vantheman

Not if it's difficult!! While I see that your comment was not meant to stir up arguments, you bring up a good point. Only the most dedicated martial artists would be practicing it, and they would be considered "the best" if such an art existed. If an art is so difficult that only a select few can actually participate and train successfully, how can it be the best? I would see the limited success as a con, and therefore not the best.

It's funny how dojos (and more often McDojos) can claim they teach the "best martial art ever" (as the second youtube video says). If there was such an art, wouldn't everybody be doing it?

It is funny how thinking about it too much can actually make it weird. I know they have apps for note cards on several devices, but not sure how random they get.

That's what the courts are for, imho, and I wouldn't take the law in my hands. 99.999% of the time, I agree with this statement. I would also have to agree. VTM

Which do you prefer? I personally use a mac.

I would find some elaborate way to make lots and lots and lots of money.

We need more people like you in the world. (or fewer stupid people) I borrowed that phrase from Guro Marc Denny. I believe in it, though. Thanks, Shizentai. In that case, great use of quotes

This is a good topic for discussion, though I personally am having a hard time trying to answer this. I never would want to have to be in such a position, as I sure no will want to be, but I think it would depend on the position, in this given situation, I could very well see myself going after this, but I believe one would need to think hard about how much they wanted revenge. In the end, it may get you back in prison, which was why you attacked the guy in the first place. I think it is definitely a something worth discussing. VTM

Tradition is an interesting topic. While I study a slightly more modern self defense, my school does carry on some traditional concepts. While many are sometimes compelled to change tradition, there may be a method to the madness, aka an unknown reason for the concept. If you change tradition, you may lose the reasoning of the entire move. As for a school being to traditional, I think you should do what you feel is right. If the tradition is going to bother you, why spend time on it? Devote yourself to a martial art you will enjoy VTM

Puzzle mats, and then we lay out thicker ones for doing excessive throwing.

We need more people like you in the world. (or fewer stupid people)

Well, Van is my middle/preferred name, and I am a man. Hence Vantheman. wasn't very long until people began calling me that. VTM

Cross training (while this isn't entirely that) is always a great thing to do. In my opinion, the more diverse the two arts, the wider range of skill is. VTM

1. I do some grappling every once in a while, so yeah, although it's sort of becoming a normal thing 2. Nope 3. I've done a demo outside, no formal training besides what I personally do 4. On my Black Belt test, I had a little trouble pacing myself, and between kicking running, and of course getting kicked in the shin, standing became a little difficult 5. No 6. No 7. No 8. No 9. Probably 10. No 11. No

Nice outline It's a little scary how some people can ignore such simple rules VTM

Welcome to KF!

I ran into a similar thing last night at my class. One of the more advanced ways to escape from a headlock (advanced in a Kempo sense) was to throw the guy behind you as you rolled back. One of the students had also trained in Aikido, and knew of a way where you do a modified front roll. While this wasn't the way my instructor was taught, he realized this was a more efficient way and required less energy, so he began teaching it that way. Our school is very open to cross training, so the lenience to allow new/better/different forms of a technique may vary. VTM

I do something simply called NoGi Submission Wrestling, also known as grappling. It takes from folk wrestling, BJJ, Judo, among others. Some of the kids in my class do wrestle, and they seem to enjoy it and do well in it. VTM

I will keep my gi on if I am going straight home from the dojo. I will change if I am stopping anywhere. Wearing a gi in a public area (save demonstrations) I find awkward. VTM

I heard something outrageous (true I believe, nevertheless) that you can only gain around 3 pound a year through muscle. I don't think that should be slowing you down too much

Welcome to KF!

That's good to hear. You will probably see a significant improvement especially in application of technique when there is someone to train with. Plus it's always more fun. -VTM

I know in some forms of Martial Arts, wearing your gi outside of the dojo at all was disrespectful. While that is not the case for my dojo, I do agree that the uniform (especially the jacket) should not be worn around public. At my MA school, they sell t-shirts with the schools name on it for that purpose (as well as wearing the t-shirts in class instead of the gi in the summer months). Technically, the gi is legally theirs and they can do what they want with it, but I think it is not a smart or humble thing to do. -VTM

I would start with a thumb to an eye or two. Next, I would try a groin strike, and finish it off with a kick or two to the big nerve in the side of the thigh. Unless they train muay thai that should keep them in pain for enough time to escape or find an improvised weapon. -VTM

I have always been taught to slide as well, and therefore do neither, unless its specified with which foot to stand on (i.e., a cat stance). However, when I do most motions requiring to move my feet, such as spinning, I use the ball of my foot, as it offers more control. -VTM