Sasori_Te

If you are referring to a crooked cane, It is not a traditional Japanese weapon. Try looking at Chinese weapons and Korean weapons. I know that Hapkido and Hwa Hwrang (spelling?)Do use the cane. However these styles are more Chinese influenced styles so try Chinese martial history.

I've see both Macho and Century hard shell chest protectors for women. You can order them online from Century. I'm not sure how they handle UK orders though.

I call it the Van Damme kick. I saw a guy try to use it at a bar when I was younger. Let's just say it didn't go well for him. He's probably still removing asphalt from his scalp.

I think Goju1 has it right. If you breathe audibly all of the time, your opponent can pick up on it.

I don't know about Pa.. However, I am in the same boat. I'm moving from Arizona to Louisiana and I've also been searching for a new dojo to train with. I've had a lot of luck researching on the internet. You can also try looking up the yellow pages for that specific area on the internet. Good luck.

Mole78 is correct. Do a search on Frank Dux on the internet and see what you find.

kenpo4life, I didn't know conviction cured broken bones. *L* Just kidding. I know what you were trying to say.

Shotochem is right. it's not the belt hitting you in the head it's the person wearing it. Lower ranks can keep you humble. *L*

You can also try Don Draeger and George Alexander's books. They are both noted martial arts historians.

I think CloudDragon said it best here. Not everyone is cut out to learn. Let him go for a week and if doesn't get better get rid of him. You could also try talking to the parents. That works some times. Although I had a parent tell me that that was the reason that he brought his kid to me was to teach him discipline. I explained that if there wasn't at least a foundation from home to work with I couldn't help him. People amaze me most of the time.

I like sparring women as well as men. The ladies tend to fight with more strategy and technique than the guys do. Also, you ladies out there tend to go right for the crotch shot. Why is that? *L*

Ultimately it doesn't matter how old an art is or how much history it has. Do you like it and can you make it work for you when it counts? I like debating martial history but I don't get caught up in it from a training stand point.

Thanks I'll have to check them out. I use Shureido right now but they're extremely expensive.

As you saw on the website and I found out later, (The website didn't mention that particualr fact once upon a time) He's never had any formal training and doesn't hold a belt in any other art. Yet, he's a GM in this art. From what I can understand he was a brawler, streetfighter type in his youth. He bounced clubs to try techniques. I do know that he used, or perhaps still does use, his forehead to block high punches. That should tell you something right there. He's a strange bird. I've never actually seen him do any techniques before.

It sounds right if he doesn't have a wholesale account with them. He's obviously still trying to make some money though. Is this a one time thing or do you get hit with other misc. expenses from his class too?

I think moneygirl has a valid point. Point sparring allows you to learn to think fast on the move. A little is okay as long as it's not all you do. You need to have heavy contact training as a part of the routine as well or you will develop the bad habits everyone is talking about. The old maxim is true, "you WILL fight like you train".

I'm not offended but thanks for being concerned. *L* AnonymousCoward said that the steps were a "sweep to open up your opponent", and so you could "raise your centre of gravity so that you can drop it when you strike". How is either of those so? Sasori_te didn't support either of AnonymousCoward's arguents, he just added two of his own. I actually disagree with part of what Anonymous Coward said. You don't raise your center of gravity and drop it into a strike. You shift it into the strike. If you raise or lower your center then your are intentionally putting yourself off balance and bad things can happen. As for the leg sweep it's more of a shift and nudge with the foot and knee (the way I do it). Why not practice it like you're going to perform it? Because you can never be sure of exactly how you'll need to perform it. You practice it like you test a scientific theory, the best you can with as much knowledge as you have available. Why shift your weight when striking? Wouldn't it be more "efficient" to push off with your back leg than to bring it forward with your hand? If you push off with the rear leg in a straight line, then you are totally committed to that strike. You won't be able to pull it back or change it efficiently if you need to. You're center of gravity will be forward over a foot that hasn't touched the ground yet. If you get countered from an off-line position you have a very real chance of falling on your butt. Sorry if I offended you, that was my way of asking, I guess. You shouldn't get insulted when you make statements that require a deal of explanation like "there is no wasted movement in forms" and people question you. Again, no offense taken. you can't ever learn if you don't ask. I'm sure there a many people who would disagree with what I'm saying here. This is simply my opinion.

You're right I would probably use my hands. However I neglected to put that I would move off line to the outside before the kick. As for getting hit ... you can always be hit if your timing is off.

Thanks, always looking for a good gi supplier. Do they have a website?

Sorry ... if I'd have known I could have saved you a headache trying to decipher what he's trying to say.

Correct DM ...... Kirves has it right. The only time the samurai even interacted with Okinawans was when Japan occupied Okinawa for the last time. The Samurai made quick work of the resistnce in Okinawa. The Okinawan surender only took 2 months. The bladed weapons of the Japanese were too much for the Okinawans empty hand styles and simple farm implements.

I have a question to stoke the fire. Let's say you walk up on someone being beaten badly. How do you know who is in the wrong? The person doing the beating may be in the right. They may be defending themselves. I would call the authorities but I don't believe I'd get involved unless someone's life was actually in immediate danger.

Anonymous Coward I'll play scenario with you. Now while you're closing your distance throwing quick lead hand jabs, I'll be losing my foot in your floating ribs which are now exposed because of your jabs. That's an extremely novice idea. A novice is about the only person it will work on. I don't mean to sound harsh. Sorry.

The thing is to stick to what it is your trying to find and ignore as much of the extraneous stuff as you can. One piece at a time will give you the whole puzzle sooner or later.

For the first reason view previous posts as to what the hand chamber can represent. As for walking in kata being inefficient. It comes loosely from the Chinese styles and allows you to shift your weight completely to one leg while stepping so that you are more stable if you are attacked while stepping. The crescent step also allows you to shift your weight into your strike as you complete the step. This is true for most karate styles as well as tae kwon do. Just because you don't understand it doesn't mean there isn't a reason for it. Ask or do some research before you knock it.