Ben

I think tyson should come out on top... all the boards i go to apart from one keep saying "if Sapp trains better in technique he'll win"... ... but err, why cant tyson do this aswell? same with taking leg kicks and using kicks. yeah, it'll take a lot of effort, but that man is driven by greed and debts he has to try and pay off. although he's taking the easy option, because Sapp V Tyson would be a major money-maker, he doesnt plan on losing an easy payday, i am sure. My money is on tyson... literally... (and yes, Hoost really should have won that fight, it was just pure luck that sapp actually landed a punch... slow and powerful against strong and fast, with a decent technique... we all know what works best!)

Yup, the best way to become "all you can" is to keep a real open mind and cross train... the other day, i sparred with a friend that did boxing. i always thought i could take on a boxer. needless to say, he could probably take an ironbar to the face, and then hit you with his fist harder than you'd think possible but really... UFC fighters, no matter what style they claim they do, have all cross trained. every single one of them - as have a lot of great fighters. It might not be your thing, but hey, get the basic locks, throws, counters, then you'll have a better chance in a self-defense situation/tourney

I usually beef up my shoulder and neck muscles, and put my hands together infront of my body. clench them tight, lift my arms up and both shoulders make a huge crack. then i straighten my elbows, both crack. Then my fingers, very quickly, one by one Probably doesnt scare them, but it looks like i'm a part of a cheesey fight scene

I'm sure all of you have seen some Ernesto Hoost fights ... if not what is wrong with you people! he usually uses all kinds of stances - but hey, i think he's a kickboxing god so i might be biased. I'd like to know the answer to this too, but i've noticed that quite a few vary their stances quite a bit. I didnt realise that they used short stances so often though, until you pointed it out!

I believe all humans need a beliefe in something. whether it be love, trust, religion, anything. It helps us remain focused and gives us a purpose. Some use other methods, including martial arts and many other such things. Its a way of focusing and driving yourself forward as a person - it sets goals and makes everything worthwhile. I'm not saying without this "thing" to believe in that we are nothing. Everyone has everything and they have nothing. In your case, Kai, the beliefe and the focus that you've gained - the trust you have learnt with the martial arts and within yourself has pushed you to *Make* something happen, that most people cant. This being walking. Making use of your mind, and your determination, to pull down the barriers. I believe what you are writing about is the escence of the self. martial arts have brought it out - but *you* are the one that has done this. This is the escence of you - life and spirit. It's good to hear that you have slowly been recovering, and maybe someday you can be close to how you were before - if not the same By the way, ZR440 ... if you look at some of the Tai Chi it can be very stressful on the body - especially the advanced practices... only just realised that!

""Heard that Keanu Reeves was quoted as saying he could 'take' Bruce Lee" i seem to recall reading a quote from mr. reeves stating that he didn't have any real kung fu skills. i might just be confusing interviews, however. if he actually said that, i highly doubt he meant it. if his movies are any indication, he only has one facial expression and no one could tell that he was joking " :lol::lol Funnily enough, my friends say I'm like keanu because i only have that one serious face On a more serious note, i've seen footage of him doing the fight scenes, and he's not as bad as everyone keeps saying - especially if it is true about how much training he was made to do. Sure, he's no master... hey, he'd probably get dominated by the majority of green belts, but as was said - he was only doing xtrixt fight scenes. i'm sure some of it could be applied in a real life situation. *

I'm going to see it, just because its MA-ish and theres not much else coming out soon... but I'm not sure how good it might be. From what i've seen of the trailers, it looks slightly confusing, but hey... i live for swords, so (and Tom Cruise in this kind of roll?! ... hmmm)

battousai, i think you may be thinking about these boards a bit too much!

hmm.... for an underbelt testing, i wouldnt really mind - but if it was my 1st Dan, i would be a lot more frustrated and disappointed in myself. I see 1st Dan as where you really start to train, and although i'm nowhere near that yet, i just seem to "know" I wouldnt quit if i failed first Dan though.. i would probably not attend class for a few weeks, maybe a month or two. I'd lay it aside and just train on basics. I can almost believe that 90% quit though... but maybe i'm misguided :D:D

Do not try and defeat the smith - for that is impossible. Instead, try to realise the truth. There is no smith

I'm going to second Hybrid. Credit where its due.

Good and bad Good: some pretty cool fight scenes, specially at the start... the two before it were ace, so the graphics and mechs thing didnt seem too bad - knowing the background and storyline to go with it. Bad: rushed... very rushed - i expected more. and the final fight scene... too many special effects and graphics... the thing about the first matrix,it was low budget and there was more effort in storyline and realistic fighting (to a certain degree ) I'd never have thought after watching the first matrix that it would end A) the way it did and B) that they'd be flying around etc I think some of those deep meaningful parts werent explained... it could have been so much more.

The Third lesson I had in Hap Ki Do, someone in the room before had spilt some water on the floor. I didnt see it. I put down my bag down, took my shirt and jeans off then put on my Dobok... ... Lifted my leg to take my socks off, put my foot back down and BAM! dislocated my thumb on the bench as i went down! Really went right back as i tried to balence myself. Ironically that lesson was all about breakfalls

Ahhhh... good example there, Kirves Option 1: Most of the time, you can see a fight coming... usually with a move like a push or a grab... pressure points and joint locks are a good self defense method against these to put yourself in control. Option 2: Usually from a choke or a headlock, they leave their groin fairly wide open to a strike. This is probably the method I would chose first, while having a hand on their arm or wrist. After striking, the grip is almost certain to loosen up leaving an opertunity to use a joint lock... failing that maybe a strike to the throat and a quick take down ... Then run! cant be hurt if you're not around! I'd rather run and maybe have someone think I'm a "whimp" rather than staying there and s/he finds a weapon to use!

good one ;P Wouldnt happen to live near nottingham would you?

I'll definatly second that! (not the man,sword and dog story ) I've loved reading everything you've put down here, i think its great Most people would kill for an opertunity like you have! *hides dagger* me included

I'll cut straight to the point: Recently I've been doing weights (1-2 times a week) and I've been shadowboxing a bit. I've gained a very strange feeling in my elbows - not the bone, rather what feels like the ligaments on the inside of the arm. I crack my knuckles often, and anyone that also does this, knows the feeling you get just before you have to crack them.. its like that only a little less stiff.. infact it feels rather loose. When i go to stretch out my arms, when i fully extend them, i feel like something is either stretching badly or kind of ripping... I hope someone knows what i mean, but i cant really explain these kind of things very well... I'm wondering if anyone knows what it might be - whether it be through experience or what. I'm guessing its the sudden strict regieme i've put myself on and the addition of weights into my program. I'm trying to use the doctors as a last resort... i know i shouldnt but i dislike them

I feel that many people are taking up fighting with most arts, not actual Martial Arts... Not enough people are willing to go into the mental, more philosophical side of the Arts.. Just my $2

My god... i did that just two days ago while i was down town, and what makes it worse is i was telling my friend not to buy those jeans cause if he got in a fight and was wearing them, he wouldnt be able to kick well at all I'm going crazy

I understand your want not to get big, but its usually best to develop all the major muscles in your body so there is no imbalance that can cause injury. The mechanics of your body make every movement make atleast two muscles work. you really want something in there for your back, atleast. like someone said in another post, and i feel is a pretty good example, boxers also use weights for their legs, and they dont even kick not meant to be a "do this!" type comment, just wanting you to know if you didnt already

I have certain things i do like that, but i havnt made a rule of it... i'm also a firespinner and everytime i drop my staff when either practicing or lit, i make myself run to the shops and back (about a mile... i live in the middle of nowhere) do 20 push ups, 20 sit ups, and do some weights later that day... but thats only because if i miss time half the moves i do, it'd more than likely strike me in the face... as you can imagine... watching a fireball spin out at you is definatly going to get the adrenalin going.. best way to make that not happen is to A) practice it a lot and b) make you only do things you're 99.9% comfortable with... i guess that also ties in with self defense.. if you havnt got a move down perfect, dont damn well use it

Definatly dedicated

I know mcdojo's arent just with TKD. They're almost everywhere to some degree, but I've noticed, not just heard and read what other people have said, that there are a quite a few mcdojo's in TKD. I was asking because i wanted to see exactly how far prices went and if you were happy with them. £5 per session at my old TKD school £30 (+5 for each belt afterwards, not including white belt ) £300 for your BB Personally i find this ridiculously expensive considering there are four -12's, three 12-16's and five 18+ ... The instructor was a great instructor but there was simply too much variety in the class. I love TKD, dont get me wrong, and i'm hoping to find somewhere which i can focus more and is hopefully a little less expensive. If not i'll have to look for another art which interests me... and i cant really say there is one atm. ahhh, if only i had more money =\

Rickson Gracie... i wouldnt like him to get his hands on me

You really do have to respect your instructor more after seeing that... again, the age old question... would YOU do that if it happened to YOU? .. and be true to it? ...