Alan Armstrong

Take a trial class. Watch a class. Ask if they have a belt system. Gather as much theory on Krave Maga as possible, so you can ask the right questions to the instructor. Do you want to join the Israeli military or is your interest just for fun? Know what you want first or you will get what you are given.

This story (Tiger claw) was handed down to me from my Sensei pre internet. I don't want to give out his name but his initials are Mr G P We can assume everything is written down, this is just not so. Martial art sensitivity training is transferred through touch and practice, that cannot be caught on camera or explained in a book. My Wing Chun teacher was third generation to Ip Man. My Wing Chun Sifu taught me things not possible through verbalizations alone. My (story telling) Sensei was a Master in Shotokan. I know he had some Chinese martial art experience also by the way he would use some references to it. Shotokan karate can easily be switched to 'Dragon Ying' Kung fu. Just by changing punches or blocks for grabs. Also relaxing the body instead of tensing it. Claude van Dame practiced Shotokan and switched it to 'Dragon Yin' style in the movies that he played in. This is not factual, it is just my observational opinion.

Tai Chi Chaun power comes from leg muscles. Slowly transferring one's body weight from one leg to the other increases their strength but also more importantly it improves the person's balance simultaneously. Tai Chi practices body and mind synchronicity in gentle continuous gentle martial art movements (Yoga while moving) Every movement has a yinyang aspect not apparent to the spectator. Tai chi power comes from practicing Chi Kung exercises. Those that practice Tai Chi without Chi Kung exercises will not develop their power potential. As many that practice Tai Chi these days are not practicing it to fight with, power is not as important as maintaing health.

Fact or fiction either way fascinating! My Sensei told me a story about 35 years ago about the original tiger claw style from China. Foot binding (lotus foot) was a common practice in China for status reasons and beauty/vanity reasons also. This foot binding would stunt the foot from growing naturally. Another practice was hand binding for martial artists to create the Tiger claw. This is the way the story was told to me and so it is just that, a story. True or not perhaps we will never know. In ancient China villages had their prize fighters. Boys raised from birth to fight for the honor of the village. That was their status in the village 'Tiger claw fighters' Everything they wanted or needed was done for them. They were trained to fight bear handedly. With one exception, their hands were bound in to a fist. As the child grew the fingernails would pierce the palms. As the child grew so would the fingernails grow through the child's hand. Eventually the nails would pierce totally through the hand to come out on top. The nails would curl over the four knuckles forming the Tiger claw. Seems we may have seen something similar to this in the movies, such as 'Wolverine' from 'The X Men'

My Sensei very unexpectedly used this Tiger claw technique on me some 35 years ago. Still today I'm impacted by the event. He was in construction, so he was grabbing things all day in his daily duties. I guess when some people have a hammer in their hands, everything looks like a nail. In my case my throat must have looked like a piece of wood. Calcium buildup on bones is true, as shown in the video. Another sensei of mine had this calcium build up on his knukles as I learned from him, so do I have this calcium build up also on my knuckles; even more so. Tiger claw. Eagle claw. Dragon claw. Chin-na techniques. All different and all can be very damaging depending on who is using it and where it is used on the human body. Tiger claw is a grabing and ripping technique usually practiced on hanging meat. All cats use this 'tiger claw technique'. (When a cat gets it's claws in to your flesh, you learn fast how well it works). Tearing bark from trees with only the use of fingertips and trying to catch fish with bare hands are just a few methods used to practice this style. Eagle claw is a palm strike that turns in to a grab. As Eagles hunt they hit their prey to stun them first, grab to pick the prey up and throw them to the ground. This technique is often practiced or used by bouncers or variations of it, outside clubs and bars. Dragon claw uses bone power while the hand is in a fixed position, as if breaking bricks. Using the whole body weight and a twisting motion to hit with a devastating single blow. Claude Van Dame liked to use this technique in his movies. It has a dramatic reptilian look and feel to it. This technique is intended to cause a person internal ruptures to organs, causing eventual death. Another dragon claw technique also works very well, by grabbing a person's face making them loose balance and visibility, then pushing their head back and slamming them in one swift motion straight down in to the ground. There are variations of this technique from many positions but the principles are the same. An added touch to this techniques is to use the other hand to press in to the opponent's lower back, causing a greater impact than it already is. Chin-na was developed by Shaolin monks to catch bare handedly wild animals, so as to not cause them permanent damage or harm. Now days this 'Grab and hold idea' is mostly used by law enforcement personnel to apprehend or detain potential criminal, used all around the world.

There are many martial artists that could benefit from using Shiatsu. I have never seen it practiced in karate classes but in Aikido yes. To be an all round karate practitioner in all Japanese styles of combat surely Shiatsu should be an integral part of the whole. Do you combine Shiatsu with your Karate? Many that practice karate seem to think that Yoga will help improve their flexibility issues, as it perhaps may do that. Shiatsu just could be the key to unlock places in your body that need to be liberated.

As for steel toe cap boots in Canada. During the winter months in cold regions steel toe cap boots will freeze your toes off. In the summer months they are great for training for the weight aspect but they can also weaken ankles due to over supporting them. In the 1970's steel toe cap boots 'Doctor Martins' was standard street wear for street gangs and football hooligans. At that time it was not advisable to shown the steel or you could be charged with carrying on your feet a dangerous weapon. As a martial artist. steel toe cap boots are not necessary, all types of sports shoes or regular walking shoes have sufficient: toe, side and heal strength to protect feet while kicking. However being toe stopped upon will be your weak spot.

All forms of dance can benefit a martial artist Bruce Lee was a Cha Cha Cha Champion. Hip Hop uses gymnastics, great footwork coordination, lockin and popin that gives martial artists inch power with every part of the body. Batuka, Latin dance moves that incorporate Brazilian martials. Even English Morris dancers could show us all a move or two worth avoiding. Many dance moves are actually martial art movements disguised as something pretty to watch.

Bruce Lee was a legend in his own time. He gave us his best. He showed us the human potential in martial arts. He shared his culture when it was customary not to do so. He gave the little guy courage to fight back. He practiced what he preached in his movies and in his books. He broke down prejudices with his fists and feet. He gave us a new martial art style that each of us can call our own tailored to fit each of us. He opened the world of martial arts to everyone...

Sorry to hear about your elbow injury. The diving roll done in Aikido can be a bit tricky due to hight and the speed needed to do it. I have an elbow on the mend at this moment including my hand and a twisted ankle. Thankfully we are nothing like Evil Canival that has broken most of his bones in motor cycle stunts. My x-rays also show no broken bones. My hand and elbow was damaged during an impossible stunt to breaking kiln dried posts. The ankle was twisted by wearing the wrong training shoes on the wrong training surface. Six days later single handed I gave a self-defense seminar. Now with some time out from training , it has given me the opportunity to do alot of Martial art Youtube viewing; lots of great ma stuff out there to absorb. Us humans have a great inbuilt ability to heal ourselves with natures help and with the help and support of those around us. Therapy or surgery you will survive all of this and be all the stronger and wiser for it. Remember you are a fighter!!! Wounded in training will make you even more stronger on the battlefield because pain is what many run away from.

Hi stonecrusher69. Your videos do have many valid points regarding chi Sao practice. Thank you for sharing. The only issue that concerns me is the ratio of you (regarding the size lengh and weight of your forfarms) compared to your chi sao partner. You are occupying double the centre line than he is. I'm not talking about the horizontal or vertical centre line but the ones (yes plural) directly between you and your partner. Also these centre lines between the both of you is not centered at all because there is no allowances given on either side to take in to consideration for the height diferation. Perhaps another video is in order to clarify these few points. Once again thank you for sharing and will be looking forward to seeing more of your views on this topic.

For martial artists, if every technique worked as well as "The perfect senerio" the stick poked in to the front bicycle wheel. A simple single action putting in to motion devastating effects. The Butterfly flaps it's wings in one part of the world that causes a tornado on the other side of the planet. Cause and effect. Dim mak has none of these things and is all of these things. Inside has no outside and outside has no inside. Probabilities but no certainties. Some people have severe allergies and can be killed by eating one peanut. Or consuming lemon juice. What is deadly for one person can be a protein or a vitimin for others. Dim mak is not a cut and dry activity, depends on who is applying the technique and who is receiving it and to take it a step further what time of day it is applied. Some medicines work better depending on the time of day, too much medicine can kill, so as can Dim mak. Chinese medicine and martial arts are intertwined. Doctors, herbalists and martial artists were one. In ancient China, if you broke a bone, a martial artist could fix it for you. Something even more strange than that, the people would only pay the doctor in their village when they were completely well and when they fell ill, they would not pay the doctor anything until they were well again. This would give the doctor the incentive to keep the villagers healthy. The doctor needed to know how to use natural medicine recipes and thumb and finger massages therapies to increase recovery time or he would not be payed anything. We in the West today have our methods that are very different than ancient times in the East. The differences came about because in the western cultures we had witchcraft, that was hunted down and mostly destroyed while in the East it kept on developing. This Dim mak topic is just another witch-hunt from a westerners perspective. Playing with anything unstable like witch-craft or Dim mak can have disastrous affects. Ask a Doctor that specializes in Chinese medicine about Dim mak in martial arts beforehand, or unknowingly it could be like giving a peanut to someone that is allegic to them and may have serious consequence. You may need this information later when you reach a very high 'Dan' in your style. Can you imagine white belts learning Dim mak techniques, I'm sure they would poking each other to see if it works or not. Dim mak is easier than you can imagine to do but just takes years to master it and for what purpose to learn it but to damage others! As many here on this site are Japanese's martial art stylists of one kind or another, I suggest looking in to (if you have not already) Shiatsu, the art of finger and thumb pressure therapy. Maybe this is a good chance to turn a negative topic in to something more positive and beneficial.

Worth watching I hope for you on YouTube, a friendly exhibition between Tai Chi and MMA titled: Tai Chi vs MMA (Who is nicer) There are skill levels regarding balance and rooting that seem difficult to believe and comprehend. My Tai Chi teacher with 40 experience from Hong Kong taught me things about balance (that was 20 years ago) and still I haven't seen anyone do what he can as well as he can. Having Tai Chi lessons dosn't guarantee that person will learn or be taught this very special skill. I have tried to teach brute fighters this technique and they just don't grip it because it takes a huge amount of sensitivity and patience, something that some people will never posses no matter how hard they try. This Saturday I'm holding a seminar on Chinese self defense and there is going to be another seminar in the same building with an Olympic medalist teaching a master class in Jujitsu. I will try my keeping my balancing trick out on him and I will keep you honestly posted with the outcome. Another two YouTube videos worth watching, sorry you will need to Google them also. Titled: "Tai Chi Master Wang vs Weightlifter" and "Tai Chi Master Wang Zhanjai vs Judo"

Chinese martial arts have been developed to help the little guy. To use leverage, gravity ECT to one's advantage. Big strong people have gotten by using brute force. If I have no equally matched brute force then I need something? I need every trick in the book and some. I need everything to help me defeat brute force. Today people with brute force are getting defeated by smaller intelligent fighters; 'Jet Lee' now strong sluggers have evolved in to intelligent fighters by using little guy techniques 'Chinese secret techniques' More and more little guy CST's are getting in to the hands of the brute force fighters. Now they have the best of both worlds with brute force combined with intellect force. There was once a famous saying' the bigger they are the harder they fall' this is what us little guys used to say, but not anymore. Look at Stephen Segual. Big guy using little guy tricks. The trick to not being taken to the floor is to have an extraordinary ability regarding balance not found outside Chinese martial are circles. Balance is connected with the center of the Earth. Having this extraordinary balance is not found in the grappling spheres of martial arts such as Judo or Aikido Ect, but in the martial art for old people that when they get older 'they fall down easily' need all the help they can get just like the little guy needs all the help he can get also. The answer you are looking for can be found in Tai Chi Chuan. I'm personally not going to mess around fighting a big guy that knows my tricks. I'll leave that job to the next guy. If by chance I'm the other guy well at least I did my homework and payed attention to my teachers, practiced diligently ... End note: How many mma fighters do you know that practice Tai Chi Chuan?

As a martial artist, maintaining one's flexibility should be as normal as brushing one's teeth three times a day. As for doing flexibility exercise before starting a class, remember that all of your movements in the dojo is already stretching muscles. Are you stretching or straining your muscles. Ballet dancers spend about three hours stretching and warming up before a performance. So brushing your teeth three times a day, the same for stretching only adds up to nine minutes a day, is that enough time? Adequate warm up time is the key to improve flexibility and enhance performance in or outside the dojo. Personally I spend most of my wakened hours stretching from my toes to my nose. For me stretching is a way of life. I've stretched this topic out enough; THE END

I believe that no rules fighting has nothing to do with all sport type of fighting. That what he does is fight to the death if no one stops it. Unlike controlled light contact fighting with padding. Most training in the padded realm with respect for the opponent. Contrary to killing your opponent without any respect for human life. These two ideologys just don't mix even though techniques can be exactly the same. As for takdowns he claims to use that no one has taken him down is not alien to me and are used extensively in the Chinese martial art systems.

Started out as a sweet kid in the late 1960's. Just was bullied and beaten up too many times up until 11 years old. Had a street fight with a local bully and I won. He insisted on a rematch and I convinced him that he was a better fighter than me. So he left me alone after that. Didn't stop other bullies they just kept showing up. But I learned from them some skills while loosing to them. Took Judo soon after that, got beaten up there. Took boxing, got beaten up there. Took Karate got beaten up there ... I'm still standing

Lots of great advice on this kiai topic thread. Another point not mentioned as yet is the confidence aspect of using the kiai. It is a confidence building technique. When we laugh it is an outward sound and breath ha! ha! ha!. When we are afraid or startled we gasp with an inward breath. When students shout out the word KIAI! Cannot help myself to be sad and embarrassed for them. Use any other sound please other than KIAI! I like to use the word 'DIE' With a loud burst of ear piercing vibrating energy attached to it. My farther inlaw wanted to see a karate demonstration from me. I just gave him my Karate Kiai, he was stunned speechless like a rabbit caught in the headlights of a car.

My pull up bar attached to my bathroom door frame is the best exercise equipment I will ever own. I also have very strong elastic tubes with handles to pull down on. Also strong straps to practice upside down yoga. For martial art strength training 'I think it is great'

Hi gunner. Stretching is not exactly a complete science as we are all different and our bodies change throughout our lives. There are always tips however that can improve flexibility issues. Many in the health and fitness game have missed an important point when it comes to the topic of flexibility. I'm a pandiculation guru, always spreading the word. Pandiculation is what cats and dogs do every 3 or 4 hours. They stretch their front legs then they stretch their back legs. Pandiculation is considered to be a body yawn. Don't confuse pandiculation with cat stretches that humans do and that is it, far from it. When we are in active our muscles slowly contract, as when sleeping. Stretching our entire body after sleeping is so natural and refreshing. Oh what a beautiful morning type of stretch that are used in advertisements. As we get older, many forget to do this and slide out of bed and walk stiff and frumpy. Continuing the day like this, sliding their feet and hunching their back. Pandiculation stretches are intended to reset the length of muscles and or prepare muscles to do a specific task. So before getting out of bed in the morning, pandiculate your muscles. There is much to discover on this pandiculation subject, but this is enough to get going on. So now you have pandiculated your muscles to start the day and reset their length. But you want more flexibility right! Then you will need to lengthen them right! To lengthen them on one side and weaken them while on the other side is to strengthen and contract them. What usally happens is contracting both sides and this will make a person less flexible 'stiff'. PNF stretching exercises are the recommended norm to improve flexibility and strength. Joints need attention also because they are a contributing factor for flexibility. Plenty of liquids and fresh air are also other factors. Spindling is an important factor to overcome. It is a trigger mechanism the body has to contract a muscle when in pain or discomfort. If you can communicate with your subconscious and be gentle enough when stretching, your subconscious will allow you to stretch further. This is why meditation and stretching are important for doing Yoga. Over stretching by bouncing will get results but overall flexibility will stagnate because of muscle scarring, scarred muscles looses the elasticity factor that muscles started off with. Muscles are designed to stretch, it is the elasticity factor that needs to be kept while lengthening them. Stretching while moving with some grace is also beneficial while avoiding jerky movements. Dance can add to this stretching while moving, giving strength and some fluidity to your motions. Light slow stretch kicking or pointing with your toes are always going to do you more good than harm. Listening to your body is something we can all do with a little more of. Massages on certain muscles and gentle limbering up movements can help flexibility issues, without any doubts. You can or anyone can stretch indiscreetly all day long. While walking or waiting to cross the street. Waiting for a bus or just waiting in general. While watching tv or eating breakfast, lunch or dinner. While doing house work or washing dishes. While having a bath or a shower... Washing the car. Climbing stairs. Cleaning the windows. Cleaning most things need some stretching movments; make an exercise out of it. Stretching with heat and cold is another factor that can be elaborated on if you are interested. The true master is the one that can master himself. This includes having mastery over one's own muscles and body.

The bricks in Europe are kiln dried a process that makes them very strong. As opposed to the Adobe bricks that are sun backed and makes them brittle. I grew up with the kiln dried Varity brick. I point this out because of some Japanese exchange students stayed with a friend of mine. They were all very experienced with karate. In the garden they had seen some bricks, so they wanted to break them with their bear hands. To show how things are done in Japan. They tried and tried again to break the bricks but they would not break. They never grew up with kiln dried bricks only with the Adobe type. The answer to your question about have I broken middle bricks is a flat out no. But I have broken Seven peoples noses before reaching my seventeenth birthday; noses are not kiln dried.

Many people die from car accidents, what doctors call 'Internal injuries' A person after a car accident can look perfectly normal on the outside but bleeding to death on the inside. Breaking bricks is a way to practice giving your opponent internal injuries. The brick breaking concept is not to break all the bricks but to break the second or third brick and not the top or bottom bricks. Energy passes through all of the bricks but only breaks the ones in the middle. Place three balls on a pendulum attached at the top with string. Pull back and release the outside ball and it collides with the middle ball and it stops instantly the middle ball doesn't move but the third ball does. Energy is passing through all of the balls but only one moves. This is the way chi power strikes are used to cause internal injuries. Not a good idea to practice this on class mates or anyone for that matter. Most of us, I think have experienced getting hit on the elbow and it goes tingly or moves about seemingly out of control. Or the doctor taps under your knee and it kicks out without you controlling it. Or getting hit on the bicep or thigh and it goes numb. This is all changing or interrupting the chi flow in the body. Than trying your pressure point holds on other people, I suggest trying them out on yourself first. 1# you will learn and know where they are located and 2# what effect they have on you such as dizziness or pain and 3# what amount of time and pressure is needed to make it work 4# you will instantly recognize if someone is trying it out on you without your consent. A punch is a type of touch just as petting a dog is a type of touch and a knife hand strike is also. A touch has too many connotations, to assume a touch is soft. is just an assumption, just something to remember when hearing about 'Death Touches' It just makes it sound more impressive than it is. I was knocked out about eight months ago from a blow to my jaw. As I instantly fell to the ground hitting my elbow and the back of my head on the pavement. As my neck twisted too far from the blow my vertebrae attached to my skull was injured also. The pain from the initial punch to my jaw only lasted a few days. My skull damage gave me migraine headaches and from my vertebrae injuries dizzy spells that lasted for months. This is 'Death delayed touch' as I could have died from a simple single blow to the jaw, that carries with it complications.

I like this KALIPUTRA guy. He certainly knows how to stand his ground. There are some martial artist that are talented in a fight. Perhaps because of growing up in a violent atmosphere. I believe KALIPUTA to be correct in all of his statements, including his attitude. Going beyond the ma sport aspects and the play-do-jo's the 'Do or Die' martial artists do exist. The problem for them is like the snipper that has trained for years and used up thousands of bullets but has never made a fatal shot on a human. To turn all that training in to a sport has lost what he has trained for. IMHO take KALIPUTA for his word on what he is capable of and accept it; I certainly am! Human weapons are real, just be thankful you haven't had to face one on the street.

It is said that chi is felt but not seen. Well it can be seen sometimes as there are always exemptions to rules. One cold winter morning I was out doing my poor Rocky Belboa impersonation out in the park. Sitting there resting, I wondered where the smoke was coming from, thinking there must be a fire near by. Then suddenly realized the smoke was emanating from me! Was I on fire, no it was condensation from my sweat and the cold air; I must have looked like a hot kettle, giving off a huge amount of steam like a race horse. This the yinyang hot and cold creating the chi vapors or clouds. This is when I became more focused on the Dragon Ying style of martial arts. Inspired, like a Chinese Dragon in the clouds.

Had the opportunity recently to teach a boxer some Chi Kung muscle relaxing and breathing techniques. He's approximately the same age as me. He was very pleased with his one hour lesson. He was in pain from stiffness and tight joints. His shoulders were tilted to one side. I was so happy to give this man some hope and some temporary relief. He couldn't bend down enough to tie his own shoe laces so I tied them for him. Tai Chi and Chi Kung instructor usally develop their compassionate side to help others. Too many of us suffer from the 'Too Late Syndrome' a point of no return.