Alan Armstrong

Have you given up martial arts only to return to it again? It is not uncommon for people to start matial arts then to put it on hold and return later. How difficult was it to return to martial arts? How long of a gap have you had between stopping and returning to your martial art journey? Why did you stop your martial art training and what brought you back on track?

Are you making bold moves when training? Here are a few ideas and please add a few of your own.

I was lead to believe that for every hour instruction in the Dojo, 3 or 4 hours should be spent practicing outside of the Dojo. In Chinese martial arts, 50% physical practice and 50% theory. In the West it seems that there is a greater emphasis put on the physical aspects of martial arts than the theory, whereas with Chinese martial arts the opposite is true. Perhaps this black belt thing is more important to the younger generation but personally being older it's an article of clothing. A black belt level that is sport trained compared to reality based are not equal; then taking in to consideration the talent or capabilities of the wearer, then the amount of time and effort spent; not all black belts are equal!

The boot idea in IMHO make ankles weak due to the support boots have. Whereas iron sandals force the wearers to grip tightly with the toes. I like to teach students to practice picking things up by griping with the toes and lifting them as high as possible; make a game out of it if possible.

Twisting contracting loading exploding.What looks like covering up, could actually be loading up, can be done in many ways. Duckin and weavin could look like defending but is really camouflaging, loading up a strike, with fists, elbows, knees and feet; against any open target against the opponent. This can be done in close, mid or long range situations; a surprise tactic that is difficult to read and or stop. It is like pretending to block, parry or cover up, or even moving out of the way backwards such as snakes, that do this before striking with their fangs.

Contracting vs expanding in combat has its benefits. Personally I like contracting to give the impression that I'm defending, my real intent is to secretly load up a technique then releasing it with power unexpectedly (fa-jin) There are many ways to use this idea of contracting and expanding, what or how do you use this to your advantage?

JR 137 and DWx could both be right. Being younger being more athletic and stronger can be viewed as more talented in comparison to an experienced fighter. As for techniques looking more prettier, more like sharper or stiff, leaving the moves hanging or posing, like going through the motions without understanding the need for defensive spontaneity with some, bobin duckin or weavin; there are those that go the other way and over do this also. Expertise is knowing when to do the "right" thing at the "right" time. Doing the "right" things at the "wrong" time looks good, shows talent but lacking the experience to win against an experienced opponent.

Had a conversation with a fellow maist, he had a concern. He couldn't figure it out, why he couldn't beat me when sparring. He felt that I should not be a problem for him but I was. I considered him to be talented maist but that wasn't enough. Having a considerable amount more experience than him, he finally came to the conclusion that I wasn't better than him, just that I have more experience. Therefore if you are talented don't let those with more experience discourage you, they just might know more that's all.

Equilibrium" Gun kata scene.

A Little how and why video on the iron shoes.

Would you prefer your CI to have experience in many styles or just the one?

Normal is when someone takes the easy path, to be outstanding, easy is not an option.

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.

Outstanding point of view DWx.I knew a man, we nicknamed Godo; due to his motivational talks and points of view. One of his talks was on how we are all winners one time or another in our lives. For me he was right on. My personal experiences, on winning wasn't that I was something outstanding, it looked like to me that people gave up too easy. As the sayings goes "Success is just around the corner" "Be a winner not a quitter" "The best never rest" "When the going gets tough, the tough get rough" Seen many talented people give up far too easy, natural athletes also. It seems perseverance is the key to success. Asking for directions in New York City "Do you know the way to Carnage Hall?" The man answers "Yes; practice, practice, practice"

While on the subject of contemporary weapons vs traditional MA types, where I live there are Jedi Knights using light sabers. Real contemporary and fantasy weapons in martial art tournaments isn't necessary, the weapon need not make up for the lack of skill from the user.

Semantics is about studying the meaning of words. Taken a step further, using semantics can avoid many unnecessary situations and problems that can occur in a dojo. When both sides, student and CI have the same aim for instance "Safe Cooperative Training" then everyone can grow and enjoy new interesting, martial art experiences together. "Safe Competitive Training" could be better suited to an MMA school. Mixing the "cooperative' with the "competitive" is where the semantic differences can cause issues, as 50% of the students could be one side and the other 50% for the other. While the ruling CI wants the best for all 100% of the time. Point being while sparring; one person is in the "cooperative" and the other person is in the "competitive" The cooperative student will get beaten up by the competitive student. Now the cooperative student is asked to cooperate with the CI. Can the cooperative student feel confident enough to cooperate with the CI, just after sparring with one or more of the competitive students?

Violence with or without intent still contains violence. Self defence without violent intent is the way of the peaceful warrior. Those turkeys that enjoy violence prolong the fight, the peaceful warrior on the other side wins the fight, due to knowing how and where to pluck the right feathers, just before it has a chance to take flight.

Body flow like this is better?

That's right sensei8 just have to be smart and pace yourself; count me in. The four heart attack stripes on my belt, were very painful lesson to learn; with two more, I will fill up the loyalty card from the hospital and get a FREE pace maker; till then. Be smart and pace yourself, the alternative is to get a loyalty card like mine, so I will follow your advice and avoid the device.

Unlearning is just as important as learning. Unlearn bad habits and replace them with good ones. Learn how to improve eating habits with a better understanding of nutrition and reduce food intakes that are known to cause illnesses and diseases. Learn how the body works and how food and exercise improves the quality of life you have and be aware of the consequences of abusing ones health with an excessive type of life style. Emotional health is just as important as physical health, never loose the child in us all, the simple happiness and joy of making a sand castle on the beach. The biggest killers can be related back to unhealthy levels of stress and anxieties, letting go of pent up negative emotions, distructive anger, unfounded fear and past resentments, is a beginning; misery or happiness like everything else, both take practice to learn or unlearn.

I have tried to get the point across to students that, love is an important aspect of self defense. This concept usually initiates smiles and laughter. When a child or a person you love is in danger, to save or help that person to safety is second nature. The most important things in life are not things, people are and the ones we love are irreplaceable. People have demonstrated great feats of strength to help a child trapped under rubble or in a burning building. This is the strength and courage that martial artists have come to the conclusion, that needs to be understood, harnessed and developed, that is in all people. Parents have this instinct to protect their children, with unconditional love, something not learned in a martial art school. To love oneself, will also give that person incredible strength and courage especially in the area of self defense. Have you tapped in to the power of love?

Standards should be higher now than in the past, as most academic subjects have advanced. Martial arts is only devaluating itself, if giving out black belts like candy. Eventually the black system will fade itself out, might take a hundred years more or less to happen; I know this due to being a time traveler.

When a group of police are on video beating a single individual, this stirs outrage and riots. Any type of unnecessary violence is nothing less than cruelty. Controlling restraining and detaining doesn't necessarily need to become violent. Those that threaten public safety, most definitely need to be apprehended as swiftly and effectively as possible or delt with whatever means necessary to stop further bloodshed. We are living in a difficult age, the capabilities of a few individuals causing havocs to the rest of us is tremendous. Human violent tendencies do need to be better understood, in hopes of a cure, so we can all live more in harmony with each other peacefully.

This is precisely what I get paid to do. I can't count the times I have had to control a mentally ill or mentally well (but violent) patient. I do use violence. Restraining someone (no matter how nicely you do it) is a violent act. The act of restraining is violent without the mental intent of being violent?

Never settle for normal. I have a pull up bar situated on the top of my bathroom door frame and attched to that two very strong resistance bands that I pull on when nature calls. This is not normal behavior when sitting on a toilet; perhaps your next opponent isn't normal either. Prepare yourself against outstanding opponents unless you believe that they will all be categorized as normal.