Alan Armstrong

Both fighters need to be more bold and confident in their abilities, to finish what they started with some conviction, instead of dancing around the subject, in hopes that the other will miraculously, give up. She could have switched up her kicking techniques, instead of attacking his lead leg, which he eventually started to check. Where he was using Saturday night kicks against her, which might work well on unsuspecting drunks coming out of a pub, but on an sober energetic, ready and waiting experienced black belt, I think not. As he waa telegraphing everything, till eventually the moment of frustration was too much for him, then the acts of desperation set in, by rushing in was his only hope of making contact against her, by grabbing on and hammering, preventing her usual escapes. To her disadvantage, that he took advantage of, he also stepped up the pressure against her, by not giving her time to let her fix her hair, or straighten out her GI, two things less that he being a male, didn't need to be concerned about as having short hair and not wearing a Gi. Whereas in competitions, she would have had been allowed ample time to straighten out her hair and Gi, before continuing the fight.

It is easy to find the weakest link in oneself, to go long enough or hard enough till something breaks or hurts, pushing beyond the comfort zone will do it when exercising. Or going up against fully resisting people from time to time, is a sure way to see what happens when your not ready enough, due to the lack of endurance/energy or strength. Accumulating many years of martial art experience and knowledge isn't going anywhere in a fight, if all of a sudden your own weakness come out to bite you. This is why, to know oneself is most certainly a martial art priority, as opposed to knowing every one else is impossible. Self discovery, as a well rounded martial artist of stand up and ground fighting skills, tactics and techniques, is always a good thing to be able bodied about, if and when the time might arise, without warning.

From a semantic perspective, how words and meanings change, the word master in this day and age isn't going over very well with most people, better to down play, with some plain old fashioned modesty, than over inflating or overstating the obvious. As the youngest son was once called master and those that owned slaves. The term for master for a man then if a woman the term mistress should be used?

When tempers flare between students and teachers, how do you deal with the situation and has it ever happened to you?

This fight is a no contest, due to the male vs female setup. As the male is standing on low moral ground for fighting a female, whereas the female is given license to try to hurt a male participant. I recognize and have witnessed this type of scenario in self denfence classes, where the female defends against a male attacker. Where the male increases the pressure against the female depending on the amount of success she obtains. This idea of looking more like a self defense situation between a female victim and a male attacker, due to the indoor open space with no apparent exist, all the while, he is not trying to cut off any exists, as if he has the upper hand over her, due to him having the keys to the place and she has no exists whatsoever. She was expending her energy while he was binding his time, where it would only be a matter of time for her running out of energy to continue. Therefore in the long run, she would have lost to him due to exhaustion. As she is a point tournament fighter, with the referee to create gaps to regain some breath, while awarding points for singular strikes, in this fight however it is the opposite, of what she trains for. Which brings up the point of, fight the way you train and train the way you fight. As if this was a real fight or confrontation, one good blow should be followed up with another, then another, and another, to win by using tried and tested skillful fighting techniques. When she hurt him, instead of backing off, it was the moment to do the opposite and go in with everything she had to finish him. He was not using any skill against her or excessive viloence because it wasn't necessary for him to and she couldn't hurt him enough to incapacitate or detour him from continuing.

And ditto. Keep at it!Two of my close friends are also battling cancer right now.I've made some artwork that will be auctioned off with others very soon, money going towards cancer victims. Your sharing tubby and making people more aware of cancer, is how this will help beat this menace that affects all of us, be it friends, family and each one of us. Remember tubby, you have a huge amount of support behind you, get well soon!

Lots of valid comments about this fight. Still more room or opportunities for opinions. Such as the contrast between the effectiveness of a skilled tournament point fighter against a person that isn't. As if this fight was judged as a point tournament fight, she would be considered the winner, yet again, if this fight was on the street with concrete beneath their feet and objects present, she would have been bumping into objects at all angles. To be continued... Another look at LUCIA KOVACIKOVA'S fighting abilities, this time, against someone her own size and weight also a female, this time in a tournament setting.

One needs to be a specialist in the weaknesses of oneself. Finding and focusing on one of one's own weakness at a time, generally the most obvious, with the most room for improvement.

Story of Italian Wing Chun teacher in Shanghai. Might be interesting, as an Italian teaching Chinese martial arts to Chinese. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MNzC0sLGZDg

Picked up a Bluetooth MP3 by Sunstech. It is about the same size as my thumb. I recharge the batteries to the device and headset to the USB socket on the TV go figure! Just trying the MP3 out at home (radio mode) before taking out on the street, for workouts. The MP3 came with a few pre set songs, theme tune from Titanic and Barbie Girl; they will get deleted, once I can figure out how to program other songs on to the device. I had by chance, the Bluetooth working once, also thought that I had broken the MP3 by plugging it in to the mains, as it stopped working, not knowing any MP3 CPR but it started working again. Phewww! That was lucky. This technology is going to take a little getting use to, picked up a new Tablet, also going to take alot of practice to feel comfortable with. Anyone willing to share some hints and tips, will be very much appreciated.

A contemporary martial art master isn't comparable to one in the past, due to which century are you comparing with? Comparison with the past, students needed to be accepted by the teacher/master the process could take weeks, months or years, as today it only takes money. Martial artists of the past where educated very harshly, which would be considered as abuse compared to today's standards, therefore the founding fathers of a style were most certainly educated very differently than you and I today. Mastery of an art or a highly skilled craftsman was once respected as masters of their chosen trade, today it is a popularity contest that are valued above everything else with shallow, consumerism mindsets that follow trends and superfluous narcissistic glamour. For my understanding, for an example, there is no living bad master electricians, as those that were, have accidentally electrocuted themselves, point being, a person is or a person is not, as there is no such thing as, a sort of master of anything. It seems this being a master issue is very much abused, connected with TV chefs now days. A master was considered as a highly capable human being, that had real skills, knowledge and experience, that was apprentice starting as a youngster, learning from a master... to become a master eventually. Vincent Van Gogh the Dutch painter, never considered himself a master, neither did his contemporaries, but today we consider him to be one of the great master's of all time. What can we learn from all this? I for one understand that the word "Master" will have different meanings for everyone, for one it is a compliment, for another it is a disgusting title. The word "Master" has remained in our society for many hundreds of years, for good and for bad and is likely to remain this way for many reasons way in to the future. The word master, has been associated with education and figures of authority in the past. For today and for now "The Masters" with hitting little white balls with clubs instead of swinging samurai swords. I believe as martial artists, we should be more occupied with mastering ourselves, without losing the essence of its meaning, as in striving for constant improvement through out our entire lives.

Japanese Goshindo Goshindo is a Japanese martial art based on techniques used to train samurai. It incorporates the schools of Karatedo, Aikido, and jujutsu, as well as numerous weapon disciplines including hanjo, (similar to eskrima,) jō, bō, katana, nunchaku, tonfa, and sai. Swedish Goshindo Goshindo in Sweden is based on the flow achieved in modern martial arts such as boxing, wrestling, judo and thaiboxing. No weapons are used. Sport Goshindo There is also a Kodachi Goshindo system founded by Tetsundo Tanabe. It is now known as Sports Chanbara. [1] It is now considered as a free-style Japanese combat sport, which originated from the aforementioned Kodachi Goshindo (Self-defense with short sword). Self-defense Goshindo Goshindo is also an alternate name of the self-defense art created by Shogo Kuniba. His art is referred to as Goshin Budo, Kuniba-ryu Goshindo or Kuniba Goshinbudo Jujutsu depending on the organization. [2] http://www.thefullwiki.org/Goshindo Welcome to KF 6 finger fist

No worries, I'm sure your clunks can be sorted out. Give me a few days and I will get more in depth with what needs to be done with some recommend videos. Take care. Thanks, Alan; I'd really appreciate that. Yoga or any discipline for that matter, isn't going to miraculously cure clanking hips and aggravating knee joints.Understanding fully why this happens and using proper techniques, when kicking and exercises will. Here is just a primer on this subject to start you off on the right foot (excuse the pun) Self evaluation on your turnout is important. By using the clock method, with 12 being in front of you and 6 is behind you, then 9 will be to your left and 3 is to your right. Standing at 12, using an inside to outside crescent kick with the left foot, with your right foot pointing at 1. Feel the clunk in your kicking hip? Repeat the kick now with the right foot turned out to 2. The clunk should be a little less. Repeat the kick now with the right foot turned out to 3. Repeat to 4,5 and 6 if possible. Starting from this one inside to outside cresent kick, with the left foot, while the supporting leg points from 1 to 6. You should find that the more the supporting leg is pointing towards 1. the more your kicking hip will clunk and the more the supporting leg points towards 6 the clunk will disappear but instead the knee of the supporting leg will become affected with discomfort and eventually pain. The supporting leg, needs to have the knee inline with the foot. Turnout of the hips is paramount, otherwise the knee of the supporting leg will compensate for what the hip should be doing. Try out this little test for yourself, and let's see if this works for you. Also have a ballet teacher explain why turnouts are important, if one is available. I'll check out some exercises and more explanations for you also. This all might seem very complicated at the moment, but really, it is all easy, (like everything else) when you know how. Take care grenage. Hi Alan, That's great, thank you. I wasn't too sure on what turning the hips out meant, but the video makes it pretty clear. Looks like this might take a while to correct! Takes a while to correct, for me, it is a work in progress project, with no final finish date for completion. In other words from now till infinity. Hope you try out the clock, inside to out side crescent kick test. Still would like explain more on this turnout subject with other links... Turnouts with Talia just for starters More from elastic steel Take care

Solid post!! The small stuff?? To me, there's nothing small about Afib whatsoever. Afib isn't small but being concerned about unnecessary things that you cannot change that create tension are, for instance my mother in law.

No worries, I'm sure your clunks can be sorted out. Give me a few days and I will get more in depth with what needs to be done with some recommend videos. Take care. Thanks, Alan; I'd really appreciate that. Yoga or any discipline for that matter, isn't going to miraculously cure clanking hips and aggravating knee joints.Understanding fully why this happens and using proper techniques, when kicking and exercises will. Here is just a primer on this subject to start you off on the right foot (excuse the pun) Self evaluation on your turnout is important. By using the clock method, with 12 being in front of you and 6 is behind you, then 9 will be to your left and 3 is to your right. Standing at 12, using an inside to outside crescent kick with the left foot, with your right foot pointing at 1. Feel the clunk in your kicking hip? Repeat the kick now with the right foot turned out to 2. The clunk should be a little less. Repeat the kick now with the right foot turned out to 3. Repeat to 4,5 and 6 if possible. Starting from this one inside to outside cresent kick, with the left foot, while the supporting leg points from 1 to 6. You should find that the more the supporting leg is pointing towards 1. the more your kicking hip will clunk and the more the supporting leg points towards 6 the clunk will disappear but instead the knee of the supporting leg will become affected with discomfort and eventually pain. The supporting leg, needs to have the knee inline with the foot. Turnout of the hips is paramount, otherwise the knee of the supporting leg will compensate for what the hip should be doing. Try out this little test for yourself, and let's see if this works for you. Also have a ballet teacher explain why turnouts are important, if one is available. I'll check out some exercises and more explanations for you also. This all might seem very complicated at the moment, but really, it is all easy, (like everything else) when you know how. Take care grenage.

No worries, I'm sure your clunks can be sorted out. Give me a few days and I will get more in depth with what needs to be done with some recommend videos. Take care.

Breathing and staying calm is essential. Sweating over and worrying about the small stuff isn't worth the bother. Having an assistant instructor or two by your side to do the demonstrations and physical activities, while you are the task master, staying cool, calm and keeping yourself together, free of over exertion and stress. This way everyone benefits, you, the assistants and students, by creating a win win win situation for all.

If I cam make a suggestion. If starting out with martial arts, when the body is already fully developed, there is a tendency to not have been introduced to the concept of turning out the hips sufficiently. Ballet dancers spend alot of time on this aspect, from a very young age. If martial artists miss out on this aspect, there will be in about three months, these issues: 1: Always poor performance when kicking. 2: Eventual injury to the hips and knees. 3: Clunking hips when kicking. 4: Pulled and sore muscles, including joints. Having high kicks, is no guarantee that they are being done correctly or safely. The only guarantee to doing kicks correctly and safely is totally knowing what kicking is about from inside and out, without guessing or assumptions. I have witness many high ranking martial artist, that kick incorrectly. Bruce Lee had (when alive) excellent hip turnout while performing his kicks, he also had exercises that benefitted this aspect, not much different than ballet dancers doing barre strength, flexibility and conditioning exercises.

Thank you sensei8. For your supportive honest opinions here on KF. I for one of many, appreciate you efforts that have inspired me and others by you genuine interest in promoting martial arts in an open and respectful manner. The martial art organization that you belong to, must appreciate your commitment to providing quality and integrity in your efforts for them on many levels. I think many would agree with me to say, keep being you sensei8, no matter what life throws at you, as martial artists, when the going gets tough, the tough get rougher and more tougher. If all our battles were easy, then we will never be able to overcome anything or anyone, that is seriously worth fighting for.

Here is the movie clip for the rules of karate

We are in the same boat sensei8 with age and heart issues. Just keep rowing and growing in your martial art journey, there are still too many things to learn and understand. I hope you start listening to Alan Watts, he has some very interesting insights about looking at situation and things differently. I gave up driving four years ago, this elevated alot of stress for me. Giving up some things also gains in other areas. Modern living is stressful, therefore be a little old fashioned and let the world turn by itself, without pushing it from time to time. If in a position of power, then delegate some people who you can trust, to free up some time for yourself. Moderation is meeting all things half way through your own best terms and personal choices, not just in their way without equal mutual benefits. Remember, the cheese keeps moving, so keep loving, living and learning, wherever possible. What you have isn't cool but you are sensei8.

That's the way it has to be when teaching the younger crowd. Burning the candle at both ends with workouts yours and theirs back to back cannot be realistically maintained, to a high standard for very long.

To me this is bang on. A black belt should mean mastering of the basics....."mastering" being the key word here. Many time I see the interpretation of mastering to be "barely fumbling through" with a lack of a solid basic foundation and consistent performance. I don't expect a new shodan black belt to be super human' date=' but I would expect that they would have a solid knowledge of basic techniques, decent form, have their required kata down pat, and know basic applications. If they are regularly making mistakes in the kata, their basic form is sloppy and their lacking some fundamental skills then this person has not demonstrated that they have master the basics. I don't think we do karate (regardless of style) and flavors by advancing students who are not ready yet.[/quote'] Define mastery, because that word has very broad meanings. My former sensei claimed he’s never truly mastered anything, and nor will he ever. Mastery to some means perfection, and/or there’s no room for improvement. I think a shodan has shown proficiency in the basics/foundation of the art. A shodan must be able to use/apply those basics in many different situations. Kyu ranks should be able to look at a shodan and get a relative textbook view of the techniques. Obviously people’s physical abilities differ, and one has to take physical impairments/disabilities, and age into consideration, but a shodan must be able to apply what’s required for the rank. I’ve looked at kyu ranks as building a robot. The techniques are basic, and there’s little variation. I look at the lower yudansha ranks as making the art their own and starting to pass it on (1st-3rd dan or so). I view the middle yudansha ranks as teachers who are still making the art their own, but are more preserving and passing it down to the next generation (4th-6th or so). I view a master (6th and up) as someone who’s truly made the art their own, is fully versed in it, and is overseeing the teachers. The teachers’ teachers if you will. The highest I’ve attained is about 3 months before my nidan test, so what do I really know? I guess what I’m really trying to say is when you watch a shodan spar, you should clearly see him/her using the techniques the art has taught him/her this far, using them effectively, and not “getting lucky” nor the techniques working by chance. There’s other things too, but this is the easiest and most reliable assessment IMO. Without that ability, the rest of it, while important too in the grand scheme of things, is just window dressing. Define mastery you ask:Knowing what you are doing better than your piers, in your chosen field of expertise.

Totally agree with you, with the constant evaluation and being totally honest with oneself. What prompted this topic was my workout today. Could have made this topic about strengths and weaknesses, but playing on the weakness with oneself and the opponent, still works. As weaknesses also implies strengths. As started a new three hour, daily intensive workout for this week, tomorrow will be day five consecutively. Finding some gaps in my MA that need attention. Focusing for now, more on my weaknesses than strengths, a negative approach to improving. With 20 kilos of ankle weights, thick rubber thera bands and rocks of different sizes. Getting some funny looks from passersbys in the park with all my workout paraphernalia, also making some new friends by the curious about what I'm doing.

Congratulations italian_guy on your new adventure with Wing Chun.