madtanker

Exactly, I have a few issues myself; due to an injury, I cannot kick to the side very high (hip and lo-back issues), but my mechanics are spot-on... My sensei is aware of the issue, and my doctors know that I am taking MA, and they both told me as long as I keep myself from going too far, I am capable. So my doctors watch me, and my sensei accomodates my limits. Communication is the key in any aspect of life... but especially when your body is the catalyst.

I actually have a couple of friends to practice fall and lock techniques with, and have built a life-sized dummy with a heavy torso and moving joints to kick and punch, as well as to measure out. I know it is not the same as a 6 foot tall man charging full speed... but it helps for now. I also do plan on advanced instruction once I get my back fixed... (probably did not get to mention that before because I did not know if this was going to be a train-wreck or not...). Thank you for your advice, it is part of the reason I improved my training methodology.

I just passed my 5th Gup Tang Soo Do test, and am progressing very well considering my physical state. I am also beginning to start my second MA so that I can marry the two styles together to improve my self defense repertiore. I also just got my time in training from my old LEO self-defense and security, military, and personally directed MA and Self defense classes. I am now a certified instructor (and a 3rd Dan Black Belt) in my own right in general self defense, as well as a 4th Gup in TSD and by the end of the week, no less than 6th Gup in Hapkido.

PS, I have lost 15 lbs since August merely through training, and this is having to progress slowly due to an injury.

I am 6'6" and I weigh 360 lbs. Not to mention I have a bad back. I have been wanting to take MA since I was 5 or 6, and I am about to turn 39. I have been doing study at home (which I know is a separate issue, and I welcome opinions); however, I have progressed from 10 gup to 4 gup since August; meanwhile, I also got my general self defense time in training from an agency that granted my rank based on time in training... I am beginning my Hapkido testing later today, and cannot wait to add this to my repertiore. In short, as many people have said here, if you feel like you want it, and you want to dedicate yourself to it, then go and get it. Nothing is more expensive than regret...

Just because a person knows more of a specific martial art than you 1) does not mean that they are 'better', merely more knowledgeable. If they are trying to prove that they are better, it is up to you to ask for some leniency, this is not Kobra Kai... 2) it does not mean that they have a right to be abusive, we are all in this environment to learn, teach, and gather information from each other. If a person is trying to knock you out in a sparring session, instead of perfecting form for the sake of it, speak up and do not be afraid to do so, or you will do more harm than good, as will the person trying to ruin the spirit of education. PS, people are not inherently dumb, stupidity is a learned art as well, mostly coming from being unable or afraid to speak up for one's self, ask questions, and to deal with trouble in an effective manner. Not every answer lies in the hands; all of them lie in the brain...

Excellent summary as well! I was explaining this to a friend that was interested in learning from me, and sparring with me. He seemed more eager to learn how to 'beat people up' rather than learning the art. I explained to him that it is more effective to know how to get hit, where to place yoru strikes, and how hard to hit to cause, and to prevent, excessive damage. I explained that once you know how not to cause injuries, you can learn the art of defending yourself, not before.

Update: As of now, I am in my 6th Gup (green belt) in Tang Soo Do, and am about to start my Hapkido training/testing this weekend. I feel stronger, faster, and definitely more knowledgeable. The sensei of the school is very interactive; he points out stance mistakes, form mistakes, and he has even fixed a problem that I learned from my LEO days (I used to fight with open hands, a design taught in the LEO training, but absolutely frowned upon during TSD). I also had to adjust to a front stance, something that I am not used to from other forms of training that I recieved. This was a good investment!

I will be going as a psychopath... they dress just like everybody else... (indirect quote of Wednesday Addams)...

Totally agree, why do people think that if you do martial arts they have you as their "Minder" (not too sure if they have an American equivalent) but us Brits will remember Arthur Daly and Terrence I have had the same issue with other elective pursuits (both armed and unarmed). Everyone who has more mouth than body expects you to protect them, and then when you calmly explain that there ARE laws involved, or that you are not a troublemaker, they assume that you are lying about your abilities, and then your own 'friend' either 1) decides not to be friends anymore; small loss albeit... or 2) they try to actually take you on to make you prove your knowledge; something that if you DO possess, they end up losing a friend, and a lil' blood besides. (American of Minder would be Guard... if I got my English to English translation correct...lol).

I did not know there was an actual rule in MMA; however, I was speaking of the idea that if you know it, someone else does too... I see the reasoning behind the idea that if you do not fight within the rules that people will expect it, they will look for it, and they will eventually exploit the same weakness... I have tried to look up/understand the rules of MMA, but I do not train for cage fighting, I tend to lend myself instead to protecting one's self in a street situation. The bottom line, as we have all so eloquently pointed out: Be prepared for everything; a low blow, a cheap shot, and even someone who knows more. Just because you are honorable does not mean that your opponent is.

Umm, sounds like a martial artist to me. Yeah, I just realized that part of the quote when I said it... I meant that I did not want to mis-represent myself as a person who was an expert in what we 'know' as martial arts... I know that the two are martial in nature; however, I was leaning towards not calling myself something I was not...lol.

Thanks to everyone who has wished me welcome, and to those too shy to do so...

Personally, I have some self-defense training. as a child I was hoping for something where I could get recognition, and now that I am in a semi-organized system, I will look for promotion for the purposes of proof that I have the proper knowledge. I do not see the belt as more than a means to an end... I know that I have the requisite experience to call myself a(n)...***belt (fill in the blank...lol). When I went to college (as a 34 year old man) I did not see the degrees as anything but the proof that I have the right expertise, not to throw them up to people (except for my family because they take NO value in education). And Noriyuki was a genius! I miss him as an actor, and feel for the loss of him as a person! (%) (<--- = yin/yang on another chat site)

I am kinda in between sizes; neither tiny nor giant. It gets tough sometimes, especially when i have no experience with the specific type of clothing. PS, I finally got my shipping info... the total time from order to receive is estimated to be a week... now all I have to do is pray for the sizing not to be an issue...

Again, I am happy that it is not malignant, and I am hoping that you will heal well. I do not know if it helps, but Epsom Salt and a warm soak helps with some issues under the skin, or cold compresses. Unless this is contra-indicated.

I love your quote, it reminds me of boot-camp. 'Pain is weakness leaving the body' and 'pain is temporary, pride is forever'... I know the first has been oft repeated, but the second was out platoon motto for the Co. C. 3/32 training division of the 29th infantry training regiment (if I remember correctly).

Right... I know that you do not want to disable an opponent in training; however. if you are trainign for it, and someone has invented a move to copy for a reason, you had BETTER try it out somehow. I use boards to train for low kicks... Just junk boards, small enough not to mess me up, but hard enough to know I can do damage if needed.

I am going to add this to my quotes in a moment, and I remember being taught a version of this but I believe "The only stupid question is the one that was never asked!!" Never be afraid to ask, there is someone out here that does not know. I just discussed this with my roomate. She is not doing well in college, and I scored an average 3.93, including pulling a 4.0 in my MBA... and I told her two things 1) Nobody does it without help... I had to bounce concepts off of people that had no idea what I was talking about, but because they let me talk, I worked it out 2) The only stupid question is the one that is not asked!

I know that I may be parroting others here however, as many probably have, I have been in a multiple attacker situation, 3 on 1, and as many as 50 on 4 (I was part of a small riot when we first started securing AHA properties in Atlanta). The resident idiots, in an effort to intimidate us, staged a trap, and a small riot. We were able to phone for help, and we DID hold our own, although we were in weapons drawn situations against people as young as 12... and I SWEAR that the Atlanta Police were dropping from the sky... Nobody gt hurt because we prepared for the very scenario in training the previous week. For a security company, we had like the best trainer... He was eaching us police tactics, SWAT tactics, etc... The moral: Always expect anything that your mind can conjure (remember, we all have the same brain waves...); if you have thought of it, chances are, someone else has too, and then some. Also, remember, you cannot prepare for everything, but if you TRY, you will be more prepared for the unexpected!!

Excellent thought... besides the respect for the uniform, it is a canvas body covering, and it does get heavy/sweaty... why wear it out?? LOL

That is a ritual worth following! The respect for the art should include the respect for the tools! When I finish home repair, construction, or auto repair, I always clean and oil my tools, and to that end, I will respect my gi, when I begin wearing it... I also believe in not giving people an advantage. Even if you used Bruce Lee's brain, Chuck Norris' fists, and Bolo Yeung's legs I would not wear a gi or a belt (which I have seen some numbskulls wear without the gi) outside of the practice arena or a training/sparring/demo session. Reminding one's self to respect the uniform also keeps one from forgetting... If you do not mind, I am going to follow this protocol/ritual! You have some of the best posts darksoul!!! Thank you!

I found the second 'belt' quote... from the Karate Kid, Noriyuki 'Pat' Morita (Miyagi) says to Daniel at the end of the fight where Daniel learns about Miyagi knowing karate, Daniel-"what kind of belt do you have" and Miyagi-"canvas... you like? JC Penny $3.98... hahaha. In Okinawa only need belt-hold up pants." This is also where he says about karate, it is in the head, and heart, but not in the 'gut'... And I have used that as part of my personal mantra... lead with the head, use the heart as a tool, but reacting with the gut is a good way to go hungry!

This is not the only time (and in reality, the gun laws in Georgia can be tricky, I have received a TON more respect in Ohio even if their LEOs are a little slower on the enforcement side of things...); however, I still believe in the system, and if it is CLEAR what is going on (ie, I do not walk in on a man with a knife and shoot him, only to find he is the actual victim, another situation that almost happened to me...) I will react and I will defend people. The system does work, as long as one is prepared. I remember a quote from Under Seige 2... but I cannot remember the actor... but it goes, 'chance favors the prepared mind'. I do this in everything that I do. I drive in a manner that allows me to be safe, and to make the same split-second decisions in most situations (nobody prepares for EVERY thing). I am the beginner of 'be safe' rather than be careful. My belief on that is because being careful means watching, wondering, and anticipating. Bein safe means that you have thought of the scenario, you have planned for as many issues that arise, and you are ready for potential consequences. I also live that way. I have cameras, motion alarms, and I even keep insurance on everything that I own. Truth is, one needs to be prepared before they begin the journey. If you know why you are walking down the 'road' then you are prepared for the stops along the way!

I have an example of how being a good samaritan, and how trying to help (even when doing as the 911 operator advises) can get one in trouble. I used to live in Marietta, Georgia and while residing in one of the nicer apartment complexes therein, I was driving out with my sister, my nieces, and my ex-wife when we happened to observe a couple fighting. I do not know how it started, and I do not know the original assailant in the fight (which is CRITICAL when 'getting involed', or advancing to help), so I called 911... and did NOT get directly involved. The man was hitting the woman into his windshield head-first, and I told the operator. She advised me (ala G. Zimmerman) to back off, and ty to avoid being seen, while staying on the phone and observing what I can. I immediately complied... backing up around the corner, and about 1/8 mile down the side-road. IRONICALLY, I was in no way visible from the apartment in question, but somewhere, somehow, these two found out that someone called the police.While on the phone with the operator (THANK GOD), the man came at me first. I was outside of my car (because for obvious reasons, I was safer outside of the car than in it with 5 passengers, and the reception was better, this was 1997 after all...). He began to slam his hands on the hood of the car, and started to threaten me. I did advise him that I had called 911, and he produced a stick (think escrima). He advanced on me and I did not produce a firearm, but I warned him that I was in the right to defend myself if he came at me. He left after my over-shirt blew open revealing a full duty-belt underneath my street clothes. Then a few moments later (the police were a little bit behind that day I guess), the woman began to scream (think Banshee and not 'help-help') and run towards the car. I told her to stop, and at that point (before she started running but well after I saw her), I had gotten out my mace. I informed her that I had people to protect, and to that end, I would use the mace if necessary. She then left... at the time of the arrival of the police. The police, as luck would have it, were not dispatched to my husband-is beating- wife's head into car, he was there for an 'armed assailant threatening with a firearm'... guess my 911 operator got trumped. The police officer came up to me, hands on gun (I was not producing a weapon, I was informing him of my status (LEGAL), and I had my hands on the vehicle, making his actions a NO-NO). I was talking the whole time, narrating the situation. The police officer made me take off my weapon, unload it, and place it on the vehicle (acceptable)... But then, he produced handcuffs. I thereupon asked why he had done so, and he stated he was arresting me for carrying an unlicensed eapon (mind you, under OCGA 16-11-127), I was licensed, and informed him--- producing my ID which was already out. The 911 operator is still on the phone (thenk God and Karma...), and heard me tell him so. She apparently dispatched a supervisor, knowing that this officer was messing up. I demanded a supervisor, unaware of her actions (911 operator) and he showed up about 10 seconds before this man made a career changing mistake. He had me on the car, and had the handcuff against my hand when the supervisor told him to stop. He walked back to the supervisor vehicle, and I saw him turn a shade of red that I still to this day will never forget. The supervisor walked up to me, officer in tow, and actually asked me if I wanted to press Assault with a Deadly Weapon charges. I refused, conditioning it with as long as he was re-trained in ccw activities, and sensitivity training. The supervisor told the officer 'see you tomorrow at 7am', and told him to put his cuffs away and to call him to respond to all of the officer's calls the rest of the day. I tried to help the 'smart' way, and still got in trouble and had to deal with a rogue cop, two people that needed help, and if it were not for the 911 operator, I am writing this from jail...lol. The moral of my story is this: Be careful what you do, consider all of the ramifications (even those that seem far-fetched), and tread lightly. AND keep the 911 operator on the line as LONG AS YOU CAN!! And remember my catch-phrase when dealing with someone else's life! No Good Deed Goes Unpunished!! I always weigh as many facts as I can, and with my LEO training, interactions with police (good and bad), and from many-many-many years of experience behind, and in front of a badge, judge, and jury, I have become a student of CCW law, self-defense law, and operational principle in escalation, deescalation, and practical defense. I recommend the same for everyone else... become a student of the laws if you are going to use your (or any) method of defense, and the final key--- DEFENSE!!!