MasterPain

Wouldn't that mean it was TKD, since there is no mention of him learning Muay Thai? At any rate, it was a high front kick. Hardly exclusive to any style.

As a 5'7" fat guy, I'm not outrunning much of anyone. They can either let me walk away or I will crush them, see them driven before me and hear the lamentations of their women.

Kyokushin and other knockdown karateka are normally on parr with the Leg kick battle. GSP is Kyokushin trained not Muay Thai Trained (although he has done other styles including being a BJJ black Belt) Point was, there is something to be said for shin conditioning. Hard to argue with results.

Hmm, seems to me the Thai guys win the leg kick battles usually.

We need to sign you up for a fight. Give yourself the feel of fighting in an adrenal state without all the dangerous variables.

Like I said, if it doesn't mean something, why have it? Sure we can give a black belt away to make someone feel good. And we may as well let the linebackers wear tutus and try to hug the quarterback instead of tackle him.

Beating someone twice your size? WEAPONS! You will never fight someone that much larger in competition, so if you do fight someone that large they have very bad intentions. As for the way they're treating you in class, explain to them that you are serious about the art and want to be treated with the same respect they would show a man of your size.

No right answer for that. Just ask to watch a class, then you can see if it runs smoothly.

Let your body bend a bit with the strike.Tighten the muscles and exhale. Maybe even growl a bit (helps to get the breath right.)

Tense, fold, and breathe as you get hit. Repeat.

Fees sound fair if I'm correct in thinking pounds are close in value to US dollars. A black belt that takes more than 10 years to earn is rare except in BJJ, which is known for it's quality control. Even there 8 years to black belt isn't unheard of, so expecting all black belts to be over 40 isn't right. If the mid ranks are skilled and you get on well with everyone, you should be in a good place. While I may not like the idea of contracts, I HATE to spend a month teaching very basic things and taking up my training time just to have the student quit. That may be their logic, considering that they aren't charging huge fees. Don't hold the kid's class selling points against them either. Kid's classes have to be fun or they don't work. The birthday parties encourage friendship and social skills, a great benefit especially considering that the kids drawn to martial arts are often the types not drawn to team sports and such. Kid's classes have to teach more than just how to be an efficient killing machine. As far as forms, most traditional arts are built around them. If you don't care for it, perhaps look into an MMA gym. They tend to be just about everywhere.

Sounds to me like you have decided muay Thai is the best. Also that boxing is the best but also stupid? Good luck to you.

When is a block not a block? When it's a limb destruction wrongly taught as a block. Good luck finding the schools to teach it properly. When is fighting mid-range stupid? When the other guy is better at it than you. Why doesn't Okinawan Karate work in MMA? Because standing arm breaks are impolite. I don't think anyone training in a sword art now expects to be in a sword fight. Also, training full contact doesn't mean always fighting 100 percent when you spar. Nobody does that. Honest contact is a better term.

Not sure if you're watching bad MMA, or just don't have the grappling knowledge to understand the difference.

I think you are derailing your own thread. Perhaps it would be best to stick with the original thought here, and start another topic, lest we descend into chaos. Which is the type of thing you a describing here anyway.

In Bujin, black belt is an instructor's rank. You don't get it until you have the knowledge to teach the core system as well as trying to help expand it. Also included is an hour long Happy Fun Time Beat Em Up, lots of randori, questions on legal and ethical use of force, ect. In 2 decades, there are 10 of us. So while I do agree that it is just the beginning for a lifer, the belt should mean something or it has no reason to exist. Symbols are only as good as what they represent. My favorite latin phrase is res ipsa loquitur. If the res can't loquitor, the res ipsa a lot of balogna. If someone wants shorter term goals, they should have something like "land a 2 hit combo on a senior student." followed by "land a combo on sensei" Or maybe "learn requirements for the next belt and spend a few months internalizing them."

No way anyone should tolerate being talked down to like that. It's not the military.

I agree with you completely, especially what I have in bold. We as instructors have so little time with students when you compare with the other people of their lives. I think that its important to have as positive an impact as possible in that short period of time, to be sure. But my first job is to teach TKD. Otherwise, I try to lead by example, and be a positive influence that way. For the most part, I think this is right. But if a kid spends a few hours a week with the ONLY positive adult role model in their lives, it can make a huge difference. A lot of parents are pretty awful, and any good example can change a kid's life.

The title said Street Fighter.... Why no hadoukens? Very disappointing. Pretty side kick at any rate.

Are they following trends or are they looking for things that work? I don't know anything about Goshin Jutsu. but I do know that smart late-era samurai liked firearms.

Some schools will push you hard on your first day to see if you come back. Trial by fire and such. It's fine that you puke the first day, but it should not happen every time. Push yourself, but not so hard that it's unhealthy. Gain by inches.

Stretch often. Manual work will make you tight if you don't stretch intermittently. Lots of side bends and toe touches when you have 30 seconds to spare. You'll feel a lot better at the end of the day. Also, invest in a good pair of kneepads. Ignore the teasing that unavoidably comes with being sensible. He who walks last laughs best. Plumbing involves a lot of kneeling, and it adds up. Sensei is a plumber and one of his knees is rather disturbing to look at. Lots of fluid on it.

Why not just spar it with control? If you can't do it something against resistance, you can't do it to someone who wants you to stop using their oxygen.

The teacher is more important than the style for this age group.

Dojo challenges are a good way to get hurt, especially if you win.