Iron Arahat

My best advice is go and watch the class, I don't really know much about the Kyokushin style specifically. I would watch to see that they allow kicks below the waist. I know some styles of karate also train throws, elbows, and knees. Events such as the Sabaki Challange permit the above noted techniques. Also look at the K-1 several karateka's have had good success fighting under K-1 rules.

Paulson got punched in the face numerous times with not real retaliation in that fight... I would say he got creamed, or just beaten badly. Needless to say he lost, and didn't look good. Paulsons record is 9-4-1, and does not have a five year undefeated shooto record (I found this looking for the Shooto rules). http://sherdog.com/fightfinder/displayfighter.cfm?fighterid=383 I'm waiting to see the Alex Gong fight...I have heard mixed reviews, but have yet to get an account from someone who was there to witness it. I hope it comes out on video and doesn't hit the cutting room floor like all the other "non-event" fights in the past. Although K-1 and Fairtex seem to have a good working relationship, so we may see this fight on the video.

Here is some additional info sources: Contacting Relatives and Friends Canadians needing emergency consular assistance or enquiring about relatives in the United States should contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade at the following numbers: Emergency consular assistance Toll-free: (800) 387-3124 Tel.: (613) 943-1055 The Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C. is open, as is the Canadian Consulate in New York. Transportation In light of the events, Canadian airports have closed, and all airlines have stopped flights until further notice. For information on flight arrivals and departures, contact your local airport: Edmonton International Airport flight information Calgary International Airport flight information For passengers whose flight was cancelled, contact the airline you were travelling on. Common links: Air Canada, Westjet, Canada 3000, United, American Airlines, Northwestern. Questions regarding airplane travel and flight diversions should be directed to Transport Canada at the following number: Transport Canada Tel. : (613) 947-5071 The Canada-US border is open and is operating at high security. Humanitarian Support For information about how to help, call the Red Cross at the following number: Red Cross General Information Line Tel. : 1-800-565-4483 or you can contact your local Red Cross office. The Canadian Red Cross has contacted governments and the American Red Cross to assess ongoing humanitarian support. Disaster response teams are ready to help people stranded at Canadian airports and borders. Red Cross Cash Donation Line Cash donations to help the victims of this tragedy can be made by calling local Red Cross offices or 1-800-418-1111. Blood Donations Albertans who wish to donate blood should contact their local Canadian Blood Services office, or contact 1-888-236-6283 for more information.

My prayers go out to all the families that have been affected by this terrible act of violence. Kickbutt is right....GIVE BLOOD, the local Red Cross in your community will be more than happy to take your blood, as they will be helping supply the relief effort. GIVE BLOOD as it will be needed not only today, but over the next week in the relief effort. Buddha Bless.

Has Erik Paulson got any better as of late... Last time I saw him he got creamed by a boxer in the World Combat Challenge. Did anyone see Alex Gong's fight at the K-1 in Vegas?

Master Pan is one of the more famous 'Iron' Masters in North America. He is most noed for his 'Iron Fist'. I met him back in 1997 at the Canadian San Shou Nationals. Very nice soft spoken man. He is getting up there in age. Mind you all he needs is one shot.

I've seen guys break there hands on cinderblocks...I've seen one guy dislocate his shoulder during a breaking contest. I've seen bones break...ribs, orbital sockets, jaws, legs (tibia), arms. Yes, a bags is good conditioning tool; however, breaking is a better test of concentrating power. If you hit a bag wrong or with no power, big deal. You hit a concrete slab without enough power chances are it will break you.

I think breaking and destruction are useful for a couple reasons. One being able to exert a great deal of force into a technique. Second is getting past the fear of hurting one's self. I know alot of people when they first start breaking, especially objects like bricks they are fearful of breaking their hand, legs, etc.

I have to agree that rules make a big difference when fighting. If you train to fight a certain set of rules, it can be a disadvantage to switch. Reason being is that you have trained yourself to throw certain combinations, and take aways something like elbows or throws it changes one's strategy. Saying San Shou has been influenced greatly by Muay Thai is a "chicken and egg" argument, same with the training techniques. As for San Shou fighters having a "Thai-style stance"... not so in the majority of Chinese style fighters. I have also yet to see a San Shou fighter wear Thai Shorts, and even if they did I would assume it is because of the fit, not because they want to emulate Muay Thai...otherwise they would have enrolled in a Thai school. "King of the Ring?" acknowledged by who? Just a flashy statement like "The Greatest Fighter Ever"....

If you have a training partner have him wear a belly pad, and practive the drill. For combos, utilized the same with the partner wear shin guards and thai pads...

A lot of people have opinions. .. and "definitions" for things they do not understand or have been trained in. I think you are mistaking "opinions" for "definitions"... I personally have given no defenition to date on "qi" other than the translation to english of "vital energy", and stating it is responsible for the healthy functioning of the body...which is far from a definition. As I identified before there are some books you should read Ken...if you are looking for teachings about qi that has been around for centuries without change...

http://www.muaythaionline.net http://www.mikemiles.com http://www.ikfkickboxing.com

Different people have different ways of expressing, i.e. water is wet, water is cold, water is warm, water is h2o, water is a liquid, etc. You must also consider that translation is difficult at times... "Another person told me..." come on Ken you can do better than that, your not telling me that you believe everything you hear are you? I'm wondering where you got this ever changing defenitions from, to make the statement, "the defenition...has changed a few times to suit the need of people who believe..."

I'm curious Ken how has it changed?

Not in english... http://www.muaythaionline.net is a good source of the latest happenings...as well as the sanctioning body pages for th WKL or IKF or WKA

I guess boxing gloves may work for the basic chi sao... You feel "energy" Ken in the forearms? Hope your not refering to "chi"...

This started in the introductions...I thought I'd bring it here. Ken...Chi Sao with boxing gloves is going to inhibit the sensitivity training you develop to read and trap, push, etc... If you want to make contact, wear chest protectors instead of completely covering the hands. Good chi sao will incorporate traps and locks.

The time someone spend training is a key factor as baby stated. I spent years traning 5-6 times a week for at least 3 hours per day (golden years for me). The black belt shouldn't be seen as an ends... A martial artist considers his art his "way of life", and the black belt only signifies the beginning of that journey.

Wing Chun ("beautiful springtime") was founded by Yim Wing Chun, approximately 400 years ago. She learned her basics from Ng Mui a buddhist nun. She felt that too much emphasisi was place on the "hard style" and developed the chi sao ("sticking hands").The system trys to "flow" and compliment the opponents strength, rather that trying to dominate it.

If you look to Chinese systems of martial arts, you will often find that they have very deep and complete systems, dealing with all ranges of combat. It's best to find what you have in your area...forget books and videos, as they are very limited.

Yeah the Dan Insanto bit shows that a gun is great if you can get it out of your holster...

I just finished a day of scenario training at work today. I always find them helpful, we wear some saftey equipment, but generally wear normal clothing. It is always enering, because it turns out very much like a real encounter, and plays it out differently than "sparring" or competition. While punching and kicking the pads and the bag are excellent tools, I think they are nothing like an encounter. Face it it's usually a one sided exchange at best, even if the pad holder throws in kicks or throws punches. I like the street clothing training once ever couple of months, although warning is probably good...just so you don't wreck your good clothes.

We all train in different styles, and many style teach self defense from things such as knives. What do you feel about the training you have recieved (if any)? Has anyone ever had to deal with an edged weapon attack? What happened? Has anyone seen the movie "Surviving Edged Weapons" by Calibre Press...

I was wondering how many of you guys train for realism, or do sim, or scenario training? Also curious what equipment you use, and the situations you set up. Or even if you think it is a wasteful exercise... [ This Message was edited by: Iron Arahat on 2001-08-30 15:02 ]

c. Is just a short form of prohibited techniques...ie. joint attacks...reason being that some countries still fight old style...no gloves, and the only prohibited techniques are attacks to the back of the neck d. Is just speaking of general displays sportsmanship...they don't want chairs flying into the ring like some muay thai matches The IWUF is most respected event by San Shou...followed by the pro's in China...the rest of the world is still catching up.