Sens55

Well said Cyberclown. Our instructor also brings in other "blackbelt friends". He invites them to train with us any time, regardless of the art. We are frequently invited to their dojangs in return. It's also good to see the other styles. He often has a Shotokan stylist teach a class or two to us. Those are fun days!

Sunchaser, I wouldn't worry too much about getting choked out. It's not a gender issue, it's part of the learning process. Most instructors will show you what it looks like early on, and then of course your fellow students will be glad to further your study. On the gender differences. Sure, there are some. But your instructor should be able to show you how to use your strengths to help neutralize your opponents advantages. In my opinion, if your opponent is stronger, you must really focus on your technique to win. But, you can, and you will if you keep working on it.

Goshiman, Yes. I've had a few headaches due to chokes...even if I don't completely pass out. Other than that, I don't think it hurts, it's just emberassing that I messed up and got in that position.

I think many of us have nice theories, but we sometimes forget things like...the opponent and the circumstances. Although it's always good to have a plan, Tyson once said "Everyone has a plan...until they get punched in the face" (or something similar). The point being, there are no perfect scenarios that will fit in all circumstances. If there were, everyone would learn those and that would be it. That being said, there are some good basic strategies that can be used. You alluded to kicking low. That's good on a number of levels. First, most every day joes in a fight will try to box. They don't always look for kicks, and good, hard, low kicks can hurt. It can impede their ability to move as easily. And, a few good shots might get them thinking about your kicks and open up something higher, like the face. On the punching to the face. I do believe you can condition your hands to make the punch less likely to hurt your hand. But, few of us have the time, or the inclination, to do that. Especially since it's truly unnecessary. Palm strikes to the face can be just just as effective and punches and with far less training. The last strategy that I like is, "Don't box a boxer or grapple a grappler. Grapple a boxer and box a grappler." Again, this is taking into account the opponent and the conditions. Meaning, I wouldn't want to go to ground in a barfight if I could help it, because you never know if someone else won't decide to kick you in the head while you're tied up with the original opponent.

Sasori, I don't know that anyone can answer your question, which I perceive to be (correct me if I'm wrong) "Why do many MMA practicioners feel the need to brag that they're tough Sh** and say that their "art" is more real on the streets?" Assuming I've paraphrased it correctly, I can only say that it's human nature. Like others have pointed out, it's not just the domain of MMA, although it may be the loudest crowd lately. I think that a lot of people, even if they don't actually verbalize it, feel that "my MA can beat up your MA" like school kids on a playground. I honestly think it has to do with the fact that we all want to be a part of something bigger and better than ourselves. Few have the confidence to say, "I don't care". We naturally take pride in our art, but often let that pride become arrogance. And arrogance is usually due to ignorance. And arrogance and ignorance is an obnoxious combination. That is what may drive some to say these things. It makes them feel better about themselves. And, in their minds, they cannot concieve that there may be more than one effective art. They point to deficiencies in TMA while ignoring their own. Of course, it's easy to say because it's impossible to really prove someone wrong in this case, because how do you test it? I mean, if an MMA practicioner wins a barfight and a TMA pracitioner loses, is it due to the art? the opponent? the praciticioner? extraneous circumstances? Who knows. But, what I do know is regardless of the name, there will always be some that feel the only way to build themselves up is to knock others down. It's a classic sign of immaturity and ignorance.

Battasoui, I haven't checked lately, but Blockbuster used to have UFC videos for rent and sale.

Bart, I wouldn't say that my statement about cultural differences contradicts someone elses post about it being an instinctive one. These are not mutually exclusive differences, and, in fact, may be a combination of both. Both statements were broad generalizations, not obervations of specific behavior, so without doing a study, we can not know for sure if either or both of us are right (or wrong).

You migration south might explain a little. My experience is that a lot of people in the East coast do find making eye contact to be aggressive. In other parts of the country it is rude NOT to make eye contact. You might have a combination of cultural differences mixed with the fact your attractive wife might garner more stares than many women and multiplied by your hypersensitivity to it. After all, what our mind dwells on tends to come true. Relax. Ignore them. It's obvious you don't have much regard for the natives, so why should you care. Rise above it.

Can't say I can tell you. We never have a choice. When we go up the instructor tells us what he wants us to do.

Ours is considerably different. I study Moo Duk Kwan (TKD). We have a small school, so belt testing everyone show up. We start with a warmup and then move to basics...hand techniques, kicks, blocks, etc that are needed for yellow belt. Every one does them, regardless of rank. The instructor will then add things need for the Green Belts...if you are a yellow belt and feel you know them well enough, you do them. If not, you stand still. Then he'll continue until he gets to the Blue belt techniques, then the red, then the Black. You keep going as long as you are confident in your competence. After that we'll start on forms...same thing. Then we do a self-defense portion, same thing. Then we'll do 3-step and then 1-step sparring. At that point (3 or 4 hours later) everyone is dismissed. But the higher belts have to come back at a later time (usually the next day) and do the breaking and sparring. We do 2 on 1, 3 on 1, 4 on 1 and 5 on 1, depending on the belt status. The sparring partners are either other students, or even black belts in other styles, or sometimes a big guy off the street the instructor met. It's painful, but effective since you can't just learn how to handle one style or one attacker. I also like that, if you're going for a higher belt, you have to do everything that a lower belt does, and then some. Good reinforcment and it wears you down, making it harder to do the more complicated moves of the belt you're testing for. You can't just focus on the "new" moves. You still have to do them all. I will say that it's completely draining. I end up going home and passing out in my chair for a couple of hours afterwards.

Either your wife is unbelievably hot, or you've got a chip on your shoulder...or maybe both. I try to take consolation in knowing that, no matter how much they look, she's going home with me.

Hmm, interesting. I don't know how you'd possibly color it. Maybe you can take it back and trade it for white. If you haven't used it, it's a possibility.

They had an article in this month's Black Belt magazine on Capoeira. If all of the practicioners look like the girl in the article then you can sign me up!

We were instructed that the only time you bow without looking is at a master as a sign of respect to him for teaching you. But when bowing to an opponet (even a partner in class) to bow looking at them. The bow is to thank them for training with you, but they ARE still an opponent.

Niel, You might try talking to a TKD school. Quite often some of the TKD schools will also teach separate HKD classes. Others teach the HKD to their black belts only.

I have studied TKD under a Korean instructor (twice) in different locations. Truthfully, I felt that it was difficult. They theoretically spoke English, but it was extremely difficult to understand them. Additionally, the way the chose to communicate didn't always coincide best with how I learn. My current American TKD instructor understands how to communicate in a way that makes sense to me. That communication itself can save a lot of training time (and frustration). I am, by no means, against Korean instructors, because, of course, there are scores of good ones. I merely mean to point out that your assumption that TKD can only accurately taught by a Korean may be a little misguided. And you cannot assume that if they are Korean they know more than a non-Korean. And, if they did, there's no guarantee they'd share that "extra" knowledge with you. Just food for thought.

And on common sense...the only problem with it is that it isn't really that common.

Back to the original question, we can argue all day long about which art is "better" for this or that. The reality is, we don't know what the schools in your area are like. The "worst" art taught by the best teacher is probably better than the "best" art with the worst teacher. Don't get too caught up in the names. Some styles do have some overarching emphasis, but that can vary from school to school depending on the instructor. Different instructors can teach the same art with a different emphasis, so it's impossible to say that this art is better than that art. More accurately, which school has the best package for you. Watch some classes, talk to the instructor and tell him what you want. Soon enough you'll know which is for you. Asking on here is just an open invitation for "My style can beat your style up" conversations.

Well said Kenpo

Outstanding. I takes dedication to show up at the gym every week, but to start with no one around and on your own is outstanding.

KwicKix, I kind of know what you mean. One of our asst instructors is awesome. His form is great, he's quick, he has power, he's smart on his tactics, he's the complete package. But, for some reason, he has a mental block with the master (he's admitted to such). He just falls to pieces. And the truth is, he's good enough, he could take the master on a few occasions, but he hasn't, and unless he loses his mental block, he never will.

I do it for a few reasons. First, it's something I've done my entire life (off and on) and I enjoy it. It's something to do to keep me in shape. But, more importantly, I do not have custody of my son. Getting to work out with him is something we can do together, and often on days that aren't "my" days to get him. Also, I know my son will probably get in a scrape some day. Doing MA with him helps insure (but of course, cannot guarantee) that when and if he does, he'll be able to take care of himself. And, I truly believe in Junior High & High School, if you get in a scrape and take care of yourself accordingly, you probably won't have to do it again, since most bullies are just looking for an easy target.

I'm worked on my MBA at Webster University while I work FT, raise a family and keep on my MA training. I haven't sat in a classroom in YEARS. Started last night. The classes are 4 hours long. My first one is in Business Statistics! Talk about boring. But I chose to get the nasty ones out of the way first. Then I can do the easy ones like Marketing near the end. Everyone else does it the other way and they end up dreading their last year.

I did some penance at Ft. Devens. Loved the commute to beantown! When were you there?

From what I could tell, you're worrying about getting respect for having a belt. Respect doesn't come from that. As we used to say in the Army, we salute the rank, not the individual. But some individuals earned our respect and the received sharper salutes along with the loyalty and trust of the soldiers. Same goes for belts. Prove you're worthy of the belt and you'll get the respect. As far as being soft, some people are. I don't think it has anything to do with looks, and I'm not saying you are. But some people aren't aggressive with their moves and are scared of contact. That might define soft. The question is, why do you care? If you don't believe you're soft, then it shouldn't matter. If you do believe you're soft, and you don't want to be soft, then work on being more aggressive.