tufrthanu

Well anyone that would say Chuck Norris can't fight must be seriously uninformed. But 5 years to 5th Kyu? Also doesnt he use Gups as its a korean based art?

Budo Taijutsu/Ninjutsu/Ninpo has 15 dans.

Most schools don't usually care as it's the practioners burden to work with any health issues. Usually I tell my instructors what health problems I have just so that they know what to tell an ambulance or whatever should something go wrong. Any instructor worth his salt will take most students, and I have really not had any instructor ask me if I had any problems. Also due to the American Disabilities Act schools have to be somewhat careful on what they could ban you on. Not sure what the rules are about that however.

No, you both missed the point. The point I was making was switching arts doesn't solve the core problem that you have, namely, that you don't know how to fight. Andrew said switch to boxing and then brought up the point that a good coach can teach you to get better in short order. That's true but it's a non sequiter. A good coach in ANY art should make you better. I have been to several martial arts schools and dropping you into the sparring is quite common. The reason is is that you are supposed to be learning from your mistakes. If every time you go to punch someone the block and kick you in the groin you need to change something. I have found the best strategy for this is taking what I learn in class and trying to apply it to the fighting. If I am still getting beaten on a regular basis I ask my partners what they are seeing. When I started at my current dojang about 8 months ago I had trouble beating even the lower belts because they fought differently than I was used to. I started asking people where they saw me making mistakes. Now there are very few people there that I can't land on on a regular if not frequent basis. In other words if your instructor is a good instructor except for the fact that he doesn't show you how to win in sparring the onus is on you to talk with your partners and work on things to get better.

If you suck at sparring now you're going to suck at sparring no matter what art you take. The answer is to get better at what your doing. There are alot of books out there that talk about this type of thing but the basic theme is this...is there any techniques you can do really well and fast? If so try thinking up some combos that get people to fall for them. Practice it over and over. The other thing you have to remember is in MA small and weak means nothing. I'm 6'1 and 290 pounds...I could hammer people if I went full bore...but instead I routinely get hit hard by smaller weaker opponents. The reason is I'm not trying to go force for force...eventually you will meet the guy that has more force then you. The idea is to fight better not harder. So while I do still get hit alot by the 140 pound guys...just think how fast I'm becoming by fighting them...when I fight a heavy guy...I will appear to be very fast because he will move so slow. Just some things to think about.

I also just got into Hapkido about a year ago...I've done Sin moo and WHF.

I rated mine a 7. It was Hard for me...but perhaps wouldnt have been for a more athletic person. Every class is a challenge for me so it wasnt that extreme.

They are sport karate. All you have to do is look at John Worleys tournament to see that. I'm not saying the art has no value....but thats what they tend to gear it toward. As opposed to going more for the SD aspect.

well depends on how advanced he is niel...if hes still a beginner I don't think he should be doing rolls and stuff solo. But does'nt judo have atemi waza (striking) you can always do that without a partner. BTW Niel congratulations on the promotion to Sempai!

If you are looking for american tkd there are two huge chains here: https://www.nationalkarate.com https://www.usa-karate.net These may be a little too sport oriented for you in which case there is https://www.bloomingtonkarate.com my new home If your into more the the Muay Thai type stuff theres https://www.warriorscove.com Theres a couple of guys that teach HKD out of a TKD dojang in St. Paul, they are fairly hardcore though. https://www.millenniummartial-arts.com Theres also a Hwa Rang Do academy on the mpls side: http://www.hwarangdo.com/Academies/USA.htm#Minnesota

Gee didn't realize this got moved on me. I don't hardly go into the internal styles board. But just as a follow up in the new issue of Black Belt Magazine, the one with Joo Bang Lees son on the cover, a reader got a letter published saying some of the same things we have been talking about regarding that show and the chi knockout effect. Apparently we aren't the only ones that question its reliability.

Perhaps thats true Ace however odds are very very high that you wouldn't be. For most martial arts the primary focus is on defeating untrained opponents and on defeating other martial artists second.

Application is always a part of a martial art. I think the theory should be self evident. You are on the ground. You want to defeat your opponent. You want to get off the ground. All of those are shown in the Ho Shin Sool section.

Congratulations SRV!

Hmm very interesting replies Shogeri and Tora, thanks. And Lol HKF. I had some of those same feelings myself. But it's good to ask of independent sources who have had it done.

I recently saw a program on Discovery channel or National Geographic channel I'm not sure which, in which the two scientists looked into chi knockouts. Now wally jay who I respect very much says he now beleives in George Dillmans system. On the show they had Leon Jay, wally's son, try to knock the scientist out with a no touch chi knockout. He failed. The scientists believe the knockouts operate under the Faith Healer concept. You believe it works therefore it does. Then they had George Dillman on to comment. He said well the scientist could have had his tongue in the wrong position. He also said that alternating your big toes up and down could cause a no touch knockout to fail. My question is is a system which can be foiled as easily as moving your big toe valid as a reliable self defense system?

A high ranking friend of mine in Kukkiwon TKD used to have a manual or something that listed all the dan possessors. Perhaps you could talk to someone that has that manual.

Ok orion the one ad I could find for Matt Furey is on page 127 of the April 05 issue of Black Belt. He has them run every month however ...that just happened to be an issue I had close to hand. The ad is for How to double your flexibility in one evening. So it could be bona fide. Still written like the others though.

Sam as an ITF guy you should know better...no ground work? In Choi's original 1965 Taekwon-do book he has several scenarios where he does self defense from the ground...it's in the Ho Shin Sool section in the back.

Unfortunately that style of salesmanship is quite common...there are at least 5-10 ads in every issue of black belt magazine trying to get you to buy a secret system that no one but insane ninja monks have learned. Matt Furey writes ads like that.

OK I think that cop was in dereliction of duty. It IS his duty to stop crime. That is his sole function. Not to report it afterward. Thats why when bad guys hold hostages SWAT shows up. The don't wait until the guy kills everyone and then arrest him. Part of the motto of almost every police service in the country is Protect and Serve. If he refuses to Protect IMHO he has committed a crime. I give you New Orleans as example A.

Actually I think as citizens regardless of your MA status you have an obligation legally to act. Whether that is calling the police or helping a woman fight off a rapist. I'm pretty sure if the cops talk to you and it turns out you stood by while something went down you would be an accessory. Obviously you have to be smart about it. If its one thug with a gun...bean him or stab him. If its a group call the cops...or get your gun.

You can use tkd from the ground. Basically you just want to use your kicks and knees to keep an opponent at bay until you can get back on your feet...if they are already too close you will have to use your elbows and fists...dont forget your fingertip strikes for eyes and throat and crushing the testicles.

OK Toby...just remember its very important to learn foot and hand positions as well as techniques before you start hitting stuff full force. I would recommend go easy on the heavy bag til you at least get the basic foot and hand positions in your mind.

Congratulations Laurie and Niel!