Alan Armstrong

Something considered normal in one culture can be considered not normal in another; cultural differences for example. Child prodigies are outstanding due to their abilities for their age. Mediocre talent is normal when age matches ability. Normal and outstanding can be a means to measure with in generalizations. We all have normal and outstanding within us. All martial artists are outstanding in comparison to the rest of the World population; from a combative aspect. In the marital art world, further divisions can be made to what is normal or outstanding, depending how a person wants to compare one aspect to another. Outstanding should be reserved for things or people that stand out in a positive way. There are those that strive or hope for normality due to abnormal circumstances, their battles can also be considered outstanding, due to the fight for normal is greater than most of us can imagine. My personal "Internal Outstanding" is due to overcoming serious health issues; therefore any exercise workout, is a personal achievement, no matter how small it is or seems to anyone else, that might view it a something "Very Normal"

Are you a peaceful warrior? What does a peaceful warrior do differently than other warriors? I believe a peaceful warrior uses violence as a last resort in problem solving. To be a peaceful warrior, it takes a deep understanding of the causes of conflict and rivalry in all its forms. Understanding harmony and conflict in nature and its interactions, is another aspect that needs to be taken in to consideration, as what is considered good or evil in human standards, could just be due to the nature of things behaving as they should. All aspects of communication is another area that needs to be understood in averting danger due to communicating appropriately in all situations. What do you consider important aspects to be a peaceful warrior?

Experience can crush talent, but a person with experience doesn't want to do this, especially from a mature person's perspective. Talent needs nurturing, encouragement and support from others. The talented also needs other important aspects such as self sacrifice, dedication and hard work. The talented need to be hungry for success, goal orientated and have a strong sense of self belief. Talent should be nurtured by the experienced and not the destroyer of it.

I don't think being a Barbie vs a Tomboy is enough to overcome the physical differences between men and women. Women who compete in the Olympics are the real deal. They train just as long and hard and have just as much fighting spirit as their male counterparts. They're not Barbies. Yet they still compete separately because the physical differences between the sexes require it. Let's look at swimming. The woman's world record of all time for the 400m individual medley is 4:26.36. The slowest male competitor in Rio last year swam it in 4:16.8. So the slowest male beat out the all time world record for women. Let's look at running. We'll look at the 5000m. The female all time world record is 14:11.15. The slowest male competitor at Rio did it in 13:07.17. Again the slowest male beat out the all time world record for women. And I didn't go cherry picking these examples, either. I just picked two random events. I'm sure you could look at almost every Olympic event and the vast majority of them will have the slowest man still beating the female world record. Men and women are just built differently. And that's ok. You are picking out race competitions with running and swimming, UFC isn't based on an A too B the fastest wins.

Well its a system he blended from several but primary influence is Shorin Ryu. ~Lynn What's to stop you 'blending' things a little further and creating your own school? I agree with kusotare.Have taken the idea a step further by starting a new topic, with this idea in mind. http://www.karateforums.com/starting-your-own-martial-art-school-vt50913.html

An experienced fighter can read an opponent like a book. A talented kicker for instance isn't ready to deal with an experienced counter striker that has learned to deal with every conceivable attack. My game is usually to put the opponent on the defense but not enough to encourage the counter offense. I like to create tension and uncertainty in the opponent by being fast with combinations and unpredictable from where they came from.

This might be an insensitive for many females to become UFC fighters if they could fight men in a physical environment, such as the Octagon.

Starting your own martial art school or just thinking about it? Sometimes starting your own school is the only logical choice depending on circumstances such as living in a rural area or located in a small town setting. There are those that have a passion for cross training that add martial arts and dance to their curriculum. Renting your own space to train in and subletting space to other organizations is also an option. Or renting floor space twice a week for a few hour might be more appropriate for an up and coming martial art school. What would you suggest to those wanting to open their own martial art school. If you having any questions of how to start your own martial art school, this is the right time to ask. What type of martial art school would you like to be the owner operator of? Perhaps you have started your own school and things aren't going according to plan; this also would be a good time to ask others for their input.

Could be too big of a blow for the male ego for a women to beat a man in the Octagon. Or perhaps some women don't believe it is right for females to hit males, as it seems unethical for them.

Females are not all built the same neither are males. Manly girls and girly men for example. Jock chicks and Tom boys that like to fight are becoming ever increasingly stronger, tougher and more resilient than ever. These UFC women are the real deal, they don't have Barbie sparring partners, more realistically they are training with her partner Ken, in the gym bench pressing him.

I wouldn't have that as a goal if I were you. But hey!! To each their own. GI snapping isn't my goal, but hey if that's the way you comprehend it, that's your prerogative.

UFC isn't a strength contest, neither is soccer, technique, speed, skills and other factors have a bearing on winning.

Not mentioned so far, that needs a little attention is to spend some time learning terminology in your chosen style. At the least, learn the terminology that relates to the material and techniques covered by your CI; both in English and the native language equivalent.

With having four years experience, it sounds like the owner was using you for a temporary position, till the moment was right to take over completely, without you. Look at this as an experience for the future, when you have and run your own school. Obviously you are a responsible type of person, use the time you have to improve your skills to be a better teacher; the more you know the more you can pass on to students. In the future, set yourself up so you cannot be debunked, be independent and secure in your position. Learn the business side of martial arts also and stick to your dreams and ambitions. When one door closes another one opens, be prepared to walk through the next door more stronger and confident every time opportunities knock.

There are karate techniques that need to be snapped out, making a GI snap sound emphasis it.

Trans gender has hit every area, it will hit the fighting world also; perhaps this is how the transition will take place.

Contracting and expanding is something we do without thinking; breathing for instance. Telegraphing techniques to the opponent makes them easy to defend against; hiding intent in natural movements is an advantage; not only in sparring but also in self defense situations.

Try to avoid it! Gi snapping / popping probably means you are doing the technique poorly. K. Why is gi snapping wrong?What is right for one style might be wrong for another.

Karate core principals. How does your karate core principles differ or perhaps they are the same?

Female UFC fighters, like it or not; they are here to stay. 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. Will you be for or against men and women fighting each other in the octagon?

Gi snapping is an art in itself. Not all martial artists develop this skill, adding a snap to punches, kicks and blocks. Gi snapping techniques in karate is normal practice. for those that have not mastered this yet, what are your suggestions to help those, that haven't developed this unique skill.

My intention was to improve upon my kicking and flexibility skills mostly.The karate school I belonged to closed down so TKD was an easy option to choose. I actually brought and introduced many of my karate friends to the TKD school. I won a gold medal in the TKD provincials at the time. The head instructor did not congratulate me he just said "I'm surprised you won" The other instructor spent more time, giving out tips on how to beat me at sparring to the other black belts, than trying to helping me improve; due to many embarrassing moments for them, during when I was a white belt in their style. The black belts there were giving me all kinds of excuses why they had poor sparring skill against me, while others tried to insulted me by say that "You watch too many martial art movies" My intent was to learn TKD and not to be embarrassing anyone or to be disrespectful. I went there to learn, others there viewed me as a competitive threat. Well, it sounds like that school is run by jerks. They certainly had their way, not saying they were jerks, they were sport orientated which made students feeling vulnerable, outside of class.The CI's were replaced shortly before I quit, perhaps they went on holiday or it was a permanent thing, don't know for sure; couldn't be bothered to ask at this point.

Clarifying Okinawa martial arts to Chinese; as requested. Chinese martial art theory contains Lao Tzu, Confucianism, Yin/Yang theory, Bagua, Chinese medicine, energy and chi theory, Animal and insect bio mechanics and mannerisms, human bio mechanics, I-Ching, the elements of water, wind, metal, wood, mountains, earth and heaven..

Here are some simple karate examples and explanations on contraction and expansion in Shotokan.

Testing tips from white to black. What tips do you recommend from white belt all the way up to black belt. This also could be the right time to ask higher belts questions, in helping you to move up to the next level.