delta1

Nah, you should post your own intro. Tell us a little about yourself. And, most importantly, it allows us to answer you and get our post count up! Gotta earn that next belt, ya know (although I'm thinking about staying at red- neat color, and it matches my eyes ).

So, basically, he'd reach down with both hands, hold the bottom leg in place, and pull the top leg into the bottom, causing enough pain to make you release the choke? He'd probably have to turn the top foot as well so that you are bone on bone instead of having the achiles tendon cushion, correct?

I agree about not 'blocking' a hard roundhouse with the arm. I've said here many times, your primary defense is to move, and the 'block' is generally done to positon or trap him rather than stop the kick. I disagree about keeping a mid check in place- it facilitates 'recieving' (as opposed to 'blocking') some kicks, gives better angle and structure to some strikes, and defends against more than just kicks. It works well against the both hands up guard, using a high attack to momentarily keep his hands up and an extremely quick and powerful low attack from point of origin with that foolish low hand.

No, you're not the only one. Another reason to wear gloves, tey keep the wraps in place. Exactly. They work with the gloves to protect your hand. My heavy bag is set up to move, which works targeting and technique more realistically. But every once in a while I land the punch incorrectly, and that protection is extremely important sometimes. Definately. Any time you shock load your arm you strengthen and toughen it. But you can also injure it, which is why protection is important when you are really getting down with it.

Most of you know by now that I like to work with most any other style out there. Not long ago I had the opportunity to work some with grapplers (which, on a side note, is why I'm back in physical therapy- aggrivated an old neck and shoulder injury). Any how, I have to say that the more I look at grappling, particularly BJJ, the more impressed I am. Tough systems! And the BJJ use of principles and concepts almost makes it like a form of Horizontal Kenpo! I'm probably not going to be able to do much with ground work and takedowns. But I am trying to do more work right now from the clinch. AK has several defenses that were made for and are easily modified to work from this phase (sorry, I look at it as more a phase than a range). If you guys don't mind giving away secrets, I may have a few questions from time to time. One that I got away without asking: when you are rear mounted underneath (sitting, your legs around his waist and applying a choke from behind- I think I got the terminology right), I was told not to cross my ankles. It seems like that would be more secure, but they said it is a bad idea. I forgot to ask why later. So, why? I know that isn't a clinch question, but it is bugging me that I can't figure it out.

Dang! Sandbagged by a @#^*!

I can't immagine a martial arts program that is that expensive. $1500/yr is two to three times what you should be paying. And contracts, especially the expensive and long term kind, are one sign of a possible cheat/thief/clown running a McDojo. They sucker you in, then when you are just getting to enjoy it, but before you have the experience to tell you are not being taught anything worth while, they spring this on you. Did they tell you their style is too deadly to use in sparing or competition? Show you pictures of someone leaping off tall buildings- but with the camera angled up so you can't really see how high he is? Show their grand poo-butt atop a pyrimid of fallen and subdued foes? DO they require you to purchase their gear, or can you order from other sources? If any of this is the case, run away, fast. There are those types of schools, but there are some really good ones out there that charge a whole lot less, don't require you to sign your life away, and you'll probably find they teach a better style and method than that bunch. If you like traditional martial arts, and want to take them for self developement, why should you have to ruin yourself financially to do it? And there are other types of martial arts that offer other bennifits- sports and competition, or reality and self defense. Who is this guy to tell you what you want out of the martial arts? I'd suggest that you look in the Getting Started section here, get some ideas about how to go about looking for a school, and leave the one you are with as soon as you can. Sorry if I seem a little harsh, but these kinds of operations give the martial arts a bad rep, and they really frost my butt!

Hey, hey, Hazard! Welcome to the forum! They'll move this to the Introductions as soon as a moderator gets on. You'll get a lot more responses there, it's a pretty friendly bunch here. Edit: what did I tell ya? Sai beat me to it, even as i was typeing.

Don't mention it. It's just that what you describe reminds me of the Roman Arena. There actually is an active group (sorry, no links- I just remember comeing across them somewhere) that does Gladiatoral combat.

... and for real sport, turn a few lions loose in the mix,... maybe kill a few Christians as a warm up act...

I've run across this problem when training Emergency Medical Services personnel. You deal with a lot of potentially very embarrassing contact and situations there. And, often it is the men who are uncomfortable with the contact in both training and in the field. My advice to everyone was allways proffessionalism and respect are the keys to handling this. If you are hesitant and embarrassed, so will the students or patients be embarrassed. If you are obviously lewd or intrusive without cause, they will obviously be uncomfortable. And when it comes down to it, there are some people that will never get used to this kind of intimate contact, and there isn't much you can do about. Everyone isn't cut out for EMS, or for martial arts. But you can't cheat everyone else for the sake of keeping a few students, who probably will not stay with it any how.

Welcome, gimgamgommetje! We hope to learn from you too! And, be sure to reply to the thread about where your name comes from, ok?

Hello Spin, and welcome!

Easy- if they just come running up to you, step to the side and nail him. Fast, uncontroled strikes can seem difficult to deal with if they catch you unawares. But they have no power, targeting or focus, so they aren't as bad as they seem. In light or no contact, you may think the furiouse fighter is scoring a lot of points. This will usually prove false as contact increases. Not saying he isn't dangerouse, just that they are more easily handled than they seem at first. Get inside, open him up and teach him what fast but controlled is. Or, as I said before, get outside and go to work. Elbow strikes are good to use with this type of attack as they can clear and double as blocks and strikes. With an uncoordinated attack, it is generally easy to take his space, his ballance, and his will, turning the tables on him so fast he's had before he knows he's in trouble.

Interesting article and replies. I've heard this punch referred to as a natural, 3/4, angled, or diamond punch. It is preferable for jabs as it is much quicker due to its not setting up the stresses referred to in the article. Hold your own arm out and rotate your fist, stoping in the variouse positions, and you can feel this for yourself. And, dare I say it,... the natural punch does not block qi flow. That it is less likely to harm you is a definate bonus, but there are a lot of things that determine the position of the punch: target- for a hard target you definately want the first two knuckles in the lead. Hitting the jaw, vertical fist. What you are trying to do- driving down just above the pelvic girdle to unballance him, horizontal fist. position of origin- From an outward block, the fist will only twist naturally into a vertical fist. fit- an inverted fist or a hammer fist fits best in the eye socket. distance to target- if the target is moving away so you need just a little more distance than you thought, and you have a clear shot with no chance of retaliation, the fist may even completey invert to a reverse vertical position. Also, consider that changing body allignment slightly alters the fists naturally alligned position. For example, hold your right fist out in the natural, relaxed position. Now, turn your right foot in at 45', rotating on the ball of your foot. Freeze! Now, notice what happened to your allignment as your body and shoulder naturally rotated, and the relaxed fist went horizontal.

The one that trained hardest and smartest? Probably me.

Join a gang! Most styles and schools I've seen drills multiple opponents. In AK, that is what you are working toward is a phase of motion that effectively deals with multiple opponents and weapons. Useing a coordinated strategy when you are working with allies against one or more opponents is another matter. I suppose, when you are on the "multiple team" drilling someone in defending, you learn something. But I've not really seen it done much as the primary reason for the multiples drill. Police, military, or other organizations that work as a unit do this. But, unless you run with the same group all the time, I don't know how much good it would do you. Odds are, when you need to use it, you'll be the only one trained in the group.

No. Why do you ask? And, you are right. This will probably be moved to the politics board. Prejudices and ill feelings of any kind have no place in martial arts. You have to trust your partner implicitly to allow the degree of control with many of the moves we practice. And useing a racial slur just before sparing is really not the smartest thing to do. I've been taught some good things by some very tallented black, oriental, and martial artists of other races. Also, I have a lot more respect for anyone after a hard sesion on the mats. So I'd say, if anything, there is less raceism in, and because of, the martial arts.

Actually, so am I! Five Swords, i/s defense against a right roundhouse punch Right foot steps forward into a right neutrall bow, right knee checks his right knee, with a right double right inward and left outward block. Right outward handsword to his right mastoid, left hand checks his right arm. Pivot into a right forward bow with a left horizontal finger thrust to his eyes, right hand circles to waist. Pivot into a right neutral bow with a right uppercut to his stomache, left hand checks near his left bicep. Slide your left foot to 4:30 into a right forward bow with a left outward handsword to his left mastoid. Pivot into a right neutral bow as your left hand cranes the back of his neck, forcing his head down. Left hand checks low as you deliver a right inward handsword to the back of his neck. Right front crossover, cover out to 4:30. This is an orange belt technique in most AK carriculums. Teaches a lot of things. Think of the opponents reactions to the strikes- you are leading him into the next strike,setting him up. Timeing is important, but variable. You can play with timeing to change the effects somewhat. But, if you rush it, he doesn't have time to react, while you don't want to give him time to recover before the next strike either. Change ups and what ifs- this one can be re-arranged, or altered to deal with variables in his attack or response; like if he throws a left after the initial right- that first handsword to the mastoid is changed to a block as you pivot into the finger technique to the eyes. The double block can go to the forearm, or strike the radial nerve in two places, or the right could jam his shoulder while the left blocks, or that right could strike the mastoid with the block instead of the block then strike. But then, with each variation, you have to consider and deal with the different deapth of penetration and the relative angles you create. There are a lot of principles and concepts taught and worked here, but if you really want to learn it, you'll have to sign up. By the way, variations of this will work against some @#^* attacks also! Nothing says you can only use this against a street fighters roundhouse! It teaches you to move, not to pull up an appropriate response from your list. And, have you figured out why it is called "Five Swords" yet? (Hint: do the double block as a double knife hand block, and count the handswords). Edit: I should say that there used to be a variant of Five Swords called "Seven Swords", which I never learned. So you weren't incorrect, just as ignorant as I am. Also, Five Swords was originally called "Five Count" and taught for three different attacks. I didn't learn it that way either, but I remember seeing the write ups on the older method. Might be worth asking around to see if I can get these and play around with them.

Thanks. That's another thing I like about American Kenpo- we speak English.

Rabbit hunters?

Actually, even if you have to drive 135 mi., that isn't too bad if you can split the cost. I've done that. You said there are others in your area that want to learn. You might be able to arrange 'semi private' instruction and get a better rate than private. You'd also have others there to work out with, which is a must to really learn an art. Good luck, and I hope the closer school works out for you.

SevenStar, good to hear from you! And thanks for the @#^*'s viewpoint! Personally, I like to keep the 'real fight' in the free movement phase, adjusting range as necessary to accomplish that. I don't like getting too close to you guys until I can get to your side and check your base, and even then I won't stay long unless things are really going my way. As for getting your hands behind my head, there are ways to deal with that, but I'd rather not have to. And, leave my lapels alone! I'm getting tired of re-stitching ties when I forget who I'm fighting! It can be easy to loose track of which end is up. How about a description of some of those terms?

Maestro, true that if you destroy his knee you win. I stand debunked! My only defense is that I was thinking in general terms. Also, a good shin kick from in close is far more likely to connect and to do the ammount of dammage you need to make your escape possible. As for moving, I don't think it is necessarily more advantageous to move back than forward. My thinking is you need both these directions and more. You need to move to avoid, create distance, and gain position. But you also need to move to close distance. Even as a longer range fighter, you might face a better long range fighter and decide you have a better chance in close.

Oh goody! Now I can debunk! Concenntrating too much on range is just a game of tag. You don't want to get caught up in this, unless you arejust trying to score points. Range is too unstable to hinge your entire strategy on. Important to understand and use, but not as important as position. A fighter who gets to your back or side has a significant advantage regardless of range, and that includes the ability to adjust and maintian range. Also, it is important to become proficient moving in any direction. Footwork is primarily what will save you against a better in close fighter, like the aforementioned BJJ @#^*'s (I call them that with toungue in cheek, and with all due respect- but anyone that wants to slam me to the floor and twist my bod is a @#^* ). Excellent point about your not having to be the one to adjust the distance. That also applies to position. For example, if your 'block' (recieve, don't block) primarily forces a kick to plant where you want him, you've used his move to adjust position. It's all relative.