MSPav

If you buy a pair of sais, make sure that the end of the "blade" extends to just past the tip of your elbow.

Ahhh, I see. If I only had known their techniques a few years ago! I had a nasty run-in with a refrigerator, but I kicked it in the meat tray and managed to get away.

Sure! Practice, practice, practice. Start slowly, get it right, then build up speed.

Thanks gheinisch!

Car lifting uncle? Uncle Ironfist?! I didn't see that on the website! Ok, I didn't miss those; they've changed the site since I was there last.

AARRGGHH!! I can't stand that sort of crap! I used to play competition squash, back in Australia, and I had to go through that crap. I didn't go to the practice session with the court owner's wife because I didn't like her style of playing and after just 6 months I was good enough to thrash her students anyway. I was captain of my team and won every game that season (let alone every match!). The others in my team (her students) won and lost almost evenly. Because of my playing we won the championship, but I went down a grade while they went up two grades! I quit, which I now wish I had not done. I should certainly have changed locations and played for another court.

Can you talk to your grandmaster about it? If so, that would be the best approach. If you have one of those masters who are in the "don't talk to me, you lowly non-10th dan" category, then you might wanna start looking for another place to learn.

I remember my first MA classes. There were kids there who had high level belts, and for the most part they were arrogant little gits who couldn't fight. I don't think it should be determined by strength, but these guys were sloppy technically and shouldn't have had such a belt for that reason alone.

I'm sorry, Dragon, I'm sure you're a nice guy and all, but you don't seem to have a realistic view of a knife attack. For one thing, if you're grabbing his arm with your opposite arm, then how are you going to punch his jaw? You'd have to punch over the top of your and his arms - not very effective. Secondly, if you even see the knife coming, you'd be best off hitting him pre-emptively rather than waiting for him to attack you first. That's pretty much the law of knife-fighting: be prepared to be cut if you fight, hit first, hit hard, and run when you can. I guess it does depend on how good a martial artist you are, too. Some people would have no problem in a mugging; others would really suffer.

Just make sure you don't learn anything here, then.

I can totally relate to what you're saying and it's probably a good thing that I missed my reunion by being out of the country at the time. Of course, I'm 29, not 40, so I've not been carrying this around for nearly as long as you. I hope that this doesn't sound too much like platitude, but you gotta somehow forgive 'em. It's more for your sake than theirs. Or at least, if you can't actively find a place of total forgiveness for them, then try to be open-minded about meeting them. As the saying goes (which karate_woman alluded to), the best revenge is success. Hate hurts you; do your best to get rid of it. Don't even think: "If they start anything...!" If anything does start, I'm sure you'll react your best if you're relaxed and not dwelling on it. Otherwise you might wear yourself out with stress beforehand. And you won't look like someone who's come in with a score to settle. Those people are never welcome at reunions. All the best, dude.

Heya!

Hi! Oh, man, now I miss the beach again.

Yo!

Hey. You haven't given us any info about you, so it's almost impossible to know why you're getting out of breath. What is your build? Do you smoke? Do you have a health problem? How fit are you otherwise? If you can answer those questions, then I can probably help you out.

Congrats on getting married! My wife and I got hitched about 6 months ago. I'm kinda short of time right now too, but I'll be getting back to you within the next couple of days, when I get the chance. Cheers.

I used to do weights for 4 hours a day or so. Not every day though; it was more like 4-5 days a week. I know that quite a few professional musicians practice up to 12 hours a day too, so 5 hours of MA doesn't sound impossible, just very advanced.

Hi, hi!

I guess it depends on your priorities. If you really want to find someone and that someone shares the same interest as you - i.e., martial arts - then grow up and go out with them! Hmmm, what's more important, finding the love of your life or doing martial arts? Uhhh, let me guess... Man I sound old. But that's the problem with relationships today; they're penciled into peoples' schedules between work and play: 6:00 - Dinner7:00 - Martial arts 7:15 - Fall in love 7:45 - Sparring 8:00 - Go home

None of your fights went to ground? Ever? Then either you have won all your fights or you've never been up against someone who really wanted to hurt you.

A "traditional" style is one that hasn't changed a great deal from its initial format or taken on board ideas from other styles. Generally speaking, they're styles that have been around for quite some time too.

A problem with BJJ techniques is that they usually require you to use both hands to ward off an attack and/or set up your own attack. This is problematic if you don’t complete the counter-attack before the other guy gets another shot in. It leaves you open to another strike from his free hand or foot. Nearly all of their street defenses seem to be reactionary too. That is, you have to wait for the other guy to attack you first. A lot of them also need the assailant to hold still and wait for you to complete your set up. But I'll freely admit that I'm not an expert on BJJ.

Something that others haven't mentioned is Southern Praying Mantis style. I'm not sure that you could find anything near you, but I can recommend it quite highly. It's a strange style in a way; it isn't very aerobic, like most Karate styles, but there is a lot of intensity nonetheless. It focuses primarily on hand attacks rather than kicking (there are some low-body kicks, and it depends on the school how much they incorporate them). However, it's not at all like boxing. It is also a very effective "combat" style. That is to say, it's a "hard" martial art: I think their motto is something like 'Within three steps contact, control and strike the enemy until he is destroyed'.

Cheers, guys.