Alan Armstrong

Ninjitsu is a worthwhile phase to go through for a martial artist to learn. Hiding and blending in with shadows. Staying being lighting as to not cast shadows. Learning how to blend in with crowds when there is nothing to hide behind. Positioning and concealing one's self. Effective attacking and escaping skills. Treading quietly and leaving no traces. Developing climbing and agility skills. Having a variety of weapons to discover and practice with and learning to use every day items and found obects as well. Developing a heighten awareness of surroundings and using it to one's own advantage. Using reflections and mirrors towards seeing behind one's self or in awkward circumstances. Sensing dangerous people and their intent quickly. Using one's memory to remember where exits are located and means of escape. Remembering faces quickly. Ambushing and sentry attacking tactics. Utilising covert skills. Take advantage of distractions in the environment such as noises or chaos. Lean how to create diversions. Study how people move and notice their weakness. Intelligence gathering practice that includes memorisation techniques. Improvising in situations wherever possible. Learn yoga as a way to bend the body in to shapes that fit the environment such as rocks. Use and create anxiety and nervousness tactics against your opponents. Wear appropriate clothes for what you are doing. Learning Samurai. The Last Ninja

Back to the obsession of footwork. Footwork be it soccer, tennis or basketball can make or break an athlete. In the younger years, those that had the dance moves and were light on their feet became the popular one's. What would fred Astaire be without footwork. Bruce Lee taught dance footwork before becoming famous as a martial artist. 1) TKD Stairs Drill 2) Point Sparring Footwork 3) Bruce Lee's Footwork 4) Your Best Footwork 5) Karate Footwork Bonus Challenge: The Ali Shuffle 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Ali Shuffle Tutorial https://youtu.be/9PamtxhzwVM Are you not Obsessing about footwork yet? How is your Shifting footwork? Drop shift https://youtu.be/KGX5wYp_adA Angles Shifting footwork https://youtu.be/36kjVsiChYQ Art of shifting https://youtu.be/po9Z-vgHkYg Muay Thai Shifting https://youtu.be/FHWPcfPRZgQ Angle shift to counter punch https://youtu.be/4ReNvvc4XOw

I agree with you about a lot of American males being "top heavy." But it's not for lack of training something like footwork. It's because of the most common question asked among males when determining masculinity: "How much you bench, bro?" It's a lack of willingness to work the legs under heavy loads. Not many squats going on in the vast majority of commercial gyms. Bench press for days, but not squats. And I love hearing the term "leg day." One day a week for the legs, but the upper body gets worked like 9 days a week. It comes from the image culture, where a vast majority of fitness advocates only really care about the muscles they can see in the mirror. This means chest, biceps, and quads. And the squats I do see tend to be half squats or worse, with all kinds of funky motions. Or even worse, squatting in the Smith machine. I would also mention that the advent of the bench press has led to the decline of the use of one of the best (and most useful) upper body exercises ever used, the overhead press. It's a much better exercise than the bench press, because it engages the entire body with the load. It's downfall is that bench press numbers go up faster, and no one wants to hurt their ego by getting caught in the gym doing a standing overhead press with only 25 lbs plates on each side. Many years ago, before the bench press came along, the press was the strength standard, and strong men had strong presses. The removal of the clean and press from the Olympic games also lent to the decline of the focus of training the press. Ok, rant over. Nice rant

While getting back on track and getting even more obesed with footwork. The biggest tip ever at getting great footwork is to have fun practicing it. Another tip for footwork drills is to listen to shuffling dance music. Of course there needs to be some shuffling footwork to go with it https://youtu.be/oGTgOX5rOlI Then all set and primed for karate spider web drills. Have fun!

There is a tendency in the West to be top heavy triangular, similar to the cartoon bullfighter with little legs and a big chest. The opposite is true in the East where having strong legs with the triangle base wider at the bottom. This stands to reason why top heavy things or objects fall down easier than bottom heavy objects. This is also true of people, that have amassed a lot more muscle disproportionately in their shoulders and chest, in comparison to their calves and thighs. This is all generalizing conjectures but knowing there is an element of truth, is worthwhile considering to prioritise what works best or needs addressing for improving footwork.

Try to get at least 10 hours a week training in boxing. My base MA being Wing Chun. Gotta laugh when Seeing boxing vs Wing Chun videos, I try not to beat myself up about it. As my father was a pro boxer at one point, there is a something genuinely genetic in me that finds boxing to be something natural, unlike any thing else I've tried. Boxing feels very contradictory to Wing Chun, perhaps it is the contrast between them, is where the challenge is in connecting them. I feel that boxing improves my Wing Chun and also Wing Chun improves my boxing. Spend a lot more time limbering up the shoulders and arms before boxing and warming up with footwork drills, whereas in Wing Chun it is more of stretching tendons, quickness, sensitivity training and silmutanious direct attack and control the opponent techniques. Whereas in boxing making full use of combination punching which involves Pivoting Torquing Tilting; with an emphasis on palm up, thumb up, palm down and thumb down punching techniques. Whereas in Wing Chun forward pressure driving or Wedging forward front facing at close range. In boxing being able to use long range tactics, as well as Incorporating Bruce Lee's five ways of attack principles. Have never considered giving up boxing for Wing Chun, or the other way around. Or to think that or to say that one is better than the other. They are both just ways of moving that feel right in their own respective ways. There is an efficiency in both that work together for the same cause of landing strikes and defending blows. Crossing over similarities as in balance and differences between the two arts, with systems that works best in the moment is something I enjoy being able to do at ease. Difference in Boxing and Wing Chun is not just in punching but also in footwork. I think the trick in using both is to box and add a little unexpected Wing Chun or do Wing Chun and add a surprise or two with some boxing. There is also a mental difference between Wing Chun and boxing, where there is a backup paradigm to quickly change to an attitude that meets the situation if the need arises. For me boxing is a sport with the gloves on and when the gloves come off it is a martial art.

Another perspective

Are you ready for a challenge? Footwork, we need it, therefore becoming obsessed with it is important to master it for combating purposes. . Training the bottom half and coordinating it with the top half takes a lot of practice and know how. Footwork is part of defence and offensive tactics that put a sting in to strikes and takes some of the power out of being hit. Coupling that footwork with speed, precision, timing and balance. No matter the martial art, balance and keeping it while simultaneously in motion becomes more important than not. While pivoting and turning from the hips instead of from the shoulders is where it is at. Keeping that lead leg pointing at the opponent no matter the angle or reason. There is nothing natural with footwork for combat purposes, it needs to be something trained and gained to become ingrained. Footwork gets you where you need to be and also out of where you shouldn't. Mistakes in the footwork of your opponent is where you can capitalise on and score, while not making any of your own. Up your game with footwork, making you be able to hit harder and smarter than otherwise possible. Cuban boxers are famous for their footwork, could have something to do with the native dance Salsa. Are you ready for the footwork challenge? Try this https://youtu.be/LHuPbdukZvE Here is some light Sparring with fast footwork for inspiration If that was too easy then there is this Bonus Challenge: The Matrix Shuffle

Some advice from a boxing coach on this subject.

An abs roller seems like standard equipment for those that exercise regularly also with many boxers. This is what one looks like if unsure of what it is. https://youtu.be/TtdBMkZDQS0 Personally I use an abs roller on a "daily basis" at home and at the gym. Being creative with the abs roller, using it in different directions and ways to make best use of it. Mostly by combining stretching and rolling with the wheel, to increase strength with flexibility. Of course still doing other exercises other than abs rolling such as but adding abs rolling to a circuit training sessions is most certainly to my mind a welcome addition. Perhaps the abs roller is also popular with martial artists, do you use one on a regular basis or not at all? Doing abs rolling right like all things is important. Is the abs roller a waste of time or do you recommend using one to others?

Legs kicking legs like a baseball bat, is hard hitting hard, depending on angle, location and velocity, there are many uncertainties built in to this type of striking. Crippling an opponent or oneself with a kick is a gamble. Skill, tactics and strategy is to make proper decisions to prevent injuries to oneself and to win a match or fight without incurring disabilatating injuries. Kicking pads is not the same as kicking another person's bones. Bones or a kick travelling up to 75 MPH hitting another object bones at 75 MPH is similar to hitting a stationary object at 150 MPH; which is something never really realistically trained for; as there is no absorption of energy. Kicking safely and defending strategies against them confidently is possible, as bone against bone is only one method of doing this, there are however other options to consider. So good luck with the hard hitting kicking and please try not to break a leg. https://youtu.be/H9A7bivZbHk

Another person's beliefs and perceptions, how they can effect your performance. Are you enjoying the benefits of the pygmalion effect or is it pulling you down? How to get a positive loop in your jiu-jitsu game

LastKing, a few ideas for you. Have you looked in to using, Power knee stabilizer pads? https://youtu.be/opzg1i-hpmU Meniscus recovery

Here is a word that really relates to this topic Both for the Swallow and Tiger tenacity the quality or fact of being able to grip something firmly; grip. synonyms: persistence, pertinacity, determination, perseverance, doggedness, tenaciousness, single-mindedness, strength of will, firmness of purpose, strength of purpose, fixity of purpose, bulldog spirit, tirelessness, indefatigability, resolution, resoluteness, resolve, firmness, patience, purposefulness, staunchness, steadfastness, constancy, staying power, application, diligence, assiduity, sedulousness, insistence, relentlessness, inexorability, inexorableness, implacability, Tiger Swallow sounds like an intersting mix. Personally, slipping in to a character and getting the right mind set works. Something actors do to help get in to and play the part. Switching to Dragon for instance, helps with appearing and disappearing at will, bobbin, weavin, slipping, flanking. Also related to Dragon is sky and ocean, which connects to throws and takedowns. Dragon techniques movements are more tendon based, putting strength into play. Dragon being mythical with no real equal on Earth, is another aspect, to be able to have something extra ordinary beyond what is considered normal. Tapping in to a persona of one type or another, be it Tiger, Swallow or Dragon IMHO is a very valid and useful method of going beyond mediocre limitations.

Perhaps looking at it another way, such as engines and chassis.Just like different types of vehicles have different engines so does martial art systems. It could be said that karate has a low frame work firm footed for stability where Muay Thai is build for explosive power and is on the toes. Depending on your requirements for a martial art and vehicle will depend on your personal preference and needs. Considering karate is for self defence and Muay Thai is the national sport and pride of country Thailand. A Thai boxing gym is set up with weights and a boxing ring, where as a karate dojo has usually a nice clean polished floor and very sparse for training equipment. Martial art engines for different MA systems differ a lot, they all have their unique way of driving techniques, the trick is to find one that is suitable for your chassis that works for you. As Muay thai is the way of eight limbs, maybe that is too many variables and not suitable for some, then western boxing might be a better choice to pursue. While another person is very supple and artistic, but not aggressive enough for head to head combat, then practicing Chinese forms could be more to their liking. Suggest picking a martial art, that leans towards one's own natural abilities, which could be genetic or culturally based; as in what feels natural. Western boxing for one person, is like a duck taking its first plunge in to a pool of water, while another person boxing looks like one of the most difficult things ever invented. Boxing can be a way to vent an angry personality harmlessly. While taking karate in the late 1970's I had my first encounter with Muay Thai. Quickly learned that.. Taking karate is a form of self defence where In Muay Thai is close to becoming a human weapon. Whilst staying with karate was suitable for me at the time in the past, now I like the physical aspects and demands that Muay Thai training offers. We are all capable of becoming far more educated in our choices than it was in the past prior to the internet, suggest taking full advantage of this opportunity to survey the best suitable options available.

Dominating a fight takes two important factors, one is to be able to strike at will and not be stopped and the second factor is to be able to avoid being hit. Knowing what to look for and taking advantage of weakness is a skill and then adapting to defend is another skill. Combining these two skills fully both attacking and defending is a never ending process of learning and adapting to the situation at hand. One of the most skilled at this is a legendary fighter named Buakaw. No matter the system a person practices there is most certainly something to learn from this extra ordinary fighter. Do you use the same tactics as Buakaw does in a fight?

Knees need conditioning as they are a weapon as well as a vital part of mobility for combat movements. If a person does not have proper knee mobility for whatever, reason then it is better to do something else. As it is possible to break a normal knee with a knee stomp, let alone a weak one. Face reality truthfully, fighting with bad knees is a big disadvantage, either get them repaired or strengthen them, if neither is possible then there is your answer. As this link below demonstrates what conditioning knees looks like in reality combat training.

I have been in your same boat LastKing.Initially started due to a nasty motorcycle accident that injured my knees. Karate exercise aggravated my knees as stretching wasn't enough as they lacked flexibility. It was a real handicap for progress, I didn't see a future in karate as I was in my late teens at the time. Doing some less stressful martial arts taking up Tai Chi, regaining strength in my knees, then moving on to TKD. While in TKD gained a neck and hip injury. Having some experience in Wing Chun settled for that. Later becoming involved in JKD three months in the Muay Thai kicking pads put me in a condition of not being able to walk properly due to the stress on my knees. Having come to the conclusion that what I really lacked was conditioning. I was right. Now focusing more on conditioning strength training for martial arts. Now I can kick harder than ever before and not concerned about past injuries. I have been using ankle waits now for years, for strength and flexibility. A part of tonight's training for warm up involved (while laying on my back) strapping a 12kilo cattle bell to each ankle and another 4kilos each in ankle weights. I also do alot of squats and stretching and use pulley machines. Point being doing martial arts techniques properly is not enough, conditioning helps towards being able to take the stress and strain. Now in my 60s, I train twice a day for about 3 or 4 hours, 5 days a week. This adds up to about 35 hours a week training and conditioning. This includes about 10 hours a week boxing and 10 hours kicking, the rest of the time is made up in stretching and strength exercises. My knees can now take the stress of kicking very hard, thanks to conditioning training sessions with time, patience and dedication. Having long gaps in conditioning is not good, better to slowly progress over time. Matching the power gained through conditioning with proper techniques is highly recommended. Hope that helps you LastKing?

There are different types of respect: Respect for others property. Self respect. Respect for one's parents. Respecting others beliefs. Respecting the environment. Respecting the capabilities of one's enemies. Respecting the wishes of a dying person. Paying respects to those that have died. Respecting others privacy. Having respect for the law. Respecting the differences between one's self and others. Having a sense of respect is a part of having social skills, being a people person or not, getting along with others is an integral part of having survival skills living in a society.

Perhaps it would look more obvious if watching adults ice skating for the first time, chaotic looking to say the least.None maists attempting Sparring for the first time, is gonna look more like a Brawling than anything else, like every thing else, just takes time to develop some basic skills. For the most, it lacks the resistant training, which is a Shindokan staple, because these participants don't want to be handled. They want to be coddled and go through the motions, and aren't receptive to our brand!! They seem to think that fights happen in slow motion and their attacker will stand still the entire counter. Still, I'm giving my instructors a wide berth to fine tune this program.....open mind, Bob, open mind!! You are great sensei8!Profound insights you have. Have to agree with you whole heartedly on your own comments. Once in a while I unleash myself on a student to wake them up to the reality of the fighting world; just with speed, accuracy and efficiency, with no pain inflicted. As a student can forget very easily and resort to over Interllectuasing and sound like a text book fighter without having any physical fighting skills. Also allowing a student to hit me and being able to take it is another wake up call for them to think about. Self defence from my point view, has little to do about fighting and martial arts and more about awareness, avoiding dangerous situations and de-escalating confrontations. As the best defence is not being there. However if the situation does call for something physical then keeping it simple, straight and to the point works best. Starting from using the kiss principle. KISS = Keep it simple stupid.

Perhaps it would look more obvious if watching adults ice skating for the first time, chaotic looking to say the least.None maists attempting Sparring for the first time, is gonna look more like a Brawling than anything else, like every thing else, just takes time to develop some basic skills.

In 1975 I sat in on my fist karate class.Already having some judo and boxing experience. The Sensei showed a technique of rushing in against the opponent with a finger tips up forward palm to the opponent's face obscuring the vision with the left hand, then quickly followed up by using a rear hand reverse punch to the face with the right hand. Having never forgotten what had learned that day, ever. Happened to join another karate club soon after, with in three months experience, the second Sensei putting me in a full contact match. Forgetting everything learned, using the palm to the opponent's face, followed with a reverse punch worked perfectly was the first thing that came to mind in the bout; I knocked the opponent out in the first few seconds. This hooked me on realizing karate works and carried on from there. If never sat in on that first class from another school, perhaps things wouldn't have turned out the way they did. The technique palm and punch could have well as been a self defence class instead or a bout with another maist. That one techniques changed my view point forevermore. Point being able to defend against someone wanting to hurt me and being able to physically do something about brilliantly was something very new for me. It was very empowering and gave me a confidence that was none existent in my past, due to being mostly getting beaten up. Now knowing I can fight back confidently was something I was never ever going to give up on for the rest of my life. A first class impression that lasted a lifetime. How can I deny this concept to someone who also really needs to know how? Might save some one's life depending on the circumstances. Yes, it is not possible to learn an entire martial art system in a day, but perhaps one good techniques done well might change the odds from losing a confrontation to winning one. IMHO

Tiger and Swallow, seems like combining speed, strength, timing, endurance, accuracy and agility. The Swallow remind me of mankind's latest invention, the wingsuit What would the fighting monks of old, have thought of this type of imitation? Tigers are a Yin/Yang animal hence the stripes, as they (contrary to cats) swim and enjoy water. https://youtu.be/sMnK63ppBXU As cats like to sleep and lounging where as swallows are constantly active and flying. Roaring Tiger Swallow Form Little Tiger Swallow Form The Tiger's Movements Like A Flying Swallow Form https://youtu.be/ZRJS7C6_fnw Roaring Tiger Swallow Form performed by a master https://youtu.be/WwmwonZLA88

Hello Himokiri; thanks for sharing. Tiger Swallow form. I believe to take the essence of the Tiger and also the Swallow, then combine them. As they both have formidable virtues that can be adapted together for a complete combat fighting system. As living in a high rise, Swallows fly close by my window; similar to this however the Tigers are lounging in the local zoo. Swallows are super fast and can change directions instantly. A super efficient bird drinking while in flight and can have a quick shower in a second. Having endurance to fly for over 1000 miles none stop and can adapt to server circumstances.

Solid post!