades that were highly reputed in combat and popular for a long time somewhere in the far east. I don't have the picture here to scan. Anyway, one end is slightly back of the hand and straight, designed for hacking. the other is curved for slashing. They meet at a point.

I disagree. I think the situation called for a triple back-handspring followed by a flying armbar. *lol* I like the name of that smiley.

You'll also get rid of the intelligent people who realize that a professional atmosphere is a better place to learn.

19 in age, 43 at heart.

That is, if you can grab the staff. Not something I'd let my opponent to lightly.

Knives are great weapons, and much underestimated by the common populace. However, I currently favour blunt striking weapons for self defence due not only to legal issues, but the increased likilihood of violent retaliation for inflicting a serious injury. I'm more afraid of revenge killings than judicial screwups.

I am prejudiced because I took a martial arts who's specialty is the eyebrow staff. With proper training it is extremely effective against smaller weapons. There are a lot of bad habits that people tend to fall into with the pole, but a properly trained martial artist is extremely powerful with pole weapons. Yes it can get grabbed, but it is very far from easy, and despite your sparring experience, I believe you underestimate the pole's ability to counter such tactics. This is especially true of an opponent who knows how to use the distance and agility of the weapon. It's one thing to move in to grab a weapon from a person who is using a padded pole, but a solid 5/6" dowel can crack a man's skull with ease at all medium and long ranges.

I agree that the difficulty of dealing with a pole can easily be underestimated. The pole generates tremendous power and can change direction very fast. If you took a direct hit to the forearm from a competent poleman it would surely snap, and even if you're close, they could have room to take another full swing at you if they step back as they strike. Secondly, even at closer ranges, the thrust from the pole can be difficult to block due to it's agility. Thrusts are very effective for pole vs pole combat. As for personal weapons, I recently bought a knife. I've stopped carrying it because of the legal considerations around a 9", fixed blade, double edged thrusting dagger with rapid access upside down sheath. Instead, I carry a pair of chopsticks wrapped together. I practice regularly on a stump of wood to get used to hitting hard blows at small targets like ribs or eyes. I do agree that it is possible to jam the pole vs barehand, a jam/strike combination is the only really plausible candidate I can think of. If the jam required that I take a blow, I would definitely attempt to use some armour such as a chair. I would NEVER willingly take a direct blow from a polearm with such range. As for an open area with no equalizer I would run to live again another day.

jmy77, Ah that's the one. Thanks for the link.