guird

That's pretty much how I use "martial arts" as well.

So by this definition MMA would classify as a martial art as everything not forbidden for safety purposes is allowed, as opposed to say, point karate where a technique has to be done *just so* to score a point, and there are many restrictions on what may and may not be done. am I getting the idea? more broadly, does he define a martial art as any practice that is intended to prepare you for real combat, or any practice that SUCCEEDS at preparing you for real combat. From my experience the vast majority of aikido dojos train in large part with pre-determined attacks and specific aikido techniques. I am curious to see how you train.

Hi everyone, I had a discussion a while ago about usage of the term martial arts. My friend was only familiar with the perception that 'martial arts' only refers to eastern methods of combat. I use martial arts as the most general term however. It refers to any codified system of combat practices. From there I use more specific labels, traditional martial arts for (more or less) what most people associate with the term 'martial arts', combat sports for kickboxing, wrestling, etc.(though TMA and combat sports are not mutually exclusive, I'd categorise kyokushin and judo in both). One can also classify by specific country of origin. However, I have seen different usages as well. One krav maga advertisement mentioned that Krav is 'not martial arts, not a combat sport, it is a self defense method', As well as a the instructor at a wing chun school I tried once saying 'this isn't a sport, this isn't a martial art like tai chi where it's all about looking nice, this is a combat science (not that I saw any evidence of the scientific method being employed there, but I digress. I think you can guess why I didn't go back). This, together with a conversation with someone who doesn't train where they were convinced that in order to be a martial art something had to have performance as its primary goal, forms another usage. Interestingly, In dutch and german vechtsport and kampfsport (which translate as as 'combat sport') are used as the general term rather than vechtkunst and kampfkunst. There you also have some diversity in usage (for example, the wing chun instructor said what he said in dutch and then repeated it in english). How do you use these terms? what do you consider proper usage? Any ideas as to how we can make proper usage more universal? (idk, have one character explain it to another in a popular martial arts movie?)

There haven't been any disrespect problems where I'm training at the moment. If there were, I expect we'd be expected to solve it ourselves. We really are just there to learn and to have fun.

I hate when they mess with the classics, they NEVER turn out as good. I grew up watching The Karate Kid, so was horrified when I heard they were re-making it. I point blank refuse to watch it, mainly because it's not even Karate he learns, it's Kung Fu!! Not that I have a problem with Kung Fu, but when KARATE is in the title, then it's KARATE that should be the focus of the film. I have the same kind of dread for this film although I'll probably give it a chance. Given that it's to be part of a franchise, I don't hold out much hope, sequels/trilogies rarely turn out any good (LOTR aside). I just hope Bloodsport and Enter the Dragon are left well alone and never remade. M. Kung fu kid was a movie following the plot of the karate kid, but with kung fu. it was released as karate kid in the west because it was a known title. still stupid IMO, but the movie itself is pretty good. I liked it better than the original karate kid on every front.

sunmudo looks to me like it's somewhere between shaolin kung fu an taekkyon, with some yoga thrown in. I guess you could start by training online for a month or two, to get in shape, build flexibility and balance (that video seems o.k. for that, but the Master Woo taekwondo that was recommended seems a better option, just less similar to sunmudo). Start finding out what's available in the area you will be moving to, and try out the most interesting ones when you get there. edit: didn't pay attention and asked a question that was already answered. removed now. Thank you very much its really a beneficial post!!! Sonmudo is really related to taekkyon and Kung fu??? I didn't know that why do you think Taekwondo is less smiliar to Sonmudo than Kung fu? I am not sure, but I was thinking the opposite Thanks...I will take your advise, and will begin with that Video I don't know if its actually related to taekkyon or kung fu, it just looks similar. It's softer an more fluid than shaolin however, despite a lot of the techniques looking similar. More like an internal chinese martial arts such as tai chi. The way its done in sunmudo reminds me just a little bit of yoga. taekwondo is a korean martial art derived from taekkyon, but it is strongly influenced by shotokan karate and probably contains more elements from that. because of this it has a lot of sharp movements. The sunmudo I saw was much more fluid. for contrast - taekwondo - sunmudoif anyone's more experienced with any of the things I'm talking about, please let me know if I'm off the mark.

deep philosophy..thanks for sharing though, my main reason to practice martial art, is not to defend my self, i am looking more to improve my health, and to advance my buddhist practice i know, that kung fu is good for this thing, but i don't like the chinese style, i like korean style more I was thinking about kuk sool won, but its too, not that available From what I have heard, kuk sool won is similar to hapkido (though I don't have experience with either). If you can find a hapkido school that may be a nice idea.

Can you give me an example? Do you drill the ground techniques you learn in the kata and use them in sparring too?

sunmudo looks to me like it's somewhere between shaolin kung fu an taekkyon, with some yoga thrown in. I guess you could start by training online for a month or two, to get in shape, build flexibility and balance (that video seems o.k. for that, but the Master Woo taekwondo that was recommended seems a better option, just less similar to sunmudo). Start finding out what's available in the area you will be moving to, and try out the most interesting ones when you get there. edit: didn't pay attention and asked a question that was already answered. removed now.

I am interested in other things besides Karate, but I just like the flow and movement in Karate. I like alot of styles other than that, and I am still searching for other places around the Aiken, SC and Augusta, Ga areas. a couple other places I am looking to call are http://stsdkarate.com/ http://www.superioracademy.com/ and always looking for others that I may not know about. I'd definitely try out the jeet kune do place and see if its your thing. The website makes it look profit-driven, but this isn't neccessarily a problem as long as the training is good and the fees reasonable. Keep an eye out for more red flags. They seem to have both a RBSD approach, and boast about having MMA fighters as well (though I can't find any information about this other than the advertisement about supplements... like I said, it looks profit driven). If there's truth to their boasts it could indeed be the best place in the area, but there also seem to be a couple of shifty things about it, so keep an eye out.

^this you can use dvds and online videos to supplement your regular training and look for ideas, but it can never replace training with an instructor and with training partners. If the style that most interests you is not available in your area, look for similar martial arts. Better yet, look into a variety of martial arts in your area. Pick a number of different nearby styles and try a lesson of each one. edit: just watched some videos, if you really want to do something similar I'd start with some kung fu and sport wushu schools. They seem the closest thing.

I never saw any grappling when I trained shotokan. The occaisional standing joint-lock in the bunkai and the occaisional throw, but no grappling.

Yeah going to go more than once... I have just been searching basically for Martial Arts close to me. Trying to learn as much about the styles before I go In the event you don't like that place, and so you have something to compare it to, what else is within the distance you're willing to travel to train?

chun kuk do is the style chuck norris founded. his base was in Tang Soo Do, hence the korean name, but he has influences from Judo, bjj, american kenpo and some styles of japanese karate. I'm told it's a bit of a chuck norris fan club, but other than that is a great style. Also, I understand the art has a strong connection to Christianity. If you like that, you could train there, if you think it might get annoying, don't.

If you don't like either of them you should have a look around and see if you can find some other place you can train. Most places let you try a lesson first, so you can keep training where you are now until you decide. If there aren't any more Tang Soo Do dojangs near you, you could look for similar styles (japanese forms of karate or taekwondo for example), and if you don't find one of those that you like, cast your net a little further.

A very serious injury that makes it impossible to train safely. I think that's the only thing that could make me stop.

visited This thread again for ideas while shadow-boxing At my kickboxing school we're taught that generally speaking, after you punch with left you kick with right and after punching with your right you kick with your left. Is that just for beginners? I notice your combos don't follow this, and I've seen plenty online that also don't. The instructors are mostly kyokushin-based I think, or at least have their base in some form of karate. When I try to kick with one leg after punching with the same hand I only manage to do it with any power if the punch is a feint. Also, any idea how I can work combos that start with a kick into my shadow boxing? nowadays I follow my kicks through, which means that when I don't have a target I can't follow a kick up with a punch, only a spinning kick or side kick. Sorry for the delayed reply, totally missed the reply tag on this thread. Hawkmoon has raised some pretty solid points. As far as leading in with kicks, I would say just do it. Go back to basics and work it slow before trying full speed/power. I tend to like starting with a low inside thigh kick or front kick to the stomach and then follow on with punches. Just me personally. You know, I have been doing the same side kick/punch thing for so long now it just seems normal. I thought long and hard about the "why" aspect, and to my, it is simply getting more bang for your buck energy-wise. I have seen some kickboxing instructors who tout the lead punch rear kick thing (and vice-versa) based on the turn of the body the punch gives to lead into a fully cocked kick, but I tend to disagree. Particularly if you are sparring a more skilled opponent. Also (get ready for big ancient secret).... when you throw a right hand punch, and can throw the right leg low kick straight after, the punch almost puts the kick in a "blind spot" of sorts, so it is not being telegraphed as much and is much easier to land. Just my 2 cents. Thanks, I'll try practicing it some more and see how it works for me.

I recently heard a lot of complaining about a new 'worm guard', people were saying its just a way to stall, it's completely vulnerable to strikes, and would never work outside of BJJ competitions. From my limited grappling experience it didn't seem any less practical than some of the positions surrounding spider guard. Like other gi-reliant positions it could work on anyone wearing a coat or jacket. I don't know much about competitions, but I have seen some people do some things that didn't make sense to me in a fighting context. Also at the start of the article, BEST. GIF. EVER!

Looks amazing. I do find it hard to believe warriors fought like that hundreds of years ago however, it has probably changed a lot from its roots.

The first place I trained shotokan at was a three-way split between kata, kihon(I've always viewed this as quite unneccessary, we already spend the kata time doing the techniques into empty air, why devote an additional part of the class to it? padwork maybe?), and kumite(no free sparring here, it was all prearranged, starting with three step basic punches/blocks to one step basic punches/blocks with counter, to one-step with various kinds of attacks, again moving exactly the way we move in the kata). we did bunkai not as part of the syllabus, but only as part of a demonstration during the grading ceremonies, and it wasn't like bunkai in my later dojo, it was one person doing the kata, with a number of other students performing attacks. I honestly believe I came out of there a worse fighter than I went in. I trained there for three years and had no training before it, I reached the rank of ikkyu. a while later I studied shotokan at a different place. It was comparatively kata-focused (compared to other local schools I'm told) as the instructor was the kata coach for the national WKF team. training was about 50% kata. The rest involved some kihon (this time including useful sparring combinations, unlike the previous school, and sometimes done against striking pads), prearranged kumite(done better than in the previous dojo), and of course sparring (which was about 25% of the training, rules were WKF without throws because there were no mats). Bunkai was performed in pairs at ikkyu and above. I feel I did benefit from training at it, but nontheless I no longer train there for a variety of reasons. If the place seems more like the former description, I'd go someplace else, if it is kata-centric but does include free sparring and striking of objects, it seems fine. Shotokan has a wide spectrum.

Haven't really been in a competitive fight (apart from a small, friendly grappling tournament that I don't think really counts), so I can't tell you how much I like fighting, but sparring is my favourite part of training. The harder the more fun I have because I can really just let go and rely on instinct. however I'm also very apprehensive about sparring hard and so don't do it often. Might that be why you don't like it? from what I've heard, the medical problems that (retired) fighters experience have more to do with the hits they take during training than in the ring, so maybe you don't like it because it worries you?

I don't think it's necessary because of it being a free-market. However, to use a governing organizations "brand", will require a letter of approval from them, and this letter must be filled accordingly and appropriately. ah, ok. thanks

It isn't going to be on university property, I intend to rent a space at the nearby sports centre. when I say 'for my university' I mean that I'm only going to promote, advertise, and poll for interest within the community of my university. I really just want a very casual tournament, ideally suitable for people with varying levels of experience.

I'm really planning a very small event, I don't expect more than 20 people or so to be interested. My university is pretty small, and in my experience only a small percentage of people are interested in martial arts competitons.

It's a little tricky to time and aim, but it you strike your opponent's bicep as they're punching (especially hooks), It hurts quite a bit, because the force behind their punch is added to the power of your strike. I did this once with a hammerfist strike, and had it done to me with a tight hook to my wide one. It certainly isn't a fight ender, and it won't slow them down much (unless maybe you land it multiple times?), but it creates a massive opening when it lands, so if you capitalise on that it could be worth doing. I'm not sure how well it would go with boxing gloves like in muay thai though. both times I and my opponent were wearing MMA gloves.