jaypo

While it is true that if you add resistance training to your routine, a side effect will be to add some "bulk", your speed and power will be the result of how you workout. As Wastelander mentioned, your fast twitch fibers are what generates speed. If you do your sets using explosive motions, it will benefit your speed and power more than just using a slow push and a slow negative. Don't worry too much about putting on too much bulk that will affect your performance. You shouldn't experience that unless you start training like a power lifter.

I watched a movie last night called "Ninja Assassin". It was made in 2009 and had was set in the present, but it included all of those "cheesy" things that the 80's ninja movies had. And it had some incredible fight scenes, although mostly because of the weapons. Not much hand to hand combat, but the fights were fun.

I have to respectfully disagree with you on 1 thing, Harkon. I know plenty of US Army soldiers, and they fear nothing. Not British Gurkha. Not Russian Special Forces. Not the Taliban. Nothing. Not to make this adversarial, but I think it's a bit disrespectful to call a group of patriotic men and women that give their lives to protect the lives of their peers "meat monkeys". I'd prefer a term such as "hero".

If I get hung up while doing a kata, I do it with my eyes closed. It helps me to remove my mind from it. I love doing a kata slow and overexaggerated. It feels awesome.

When I started training in my current club, I held the rank of purple belt in a Shotokan system from a 7th Dan with spotless credentials. My current club is mainly Shorin Ryu, but he also incorporates a lot of Shotokan training. I had reservations about the lack of "basics" in my current club (because we drilled hours and hours of them in my former club), but the techniques and bunkai in my current club were mind blowing. We didn't spend time dissecting katas as much in my previous club, and we didn't do any throws, locks, etc. Now, every move ends in a "polishing" technique- throw, lock, finishing strike, etc. Not only in the Shorin Ryu bunkai, but in the Shotokan katas that I've know for 20 plus years! And the difference is that my former school was run by an instructor that trained in Japan for years in a tournament based school. And that's how he ran his school. We learned awesome basics as they pertained to point karate. My current school is run by an instructor that trained in Okinawa for years in different styles and came back to the states to train under Master Okazaki. He trains us traditional techniques but focuses on the self defense (and self offense!!!) aspects of the forms. That's what I love. Practicality in my training. I think my former instructor is awesome- he's a black belt HOF'er. But his style was geared towards point karate. I believe that my current system will benefit me more in real world situations.

That's the thing about MMA being a "martial art". If I'd fight like I train, I'd go thru sparring partners by the dozen. I'm not allowed to flicker jab to the eyes, bend a knee back 90 degrees, bite, kick a partner in the groin, or punch someone in the throat when I spar. So I can't train like I fight. As a matter of fact, I don't like sparring that much because I don't spar like I fight. That's the difference between a mixed martial art and a mixed competition style. Cage fighting has rules-it's a sanctioned competition. Therefore, when you train "MMA", you train as you would "compete", not fight. A fight to me denotes the lack of rules, IMO. Don't get me wrong- I respect cage fighters with the utmost reverence. I'd never do it. I just think that Martial Arts are different than martial competition sports. I train as I WOULD fight in the street to defend myself, not as I would fight in a sport with rules. Therefore, my training does not allow me to "train like I would fight".

Machida has been my favorite fighter for some time now, and I think he had the skills to beat Weidman. But Weidman also has the skills to beat him! It depends on who executes their game plan that night. I do like Weidman, but I don't particularly like Matt Serra who is one of his coaches.

I love Bassai Dai and Naihanchi. The next one I'm learning will be Kanku Dai. I'm looking forward to that!

Shotokan is actually a mixed martial art. Funakoshi Sensei mixed Shorei Ryu and Shorin Ryu together and stripped them down to form Shotokan. But no Shotokan Dojo's advertise as MMA gyms if they're strictly teaching Shotokan. I guess it boils down to perception- those that are not hardcore MAists know the difference. Casual fans equate MMA with "cage fighting".

It depends on what you mean by effort. Personally, every time I step in the dojo, I give 100% mentally. Sometimes, I have to pace myself physically, but I never train without being 100% into it. My body wears down. But my effort doesn't. If I can't go with 100% speed and power because of my body, I'll soak up what I can mentally. If I'm not 100% into in mentally, I will skip class. There's no point in me wasting my time or my club members/Sensei's time.

Congrats, mate! Great job!

My reasoning for that is based on the fact that wrestlers seem to do very well in the sport. And if you've followed the career of Lyoto Machida, he had been undefeated for years because his style prevented his opponents to figure him out. He used the angles and counter attacks that his karate training provided, and the majority of his opponents could not touch him. His 1st knockout came when he got caught behind the ear from Shogun. He lost 2 decisions (that most thought he won), one of which was to a high level wrestler, and he was choked out by Bones, who probably walks around 40lbs heavier than Machida. Most people agree that the best base to start from to be an MMA fighter is wrestling because the transition is easier. Couple that with a striking art (I prefer karate for the reasons above, but Muay Thai would be my close 2nd choice), and add submissions to the game, and I'd think you'd have close to the perfect fighter. Look at this scenario- if you're familiar with MMA, take Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman. Both are high level grapplers- Silva, a BJJ black belt, and Weidman, a high level wrestler. Both have great striking. But in both of their fights, Weidman totally outgrappled Spider the entire time they were engaged. Nothing against BJJ, but I think that only relying on BJJ may win you some fights, but when pitted against someone that has elite wrestling as well, they would have trouble. That's why I would prefer submission wrestling. Keep in mind that I'm making these statements as they pertain to MMA matches.

One thing our Sensei tells us all the time- if a technique works, it isn't wrong! There are hundreds of things someone can do with a single technique. There are multiple applications of every kata. I've learned multiple apps for all techniques that I know. It doesn't mean that that any were wrong. If they work, they're not wrong! And to make that statement the way he did was against all principals of the arts that we study! Just curious- what was it that he said was incorrect?

I loved them! Very good interpretations on those katas. I've also seen that Naihanchi Nidan application done as a takedown instead of a strike. More of a "pushing" takedown with the fists rather than strikes. That's what I love about my art- so many things can be done with every technique! Very good videos. Post more!

When sparring for points, I tend to be passive. My classmates call me "the surgeon" because I tend to dissect things! I love to counter fight (for points) partially because in reality, I'll give up a punch to the chest if it means I can hit your head or take you down. In point sparring, we don't count takedowns, and we don't hit to the head. So I spar differently than I would fight. Therefore, I have to be more technical in my sparring than aggressive. My aggressive side would have me using my speed and strength (I'm a great deal stronger and faster than everyone who is not my sensei!).

I consider myself an artist first. If I were living in a prior time period, I'd probably train like a warrior. I can put up with a pretty good deal of pain, so I don't think the risk of injury or pain would be that big of a deal. But being a Bank Manager and father of 2 young kids on a tight budget, dealing with broken ribs, bones, and hospital bills aren't in my plan at this time! While in high school and college, we trained (unofficially) full contact. A friend of mine's dad had a dojo, and we used Kenpo gloves (like MMA gloves today) and fought full contact. But it wasn't during a class. We'd just get together on the weekends and practice. It was very fun, but that was when I was 17. I'm almost 40 now, and I have a lot more to lose!

Can't wait for the season to start! My Saints drafted the fastest receiver at the combine and a 6'3" DB that should be similar to Sherman. We filled holes at all positions. Add Victor Butler back to the mix, and the defense should rival Seattle. No need to get into the offense! I'm pumped!

Depends on the child. Most clubs around here start at 4. My son is 5 and trains, but he is too immature, and Sensei spends a lot of time correcting him.

I have to agree with you, eakk1115. If it were really about putting the best fighters against each other, they'd find a way to get Rousey to fight Cyborg. But Rousey has done everything she could to make sure that fight doesn't happen because she knows she'd get blasted. She switched weight classes in her former promotion because she knew Cyborg couldn't make the lower weight. Then she goes to the UFC. And Cyborg offered to fight her at a catchweight, but Rousey hid under the "I'm the champ, so you have to come down to my weight" card. Then, she and Dana start a public campaign criticizing her looks. That's why I hope someone takes the title from her. She's a poor representative of MAists.

I think he was just worn out! He has OCD pretty bad, and he said that being at that level for so long took a mental toll on him. So he took a break. And he found that acting is something he enjoyed. Personally, I hope he stays retired and lives his life to the fullest! I love him as a MAist because he is respectful.

Good luck with everything. As far as moving in Kiba Dachi, I always try to tell students to focus on keeping their heads on the same level when they're walking. To pretend they're in a room where the ceiling is too low for them to stand up straight. That usually gets them to focus on the correct mechanics. Once you get it, your muscle memory will help keep you doing it right.

That's what I love about MA! You can put so many things into each movement. You can "put yourself" into the kata! I like to use the knife hand block on the inside (blocking a right handed punch), grab and press that arm down, step, nuki te. My left hand still holds the punching arm. I nuki te becomes a grab, and by turning to my left, I throw my attacker using a pushing force from the arm I'm grabbing with and a pulling force from the hand I'm grabbing his arm with. It causes the opponent to be on his back. I'm not very good at typing bunkai. Sorry if it's confusing!

Karate does work in MMA. Look at fighters like Lyoto Machida. He's a Shotokan guy. And there was another Karate fighter (featherweight) this weekend that dominated some guy. It works because it was designed to work! However, MMA has rules. A lot of the techniques in katas are not designed to be used in a sport. They take points off for groing kicks and eye gouges! Hell, if I'm being attacked on the street, these are 2 things that I'm probably using first. IMO, the best combo of MA's for MMA would be Karate and submission wrestling.

I loved that movie. It's one of the reasons I started MA. It was also the first time I heard (in detail) about Muay Thai. (Saw it briefly in Bloodsport with Paco). I don't think they can improve upon it. The only thing wrong with the original was some editing in the end fight. I do love GSP though, so I'm sure I'll watch it!

Man, I just came in here to start this thread!! The original was part of my inspiration to get into the MA's. A bit of trivia- JCVD and "Tong Po" have actually been best friends for a long time. If you watch closely, in the movie "Breakin'", both are shown side by side in the crowd at the beach while the dancers are "breakin".