delta1

No. Still an AH!

That summs it up nicely. Stances and footwork are everything. Your power is primarily generated through stance changes. Your ballance is in your stance. Footwork allows you to evade or attack. Footwork and stances combined position you and allign you to enhance accuracy. Without stance and footwork training, why bother to learn to strike? My advice is either learn stances and footwork or take up chess. There's no middle ground. Just my $2,000,000.00 worth!

I face this often when I work out with TKD types. I agree with renketsu, get in close. Train your close range weapons and work them over with them. Learn to bridge. Don't just block or dodge a kick, follow it back to his vitals. Practice trapping skills. Jamming works well on a high kicker. Anything from a full body slam to a heel palm strike to a shoulder will do the trick. One other piece of advice; don't forget to watch their faces the first time you use any of this on them. The expressions are priceless!

That's a hard one to answer. Different schools have different philosophies and teaching methods. Generally, what I've seen is that ranks and ages are mixed for exercises, drills, forms, and most class activities. The juniors and kids bennifit from the older and more experienced students being with them. The senior students get some experience teaching, sort of their introduction to instructor skills. But for techniques and advanced forms the classes are broken up so that the advanced students get some quality instruction. That is the key to recognizing a McD'. If you don't get quality instruction that challenges you and pushes toward the next level, you have no reason to be there.

Sir, you are wise to question the practices of this school. While respect for self and others is an important part of martial arts, the physical and fighting training is also important. As was already pointed out, a false sense of security and poor skills can get someone hurt. Most serious schools will only give a junior ranking to a child your daughters age, and she'd have to earn that ranking based on skills, not time and money spent. The price you are paying is extremely high. Most schools in my state charge between $30.00 and $60.00 per month, and no contracts. Class time is usually 1-3 hrs, 2-3 times a week. And that is for good instruction, not the McDojo's. Contracts, especially the long term ones, are a marketing scam. I could see 3 months, maybe 6 if there was a substantial discount and the prices weren't already jacked up. But what you describe here is unethical. Ask if they can truly teach respect while operating such a scam on their students. As for guaranteed rank, that is like sending your child to a music school that guarantees she'll be able to play with the New York Symphony in 3 yrs. Most adults take 5 yrs or more to reach 1st Black in the serious schools I'm familiar with. In fact, if you get right down to it, most people never get their Blk. To guarantee a child this rank in a short time (but for a large amount of money) is, again, a scam. You've called it right. I'm sure your daughter loves it at Karate America. That is probably the only thing they are good at is keeping the kids happy so they'll badger the parents into signing up. But what mind games are they using, what psychological ploys? And what will the effect of these be on a young, impressionable child? Nothing about this school sounds good to me. I'd leave and find a better school.

Good posts, and I agree with you all. I like to spar light contact most of the time. But heavy contact, with control, is important to do occasionally. You learn to give and take with intent. The only drawback I see is that the protective gear can let you slop your technique if you aren't careful. But that is easily overcome by awareness. Full/unlimmited contact is for the real thing only, for obvious reasons.

Yeah, I was going to be a real smart alleck and say you could be the tail. But then I remembered that dogs eat crap, and that would have been the only end left to represent my position . As I said, your observations were correct. It's a lot like people who quote Bruce Lee's JKD philosophy and say you don't have to learn the whole system, just pick out what you like. But I don't think that's what Bruce Lee said. You aren't qualified to pick out what you like untill you've trained the whole thing. Any way, good discussion. Thanks to you too. Edit: ninjanurse- good topic, even if we did get focused on just one aspect of your post.

We're like a dog chasing its tail here. You are correct, and I said as much in my post: A good fighter knows and uses his whole system. The bread and butter techniques are those that play to his strengths and he's honed to a finer edge. Many fighters have been known for only one punch or one type move. But they all had to stay alive against good fighters 'till they got the opening. They are all complete fighters, but they have a specialized edge. Another way to look at this- in my style there is a technique called 'Sleeper'. I love the technique, but it is not a reliable technique to use on a larger opponent. I know how to use it, how to apply it and several modifications and permutations and the 'what iffs' that you have to deal with against a resisting opponent. But not being a very large person this isn't a technique I'd spend years perfecting for one of my bread and butter techniques. It has a sister technique though that uses the same entry but through a lower gate, where I can come in under the bigger guys guard. I train that one a little more, and am far more likely to use it. Over time it may become one of the techniques I rely on a little more than others. It plays to my body type a little better than the flashier 'Sleeper'. On the other hand, if he ain't too much bigger than me...

Everything you said in your post is true, but I think you've missed the point. You should learn the entire system, but there will be parts of that system that work for you and parts that don't. Play to your strengths and develope those that work best for your body type, temperament, and physical condition to a much higher degree. And you won't learn them all overnight. Start with one. In a year or two you'll have ten or so. In twenty years you should have your hundred. They aren't all you know or can use, but they are what you can rely on in the worst situations when nothing else is getting in. A good example is Bill 'Superfoot' Wallace. I copied this from the Century website: "Known to the karate world simply as "Superfoot", Bill Wallace retired from his illustrious 15-year career as the undefeated Professional Karate Association (PKA) Middleweight Champion in June 1980. "Superfoot" used his left foot, which was once clocked in excess of 60 mph, to fake opponents with two or three rapid fake kicks and follow with one solid knockout technique. His power was amazing, his precision astounding." Was this a bread and butter technique? I'd say so. Was it all he could do? Not by a long shot. The man is a living legend, he knew his art inside and out. By the way, the reason he used his left foot is that he had a problem with his right. But he worked the left to a such a degree of skill that the best fighters of his day, knowing what was comeing and even what foot, could not reliably stop that technique.

That is SGM Ed Parkers Kenpo Creed.

I get it now. I'll check the site when I have time, but you are correct about the sai being around a long time before being adopted by karate-ka. There were many versions as well. The Chinese favored a knife blade. The tines were sometimes single, sometimes double. Some had one pointing to the tip to trap a weapon or to strike and one pointing back like a handguard. Variations of this weapon appeared all around the Pacific Rim. I've read some histories that said the sai was a farming impliment adapted to use as a weapon. But I tend to believe the ones that say it was a weapon adapted to farm use. Gotta go. I'm about to be late for an appointment (what, no zippy little emoticon?).

ninjanurse and Kirves, I guess I'm getting the impression, and having a little trouble with, the idea that Karate is mostly to be used against untrained opponents. It could obviously be used that way, and since most people are untrained might even be mostly used that way. But its purpose as I understand it is self defense and is meant to be used against either trained or untrained fighters. Consider the sai, a Karate weapon which is meant to defend against a sword. The only opponents who would have had a sword would have been highly trained and skilled. Like the little face suggests, I'm a little confused by your post. But don't let that go to your head, confusing me isn't that difficult .

Ed Parker once said "I'd rather have ten techniques I can fight with than one hundred techniques that fight me." He was talking about ballance, not limmitations. Learn all the techniques and moves, then develope your bread and butter techniques (the ones that work best for you) from this knowlege base. These are the techniques that you train and hone to razor sharpness. One technique is a good start. One hundred techniques, unless you've been doing this seriously for >20 yrs, might be a little too ambitious. One thousand techniques wouldn't be too broad a knowlege base to work from, providing you really knew and understood them.

It was my understanding that Karate was a seriouse fighting art and was trained to the extent that the practitioners natural weapons were hard as rocks but a lot faster. Even the more modern styles can still be used that way. I'm not a fan of the extremely hard styles. But I'd never disrespect them or underestimate them. I've been working some with a Shotokan practitioner who wants to add some soft moves to his arsenal, and he is one tough customer!

Agreed! Everything sweats profusely when I train!

From what little I know about Shaolin Kempo it is a good, well rounded style with a lot of similarities to what I do (American Kenpo). If you have a good school, the system should be excellent for self defense. If you want to train for SD applications, my advice is to make sure the school regularly spars with some degree of contact. Red J: I've read that site before, and it has some good information. But his history concerning American Kenpo is wrong. James Mitose probably never trained with W. Chow, and even more probably never trained anything in Japan. He certainly never trained Mr Chow or Mr. Parker, and never trained with or under Mr. Parker. In fact, Ed Parker is only documented to have met Mitose once that I know of, and if I recall correctly he called Mitose a fraud and a liar. James Mitose ended his career in prison for trying to arrange a hit on someone. But not before he put out a lot of propoganda that is easily debunked, but still makes its way around. American Kenpo does come via Hawaii because that is where Edmund Kealoha Parker is from. Its roots are Chinese, as Mr. Parkers base was Chuan-fa under Mr. Chow. It is the same root system as the Japanese Kempo systems share, which is why they have so many similarities.

You are correct that it depends on the school, but in general Kali is an excellent art. Their drills will challenge and toughen you physically, as well as building endurance, coordination and reflexes. As far as practical fighting skills, it is (in my opinion) one of the better arts out there. And it is a lot of fun. My base is American Kenpo, but I work out regularly with a bunch of PMA types, including some from a Kali Jukini Do school. They are some tough customers. If I get to where I can't continue Kenpo, that's probably where I'll end up. Try it, I think you'll like it.

You guys need to find some Kenpo, Ving Tsun, or any of the grappling practitioners to work out with. They will all get inside where your height and reach can be used against you. Every body type has advantages and disadvantages. A knowlegable fighter learns to minimize the advantages and work to your disadvantages, where a one deminsional fighter is lost outside his zone of comfort. Tell them they need to learn to deal with it or take their whippin' and move on.

Try these guys: http://www.sakura-0.com/ I've ordered from them many times and their service is the best I've found. Their prices are pretty much in line with every one else, if not cheaper. I got my Century heavy weight ghi from them at a better price than the Century on line store had them listed. They also have an auction site where you can list items or bid on them similar to e-bay, except this is all martial arts. They also have a monthly contest, which I can vouch for being real as I won a sword set from them.

Kenpo was originally a Chinese art, though the term is a Japanese reading of the Chinese characters for chuan fa. There are several styles of Chinese, Japanese, Okinawan and American Kenpo. I study Ed Parkers American Kenpo under the IKTS. But as an example of the variety of Kenpo styles out there, try this site: http://www.kenpokarambit.com/ You just never know what they'll do with Kenpo next. We're a capricious lot, and never satisfied with good enough!

I didn't read it. What's the point? Bruce Lee was good, he wasn't infallable. But anyone who is in the limelight will have detractors, especially after they are dead and can't defend themselves. I don't put Bruce Lee on a pedestal any more than Ed Parker or Remey Presas. But all have earned a big place in martial arts history and a lot of respect. **** the detractors. (note: insert appropriate explative at asterix's)

For heavy work and targeting I use a variety of dummies. But I have a 50# bag mounted so that it can swing or I can lock it into position. When unlocked, and I start pounding on it, the bar swings and that little 50# bag bounces and dances on the chain. It moves just like an opponent would (sort of). It will go so far, then it comes back at me. The angles also change continually. It realy works your strikes- if I don't watch it punches start landing with the last two knuckles instead of the first two. Also forces me to use short range weapons to keep the bag off me. Works footwork more than the stationary mode too. I don't know if they are absolutely necessary, but bags are handy. And with a little ingenuity they are an excellent training tool.

If you can get a copy of Ed Parkers "Infinate Insights" serries (5 vols.) it should be an eye opener for you. Will give you a whole new perspective on what you do. Written for Kenpo, but the principles and concepts transfer to most external arts, and some to internal as well. Even used, if you can find a set in good condition for much under $200.00 you are doing good. Some kenpo organizations sell them when they have a print running, but you ususally have to wait.

I voted the closest one, fitness, fun and self defense. I primarily got into martial arts for reality/self defense/offense when necessary. However, I must be wierd because I found out I liked limping around, nursing bruises, with my healthy limbs in slings, and wearing braces and armored underware and clothes that my wife says make me look like I just escaped from an institution! What was the question...?

I train regularly with other schools/styles. I pay their walk in fee and train what they are training that class. When it involves sparing, I folow their rules. Most schools like to have another style train with them for the reasons you mentioned, and this works good. I've also trained with groups of martial artists who just get together and spar. This works well also as long as everyone respects others and the group works together to keep things in check. You do occasionally get someone with an attitude, but most martial artists are good about dealing with this. The difference in an 'open night' at a school and the two scenarios I've just descibed is that you have a large number of martial artists from different schools and your instructor and school is responsible for what happens (read tha 'liable'). Some of the people who show up may not even belong to a school. There are a lot of ex martial artists who just like to show up and see if they've still got it. It could be a good thing, and might even bring in some new students. But I'd be careful. Set some definate rules, and have enough instructors or senior students there to monitor and keep control. I'd also charge enough to cover insurance and use of equipment. It's great to work out with other stylists. But, unfortunately, these days, you are also sparing with their lawyer(s). So I'd set it up carefully doing it as part of your school.