CrazyAZNRocker

Despite how naturally agressive someone is, anyone can develop a killing instinct, some easier than others. Being seriously involved in martial arts will develop the killer instinct. Not just involved, but seriously involved. Everything is important, training, meditation, technique, knowledge, open mindedness, discipline all very important to a serious Martial Artist. All leading up to a point where when a martial artist is cornered, instinct takes over and stops the opposistion, or atleast makes it possible to get away from the situation At least that's what I believe, and what I've been able to experience.

After watching UFC 65, you might want to add Georges St. Pierre on the list of great sprawl and brawlers.

I don't believe that this case holds much water. There are people out there who are naturally aggressive. There are those that are not. The only way to fully develop this ability is to put yourself in situations in which it turns on....i.e., the street fight, the bar fight, or stepping into a full contact ring. Just training at class everyday is not going to develop it. Have you ever heard of adrenale-stess training? The thing is, training is always much more than just showing up to class. Martial Arts class is just a small part of the entire training. When one wants to meditate, don't do it in a class, find time to do that. Train for power with a bag at ones own time. Have a variety sparring partners out of classes. Attend seminars and demontrations. Martial Artists have to make some time for further training. In that sense yes you are absolutely right, just training in class isn't going to develop the killer instinct. I've only heard bits and pieces about Adrenal-stress training, but I know it's about learning how to deal with Adrenalin rushes and claims to help people more to be in more control in life threatening situations. I don't know the exact details however but it sounds interesting to check out, since experimenting is also part of a Martial Artist's traning.

that's not true at all. I've taught seminars to MA and mentioned things like looking under your car as you approach it, and walking a few feet away from walls so you can see around the corners, and some of them were amazed, because these things had never occurred to them. Like anything else, awareness needs to be taught, not assumed. I never learned these things from MA, and I don't meditate. Even when I did, these things didn't occur to me. meditation makes you more self aware, not necessarily more situationally aware. I learned these things through either first or second hand experience. I've had a guy jump out at me from around a corner. I had a friend who was robbed by someone hiding under her car. Another friend was robbed by someone INSIDE his car, etc. I actually agree fully with teaching awareness, looking under the car, not going out to the alley at nights all those important things, but that wasn't the point I was trying to make. The point I was trying to make wasn't that of developing a sixth sense but developing a personal transformation. A fighter becomes dangerous when the threat has become apparent, strictly in a fighting situation. The switch I'm explaining is the switch that turns a normal man into a fighting beast, but even a beast can be ambushed if not taught awareness. I might have been a little off when I said "developing the five sences," I'll have the take that back, but otherwise I believe training in Martial Arts can develop a killer instinct, and meditation can help control it, contain it and release it when needed.

Any fighter that trains martial arts long enough, start developing this mental and emotional switch that goes off when in a threat. This switch is developed through developing the five main sences. That is why I always felt that meditation is a must for serious martial artists. Regardless of style of fighting, be it boxing, karate, jiu jistu, I think all martial arts can develop this switch that makes a normal person into a dangerous individual when backed into a corner.

Wrestling for me has always been more of a starting point for alot grappling techniques. Many wrestlers I've sparred with are very strong and very fit, but don't seem to have many tools to finish a fight. If anything, the wrestler's strength will be to tire out the opponent because of how great a shape they are. Pure wrestlers will always have trouble with guys that 1> finish them from the ground, or 2> avoid the takedowns. That said, in my own experience, if a Pure wrestler fights a pure Brazilian Jiu Jistu fighter, and both are in same shape, wrestlers will look more dominant, but ultimately BJJ will have the edge in actually finishing a fight. Wrestling combined with BJJ = 80% complete grappler, and I would top it off with some Judo for that last 20%

The main problem I see with fighters who use kicks, are that those fighters lack knowledge of wrestling. If a fighter wants to have effective kicking in combat situations, they need to learn how to defend against being taken down. I'm about 40 percent kicking techniques, most of them being no higher than midsection. The only way I found to be able to work my kicks in any fight is to learn some important aspects in wrestling. If a fighter can understand wrestling they can start refining their kicking techniques. An important aspect in kicking is to snap the kick back quickly. Most fighters like to kick then stick their foot out, that is bad news and leads to an easy takedown. Kicks have to shoot out fast, connect, then retract fast, and look out for the takedown. Also, for anyone who still argues that MMA is still primarily 80/20 punch, kick ratio, these days in MMA competition we are starting to see more kicking techniques. Guys like Mirko Filipovic, Georges St. Pierre and Anderson Silva are starting to use more kicking techniques, primarly because of there knowledge of Wrestling and Brazilian Jiu Jistu. It's simply the sport evolving once again and I'm sure we'll be seeing more people using kicking techinques because of the increasing comfort with grappling.

I just want some thoughts about people's thoughts on learning curves for Grappling and Striking. What's easier, what's difficult, transitions from one to the other. Just some opinions on the learning aspects of grappling and striking and comparing them.

Aodhan, If i may I ask, What kind of educational path did you take for your career? Any specific colleges or institusions? I'm feeling I would be best suited for Coaching or Athletic Training.

Actually, Experience would be the best teacher of all... just not the safest... Also, nothing beats a good group of diverse martial artist to spar with.

I'm thinking making a career in fitness, but problem is, I don't know where to start. Like what Jobs are out there, or even more important, what kind of education is needed and where to get that kind of education. I've always considered myself a very physical person, I love martial arts, running for track and field durring my highschool days, and playing sports for recreation. So I think I could do really well in the world of fitness. Can anyone help me out here? Has anyone in these forums gone through the process, or anyone going through the process now? Any information is helpful and appreciated.

I'm not saying they can't end a fight. A punch to the jaw CAN end one, but doesn't always. And that's the issue - people always try to teach kicks to the groin as a fight ender and that is not necessarily so. Fair enough, I agree with that assesment, a well rounded fighter does need more than just one tool.

groin shots are overrated. They aren't the fight enders that people think they are. In high adrenaline situations, you don't always feel it. I've taken them in fights - in the street and ring - and not felt it until after it was over. All I gotta say is that you have some great conditioning then, cause I have ended fights with hard groin kicks, and I've been floored by them as well. And even great MMA conditioned fighters get affected by groin shots, Watch UFC 54, when WW Champ Matt Hughes gets struck by an accidental groin shot by Trigg. High adrenaline situation, smash in the groin, and he started curling up. He almost lost that match, I think if Matt hadn't worn a cup, then he would have lost that fight.

I've had many arguements with this issue, and I have constantly have to go back and re-evaluate the way I talk about this issue. The way I see it from a personal viewpoint... Body to low kicks for street fights are the best, sure survival way inorder to come out of a fight relatively safe. If someone screws up a low kick, it's not as detremental as if that someone was to screw up a high kick. Plus, mid to low kicks are easier to land than a head kick in my opinion. Sparring with boxers, wrestlers and kick boxers, it's very apparent how mobile the head can be. Now even with that said, I do believe that High Kicks have there place in a fight. A good kick to the head will knock someone out. I'm not going to discredit high kicks, however I think that no matter how good a high kick is, a low kick is still safer and can do more damage. I also believe that in Kick boxing and MMA sports, High kicks definately have a place in the world of competition, the last thing that should be on the mind of a competition fighter is to break his opponents knee ((or atleast it should be)). Plus in a drawn out fight, head kicks become easier to land. Street Fights however are rarely drawn out. High kicks are a good weapon, but I just think in the ideals of street fighting, high kicks just don't have the advantages over the disadvantages.

This may sound a little controversal... But on top of kicking the thighs, which is probably the best choice for the school yard... Aim for the lower abdomen to groin area. It doesn't take much to take incompacitate a guy with a good groin or lower abdomen hit. May be a little dirty, but fighting isn't clean anyways.

If you as a fighter want to use high kicks in a street fight, fine go ahead, and if it works, more power to you. However, that doesn't change the my posistion on high kicks. you have many flaws in your argument however you can't step back if I have already stuffed your kick. Unless you have found a way to step with one leg, you would be at my mercy. K-1 has good kick boxers, not exactly world class boxers, as in fist fighters, as in hit anything above the waist. I doubt that a K-1 fighter has the upper body mobility of a world class level boxer. You should really read my post more clearly, I said the only time the leg should be making contact with the face, are through Knees to the face while in a clinch. And yes, head kicks work, anything works if you get a clean shot though, even a well place caporeia kick will knock someone out. The risk just is not worth it however. Why knock a guy out, when I could play it safe and blow the guys knee out?[/b]

Professional fighters or people who are just dedicated to the arts train almost 6-7 days a week working on there art and body, through continuous practice, work outs, and sometimes supplements to keep the energy high. I'm sure we all know that. However we are not all professional fighters... We also know that. So what do some people do to keep in shape and their techniques sharp, while juggling around life on a budget? This is an important question I think, and could benifit a lot of people who do martial arts, but are not those who can't train 24/7. For example, I'm a current art student majoring in animation, and it is very difficult to find times to train in between, school, work, commute, and animating. So what are some useful tips that the regular Joe do to keep in fighting shape?

\High Kicks have too many flaws and disadvantages compared to a mid-low kick. Even if you have all the speed in the world, high kicks are just impractible in a situation where your life is in danger. The best you could manage with a high kick is a knockout, and even then knocking someone out requires a clean hit, which is difficult if an opponent has his hands up protecting his head. Stuffing a high kick is easy, I could simply move forward and push you to the ground, or worse, I could just elbow the groin. Worst case scenerio say if your opponent is an experienced boxer, why would you even entertain the thought of kicking high? Boxers have excellent upper body movements, they could simply juke around making it very difficult for high kicks to land. Sooner or later, he's in your face. Kicks are best suited in lower targets. Kicking the knee can result to hyperextension, thigh and groin kicks are paralyzing, kicking the floating ribs will result in breakage or atleast bruising, sweep kicking the supporting leg will result in a knockdown All very simple to do, with almost no risk. Only time a leg should be hitting someones face is if you're kneeing them in a clinch.

Keep It Simple Stupid. Like no high kicks, no spinning backfists, no high risk manuevers or attaking in a way that could make you tired too fast. All those "advanced" manuevers are things that will get you killed in a real fight. Simple Punches, Kicks, knees and elbows are the most effective in a street fight. Hence forth proving what I was saying. It is the practitioners resposibility to train, regardless of what style.

Styles never matter in a street fight... It's all about basics and fighter. Street fighting is best with the KISS idea. In the end... you're looking at kick and punch. I don't care if Muay Thai methods are more strenious because a Wing Chun guy can train just as hard if he chooses too. That is the practioners resposibility to train well.

I personally would put Kyokushin above JKD because, 1>JKD schools can be gimmiky, and 2> Kyukushin has lots of full contact sparring.

It really depends also how much money you want to shuff out. If you only want to choose just one, go with the Hapkido. You learn the basis of striking and grappling all in one package making it a bang for your buck. Also Hapkido is a great combatitive basis for fighting in general. ONLY IF you could afford to actually cross train, then skip out the Hapkido, and cross Kyokushin and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. You'll pretty much be getting the same crash course as your Hapkido course, only to a much higher degree, with a much more solid striking skill and much more competent ground game. It will cost more to train better though. Good luck in your training.

I'm a kicker personally, mainly because I'm also a runner so I have much stronger legs. But I can also punch, most fights I have had ended with kicks to lower vitals. But kickers, we gotta face some facts, kicks that are above the waist are ineffective in a fight! Legs are on the ground, so why are there so many kickers so focused on hitting guys in the head with our legs, it's like tying to punch the groin from stand up. Kicking low means you can do lots of damage without the balance problems that you would kicking high, and chances are you'll win more fights. So if you are a kicker, and you want to hit an opponent in the head, then learn to punch

All it takes is about 10 lbs. to break a knee in a straight position. Now obviously people don't fight with straight legs, but then again most fighters will attack with a small 10 lbs of force.

The question I pose is this: How far does full contact sparring go? Example: Say someone has been taught attack methods ((Weather be striking or grappling)) that are really gear going for the vital parts, such as groin, solar plexus, knee caps, elbows, inner thighs, ribs, Ect. Ect. and destroying those vitals in an instant to stop an opponent. In the sparring sessions that are "full contact" are they expected to attack those areas with full on feriocity, where sucessful execution can lead to serious injuries? What seems to be the case in this disscussion is that "full contact" sparring means, hitting hard and fast, while avoiding the vitals so no one really gets hurt, worse being a broken nose or a sprained finger which won't really slow training down to bad. But does that really rectify that "full contact" is the best way to spar? Let's face it, getting a well placed kick in the knee area will probably lead to 3 months loss of training. I don't care how big or tough someone thinks they are, a well placed kick will break that knee. So why execute somthing as dangerous as that on a sparring partner. Yet at the same time, those kinds of techniques do need to practiced. Full contact sparring for this type of precision training is not suitable. So in the end... what really matters? Simply a balance. Yes you need to learn how to take a hit to the chest, abdomen, head, outter thigh, shoulder ect ect, and full contact is excellent for that. But there is no reason to have to learn now to take a hit in the knee cap, or floating rib... it aint worth it. That is where padded training, light contact, and slow sparring is great for. People get the experience of hitting and being hit in those vital locations, without the risk of serious injury. And if someone wants to hit vital areas with all their force, find a dummy, or get a punching bag and mark off areas that would be area points.