Alan Armstrong

There is always something to be learned, by bumping elbows with other styles. Do you remember the things you learned, when doing this?

There are those that say "Bruce Lee is the father of MMA" while others consider Bruce Lee as the opposite of MMA. I don't have a clear grasp of what MMA is. Many martial artists have done multiple styles and have one base style with add ons, to fill what they consider to be gaps or holes; but they don't consider themselves connected to MMA. MMA could be considered as a combat sport, that any style is acceptable? The Gracie's are BJJ and MMA?

Is MMA a style or a set of rules, or both?

Something of a treat. A Wing Chun seminar involving Master Wong. THANKS for watching; tell me what you think of it?

Not Russian but still something interesting and positive for all the Aikidoists out there. Bruce Lee's Secret Aikido techniques; as if you didn't know!

Should JKD be preserved or should it die with its creator? There are those that have chosen to carry on Bruce Lee's vision, is this actually possible? Here is one example of many:

Tommy Carruthers Jeet Kune Do Demonstration How do you like it; does it seem realistic and effective?

A question for the female doubters; How many of you have practiced or used these martial art techniques, that are contained in this video? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bioxzgnSlU8

Good points to consider Tempest.

As long as cage fighters are taking out their aggression on each other, go for it; they can knock them selves out doing it; I will gladly cheer them on. But when they start (the few) trying to disparage traditional martial arts, when their testosterone level is getting low, with cheap shot statements, just to boost their insecure side, do they contemplate or wonder where milk comes from...? Before it was in the supermarket! They would not exist if it wasn't for traditional martial arts. Another point being; what they are doing is supermarket martial arts, that has a short shelf life, whereas tradition martial arts is natural, intended to last a lifetime and has been here for many generations in the past and will continue to be here in the future.

I wouldn't want a Sensei brat teaching me, unless their power tripping ego was left at home, safely locked up inside the trophy case collection.Other than that little glitch; if the class is rewarding enough to keep me coming back for more, then age isn't an issue, it might actually be outstanding; but realistically the more knowledgeable the CI is the better. As CI's are more often than not, over qualified and underpaid for what they do, kids donating their time as a CI'ish teacher, might be the logical option for some dojos, with older kids teaching younger kids; so they can grow together.

You'll notice most of the females in this thread are arguing the opposite-- that a top-of-the-game female cannot compete with a top-of-the-game male. It's ironically the males in this thread arguing they should be in the same division. A trained female has a chance against an untrained male, which is why females still learn and trust martial arts. If you're gonna be attacked on the street, it's most likely going to be by an untrained person. But if you take male and female fighters with the same level of skill, the male will win out 9.9 times out of 10. What is the ratio of female UFC fighters to males?How many females like to do martial arts compared to males? Females fighting males in the future UFC could be in ten years time or a hundred. Things change, societies change, attitudes change, UFC had changed since its conception to 3 rules now with 30. Medical and scientific advancements change, perhaps muscle growing hormones for women, that make men seem skinny and weak in comparison. I had never seen women with tattoos as a child, unless it was the tattooed lady in a circus; things change. Who would imagine that not long ago mobile phones would exist "Star Trek technology" things change. Women in their sixties giving birth to babies, things change. Things that don't seem possible today, doesn't mean it will stay that way forever, things change. If women belive it isn't possible to be different yet at the same time equal to men right now, no problem; things and especially attitudes change. (With this post there has been 666 views; very fitting for me, as playing the devils advocate)

White Crane is a large part of Wing Chun and also the snake.The snake engine of Wing Chun has been mostly omitted due to the large amount of time to master this aspect. Ironically it is the snake engine that is better suited for female fighters. Female UFC fighters using this "Snake engine" theoretically against males, would benefit from it immensely. BJJ uses a different snake engine; the Anaconda; that works with the Wing Chun version seamlessly. The problem I foresee is females in the West believing in it enough to make it work successfully during combat...

Alan, I absolutely understand your argument but I have to differ with you on a few things. For one, although being slammed in a jail cell is a concern, it would be my last concern if attacked. My mindset, be it right or wrong to others, is to take the creep out anyway necessary so I can see my family. I get that it's a concern but again I go back to mentality. Fighting without fighting may work in theory but when faced with a guy intent on taking your life, all the small talk in the world won't change the outcome. It's better to be judged by 12 than to be cared by 6. So I would break the typical traditional Karateka mantra of love and peace and kumbaya singing around the camp fire but this goes back to the changing of the original intent of Toudi by the Japanese and latter by the western society. It was developed for war. Loose your weapon... use your hands and feet. It's meant as a means to protect your life. I can think of no better situation to use my training than if confronted with a person intent on doing me or my family harm. If I can talk my way out of it I'll know within seconds, if I can walk away I'll know within seconds, if the intention is there you only have two options IMHO, fight or flight. Personally getting a knife in the back or beer bottle smashed against the back of my head as I try to run away is not my idea of self protection. Maybe it's the Marine in me but I'm not turning away until the threat is nullified. If that lands my happy alive hiney in jail then so be it. Two - I don't know if I can agree with your comment concerning lethality. Again I was pointing out one scenario. I don't think I would go as far as saying that a trained Karateka is more lethal than a trained MMA guy on the streets. If the MMA guy has good stand up skills and is highly trained the outcome would be the same as a Karateka. The difference I was pointing out is the tendency to take things to the ground. On the streets this would more than not be a mistake. It's a difference in mentality and training not lethality. A common street thug with absolutely no training can knock out a trained fighter if the conditions are right and if he continues to bash the guys head into the curb I would call him lethal. I think the statement should be more on situational awareness and understanding the environment in which you are engaging in combat rather than lethality. I think it's up for discussion in either arena. There have been Karateka do very well in MMA and I think if confronted by a hoodlum an MMA fighter would be able to more than hold there own or better. Again I think it comes down to training practices, situational awareness and environment rather than lethality. An elderly man or lady with a broken hip in a wheel chair holding a guy with the intention of use it is lethal. That word is subjective based on circumstance. Mat; I think you have read me wrong: Fighting without fighting (physically) in a court room, on the contrary in the street, do what you need to do with passion and resolve, to protect yourself, family and friends; with every weapon available to you.

The style "Wing Chun" developed by a female Shaolin fighting monk, was developed for a woman to fight men; by enhancing female attributes and exploiting inherent male weaknesses. Wing Chun is the latest style of martial arts to be developed in China, some 300 years ago. Wing Chun's origin, legend or reality isn't so important, the principles however contained within the style are. How can Bruce Lee, that uses 50% Wing Chun in his Jeet Kune Do, be so easily discarded. As all of Bruce Lee's opponents are male and most likely bigger than him and stronger, he was intelligent, by testing out all of his theories first. Bruce Lee had to modify Wing Chun to fit him as a man; but the style was originally designed for a woman. The Wing Chun style of today has a male engine (Yang) but it should have a female (Yin) engine as it was intended; when females use it in combat. There are Wing Chun enthusiasts, trying to put the right engine back in to the style. This is why Wing Chun is called the lazy man's Kung Fu. Wing Chun has been described like a car, with a regular body that contains a supped up engine; this is the (Yang) male version. Wing Chun (Yin) however is very different beast... Want to know more?

UFC started off as close as possible to street fighting with only three rules; with combatants in a variety of different sizes. The table has turned. Now there are thirty rules to contend with; which are things that generally happen in a street fight, now illegal in UFC. The earlier UFC fights were very brutal with hair pulling and kicking to the face when the opponent is on the ground. Point being, traditional martial artist training for self defense purposes, are more lethal than cage fighters due to their intentions are for street wise protection "Urban combat" Different set of rules if caught fighting on the street compared to a cage. Martial artist will have their skills turned against them in a court of law, even if they are in the right at the time; this is where the art of fighting without fighting is worth practicing, with intelligent none violent intent, for court room self defense purposes. The ground and pound method of the UFC is something required for them to do but not a standard requirements for the traditionalists, that will land them in jail if caught practicing it on the streets, by the police.

Free download of: Book of five rings https://archive.org/details/MiyamotoMusashi-BookOfFiveRingsgoRinNoSho

JKD instructors giving out black belt status to students; isn't sitting well with those that believe in Bruce Lee's teachings and philosophy. As JKD belonged to Bruce Lee and not to anyone else including his students, friends and family. We have his writings and movie examples to go by including demonstrations and interviews for all martial artists to be motivated and inspired to do better. Bruce Lee said that "JKD is just a name" for many "JKD" has become a title, with the word "Black belt" attached to it. Soon the title of "JKD master" will appear and so on... all without Bruce Lee's consent. As Bruce Lee talked about the state of the martial art environment, do you really think he would condone his JKD to be taught as a system? Bruce Lee didn't believe in the martial art belt system, so how is it possible to have a "Black belt" in JKD? "Jeet Kune Do is the art not founded on techniques or doctrine. It is just as you are" Bruce Lee Therefore if there was such a thing as a JKD black belt, this is awarded to you for being who you are; just doesn't make sense. To practice JKD concepts is absolutely fine, giving yourself or letting anyone else reward you or to give you verification with a black belt for being who you are is ridiculous. Bruce Lee is the only person that can award you with anything regarding JKD; gratification of his teachings should be reward enough. Does this video look anything like JKD? It is a Black Belt test for JKD

Disqualifications in MMA is the reality on the streets. It has often been said that "traditional martial artistsis are no match for MMA fighters" when in fact traditionalists learn to fight and defend on the street. Timidity is a disqualification in MMA for MMA fighters, on the street timidity isn't really a worthwhile strategy to take advantage of, due to getting oneself terribly injured or even killed. MMA fighters are being elevated too high, from experience I know what goes up must come down; just a matter of time. Traditional martial arts has being compared to as a babysitter service or virtual martial arts with acrobatic dance gymnastic also described as exercises for the elderly public. Has the fighting spirit of traditional martial arts been consumed by the MMA mania?

Agreed, agreed, agreed! I am not saying that a female is not able to take down a male. But we are talking two different scenarios Sensei8. Your talking on the streets where there are no rules and the techniques that we teach can be employed to even the playing field or turn the tides to the females favor. Heck go back and read one of my other posts defending females against male. I can't remember the exact post but it was in terms of female vs male or small vs large or something along those lines. But that again was under a different context. We were not talking UFC. I am simply pointing out that in the terms of this post (UFC elite against elite) the male will come out on top every time because of the rules involved. We all know ways (or at least I assume we do) to take an aggressor out fast by means of submission, knockout, injury or even death. The difference is once you enter that cage you are stripped of the techniques that level the playing field of small taking on large and female taking on male. It's just fact. The male is genetically built over centuries to fight. It's in our genetic make up and a male of say 205 lbs is going to hit much much harder than a female of the same weight class. This actually skews the weight classes. I am taking into mind that both are equal in technical proficiency, skill, and knowledge. I watched a show years ago, I think it was fight science of something of those terms, anyway the were showing the power generation of a punch. The men punched two times harder (power) than the females and in some instances even harder. Its not an argument, it's centuries of genetics. Our bodies are built differently, it's science. Now having said that I agree with you 100% that a well trained female against a male, and allowing for all techniques, would more than have a chance against the male. Heck, take the number one equalizer weapon that any layman would teach a female, the groin kick. You can't do that in the UFC much less any other technique that we teach to equalize the fight. It's not an argument of whether females stack up in everyday life it's a question of rules in the UFC and what you can and can not do. If you take away our techniques larger or more powerful fighter will prevail. This is why the techniques were invented in the first place. Call it dirty fighting or what you will be this is the equalizer when a smaller man faces a large man or when a female faces a male. Obviously technique and intent will be the deciding factor unless there is a lucky shot but if you remove the equalizing techniques for the sake of sport and safety then size and power comes right back into play. It's just my personal opinion. Everyone is free to have there own. I am definitely not taking anything away from female fighters. Most could probably destroy me. God knows I do not train for 8 hours a day, have all of the science and multitude of trainers/ instructors to train me to be the best. I'd have to quite my job and find the fountain of youth to reduce about 30 years to even have a fighting chance in the cage against most of the fighters whether male or female. So I am not arguing the fact that women can stand toe to toe with men if trained. I am arguing that we are built differently and like it or not the male is genetically built for combative sports. In this case the elite male would over take the elite female on the same playing field and under the same rules (UFC). Call me a sexist or a bad instructor or whatever you will but I feel that these are the facts IMHO. Here is the latest fight science information.Punch like a girl ; has been known as a derogatory statement for a very long time; science proves otherwise as this video explains. For the statement highlighted in red https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8Qfhs_4z8c

The funny thing is, the female posters in this thread (myself and Lupin1) are agreeing with you. The opposing views are being presented by two men. Make of that what you will... It is just that some men here believe in women's capabilities more than they do; no need to make of that what you will... it's just the way it is.

Right on bushido!

Great point bushido. Traditional martial arts and UFC are opposites. As one is learning to respect, protect and defend and the other is learning how to insult, attack and destroy. The problem here is mixing the two on the same page.

Silence can be associated with reading. Silence can also be associated with meditation. Silence can also be associated with peacefulness. Silence is not often promoted, whereas sound always is. Angry people are very often noisy vocally, when happy the sound of music fills the air; booing vs cheering. Sound effects our emotions also our nervous system; in a positive or negative way; silence allows us to become in touch with our own emotions, as well as balancing our nervous system promoting inner harmony.

Capture the moment. Photographers aim to capture the moment at the critical point in time. Bruce Lee's intercepting fist, is also intercepting the moment to gain an instant advantage over the opponent. Photography is part of my profession, photographing action or moving objects takes a special type of timing, that can be improved upon with practice. Practicing and improving visual perception skills is possible but needs a keen sense of concentration, while following moving objects. My personal practice involves visually following water, spouting out of fountains, with practice it is possible to see faster than the speed of the flow; literally seeing the water in a millisecond in a frozen state.