theSaj

Okay, I am faced with a couple of dilmnas...these all arise from one major upcoming event in my life... I am soon to be married to a beautiful wonderful woman! http://www.easternstorm.net/photos/thesaj/engagement Not only is she beautiful, but she's just shy of one board break of being a black belt in TKD. I am merely a green belt, in a different style...thankfully...the style I have studied "Ketsu-Ka" incorporates elements of Judo, Aikido, and Ju-Jitsu. Thus my plan is if any conflict arises to take her down and grapple (on the bed preferbly). However, more frightening is the fact that the Sensei of the dojo she studied at, a 4th degree black belt happens to be her mom! Does anyone have experience with having Sensei's for MILs? *lol* Anyways, actually, the real issue is that I will be relocating from Connecticut to York, Pennsylvania and there are no schools of my present form in the area I am moving too. I love the grappling style arts. TKD tends not to have much in the way of these. So I have two real questions: a) if anyone knows of any schools in the York, PA area that teach grappling arts? b) issues of "divided" loyalties...(will many instructors allow you to study two different forms? might I take TKD & Ju-Jitsu? I notice many masters will often list 2-3 or more forms or variants. So I doubt it truly is an issue. And yet there seems to be so much tenacity against studying other forms concurrently on the part of many Sensei's?)

Saw a sparring match between my Sensei's Sensei (who was 7th, going on 8th that day - had to spar because he was testing) versus a 4th or 5th if I recall. One round had me laughing...as my Sensei's Sensei actually turned the guy around with a kick and thumped him fondly on his butt and the back of his head. It was very enlightening for me as seeing a short stocky touch 40-50 yr old react so quickly and controlled, and with so much superiority over a younger more physically fit "trained" martial artist. It gave me, a short somewhat overweight stocky green belt, some hope for the future. *lol* So not sure if that counts as a sparring match between masters...but it was enlightening none-the-less

Hmm...how 'bout Cynthia Rothrock? hmm...it'd be fun....and I'd have a nice view from lying on the ground. *LOL*

I began my first class last night of Ketsu-Ka (Ketsugu & Karate). The school deals with a mix of karate, jujitsu, aikido, and judo...with a bit of boxing and wrestling. On a side note, what the heck does bjj mean. I see it mentioned often around here?

I say, if he can do so and has the ability to earn it (including physically, mentally, and humility) then he should be allowed to do so... a) it saves him the money of an extra belt for but a stripe.... b) i am someone who skipped a grade. in truth, I once had an opportunity to work at my own pace for a year at an special school. I advanced anywhere from 2-4 yrs in that one year academically. sadly, most of my time in school was spent meeting the needs of the lowest common denominator. The truth, I could have easily been way farther then where I was. In fact, there was no reason I couldn't have earned a BA by the age of 18...other than I was held back. Not for any reasons of my own...but for others. If you want to hold everyone back to the lowest common denominator - then do so. But if this individual has placed more of his life's focus on the physical areas that benefit such an art then credit him for it... But make sure he's challenged....frankly, if he excels so...make the Yellow test just a bit toughter...

Boxing is not and never was meant for the street and does not work. [[[Not necessarily true...boxing is very much a street sport. Look into Irish, bare-knuckle boxing. The point of boxing was to: a) keep your opponent at a distance and to strike with hard & quick jabs... b) if brought in close to use a simple grapple to place you in a position to quickly and repeatedly lay heavy blows to the weakest points (chin, kidney, etc.) The more street fighting versions incorporate the knees with the idea being to slam one's knee up into one's head when it is brought down. Sport boxing also involved a tremendous amount of training in absorbing blows. Is it effective, in certain situations and in most one on one street fights YES. Is it deadly, very much so...it's amazing some of the lb/sq" thrown by some boxers. But in truth, it's biggest failing is that it is more of a sparring one-on-one combat form and loses effectiveness dramatically when dealing with multiple opponents. (Not having ability to throw a fist and foot attack.) however, many of the skills learned in boxing can be very practical in most MA. Remember, a lot of boxing is knowing how to absorb and minimize blows when they do succeed in making contact.

I've found a little bit more about the style, is seems to be a form below is a blurb about the derivative forms used in Ketsu-Ka KETSU-KA is a very unique style of martial art. The style combines KARATE, JUDO, JU-JITSU, AIKIDO and SAVATE.

They describe Ketsuga as: Ketsugo is a very well rounded art of self defense in the sense that it consists of Ju-Jitsu and Karate techniques, but also includes Aikido and Judo plus multiple attacking throws.

Karate Ketsu-Ka.... Anyone familiar with it at all? (as I understand it's a hybrid of Ketsuga & Karate) Opinions, advice? I am looking to start into MA and my current choices in Dojos are as follows: Ketsu-Ka Krav-Maga Kempo Wanted San Soo but no dojos in my area...

thanks for the encouragement and feedback...

Do styles favor certain body types? I'm short, 5'5" male...225lbs, a bit overweight but NOT obese.... I tend to be a bit inflexible (something I hope to remedy to a degree, but I doubt I will ever be very flexible) however I also tend to be built like an ox. Very strong fingers and forearms. Good upper body strength. Often referred to as "noneck" partly cause my 6ft+ 285 lb friend attempted to put me in a headlock while wrestling and just declared there was no neck to lock. - theSaj

I've had an interest in Kung Fu San Soo however there are no schools in my area that I am aware of. I recently drove by a Krav Maga school and am curious how this art form compares? I would prefer to hear from people who have: a) fought members of both these arts... AND/OR b) trained in these arts - theSaj PS - I do not ask this as a "who's better" but how do the arts compare. I understand both are regarded as fairly brutal, combat effective forms. I ask, as I am looking to enroll in a martial arts school. This will be my first step in such education and I'd like to start off in a strong direction preferbly with an art form that inherently is capable of holding it's own.