Alan Armstrong

Not only look in to their eyes, strike them every time they blink.Eventually they will figure it out and not blink and if they do blink and you decide not stike they will get confused or start looking away. Now you know something more that intimidates them about then they know something about you, how intimidating you can be! This is wearing down the opponent on another level, usually due to demoralizing or imposing your will against theirs.

Something worth investigating is serpent circles while in a diamond pose, this is from Yoga. A diamond pose is similar to a butterfly pose only that with the diamond pose doesn't bring the feet as close to the body; hence the diamond shape. This seated diamond pose combined with circular movements with the hips, while leaning back with straight arms behind for support. This exercises and others similar open up the hip joints, they do look very sexually provocative in nature, which is why at the local gym they are not taught or displayed openly. Having said that, exaggerating many sexually active movements as hip openers, are most certainly going to improve or maintain their smoothness, also ease of motion and their range of motion. Having exceptional hip performance makes for great athletes and will be beneficial at most other activities that involves flexible loose hips.

Living in the information age is very enlightening! Gathering or searching for information on martial arts has never been so abundant. Martial artists are better informed today than any other time in history due to the internet. Better still we can now have insights in to many types of martial arts and other ways of training from gymnasts, bodybuilders and dancers. Personal trainers and yoga instructors, also those in the medical profession are more than willing to share their wisdom, knowledge and expertise. Surprisingly, there isn't any new types of martial art styles emerging, with all this accessible information. Bruce Lee had two thousand books to help his JKD, can you imagine if he was living in our time, with internet access at his disposal. As with medical advances and such things as sports medicine, are we using or meeting these advances half way? Is it possible in our time, to absorb all of this useful health and training information sensibly?

Body language while fighting can convey confidence or shows inadequacies. Eye contact is another way to show that you are a confident fighter as the opponent looks away at your stare. Body language needs to be understood and mastered as it is also a tool. Body language can be categorized in to the fight or flight syndrome. Your body language in movements can show the opponent how superior your fighting skills are compared to theirs. I have had confrontations where the opponent has ripped his shirt off, in thinking that being muscular would be enough to intimidate or frighten me; my response is never what they expect. How is your fighting body language skills, excellent, good, bad or just needs some work?

Talking while fighting; do you? If you do talk while fighting, what do you say? Talking while fighting can break the opponent's focus. On the other hand, insulting words can actually give the opponent, more focused energy to beat you with, not a good idea, even if it seems like a good idea at the time. Or perhaps you are the strong silent type and talking while fighting causes unnecessary distractions. Personally I'm a talking fighter type. I like the one liners such as "You had better get that broken nose looked at" Response "What broken nose?" Then let loose a sucker punch to the opponent's nose and say "That one!"

If this topic was about avoiding gout, this would also be worthwhile looking in to. What comes after having gout? Gangrene and after that amputation. So just suggesting to back up a little and focus on joints and muscle negatives caused uric acid. Also focusing on prevention measure with diet to stop uric acid crystals developing in joints; this could also include avoiding kidney stones. Pain from uric acid in joints will understandably cause pain and stiffness in muscles. So the idea here is to increase flexibility with diet and simultaneously prevent all the bad consequence mentioned. If we collaborate on the good foods and culprits of this issue, perhaps we can not only beat the odds but drastically improve on them. But first gotta do the homework.

Chinese martial arts has many techniques that are intended to not destroy or injure the opponent; past on from the Shaolin monks legacy, that confirms their identity and ideals for spirituality, pacifism, health and safety. Whereas many other styles around the world are combative based that differ greatly than Chinese styles in many aspect. This for me is the main reason that Mr Tai Chi should never had fought with Mr MMA; who is ironically Chínese.

Tai Chi Chuan "Grand Ultimate Fist" What is a Tai Chi punch or fist? All martial art styles have a certain way of punching, striking or kicking that differentiates them all. A boxers jab. A karate punch. Wing Chun chain punches. A kung Fu vertical punch. Muay Thai round kick. TKD tornado kick. A Tai Chi Chaun ???

The creative way of using baseball bats for shin conditioning seemed very painful, would prefer to wear shin pads but gotta love and respect there fortitude. The movie starring Bill Murray "Lost in translation" uses the R and L in a comical way. Bill was sent a female escort to his room, she kept saying to him " Lape me, Lape me" of course Bill couldn't understand what she was saying or asking for. I had also brought up this topic with a Japanese friend, it was impossible to repeat after me R and L. Not all fun though for the Japanese in Okinawa as they rebelled against the Americans in 1970. Replacing samurai swords for basball bats; or is this another history repeats itself, openly swinging baseball bats but secretly they are Samurais?

Just as the Japanese have difficulties pronouncing R and L in English words as they tend switch the them, to make one sound like the other. Was the documentary agreeable to you? Or has the Tee and history issues, blunted your curiosity on watching the entire production?

The theory goes that joint pain and muscle stiffness is related to high Uric acid levels in the body due to diet. Therefore flexibility can be increased by changing eating habits. As many foods are considered culprits for preventing flexibility and range of motion to increased, no matter how much stretching or Yoga a person does. High Uric acid levels is considered to be the cause of Yoga students being unable to reach their flexibility potentials. I for one is willing to change eating habits, to increase health and flexibility levels. Before any changes regarding diet, I will investigate deeper in to this subject by reading medical articals and consulting with doctors, to get a clearer picture on the whats, hows and whys. From what I have found out so far about uric acid, there seems to be credible evidence that this is the culprit, causing some very serious health problems other than just inhibiting flexibility. What is your understanding of having high uric acid levels in the body?

Also the word "Intent" is an important word in regards to the many aspects that pertain to martial arts.

I honestly feel martial artists need to be very fair and exact in their abilities as not to overstate or understate the facts. When maists overstate their abilities such as Mr Tai Chi had done to Mr MMA on many occasions, the prove it or shut it, escalates in to lets settle it on the floor, as there are those that belive, violence settles everything.

That is very true, I took up fishing last summer and can think of nothing better than being on a bank on a beautiful day and just not thinking about anything else. Mo. Is it really just fishing or perhaps also reconnecting with nature.This connecting with nature can be achieved with many types of gardening also. Just to stop and smell the flowers once in a while can be meditative. Meditation also involves breathing, the way we naturally lean over to put our face in a bouquet of roses is also a recommend technique when meditating. We are all a part of nature, maybe disconnected with it more than we should be. Having pets are also meditative companions, stretching out with a cat, showing the secrets of flexibility to humans, no wonder they were once worshipped in ancient Egypt. Fish tanks are an amazing way to bring nature in to the home if fishing outdoors isn't possible.

I always believed that to wear a ponytail or having long hair, puts that person at a disadvantage, when in a fight. Yes Japanese Samurai warriors had a ponytail but they were also wearing the sharpest swords ever made. When women fight it often turns in to a hair pulling contest. Conan the barbarian, Hercules, even Brad Pitt portrayed Achilles with long hair; isn't having no hair at all more suitable for fighting purposes? Do you have long hair as a martial artist? As for many being bald, don't have a choice in the matter, but if possible would you wear a ponytail or a long beard? Could it be that having a skinhead image or the Buddhists look just isn't for you? Dreadlocks is another hairstyle that is fashionable for martial artists in the Caribbean, but looking like Jack Sparrow or Bob Marley might look attractive, there are realities to be taken in to consideration, as a fighter. Why the long hair and why take the risk of growing an obvious disadvantage, if you are a fighter?

If there is a verbal judo, then the art of rhetoric is worth a stripe, don't you think? Sparring with rhetoric always ends in a question and both opponents needs to do this, until one of them replies with a statement; how do you like this game? If one of the opponents doesn't answer quick enough than this also looses a point; are you catching on to this idea? Answers need to be relevant to the questions asked, for example if I ask a question about karate and you answer as if we are talking about food then this looses a point, sounds like fun to you? If this is too easy then another element of difficulty can be added with penalty words that are (I YOU WE ME US) is this game challenging enough for Verbal Judo Black belts? Yes the difficulty can be increased, for example a vegetable or fruit must be added to the rhetorical conversation sparring session, example, apples and this verbal judo, could it lead to punch drunk drinking addictions? Are there any intellectually blessed martialists out there with an inferior influence but quick witted with some spare time to waste, willing to verbally challenge themselves to try to trip or do takedown, tastefully however, to others with the same mother tongue?

As to the fight between the "Mr MMA" and "Mr Tai Chi" for lack of a better description of the both of them. The last ten blows to the head were not called for or needed, as Mr Tai Chi could have just as easily been pinned down with a variety of simple grappling techniques. This also illustrates how desensitized we are to violence in the West, as the term "Ground and Pound" is normal, not so in China, as we might tend to believe that everyone is born with the title of "Kung Fu Master" there are many that prefer ping pong over chop saki. There was no concern from Mr MMA to Mr Tai Chi at the end of the bout. The trend of gaining from the misery of others and openly with Mr MMA teaching Mr Tai Chi a lesson in how to legally beat up another person publically without being arrested for it.

Very true Italian_guy.Tai chi Chun instructors are not ideally or usually combative type personalities. Tai Chi Chuan is called "Grand Ultimate Fist" as it is a type of MMA incorporating different elements such as, punching techniques, tripping and throws, also joint locking applications. Some people try to revive the fighting aspects calling in "Combat Tai Chi" or something similar. Tai Chi Chuan like other styles has its bias and differences leaning more towards the health benefits while others bask in the harmony with the universe and enjoy the interplay of Yin/Yang. Cultivating Chi is another aspect of Tai Chi Chuan, my personal experience with this aspect was a positive learning experience or a self delusional one. In all fairness, my Tai Chi practice gave me a feeling of togetherness and an energy boost beyond comparison, something that I have needed to draw from today, having learned it about twenty years ago. While others use Tai Chi as a beautifully choreographed dance, that has not only health but beauty benefits attached also. Ironically there are delusional Tai Chi instructors that complain about the people that use Tai Chi in a mystical way, that claim to have, none touch chi knockout power... I hope we have outgrown the levitation era that once belonged to the New Age Yoga sect, perhaps not, Tai Chi is very similar in this respect of trying to poses a mystical or spiritual advantage, including longevity bonus points. Superstitions are very much alive in the orient, which makes Tai Chi Chuan and the other internal martial arts appealing for the believers. There are great aspects about Tai Chi sadly there is also pitfalls to be aware of, as the saying goes "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water" in other words, keep what is good and get rid of the rubbish.

Kind of wonder how your Tai Chi Sifu would receive this, if at all!? Not many, if any, instructors like being told, directly or indirectly, along the lines of your quote above. My Tai Chi Sifu was the real thing not delusional at all.He gave me sound advice as a truly caring person. He wasn't in to bowing or uniforms. He wasn't selling Tai Chi, he was teaching and explaining it as it is. Not knowing any better at the time, I thought all Tai Chi teachers were like him but with more Tai Chi teachers promoting themselves on the internet, the claims that are given to sell Tai Chi are laughable; when getting past the comical aspects then the fraudulent claims start to seem very serious. Bending the truth or exaggerating about Tai Chi is not ethical, misleading the public about Tai Chi should be considered criminal.

Re: Tai Chi, it has many health benefits and can enhance a martial artists fighting capabilities. There are however very exaggerated claims attached to practicing Tai Chi that are nothing less than fraudulent. As Tai Chi instructors can become delusional due to never having real life confrontational violent experiences. There is a tendency in Tai Chi to keep selling it, than enjoying it for what it is; meditation while in motion. I have invested time and money in to practicing Tai Chi, very satisfied with everything learned. My Tai Chi Sifu at the time, had forty years experience, originally from Hong Kong; his day job was as a city engineer; he never sold Tai Chi as a fighting art; most of his students were referred to him from doctors. He did however tell stories about the origins of Tai Chi that it was once a fighting art. If Tai Chi becomes known as fraudulent, then those that benefit from its health aspects might become the real victims. The delusional Tai Chi instructors should stop selling the self defense benefits and focus on the health aspects instead. Just a recap, Tai Chi can enhance a martial artist that already has fighting skills be it from any combat style. Tai Chi and Yoga as they are practiced today are peaceful pursuits to unite the mind, body and spirit.

Perhaps while looking for a way to do meditation you already have the necessary skills; as they were always there within you. The skill I'm referring to is called "Fire gazing" Our ancestors did it without looking for a Yogi. Telling stories around an open fire can be very relaxing and enjoyable. Many people don't have an open fire to gaze in to, this practice has been replaced with TV. Buddhist meditations are intertwined with the fighting Shaolin monks. Before my workouts, first I meditate. This way dissolving unnecessary stress and tension in my body. During my meditation period, I allow my subconscious to make suggestions on the workout, I respond intuitively. This meditation takes place in a park surrounded by trees and near running water, a peaceful place where birds go about their business naturally. Meditation comes in handy at the dentist, have feel asleep and started snoring, the dentist thinks this is funny and highly irregular. Meditation can involve a place in the mind that no one is allowed in but oneself; a retreat from the physical world. The saying "A bad day fishing is better than a good day at work" Fishing can be meditative and relaxing, as just sitting, pondering thoughts near water can be therapeutic.

As I said I wasn't being condescending, so I'm not "banking" on you not having any experience, but the opinions and rationale youre giving do not reflect having much experience. I'll try to elaborate on that later with examples. In regards to opening the eyes of "golden glove" boxers I have two responses to that: One is that if you're operating outside the realm of boxing I can only say sure- they only operate within the world of boxing so that's only natural. Two is that "Golden Gloves" gets tossed around SO much these days that people often have no idea what it is. Golden Gloves is for Amateurs and I mean that in the literal sense. Anyone talking about golden gloves at the professional level is the equivalent of a college football player bragging about his high school accomplishments. Statements like this are what I'm referring to when saying you're assumptions sound as if they're from someone who hasn't much experience. "Duking it out" IS boxing. Having a "slugfest" IS boxing. Many people assume that "boxing" means you're attempting to "touch" your opponent and you're "not trying to hurt" your opponent. That is to suggest that if you come in with "Look out OMG I'm Crazy!" haymakers that its going to somehow be a different fight. There are very specific reasons why boxers don't just throw everything into a punch right from the get go: -Its WAY too slow. To throw only your most powerful punches with the utmost amount of power is simply way too slow against any competent boxer. Big power punches are much more telegraphed that your classic speedy punches such as jabs and crosses. -Because its too slow, a skilled boxer can quickly counter these attempts at overwhelming them. What this means is that you're eating a 3 piece from your opponents before your one big shot has even had an opportunity to land. -Putting too much into a punch will off balance you and tire you out too fast. This is often seen with novice level boxers (who may be experienced fighters even) where they put too much behind their punches to the point they off balance themselves. Even if they hit, they have no (good) follow up punches and now have to regain their balance before they can begin to mount any credible attack. God forbid they miss with that big shot, they're now wide open for very powerful counterattacks. That's part of what learning how to box is. -A (good) professional boxer can break your nose or your orbital with a jab. There is a tremendous amount of power that can be behind a good jab. Most people have no idea just how powerful these punches are because the other guy doesn't appear to be hurt by them. The other guy in these circumstances though is also of reputable skill so theyre often defending or rolling with the punches accordingly. When you have such a discrepancy in skill (as we do here) you'll start to see just how good they really are. Agreed on most parts, except the end. McGregor has done enough to show hes world class, but not enough to give the reputation he and Dana have apparently given him. He has yet to defend either of his titles, although he gave up the 145 belt. But lets not get derailed with red herrings in this conversation.... I'm still waiting to hear how hes got any chance whatsoever. You haven't given me any credible strategies or techniques that could suggest how. I'm trying to explain to you how theres nothing inside a ring that McGregor can do that Mayweather hasn't seen 100x already from fighters significantly better, faster, stronger, and more precise with their hands than McGregor. The only one you've given me is that hes going to "Duke it out" with Mayweather as if several of his past 49 opponents haven't attempted the same thing, and ALSO as if "duking it out" isn't boxing. Consider: Thank you TJ-Jitsu for the boxing lesson, you are clearly very knowledgeable and well informed in your opinions on this subject.My opinions here are of course on a rudimentary level, from my own personal experiences and not based on second hand knowledge or Wikipedia statistics. There is however a "man against man" event to take place, which is where I'm listening to my intuitions and not buying in to the pre fight hype like most people like to draw there opinions from. Regarding condescending and assumptions, being underestimated has its benefits; something Conor McGregor is notorious for being underestimated.

Do you/have you any boxing experience Alan? I'm not attempting to be condescending, but the ruleset they are fighting under IS boxing. What this means is despite any thoughtful ideas or wishful thinking McGregor has NO CHOICE but to BOX. That's the rules. He cant kick, he cant elbow, he cant grappling. This is a BOXING match. Give me any conceivable game plan that McGregor has that doesn't include boxing. Slug it out? That's boxing. Pick his shots? Also boxing. Tire his opponent? Still boxing.... Anything and everything you can do with your hands within the established ruleset is boxing. Its all been tried against Mayweather. Do I seriously think McGregor is going to box Mayweather? Of course, because he signed the contract and that's the ruleset they're competing under. You do understand that boxing is everything and anything you can do with your hands in those gloves within the ruleset to win right? Which points out the obvious- whatever strategy McGregor brings WILL be boxing no matter what, and that's why he'll still lose. Sorry to disappoint you TJ-Jitsu but for boxing experience, my father was a boxer (Pro) didn't find that out until I did something wrong, as other kids were spanked on the backside, my dad was throwing hooks and jabs at me.I have had experiences with golden glove fighters in my past, as they had always fought against other boxers, having a "friendly" with me was an eye opener for them; according to boxing rules. I understand that McGregor and Mayweather are fighting under boxing rules, it is however possible to have a fight (Duke it out) under these conditions. I have grown up with both of these types of competitors and as boxing is being threatened by MMA, Mayweather has been given the task to defend the honor of the boxing world. Champion boxers make a huge amount of money compared to MMA fighters. If McGregor wins against Mayweather. then a huge amount of support and interest will switch from boxing to MMA. This switch is inevitable perhaps not today or tomorrow but most certainly in the future. Like it or not, the future belongs to MMA. The future belongs to the McGregors of this fighting world.

That's a matter of opinion and to be frank, I think you're wrong. Many people talk about "prime" but have a very difficult time distinguishing what that term even means, or that it means one particular thing. Mayweather is not more than a year or so removed from beating Pac quite decisively. Too often people think "prime" means your physical prime but that's just not the case. - - Consider - Some fighters are athletic only in the sense that they do stuff but they're not really sure how they do what they do or why they do it. These are the kind of fighters that hit their prime in their mid to late 20s and die out into their 30s as their recovery starts to wean. Mayweather is far from this type of fighter, and this type of fighter represents one extreme of fighter- the purely athletic but not very intelligent fighter... - - - The other type is exactly what Mayweather is- the technician. He knows exactly what why and where hes doing what he is. This is the type of fighter that improves drastically with experience but precisely because they consciously are able to learn and adapt their game. This is the type of fighter that gets significantly better as he ages because his game is based off of intelligence and technique rather than raw athleticism. Consider fighters like Couture, Liddell, and Anderson Silva who hit their prime in their late 30's early 40's. They were "solid" at the younger age, but it was their marked progress in efficiency that made them the champions they became. Vitor Belfort would be considered a decent example of their opposite. Coming after his victory over Pac, I don't think Mayweather was ever more dangerous in a boxing ring than he is now. You're not wrong, but the problem here is the ruleset- McGregor cant "not" box Mayweather- that's the rules that are dictated! If this were a kickboxing match then sure it becomes a valid discussion, but hes got no choice but to box Mayweather which is exactly why hes going to lose. Once again, see the above in regards to fighters in their prime and let me explain why your assumption is correct... if it were reversed. McGregor doesn't have a big gas tank. There are several reasons why this may or may not be, but most of it comes down to efficiency. A very precise fighter, McGregor doesn't need to throw many punches to get his desired effect. What this means is that from a technical standpoint he may not be throwing his punches as efficiently as he could (maximizing large muscle groups and minimizing small ones). - - - Consider an example of one I just started hitting pads after several months time. Not being in terribly good shape, I wouldn't be expected to go very long. I can however throw very efficiently for 3 rounds with lots and lots of fast powerful kicks. 10 years ago when I was in great physical shape from jiu jitsu, I'd still only last a single round because I wasn't throwing my strikes efficiently compared to now despite being in much better shape physically. That's the fallacy is the assumption that both fighters are using the same amount of energy to throw the equivalent number of strikes. This is one example of how technical knowledge can mascarade as athletic ability when it is not. Mayweather has developed absolutely efficiency as it pertains to throwing punches and boxing merely because hes had to- that's his job. When you consider hes just fought one of the most aggressive boxers in the game in Pac, there just simply is no way that McGregor can mount even a fraction of the offense that Pac did, or throw near half the amount of punches with the same consistent power. In this sense, the longer the fight the more it favors Mayweather. Its in McGregors best interest to attempt to finish early, but against perhaps the greatest defensive boxer to ever be in the game, that just isn't an intelligent solution. - - He has no chance whatsoever under any circumstances including any and all parallel dimensions against Mayweather in a boxing match. Hes just as likely to put on a kimono and defeat Jacare in a jiu jitsu match. Do you really think McGregor is going in to this fight to box Mayweather?McGregor is going in to this fight to beat up Mayweather with his fist and I for one believes he can do it (depending on his strategy for the bout) no matter the odds against him. If this was a grappling bout, you wouldn't hear a single word from me on who would/could win; bit that would be another topic.

Simply put, Conner does NOT have the skill to beat Mayweather at all in any way whatsoever in a boxing ring. Many people simply do not know just how good professionals are in their respective trades. I remember when Dana White announced Diego Sanchez as the second best jiu jitsu fighter in mma behind BJ Penn several years ago... For as amazing as people thought he was, the guy was a blue belt. It was a bit of an embarrassing statement. This Conner McGregor issue isn't much different. I cannot stress just how skilled boxers are at footwork, head movement, and perhaps most importantly, their jabs. Seriously, Nate Diaz is able to stand and trade with McGregor and his boxing is "solid" as it pertains to the MMA world but far from being "good" in the boxing world. McGregor is very precise and very powerful, but that doesn't mean much in the world of pro boxing because EVERYONE at that level is. What makes a pro boxer a skilled pro is his defense and frankly with what he eats fighting Nate, he doesnt stand a chance in any way shape or form in any round ever against someone like Mayweather. Consider that Mayweather has probably thrown more punches in a single boxing match than Mcgregor has in his entire MMA career combined- and hes had 49 of these fights. That's ALL he does and does it against others that also ONLY do that. Do I want McGregor to win? Absolutely. Mayweather is a cocky and racist POS and I'd love nothing more than the king of trash talk do a "Giants vs Patriots" type ruining of a career. It just wont happen though. If Mayweather was in his prime I would be in full agreement with you TJ-Jitsu.McGregor isn't a boxer, if he tries to box Mayweather, YES McGregor will lose. McGregor needs to fight Mayweather and not to box him. As the saying goes "Don't box a boxer and don't grapple a grappler" As McGregor is in his prime while Mayweather is not, the strategy is in McGregors favor to prolong the fight to wear down the opponent, while Mayweather's strategy should be to end the fight ASAP. Therefore McGregor needs to play the hand he is delt with accordingly.