Bon

315 lbs ? Damn! =)

yeh, that's the thing that has me confused... ?

Two months ago I would have been one of the first people to retaliate with violence and hit hard to do damage! I regret the times I have retaliated with violence, you do get a bit of a reputation and I feel quite ashamed. I get more satisfaction out of laughing at them and looking at their reaction. It's the last thing they expect..

Ahh, well said, Jack! If your one of the youngest and can have this much sense, surely the 'elders' could have a small fraction of it.

Have a look at this article, http://www.bl.physik.tu-muenchen.de/~k2/budo/sfaq/stretching_toc.html I dunno how good it is though, haven't read it all myself. But, it should explain the different types of flexibility which KickChick has already done anyway.

I'd like a girl that could kick ass.. =p It's like a lot of computer nerds like a girl that can code or use linux - very rare.

Heh, eye gouging and all the rest is possible. But, what's stopping the other person from doing it too ? If anything, they have a superior position to do all that from! As an example, say I have mount on some guy, this guy is going to grab my groin, that leaves his face open doesn't it ? I hail down with punches as soon as his hand(s) leave his face. His natural reaction is to be to place his hands back in front of his face and block the punches. I can also quite easily grab his groin, what defence does he have ? Punch me in the face, grab me ? I have a superior position that I can do all this and more from with a lot more force and power inflicting more damage on him than what he can on me.

Angus, sorry bro.. That might have been a little harsh.. I understand what you mean perfectly though. I used to be the same myself and still am.. I find it very hard not to hit someone, especially when they use a girl in any way.. but I have my integrity intact don't I ? You're protective, eh ? Same with me. An attack on a close friend/relative of mine is an attack on me and I'd be the first person to defend them. There will be people that talk all through your life, dude.. You can't hit them, unless you want to end up in prison getting anally raped every night. You're worried about them emotionally, mentally not to mention physically.. The fact they can't quite throw a jab like you, or throw a roundhouse as hard or fast leaves them almost defenceless doesn't it ? I think when you dedicate a lot of your time to training and it becomes your passion which can be used so effectively in inflicting damage, everyone else seems defenceless compared don't they ? The best weapon is the mind, my friend. The most dangerous person I've ever known was emotionally and mentally the toughest person I'll ever know. It was also a girl... Sticks and stones can break the bones, words can shatter the soul. Think about it, man.

Angus, not fighting in front of ladies is chilvalry.. Chilvalry means being a gentleman. Would you agree that entails making a lady feel secure ? Ladies don't like fighting, even more so when it concerns them! It doesn't matter how gooder fighter you are, the best man is the one who can walk away, they see him as the stronger man, even if the other guys gets beaten to a bloody pulp. Ask me a few months ago, I would have agreed with you. But, you are just too narrow minded I'm wasting my time, right ? You're stuck with this philosophy that it's chilvalry and tell yourself rational lies. Bit of pyschology there for you to ponder. Never the less, I know of a couple of girls who like a guy that is strong and tough, yet they hate it when he gets violent and physical. They like physical toughness and strength, but I think they admire emotional and mental toughess more. I just hope you don't learn too late, I was luckily given another chance. Lose this macho attitude, stop masking it behind 'chilvalry' and stop telling yourself rational lies.. Chivalry can be shown in many other forms by showing respect such as not swearing, not fighting in front of them. To be blunt, you'll come across as arrogant egotistic to the ladies.

Yeap, I agree gumby.. Heh, if I hit someone everytime they said something offensive I'd be forever beating on people.

People getting a black belt in 3 years is rare thing these days and if people do, they're generally said to have gone to a "McDojo", meaning they pay, they receive the belt. I think three years is all it takes to get a black belt with hard training. A lot of people seem to think anything less than 5-7 years means they've attended a McDojo. While there are McDojos out there, I think a black belt can be easily achieved within 3 years. If it takes longer, I think it's generally only due to lack of flexibility. There are other things like someone getting a huge ego and thinking they know it all, therefore stop learning, or simply a lousy instructor. Generally misinformed or unknowledgable instructors is what prevents a person from achieving a black belt quicker. I think the key lies in being flexible to achieve a black belt. A lot of instructors neglect dynamic stretching, they focus more on isometric stretching and getting into the splits, because they logically infer that if someone can do the splits, they can kick head height. Kicks are a dynamic action and they require dynamic stretching to achieve that kind of flexbility, not isometric stretching! Contrary to popular belief, being able to do the splits does not mean you are able to kick head height. I could do the front split and the side split, but couldn't kick head height. While isometric stretching does carry over to dynamic flexibility a little bit, it is not enough alone. Flexibility does not take all that long to develop. Dynamic stretching every morning, and before every workout, with isometric stretching 2-4 times a week at the end of the workout! It is actually quite foolish to do isomstric stretches before a workout as they make you tired, therefore making your training less effective. Flexibility training is similar to building muscle. I see flexibility training essentially as reprogramming the nervous system's reaction, it adapts just like muscle when forced beyond it's comfort zone. I think you have to ask yourself how long it takes for someone to become flexible, then how long it takes them to attain a black belt after they have the required flexibility. How many people can walk in and throw a roundhouse to the ribs with ease ? Next to none unless they have previous martial arts training. While it may be effortless for some, it is only because of the flexibility they have that makes it easy! Most people can walk into a dojo and be throwing solid a roundhouse, twising their foot and getting their hips involved within a couple of months. This is only when formally training 1-2 times a week. Suppose someone develops the required flexibility they need within a few months, then ask how long it would take to achieve a black belt. All that is required than is repetition of technique until it becomes second nature so they can execute it in a fight without thinking and with confidence. A person could do all this easily within a year. All they have to do now is learn to fight through sparring and increase areobic and anareobic fitness levels. NOTE: This is just my opinion on achieving a black belt in kickboxing or a similar system.

AnonymousOne, I think so.. Try throwing a roundhouse to the ribs with poor flexibility, it becomes a lot harder. It doesn't take long to learn how to throw a solid roundhouse. I wrote something on this last night, I'll post it here..

yeh, I've got the Gracie's book... Um, it's for complete noobs. Some of the techniques are utter crap which have been compiled to make the book, for example tying up the belt, side kick which is shown with very poor form, elbows also shown with poor form. The theory part I quite like though.. Some of the techniques that I've mentioned I'm not at all impressed with, especially the striking part since these guys can't even throw a punch let alone a side kick. It says he has his hands up high when they're down near his chest, lol...

Emphatic listening goes a long way..

I'm a student... last year.. of high school anyway I worked in a bakery for about 2 years.

'MA made me break up with my ex-girlfriend' Time for YOU to take some responsibility here, don't blame MA, or your friend! YOU had the choice and YOU made the wrong choice, learn from it and don't do the same thing next time.

Girls hate fighting, they're not going to hand around with you if you make them feel insecure or they fear you're going to get into a fight everytime you step onto the street. That was stupid, you didn't have to fight. You could have said to your friend, I don't want to fight these guys, we don't have to fight them and led him away. You willingly walked out there knowing you were going to fight, instead, you could have walked away! Next time your friend pulls a stuent like that, I'd leave him to fend for himself, I don't appreciate being placed in uncessary danger. If he got into a fight which he did nothing to start, then I would fend for him, and then only. Otherwise, people who start fights for no reason, I leave to fight for themself.

Hey, these people are your friends! I still remember the quote KickChick told me... Stronger is the man who wins over himself than others.. I like it that peopole think I can't fight and/or know nothing about MA, then I suggest sparring to them, kind of ironic they refuse to spar don't you think ? I haven't hit anyone for ages, and no one has hit me either by the same token. I don't tell people about my training, ignorance is a bliss!

I've done kickboxing for a year, I feel confident enough to defend myself against the average thug, I'm now learning BJJ which I enjoy more than kickboxing. I'd like to learn anything that will help me in a confrontation on the street, I'm not interested in sport-orientated MAs. I will take up another striking art along with BJJ again once I'm out of school (my last year), I don't have enough time to train formally 5-6 days a week.

Yes, but that's all it is! It's only a good workout, NOT self-defence. Cardio in the morning is the best thing along with your diet though.

karatekid. only 3 of my select friends know I do BJJ.... Everyone else thinks I've stopped training period..

chh, are you female ?

Most definately.. When I have hesitated I have ended up missing or getting hit myself. When I just act with what feels right, I have caused some serious damage to the other person.

That's leet =)

I dunno if many people agree with me. I show my respect by not telling anyone I train in MA except very few select friends. I also try to make it look as if I cannot even punch my way out of a paper bag, let alone fight..