Sorynn

Here are a couple things you can try: 1. Grab a broomstick (or one of those lightweight bodybars) with a wide overhand grip. Then, raise the stick over your head and behind you, so your arms are parrellel with the ground. If you do not feel a stretch, put your hands closer together and try again. I learned this from Scientific Stretching by Thomas Kurtz, and I recommend the book. 2. ISOMETRIC STRETCHING: You can use stretches that are similar to your weightlifting techniques. I think a person can get very creative with these, as long as you only feel muscular tension and not joint pain. Example 1: Once you are done with your chest exercises, grab some very lightweight dumbbells and perform a fly to the limit of your range of motion. Once you feel the tension, stretch against it and hold it for 30 seconds. Example 2: Once you are done with triceps, grab a moderate weight dumbbell in once hand, and lower it behind your head as if you are going to do a tricep extension. Use your other hand to push the weight down untill you feel tension in the tricep. Then resist against the tension for 30 seconds. WARNING: BE VERY CARFUL and start these slowly and with LIGHT MUSCULAR TENSION. Doing too much too fast can tear a muscle. 3. Watch or join a yoga class. They have a lot of great core (ab and lower back) and upper body stretches, like upward facing dog pose and childs pose. Good luck! Sorynn

Beka, I too am sorry for the incident that happened to you. A quick point on running from a weapon... I was watching a show where a police academy traininer was talking about murders committed with handguns, and he said the FBI stats show that 90% of all fatal shootings happen at a distance of 10 feet or less. So, if I can put 10 feet or an obstacle between me and the attacker, I am running for it. As to the original question. I do not think I could adequately empathize what it would be like for the woman. However, I would risk fighting someone with a weapon if it was my wife or mother or sister or daughter.

All those styles under one roof and the claim of having taught Bruce Lee sends up one huge red warning flag to me. The person may be legitimate, but I would be very wary. I do not think that question has an answer, as there are too many variables. Does the MT fighter land a knockout before the BJJ fighter gets him on the ground? There was a boxer, I think it was Joe Lewis, that was asked what would happen if he fought a judoka... He said something like... If I punch him first I win, if he throws me first, he wins. That is not the exact quote.

If I am sick, I generally skip class and take in plenty of rest and fluids. 1. It prevents me from getting really ill. 2. I do not want to transmit a bug to my classmates. Last fall, one of my training partners came to class with a nasty cough and 2 mornings later I felt terrible and could not get out of bed.

Are you being sarcastic, or did you really mean what you wrote?

JLee, I agree with the post that White Warlock made. I went to highschool in a similar environment to you. I was one of 100 white kids in an inner-city school of about 3500. Almost all of the student population was African-American with a few Hispanics and Jamacians. The best advice that I could offer you is to find ways of avoiding conflict. In my experiences, if you beat a guy one-on-one, he will come back with 5 friends or with a WEAPON. This type of conflict can change or end your life forever. Are the verbal insults worth getting shot? Here are a couple things that helped me: 1) Sports, sports, sports. Become friends with the guys that play contact sports. I was the only white kid on the football team, and quickly became friends with the other football players and wrestlers while we where working out in the weightroom. In my experience, the athletes where friends or related to the hoods in the school. Once the large athletes and hoods had my back I was mostly safe. 2) Expect to be teased and do not take yourself too seriously. I became used to being teased about being white, and would even make jokes about white sterio-types. Most bullies will tease people to make them upset. If it does not phase the person they will try something else or move on to a different person (an easier target). 3) Become happy with yourself. Learn to love and value yourself. If you are comforable with who you are, what you look like and how you think, those ignorant, small-minded people that taunt you are insignificant. After a while, you may even begin to feel sorry for them. Please feel free to PM me if you would like to speak in private. Respectfully, Sorynn

WW, You are right that bouncing into a stretch will cause muscular tears. However, this exercise, dumbbell swings, is not intended as a stretch. It is a great exercise to develop total body conditioning and power, and it is safe if it is done properly without overdoing it. With that being said, I do think this is an excerise that should be done after a comprehensive warm-up, not during a warm-up. http://www.trainforstrength.com/ex-4.shtml aes, I am sorry about the injury and the pain. Had you done those types of exercises before? Perhaps 60 repetitions was too much or the weight was too heavy. I know if I do too many olympic type lifts in a row, I become fatigued and my form suffers. I will start to pull with my arms and shoulders instead of driving with my legs. I wish you the best in your recovery. Respectfully, Sorynn

Goolsbee, You have stated that fitness and fun are the goals you would like to meet in a martial art. How much contact would be fun for you? I think your best options for fitness would be kickboxing, boxing or a grappling art (such as bjj or judo). Those all have matches and the competitions will force a participant to train hard and get in great shape. If you do not get in great shape you get knocked out If money is a concern, boxing can be the least expensive option. When I was boxing, I paid a little over $100 a year for unlimited access to a PAL (Police Athletic League) gym. You may have to go to an economically depressed area to find one, but you sure will get some great fights there! If you would not enjoy full contact, then perhaps someone else can suggest an art, as I would not be the best person for that. Good luck in your choices. Respectfully, Sorynn

Congratulations and well done. Cheers!

A) About 10 years ago. I defended myself against an attack and after three punches, I had to pay the person's medical expenses Striking someone can be expensive even if you are defending yourself. B) about 2 weeks ago.

Delta1, I have only been practicing Hapkido for about 7 months, but we are not learning the high kicks for use in a fight. We learn the high kicks as a training tool to develop power, coordination and balance. My instructor has told us that the high kicks and jump kicks where originally used to dismount horseriders, but I doubt I will see any of those in the city Respectfully, Sorynn

You could try some of the people on this link: http://judoinfo.com/clubsusa.htm#va Respectfully, Sorynn edit: Oops, I misread the original message was a judo request. Perhaps some of those people could direct you to a TJJ dojo though.

This is a very interesting question to think about. My initial response is that I should have trained consistently from when I started. I started training in Judo and Jujitsu in the 7th grade and practiced on and off until I graduated high school. However, what life experiences and events and knowledge would I trade so that I could have that extra 12 years of training? Would I have to trade my experiences playing American football or playing rugby? Would I lose the friends that I made in other areas of my life? Would I have met my wife that is pregnant with my first child? My final answer is that I do not think I would change a thing. I have made many mistakes and done some good things in my short time in our world. I have learned from the good and the bad, and I think that all of those experiences have helped to make me into the person I am today. I could not change my past and remain the person I am, so I will keep my experiences and hope to continue learning. I apologize if this is a little too philosophical. Respectfully, Sorynn

...and potasium.

I agree with Rich67, that supplements do have there place. The problem comes from the hype that says you have to use them at all costs. Currently, I take a multivitamin, flax seed oil, and glucosamine-condrotin. I started the flax seed oil and glucosamine-condrotin as preventative joint care. I am not sure how well it works, as I have not seen scientific studies on it. But it can not hurt, since I beat up my joints several times a week in Hapkido. Respectfully, Sorynn

I am not an expert, but there are a few general rules and theories that I understand to be true. These are good guidlines to follow in a long-term "western" dietary plan. Protein - Most people and athletes can consume 1-2 (maybe less) grams of protien per kg of bodywieght and sucessfully maintain and build muscle. Carbohydrates - Avoid simple sugars if possible. Eat mostly non-processed complex carbohydrates, like long-grain rice and whole wheat breads. The complex carbs will take longer to metabolis and will provide a longer, more constant stream of energy. Fats - In general, people should consume less than 30 percent of there dietary calories from fats. Some fats are essential for the body and will help to maintain your joints and proper body metabolism. Look up essential fatty acids (flax seed oil and salmon are high in these) for more information. I try to follow a diet where about 20-25%, 60-65% and 15% of my daily calories come from protien, carbohydrates and fat, respectively. With about 15 years of self experimentation, this is the combination that works best for me. So, I can intake enough protien to maintain my muscle and have enough energy to perform training (strength, endurance and/or skills) at least once a day. Years ago, I would keep a food log to track my food intake, and I think that is a good idea if you are just starting out. I no longer keep a food log. However, I found that once I tracked my food intake for a while, I could estimate daily intake fairly accurately without writing everything down. Good luck to you. Respectfully, Sorynn PS I do not have a fond opinion of the Atkins diet, and can voice those concerns if you wish. Edit: I did a search on bodybuilding.com and found this... http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/willbrink7.htm I think it is a good read and is congruent with everything I have learned. Just watch out for the sales pitch on the supplements.

I restarted 6 months ago, for self-defense purposes. I am fairly confident in my abilities to protect myself now, although I am sure I would not want to face many of the people on this board. I am training, so that I can defend myself in 20 or 30 years, when I will not be able to rely on the strength and athletesism that I have at the age of 30.

No worries

"Fartlik" That word brings back nightmares of the running we did in Rugby training. Jog... sprint... push-ups... jog.... sprint... crunches... jog...sprint...star-jumps [throw up]... start another lap...

I do not know if there is a term for it, but I call it interval jogging. I will run (at a high pace) for 3 minutes, then walk for one and repeat this four more times for a total of 20 minutes. I started this, when I was boxing. It seems to me that this is a much better way of getting cardio work done for all fighters than just running for 20 minutes straight. How many fights have you been in that lasted twenty minutes? I was just curious if anyone else runs this way. edit: Of course, grappling guys could run for 5 minutes, then walk for one or two and it would sync up with there match times.

Koreantiger81, I think boxing is easily classified, as it has a long history of amatuer and professional matches that where considered "sport." I boxed as a teenager, and the focus was always on beating the opponenet in the ring. Not once did we talk about taking out a mugger, and perhaps this focus helps to create the defining line. That being said, I have used boxing and judo techniques in self-defense situations effectively, and I consider them both combat systems. However they are incomplete as they are geared towards sport. I can not comment on TKD, as I have never studied it.

5'9" and 185-190 pounds. I marked muscular in the pole. I would have checked athletic and muscular if two choices could be selected. Cheers!

You are not the only sicko. A couple times a week, while going through my normal routine, I will imagine what I would do if one or several of the people around me became violent. I will do this when waiting for my train or driving in traffic or going to the atm, etc... I figure if something does happen in one of those life situations, I may be better prepared for having thought about it. Cheers!

They are entirely right. As you may already know, each joint has an protagonist (the muscle that shortens and moves the joint) and an atagonist (the muscle that will pull the join in the opposite direction). The important thing to remember is that if one muscle is grossly stronger than the other, a person is very likely to get a serious injury to that joint. Serious joint injury from muscle imbalance is very common in the knee and lower back. In case of the knee, a person with strong quadriceps and weak hamstrings can hurt the knee with forceful kicking. If he hamstring is not strong enough to decelerate the lower leg, that person can pull or tear the hamstring or incure structural damage to the knee. With the lower back, doctors and physical therapists often counsil people with low back pain to strengthen the abdominal muscles. The lack of abdominal strength can cause the spin to misalign and create pain. Sorry for the long-winded response, but I think balance in all muscle groups and across your entire body is the best bet. Cheers!

It is great to see you so happy and excited about the new school. Congratulations on the decision to quit smoking. I smoked heavily from the age of 19 to 30, and quit 8 months ago. I wish you luck, it is the single biggest thing you can do to better your long term health. This site helped me, when I was finally sucessful at quitting: https://www.quitnet.org Keep up the good work! And feel free to pm me if you need to vent if the nicotine rages hit you!