MMouse

I have heard good and bad stories regarding this organization. Anyone here have thoughts or experiences?

You are absolutely right about about the teacher. Unfortunately, things have become quite busy at work with christmas coming up. Money is also a little tighter, but I hope to get the time to check both out soon. I think I will choose one of the 2, just will come down to the teachers.

I have these 2 styles open to me. I have been researching them a bit on my own, and will go watch each when the time arrives. I would like to develop some self defense skills, and have some fun along the way. ANy thoughts?

That would be great to see. Like I said, I sincerely would like to learn about it's effectiveness.

This post is not meant in any way to be a flaming post. I am inexperienced with Karate in general and have a sincere question. How is Shotokan effective for self defense? It seems so rigid, so slow. This may be due to stereotypes I have heard and said, but if so please prove me wrong. I mean, boxers are so alive, quick and flexible in fighting. The same with kickboxers and alot of grapplers. How is a reverse punch useful in a real fight? Like I said, no flame intended, just looking for real answers.

I think where he was going with the inexperienced fighter was this. Alot of training is done in a certain manner where you are fighting experienced fighters. They carefully select their movements. Someone who is inexperienced can be dangerous because it is unknown territory to alot of people. They will make wild movements, wild punches or anything else unknown. It is that factor that can make them dangerous. PROPER training can help that.

Which would you guys choose if you had one choice for self defense training?

Run. Lift weights. Plyometrics. The list goes on.

If you are wanting to cut, don't count on alot of muscle. Also, don't completely cut the weights out, Weightlifting doesn't have to add size, but will if that is how you train. Right now what you need to do is eat less calories than you burn. Simple fact right there. Nothing else will do it, as so many people think otherwise. Balance your diet though, eat carbs, protein and healthy fats. Especially eat your carbs if you are fairly active. While cutting, you will want to watch the carbs, but do not eliminate them altogether. Also break your eating into 6 smaller meals rather than 3 large ones. It will help immensely as it ups the metabolic rate. For weight training, lighten up the weight and go for higher reps (12-15ish). This will help build your muscles a bit, but will not add alot of bulk. The more muscle mass you have, the more calories you will burn. In short, do your research. Read up on proper dieting and exercising. These forums are great, but go out and search for the answers.

In the overall picture, no being flexible does not cause loss of power. However, stretching immediately before using your muscles before something requiring alot of power can diminish you power slightly.

Diet is a very complex subject. Everyone is different. Are you wanting to lsoe weight or gain muscle?? Or just maintain what you have?

That statement is so wrong, I don't even know where to start. You are not born with fast or slow twitch muscles. Your entire body is made up of them in different combinations, depending on the muscles. True, the combinations do differ in different people, but not to extremes. Slow twitch muscles are those used for support or endurance. Your calves, your neck muscles, abs are slow twitch. They are endurance based as if they were not they could not perform their function. The chest is predominantly fast twitch as it performs explosive movements. Each muscle however does have both types of fibers. The quadriceps for example are a mix. They are a support/endurance based muscle, but also have explosive power potential. Each type of fiber is trained differently.

As soon as your exercise starts to become endurance in nature, you are no longer working the fast twitch muscles primarily.

Does anyone here study isshinryu karate? If so could you share somethings about it. 1) How effective do you feel it is for self defense? 2) Are there any sweeps or throws and if so, are they dependent on the school or are they an integral part of the style? 3) Do you spar full contact?

3500 calories really isn't alot, especially if you are fairly active. Try increasing it by 500 within a week. See how it works, if not increase by another 500.

To write the idea that an extended punch has no power is insane. Ever been hit by a fully extended cross? From an extended position it is difficult to add power. Power invloves speed. As your punch moves forward accelerating , it gets harder.

It was Micky Ward with whom Gatti had those three amazinf fights. I don't know if I can single out a one favourite boxer. There are a few. Ali is an obvious choice. He dominated, in every way. Holyfield is another. The guy had skills and talent. A well balanced fighter. Barrera is awesome. Jones has to get credit as well. I know there is alot of controversy with him, but the guy has won regardless of anything else.

A visible sixpack is not important. The muscle is there underneath of the fat, whatever percentage you have. I would be more concerned with the strength and endurance of the midsection.But........... Of course having less body fat means less weight, and being a little quicker , but less weight is also less bodyweight with which to strike. Don't worry so much about the visible abs. Focus instead on finding your comfort zone for fighting. Some are confortable sporting extra pounds, others need to keep their weight to a minimal level.

I am in Manitoba. I sent you a pm. Get back to me.

Right on man. All comments noted. But I am trying to explain this to you abnout boxing. If you try to fight like you do in a boxing match, ya your toast. No doubt about it. But don't dismiss boxing. It can give you some of the tools that can help you out in a fight. A hard hook to the jaw has ended many street fights. Is boxing the ultimate? No, there isn't one. But don't write it off without taking this into account.

Lemme ask you something, do you choke people unconscious in classes? Do you break joints? Do you actually poke them in the eyes? Strike the groin with force? OR neck? Didn't think so. You can practice those techniques all you want, but you are never actually doing them. I am not saying the training is ineffective, just not as complete as you make it out to be. When you box, you hit........hard. You also get hit.........hard. It is reality. No boxing isn't perfect, but it gives you some effective tools and a taste of what it is like to really fight. On another note, Mike Tyson beat TWO men the other night. Can boxing work? just maybe.

Boxing is VERY EFFECTIVE as a fighting art. Yes it does lack some weapons. What makes boxing what it is is simple. The way it uses what weapons it has. Boxers are trained to use their hands from mutiple angles. A boxer learns to avoid being hit, while hitting. Boxers train to fight. They don't train for anything else. And they train hard. You get anyone who trains in an art like that, they will be very effective. The difference in tho, that most martial arts schools don't train like that. Not saying all, but most. Boxing is not for kids or families. Part of the reason alot of Martial Arts avoid this training. A similarly trained Muay thai, karate or judo practitioner would give them and run and probably even beat them. Not doubt about it. There just isn't the same percentage of them.

Here is what you do. First of all, figure out how many calories a day your body uses. Keep in mind that it will ony be an estimate and that it will change day tp day. Now add 500 calories to that. Not gaining? Add 500 more and so on. Doing martial arts, you are going to burn alot and 3000 doesn't seem like much,especially when you are active and probably have a fast metabolism.

There are so many to choose from. I will stray from the trend of choosing old time greats however, because I did not witness them. Some of my favourites would have to be Barrera, Jones Jr. , Bajada , and Holyfield. I could write entire posts about why I like each one.

Skipping is very benificial to any martial artist or athlete. It is a form of cardio which is always a plus. It can strenghten your legs. As far as the footwork improvement, try not to directly translate the movement into footwork. If I am lifting weights, it will benefit my power, but the movements it benefits will not exactly mimic the exercises I perform. Skipping will increase strength and endurance and give you the ability and practice of moving your feet. Through the use of different ways of skipping, you will strenghten and train muscles to move. It is a tool for training, not the end all answer.