Alpha One Four

I know what you mean. I have altered the way I walk, sleep, and even go to the bathroom. I have worked martial arts in to my life so much that it is a part of everything I do. Every breath and step is training.

I consider the Kuk Sool rest because I just go through the forms to make sure I don't forget them. So it is really just 5 days or training. That means I am remembering 3 arts at the moment due to Kuk Sool being muscle memory at this point. I traded boxing for karate and kenpo karate for TKD. I only just started TKD, and like I said, it is mostly for a little extra boost before a new season of tournaments. If my classes are ever out for the day, I do heavy bag, tire flip, and knuckle push up intervals. I hate when the dojo isn't available. Oh, and I am entering with my Goju school.

So, here is my current cross training schedule: MON- TKD Sparring 6:30-6:55 Goju Ryu 7:00-8:30 TUE- Shorin Ryu 5:30-7:00 WED- Goju Ryu 7:00-8:00 THU- Taekwondo 6:15-7:00 FRI- Kuk Sool Forms (various times) SAT- Shorin Ryu 4:30-6:30 SUN- Kuk Sool Forms (various times) Other than keeping my Kuk Sool Won forms sharp on Fridays and Sundays, I have a lot of physically demanding classes. I only recently started TKD, and I will probably drop it by the end of the year. I am really only taking it so I can get into fantastic shape for the season opener S.W.A.T. karate tournament on January 19th. I plan on taking home a nice big trophy. I also like to pound my heavy bag and reflex bag when I feel like I need a boost. Hopefully this will be enough, but if I don't win, that means I have to try that much harder next time. How do you guys cross train?

I bought a pair of 5-55 adjustable dumbbells. Cost me $100. That's the same as buying 2 55lb dumbbells. You don't need a rack for those, and you save a ton of space. But, since you already have some, I would look at local shops for a rack. Maybe craigslist.

So AOF, Tell me what makes YOUR style effective? What is your current grade in your core style and will you continue to train under your current instructor? Have got a written syllabus with levels from basic entry to at least 4th Dan/Degree level? Are you in it for the money or for the art itself (I ask because you may have tone totally on your own at times with noone to assist you or any students)? Now before you think I'm "tearing you down" I'm asking because I have created my own style and is finally becoming rather successful. I've been there done that and believe me the people on here will give you the best advice you'll get from than from other Forums I could mention where they would tear you down and spit you out. One I know was that bad its been closed down I don't want a popular MA or even one where I make a lot of money. The only cash I need is to cover the overhead of the dojo. I decline to reveal my belt levels, because it has no bearing on one's true skill. A brown in one style may be the same as a 5th Dan master in another style. As far as in tournaments I have done very well, but they are all local. We will see what happens when I get to compete against better opponents.

Most of you just want to tear me down and discredit my MA when really you don't have any idea what is going on. Thanks to everyone who actually answered my thread questions. I'm tired of arguing.

So after just a few short years of training, you honestly feel you have exhausted the systems you are learning to the point where the only way to further yourself is the creation of a new martial system? And I personally do not believe someone with just one year of karate training would have the knowledge and capacity to fully understand karate and be able to pass it on in that extremely short period. There are some other posters on here who have probably been training in different systems longer than you have been alive that have still not yet exhausted what their systems has to offer. Is it really out of necessity, or if after taking a good hard look at it is it more of an ego thing? I have learned every technique and all but three kata. I have light aspergers, and I retain information well. I sometimes get distracted in large competitions, but what can you do? So, naturally there are millions of combinations which I can still learn BUT the techniques are wrong in the first place. Angles, positions, movements, and targets need to be changed entirely in some cases. That is my necessity. To bushidoman, the main thing the okinawans didn't teach was the twisting for power in your attacks. That extra thrust, most importantly in the side kick, adds a heck of a lot more power. This is actually shown in Karate Kid part 2. It just never explains it.

I hate to play the devil's advocate but do you have any experience in either of those three? I seem to recall the majority of your training was in Kuk Sul Won and a year or so of karate training. I have an unbelievable skill that allows me to read books. My Shorin-Ryu Master has also done homework on what the Okinawans didn`t want to teach the Japanese. As far as Kalaripayattu and Gunfu, all you need to do is break down the science of what we know eand then you can see what made them effective. The truth is, everyone who knew the original stuff has long since passed. I believe all the information is in the physics. Its not difficult to figure out.

To be honest, my art is going to be a revival of Kalaripayattu, REAL Okinawan Te, and old Gungfu. The knife training will be basic and enough to know how to counter. Everyone will also get basic self defense techniques like using keys as weapons. None of this is new, but I am going to teach in a scientific way. I will explain the relationship between every movement and kinesiology. Nerve strikes, pressure points, joint locking, grappling, knee strikes, elbow strikes, punches, kicks, blocks, counters, and even yoga stretching are all there. A lot of the techniques will be things everyone has seen, but the same could be said about Taekwondo, Kuk Sool Won, Kenpo Karate... It is the way you present the techniques that make a difference. The training is something I can't wait to teach. I developed workouts 100% for fighting.

This may be true for some, but I have a several new techniques that people have not seen, at least to my knowledge. It isn`t a classic spin-off MA. It is something entirely different with old ideals revitalized in a new way. The training and belt system will also differ. The main focus is hardening bodies and making everything work in real situations. I know that is the point of something like Krav Maga and Jeet Kune Do, but this takes those concepts much further. A lot of sparring will be involved, and nothing flashy or impractical. Also, there won't be any weapons, but there will be anti-weapons training.

Great stuff so far. In my system, I will focus on basics in every single class. Even black belts will go through the basics before each class. They will be pretty much all muscle memory and eliminate a lot of the reaction time that can get you punched in the face. My first students are already starting. My niece and my best friend will be the test group to make sure the students don`t progress too fast or too slow. What I want is to partner up my students to make practicing easier. Making contact in training makes you more comfortable in real situations, in my opinion. I`m thinking about doing stripes on white and brown. Brown will be a long and tough road, and stripes on white give new students a feeling of accomplishment. I`m putting everything from throws to joint locks to grappling in my style. It will be truly complete in my opinion.

Thanks for your input. I am actually glad you brought this up, because I teach an afterschool and summer program for kids 6-12. I am frequently asked to instruct the children's class in Goju as well. I am pretty experienced in teaching. I don't have a name yet, that is a work in progress. I am thinking it should be more japanese since that is what I know best.

I have studied martial arts for more than half of my life. It shows when I walk, when I breathe, when I sit, when I eat, and even when I sleep. Since I have a very good memory, I can easily absorb lessons in class. While I have not yet reached a master rank in anything, I have already begun to develop my own martial art. In a few years, I want to start teaching it. This forum is everyone's chance to put their own technique in my art form. I am open to any suggestions whether good or bad. Tell me what is important to you in technique as well as your favorite way to learn. How you like class to go, the way you gain rank, and how your master speaks to you are all important to me. It doesn't matter what art you study, all styles are welcome. And guys, be serious, please.

To be honest, these "beatings" I'm currently receiving have been exaggerated He'll demonstrate techniques on me sometimes, but he's got really good control. I definitely feel the hit, and it hurts, but I know he's pulling his strikes. The worst I've gotten was from a 4th Dan who accidentally dislocated my jaw. That was... pleasant T_T I was working on some techniques with one of my masters on saturday. He completely disabled my radial nerve for a short period of time, leaving my right fist useless. Still hurts right at this very second. No bruise or anything. It appears nothing is wrong. Luckily I can use it now. It is what you would expect from an 8th Dan.

I think it was more of him trying to be a "tough guy."

Lol, yes!!! But, I think I can do better. If you can top Mr. Sudo, I want video. Actually, video and post the fight if you can anyway. I wouldn't have thought of that. I'll see if I can get someone to film it.

Totally agree. I don't think there's a pure style out there. Mine is a mix of at least 4 of the styles I practiced throughout the years, so although I state Ashihara Karate, its technically MMA. I think that when the term MMA is mentioned, we all conjure up the same basic idea of what it is based on the exposure we've had of since the early 1990's. That said, I think what we have come to see from the UFC and other companies is this MMA product, so the term has kind of grown into the name of the style. I think when you talk about other styles being "mixed" styles, though, you have to look at the extent to which that mix is taken, and how it mixes. I've learned different kind of joint manipulations from early on in my TKD career, and have extended that knowledge into Combat Hapkido and Aikido. But that doesn't really make me a "Mixed" Martial Artist like we think of in the sense of MMA. Honestly, nobody really cared about this "mixed" label until MMA really came into its own, and we saw the integration of standing and ground fighting like we have. Finally, I think when it comes to the MMA label, the main consideration is in the training methodologies of the MMA athletes and gyms. They work on actively mixing all those components from the beginning, and the focus is on performance, and not rank. They have all the faculties available for the standing game and the ground game, with various coaches specializing in the different aspects, but the overall goal of the gym is the focus on MMA competition. I really think what we have in MMA is the rebirth of Pankration. But, that name is already used now, too, so that leaves us just go with the name MMA, I think. I suppose. It just seems weird to say "Mixed Martial Arts." I guess the translations of other martial arts sounds weird when you say it to. I like traditional MA because there are ranks. I have a stronger sense of accomplishment when I rise through the belts.

Lol, yes!!! But, I think I can do better.

Obviously we don't want to cripple each other. We just want to see who can win in a full contact fight. I think it will be fun.

I completely, 100% agree with this. Are you sure you want to do this? I TOO agree with this, a friendship to me, is more important than "who can beat who!?!" I agree with these concerns, to an extent. But, I've also fought with my brothers in our yard before, giving one of them a nice bruise along his cheek bone. We're still family, though... I'm curious as to whether you and your friend are going to carry on a friendly sparring session to learn, or are the two of you planning to fight it out and intend to win by the score cards or knockout at the end? If its the latter, then I think MasterPain brings up a good point: This would be the way to go. You'd have a referee to make sure the rules are followed, at least. Maybe each of you could sell tickets to family, friends, and training peers from you schools to raise money for some kind of charity along the way. Also, I'd say know the rule set, and train for the rule set from now until the fight. I recognize everyone's concern. He and I are like brothers. My real brother is 18 years older than me, and he doesn't have a real brother. I would say we are a lot like the Dukes of Hazzard. Can't separate Bo and Luke. We are going to fight at my my Goju/Kenpo dojo. My usual sparring partner said he would ref. As far as the Tai Chi. It is more of a combative style. He used it when he got mugged last year and got away safely. He said his teacher actually teaches practical uses.

Wouldn't most of us be Mixed Martial Artists? I think these schools should be called "Fighting" gyms. They teach the most effective way to fight within a specific set of rules. That's what all martial arts do, isn't it? I think "MMA" needs a specific name now.

No legs means a lot less punching power. Kinetic linking will be less effective. I would be more sad than entertained, I think... I mean no disrespect at all.

I didn't think this could go in another forum, so here it goes: I'm going to see my best friend here in a few weeks for Thanksgiving. We have been buds for about 11 years, and we fought one time. It was before we became friends in about 4th grade. He punched me in the eye, and we never finished the fight because my mom broke it up. He has FINALLY agreed to finish it with me in an actual sparring match with UFC rules in Karate sparring gear, minus the boots. We had to compromise a little... I have been doing Kuk Sool Won for 10 years, Boxing for 3 years, and karate for 1 year. He got a brown belt in Kuk Sool, but stopped about 15 years ago. He started Tai Chi 2 years ago, and he recently started Ninjutsu. I believe that was at the beginning of the year. Now, I have a size advantage. I'm at 6'2" 205lbs with a 76" reach. He is 5'10" 175 with a 72" reach. I also have a lot more sparring experience. He only finally mentioned sparring about two months after starting Ninjutsu... That raised my concern. Should I be worried? It appears I have some major advantages, but I feel as if I am missing something. Am I?

That's just nuts. I'm sorry that your experience turned out this way. There are good TKD schools out there. I hope you keep searching. Thanks, and I know there are great schools out there. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of options in my area. So, I'm going to stick with my karate and boxing, which is all I can really do. Too bad I don't live near a Kuk Sool school. Ah well. Thanks guys.

I didn't tell him about my previous experience. That's why it aggravated me so much. It's like he wanted me to see how great they were. It backfired. They were awful.