Treebranch

I would say Kung Fu simply because there are so many styles of it.

Just a thought on punching speed. If you can practice punching without an antic before you punch, your opponent won't see it coming. So basically if your in a boxing position throw the punches from there without retracting first. Subtly drop you weight with the punch to add power from the hips. Try it, it works great.

Hong Kong Kung Fu movies are more popular and for the most part glorify martial arts. Most of the Japanese films that deal with MA is always about the Samuraii. The Kung Fu movies are more fantastic in comparison to the Japanese movies and have been in circulation in the US and abroad longer than the Japanese movies. In Japanese films the character is usually not a hard core martial artist, more of an actor. The Hong Kong films have practicing Martial Artists in their movies. I like both genres, but prefer the Japanese Samurai films for better storylines and overall movie making.

Yeah, the next thing we will see is a pill that will make you the ultimate martial artist.

Tamojin I don't think the article is saying that TMA can't be used for self defense, it can. But the writer of the article is trying to tell us, it's much more the just self defense and fighting. It's also about character building and self discipline. They see the results of what they are studying work in UFC and Pride. They see the results of these great fighters and they assume it will work just as well for them. I say let them think what they want, who cares. We know that TMA's are highly effective and with proper training I believe TMA's have much more to offer. If the MA you are studying suits you, than that should be enough.

A friend of mine at work were talking about MA and I told him I'm studying Budo Taijutsu. He studied Kajukenbo and Karate, he's a BB. He didn't know what it was, he said he never heard of it. So I basically told him what it is. He said it's sounds like old stuff that probably doesn't really work. So I said it works believe me. He asked me if I knew what a sleeper hold is and I said yes. Have you every had one put on you, it's really hard to get out of, if you even can. So here I'm thinking we are going to play around a bit and learn some techniques from eachother. I tell him to go ahead and put one on me. I didn't think in a million years he was going to crank that thing on me full blast. So I got a little panicy for a second and I did the technique and it worked beautifully. It was the first time I had done it with such a powerful person. After that he was really impressed, he said that he would have never thought to do what I had did. So sometimes it's good to test your techniques on these people, they should work on anyone or they probably don't work at all.

mikS you couldn't be more right.

I think you'll do great. 9 years of JJ I'm sure has taught you quite a bit. I think you'll adapt quickly even if things feel weird at first.

ah^gao I think your right about not getting too excited and relaxing I totally agree. I was simply referring to the physical part of relaxing, you brought up the psychological part. I think both are important in order to be able to handle a situation effectively. Good point.

Very well said SupaNinjaz, I totally agree with you. Do you mean cross train in multiple MA's or do mean if Hapkido employed the training methods of say Muy Thai, sparring full contact as part of their training? I think it is very important to be able to function under stress or after your body has just dumped adrenaline through your system. I also think people should get used to practicing techniques at full speed, or at least the one's that are able to be performed at full speed with proper gear of course. Didn't mean to sound so sarcastic the first time, I just didn't think the word ignorant was very nice. Also I don't assume everyone that studies Muy Thai or MMA is necessarily a competitive fighter. The conclusion which could be drawn from your comment is that the Hapkido practitionar who cross trains will be more effective in a streetfight do to Hapkido being a more well rounded MA. All things being equal of course.

brando-san you are truely magnificent. I used a standing triangular choke on some guy to stop him from fighting someone else. He didn't like it but he stopped. He wasn't a complete stranger, but he wasn't exactly my friend either. I didn't know how else to stop him while his arms were throwing punches, so I got behind him and put it on him.

Well wckf_azn if you are tensing up you will be slower than if you are relaxed. I would say if you know how to use relaxing to your advantage, there is no such thing as over relaxing. If you don't know why your relaxing than over relaxing can get you in trouble. I hope this helps.

AndrewGreen I'm glad you liked it, but I'm sorry you didn't find it relevant. I read the articles on the link you left, and I have to say it sounds like alot of testosterone pumping through those words. I already explained how we train, I can't vouch for other TMA's but I think the article on TMA's can relate to all MA's. I think if your goal is to compete no doubt you will be a proficient fighter and be able to handle yourself in most street situations. Bottom line is I never said MMA is not effective, but no matter what anyone in MMA tells me I feel I am getting training that is more well rounded. I don't expect anyone to agree with me and frankly I don't care. I feel I am getting what I want out of Budo Taijutsu and if I feel like going to a boxing gym to train in boxing or kickboxing or grappling, I will adapt quickly. I've done it before, I can do it again.

Cool, thanks battousai16 that would be interesting. I've never got into the whole Bruce Lee thing even though I admire him for what he did. I just think MA have much more to offer than just fighting anyway.

I'm so sorry my example was so illogical SupaNinjaz. Your approval means so much to me. So I exaggerated a little. Hapkido is a more complete MA than Muy Thai, does that hold some weight for you?, it makes me so happy to please you . Anyway where's your comment on the subject at hand? You seem too preoccupied with what I said. INTERESTING.

Read this article, https://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/traditionalMA.htm

Read this article it's long, but I think you'll find it interesting. https://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/traditionalMA.htm

Shabz said: If you can get a good lock on one guy and his buddies are around and want to attack you, you can use the guy as a shield in a way. Or if you know how to throw him from a lock you can throw him in front of his buddies and run like hell. I think it's better than trying to punch your way through 5 guys. Also Muy Thai is all about beating the crap out of someone. It doesn't give you options like restraining someone, for example what if your good friend has had one too many and takes a swing at you. It would be beneficial to be able to control him with out destroying him. I think over all Hapkido is a more complete MA that would be better for the streets unpredictable nature.

Well if your an aggressive person, I'd say turning it off would be the challenge. If your a mellow person than turning it on will be the challenge. I'm pretty aggressive, but I've trained myself to control it. I think you have the right idea.

I have a Japanese Cane Sword but I don't carry it around. I usually carry a small blade on me, but it's mostly for utilitarian reasons.

1 bokken 1 cane sword (Zatoichi) 1 pocket knife 1 blow gun I really want a Paul Chen pratical Katana and a Hanbo.

daeinwolf said: I study Budo Taijutsu as well and I felt the same way at first. After a while you see how it applies to many of the techniques you will learn, as well as with weapons. You will especially see this when you study the sword. Also you will eventually be able to do this stuff as easily as walking and have power behind your strikes. The idea is that you are striking with your entire body. Also have your teacher show you the transitions from strike to strike, this will make more sense to you. I hope this helps.

You make some really good points about not wanting to move offline it in certain instances, I agree totally. If you duck the haymaker to the outside of that arm and are close to him, you are at a position where the knee and the other strike can't be executed. You are basically in his blind spot to his side not in front of him and if you keep moving in that general direction you will be behind him. We have blocks where you don't move offline we move up and down, so basically your throwing your arms up as you drop down, making the person miss your head and striking the arm and thus redirecting it. I just want be clear, I don't know if I was clear. When I say moving off line, I mean moving off their line of attack, and creating a new one for you at the same time at a 45 degree angle to their lline.

JerryLove wrote: I guess I'm wondering why certain blocks only use the arm to block a strike. Moving offline, or getting out of the way seems more logical to me. You can also duck a haymaker, or if you can't for some reason I guess bone shields are necessary in that situation. Also moving offline to the outside or to the inside gives you a great advantage as long as you are realigning at the same time. So basically your in a more advantageous position, since you will be attacking peripherally.

That's interesting you pointed that out, I didn't think of that. That's the way we are taught to punch with our fist at a 45.