Fat Cobra

Who are your top 5 super heroes (or villains) who use some form of martial arts? These heroes can have super powers or not. Here is my list: 1) Daredevil 2) Batman 3) Iron Fist 4) Deathstroke 5) Moon Knight

Alan, I agree with you 100% on this one.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!!

I am a bone clashing kind of guy, but I can see the validity in your description of bone spinning.

Ahhh, I see. Though I agree with your statements, I interpret it a little different. One of our Core Principles in Ryukyu Kempo is "Structural Integrity." To us (and I assume to most styles), everything starts with the feet on the ground. If your stance or structure is strong, it transfers throughout your entire body. Yes, body mechanics, such as hip movement and joint movement (and muscle), have a lot to do with power, but solid structural integrity does as well. If your base is week everything else will also be. Your base relies on your skeletal framework as much as your muscles.

A lot of dislike for this series in these forums, but I am not one of those! I loved it! Unrealistic...of course. Fun to watch, absolutely! I love the world setting, the feudal lord type governmental structure, and, of course, the martial arts. One of my top 3 favorite shows on TV today (along with Daredevil and Cobra Kai).

I have not heard of this. What does it consist of?

I have not heard of this. What does it consist of?

Mitlov, Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your promotion...and congratulations that you are in a stable position to be able to continue with your MA journey. Look forward to hearing more from you in the forums.

Congratulations on your promotion. It sounds like you are going to a good Dojo with great instructors. I agree 100% about the panel of Yudansha assisting with testing.

How about, "Exalted Leader?"

Jetrail, Welcome and congratulations on starting your martial arts journey. I agree with Sensei8--live instruction with a good instructor/sensei is the way to go. However, if this is not practical, then online instruction can work, but I would get to live instruction in the future if possible. Take care and good luck!

From one 3rd Dan to another...Congratulations!!!!!

DeskWarrior, Welcome to the site. As for your question, I believe it depends on what you ultimately want to get out of martial arts. This class seems to be a positive for the following goals: - Fitness - Good instructor - Sense of accomplishment - Discipline - Belonging to a larger organization - Experience if you ever want to teach kids - Cost - Distance from Home This class seems to be a negative for the following goals: - Self Defense - Camaraderie - Experience if you ever want to teach adults So, in the end it depends on how you rank these categories in your own personal goals.

Congratulations Alex, great work. Domo arigato gozaimasu!

My main move intent is to strike to the outside of the neck (carotid artery) with either a back fist or knife hand strike. Variation #1 (in defense of a karate punch..i.e. a straight punch to the face or chest, from Naihanchi Shodan Step #11): 1 - Inside Block 2 - Neck Strike Variation #2 (in defense of a hook or haymaker punch, modification of Naihanchi Shodan Step #11): 1 - Outside Block 2 - Neck Strike Variation #3 (simultaneous high block and neck strike, from Pinan Shodan Step #2):

Well, if you are willing to take advice from a "Fat Cobra," I would recommend lots of protein (foods: eggs, chicken, fish; powder; bars; and other types). Amino acids for recovery are also good (I like Cellucor).

I agree with everyone who sent in replies. Even though many are quite different in their outlook, I don't think any are wrong. I will explain more my line of thinking. First, to clear things up I am not advocating that instructors punch their students in the face (though the bumper sticker version of this philosophy does make this seem to be the case). In the Karate board in this website I posted a topic called "Most Effective Karate Move" and asked the community what karate move they thought was the most effective (fully knowing this is a very simplified question). There were a myriad of responses, but many said a punch. Also, in other forums on this site I have discussed, as have several others, the importance of "live action" or full contact practice of self-defense moves in training. Also, with my experience training and leading troops in combat (24.5 year Army career in the infantry, 6 deployments = 3 operational (Panama, Kosovo, Bosnia) and 3 combat (Afghanistan, Iraq, Iraq), I have developed a sense of how to prepare people for hostile and life-threatening situations. Thus, I believe the most important attribute to have in any hostile situation is the ability to get hit and still function effectively. Even more important, though, is that you are mentally confident that you can take "a punch to the face" and still be able to function. That mental confidence will allow you to react quicker and apply your own technique(s) to end the situation. In conclusion, I do agree that avoiding hostile situations and, if unavoidable, ending them peacefully is the best tactic. However, If you have to defend yourself, you have to also be able to "take a punch to the face" or any other type of hit and still function. Most likely, no matter how fast or good you are, you are going to get hit. If you never practice this in the dojo then you do not know how you are going to react in a real situation. Best to get your mind prepared in the dojo before having to experience getting hit for real for the first time in a life threatening situation.

Ahh, I wrote this post quickly (I was in a hurry) so I probably didn't communicate this well. I see now that it was not clear what I meant. Did I mean to "teach someone how to punch someone else in the face," or to actually punch that person in the face (instead of teaching him/her how to fish)? I actually meant the latter (punch that person in the face), but now that I think about it...both actually work. So, I believe that it is better to teach someone how to punch someone else in the face AND to actually punch that person in face than it is to teach them how to fish. Before you all think I am crazy, I ask that you deliberate on it a little more. Does anyone agree with me?

Most have probably heard of this saying (or something like this): "It is nice to give a man a fish, but it is even better to teach a man how to fish." My question is, what is better: - Teaching a person how to fish or - Punching a person in the face?

Patrick, Happy Birthday!!!!!!!

Congratulations!

I agree with you about using it to focus on self defense. When I was in the military, we used to use the Blauer Suit, which is very nice, to work self defense techniques. I plan on using Bogu Gear in my dojo for the same thing. Also, I agree that only one method of sparring has limitations. We will Bogu Kumite, but also use other forms of Kumite as well.

I am an extreme novice at Qigong, I must admit. I do some exercises, including the 5 Animal Frolics and the 8 Pieces of Brocade. I really like them and do believe they greatly supplement my Ryukyu Kempo Training.

Brendan, singularity6 is correct. Any style of type of martial art can be intense (or not). The best idea is to visit local dojos and find out what best fits your current interests and fitness level.