Alan Armstrong

Wanted to share a little more on the optimal potential idea. Just like in the game of chess, once a person becomes proficient in the game, add time to the equation; such as improving the amout time it takes to do an exercise; such as doing an amount of exercises, in only half the time. Another factor is double up on your optimal potential for the day, such as beat your own personal best in two areas of your training; such as 1000 kicks for the day instead of the usual 500 and perhaps 200 sit-ups instead of the usual 100; you choose what you want to double up on; just giving an example of many possibilities. Your optimal performance for the day could contain different aspects such as focusing on flexibility and another for stamina. The real idea here, is that to see tangible improvements in your training. This will give you confidence to do better every training day and also combined with a feeling of accomplishment that you are on the right track for self improvement. Time out days could contain a long walk or swimming; no no no sleep more!!! A word of caution, train smart so as not to injure oneself; avoid making the same mistakes if at all possible.

Have you heard of "Drunk Master"? We are not talking about Jackie Chan but the boxer Emanuel Augustus. He has a cult following, perhaps after watching Emanuel in the boxing ring /dance floor, you might be able to pick up a few useful dance/boxing moves. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvSD10pHfFA (For me he is the greatest boxer/dancer)

36,000 Kids You Don't Want To Mess With. A short film depicting a Shaolin Kung Fu school in China. Dragon Girl A full Documentary; depicting the reality of being a child martial artist in China. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brD_fFewYRI I hope you watch both videos. There are harsh realities to deal with being a (child) martial artist in China. How different was it for you in your part of the world?

I agree with you pinklady6000 I also like some of the ballet training concepts they use. It puts a whole new perspective on conditioning. Obviously I'm not the first or will be the last guy to recognize a training advantage buy using ballet conditioning in martial arts. Anderson Silva "The Spider" is considered by many, to be the greatest mixed martial artist of all time in the UFC. Silva was bullied as a youth for taking Ballet. http//cdn2.cagepotato.com Another Ballet Star that might appear in the UFC one day.

It is great that we are all on the same page here on the topic of body flow. Here is a video I have singled out for the beginner martial artists by Val Riazanov (Russian Systema "Bio-Mechanics" martial artist) while he was giving a seminar in Dallas, Texas. This segment is called "Dealing with punches" He doesn't mention body flow, yet his understanding of it is very plausible. Please note that body flow movements are better used in self defense situations and not in a competitive way. The reason for this is that body flow (MA) movements unfold or layer one movement in to another. While in sport there is a tap and point awarded factor, that is to get in (a point) and out (not to be countered) mindset. As mentioned earlier, each martial art style contains body flow. In Fung Fu (Real fighting) it is expressed very differently than Systema; I'm looking forward to put it on the table for an analysis also...

Here is a video, showing the effectiveness of simple footwork and punches in a street self defense situation by a boxer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJUw7OXXGwg

You are very wise bushido_man96

Congrats

Thank you sensei8 you have earned my deepest respect and gratitude. Body flow, one movement connected to another. OK I'm going to pick a moment in time that first comes to mind. Had told my Tai Chi teacher, that I had won a gold medal for sparring in the provincials for TKD. You need to realize that he has forty years experience on the subject. He just gave me a satisfied grin of gratitude. His wife also a Tai Chi instructor asked me "How did you win?" It was just before the class was to begin, so the short version was necessary. She (His wife) always commented on how fast I could move. (I was involved in many motorcycle and car accidents) in my youth. My answer was "I move quick as not to get hurt and hit back fast, as not to give them a another chance to do it again"

Would love to talk about my time line but there are those that don't really put alot of importance in it. Only God knows my timeline. All I care about is my knockout ratios (just to satisfy my insecure alter ego) would love if there was a broken nose ratio in all this... perhaps belonging to the Guinness Book of World records. But staying on time line idea, depends how much time I spent absorbing what was taught, than who the person was teaching me. How many Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee students are MMA Champions? The people I learned from (starting at a tender age of eleven) were very tough people in my neighborhood fifty years ago. Had belonged to gangs of about ten but every elite fighters for the time; that would have blended in nicely with MMA fighters of today. Also belonged to gangs of two hundred and in the thousands. Your question of training time lines is; I'm trying to find the right word for it but honestly it hurts my brain to think so hard... Due to not relating to people much, other than Spartans types! It is the person and not the rest ... of the academic paper dragons and tigers of this world. "I'm a dancer and a lover, a protector of values not a fighter, just for the sake of fighting. But if anyone wants to fight me, the last thing I'm going to ask for is their or show my CV or resume LoL My many defeats have made me stronger, not the amount of people that have fallen before me; but ironically those people, that took advantage of those weaker than themselves, such as my self have made be stronger; thank you!! RESPECT!!! I would rather shake their hand than to take some type of immature revenge. Bullies and drill Sargents or Senseis, what really is the difference; they all try to knock some sense in to others. At heart I'm a dancer with a few/many knockout moves; respect all !!! (With obviously too many concussions to not think rationally 100% of the time)

Thanks sensei8.The tennis ball is just one of those things that is versatile to train with; as if great minds think alike LOL. Just throwing a tennis ball against a wall alternatively throwing and catching with each hand helps coordination and also helps with improving punching skills. Now simultaneously hold a tennis ball with the outside part of the chin and the inside part of the shoulder, will help with the boxing guard position; being in a (classic) preventive knockout to the chin stance.

I've no idea what the outcome would be, because I don't know either of yours skill sets. I don't entertain assumptions, because I've nothing to gain because I've absolutely no facts to compare. And with that, consistencies between either of you two winning aren't without flaws. Possessing these attributes doesn't favor one over another. Why?? Knowledge and experience trumps everything!! Imho. Apologies all round sensei8.I left things vague and open to involve using some imagination and deductive thinking. The area I train in is monitored by a security camera and there is an armed guard that patrols the area also. Of couse I won all five wrestling attempts (as this type of thing) is something I do as a part of training, on a regular basis. Not difficult to derive at the conclusion that I won all five attempts due to that I initiated the event. Years ago while taking Aikido, we would play around practicing this technique, as a part of the warm up routine before class This could all understandably sound like an ego trip on my part or something similar. Not my intent. I have done this one hand, stand uparm wrestling, with many people over the years and have come to the conclusion that people that are much taller than myself do very well in this event. The friendly fireman that is all round in better shape than myself lacks skills in resistance training in comparison, as I'm practicing with both hands and also one handed. more often than not. Whereas I'm using muscle memory motor skills to stay balanced with the rubber bands pulling against me, while the firemen is hanging on to a rope concentrated on pulling himself up with both hands and just using upper body strength. The element of surprise in this little event was for me to sink low to the ground in a stance whereas the fireman couldn't match me and stayed high, as he hadn't had practice to go low like myself, he would loose his balance no matter if he was in a high or low position. The fireman's range of motion all round is alot less than mine, which gave me an unnoticeable advantage; this also understandably gives a person much taller than myself an advantage over me also. The people I have shown this to liked it alot. They didn't seem to feel as if their ego was threatened, just liked it, as an exercise that focuses on strength and balance with a resisting person.

VASYL LOMACHENKO SHOWS FREAKISH ACCURACY WITH THIS COOL TENNIS BALL TECHNIQUE!

Lomachenko's Matrix Style Footwork & Matador Feints Explained - Technique Breakdown your move...

"There Is No Opponent" - Philosophy Bruce Lee & Conor McGregor

Before getting to the point about body flow in martial arts, I would like to deviate from it for a while. The reason for this deviation is because, body flow comes natural over time with practice but for the beginner or none martialist it does take time to learn. Know it or not, many none martial artist know how to use fighting techniques picked up from watching MMA. Therefore the techniques that were shown and practiced behind closed doors doesn't exist anymore. These random fighting techniques combined with other physical sports can make for a formidable opponent. The gap between martial artists and none martial artists is becoming closer all the time. The winning edge martial artists once had is slowly diminishing due to the openness of MMA. Then the question to be asked is, how can martial artists regain that fighting winning edge that was once there? I believe a part of the answer (a fragment) is locked away in body flow. It could be said that footwork and punching or kicking techniques are also important; yes they are, they are also contained in body flow. Punching or kicking, bobbin and weaving, or side stepping, forward and backwards are also contained in body flow. None martial artists don't have an arsenal of techniques to draw from but what they do have is a few techniques that work well for them, but what they don't have is body flow. This is why in a fight none martial artists give it their best shot and run out of ideas, then starts the brawling; which is a type of body flow as crude as it may appear. Body flow works because of the "Don't think feel" principle. I could upload some links portraying body flow, but first I wanted to see how important this topic is to other martial artists. All martial art styles use body flow principles, how important is it to you? I will be happy to (next time around) video links to those that posses this body flow quality in abundance. I consider this topic of "Body flow" to be a very important ingredient for all martial artists; with your valid opinions and questions we can all improve our MA skills collectively. Do you know of a Body Flow video link worth watching; if so please post it here; Thank you!

The immortal words of Bruce Lee. "There is no opponent" Perhaps this statement is difficult to comprehend or understand, but not for Conor McGregor. Philosophy Bruce Lee & Coner McGregor; video reveals all! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJUI3AcsyYQ Looks as if there is no link also (SO SORRY) then to watch Conor revel all, you will need to find it for yourself on YouTube: There is no opponent Philosophy Bruce Lee & Conor McGregor. Now with this in mind "There is no opponent" UFC2-CONOR McGREGOR VS BRUCE LEE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKTynayergE Is it true that there is no opponent and we are just fighting ourselves?

Thanks for all the congrats! There must be few thousand years of collective thought (A hive mind consciousness) on the subject of martial arts, here on karate Forum. Great to be here and appreciate the sharing atmosphere immensely.

I have a little saying that helps to put my martial arts in perspective. Bigger-Stronger-Faster-Younger; this is what I have in mind to train against. Today while working out in an open air exercise area for adults, a firefighter was training with a rope while I was training with thick rubber bands. Both, his rope and my bands attached to iron bars above our heads. I asked him for a friendly arm wrestling match but stand up style; both using the right hand. With the idea to unbalance the other, pulling to the ground. Fair enough, we had five goes at pulling each other over, he was bigger-stronger-faster-younger. What do you guess the outcome would be in this event and why? As martial artists, it is necessary to use tactics that are not obvious, such as the element of surprise or having extraordinary balance and rooting abilities developed through many years of stance training.

What better way to start of this topic, with a video clip from with Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris battling it out in the Coliseum. Bruce Lee starts off losing the fight to Chuck Norris. Bruce turns the fight around to his favor with his boxing footwork. Then Chuck mimics Bruce, but Bruce's footwork is superior and Chuck looses the fight. Now by watching Muhammad Ali's Footwork & Jab techniques, Bruce Lee couldn't have had a better role model from the man that could float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. How important is your footwork?

Having some fun with the idea of Ballet and Karate here are a few videos. Ballet Show with Martial Arts Ballet Fusion Arts Karate- Performance Ina Elena Postelnicu. Chloe Bruce freestyle kata Taekwondo vs Ballet Dance and Karate. Elena and Mirka https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtEYHBhbd-w Karate com Ballet What is your opinion on these videos?

Had a compliment from a doctor in a hospital, about three years ago.She said that my level of understanding, medically was above a med student of two years. Sad to say that my mum died from organ failure art the time; she had an enlarged heart. I had been drawn into understanding medical heart issues due to my own heart condition also. There are many possible heart problems that can occur to anyone, but it must be said that the medical world is far more advanced in treating many conditions, than it was fifty years ago; the problem now is that smoking and bad eating habits are still causing unnecessary, preventable illnesses. Personally, having arteries drilled out and stents put in to keep the flow of blood circulating, with daily meds and eating habits that are reasonable, changing my lifestyle, is the least I can do, without messing up everyone else's work, to keep me alive and kicking. So sensei8 just do what you need to do to stay healthy and alive, for yourself and everyone else that you are connected and associated to. Far too many great people check out earlier than they should, being stubborn like me with out being great, still feels great doing it, because without health; everything becomes difficult and challenging. Focus on health as a priority and everything else will fall in to place or it can wait. My martial arts training has given me back more than I have put in to it, I can honestly say, that by living longer, I hope to repay my debt with being helpful to other martial artists, along their journey, even if they are small pebbles of encouragement. Solid post, Alan!! I will take your advice and suggestions to heart [pun intended]. But, seriously, I've one life to live, and I'm thankful that I've taken my health, and what it takes to improve it, all seriously, so that I can live a very quality life. I wonder if this is just a coincident...Shindokan means...House of the Heart Way. Thanks, Alan!! Thank you sensei8!Health can be neglected or abused for fun or financial gain. At 20 years of age standing 5'8" with a 24" waist I could climb up a flag post. So to have a 38" waist 15 years later was a real novelty for me. No more getting blown over on a windy day. It felt good to be solid and grounded. But and there is always a but somewhere. I tried to shimmy over a small wall and couldn't make it. Gravity had its arms around my legs, it was a shock back in to reality. Not a problem, lost a whole bunch of weight by skipping meals and eating junk food snacks, till the point of malnutrition. Caught pneumonia then had a series of heart attacks. So no one to blame for being ill but myself. The reason for explaining so much is that, now I'm old yet I'm in better shape now than any other time in my life and becoming even more so week by week. I don't remember the last time having a cold or a sore throat. I would never thought it possible to become better and healthier at a later age. This is something that needs to be experienced, to believe it. Dental care is something that can also be neglected but it is very important also, to keep teeth and gums healthy. Just had my annual dental check up and cleaning; the dentist noticed an improvement since the last visit. I have had facial moles removed also. I use special soap and creams for my skin because I had suffered for many years with large red skin blotches; something I no longer have (Touch wood) There really is no end to staying healthy from head to toe from inside out. I will hand out one really good beauty secret tip, that is, drink plenty of water LOL

The rule we have and follow is don't hit anyone harder than you're willing to be hit. It you're hitting someone hard, and they're not returning the favor, lighten up. After you've sparred with someone a few times, you get a feel for how hoed they want to be hit. At least that's how it's been in both dojos I've been a part of. Both dojos were on the smaller side though. That is a general rule that I've seen in and out of the Shindokan circle. Greg, our past Kancho, and I would usually start light, but by the time we had finished, we'd hit one another with purposeful resolve; that's just how the two of us trained with one another. Like JR is saying, I'd go light to medium to hard, no matter the rank. However, the medium was saved for adults ranked 6th Kyu to Godan, and I'd go with a gauged hard with those Rokudan and up. But the intensity that Greg and I chose was reserved for us, with a very, very, few that would engage with either of us, but only for the quick moment, just before they wanted no more of it. Yeah, agree on all points made. It depends who I'm sparring with as to how hard I go. I remember when I first returned to the club one of the black belts told me she had her nose broken by a beginner, and that they're so concerned with hitting you that they can be dangerous, control just goes out the window. Something I've now seen for myself, people swinging their arms like windmills and the like. So if I find myself paired up against a beginner, my main priority is evasion and finding space for a counter. But I like being paired with the senior grades and can go harder. But how hard I go is nothing compared to the two biggest guys in the club, that can only be described as bone crunching The only thing about the way we spar is it doesn't transfer well to competition point sparring, there's always a lot of warnings for excessive contact and also a disqualification on occasion. My instructor is of the old school full contact, no pads era and believes teaching too much "tippy tappy" could backfire when you really need to shut an attacker down. Does he have a point? I think maybe he does. so I'll enjoy how we do things in the club, take it easy with youngsters and beginners but let loose when the opportunity allows. Mo. Good point mazzybear about shutting an attacker down.I know that starting this topic off, was on taking as much as you can give. But as martial artists are we not trying to do this. We should be trying to beat the odds! As being able to defend or beat an opponent that is much larger or faster or younger than ourselves. Or when a person is using weapons against us when we have none. Being more intelligent than the attacker to outsmart the opponent in the moment. Or defending against multiple would-be attackers in many environments and situations. Having a built in self defence mechanism wired in to our being that really works. Give and take in the class or dojo is fine against fellow students. In reality the odds on the street will most likely be against you, therefore training should be to beat those odds against you; fearlessly, as loosing no matter the odds against you, is not an option. Knowing and believing this (confidence) will show on your face and mannerisms, most people will shy away from this type of person as you mean business... Always train as if the odds are against you, therefore you need to make the extra effort or go the extra mile, to be not only better than yourself, but to be better than all of your potential enemies combined.

The idea I have is to understand ballet to enhance a martial artist and not to take valuable time away by learning none viable techniques or movements.There are many conditioning exercises that ballet dancers already have in common with martial artists, that is a bonus in itself. Bruce Lee used a bar when training similar to ballet as his was metal and not wooden. Barr work for martial artists for strengthening, posture and balance is common place in ballet studios but not so much in dojos. I seek out welded handrails in public places for practicing with, a wooden barr such as used in a ballet studio, wouldn't be strong enough for my purposes. Bruce Lee's kicking techniques can be learned and improved upon by practicing with a metal horizontal bar. Another thing (all) martial artists can borrow from the ballet world is flexibility techniques. By learning to stretch individual muscles instead of in groups; then strengthening specific muscle groups when conditioning them By becoming more sophisticated in all aspects of training and performing; so as to become an intelligent, effecient fighters and not like many muscle headed brutes, that have more in common with the animal kingdom. I agree with everything you have said. I think ballet is a great supplement to the martial arts, from high kicking in the striking arts to resistance of submissions in grappling. Look at Summer Glau in the serenity film and Sarah Conner chronicles. Emily Blunt in Die Another Day film. Both have benefited from ballet. Welcome to KF, pinklady6000; glad that you're here!! Solid post through and through, pinklady6000; you make some excellent points to consider!! Welcome pinklady6000 to the KF.com.Summer Glau (Ballet Martial Artist) "Serenity" fight scene; for those that may not have seen her in action. It makes sense to me, to use a ballet dancer martial artist in a science fiction movie. Her character being futuristic, needs to fight unlike what we are accustomed to, as far from standardized martial art styles as possible. Also adding to the ironic mix of beautiful, young and innocent with cold blooded killer experience. Using ballet dancers that can fight in movies adds elegance and beauty in contrast to a harsh unfriendly environments. But this is all fine and dandy in the make believe world of movies but how does Ballet and MA fit in to reality? For women being a Ballet dancer and martial artist is very compatible and complementary on a Yin/Yang level. For men such as Shaolin Monks or those that practice Kung Fu, Ballet type exercises and conditioning muscles to be elongated are very similar in nature. Also conditioning throughout the day with ordinary movements and specialized focused ones is another thing they both have in common. Perhaps in the future some talented Muy Thai Ballet Kick Boxers will show up in some UFC bouts to show us how it is done properly or perhaps just one Serenity Ballet Martial Artist.

Absolutely agree with you TJ Jitsu.This is why Tai Chi Chuan is practiced slow. Did we just agree on something? Yes we did and it is about time LOL