Alan Armstrong

Never to undermine the importance of resistance and timing, but when showing or explaining concepts, for clarity and simplicity, they are better temporarily, to be put to one side.

Then how can bullying be explained away, as bigger children dominating smaller ones?

I posted or linked the video for the simple fact that it is possible (for some) to be extremely flexible. Doing flexibility exercises with weights (for some) can bring about extraordinary results; doing just enough this way for martial art purposes, the video was intended, ideally for inspirational support. We all have a different body makeup, due to genetics or ancestral differences and life style choices, we will all bend or contortion ourselves accordingly; that can change as things do with age. What we can do however, is educate ourselves enough to maintain or improve what we like to do as safely and as sensibly as possible.

To the Bold. Feeling maybe. Reality?????? Accept mediocrity and that is what you will get. Telling kids lies does not bolster their self confidence especially when they have to use the fuey they have learned in a real life fight. Wanna talk about crushing confidence? That will do it! Fear only exists until you have done it and realize that the fear was unwarranted. Fear exists in those that have not been pushed to overcome it. This is not their faults but rather their parents/instructors/teachers and adult figures in their lives. Confidence is fostered through overcoming the obstacles found in life. This is also how you overcome fear. How then does a student/kid/outcast overcome fear if the obstacles are not present? Kids are not stupid, they may be lazy but not stupid, and they realize when something is given and not earned. Most know that the school they study in (McDojo) are not teaching them anything effective. So is this security, confidence or do they just know that they can get maximum rewards with minimum effort? This is the definition of Lazy not outcast. Character building could be a lost art.Earning things the hard way, or when a little patience is involved, many cannot be bothered to try so turn to alternatives that are easy. Many complain about giving out black belts too easily; which is debatable; as all grades in martial arts are not all created equal. Where is the balance, as martial arts can boost one person's confidence while to another it is an ego boost instead. Some people are raised lazy and others are not, both can earn a black belt, yet only one really knows how to fight. This also brings up another issue, of having a false sense of security. Having very low self esteem and attending a traditional karate club, is going to be more demoralizing for them, whereas a McDojo environment as false as it is, might set the bar low enough for them to leap over with confidence.

Really, there are many contributing factors to being or gaining flexibility. Stretching physically is only one factor there are others that are physiological. I like and enjoy the health benefits from flexibility activities, most of all, the sense and feeling of wellbeing most of all.

Bruce Lee certainly is inspirational for martial artists but more importantly, how to express oneself honestly, might be more difficult to do than just being inspired.

My first recollection of fighting physically was at the age of five. So that is when it was appropriate for me to do naturally, without any prior knowledge or understanding, but to react back to attacks. Yes, I actually set off the attack in the school yard. As a fellow student, accidentally had torn his paper dinner card. As my father had previously shown me a magic trick, that when a person tears a piece of paper in to tiny pieces, hold it tightly in the hands and say the words "Abra Cadabra" the paper will be magically returned to its original unbroken self. Well the trick didn't work, having a bunch of kids out to get me back (thinking I was playing a trick on them) having to defend myself against them, low side kicks to their knees, actually worked keeping them from hurting me. Another fight using "chain punches" just came natural to me without any knowledge or experience. Looking back, children know how to fight, it is in us all, instinctively. Martial arts just names its moves and puts working sequences together, making them easier to remember, refines it, categorizes it in as many ways as possible, packets it and sticks a style label to it; put some philosophy, strategy and or religion to it, add hundreds of years or more to the mix and here we are today. Then after years of training and practice, being told to move and be natural, to the way we once were; go figure! Therefore martial art training for me, at about four or five would be Ok, give or take a few thousand years of development with it.

Gradually equals time, slow but steady wins the flexibility race. I like to think more to gain pliability than flexibility, as having a greater range of motion all day compared to only during working out sessions.

Absolutely right sensei8.Haven't seen any thus far.

Shaolin monks were once, not allowed to leave the temple, until they were, at the very end of their training, to be physiologically ready. This stands to reason as they have developed many deadly skills. To unleash the fighting Shaolin monks, into the world prematurely, would be considered irresponsible. Releasing children in to the world, collectively or one by one, before they are realistically capable is also being irresponsible.

Grand ultimate fist. Perhaps it was once upon a time. Or perhaps like calling "Greenland" and "Iceland" they are contradictions, where one is greener and one is icier than the other. Now the health benefits of practicing Tai Chi outweighs the fighting aspects. As the "Chi" aspect has been used and abused while continuously being discredit, also misrepresented, this is very unfortunate. Chi is an important aspect for martial artists to understand, to ignore its existence, is eliminating a vital component. A person can live very well without understanding Chi, whereas those that understand its benefits, can cultivate and practice with others, sharing beneficial health tips and perspectives, that have been practiced for many centuries.

Maybe you have never met outcasts on the floor and never will, due to that they have gone to the McDojos. Tournaments or competitive sports isn't what compels them, it's a sense of feeling good about improving their insecurities, just by practicing martial arts, virtual or not fulfills their needs, with the CI using/leading them for financial gains; having them recruiting more of the same, with testimonials and discount incentives, for themselves and the new students.

Toe to toe (mirroring) works against an un-experienced fighter, so as to attack their outside/blind side. An experienced fighter however, will not go toe to toe and will step out a little and pivot from the leading front foot; that leaves the opponent open for attack and secures an effective line of attack and defense simultaneously.

Sparring tip. Don't be an idiot, as in stop before rearranging the sparring partners features. Keep doing this till the opponent has had enough. One punch or kick doesn't make you a better martial artist than your opponent; but perhaps stopping twenty times to let the opponent regain composure, might be a better indication that you are.

Using the dantian, center of gravity correctly, not just in katas but in all martial art techniques. Martial arts is a core based activity, strengthen the core, as this is what drives the outer limbs. Katas without using the dantian are noticeable weak and noticeably strong when used correctly. 1000 practice katas without the dantian being used, may as well no bother doing them. 1 kata practiced using the dantian to its potential, will be a shining example to others. Changing the tempo of the katas correctly according to the techniques combined with the kias that should also change their resonance, from high to low sounds from short to long, burst of energy. These suggestion are intended to dispel the robotic or mechanical stigmas that martial artists have been accused of doing; sincerely hope these suggestion help you to perform your katas more the way that they were designed to be practiced, movements combined with a living breathing human spirit.

Then the alternative for outcasts is the pretend martial arts centres considered as McDojos. A placebo boost type of martial art, that is catering to virtual fighting methodologies by boosting students confidence. Martial artists that will never be able to fight realistically but are catered for anyhow. I don't look down on those martial artists, that for some reason are not walking human weapon personalities, perhaps all they really need is a person to put them on track; as the alternative for them is just leading them further astray, with false information and a false sense of confidence, McDojo style.

The term "Intercepting fist/foot" is a Wing Chun concept that Bruce Lee has labeled as his way "Jeet Kune Do" Also the now ever popular "The Bruce Lee one inch punch" is also Wing Chun; perhaps not very well known, is that it is a self defense system unto itself. Trapping JKD hand techniques, are also Wing Chun, to practice JKD without Wing Chun knowledge or experience, is just eating the icing on the cake without tasting the ingredients supporting it. It is easier for those that practice Wing Chun to comprehend JKD, if they have the desire, parents know and recognize their own children, those that practice JKD are orphans, if they neglect their Wing Chun heritage. It could be asked, why practice Wing Chun if JKD is an improvement of it?" Answer: "This is like the children trying to teach the parents on how to make babies" Parents always want the best for their children, yes they the children will surpass their parents... this is the nature of things.

While helping out in self defence classes for the public, it seems to attract one extreme to the other, very timid women and the fearless females; including everything in-between.The timid, perhaps are gentle by nature and kind hearted, being violent isn't really something that they can relate to very easily. Whereas the fearless females are more than happy to be physically active and aggresive against their opponent. I had not seen improvements in the timid overcoming their fears, in the same day, perhaps it is a work in progress project and not a quick fix for many people-who don't believe in themselves enough. As martial artists with a lifetime of training in the area of combat, relating to trepidation could be just as difficult as it is for the others, trying to relate to being fearless in a one day, self defense class. Another perspective:

JKD should look alive, in the moment, letting the tools strike effortlessly, not having any preconceptions of winning or losing.JKD practitioners should have emotional content when striking the opponent, fearless, using what ever tool that works for that individual. JKD shouldn't look like a style, but rather more like an individual's self expression, moving naturally without having traditional martial art hallmarks. JKD is an avenue by which cutting away flowery or unnecessary movements leads to efficient and effective fighting skills. JKD is difficult to learn, due to most people are busy copying or mimicking others, when being original as we all are born to be, is chipped away due to accepting organized conformity belief systems and styles. JKD involves continually refining and improving on oneself with an open mind, purged of discrimination against likes and dislike, rather always searching for the truth, as this is what sets us free.

Here are a few sparing tips, for beginners or those that need to refocus their fighting habits; yes it includes breathing.

Still once again the idea of treating muscles like dogs. Muscles like dogs are more obedient when they are tired, this is why muscle stretching effectiveness for flexibility, is better after a workout than before.

Sometimes it isn't stamina, you could be trying too hard and not using your techniques enough.Suggest slowing down, pick your shots and try getting in to your personal flow state. Too much attention spent thinking what is around you and not enough focus on what you should be doing, is a typical problem, that is easy to fix with practice.

Trepidation was an issue for some students while attending a JKD school.Reason for this was the school was reality based that never practiced one step sparring, there was however focus pad kicking and punching. When sparring, the CI wanted students to clash 50/50 and meet half way; which was something my previous training and personal preferences are contrary to do; as I like to use flanking tactics. As flanking tactics work well against head on attacks, there was alot of trepidation in the class; they did however over come this in a very short amount of time.

Star Trek: A lesson learned mushybees Now it is my turn to bow out

Original question and statements Female UFC fighters, like it or not; they are here to stay. Is this fair to say, is ths correct? Eventually with equality and diversity men and women, will be fighting each other in the octagon, in the distant future; it's just a matter of time. Is this fair to say, is this correct? Will you be for or against men and women fighting each other in the octagon? Is this fair to say, is this correct?