Alan Armstrong

The video is a simple introduction to the idea of weapon self defence but it is very virtual compared to what happens in reality. Weapon self defence for most martial artists is the their weakest area of expertise. There are right ways to do things and wrong ways to do things, weapon defence strategies cannot allow any wrong ways, in the slightest. If you consider most martial art self defence techniques are virtual and not reality based you might stand a chance in surviving a weapon attack. I cannot write the right way for you, or post a YouTube link for you to watch, you need to know that most weapon self defense techniques don't work. To always consider (be aware) that in any street confrontation a weapon will be used against you! Your self-defense must treat the attacker as if he/her is armed. To understand that you are inadequate to deal with weapon attacks unless you have specifically specialize in the subject for many years. What if for example, just like in the video, you disarm the attacker's right arm holding a knife. Only to realize that he is also holding a knife in his left hand; what would you do then? Have you noticed that many martial art weapons come in pairs; why is that? Self defence techniques are usually practiced against an opponent holding one weapon, how much time have you practiced against an opponent threatening you with two weapons?

Martial arts were developed in the (East) past for certain people in a certain culture, now exported into another location in (the West) another time. We are living in a gun culture, hand to hand confrontations don't seem to be as important. Someone with a gun can cause (massacres) alot of deaths in a short amount of time; without much training or effort. Misuse of firearms is a large genuine social problem compared to the misuse of martial arts that it is relatively low. Misuse of martial arts will be more likely come from within the martial art world and not directed out on to the world. The high level of teaching martial arts with moral responsibilitys attached is very important for everyone's safety. Being part of a positive activity such as martial arts makes it very rewarding and worthwhile. If martial arts was a bad and negative pastime, creating enemies and hurting those that are weak and frail, then those with moral values would quit all ties and affiliations very quickly. Personally I like the Chinese approach to martial arts as a way to make friends. Those that do misuse martial arts are more likely to find out the hard way and be surprised by those that have zero tolerance for abusive people's behavior.

I recall this. I don't remember if it an 8 or 10 kick per round requirement, but for some reason that sounds right. Boxers would just get their kicks in and then go to work with their hands.American kickboxing rules required a minimum of six kicks at the discretion of the referee. The kicks needed to be substantial strong not just a flicky minimal effort "as this would be pointless" referees only accepted full contact strikes. Some kickboxers in the 1980s did find their way out of the traditional martial dojos and in to the commercial fighting scene; it was also a gateway into the movie industry.

Punching with knuckles is proving to be less effective than palm strikes. Females in self defence classes are often taught palm strikes and not punching techniques. Punching another person in the face has it's risks of punching in to teeth. I don't recall boxers ever training on makiwara boads, perhaps it doesn't seem worthwhile enough for them to train with them.

As there are no belt rankings in my class it does get confusing for on lookers. As at times I play the brawler type and the student plays the martial artist. This would be a good time as a reminder, that not everyone is an inexperienced martial artist, even if they are wearing a white belt. When I joined a TKD class, I could beat black belts while I was wearing a TKD uniform as a white belt. Reason being that I had many years experience in other martial art styles. Today I teach all that I know, some are black belts from previous styles and some are other colors that has no relevance for me, more importantly for everyone is giving them a worthwhile martial art class.

There is a saying "If all else fails, then punch him on the nose" This is the way it was at one time. Practical advise for practical people. Martial arts or fighting has become very technical in recent years. Sometimes a simple punch on the nose will end a fight quicker than to say "If all else fails" Many thousands of hours practicing moves kicks and punches for self defence, when at times the simplist method or answer to winning a fight could be staring you in the nose!

Seems that the word "Iron" has gained alot of prestige and acceptance in recent years. Iron brew drink. Iron shirt practice and the Iron palm technique. Iron Man the movie starring Robert Downy Jr, that also practice's Wing Chun. He would be a great candidate to promote the "Iron Master"

The Scottish woman could teach Cu about the five elements. There is a huge amount of fighting strategies attached to them. Wood Fire Earth Water Metal The American pentagon is based on them belive it or not! It's a Chinese idea. Many ideas have been used from them and used in the Western cultures. You wouldn't be short of ideas using the five elements. If you would like me to elaborate further, I would be happy to help. I'm of Scottish and Irish decent and my father was a professional boxer in Scotland. He worked with a traveling show in county fairs. If you could stay in the ring with him for more than three minutes you would win some cash. He killed a person in the ring and gave up the job for another profession. Hunting dogs (for catching rabbits) such as whippets and greyhounds were a part of the fighting cultures in Scotland, now pit bulls are the fighting breed. Darts in todays pubs was probably a knife throwing game once upon a time. Would make for a interesting flashback idea. Throwing a dart and a knife lands in the bulls eye. There are many interesting aspects of Scottish and Irish culture that can be used for your book.

Sure, I understand archery is a martial art, while firing an arrow at a target while riding a horse at full speed is going to take alot of skill and dedication to achieve a bulls eye! Using an English longbow is equally difficult in it's own right. Skilful martial artists can make things look easy, until trying it, only to find out it's more difficult than it seems.

Chinkuchi belongs to a high level of martial art understanding. High level of Synchronized body mechanics. Balance of Yin/Yang in a instant. Combined Internal/external power. Coordinated use of relaxation and tension. Ultimate spontaneous perfection created in a moment using minimal effort. Zen martial arts. Taoist naturalness. Poetry in motion. Perfection in an instant. The "art" in martial arts.

Welcome mominacrmc to KarateForum.com Should ask yourself, why the interested in martial arts? Or what has inspired you to want to learn martial arts. The style a martial artist choose is usually a cultural decision, Chinese choose Kung Fu and so on... Personally I would try out the nearest martial art club near my home, if it's not for me, then try the second club near my home and so on; till I'm happy with the martial art club. Good luck on your martial art quest!

Welcome to KarateForum.com.Spanish shoemakers make the widest shoes, I know this from my own wide feet experiences. They also have an expanding insole system from a manufacture named "Giko" that expands to fit the feet perfectly. I don't know if they make a Kung Fu shoe, but the unique expanding insole is going in the right direction for you. Good luck on your shoe quest!

Oss Sensei! Haha I might be a Nidan in real life, and a simple guide here as well but I am no Sensei. I have not been given that title [sensei],by my sensei and definitely don't feel like I deserve that title yet. For me to be called sensei, I would have to be a Sandan If a person is a Sensei in mind, body and spirit, then they would deserve to be called Sensei, no matter if they were awarded it or not.

When girls are in heels I think they call it "dressed to kill" High heel weaponry has been around as long as the mini skirt. Stiletto heels can do some serious damage, especially when incorporating stomping techniques. The elephant principle of alot of weight concentrated in to a small area; as in the heel of a stiletto. Would suggest not wearing expensive heels, only reason is that one might be reluctant to use them as a weapon, just in case they get damaged. YouTube has videos of women using high heels for self-defense.

How do the females in your Dojos feel about training on a makiwara board? Do they believe in the one hit kill methodology?

To each question above...I respectfully will answer with "No!" When I think about archery being a MA, I think about Kyudo; the Japanese MA, which is widely recognized as such. In the hands of a martial artist most objects can be used as a weapon. An icicle can be just as deadly as a dagger, in the hands of a martial artist. Just depends on where a person wants to draw the line on what constitutes a martial art weapon. A dart can be weapon, just as the Shoalin monks practice throwing a needle through plate glass. Whips are another Shaolin weapon also chains. Bamboo sticks are martial art weapons that can also be used in an endless array of other uses. Yes Zen and archery have a long recognized Japanese martial art history together. Is poison a martial art weapon, it can cause paralysis or death; that has been used by many Japanese assassins? Point being that poison doesn't need a Budo to be an effective martial art weapon. In the hands of a skilful and imaginative martial artist, most things can potentially be converted in to an effective dangerous weapon.

Overcome my knee issues with stair walking, then sprinting. Continued my knee conditioning by walking wearing ankle weights. Stair sprinting with ankle weights. Also going for walks wearing a backpack full of weights. Over did the back pack walking idea and came back home totally drained and exhausted and caught a cold or the flu from being so run down. I have 20 kilos of ankle weights to use. I weight about 76 kilos. That is about one third of my body weight sitting on my ankles and calves. I use a stretchy rubber and nylon material around my calves with the weights on top for protection. Doctors don't recommend my method and neither am I as it is supposedly hard wearing on the knee joints. I gradually built up my endurance for this, it didn't happen overnight. Have been off using the ankle weights for a few months now; looking forward to using them again. Will need to build up my endurance once again, not overdoing it, or it will just hinder any previous gains that I've made. Having used the weights so much so, that they spring little leaks, spilling out the fine pellets. So maintaining the ankle weights takes time. Fixing them with glue and rubber patches. I like the feel of heaviness on my ankles, part of my propreceptive training. Don't recommend kicking while wearing ankle weights due to the damaging jolt action on all the joints from the hip down.

IP Man 3 can be found on YouTube with English subtitles.

Might add to mention that there is a minimum of kicks to be used for each round. As boxers wanted to get in on the action but forgot the kicking part of kick boxing!

Would personally never want to fight a Sumo. Bruce Lee never had a fight with a Sumo, that I can recollect. He did like to use contrasts in height, such as "Kareem Abdul Jabbar" a student of his, that was also a basketball player. Hand to hand combat with a Sumo for the most of us would be suicidal.

Chloe Bruce is well worth watching her kicking skills.I've watched her as well. Very talented individual.Chloe Bruce doesn't throw kicks like most people do. She can kick like Bruce Lee does a 1" punch.Point being that it is posible to use or control feet like hands. Just like with some practice to use hands like feet, something Jackie Chan liked to do; kicking from a hand stand position. Just a little (Yin/Yang) food for thought on the subject of reciprocal feet and hands; martial art style.

If archery is a martial art does this also include crossbows? Is the (martial art) line drawn once gunpowder is used with a weapon? Martial artists train to defend against knives and guns are these both martial art weapons? A rifle with a bayont (type of knife) attached to it, is it a martial art weapon? Is an under water spear gun (that doesn't use gunpowder) a martial art weapon? If a martial artists uses any type of weapon at his/her disposal, does it make the weapon a martial art weapon? Are all hand held farming tools martial art weapons or does this only count if the tools are found in oriental countries?

Quote by Bruce Lee "Commit fearlessly"

Just a thought. Chi is supposed to reside in blood. High blood pressure can cause a person to pass out. When a person passes out the body needs to lay flat to resume stable blood pressure. I have witnessed in a martial art tournament, just before the referee said fight, a combatant fell to the floor. Nothing about chi was mentioned. We can effect each others blood pressure. If I anger another person their blood pressure will rise. My point is that Chi is in blood, that blood pressure control might be the answer. Animals such as puppies are known to lower peoples blood pressure, that's why having pets are so popular with us humans. Yoga deals with controlling one's own blood pressure and heart rate, also lowering one's own need to breath at a bear minimum level. Perhaps these are other factors that need to be taken in to consideration when debating chi power validity. Perhaps Dillman has a way to cause blood pressure rises in fellow humans that causes them to pass out, or conveying a subliminal message or feeling of that you are about to die. Supposedly we are meant to fight or flight but not to stand motionless while someone wants to knock you out; with or without fists. People faint when hearing bad news. Too much salt in one's diet can cause high blood pressure. People faint when it is too hot. People pass out from being shocked. People faint from not eating when they should, causing low blood sugar levels. People can pass out from over working or being overly tired. Girls in the 1960s would faint when they saw the pop group "The Beatles" perhaps being overly exited can cause an excessive rise in blood pressure, causing unconsciousness. Just being in an environment such as a martial art seminar can raise everyone's blood pressure; keep that pressure prolonged and it's not going to be long till someone will be ready to faint. Just consider adding some of the reason above to the none touch knockouts and things might seem a little more realistic on how it is possible.

Belt ranking is a Japanese and Korean way to gauge proficiency. Whereas trophies are an American concept to compensate those competing in sporting events. The answer you are looking for must be an American solution, perhaps a small martial art looking plaque would satisfy all involved. A trophy, a plaque, a certificate or half a belt ranking, they are all symbolic of an achievement!