delta1

Depends on the situation, and how you read your opponent. If you can articulate to a jury why you were reasonably sure you were about to be attacked, you might be better off to launch a preemptive strike with no warning. If he is clearly attacking you, I'd say shout "NO!" instead of 'kia' as you counter attack. Sometimes, stating that you are a trained martial artist can be found to be antagonizing, or even threatening. Remember too, witness see your actions and words through their own filter, especially when witnessing a dangerouse and emotional, violent confrontation. At the least, you've alerted your opponent that you have skills, so he should be warry when he attacks. It's a judgement call on your part, but I would go in with an awareness of principles rather than a set response. This is why running conflict scenarios can be as important as learning to fight. The fight starts when one or more people decide to confront the/each other, and ends when a verdict is handed down in court- both criminal and civil. Everything you do from start to end will determine not only the outcome of the physical encounter, but the outcome of the entire conflict.

I prefer seperate. Like tufrthanu said, it is more versatile. Also, I don't like instep kicks- too easy to injure yourself. So, why pad up and develope bad habbits?

Looking at the eyes can give clues, especially in the phase leading up to a fight where you are trying to avoid or be prepared to react. Focusing on the eyes can cause you to miss other clues in pre-fight phase, and get you beat in a fight. You can be suckered, decieved, and miss key body movements.

Well, TDA, B16 & WW said most of what I wanted to say to this. I'll just add that this kind of thinking is one of the problems with strictly no contact sparing. You tend to dance around at a distance, trying to 'read' an opponent who is only trying to fan you a litttle. When you spar with intent to hit, the first thing you'll notice is that distances close. Then, you'll tend to focus more on what he's doing than trying to time him or decipher patterns. Also, no-contact vs. contact sparing is like stick fighting with padded sticks vs. live stick. You suddenly get a little more respect for your opponent, take less chances, and try to end it a little quicker. Stand around trying to read him, the story will be printed on your hide.

But, you are right,and several other posters are wrong. Good info. Thanks!

This is a good example of why I don't usually bother to discuss qi. Stop posting and start training, experience it instead of expounding on it. The only way you are going to know it is to feel it, and the only way you are going to feel it is to train it with an open mind. If all you do is watch demonstrations, you'll never know, and anything you say on the subject is pure speculation. Goes for everyone, not just the author of this example. It's after 1:00 AM. I must really be tired to come here and post. Should know better.

SCARS, American Combato, WWII Combatives, ... SCARS, American Combato, WWII Combatives, ... These are all quickly learned, effective combat oriented systems. All, from what I've seen, are more effective than Krav- especially against weapons. And that doesn't even get to the more in deapth systems. Sorry, I don't buy their advertiseing hype. I have seen and worked with the SCARS long gun training, and it is both exhaustive and effective. Not that impressed with their empty hands fighting methods, but still better than KM. On the other hand, whatever interests you is best for you. I'd just say that such absolute statements are 'arguable', in every sense of the word.

No, just your own style- the way you understand and use your art. There is a difference.

There are a lot of ways to meditate. One is to try to clear your mind. Another is to contemplate one problem, or the meaning of a saying, while relaxing and clearing your mind of all other thoughts. You can focus on your body- either a particular part (like the tantien), or a particular function (breathing, internal energy) or a feeling. You can also focus on things like healing sounds and/or postures. Then you can focus on an external object. One excellent external focus exercise is to put a small white dot in the middle of a mirror, then focus on that dot until it is all you can see. Whatever method(s) you use, it will take time to develope your mind, and it is easy to get discouraged if you don't see results quickly. Hang with it, and you'll get better at it. A good place to start gathering information is to research qigung (chi kung). There are a lot of books, videos, web sites, etc. But, like most things, it is best learned from a competent teacher.

Same for us guys- maybe even moreso as we have more, shall we say, 'points of irritation' in that region. Also, since ours cups much more than yours, the contact/pressure points are not spread over a large area, but are sharply defined. True for everyone. There are only two horizontal targets on the front of an upright human body- the groin and the chin. To be effective, you have to use a vretical, riseing kick to a horizontal target. For vertical targets, the kick must thrust horizontally into the target. The exception for the male vs. female anatomy is a scoop kick, which would do more dammage to a male. As for how it feels to both sexes, I have been told by a doctor that it is pretty much the same for bot sexes. Men are obviously a little more exposed and susceptable to dammage. But they know that when it occurs, trauma to the genitals feels about the same because both male and female genetalia are innervated by the same nerve trunks. (So guys, if you want to know how it feels to have a baby, you can get a rough idea by immagining your organs being slowly squeezed and torn while some idiot looks calmnly into your face and says "Breath!" ) What I can't answer is why they have more than one. Sort of like Iron Crotch Gung-fu. Who wants to do that?

Double post. I'll delete the second and say that I'm not a diver. I just admire the search for excellance in any undertaking and so enjoy the book.

These are the two that I expect to be objectionable to some: Of course, others have gone before us in both the martial arts and diving. And we first learn from our predecessors. But if you only go where they went, try to do what they have already done as they did it, then you will never reach your full potential. For that matter, you'll never reach their level either, and their art will deteriorate rather than grow. You do neither yourself or the masters any favors in this. Now, I'll never reach the level of understanding or application of Ed Parker, Remy Presas, or even some here on this board. But I can expand my own knowlege base, do the best I can, and even go places where they did not. In this small way I can add something to the arts as a whole. I can expand my own potential, as well as honor both my art(s) and those who went before me. That, I think, is what he is saying.

In the book 'Shadow Divers', by Robert Kurson, in chapter four he lists some of the truths that guide John Chatterton. Mr. Chatterton is a deep wreck diver, but it struck me how these truths were applicable to the martial arts. Here they are,as written in the book: -If an undertaking was easy, someone else already would have done it. -If you follow in anothers footsteps, you miss the problems really worth solving. -Excellance is born of preparation, dedication, focus, and tenacity: compromise on any of these and you become average. -Every so often, life presents a great moment of decission, an intersection at which a man must decide to stop or go; a person lives with these decissions forever. -Examine everything; not all is as it seems or as people tell you. -It is easiest to live with a decission if it is based on an earnest sense of right and wrong. -The guy who gets killed is often the guy who got nervouse. The guy who doesn't care any more, who has said "I'm already dead- the fact that I live or die is irrelevant and the only thing that matters is the accounting I give of myself," is the most formidable force in the world. -The worst posible decission is to give up. OK, I can hear some of you howling in protest at a couple of these. But take a moment, step outside the box and think about their applications to your art, and I think you'll see that they apply no matter what system you study, or your reasons for studying it. Discussion?

Thanks for the comments, guys. It's good to know I'm not way off base in my observations.

I've seen this done before, and it is a good idea, I think. Students start out in a begginers class, or a probationary period. They don't have to buy a uniform, so they can go a couple of months and see if they want to stay with it before investing too much. Also, the instructorgets to see if they want to keep the person as a student, and when they join the regular class they at least have an idea about some of the basics and don't feel so out of place. They are promoted into the regular class and given their white belt, so they have more of a feeling of accomplishment and belonging.

You didn't think you'd get an argument about that?... From this bunch? Pretty much agree. Add to that it is ballanced, well rounded, and practical. I also like the teaching/training method, useing techniques, and its focus on understanding principles and concepts. AK flows, but can utilize static moves as well. I agree. Mr. Parker was (I've heard) working on this when he died. There are ground applications in many of the techniques, but the principles must be modified somewhat to use them. I'd like to get a solid understanding of Pancration and Sambo, and maybe BJJ, then come back to Kenpo and see how a grappling carriculum could be developed and incorporated into the system.

What most of you are saying, in a nutshell, is that the principles learned in training traditional weapons can be transfered to improvised and/or modern weapons. I agree with that. Further, the principles used in weapons and empty hands are interchangeable. Weapons generally add extension and points of articulation, but those only enhance effectiveness, they don't change principles.

Forgive him, guys. I'm sure he didn't know what he was saying! AKTS & IKCA.

Shoes were traditionally not worn because they destroyed tatami mats. Not many schools still use them, so not allowing shoes is often a case of being bound by tradition for traditions sake, with no understanding why you do what you do. Wear a good pair of martial arts shoes in class, and practice outside with street shoes. Practice barefoot in the shower.

You really should change once in a while!

Both. Yes. In fact, you can backfist both rotating into and out of a twist stance. And if necessary, you can backfist while steping into or out of a twist. You can use the twist to buckle his knee while you backfist, giving a simultaneouse high-low attack. Pretty versatile.

Shorin Ryuu, that was a pretty good post! You were, in fact, getting pretty close to CMA tantien focus and movement. The big difference is karate's emphasis on moving and developing power from the hips. Movement initiates in the muscles of the lower back, right behind the tantien. This way, upper and lower body move and act in unison. True tantien focus causes you to move naturally in the way you were talking abot, using those muscles between the ribs and the pelvic girdle. And Chinese internal systems use that whiping power you talk about. Qi is not useing gravity, it is an internal force. But he may be refering to being rooted. It would be interesting to read what he says in the book. Karate systems are not typically rooted, so I am curiouse as to how he might use this. That was a good dissertation on the 3/4, or diamond punch. I use that punch, though not as a hard and fast rule. Often the punch chosen must fit the target.Also, relative distance, angles and posture have to be taken into account. But I almost never use a fully rotated punch. I do use a vertical punch and a thrusting, palm up punch quite a bit. But the 3/4 is my most common. Good read, you might clean it up a little and submit it as an article.

Fast, powerful, and deceptive. I'd use it. Flashy? Depends on your definition of flashy, I guess. But it is undeniably effective. Good tool to have in your arsenal.

OoooK! First, the misconceptions, in reverse order. A martial artist is not considered a weapon in court. But, regardless whether she swings first or not, her level of experience as opposed to her opponents will be taken into account. Planing to fight and planing for a fight are two different things. If the fight is inevatable, planing for it is a good idea. bluetiger is closest to the truth here, but I wouldn't advise her to appear the aggressor. No matter what the past circumstances, looking the other girl up and attacking her makes your friend guilty of assault. And running away is not the answer. It will only encourage the other girl to get worse. My advice, run some scenario training with your friend. Do scenaros both where the other girl aproaches your friend, and where your friend aproaches the other girl. blue is right, it is better if your friend can pick the time nd place, where she has the initiative and some good witnesses. But that may not be how it happens. Practice things like talking the other girl down, run some conflict resolution skills. But also practice non threatening ready postures, and practice suddenly reacting from those postures. In the actual conrontation, make it appear your friend doesn't want to fight. Have her make statements like 'I don't want this, you don't really want to do this, we don't need to do this...'. She needs to say this whether she wants to or not. But, since there is a history of threats against he, your friend should also warn the other girl to stay back. If she gets close, then your friend would be justified in a preemptive strike. No warning, and make that first strike count! At the same time, your friend needs to stop making statements to people that she wants to fight this girl. She is also building a history, and it will be brought up in court. Another reason to pick the time and circumstances, if possible, and to have friends present- things get heated and it is easy to get carried away. No matter who ends up on top, you want people you trust there to break it up when things go too far. Obviously, if your friend is hurt and the other girl is continually pounding her, it would be good if you are there to pull the other girl off. If it is your friend that gets carried away, you still want to pull her off. Once she has clearly subdued the other girl, or the other backs away, it is over. If your friend continues, she is guilty of assault. If the other girl is incapacitated and she continues, it may be aggrivated assault. It used to be that when two women went at it, you pretty much had a 'cat fight'- a lot of scratching, pulling hair, rolling around and screaming. Not necesarily so any more. Your friend has to consider the girls experience, possibility of weapons, and that the other may have friends waiting in the wings. Still best not to fight, but if she has to she'd best be prepared and ready for the consequences, both physical and legal. One last thing- your friend should report this harrassment to some authority, school or police. Not because it will do any good as far as preventing a fight. It won't, and may even make it more probable. But when it occurs, she wants the authority to start the investigation with the mindset that your friend was trying to avoid it and the other girl has been the aggressor.

You do TKD, I see- a very hard style. I'm not sure about Nat'l Karate, but it sounds like another hard system. My guess is that you are steping into your stance, then punching. Try punching as you step, and do it so that the punch lands at exactly the same time as your stance solidifies. To make this work, you will have to loosen up as you move, and learn to tighten eveything up at the same time as you nail the stance and the punch, then loosen immediately and move again. My opinion (and not allways a popular one) is that the stance change and strike were broken into seperate moves for training basics. But I think they were meant to be combined as I described in application. It will increase both your speed and power dramatically. Try it, I bet you'll like it.