Synaesthesia

Kickmaster, Shaolin encompasses a diversity of practices. The various systems within it were developed by some of the most reputable martial artists in Chinese history. It is the accumulation of many hundreds of years of wisdom, training and practical application. But you 'studied it' so, despite your obvious ignorance of the scope of Shaolin, you know that it's utterly without value. Your judgement should obviously command respect. Kickmaster wrote: "Anyone one here studing JKD? I just signed up this week..." Iron Arahat, 2,000 dollars for 2 days! Well, as any idiot knows, the more money you spend, the faster you become a supernatural MA master.

"It doesn't really hurt as much as it feels weird. " Oh, are you KIDDING? Getting hit hard at the right angle there can be unbelievably painful.

Oh pu-lease, you don't actually think that John Edwards has access to any supernatural reality. He is a cold reader. Why does he get so much credit? http://www.skepdic.com/coldread.html http://www.randi.org/library/coldreading/index.htmls People who take John seriously are more dangerous than the man himself. He's just a guy who makes a living off of scamming gullible people who want to be decieved. This isn't spiritually dangerous because of evil spirits, but because of the man's dishonesty and exploitation of grieving individuals. (Of course, I value the biblical virtues of honesty, humility and such over the warnings against evil spirits primarily because I don't believe in the supernatural anymore. Yes virginia, some atheists profit from the wisdom of their religious bretheren.) To answer the question, I'm not a Christian but my dad, who teaches martial arts is. I think the traditionally religious aspect of MA does affect one's beliefs. It makes people tolerate and respect other belief systems for their value, even if one ultimately disagrees with them. Doesn't make you punch harder, but the teachings of Christianity might make you less likely to punch someone unwisely. (That is, if you obey the parts of the bible that tell you to turn the other cheeck rather than the parts of the bible that tell you to smite people and dash the heads of infants on rocks.)

""You are no more armed because you are wearing a pistol than you are a musician because you own a guitar." - Jeff Cooper " Music cannot be produced by anyone in seconds on a moments notice. Death, destruction and weaponry can be. I'll bet on the vicious, drooling moron with the hand cannon over the high/wide/deep brow champinon any day.

I intend to become so skilled at Shaolin, that I can punch a mountain and kill a buffalo on the other side.

Cheri, As it so happens, I intend to be joining in a few weeks. (Right now I'm spending all my money on books...) I presume you've seen their website. Which gym do you intend to attend?

Tobias, "Now think about the rokushakubo. 6ft long, but it is split into 3 sections, with usually only the end sections used for combat - that equals 2ft. Held closely to the body, this does not give much reach (but a lot of power). " With a live-pole technique the range of the pole would be far superior. The most powerful blows are going to be significantly outside the effective range of the smaller weapon. Moreover, you can quickly switch the angle of attack from a distance. On the offensive and the defensive I have no doubt that the pole has a decisive advantage. The only real problem is that you can't generally carry around a pole.

I know of quite a few muai thai fighters over thirty and all of whom I am aware are in relatively good shape for an adult their age. Granted there is the cumulative impact of repeated injuries, but it seems that it doesn't necessarily result from the conditioning required to compete at an elite level of competition.

The Kungfu Rascals.

I find the closest thing to a one handed pushup is doing two-handed pushups with your hands close together. Put as much of your weight as you can support on one hand when you execute the pushup and alternate. Training that for a while should build up the sort of shoulder and tricep strength you need for the 1 handed pushup.

The four .50 caliber machine guns, the 20mm cannon and the speed of 414 mph might have something to do with it. yea, I can imagine it as a weapon.

The 9 section chain whip is very hard to master. It is, however, a very effective weapon (illegal where i live). One of the most interesting moves with it is done by getting it moving, hooking it around your elbow and letting it snap straight out, accelerating with the unfolding of each section. When the steel spike at the end whips straight out, it's going fast enough to penetrate concrete blocks or numb skulls. The most difficult thing about it is controlling it after a strike, it takes many hours of practice. Funku is right, practice with something easier (although the feel is quite different). I've come close to brokeaking my fingers with a careless move.

The 9 section chain whip is very hard to master. It is, however, a very effective weapon (illegal where i live). One of the most interesting moves with it is done by getting it moving, hooking it around your elbow and letting it snap straight out, accelerating with the unfolding of each section. When the steel spike at the end whips straight out, it's going fast enough to penetrate concrete blocks or numb skulls. The most difficult thing about it is controlling it after a strike, it takes many hours of practice. Funku is right, practice with something easier (although the feel is quite different). I've come close to brokeaking my fingers with a careless move.

https://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com This is perhaps the best avoidance oriented self-defense web site. Look very carefully at the section on transitional areas and how to tell you are being scoped. Although I had not seen this site at the time, I have used a number of the techniques to narrowly avoid some very, very dangerous situations. I highly suggest taking a look at this site

With serious multiple attackers, movement is the only hope of survival. You are not superman. I don't care how big or strong or skilled you are, if you are unarmed and taking on eight people intent on hurting you, you will be hurt. If you engage them it should be done moving as fast as possible. You can't get surrounded or you are in big trouble. Packs of little hyenas can kill lions. Run as fast as possible, as far as possible. If you want to engage them, do it while escaping so they are spread out. Don't ever, ever let it come down to exchanging blows, you are far better off running. You can set up ambushes, find weapons and find other people if you run. If you want to fight dedicated multiple attackers, you can find out what it feels like to be stomped in the head. (Hey, if that's what you're after...) I made that mistake once. Fortunately, my attackers were not seriously trying to hurt me, but they easily could have despite being weaker and smaller than me. Ohh, I should have pulled my ultimate style: running-like-a-bat-out-of-hell.

What is the hook kick?

Here in Calgary there is a Muai Thai gym run by mike miles. Apparently like 70% of his students are female.

Hi. I'm currently 19, and I have never before done any seriously disciplined training. That's something that I am very interested in changing. My dad has a small martial arts school, so I've done a limited amount of training. He encourages me to try out a few martial arts, so I'm looking around for the sort of training that I feel fits my needs. I'm interested in joining a gym that involves sparring becuase I have virtually no experience in that respect. This BB looks like a great opportunity to both learn about different styles and find out some good training techniques. Currently I'm 3rd degree yeller belt in the ancient art of running-away-like-a-bat-out-of-hell. By far the most effective form of self-defense, bar none.