Alan Armstrong

I think you're missing something on this one... A keyboard warrior isn't exactly a title someone seeks. A hero isn't a title someone seeks but it happens.

A newspaper reporter seeking the truth, fighting to publish the truth, can also be considered a "keyboard warrior"

Coming from an art background, understanding critiquing and the difference of criticizing is important as they are two very different things. Critiquing is method of offering opinions for making constructive improvements whereas criticizing doesn't add anything valid to a discussion. Critiquing art styles of which one is better is usually avoided, due to one style has always effected the other somehow, somewhere. Art styles have been written up as a reaction to another; as Bruce Lee must have discovered the same parallel with martial arts, through studying philosophy. So there we have it, Bruce Lee critiquing martial arts on one hand and trying not to criticize it on the other.

Wing Chun Superman Punch What makes this punch a Wing Chun Superman Punch whereas other styles and systems also have access to it?

Wing Chun is coming from a boat culture is also a knife culture; easy to do the math to see the consequences from here on...

Wing Chun, roughly translated from Chinese to English is "Eternal Springtime" Some that practice Wing Chun are doing just that, to retain their youth; this is a part of the connection with Tai Chi and using Yin/Yang principles.Ving Tsun or Wing Chun no matter the spelling, are all pronounced the same; different spelling are how organizations try to differentiate themselves from each other. Wing Chun is a close combat fighting system designed for narrow street application and while on a floating boat, that utilizes the same principles in stand up and ground fighting. The Wing Chun system has anti grappling techniques and many other counter offensive strategies; aimed at staying vertical and mobile similar to Krave Maga; keeping open the option for making an escape on foot; perhaps to find or to introduce a weapon to the situation. As Wing Chun is a martial art system designed for street self defence purposes, for the average working folk (that might smoke cigarettes or over eats with a swelling stomach or very thin with low muscle mass) actually fair enough to say, Wing Chun is a watered down system, that is easy to learn and fight with from day one but not against professionally trained full time individuals in peak fighting spirit and condition. Which is probably why Wing Chun isn't a popular fighting style among elite cage type fighters but is very popular among street wise individuals; as in if the shoe fits, then wear it. Hopefully the reason why Wing Chun doesn't hold up very well in a pit, cage, boxing ring or an octagon, is a little clearer now; as it was never expected or designed to be.

Those having fun offending others only lowers their validity and credibility when opinionating.By calling Wing Chun; "Wing Chin" and "Wing Chub" is there really such a need to be so disrespectful. What you see is what you get; in other words perception is reality, just scratching the surface of Wing Chun via the internet, from external none Wing Chun perspectives, nothing is out of the ordinary, with the opinions expressed here. As there are 100s of Wing Chun versions to be discovered and discredited if the internet is the only source available to you. Misleading or not understanding something appropriately such as "chain punching compared to boxing" doesn't make it wrong, peoples interpretations depend entirely on knowledge or lack of and experience, skill and understanding; will make it work for some and not others; similar to a violin as one can play and another cannot. How alive does a person need to be that can punch 12 times a second with Wing Chun chain punches or with only one punch hitting very hard using, the one inch punch technique. There are many reasons why Wing Chun is the way it is, as it is a deceptive system of fighting against other Chinese styles, which worked well in China but not as successful against Western boxing methods, as Bruce Lee discovered and modified for his JKD. Wing Chun is an open enough system, which is open to change and adaptations; as JKD is only one example of many. How often the term master is used as derogatory term in Chinese martial arts; it's a shame really, perhaps it is better off in the Golfing world instead.

Well done David!

Alan, I don't recall anyone saying that they condone knocking students out. I feel, and maybe it's just me and that's fine, that hitting and getting hit teaches us and prepares us. I find nothing wrong with contact if controlled. Let me ask you, if a student goes 30 years and never has contact, doesn't know what it feels like and how they will react to actually getting socked, how do you think they will react when the time comes that get rocked for the first time? I know how they will react because I've seen it. To each their own but I see nothing wrong with contact. Punching in the air and punching Makiwara is all well and good but it does not prepare you for the real thing. It doesn't teach you how your opponent will react or how to deal with different types of opponents with different skill sets. Point sparring or patty cakes as I like to call it does not prepare you for the real thing. In fact I think it's counterproductive because it teaches you to pull strikes. Just my 2 cents for what that's worth. It is fine to pull strikes if the opponent is also.Still while sparring and pulling strikes accidents happen. I've had some real fights in the dojo due to me pulling punches and my opponent cares not to... game on I've been accidentally knocked out with bloody noses, cracked ribs and the rest as I have accidentally eye jabbed and groin kicked unintentionally. (Full contact in the dojo can very easily be abused) I've been doing martial arts long enough to know all the difference of none contact, light contact, full contact, %50 speed %50 power, vulnerable areas to hit, controlling the opponent and the rest... to killing a person, as I don't need to cut off heads to test how sharp my sword and techniques are. Martial artists can very easily become desensitized to how damaging and capable they are; for me martial arts is an art, a killing art, a dangerous art and not a sport involving referees. For a student to be a student for 30 years and never had contact (would be highly improbable) compared to a person that has had many 1000,s of head shots; I'll take my chances with the first choice. Head shots or knocking someone out, neither are constructive and what is to be learned from something we already know?

I don't know if these individuals are mentally challenged. They do not appear to be. But one video does not dispel the fact that McDojo's exist. I will ask since you gave one example and challenged us to decide whether this was a McDojo or mentally challenged people, does this mean that every video of a so called instructor or their students that show absolutely minimal skills that do not resemble the grade that they are wearing is mentally challenged? I don't know if you asked this to cast a shadow of doubt on the McDojo issue or what the motivation is. But what I will tell you is this... if a person is wearing a grade well beyond their capabilities and is selling their so called skills to unsuspecting students they are a McDojo. If a world renowned master that truly has the skills of their grade but is selling belts like they are candy but doesn't bother to actually teach them, it's a McDojo. If belts are given for doing your homework and getting good grades or anything else that has nothing to do with the curriculum of the art, it's a McDojo. If the instructor and their students couldn't fight their way out of a wet paper bag, that's right, McDojo. If the instructor makes excuses why they can't engage in Kumite or constantly refers to their grade certificates as though this is the only proof anyone needs of what they are teaching you, Yep McDojo! So do these examples indicate mentally challenged or McDojo? I'll let you decide. And to be honest, if these are mentally challenged students, I give them props and bow to them. However I doubt very seriously that every video of some phony fraud trying to sell themselves off as the grade they wear to make money from uninformed students is mentally challenged. Frauds, Liars, Snakes in the Grass... Yes, absolutely. I started my martial art journey back in the late 1970's; being naive and enthusiastic as anyone.Today looking back on the methods and curriculum taught; it could seem McDojo-ish. Yes all the katas were there but kumite was kickboxing. Yes katas without any bunkai explanations; ever! Karate strategies and concepts were never discussed. Never any ground fighting practiced or mentioned. Karate promoted as a self defence only but tournament fighting was highly encouraged. Working for the sensei for free and many students went along wth this, thinking that was the done thing. The higher ranks were very strong and capable martial artists, the respect for them was because of there abilities and not for the color of their belts. The kick boxing aspect was probably due to being in the 1970's era. Of course McDojos exist, but there is also questionable traditional karate schools that have very low standards, should they be labeled as McKarate?

My personal opinion on head shots with any or all human weapons is unnecessary when training. Hitting many different types of surfaces when training and conditioning, from soft to hard with human weapons is surely enough. How young is it, when it is considerered plausible to start having people knock each other out? Those that are in the knockout business, good for them, this isn't for everyone, me included.

"Keyboard warrior" A new age term, that describes; what do you think? For me it could mean a few things. One idea is, someone that practices conflict on line with others. Another idea, as a person that plays warrior games online. Perhaps, also martial artists that have no real dojo martial art experience, except what they have learned on the internet. Now it is possible via the internet, to have private martial art lesson. What does a "Keyboard Warrior" mean to you?

Is this McDojo or a group of mentally challenged black belts?

Hadn't heard the word McDojo till joining this forum; in the past there wasn't a need for the term or name. Looking at YouTube videos that are associated with McDojos, they can be comical to watch; with children's music playing along. But with further investigation, it seems to me that many of the McDojo videos are something altogether different than what they are labeled as. It seems to me that people that are mentality challenged are being videoed and labeled as McDojo students. Perhaps this is a point of view to consider when viewing martial artsist that were born at a great disadvantage than the rest of us. To laugh at them for being uncoordinated and awkward maybe they should be congratulated for their efforts.

This is a very worthwhile topic to discuss; thanks for starting it. This is my condensed take on this subject: 1.) Learn the kata not just the moves. 2.) Learn the bunkai and the obvious variables associated with all the movements. 3.) Learn the concepts and principles that are hidden that enhance the techniques and movements. 4.) Learn to kumite the way you learned the kata as close to aliveness as possible. 5.) Learn to condition the mind for combat and strategy, battle to attain peace. 6.) Learn to condition the body for combat and strength of character never for ego. 7.) Learn to condition the spirit for calmness, peace and harmony. 8.) Learn to unlearn what is unnecessary in karate, learn to be free from all ignorance; yours, mine and theirs. 9.) Learn from experience, wherever it might be, but do it ethically without unwarranted prejudice. 10.) Learn that learning is intended to be unceasing... a kata is more than its moves... a kata is an instruction book without pictures and words, a kata will never teach you on how to, dodge, bob or weave properly, as everything has its uses and limitations. Karate schools that use katas, primarily as a way to grade students without bunkai and then continue to kumite students as kick boxers, that also teach and preach martial arts as self defence; then pressure students to compete in sporting events; which is all from my perspective, representative as disjointed karate based on unethical practices.

The butterfly effect. When a butterfly flaps its wings on one side of the world it can cause a tornado on the other. As Bruce Lee's father said to his son Bruce "Make alot of noise when you reach America, so I can hear you over hear in Hong Kong" Bruce Lee was always searching for more efficient and effective ways of doing his martial arts. However the cause and effect of mixing medications for Bruce Lee was death. Electricians have another story. The story of an electrician called out to a factory to fix their power problem. He pressed a few buttons all fixed. The factory owner asks the electrician "How much is this going to cost me?" "$250.00" He replies!" The factory owner asks "Why so much money to press just a few buttons?" The electrician replies "Because I know which buttons to push" How does all this relate to martial arts?

Nice how Bruce Lee borrowed boxing ideas from the past, for developing his JKD and Boxers today are making a connection with them to use in the boxing ring. Bruce Lee more than touched aspects of martial arts, he tried to improve upone it and ended up drawing up concepts and ideas still relevant today.

How useful if at all, do you find using the cause and effect theory in martial arts? Do you use or practice cause and effect ideas in your training? Chinese martial arts, utilizes cause and effect theories in their respective styles, which is a major difference than using the right tool for the job mind set. A martial artist, that can make the best use of cause and effect, the more successful (It is considered) will be his/her Kung Fu.

Something to consider when trying to loose unwanted weight. When fat is being burned off, it might not be so obvious that muscles are getting bigger and bones are becoming more dense; equalizing the weight ratio.

Regarding; stretching, resting and repairing: Everyone are at different ages and flexibility levels, therefore what ever you do should be tailored and targeted to your needs alone; never mind everyone elso. Better to improve and maintain flexibility levels, than to regress and work even harder to get back what you've lost. People serious about being flexible stretch every day as much as three times a day. While still in bed in the morning can be a good a place as any to stretch out in. If ever I'm on the couch I will stretch out on it. Floor exercises with ankle weights for gaining strength and flexibility. Stair cases are good places to have a stretch workout on. Park benches, inside elevators, in the shower, kitchen table tops... every where, when ever possible. Learn every stretch possible and use the ones for your needs. Yet more important than quantity is quality, by not cheating on stretching exercises it is possible to get more from less. Flexibility isn't just about stretching muscles, thoughts can create unnecessary muscle tension also, therefore having some humor or happy thoughts will contribute to your overall flexibility. Shaking legs and arms without stretching is another amazing way to create more flexibility without a tug of war on muscles. Anti inflammatory foods is another contributing factor for gaining flexibility by practicing to cut down on uric acid foods; seeds are a known food to repair muscles. Hydration is another contributing factor for gaining flexibility and pliability. The real aim should be, to become a more pliable human being, this will cut down on unnecessary accidents and enhance overall performance. Another aim should be to strengthen to your flexibility levels...

Stretching with a partner. Hook your foot around your partners head, resting your foot on their shoulder; all of this while both in the standing position, preferably next to a wall. Your partner with bent knees rises a little while you with leg being streched push down. Second part, you relax a little your partner raises a little, this is PNF stretching; continue this... Remember to breath out every time you relax and your leg is being raised a little higher. Your partner all the while has your leg locked in to position with their arms, all the while you are holding on to your partners arms. Your partner also has your supporting foot looked with their's. Tap out when you have reached your limit. Shake your legs out, then do the other leg and repeat the process. You are stretching both legs simultaneously. Warm up before every stretching session, usually to a light sweat level. Practice your kicks. Afterwards for the cool down. Massage, foam rolling and a little static stretch after workouts will improve flexibility also. Understanding the theory of how to decompress the hips for a greater range of motion is worth investigating; which also includes understanding the synovial fluids function to lubricate the hip joints for healthier kicking movements. Understanding hip turnout positioning and wedge principles, will help strengthen your kicks and make them safer to practice without damaging yourself due to bad form and technique. The better or more experienced your stretching partner is the quicker the improvments in your flexibility will be. Everyone is different, therefore flexibility improvements will differ from one person to the next, time, patience and practice, is the key to becoming flexible. Teaching muscles to relax and making muscles longer are two methodologies to keep in mind also bones, tendons and ligaments are a major part of the equation, never to be ignored.

Being related to and spending alot of time with a person, that is required to carry a gun 24/7 as a law enforcement officer, is involving me by association. The perspective in society is very different now than it once was in the past, such as public places that were once deemed as being normal, low level risk for violent acts, are now high risk as potentially dangerous locations, whereas traditional places of violence are not so much now, due to being monitored and patrolled by professional security personnel. What I am saying is that, rules of engagement/defense from and against potentially dangerous people has changed and evolved, in to very unpredictable ways and places, therefore awareness for martial artists needs to be modified, for more possibilities of danger, than ever before.

Let's play Devils advocate here. The martial arts isn't standardized, therefore a black belt from one style to another will never be equal anyway; it is their curriculum, they can do whatever they want to grade their students; even if a white belt in Muay Thai Boxing is laughable, it is still their prerogative to do so. A five year old black belt and both parents have been involved in martial arts for many years, so has the child since birth (Becoming a Black Belt by default) the child is not much different than being born in to the circus business, of course to be part of the parents performance or show will become more than likely. Considering Karate birthday parties, shouldn't we celebrate the Founders martial art birthdays also, just because it hasn't been done as a regular way to celebrate them, why not, it is the done thing in the world of fine arts. This martial art academy in question isn't for everyone but everyone is welcome to try them out. The wording used in their online marketing campaign isn't targeted towards knowledgeable martial artist, but more towards giving regular people a chance to experience World martial arts, in an environment, that isn't as traditional and difficult as it is known to be in the past from Japan, China, Thailand, Israel... really who is to say what they are doing is wrong or right...if the students keep going back for more...then these people are supporting what they believe to be right and they know better first hand than anyone else. From a Devils advocate perspective.

Do you use triangle theories in you chosen martial art discipline and how do you differentiate them from the wedge principles? Here are some wedge principle explanations. https://www.karateforums.com/the-martial-art-wedge-principles-vt51023.html Understanding "Triangle Theory" Here are three just for starters; that can work for or against you: Wing Chun Grappling Boxing

Looks like a martial art academy, set up for newbies that have no prior martial art experience. Family oriented for fun and fitness, based on martial arts as a hobby. Has a viable niche in martial arts as a safe secure environment for learning self defence and confidence building. Looks very suited for people looking to improve motor skills, coordination and emotional issues due to being unfit or overweight. A caring role model martial art environment, without having to deal with real life pier pressure issues or ego problem solving skills as they will be discourage and or oppressed. Classes look as if are solely cooperative based, wouldn't expect competitive or resistance training against each other, if so very rarely. Could be and most likely wrong on all accounts, just what it looks like from my side of the PC screen.