White Warlock

Don't worry about the competitors, simply understand the rules very well, and you'll understand what is expected of you and not expected out of your adversaries. In this way, you have a supreme advantage over your opponents. Why? Because you will know your limitations (based on the rules of the competition, and your own abilities) and you will know the battlefield (the rules of the competition that limit everyone). It is not reasonable to attempt to understand your opponent, until you have had opportunity to 'examine' your opponent in action. My recommendation is look at the tree that most competitions present, and determine which opponents you may likely be pitted against... then to watch them compete. Don't dwell on what they do right... focus more on what they do wrong. But, of course, realize what their preferences are so that you're not caught flatfooted. The ultimate goal here is to focus on winning, so don't think too much on defense... instead look for the weaknesses your opponents present in order that you may exploit those weaknesses through offensive actions. If you focus on what they present well in attacks, you will set your mind for defense, which provides no option for winning. As to answering your question specifically, there are a multitude of kung fu systems out there, so there is absolutely no way anyone here can effectively present what you should 'expect.' I think it's the wrong way to approach this thing anyway. Focus on what you will do to them, not what they may do to you. Last, i had a friend who repeatedly won junior national championships. He perfected a few techniques and applied them religiously to every fight. He 'literally' ignored the opponent and simply walked in and committed his actions, then walked out. By sheer will, he prevailed over his opponents, denying them any options other than to 'try and stop him.' I.e., he immediately caused them to go on the defensive, thus ensuring they could not win.

The best investment you could make is to hire a small business consultant, one with substantial experience. You don't need to know the subject, you merely need to have someone help you to get to that level, and a "hands-on" consultant can help you get there. I normally do small business consulting, but am taking a hiatus from this field to work on my own affairs. I can tell you right off the bat, though, not everyone is cut out to be successful in business... and you definitely should not attempt to go through some 'short-cut' business program to get you 'up to par' on how to be a smart businessman. If you aren't already a smart businessman, a program won't help you. What you need is someone who 'knows' how to do that stuff to walk in and help you succeed, plain and simple... And, btw, that's how the Kovars became successful. One was a martial arts student (wasn't even a black belt at the time, btw), while the other was a graduate of applied economics. One structured the courses, while the other managed the business development. So if you fall for their ProMAC program and think, "wow, i'm going to be as successful as them," you'll be in for a shocking letdown. Here's a basic model of things (and mind you, i'm being very basic here). Successful businesses require three things: An artisan/technician, a manager/businessman, an entreprenuer/consultant. The problem with most small businesses is that you have one of the above only: In the case of an artisan, you provide a quality product, but don't manage your business for growth and don't have the money or the foresight to plan ahead. Therefore, you provide a limited quantity of quality products and your business is stunted. Regardless of how large your fanbase grows, your productivity will never increase, and thus your profit margin will remain the same. It is this model that is most common with 'quality instructors in the martial arts.' In the case of a manager, you provide substandard products, yet manage your business quite well. Unfortunately, because the products are substandard, you end up spending an inordinate amount of energy replenishing your clientele. Marketing becomes your main focus, as well as exagerrated prices and a dependency on client ignorance. It is this model that is most common with 'mcdojos.' In the case of an entrepreneur, you provide substandard products, a poor management model, but enough money to hire a bunch of people to keep the business afloat, or worse... get enough people to 'volunteer' to accept 'future profits' when the business goes public on the stock market. A smart entreprenuer can rise the business to great heights, only to have it come crashing down... eventually. With regret, i would say the "Lion's Den" suffered from this model. Probably the best thing any 'smart' artisan can do is 'contract' a skilled businessman and 'contract' a skilled small business consultant. The second best thing any 'smart' artisan can do... is listen and 'act' on what is being presented to him by these two. The third best thing, would be to 'eventually' make these other two business partners or officers when you incorporate. Btw, if you want to look at the Kovar model, you'll note that Dave Kovar would take up the position of "artisan," Tim Kovar would take up the mantle of "manager/businessman," and Rick Campbell would take up the mantle of "entrepreneur/consultant." Together they have a booming business. Well, there's the absolute basics for success

Aikido actually presents very few wristlocks and such. Plenty more can be found from other Japanese jujutsus. I worked 4 years in emergency mental health working for the government. no, it's not hard to believe, since i experienced it firsthand. With the way it went, a patient could kill us and get away with it (insanity plea), but we were not allowed to cause a bruise. I was referring to them choosing aikido as a training program, not open or closed admission on such. As you stated, it's a long-term study, and they want immediate results and my statement was in reference to administration advocating aikido, a longterm study. Well, i did say, "I do know there are various training programs out there that are adopted by various police departments, medical facilities, and mental health facilities. Each to their own needs, but a particular system in and of itself... i am not aware of such acceptance." As you just indicated, the self defense training programs presented to police and corrections officers is 'laughable.' This, clearly, is not aikido, but one of the various 'training programs,' such as PART, SART, NERT, SAFE, etc. And, of course, the reason they are laughable is because they try to present too simple a training program, handing out a 'handful' of techniques without even 'hinting' at the principles associated with those techniques, and then sending these people out there without a friggin' clue. Worse, many of the people 'teaching' these programs are also clueless, having mastered the program, but not any particular martial art... and thus are skilled at performing a handful of techniques in a classroom... but not where it counts... in the street.

there are plenty of careers where being an introvert is preferred. I think you're looking at the wrong careers, or wanting to be something 'other' than what you presently are like. If you're an introvert, and you prefer to stay that way, then start looking at the careers where such is preferred. If, however, you are not happy with being an introvert, a job that 'insists' upon you being an extrovert is probably the most painful, and career-damaging way of making the transition. Another thing to consider is that extrovert-oriented careers are definitely going to be the ones that capture the limelight, that are going to be on commercials, television and in movies. Introvert-oriented jobs are not as interesting for media, because they're like 'monologues.' Since Americans are heavy into the media, of course it's going to look as if they are geared towards extroversion... but such is not the case.

Your call, but i won't steer you away from muay thai.

i'm always underestimated, mainly because i intentionally present myself as non-aggressive, non-combative. I work with the 'switch' principle. I.e., when it's time to get busy, i flip a switch. Seriously though, i've only underestimated one person... and it was a non-combat and friendly situation where my ego led the way to not treating the guy as if he didn't have any skills. He had some, not as much as me, but because i went into it half-mast, he tripped me to the ground. I considered the situation a lesson i needed at the time. Btw, how old was this... "old man with thick glasses?"

It is more applicable to what is encountered on the streets, and yes, its fundamentals present a less aggressive approach to subduing an opponent. As to being more applicable, it is about redirecting energy and is more geared to the singular overcommitted assaults presented by desperate criminals, drunks, and drug addicts. I have no idea whether it is pushed by administrations more than any other art. I have never heard of this, nor am i inclined to believe it by default. I do know there are various training programs out there that are adopted by various police departments, medical facilities, and mental health facilities. Each to their own needs, but a particular system in and of itself... i am not aware of such acceptance.

Yep, it's a racket. You're essentially being trained small business management by a person with a bachelor's degree in applied economics and being charged "major university tuition" rates. Actually, it's a little worse than that. You attend 'one' class every 'other' month... and pay $500 per month, with a $1000 start-up fee, 12 sessions over a 24 month period. That equates to $13,000 for a total of 12 days of training, spread out over two years. You're better off going to night-school for business management.

My whole point was that if they are considerably higher-ranked than you, you're not. Ahh, but 'everyone' in 'every' belt-system school i visit is 'considerably' higher-ranked than me, and i find myself repeatedly disagreeing with their assertions (i have no ranks, yet have studied for almost 30 years). Not only that, i demonstrate the fallacy of their perceptions. But this is another point... if "I" can find something wrong in their assumptions, how is it not possible that someone of 'lessor' skill or training cannot? I mean, i repeatedly subject myself to the scrutiny of 'untrained' persons, like my brother, and find that what was presented by someone else is not all it's cracked up to be. I.e., i get schooled by 'untrained' persons, as well as trained persons, so i'm not willing to accept the idea that someone who is not skilled in a particular art doesn't have good insight into 'common sense,' mechanics, physics, anatomy, or psychology. So, what i'm saying here is pretty straightforward. NOBODY has all the answers, nor is ANYONE immune from self-delusions. There are plenty of practitioners out there that have been 'programmed' to believe their stuff works, when in an actual confrontation... it does not. Things practiced at half-speed will always work, but bring it to full-speed, present unexpected variables, and add in a sudden onslaught of adrenal surge... and that self-same 'expert' is going to flounder in his ability to perform his techniques. It's happened to some of the biggest names in the martial arts, so no... if you don't think something works, question. But also recognize the investment someone may have made to their belief system, and realize they may resist being 'converted' to common sense. And they're not? It sounds like, because you refer to them as clowns, that they are 'vested' in their 'rightness,' and thus needing a dose of humility. But that's an entirely different issue, and one in which they KNOW they are wrong, but are unwilling to make the step into being humble and accepting the instructions being presented.

And yes, he's referring to ProMAC.

The actions were given a 'cute' title, but have absolutely no comparison or connection to the algebraic equation. Btw, i developed a new approach. I call it the, "self-replicating extra-chromosomal circular" approach. ooo, i'm so scientific, eh?

Agreed that has nothing to do with religion, and that bowing is a sign of respect, but it is also culturally bound and thus awkward and inappropriate to apply in another culture. If you visit Japan and attempt to shake hands, they will look at you odd, and bow instead. It is not merely religious connotations, but cultural ones as well that are 'distractions' from learning the arts themselves.

As a whole, i don't disagree with you. I will, however, take exception to this: I disagree. It is exceedingly effective for many reasons. These are not useless punches, if you keep it in context as to what it is attempting, and almost always succeeds in doing. It is an overwhelm technique that is geared towards taking over the confrontation and causing the opponent to switch to 'defense.' Also, the linear strikes presented in wc are some of the most 'powerful' linear strikes out there. In comparison to circular strikes, they pale... but in comparison to most other linear strikes, they excell. As well, you cannot dismiss the rate of strikes that are presented by blasting (chain punching, etc), nor the virtual non-existence of telegraph such strikes present.

He was not the first. Not by a long shot.

From a post i made just a few days ago: http://www.karateforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=23300&start=23

The chicken, definitely

Well, normally they wouldn't. It was more reverse engineering than anything else. Belt colors were created in Europe, and then various different groups created meanings behind the colors.

I disagree. If you see that, then do something more efficient. Don't play games, because he may be 'faking it' and hoping you will do something foolish, like a high kick to his head. Also disagree. If you stretch sufficiently, and practice sufficiently, a well executed high kick can generate a lot of power for impact. The problem, getting the time and undisrupted distance to generate said power.

48% Yankee here... (barely yankee)

Aye, agreed. As i indicated in an earlier post, i don't have a problem with alcohol, nor with people who drink alcohol, but with people. The problem is with the problematic people, not with the libation. It is no more logical to remove alcohol than it is to remove guns and think somehow you are going to save lives. If there were no guns in the world, yes... it would be a very different world, but wars would still be fought, people would still take lives. A different tool would be used, but the end results would be similar. On the other hand, removing personal automobiles from the face of the Earth... now that's an idea i like.

My last judo instructor was also my wrestling coach. There are always the mixers, but ravenzoom is correct. That was not within the context of the question posed. To examine this question and present a reasoned answer, one must take the question from its uncluttered intent.

I'm always willing to toss the dirt on things. In this case, i've visited one of their schools back in 1992. If any schools deserve the title of mcdojo, it is theirs. I respect them only in regards to their marketing and business management. They 'know' how to build a business, but i find it appalling that they 'use' the martial arts as a base for their 'pseudo-preschools.' Essentially, they are exploiting the ignorance of parents, providing substandard instruction to a mass of children, at a cost of $125 a month per student 45 minute classes... which is a joke, btw). Oh, and adult classes are pretty much only on the weekends. Anyway, if your ultimate goal is to make the buck, i suppose it's not all that bad. But when i went to visit their school, i was quite disturbed to see non-black belts instructing in their multi-level, multi-minirooms dojo... with toys strewn all about. Whatever, each to their own, eh? I mean, if this is what MAIA offers over NAPMA, i would say it's worth it if profit is your only goal.

It sounds like you are fixating on learning the techniques. Go beyond the techniques and attempt to understand the principles behind them. The techniques are a means to an end, not an end in and of themselves. Once you are able to grasp the principles, all you will need to do will be to remember the 'little things,' like cupping the thumb on certain holds, etc.

Everyone has personal space issues. If they don't, it's considered a psychiatric disorder. Personal space differs widely based on culture, age, gender and lifestyle. Latins tend to be more contact-oriented, which tends to make Americans and British uncomfortable, etc.

yet one more reason not to waste energy focusing on the wrong objective.