delta1

American Kenpo is a ballanced art, with circular and linear, hard and soft. And it works angles. We know how to go toe to toe, but prefer to move to a position of advantage. 0' is just another angle to us. I think you'l enjoy it. But give it time. At first, it will seem static and robotic. But sooner than you thing, even the most unlikely techniques will start to flow.

Techniques teach principles, which improves your technique.

Feels different most times. Sometimes, the lights just go out and you don't remember the hit. Sometimes, you feel it, but it doesn't really hurt 'till a few seconds after you come to. Sometimes, you get a vague feeling of starting to go down, then you wake up in a heap. Others, you sort of know you're going down, but aren't really aware what it means, or what's really going on- it's sort of hard to explain. Try it- it's fun!

Apportioning guilt and liability only applies in civil cases, where someone is seeking compensation for dammages. If you kill him, you will in all probability be charged with a crime (murder, manslaughter, ...). Then, there is no apportionment. You will be found innocent or guilty, and either walk free or be sentenced. Not necessarily. If you can show mitigating circumstances, you may be justified in useing more force. Also, equal force is a judgement call, very subjective to an extent. Yes, and no. Technically, the law applies the same to her as to a man. But, since you are dealing with perceptions as much as facts, there's a good chance that the she would not be held to same standards. Depends on the circumstances, and how good his lawyer is. No. In some circumstances, you would be within the law in attacking him first. Also, he doesn't have to corner you or even touch you in order for you to legally respond with force. Laws today are written intentionally complex and confusing. They also varry from one jurisdiction to the next. But, like martial arts, they are based on principles of law. Your best bet, and really a necessary part of martial training, is to study the law and how it applies to you. You don't have to become a lawyer, just get a basic familiarization with it.

Well, that's sure to offend somebody! But, since you asked... American Kenpoists hunt them with our bare hands, though I have to admit that we don't usually take on grizzlies until black belt! And very few of us hunt polar bear because we don't have white ghi's.

Yes. Two posts ago! Any school that issues something like that is a fraud. There's no such animal.

Might, if your opponent is extremely stupid and slow. He only has to rotate his wrist in order for your foot to contact the blade. Your foot has to travel how far?

'Punching air' is bennificial in some ways. You can work on technique and ingrain memory. You can concentrate on different aspects of your technique. But like everything else, you need to ballance your training. You need to hit things to understand hitting. You need to hit moving things to understand hiting moving targets. And, every once in a while, you need to hit someone who is trying to hit you to understand fighting. I don't know what your instructor was talking about when he said you are the only ones who hit pads. But, I've worked out with several different systems, and they all hit pads. Most also take great pleasure in hitting each other!

Abstain Good guide for what works when two fighters square off. Too limitted (sporty) in that it doesn't address a lot of the attacks you might face on the street. But this is not to be confused or construed to mean that UFC fighters can't handle themselves in these situations. Many or most have probably studied arts which include these defenses. And I wouldn't attack one of them if you gave me one free swing with a baseball bat!

For an overview of the law, fet "The Law and the Martial Arts" by Carl Brown, who is a Judoka and a trial lawyer. For specific laws in your state, you'll have to research that yourself. But read the book (above) first, so you'll have a better idea what you are looking for, and a better understanding of what you find. A knife in skilled hands is an excellant self defense weapon as far as the technicalities and applications. But, it can be considered an offensive weapon, and carrying it may show intent on your part. You are dealing with perceptions, not truth, when dealing with the courts. Another thing to consider is that the mere presence of a weapon, whether deployed or not, immediately escalates the threat level in any conflict. The second you pull it, you are useing deadly force. If you don't pull it, and he gets the upper hand or gets your weapon, you are facing deadly force- which means that you have to consider any conflict as potentially deadly. When armed, you have to swallow your pride and walk away from even more than you do as just a martial artist, or face jail and civil suits. If you want to carry a knife, I'd suggest a small folder with a good grip and a bullet-proof lock, and one that can be opened quickly with one hand. Make sure you have a good utility reason for carrying it. These are less likely to be recognized and taken in a fight, and are not as easily used by some lier (I mean lawyer) to show intent.

I once made the mistake of trying some sensitivity drills with a few TKDers I was working out with. Didn't go over too well! However, many systems do sensitivity drills similar to chi sao. But the drills are adapted to work with their concepts, not copied from another style. I think this is what the WCers here are trying to get across. If you do not have a solid grounding in principles and concepts, and cannot modify the exercise to work with your system, it will do you verry little good. I've done sensitivity drills similar to chi sao in Taiji, Kenpo, several FMA's, and with other stylists. But they all had their own methods. The drills were designed to work with their systems and the principles, concepts and methods they emphasize.

karatelok, are you talking about opening a school? Most of the instructors I know don't earn their primary living from their school. Your return over investment will depend on several things: Market in your area- are there people who want to learn your martial art? Do they have enough disposable income to pay for instruction? Is there a large enough population base to support the inevitable turnover? Overhead- does your climate require a heated building part of the year? Can you make most of your own training equipment, or must you buy it? Can you teach out of your home, or a park? What about insureance? If you are in a large town, you may have to advertise to get people in. Your skills and abilities- are you proficient enough to instruct? Do you have good teaching skills? People skills? Are you a good business manager? Are you financially in a position to operate the school ata loss while you build it up? I don't think anyone can tell you how long it will take for you to turn a profit. But most will tell you that, initially at least, you are going to have some lean times. And there is no guarantee that you will make it. Are you prepared to deal with this? Most importantly, do you love what you are doing? Do you have a desire to pass your skills on to others? If not, it will show in your instruction, and you will loose students. It will also be easier to get discouraged. There is nothing wrong with being in it for the money. But, if that's all, or even just the primary reason you are in it, then your chances of making it are slim. I'd say also that if you absolutely don't care about the money, you won't make it either. These are the first questions I would answer if you are thinking of investing in starting a school.

Well, for a ramble, that wasn't too bad! I think we pay our instructors back by doing the best we can, and passing the knowlege on to others, as you are doing. Good point about learning from your students. I used to be in charge of all the ambulance crews in a hospital district, trained the crews initially and for CE. I also tought basic first aid to the public. I have never given a class that I didn't learn something from my students! You get out of anything what you put into it.

Different schools have different philosophies and requirements. If the student was told from the start that this was a requirement in this school, then he should either compete or find another school. If this is something that is sprung on him later, he might consider the integrety of the instructor and look elsewhereany way. So, I guess what I'm saying is the student should compete as required, or leave.

Even if you broke it down to the variouse kinds of speed, I doubt anyone hee would know the answer to this question. Even if you get a few opinions, how is this relevant to- or what is it relevant to?