delta1

What kind of Kenpo? There are several, and most are petty effective if taught well. But... I do American Kenpo, and it is an effective style. Taught correctly, you'll get a full arsenal pf strikes, effective moves at all ranges, and a thorough understanding of principles. I don't know a lot about Hapkido, but it has a reputation as a good style and an effective martial art. I'd suggest you visit both schools and try them out. See which is right for you. Get a feel for which trains what you want the way you want to learn it. Which one will you go to when you don't feel like going anywhere? You've picked a couple of good styles. If the schools are both good, then it really comes down to what fits you best. Good luck!

Don't feel alone! We've all experienced that. One reason it works against you in a fight is the percieved threat of harm. You know you are possibly going to get hurt, and you feel like you are moving too slow to stop it, so you watch it happen with some kind of morbid fascination. Just realize that you feel you are moving slow, but you are actually moving like greased lightning! Also, realize that he feels the same way. Another thing that might bother you, and it is oddly enough my worst fear, and that is the fear of failure. Getting hit is not the terror for me, but not at least getting some good hits in myself scares me into a pathetic, immobile stump. I deal with it by telling myself repeatedly that the worst thing I can do is nothing. In a way, I guess I'm lucky because sparing is sort of like reality to me- I have to face the same fear on the mat. You know, I should charge for all this advise. But in order to do that, I first have to use some big words. So, here goes: the term for that feeling you get when everything seems to go in slow motion in an emergency, is TACHI-PSYCHE. Tachi is to speed up, and psyche of course deals with your thought process. But if you think you are moving slow, why don't we call it bradipsyche (slow thought)? Well, that is because your mind speeds up to the point that fast seems slow to you. This is a good thing in a fight because you are able to percieve things in time to counter his threats. OK, you all can make your checks payable to .

Oh yeah!!! We'd have to start a whole nuther forum just to talk about 'em! But I don't believe you're an angel... Now that's mean- one bad az mudder! Yup. Take a building- anything with rooms and objects inside large enough to hide behind- and turn down the lights. Stock it well with well padded assailants. Pad yourself up good, then go look inside. Ground is an option, weapons are likely, safety first, but everything after that is a little iffy! (Just kidding ) If the occupants are hittin' like they should, you'll be just a little bit on the skittish side. And if they are really good, and someone hides better than you search, and he yells really loud just as he lands on you, I promise you'll get a chance to work on tameing the adrenal monster! You'll also have to clean your ghi, but that's a small price to pay for such valueable training, wouldn't you say? You do realize that rideing a Japanese bike is like..., oh wait, this is a clean forum- dang, just use your immagination. The punch line is "It feels good untill somebody sees you!" Lucky you! OK, smart alleck! I'm duely one upped! Now you'll probably have a big head and be insufferable for a while! Any how, I do agree with you about not getting into real fights when you don't have to. But sometimes this 'just run away' stuff gets a little out of hand. There are times. And if some real jerk is willing to help out with your reality training, and you are willing to take the risks,... . And since the subject came up, one of the risks you take is with the law. Right or wrong, you probably will go to jail, and you will have to explain why you did everything you did before, dureing and after the fight. A good trick is to preface all those good reasons you have for stomping him with the phrase "Your Honor, I did it because...".

No problem! A little disagreement from time to time keeps the forum interesting. Note that I did not advocate just going out and getting into street fights to learn to deal with the adrenalin rush. However, there ARE times when a martial artist either can not or should not back down. Ex: when you are reasonably sure the problem will only escalate with time, or your backing down will encourage the opponent to escalate the threat. Another ex: my son, a martial artist, steped in to stop another kid from physically harrassing a disabled boy. First time a warning, second time he planted the butt-head. I normally don't tolerate my kids starting fights at school, but that time I told him I'd back him all the way. Fortunately it wasn't necessary; I talked with the Principal and he agreed. It won't allways make you mad, but it will distract, disorient, and definately make you nervouse. Just like sparing in class will never exactly duplicate a street fight, niether will this. We do the best we can to simulate. But to directly deal with your point, if the other class mates can't make you at least a little angry, send them over and I'll introduce them to some of these ****heads here! But come on, most of the Montanans I've hung around with specialize in p.o.'ing just about anyone they meet, then getting them too drunk to remember they are mad! And if you don't think the House of Horrors will make you nervouse and a little scared, this is the perfect time of year to try it out. Give it a try! The 'hit on your girlfriend' comment was a (facetios, faciouse, facishous)... funny way of saying just about anything goes. Learn to control that anger, Grasshopper. Maybe not like on the street, but you'll get it. Again, we do the best we can. You do make some good points, but short of going to biker bars and making disparaging remarks about Harly's (which neither of us advocates), what do you suggest? Getting jumped by someone bigger and meaner than me, even in class when I expect it, scares me and makes me nervouse. Same thing on the street scares me more. Most schools do spontaneity drills to deal with sudden attacks, and the 'Cato Drill' is just another type of spontaniety drill. Same with the H of H. Also, many times you WILL know an assault is comeing. Did you know that if you can describe your opponents attitude and actions such that you portray an immenent assault, you probably are (in most places) legally within your rights to launch a pre-emptive strike? (warning- I am armed with a self help law book for martial artists, and if pushed I'm not afraid to use it! I am, however, too lazy to run out and get it right now. References on demand ok? ) So these drills are not all that far from reality.

No, no, no!!! The best way to learn to control the adrenalin rush is to get into situations where you have to do it; and the only way to really learn to fight is to fight! I know, he means the kind where you intend to hurt someone. And I agree, avoid these if you can. But sometimes this becomes a stock answer and is taken way too far. If you have to fight, do it, and do it right. You don't have to kill him just because he peed in your beer, but a good spankin' would be in order. Does your school spar with hard contact? This is one good way to learn to control the rush with minimal risk of someone getting hurt. A good way to do this is to have your opponent and other students try to make you mad. Use abusive language, gang up on you just before the 'fight' and harrass you, throw things at you dureing the fight, put the make on your girlfriend- whatever they can do to get you steamed. Cato drills. Ever watch The Pink Panther? Have your instructor designate someone to assault you when you are not expecting it. Then spar for a minute when he does. Can happen any time dureing class when he thinks he can surprise you. A good variation is the House of Horrors, where you go through any structure and designated attackers are there waiting to jump you. This is really good in low light conditions, but make sure everyone is well padded! You can drill yourself to deal with adrenalin every day. Think about it, know it is a physiological fact you are going to have to deal with, and visualize yourself channeling and focusing that responce. Understand that it actually helps you to direct amazing ammounts of energy to your defence. Also, understand that although you feel like you are moving slowly, you are actually moving faster than you ever could without it. Meditate on this, internalize the knowlege. Consciously practice relaxing and focusing when you are startled by anything, but don't allow yourself to get tunnel vision. Practice awareness. One of the things you'll have to overcome with adrenalin is tunnel vision, so be aware and practice dealing with it from the start. Seriously, meditation ,contemplation, and visualization are excellent tools. They help you relax, even with the rush, and that is key. And if your school doesn't, or won't, do some of this, I'd seriousely consider starting an independant study group to suppliment your training. Recruit people from other styles also, get as many perspectives as you can. Hope this helps some.

Sorry..., here's an ammended list: regular places Library at the grade school up the road, after hours, of course. School room, school gymn, school cafeteria. Horse barns, cow barns, hay barns, barns- and their related pens, stalls, lofts, manure piles, etc. Living rooms, kitchens, patios, yards, garages and shops. One office under construction. regular adjuncts/addl training areas school grounds Community center, police impound shed, airport hangars, field off the flight line, warehouses, empty houses (Base Housing Authority), streets and alleys. Outdoors in wooded areas, open fields, flat to hills, sand to rocks, water. The rest were obviously not regular training/school classes.

Library at the grade school up the road, after hours, of course. Then there was one 1 1/2 hr workout in the martial arts section of a large bookstore, during store hours. School room, school gymn, school cafeteria, school hallway, school grounds (several schools). Horse barns, cow barns, hay barns, barns- and their related pens, stalls, lofts, manure piles, etc. Living rooms, kitchens, patios, yards. Garages and shops. One office under construction, another needing repairs (when we got thriugh). Parks, football field, parades and demonstrations at community events. Community center, police impound shed, airport hangars, field off the flight line, warehouses, empty houses, streets and alleys. Outdoors in wooded areas, open fields, flat to hills, sand to rocks, water. Day, night, artificial light in varying intensities, including flashing. (I know, not a place, but it can vastly change the character of any place.) Variety, and fun. That's one reason I study a reality based art.

Could also be the way the pad holder holds the pads. But I've generally found the same problems as you in doing uppercuts to the chin. The only way I've found to cure the problem is to get the target right and a lot of practice, concentrating on form and structure. I really prefer heal palm strikes to the chin, and keep my uppercuts to the abdomen where I have better structure and back up mass. (I know, some of you don't think an uppercut goes anywhere but the chin. Same punch, but without the rise- call it what you want.) The heel palm to the chin uses the same basic form as the uppercut punch, but torques into the target. Since the wrist effectively takes the force of the blow, it eliminates the problem of weak structural allignment there. You can also more easily flow into another strike without any rechamber. Not saying the uppercut isn't good, or shouldn't be practiced. Just an alternative, or another option.

As crazy as it sounds, that is the truth. I started out in a 'class' that charged nothing. In three years, we went through dozens of prospective students. I was the only one that lasted more than a couple of months. I've seen this in other disciplines also. For example, I've seen people pay large ammounts of money for first aid training that was dangerously inept when they could have had much better training from any of a half dozen excellent certified volunteers. I guess the perception is that you get what you pay for. But people don't consider that some do what they do for the love of doing it. Also, many volunteers believe so much in what they are doing that they set a higher standard than the guy trying to keep ahead of his overhead. I have nothing against paying for classes. The good workman is worth his hire. But don't overlook the little guy in his garage, whether paid or not. There are some good, dedicated martial artists out there either training or supplimenting their training in shops, barns, yards and fields. END RANT

Wrestling is good cross training for, and an excellent base for, the grappling martial arts. And while not everyone has access to other martial arts, most schools from junior high to universities have a wrestling program. Makes an excellent way to start or to train.

Be glad to! The clock system works to describe it. Sounds like you are simply pivoting off the line of attack and positioning yourself to counter, which is what most of our techniques do also. It works. Thanks for the clarification.

Shorinryu Sensei, sounds intriguing. Is body shifting anything like emptying part of your body, or yielding, while filling or loading another? Or is it more like riding the force of an attack to enhance your counter? I hope you are familiar with these terms- if not, I apologise. But, as you said, they are a little difficult to really understand without experiencing them.

I'm back, and have more time to answer the post. I doubt this would work on a person, especially if you are inexperienced. First off, feinting requires very good timeing, which comes with exprience. Next, it seems likely that in jumping back again you would more than likely jump into the path of the charge you just dodged. Also, this approach would only be good for a charge that originated from relatively far away. Most attacks occur at closer ranges. And leaving a leg out exposes it to both intentional and unintentional dammage. Most of all, though, even if you succede, all you've done is to avoid his attack. You havn't controled him, caused pain or dammage, or even gained position on him. Personally, I prefer the "Look Scared, Dive into a Barrel" technique. More natural, very effective, and requires less practice. And the smell comeing out of the barrel is a good deterrent!

I think everyone here knows and uses that strategy!

Back atcha!

I just have to be the first to say it- 'That's a lot off bull!'

Most defenses against a charge or tackle involve moving to the side, out of the path of his energy. And timeing is important. Depending on how he attacks, your relative positioning, preferences, the phase of the moon (), etc., you can handle the attack any number of ways. Trap and break an arm, pass him and strike as he goes by, trip him, guide him into something solid. It might be entertaining to help him into someone else who is bigger, uglier and meaner than he is, then watch the fun ! If you can't step aside for some reason you can still handle the attack head on. If he's high, employ some kind of stop hit, then attack his center. If low, a wrestling cross face and sprawl may work. If you can step back and draw him into position, you may be able to use his momentum to enhance a strike without having him fall or plow into you. Again, depends on the variables. Your style should have some defences against this kind of attack. If not, look into American Kenpo or some other style that does. Maybe work out with a Kenpoist so you can get some ideas, and get a grasp on the principles involved. I'd bet your style has some similar moves you could work into your own techniques.

Sign me up! Seriously, that post pretty much says why I live in a small Western US town. We seem to get the right things done without any governing bodies or thought of compensation, and at the same time don't begrudge anyone his due compensation for ongoing training. I guess us hicks just aren't sophisticated enough. On the other hand, if a school association works for others, who am I to judge? It's a new concept to me, though, and one I doubt I'd be comfortable with. But then I have an extreme distrust of politics in any form, so my opinion is biased to begin with. Just out of curiosity, how does this work for some of you that have this kind of system?

Well, you learn something new every day! I don't do this as a part of a school program, but I enjoy working out with other styles. Here's some ideas based on my experiences: Sponsor some of your students who are interested to go to seminars given by other styles, then come back and pass on what they learned. Don't expect a lot from them first time out, but if they stick with it you'll get a lot out of it. If they can make friends in that style and start working out on the side with them you can eventually get a lot of good information to compare with what you are learning. Look for similarities and differences in the styles, and ask how your style would deal with their approach. Many schools have walk in policies that are pretty reasonable. Encourage some of your students to take advantage of this. Invite them to your school as well. If done in a respectfull manner, not as a competition or attempt to steal business, you will be accepted. Spar with other stylists. Either sponsor open sparing sessions, or go to their school and spar if they allow it. Most schools I'm familiar with love to have someone from aother style come in and spar, for the same reasons you should do it. It gives you experience outside your comfort zone, and prevents you getting stale. It shows up areas you need to work on, as well as things that are working for you. The biggest thing is to get out and meet the other martial artists in your area. Open up channels of communications and see what developes. You already share a common interest with them- you just have a different approach. Compare notes and see what happens.

Those who disagree would be wrong. Shifting your weight to one leg enhances mobility as well as stability. With your weight transfered to one leg you can change your direction in mid step if necessary. If you step straight forward you are more commited to that step. You could still change, but not as efficiently or effectively, and ballance would possibly be compromised. The shift of weight you talk about is an important component of power. That shift, along with a slight drop into the new stance as your structure comes into allignment and your body solidifies behind the strike at the moment it contacts the opponent, gives us power. There are other bennififts to the crescent step. It can at any time be turned into a kick, stomp, used as a sweep (as pointed out before), trap, leg or knee check, ... . It also closes off the groin as you step. This is a good example of why we should think about what we are doing, not just learn a bunch of moves. And think what, with small modifications, each move could accomplish. One TKD instructor I work out with regularly told me that forms are like onions, and were meant to be consumed (learned) in layers. He is a senior black belt in their school, but he still goes back and dissects their first form (I think it's Chon Gi, spelling?) to learn more about its applications.

Both are good styles. I agree that you should check out the schools- pay particular attention to the instructors. See how you fit in with the class. If you are looking to learn an art for self defense, you should watch them spar. Find out if they at least sometimes spar with contact. Everyting changes when you start hitting more than air, and the only way to learn to fight is to fight (but with some rules for safety- no one really needs to learn how to get injured). Check what equipment is available to use, and its condition. One good thing to find out is if they either formally or informally get together outside class and work out. Some of the better schools I've come across, with the most seriouse and motivated students, do this regularly. All else being equal, go with your gut. Good luck!

Continuous sparing- had several styles there, and it was great! Ground was an option. Course, not all workouts/classes are that much fun.

That is certainly one option, and it is a good one. But you may need to break his throwing arm in some circumstances.

Not sure about your point here. There's some truth in what you say, but if someone is throwing bricks at you it's time to do something besides just talk.

I know I'm worth more than that!