Alan Armstrong

Let's face it. Conditioning in the past was abusive. It needed to be because life and death situations were common. Due to wars and political upheavals, training needed to fit the times. Depending where you live in the world your training should be adapted to your ultimate survival. Karate can be toned down in to a sport or vamped up in to becoming a killing machine. Humans and martial arts are both highly adaptable, this is why they both continue to thrive. Martial arts mma brutalities in peace time are nothing in comparison to war time atrocitys. Training for war is not the same as training for a sport or hobby. There is the psychological aspects to take in to consideration also, as in having the not only the skill to take another persons life but to also to do it. Mohamed Ali (the boxer) was not willing to kill and was jailed for it. In the same note, which boxer trained harder than him to become a great fighter? Better still, who stood up for their beliefs more than him with his unpopular stand not to kill those that are not his enemies. As Bruce Lee would say "The art of fighting without fighting" Could also be asked, who trained harder than Bruce Lee? If there is any resurrection here it should be about Muhammad Ali and Bruce Lee.

Roundhouse impact area simultaneous targets with one kick. Kicking with the lower part of the shin and instep, including the knuckles of the toes. Target area, corner of chin, jaw area under the ear, jugular on side of neck and the spine at the back of the neck. Including the jolt of the impact to rattle the brain hard enough so it hit's the inside of the skull; all with a single roundhouse kick. The idea is that all of these target areas singularly can knock a person out. The more foot contact with the opponent in these areas the more of a chance for a knockout. With five knockout concentrated targets grouped together so closely, hitting one accidentally might be enough to win the fight and making the kicker look like an experienced martial art expert.

As martial artists we are supposed to train in the harshest parts of the year and perform like all season all terrain tyers; just in theory. Some martial art generalizations. In reality: Spring and Autumn spells allergy for many, so training can have seasonal disadvantages. Pollen in the spring and decaying or fungus in the Autumn. Skin traumas: Sunburn in the summer and frost bites in the winter. Winter is a better time for me personally; a time to work on muscle flexibility and realaxing tight muscles. Watching more ma movies and informative ma videos. Spring, a time for focusing on pandiculation and agility. Evaluating ways to improve general health with food and lifestyle habits. Summer, a time for maintaining joint and tendons, rotations are focused upon for improving their range of movement. Swimming as much as possible. Autumn, a time for adding and improving techniques, evaluating and focusing on the things that have been neglected. Connecting more with nature and the things that are more important than the usual superficial things.

Of course context is important, one expression has a totally different meaning depending on where and who is saying it. Expressions taken out of context can lead to all kinds of misunderstandings and problems.

I understand that 'pay attention' is to listen and 'keep your hands up' is to stay focused to defend and counter attack and also means exactly what it is (keep your hands up) To keep the hands up, reason (could be) is that the attacker is faster than the defender with the hands down, countering and defending could be more difficult or dangerous. With the hands up it is easier to defend against if being out flanked. Keeping oneself balanced at all times is a principle that is not monopolized by one style or another. Rather it is a truth that all styles need to be successful. Also to unbalance opponents is the Yin/Yang balance that all martial artists can benefit from. Stay balanced and unbalance opponent; simple. Your ma style will differ or have similarities to other styles from this point on.

Can you (Nidan) post a link of your awesome sensei in action? Is he on You Tube?

A principle is a way to learn (a fundamental truth) or to remember one thousand things with one simple idea. All wise military leaders (no matter the country of the army) teach their troops to "out flank the enemy" A great principle that has alot of merit to it, which is not limited in it's idea, but is actually unlimited in it's practical applications to win a fight or battle. If a martial artist, can constantly out flank his/her opponent, it will more often than not help to beat their adversarys. Many battles have bee lost to the excuse of being out flanked and out numbered. If you have ever been 'sucker punched' it was more likely than not a 'flanked punch' and you never seen it coming from either side of you. This is why the coach or ma teacher is constantly shouting to his student "KEEP YOUR HANDS UP"

Recommend your favorite(s) martial art You Tube video(s) Perhaps you could comment why you recommend them. Such a great time (The information age) we live in, for those that want know and share. Videos of martial artists is also leap for mankind. Out of the many thousands of videos about martial arts, which ones stand out in your mind as being extraordinary, worth watching. Your choice...

I believe the meaning of life is share. There are ma instructors that use students and string them along for their own financial benefit. Over hearing my karate teacher boasting to his friend that he can teach any idiot martial arts. The style or curriculum is adhered to but there is a part that they (instructors) hold back from students; all students. A lower grade student could overtake his teacher in a sparing match for instance or other higher belt ranking students; causing embarrassments. In a TKD school that I attended, higher belt ranking students complained to the head instructor due to having difficulty in defeating me in the sparring sessions. The head instructor started giving these higher belts tips on how to defeat me, right in front of my face, during sparring practice. While not sharing anything else but the curriculum with me. Shortly afterwards, I won a gold medal sparring. Instead of being congratulated for winning a gold, the head instructor just said "I'm surprised you did so well"

I like the Krav maga 360 principle. It works well against multiple attackers.

Limbering up joints before using them is a part of the pandiculation process that cats and dogs do naturally. Yes we can learn much from our furry psychopathic (cat) friends. I was told by my Tai Chi master that Tai Chi was developed and inspired from the movements of the cat.

The two last videos, kicks being the front kick are not what I would consider fantasy kicks. They are very practical (front kicks ) for those that have practiced martial arts for some time and have the flexibility to use them effectively. I would without hesitation use a front kick in a street confrontation. The first video with the Aikido master demonstrating how body mechanics can be used in a self defence situation, the body mechanics used in break dancing is very similar to Aikido. Actually break-dancing and martial arts are very similar. Break dancing moves would be a great way to limber up for a martial art class.

Always consult with your doctor first about personal health issue. This really goes without saying. I see a doctors of one type or another on a regular basis 3 or 4 times a month; more or less. There are exceptions for everything. As adults we know this. To make a statement or opinion then having to write that there are always exceptions, would start to seem pedantic to say the least. Still this is no excuse for my ignorance. I do sincerely apologize. Sorry to hear about you bout with cancer, prey that this dreaded disease gets wiped off the face of the earth ASAP. Also hope your are winning with your battle with cancer. All the best for you and your fight!

It usually takes a Tai Chi student 3 months of practice to feel the chi flow through the body. The reason it takes so long to understand and learn is because it takes time to learn how to relax while moving gently and smoothly. It is the nervous system that connects our mind intentions to the rest of the body through the spine and outwards to the limbs. Regular Tai Chi practice helps to promote and reinforce these mind and body connections. The spine is the internal power stem. The stem/spine aligned correctly with regular Tai Chi practice is connected with the force of gravity. A slight twist or move with the stem in conjunction with the fist can knock a person out cold. This is internal power. Many martial art styles use Chi Power, but don't recognize it as such. It is just passed off as good technique. Bruce Lee utilized this spine power/chi power phenomenon. As I hope it is safe enough to say, that Bruce Lee could see the Chi Power used in western boxing and utilized it for his JKD. Bruce Lee commented about how the dynamics of the twist of the human body was very powerful for punching. Chi power utilization is very compatible with western boxing movements. Therefore those that discredit chi power existence (unknowingly) also discredit western boxing fighting capabilities. A very slight (internal) twist of the spine moves the extremities of the body alot further with very little effort. Combined with the weight or mass being brought around from this twist gains some momentum that is transferred to the end of a punch as centrifugal force. So there are two forces a play here gravity and centrifugal. We don't notice the mechanics of the spine for fighting with because it is so well protected with muscle. Yet if a person suffers any type of spine damage, fighting then seems like an impossible thing to do. Using muscle power alone for boxing purposes, the fighter would tire out easily. However utilizing the twisting spine movements with synchronized punching combinations makes for an efficient and effective fighter. Have you ever noticed a boxer that over extends and throws his shoulder in to the punch and the momentum of it almost throws him to the ground! This is all muscle power with zero Chi power. A Tai Chi practitioner would never let his or her muscles run away uncontrolled like that. External power (mostly) uses muscles, where as internal power (mostly) utilizes bones and the spine is a large part of this equation. Chi power doesn't need to be wound up like a spring to work. To do it correctly, just connect your (quick) spine movement to your fist, it is direct and instant chi power. The benefits are that it takes very little energy to cause alot of damage, also telegraphing your intent to your opponent is eliminated. Short distance punches for instance are very difficult to stop and can pack a powerful blow. As the car analogy has been used before, the term "put your back in to it" when trying to push one, might also be applicable here. Better rephrased as "put your spine in to it" from a Tai Chi perspective.

As hard as a puppet and as flexible as a rag doll. Being hard needs to be balanced with flexibility. Yin/Yang balance. Strong and Yielding. Bamboo wisdom, strong and flexible. Or as Bruce Lee liked to say "be like water my friend"

I would train with Bruce Lee. Because he is the real thing.

Thanks for sharing the video. As the video demonstration is from a Wing Chun perspective, Iron palm kung fu also utilizes the slap idea but to the extreme. Loose hand strikes are IMO very effective for speed, distractions and setups for more heavier blows. I like the shock value a slap can deliver in an instant. A spin with the second slap can be more shocking than the first, stunning the opponent or knocking the person out. Or used as an open hand slap and back hand, to the face and as well as combination chops to the throat and neck. Spear hand jabs also work well with the slaps and chops to the face, neck and throat. Open hand slaps can be super fast and difficult to counter. Reality based martial artists often use the slap, so do the none martial art community world wide.

Great inspiration you are gunner. The more you know the more (informed) choices you have. knowledge is a powerful tool, especially for martial artists. The merging of reality and sport martial arts equals "Blood sport" this equation also equates to death. Martial artists that turn to mma should become well aware of the dangers of competing this way.

I'm older than 52 (more like 60) and have no trouble keeping up with the younger one's also. I don't spend unnecessary energy as the youngsters do, just do the job ASAP. Funny comment One student said to me "Go easy on him, he's alot younger than you" Only by 40 years. Younger people have much to learn LOL Through ma training I'm lucky enough to be physically 20 years younger than I am assumed to be. Martial arts (personally) is about learing to defending my self physically from those that are: Bigger, Stronger, Quicker, Younger,

Interesting thoughts and comments thus far. How does reality based ma training differ from sport ma? Is the conditioning process the same, or do they differ? Martial arts by it's name is not a sport. How martial arts is still called by something that it is not? Like a sunset, we know the sun doesn't set science has proved that point, but the name has stuck. Martial art sports sounds like a contradiction. Children and younger people compete in sport ma more than adults. Is ma a younger people pastime or hobby now? Or is there something undignified about two old martial artist slogging it out, trying to win a plastic trophy? While the senior older overweight out of shape martial artists eventually steer towards reality based martial arts?

I call what you are feeling as the "snakes and ladders syndrome" We all can be subjected to it. You will bounce back, just takes positive mind over matter determination. A recent injury or holiday can throw a person off track. Stress or anxietys work just as fell. Moving house or new job or relationship commitments. New baby on the way... The weather has a very strong influence over our health and wellbeing. Your body could be adjusting to a new season. A change in eating and sleeping habits could also have an effect on how you feel. Start a fresh, with a new goal for yourself. Make it enjoyable and viable. All the best

Here is a video on the essentials of stretching by Dr. Lee Pierce. Very worthwhile ideas that can be adapted for martial artists.

Good technique (Thanks for sharing the video) distracting and controlling the opponent by hitting a pressure point. The term 'limb destruction' isn't an accurate enough term (for me personally) to describe the technique, it seems misleading. I would describe it more as a 'pressure point setup' technique. Limb destruction techniques are intended to be very damaging and painful! Limb destruction techniques can also be very advantages in grappling situation. Utilizing the ground helping to pin the opponent's limbs in any number of ways using hands, knees and feet. Reality based combative styles can take full advantage of using limb destruction techniques. A long range strategy than can set up the opponent for close range attacks or controlling limb techniques and or takedowns/throws. Limb destruction techniques are usually the focus or intent of the attack, so as to damage or render the limbs of the opponent to a point that they don't function as well as they should; in doing so ends the fight! Limb destruction techniques work well against those that (have an advantage of reach) use fists that target the head or body while the closes target for the limb destroyer are generally the opponent's hands and arms. Limb destruction techniques target pressure points and joints. Also target strikes and blows to muscles and bones. Limb destruction techniques work well for the initial contact of a fight as limbs are generally an easy target. Also limb destruction techniques work well against knife or weapon attacks because the attacker will have difficulty continuing an attack with nerve damaged limbs. Many martial artist may never have felt or experienced a nerve destruction technique. Hitting a nerve correctly with sufficient force can cause a person to become unconscious, also can cause a person's arm to go into an uncontrollable spasm. Or deaden an arm temporarily enabling a (countering) follow up with a variety of techniques which the second video shows accurately (Thanks again for sharing)

The 360 Krav Maga from the video is just a drill. If being attacked by many opponent from all directions the the 360 concept makes perfect sense.

Are you taking a Tai Chi class? Tai chi theory without practicing it physically isn't going to benefit you realistically. There are many styles of Tai Chi such as 'Sun' 'Wu' and 'Yang' some for health benefits and others for fighting with 'Martial Tai Chi' that may incorporate sword forms also. Tai chi isn't what ot once was. It was a formidable fighting style of the royal palace guards in ancient China. The eight gates you referred to could be from Wing Chun or Bagua.