jeffrogers

alot of instructers don't have much to teach you after black belt unless its a couple more techniques or form or some weapon training. I think most people need more substence then that. The theory beind the techniques. theory in the forms and applications. For example theory on the basic techniques or forms. How to make each move like a simple outward block. A strike, break, throw, joint lock, Nerve attack. Ideas on weight transference, engergy work, How to open and close the points on the body. But alot instructers don't or aren't aware of that. Or aren't into concept training. Thats were I was at with my White Crane Instructer. Every thing was concept training and theory trianing in. Take one idea and have several techniques that reinforce that conept in a class. Or unfortently he would do the shot gun aproach and throw out a bunch of concepts and what ever stuck stuck. But I never met any high ranker not even grand masters who teach that sort of way at seminars like the way he does. But I am rambling on. So the main idea is if you feel stagnant in your sytle or with a particular instructer and you talked with him on it. ONly thing he can really give you of substance is a new form or something. Maybe its time to go else were to coniture with your Martial Education and training. That is just my opinion though. -Jeff

Coleman (Not mark but Gary) Period and end of story. Okay not the end. depends for the street were there are no rules! Probably the best fighter is the the one who has weapon in hand and the loser the bullet in the head. Basically the person who survived. For fighting orginzations which all I know right now is UFC and Pride. UFC= Rand Corture But then that would be the LH weight class. Pride = Silva is bad *. Nog is outstanding also.

Some George Dillman Pressure point books are entertaining to read. Books by Chinese Martail artist Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming are excellent a good author. Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming I would highly recomend. His books are highly informitive. With theory, history and as well as techincal advince. George dillman's books are interesting as far as Pressure points go. The book by Royler and Renzo Gracie is outstanding. I Haven't gotten that book yet. I am going to do. I looked through it at the book store. Very imforitive and good advice on technical aspects of the ground game. My library right now since I am in Korea back in the states I have a few books. But out here in Korea. I have just video tape. Which all consists of a bunch of Pride FC CD's, UFC greatest KO's and UFC's Greates subs, as well as 2 HnS video's. KOTC's greatest hits. As well as 2 Abu dhabi cd's. One Mario Sperry instructional series and seminar Chris Brennan instructed in Hawaii. As you can tell mine right now is MMA library. -Jeff

KM that is a good article. Same principle is used in all sports. basically being in your "Zone" is usually the buzzword for it. I remmeber going to that ancient place the Library while back. Don't usually venture there munch since obviously the internet is around. But I was looking at self hipnosis books that talk about sports hipnosis about auto suggestion and mind visiulation that helps clear your mind or better term focus your mind or put you in that place you need to be to perform. The book and excercises contained in them was very interesting to read. Thank you for the article KM -Jeff ffff

Breathing and capturing the inside techniques as opposted to the outside is very difficult for white belts to learn. Best you can do is get them motivated to be more assertive and to focus and push there techniques more. They need solid basics. What Monkey girl was talking about was right on the money as far as proper chambering for kicks and lignment of the wrists. All though I agree with your statement that briething is important. Not a main focus at white belt stage. Until that white belt has enough reps of movement in it will be difficult for them to concertrate breath cordination with the movement. Even simple movements are complex for example even a simple in ward block is complex. It starts off simple maybe to a white belt. But when the instucter explains proper angling, body alignment at to the particular block that is done. Proper hand or arm place ment and weight transfer. Then it becomes more complex. To add more details of breath and other such should be placed at a higher level. Even Tai Chi instructers know that which is an internal art. They know there students need to learn the basic forms patterns first. If they throw the breath in withthe movement early one. It distrupts the Chi pattern and they person can get sick. According to one instructer I had a conversation with about this same subject. plus it takes them longer to learn and the movements are sloppy because there mind is on mutliple things. Learn little by little. Adding here and there is a better process in my opinion. Monkey girl is right. for traditional Martial arts. The students needs to learn proper dojo/dojang ettiquete, and some simple basic techniques drilled into them so they can start with a good foundation. No offense other then the breath aspect you sound rather vague on your defintion of what you mean by "internal" No disrespect but it would be nice if you expound on that subject in more detail on your defintion or exmaples of crutial interal methods that are first more vital for white belts to learn? As well as why your reasoning for that? because from what I read about breathing and internal technique and visualation. They aren't ready for that. You do have a point that they are important things to learn though. But from my experience the need proper basic physical techniques. A good foundation. The internal at there level would be the dojo ettiqute as monkey girl stated. For example about the visulation. that is good but intial teaching NO! they need good foundation of basics of how to do a punch properly. Proper fist alightment and knockles to hit and several reps at them. later on they hit a pad thats when they need visulation or moativation to be more assertive to hit with more force in the object. Quick way to teach them if there wrist is wrong. Because it hurts if it isn't aligned right. Then that gives them proper power hitting. Nothing like hitting a bad to teach you. But to focus on a person right off the bat to visualite to hit. No they need to focus on there body proper alignement. Well... I take that back You do have apoint on that one. They go hand in had. If the person isn'tt asertive his movement doesn't go as well. But again I stress white belts need proper physical basics first. -Jeff

Its human nature people get jealous, they get cocky and envy others becaue of there success. Your always going the some form of bullshit in any thing you do thats the great tao symbol is for. Or I mean the Yin/Yang symbol. Balance in all things. You have good and you have the equally opposite bad in all things. Hopefully some times you can find more good in it and it will be worth while in the long run. If its to much bad. Well time to find something else to do or some where new to train. Just my thoughts. -Jeff

Very interesting article.

Yes very well written and enligthening article. -Jeff

I have mixed feelings for Kata. Kata is okay. But alot of instructers teach kata for tournments. Which is just basically Kata acting. Nice yells here and there. Tighting your arm and making the fist shake. Basically looking pretty for the judges. Wasn't you get an idea of the bunkai it don't mattter you learn new locks new chockes. new strikes new what ever you can place it in your kata. Some instructers teach the bunkai that it has to look exactly like the Kata is done which is not true. Kata is just a refrence, you can practice your rooting in kata, you can practice diffrent forms of breathing and cordinationg that with your movement. You can energy training. You can practice several bunkai or applcations to movement in the form. for example simple outward block can be arm break, wrist break, pressure point moves. ankle break, depends on what you want it to be. Weather the hands are open or cloes. Same move ment as the block. More you open your mind the more * y ou can put into one kata. You don't need a bunch of kata. All you need is one simple kata. take a peace of the form and make what ever movement you can think of. Instructers can give you a few ideas on bunkai and you can end up thinking of some more * on your own to put in the kata. Thats what makes kata alive. All it is is a refrence. Is kata important depends on how the invidual practioner feels about it. It has its benefits but depends. For a boxer he has shadow boxing. For Wreslers and BJJ and grapplers they have solo ground drills they practice for Karate and Tradional martiali arts guys they have there Kata. Kata is good but depends on what you want out of it. There are diffrent practioners out there. Some are Martail artist and enjoy the art and they want to stick with it because they like all the benfits in that art. Like the mild excercise, discipline, confidence (my opinion alot of times false but that can be saved for a diffrent discussion time) history of the art, comadrie between other students, the enjoyed ment of the teachniques and just over all fun of that particular style and beauty they see in it. Others are Martial scienteist they like to break down what they are learning for applcation and realistically. They like thinking aspects in it and the application. Which is alot of good stuff in Kata for that if they are exposed to it by some source. Then there is the martial athelete. Kata is great but to be good at self defense weather against an untrained oppenent or against some one who has some training and is a street thug. Well... there are other ways to get quick at fighting and self defense. Kata is good but it has its place. in conclusion is kata important. Depends on the invidual, you don't need it at all to be good at self defense and to be a fighter. But it is good as a tool to remembering techniques and it is good as far as an art form like dance or what ever you do. As long as you enjoy what you do more power to you.

I have mixed feelings for Kata. Kata is okay. But alot of instructers teach kata for tournments. Which is just basically Kata acting. Nice yells here and there. Tighting your arm and making the fist shake. Basically looking pretty for the judges. Wasn't you get an idea of the bunkai it don't mattter you learn new locks new chockes. new strikes new what ever you can place it in your kata. Some instructers teach the bunkai that it has to look exactly like the Kata is done which is not true. Kata is just a refrence, you can practice your rooting in kata, you can practice diffrent forms of breathing and cordinationg that with your movement. You can energy training. You can practice several bunkai or applcations to movement in the form. for example simple outward block can be arm break, wrist break, pressure point moves. ankle break, depends on what you want it to be. Weather the hands are open or cloes. Same move ment as the block. More you open your mind the more * y ou can put into one kata. You don't need a bunch of kata. All you need is one simple kata. take a peace of the form and make what ever movement you can think of. Instructers can give you a few ideas on bunkai and you can end up thinking of some more * on your own to put in the kata. Thats what makes kata alive. All it is is a refrence. Is kata important depends on how the invidual practioner feels about it. It has its benefits but depends. For a boxer he has shadow boxing. For Wreslers and BJJ and grapplers they have solo ground drills they practice for Karate and Tradional martiali arts guys they have there Kata. Kata is good but depends on what you want out of it. There are diffrent practioners out there. Some are Martail artist and enjoy the art and they want to stick with it because they like all the benfits in that art. Like the mild excercise, discipline, confidence (my opinion alot of times false but that can be saved for a diffrent discussion time) history of the art, comadrie between other students, the enjoyed ment of the teachniques and just over all fun of that particular style and beauty they see in it. Others are Martial scienteist they like to break down what they are learning for applcation and realistically. They like thinking aspects in it and the application. Which is alot of good stuff in Kata for that if they are exposed to it by some source. Then there is the martial athelete. Kata is great but to be good at self defense weather against an untrained oppenent or against some one who has some training and is a street thug. Well... there are other ways to get quick at fighting and self defense. Kata is good but it has its place. in conclusion is kata important. Depends on the invidual, you don't need it at all to be good at self defense and to be a fighter. But it is good as a tool to remembering techniques and it is good as far as an art form like dance or what ever you do. As long as you enjoy what you do more power to you.

Intersting Article, You have a lot of good points monkey girl. Very nice post. -Jeff