Rich67

When in this situation, most people's normal reaction is to try to remain upright, try to stay balanced and follow his arms around while grabbing at his arms to try to free yourself or hold yourself up. This type of activity is common amongst larger people who try to toss people around and "intimidate" them with their size and potential power (you are a rag doll...I am your master, you will go where I say! ). Here is my opinion. If you are a wrestler/ submission fighter and are comfortable on the ground, let the guy toss you, but as he shifts to one point, grab his arms, lean back and yank him to the ground with you (make sure he is off balance and in the process of swinging you). Once he is on the ground, guillotine him or go for an arm bar and crank him up good. If you are on your feet, then just shoot in closer to him and start driving elbows or head butt him.

The biggest thing I think people overlook when they talk about the "old days" of the UFC, is the new introduction of rules, time limits, and restarts due to lack of activity. Yes, I agree that many people are out there cross-training and more aware, but the new MMA/UFC time and round limitations have a major impact on the outcomes. Back in the early UFC days, exclusive grapplers like Royce could get the takedown, and take forever in their element. This "realistic fight" environment gave him and his like a good advantage, so they could take all their time, wear their opponent down, and eventually wait for them to get frustrated and make a bad move that would lead to a submission. Now, if a pure grappler were to do that in this day and age, chances are the ref would restart the fight or the round would end. The game would begin all over. Hence, many guys began to train heavy to avoid takedowns (the sprawl, learn other avoidance techniques, etc) and utilize heavy strikes. The new rules started to favor the heavy strikers- especially the ones who can maintain their uprightedness and/ or strike heavy from the ground. This way they could fend off any activity for the length of the round, and would not let the grapplers get "in their game" long enough to find the submission. They would simply tie the grappler up, and let the ref or bell stop the action. IMHO, I felt the original no time-limit UFC was more realistic, and more simulated a real street situation. If those days would come back again, I could see the Gracies reentering the sport and dominating again (not to say they still aren't out there and doing well). Grappling is a constantly shifting art- new techniques and new counters- you can't stagnate! Sevenstar hit it on the head- but the one thing you guys have to remember is this: You can't say grappling in and of itself is not sufficient simply based on what you see in UFC or KOTC or Pride. If your main goal is tournament style fighting, then it may be true. But in real life, you are talking about a different set of rules.

Bro- that is my favorite. I use EAS whey chocolate (one scoop), skim milk, one banana and some ice. That gives me 35 grams of protein, some carbs and potassium, and it is way inexpensive!

That's how it is where I train in BJJ- with no red. I have only been at it for 4 months, so I am a white belt. But the guys who have attained blue are pretty accomplished. The instructor puts very little emphasis on belts, since we don't really train as formal as some places. We rarely, if ever, train with our gi's so the belt concept isn't much of an issue. We have been told you will get a belt enhancement when the instructor feels you have mastered "what is expected of you" for that level. I think it pretty much means you have some techniques in your arsenal that can defeat people who are more seasoned than you on occasion. I have seen some of our white belts grapple with other dojo's purple belts, and our guys tap em out quick. I don't place any personal emphasis on belts. I don't care if I stay a white belt- as long as I can keep learning new stuff and can win my matches! A belt color means nothing if you haven't been able to apply your skills. Some dojos like to promote people through the ranks quick, because it makes people "happy". Heck, happy people equal good customers, right? But at the risk of making them happy and keeping them as clients, we are really cheating them by making them feel superior for no just reason. When they go to spar in a tournament or test against other dojos, they find out real quick just how much they earned that belt. When a TSD blue belt destroys another TSD red belt, that's a reflection on the instructor and dojo as a whole. It gives the red belt's dojo a bad reputation and their credibility goes down the tubes.

I agree with you, but I honestly haven't seen many people slamming judo, IMHO. If they are, they're ignorant. Likewise, I haven't seen too many posts in which people deny BJJ or JJ in general has few throws. That is untrue if it is being said. It makes you wonder how many people post on here actually practice the art in question or if they just make stuff up based on rumor. Either way, I have an immense respect for judo practicioners and have developed an even greater interest in the style since I have been taking BJJ.

The nose. A solid strike to the nose causes watering of the eyes, bleeding and discomfort. That usually takes the fight out of people, especially if the nose goes crack. If it doesn't stop them, it gives you some time to regroup or follow up and drop em.

Amazon.com has many. The best I have seen were the ones written by the Gracies and Kid Peligro. Good illustrations and detailed info.

He's talking another country, from what I take it...not in the USA. Don't know what gun laws are in your area. Let me ask this: is there a way to avoid these characters? I mean, here in my area, if you know of problem places you tend to avoid them, right? Is there another path you can take to your destination? Is there a reason why you have to walk by these idiots? Why not just avoid it all together if possible? I love some of these posts I read (no offense to this one) where people complain about getting jumped in heavy bar-populated areas. You get into those situation because you choose to be! If you want to go out partying and drinking, find a new place that doesn't have the trouble. If this is by your home, work or school, then report the incident to authorities. You are not going to take 10 on 1. Sorry. That's in the movies. To even consider it is foolish. Avoid the area #1. Call the police #2. If those two fail, following your country's laws carry a weapon (pistol) and learn to use it. If your life is threatened, you better be prepared to pull the trigger. But you better try option one and two first, otherwise you may bite off more than you can chew.

It's been a while since I instructed, but I saw this post and felt I needed to put my 2 cents in. Cocky student who is talented? You need to find an exercise or regimen that he/she is not good at. I was doing one-arm pushups and one leg squats at the time, and I incorporated them into our warmup at the beginning of class. I did this because what you need to do with those people is like what they do to recruits in the military...break them down and humble them...make them realize they cannot do it all, and that others around them can do things they cannot. I also did some focus mitt work, and showed this person he was good at hitting stationary large targets (like inexperienced fighters) but had a hard time nailing the small and agile one. You have to change your training regimen! Don't do the same exercises and warmups day in and day out. As for the cocky but "not good" student? It sounds harsh, but pit them against better fighters and even spar with them yourself! After getting knocked around the ring a couple weeks, they will develop respect for others. If they still don't learn, pull them aside and tell them their attitutude does not belong in a dojo. We are all friends and a team, so we all need to help each other and treat each other with respect. If they don't like that, they can find a Kobra Kai dojo down the road to train at.

Thank you, my fellow Tang Soo Doo'er!

That's rather like calling your heart rate "invoulentary"; adrenal release is something which can be controlled both through controlling the stimuli that your brain and body use to trigger the release and, likely, through direct control (given enough bio-feedback training). Your heart rate can be controlled, but it is your heartbeat that is involuntary. But that's like comparing apples to oranges. It is the reaction to adrenalin that can be controlled, not the actual release of it. Bio feedback training is a form of meditation. Now Jerry, I am not doubting what you say. You make good points. But I want to know if you have ever really been in a true life/death situation. All the biofeedback in an unpredictable situation like that will do you NO GOOD. I have been in a few, and let me tell you this: you cannot control it in that situation. Yes, if you continue exertion after the dump, you may be less inclined to get the shakes, but they will still occur in some degree. You simply cannot compare the ability for a pro fighter to control his adrenalin reaction in the ring to an average Joe fighting with a guy who has a knife or gun in the street. Two different types of mental concentration and reaction come into play. When you step into a ring to fight, you know that (in most sparring situations that are controlled with rules) the worst thing that can happen to you is you can get knocked out, or you will lose. Death is usually not on that person's mind. But if you are walking through a parking lot and a guy comes up to you and pulls a knife on you, and asks for your wallet, you may think you will die a violent death, get cut bad, lose your hard earned cash, etc. That produces a much different effect on your body, trust me. I don't care how much biofeedback you do, you will get seriously amped. And if you don't, then you are not putting yourself at an advantage. Adrenalin can work for you in those situations- it is not a bad thing, and neither are the shakes.

LOL @ Delta1!!!!!!!! I thought I was the only crazy one... just be careful what you chose to be your unwilling victim- the lightpole the other night got me back...my knuckle really hurts!

This site should answer all your questions about MAKIWARA. http://www.ctr.usf.edu/shotokan/makiwara.html

Never used one in a street fight. Usually stick with front or roundhouse kicks low. Front kicks to the knee or groin, and roundhouse to the mid thigh (peroneal nerve).

Uuuuuuhhhh.... They hurt?

Holy cow...here's the deal with adrenalin. There is only one type of adrenalin. It is sent into the bloodstream courtesy of the good ol "fight or flight" mechanism. It is purely INVOLUNTARY. Meaning, you cannot shut it off and stop it from happening. Why? Millions of years of human evolution says that is the case. I think what people are trying to say is you can "keep it in check", or you can make it work for you. I have been in many situations where I have had the shakes. Those are mainly unknown situations where I am about to get into a fight with someone or when I am doing something that poses a risk of serious injury (or death!) The shakes usually occur after the incident, as I am "coming down" from the dump. During it, you can experience cold and clammy skin, reduction of fine motor skills, and tunnel vision. Your heart pumps like it is in your throat and there is that feeling in your back like your kidneys are gonna explode. If you don't get the shakes after an adrenalin dump, then you didn't really have one. Bottom line. There is no way to physiologically avoid those symptoms if you were in a true fight for your life/safety. If you have never been in that situation, you don't know what a true adrenalin dump is. Many of us have felt the mild anxiety when you spar or compete. But that is a very minor infusion of adrenalin. Do some get the shakes? Sure. Can you control the shakes after the "A" courses through you? No. Can you control your anxiety and relax during or before you get the "A"? Yes. However, during a true street fight or other uncontrolled situation where you are leaping into the dangerously unknown, you don't have time to meditate or do pushups. You have to make the adrenalin work for you. How? You use it's generation of extra strength and large motor skills. Don't try to manipulate small joints like fingers or try to grasp shorter hair. Chances are you'll miss or not have the result you want. Stick to heavy punch and kick combos, use the extra alertness and time slow-down that happens during such a situation. After you're done, be prepared to shake. It doesn't mean you are afraid. It means you are human, and we all have to deal with it. In controlled environments, it CAN be controlled and its effects reduced by deep breathing and other calming exercises. But in the street, just go all out for your life and collapse after you kick butt.

Discipline, Grasshoppah!! You need to reduce that caloric intake!! At the very least try these "easy on the toes" exercises: 1) Dips on a chair- arms on chair, feet on floor, toes up. 2) Pushups with the bad toe/ foot on top of the other...makes the pushups a little harder, too! 3) Crunches- no toes needed there! 4) One legged squats- these are a BEAR. Same as 2 leg no weight squats, but put the unused leg out in front of you! Do all of these til u max out on each. No rest in between them. After the cycle, rest for a minute and stretch lightly, then repeat the group as often as you can until you are wasted. Try to work up a good sweat and do it at least 30 minutes total. Most of all, ease up on the food!

The soreness in that area may be the pectoral attachments in that area being worked. It could also signal that your form is improper and that you are damaging the ligaments in that area. When you do curls? That means you are swinging the weight or using improper form. You should NOT be moving your chest/ upper body except for your arms when you do curls. If there's pain in that area, you need to reduce the weight and follow proper form until you get stronger.

The problem you have can be attributed to two basic things: 1) Your reaction to stimuli (AKA reaction time) and 2) Your muscular output as far as speed is concerned (AKA explosive strength) How to improve them? Well, as far as reaction time goes, you can do that a number of ways. Practice and sparring is one. Learn to look for people who "telegraph" their movements and learn to anticipate what they will do when you observe their body shifts. If they don't telegraph, then you will need to maintain a distance from them so you can buy time to react to their attacks. If you are in too close, you don't have enough reaction distance to effectively defend using your style. Another way is...video games! Seriously, they help build hand/eye coordination, and increase your body's ability to react to visual stimuli. As far as your explosive movement and muscular output, again, practice, practice! You can also begin a training regimen that stresses explosive strength. I can't get into too much detail in this post, but maybe you can Google search for training programs used by boxers and people who do "fast" sports such as sprinting, basketball, high jump, etc. All those sports that require immense bursts of muscular output to achieve a goal. This will aid in your muscles ability to function in concert with your mind when it tells it to sidestep, lunge back or in, etc.

Agree with Sevenstar here. For developing power you definitely need a heavy bag like on the link he posted. For coordination, the heavy bag also works, but a speed bag is also good. (That's the 2nd link YOU posted). The other bag you had on there was almost like a small kick bag, I can't see how it would help much for what you need.

Learn some pressure points. If he pins you, jab him with a good pressure point (behind the ear/mandible, inside knees, top of sternum, etc). You won't hurt him, but you'll make him think twice about screwing with you. If that's not your bag, then do what the others advise-learn from him, and use the wrestling techniques as training for you. What would happen if a wrestler attacked you in the street? Are you gonna tell him that your art isn't for pins? He doesn't care-he just wants to thrash you. And he will, too, if that is your attitude. Learn as much as you can, and learn how to counter his moves. He's gotta get you down on the ground first, right? So learn how to sprawl and defend against his takedowns. Wrestlers (like jiu jitsu) practicioners like to bring the fight to their level- the mat/ground. Just don't give them the opportunity, so you can fight in your element. But if you do end up on the ground, you had better know how to fight back from there, too. It doesn't take a wrestling/grappling expert to do that, either. Just learn to kick him as you're down and learn to get back to your feet quickly. The longer you are down there, the easier it is to fall into his game.

Don't get frustrated. Just keep in mind that forms are purely what their name implies....FORM. They teach proper technique and execution. In and of themselves, the actual movements and positioning don't enter into a fighting situation, but the techniques and flow they use can help you APPLY those techniques in a real sparring/fight situation. They teach you proper FORM, stance, and delivery of the techniques. Don't watch movies and expect them to reflect real life situations. The fight scenes you see in Kill Bill, for instance, are heavily choreographed, and each participant knows what technique will be coming at them next. In staged fights like those, you can use forms because IT IS NOT REAL LIFE. IT IS A MOVIE. Remember that. When you spar in real life, you must constantly change your tactics and moves based on what your opponent does. Gheinisch put it well when he mentions muscle memory too.

I have to take an unpopular stance on this one. I'd have to say the way Ash handled the situation is exemplary. Here's my opinion: a good friend would never put his other friends in a position where they had to jump in and stick up for him. Frist off, you put yourself at a SEVERE tactical disadvantage when you depend on others to "get your back". To pick a fight with multiple people is just IGNANT (ignorant) to be honest. One on one, sure. But you got to take this mentality: some of your "friends" might not be as confident as you in their fighting abilities. This might cause them to back off, run, or worse yet, get their a##es handed to them in a brawl. Those people aren't much good to you. Some of your friends might also not want to get involved in any potential legal ramifications. A big brawl, the cops come out, people go to jail. I don't care how good a friend I had, I ain't spending a night behind bars for him. To defend a family member, well that's another story. Lastly, I have no respect for a friend who runs his mouth, incites a fight, and EXPECTS his "buddies" to back him. If you wanna run your yap, then you-and you alone- need to evaluate the situation and decide whether or not you can handle it ALONE. Don't EXPECT your friends to get busted up on account of your attitutude. Ash did the right thing. Now if the other group had sucker punched him while he was making amends, a few of his mates should have jumped in to try to separate them. That would have been a self defense situation that warranted some intervention. But if Ash started running his mouth , then his friends really have no duty to get involved, other than the morality issue involved.

Eggs, milk, peanuts, tofu, yogurt...there's a lot of sources. Instead of looking to other sources, look for different ways to prepare the existing protein sources you eat. For instance tuna: most people eat the junk straight or throw it on some crackers. That get old after a while. You can buy those new seasoned tuna pouches-they taste great- mix it in a salad, make a pasta salad and mix tuna into it, etc. As far as meats go, chicken can be cooked a number of ways with a variety of seasonings. You gotta get a cookbook. Get some different recipies, and things will not be as bland for you.

What? You're not aware of the way of IMMA MAKKI JOKKI? I had to break my right arm and stick my head in a boiling pot of oil in order to get my 1st dan! Just to get my white belt I had to walk 200 miles barefooted through the forest where I had to wrestle 10 bears of different styles....