Dekan

Around here mose of the non-grappling schools prefer the students to wear white gi until they reach at least a brown belt, then then can wear whatever color they want. Most of the grappling schools prefer black gi, simply because of rolling around on the mats all the time, they tend to get dirty quicker, and black just doesn't show the dirt as bad as trying to keep a white gi looking clean.

One of the previous posts said the best defense against BJJ is a good kicking approach to damage your opponent before he can get a hold of you. Someone else stated a kneeing approach. IMO, the best is to cross train in the basic types of MA striking/kicking/blocking throwing grappling locking You REALLY need to cross train in all of the above, regardless of the style you are in. If you lack any of the above list, then you are somewhat vulnerable to that technique.

Exactly!!! Theoretically, take someone who has done Martial Arts for years, but only ever done kata/forms, never any sparring. They have mastered (technically speaking) the moves through the practice of their kata/forms. Now put them in a sparring situation for the first time and watch how they react. They won't have any timing to block real strikes and kicks, their attempts at counter measures will be off. I think Bruce Lee was one that stated "you must spar" kata is not enough.

Its true judo suposedly was strickly for combat but has evolved to adapt to competition. Before a hip throw was stickly dropping ur opponent on his head now its more competition wise, leaving that out. hmmmm, I thougth Jui-Jitsu was the combative martial art, then Judo came as a non-injury causing sport from JJ.

Unless you get tackled. I know of a school that teaches TKD, the instructor is a former Olympic Bronze medal winner in TKD in 1988 olympics, so he teaches very much sport TKD. I've had a couple of his students say the same thing I commented above. Great stuff in a fist fight, but if they get tackled, show is over.

I am from out East of Columbus, Ohio (Newark/Zanesville area). I train at a new school that is an offshoot of a previously established school. In other words three of the blackbelts left to do their own thing. So far seems to be primmarily Aikido and JJJ based with some other stuff thrown in for a well rounded approach.

It seems that different syles, different schools, use different sequence of the colors of belts. Is there any single correct sequence: I would think: white, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown, then black The school I am in now seems really weird, in order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, brown then black.

I used to take Kung fu that did a mix of striking/kicking, some locking and some grapping, that was a few years ago. I have recently decided to get back into it, but had a hard time finding any one school that gives a cross training of the three. Either they area a Judo school using just throws, or they are a TKD school only doing Kicking/Striking, no cross training to give a wider variety in my toolbox. Finally I found a guy that teaches three flavors(Aikido for the locking, Japanese Jui-Jitsu for grappling/throwing and more severe locking and what he calls Tetsu Hei, which is his flavor of a MMA). His MMA will include striking and kicking, but apparently very specific striking and kicking, not as much as a Karate or TKD art would be. So, it should be interesting. I have just started and we are still working on some basic locks, with much much much more to come. Basically, I don't want to be in the prediciment of the earlier poster, hopefully to be able to handle(eventually) a broader range of kinds of attacks, be it a striker or a wrestler or whatever.

Are there usually any forms/katas taught in Aikido or JJJ dojos??? If not, what are usually used for belt promotions???

It boasts three broad categories Advanced Kung Fu & Tai Chi Winning Karate Fighting Techniques Elite Ju-Jitsu Instrutction Then it has about half a dozen sub topics listed for each of the above mentioned areas. I am interested in about half of what two of them will be about, so could be way kewl. I am trying to get more info on how the training tracks will actually be scheduled to determine if it would be worth while, but also still haven't seen the price, I have a feeling it is going to be too expensive, but doesn't hurt to ask.

I emailed them for more info(specific training tracks and cost). If the cost is reasonable(I expect it will be too expensive, but who knows) and the training tracks look good, the I will probably give it a try. There is a more local camp put on by a local school, that one should be good to go.

The info says it is the Don Madden (Phd, 10th Dan) 24th Annual AKJU Team America Training Camp. So, I would say no, not it is not the football guy. But, I thought the same thing at first.

I got some info about a Don Madden Martial Arts Camp coming up in WV later this year. Has anyone ever gone to one of these, or similar, camps??? Are they worth the trouble??? Any other info, good or bad about them???

I got some info about a Don Madden Camp coming up in WV later this year. Has anyone ever gone to one of these, or similar, camps??? Are they worth the trouble??? Any other info, good or bad about them??? Thanks

Well, it was almost a toss up between going with a Heavy Gi, or a Judo Gi. A Judo Gi with its quilted, extra heavy, seemed a bit much. Since this class is more Aikido based, I don't see us doing a lot of gi grabbing/throwing kinds of moves so I think the Heavy Karate gi should work fine.