Spartacus Maximus

It is commonly assumed that there is a certain age ideal for starting to learn martial arts. Questions relating age are always some of the most frequently asked. A quick survey of highly skilled martial arts people both living and passed shows that they all began training as children, youths or adolescents. This makes me wonder if there are any at all of note who started as adults older than 18-20years old. Excluding any natural talent, it it possible for someone to develop a high skill level starting to train beyond that age?

I also agree that it is something that should be included in training outside of the dojo. If what is done as part of the dojo training session is not enough, should it be done separately at a different time? Personally my solo training consists nearly entirely of karate techniques(basics, kata, etc).

Fitness and strength is one of the many beneficial results of training in martial arts. In the average training session most of the time is focussed on learning and perfecting techniques. There is very little time for specific exercise for building muscle and strength. Typically a session may include up to 30min of stretching, push-ups and sit-ups and leg raises at the beginning. What part should strength training and muscular development have in a martial arts training session? Is it necessary to have a separate trainng routine or is the workout at the beginning sufficient?

I heard that one too, until I read about Okinawan history. The truth is karate was developed by Okinawan samurai(nobility, royals etc) who later were forced to become farmers and fishermen to make a living after losing their status when the Japanese annexed them. They just continued to train in secret. For example, Funakoshi was of high birth. In fact nearly all known okinawan master is of noble, even royal decent. These men were often sent to China to be educated by the best teachers in every subject as well as martial arts.

Whatever the subject, there is nothing more tedious than dealing with unsolicited advice from amateurs or underqualified people. Even when they are giving their advice with genuine good intentions. That is one reason I prefer to do all my training and practise away from any casual observers. Besides that I am inclined to listen to anyone's advice and even humour the person. I always listen but it is my instructor who I follow because he is the one teaching me and not some random bloke. I take the armchair instructors advice as a way to learn. I often take their ideas to my instructor so that we can pick it apart and it often helps me understand what I am learning. If however the annoyance is too great, I excuse myself and go off to practise in quieter surroundings

Very interesting. I heard a somewhat less far fetched explanation according to which washing a belt was bad. Before belts were made with the quality and durability standards common nowadays, washing a belt would slowly deteriorate it. Black belts and especially ones with embroidery were prone to this so people avoided washing them for that reason. Any other m&ms?( myths and misconceptions?) perhaps weirder ones? What it the strangest you have ever heard?

I wonder where that one came from. I don't wash mine each time but I do wash it. It's vital in my area especially because of the weather and high humidity.

Myths and misconceptions about martial arts have been around for as long as Martians arts themselves. Many of these have been around for so long that it is difficult to know where and with whom they originated. I thought it would be an interesting discussion to share the ones commonly and less commonly heard. For me the strangest one is the supposed fact that people who are trained in martial arts to certain level (blackbelt etc..) must inform their local legal authorities or police. What is strange to me is that this myth is still believed in this day and age, although it has been shown false several times. If you know of a stranger myth or misconception about a martial art, please share it and how you think it got started

Once or twice is nothing to worried about because afterwards it is possible to prevent. If it happens every time to the same person, then something is wrong. Water intake is very important and also salt. Both of these are at everyone's disposal in my dojo and we are all urged to take as much as needed. The sensei often stops those who are not getting enough and tells them to drink or have a pinch of salt. On a regular training session of 2hours I usually drink 2-4litres of water. This might seem extreme but it is necessary for the level of activity.

As a rule I would never take anything weapon-like when traveling, especially abroad, as I have spent most of my adult life living away from my original home. When the risks of air travel increased to higher levels I started to look at inconspicuous objects that could be used as defensive weapons that are allowed on board and found there. Pens, pencils, earphones in flight eating utensils(metal on some airlines!). If it's allowed on a plane there is a good chance it is not restricted or illegal to carry almost anywhere. Still the best id a is not to have anything on ones person.

Kuro Obi is one of my favourites and I saw it in its original version when it came out. One of the actors is a good acquaintances of my instructor.

It is normal when a person's body is not accustomed to or in the process of adapting itself to a level of activity that is more physically demanding than before. It also happens when people try to do to much too soon. Besides that it depends on the individual's level of fitness, general health, age and a whole lot of factors that only the person concerned can tell. In my current dojo, there have been students who threw up, collapsed from exhaustion and one even blacked out before the end of the warm up preceding the regular 2hours of training. This includes me when I first joined two years ago. With much pushing from my instructor and months of overall aches and soreness I enventually was able to keep up. I still find it tough but now I can manage without feeling sick or dizzy.

I have a saying from a wise man from a long time ago that goes like this: The wise and experienced has no use for the opinions of fools and the ignorant. The potential benefits children and youth can gain from martial arts are many. As far as aggression is concerned, it is neither good or bad. What counts is when, where and how it is channelled. Martial arts as well as competitive sports teach children to put agression to constructive use. If one were to judge by that physical aspect alone, it could also be said that Rugby, Hockey or other such sports teach kids to be aggressive. Regardless of the activity usually the children are enjoying themselves as children do and one look at the adults on the sidelines often proves that the children are not the ones showing aggressivity. Case in point: karate/hockey/soccer moms/dads

Among all the RBSD systems that exist WENDO is probably the only one exclusively intended for women. After an acquaintance decided to attend one of these courses, I decided to do a bit of research on it. The goal was to find if this system had anything different to offer than all the other similar courses. Unfortunately, all I could conclude was that it was no different than all other systems. The only difference was that the entire system is based around a very anti-male philosophy and attitude. Men and even boys(children) are completely forbidden to even observe. Besides being women, the founders and a majority of so-called instructors have little to no background in MA, law enforcement or anything else that may be of any use. According to the available information, the content of the course is nearly all based on physical techniques with only a very brief explanation if any at all. The rest of the courses focus on discussions more akin to therapy than meaningful, direct topics on violence. It claims to prepare women to deal with violence, but only feeds the victim mentality, anti-male attitude(ie: all men are potential rapists etc) and a very dangerous false sense of security. It uses many of the same buzz words to promote itself and seems popular on school campuses and the like. I wonder if anyone else has any information or experiences with this system. Any ideas

In my area even a 8cm blade or blade-like object will get you arrested and probably jailed if found on your person. Firearms require a permit deliverable after a long application, training seminar and purpose justification process. They are very difficult to purchase and very few ordinary citizens have them. Carrying anything is just too risky and not worth the potential hassles as even loose tools such as a saw or screwdriver will be considered suspicious. Knives are sometimes used, but it is usually types of common kitchen varieties and carrying any kind of weapon knife is very rare. With the strict weapon laws here it is more sensible to grab something nearby than carrying something.

The options of possible courses of action depend on how receptive the angry drunk was to dialogue and attempts to calm him down. There really is nothing else to do if the drunk stays angry or refuses to listen. When that is the case, the best and only solution is to leave and let him burn himself out. Everyone knows that trying to reason with a drunk is nearly impossible. If the drunk is receptive to talking down and not yet so soused as to remove the last shred of sense, then I would try to isolate him by taking him as far away as possible from the target of his belligerence. I may even sit down with him and occupy him and offer to listen to HIM. Let him talk about what made him angry or whatever else he feels the need to ramble on about. This has work great for me on a few occasions.

It is possible that your instructors age could have something to do with the drop off. In general it is difficult for most people to accept the idea of being taught by an instructor as young as 20. It is an age where a person is still inexperienced in life and likely still growing and learning themselves. Most adults at 20 years old are just starting in life and have yet to find their place. At twenty I was in my first year of post secondary school and had no idea where I was going. Not knowing anything else about your instructor and your dojo means that it can be almost anything. Location? Expenses? Dojo atmosphere? So many things..

I admit I was momentarily perplexed by this unexpected and unexplained change. I thought it was some sort of site security thing or that the forum had been hacked.

I have never personally seen it, but I have heard about it often enough to believe that it is one of the popular disciplinary actions used with youths or children. The reason it works is the same as giving the belts in the first place. If rank and grading were less important than actual skill level, taking away a belt or rank would have no effect as a punishment. In most cases I heard, demotion was the intermediate punishment. Serious offenses would result in the culprit being expelled immediately with one chance to return with an apology. In some less common cases the apology had to be written and signed. Immediate and final expulsion was for very serious things such as anything involving the law.

I believe that most people are reasonable once they realize that something was done for a sensible reason. Leaving was probably the right thing to do, especially if the drunken incident made the party no longer enjoyable. if people still think ill of you for removing yourself and your family from an unpleasant atmosphere, they have the problem. It is perfectly acceptable and understandable to leave when a party no longer feels like a party. More so if said party is suddenly disrupted by one or two fools unable to control themselves and their indulgment

If I did any weapons training I would focus on things commonly found anywhere. Sticks or stick-like objects can be found anywhere whether in rural or urban environments and they can be easily discarded. Pens, pencils are another example of objects that can be used as a defensive weapon. There really is no need to carry a weapon if one is confident in one's judgement, defense skills and knowledge of the potential of everyday objects. With a weapon, sooner or later the question of motives will arise. Who has ever heard of someone being asked to justify carrying a pen, a pencil or other items of everyday use? At the end of the day, judgement is the best defense and prevention against finding oneself in such an extreme situation that would require a weapon of any sort.

She is already in a very limited niche of interest. Obviously her popularity, whatever it may be, is limited to the narrow circle of MMA fans. I doubt she is even vaguely recognized by the average citizen who probably is not a fan of hers or even expresses interest for her sport. Although it could have something to do with her PR, it does seem very odd that only Walmart would refuse to sell a sport fighter's book when two of the largest bookstore chains are selling it. Strange indeed....

The only thing I would have added would have been to call the police especially once the drunken man decided to take the car. Sometimes it can be very difficult to protect everyone. Afterall this is different from a regular angry drunk situation because everyone involved is family and the problem individual is at home. Nothing is as morally and emotionally taxing as trying to do something for someone who will not or cannot understand that it is for their own good. A moment of bitterness and anger from family or friends for a just action is better than a lifetime of grief and sadness because of inaction.

Usually the disconnection hits after about a half hour to 45 minutes. It can happen sooner if I am doing something more intense such as punch, block or kick repetitions and concentrated sets of a single kata. About 2 years ago I used to shutdown after only 20 minutes of intense activity, which is the pre-training warm up before starting anything else at my dojo. I have somewhat improved but breathing the correct way(abdominal/diaphragm) is still a conscious effort. It really seems as if I have reached a point of stagnation as far as stamina and power etc... As far as I know I do not have and never had any kind of physical conditions or sickness that might interfere with my activity level. In fact, I feel weaker and lethargic if I spend a single day without doing any sort of training or practising. on days like that I have trouble going to sleep, and when I do it is interrupted by nightmares or I wake up with painful cramps or soreness, which go away after a day or two of my usual activity.

On average I train 8-10 hours in a week. Two years ago I had a very bad stamina problem and would struggle to train intensively for more than 20minutes. Although I have improved this to some degree, I still get sudden drops in energy and stamina causing what I can only describe as a disconnect between my mind and my limbs. I start to feel light-headed and my limbs feel very heavy. At that point I can no longer maintain my balance, my concentration or my techniques at the same level. I have the impression that I have become weaker, but I this does not seem to be the real reason I struggle. Any ideas?