White Warlock

jkd is not a system, but a concept, an approach to learning.

lol (( inside joke ))

if you have to ask, you're not ready.

It's always important to recognize what your motivations are in all this. It may be that you've got a chip on your shoulder with that particular student, or the instructor, and are hoping to 'put them in thier place,' or it may be that you are trying to impress. Whatever your personal motives may be, they have no place in the training hall. That said, i come to various schools, put on a white belt, and practice along with everyone else. When a senior student presents something incorrectly, i don't even make a scene... i just say things like, "try this" or "you need to bring that closer to your body;" whatever is needed to help them refine their techniques. If they take offense to anything i say, i usually respond with something like, "your ego is invested in the training process." Basically, I'm not there to pacify someone else's ego, i'm there to learn in safety. An improperly performed technique is more likely to cause accidental injury. Now, if the instructor is wrong in something he says, i reserve my comments for 'after class,' where i can talk to him in private. If he agrees with my assertion, and he's a respectable instructor, he'll correct himself in the next class and i will have avoided putting him on the spot. If he doesn't agree with my assertion, it's my turn to listen to 'why' he doesn't agree. If we still disagree, then so be it. Not everyone is going to agree with me, nor am i going to agree with others. I don't pretend to know everything, and am always willing to learn new things, but sometimes i do feel i'm right and someone else is wrong, which isn't necessarily a good thing. In those instances i do a 'personal motives' check to see if i have any underlying issues with myself, with my perceptions, that may be clouding my judgement. After all, if i've been performing something in error for quite a long time, and communicated my belief in this error... it's going to be harder for me to disconnect my ego and say, "i'm wrong." The same must be understood of others and we must both respect and recognize the potential commitment a person may have in their falsivities, and then be diplomatic and respectful enough to help them out of their ego-born dilemna. It's really not about, "i'm right, you're wrong"... and it never should be.

Whatever experiences you obtained in the past, they were not a waste, except maybe of money. What you gained was a good insight into a system that does not provide quality instruction, right? That alone is a lesson worth paying for, in that just because it's martial art doesn't mean it's 'good' martial art. Many people spend thousands of dollars and ten or more years studying a 'false' art. What i think you've gained is the 'ability' to question rather than accepting things at face value. This is an invaluable lesson, and one that few people actually learn so young in life. I wish you well in your ventures, just don't sign some stupid annual contracts. Month to month, or not at all... that's my policy.

It was inferred by others and indirectly indicated by Orion, but no... nobody said it straight out. Thanks hehe.

Ages ago, right around the time Fred Flintstone was getting his baby teeth, I entered a point contact tourney. It was my first point contact, and a far cry from my earlier boxing/wrestling competitions. Anyway, the guy performed a backfist, which i countered with an open palm and forearm, thrust between my head and his backfist, while i simultaneously came in with a straight punch. It infuriated me that they gave him the point, and not me, even though the power in his strike would have been totally diffused if such were a real strike, while mine would have seriously injured the guy since i moved in at the same time he moved in. I.e., my strike had not only my striking energy, but my momentum complemented by his opposing momentum. After a few more experiences i came to the conclusion these guys were either being biased or they truly didn't know what worked in real life, as opposed to what looked cool (and yes, a backfist looks cool in comparison to a straight punch... ah well). And since i wasn't about to resort to 'dancing' to get points, i opted out of participating in any future 'point' sparring competitions.

Depends on the instructor and the students Karate25. JKD is not an art, but a concept.

Not really... Mostly it's because the t-shirts look cool, and because the name Bruce Lee is synonymous with "kick butt martial arts." It's not necessarily the truth, but it's what merchants are selling to the unskilled fanbase. Really, Bruce Lee has become an icon, a representation of what martial art movie stars all over the world aspire to be... i.e., psychedelic colors on a t-shirt. . . . Seriously though, there's a disconnect here on what's really going on. Commercialism is gearing the minds of the consumers to perceive one thing or another. The cycle of marketing goes like this, "this is what you want to buy" followed by it's, "what seems to be popular," and then back again to, "this is what you want to buy." In this case, Bruce Lee symbolizes martial art movie stars because decades ago he was sold as "what you want to buy." Martial art movies are in right now, so... of course martial art movie stars are popular. What that brings in return is, "Bruce Lee t-shirts are what you want to buy." Commercialism and the process of marketing is far more than this, but i'm presenting what it is in a nutshell so as to communicate the underlying factors associated with this 'idolatry.'

In a life or death situation, in a combat scene, or because they want to spend 20 years in prison.

well, many people make the assumption that one person was born smart, another dumb, and therefore how they are right then and there is as good as they'll get.

There is plenty of documentation presented in medical reports that show that although alcohol consumption can present a short period of relaxation, this is countered upon the the sobering period, in which your stress levels are elevated and you end up 'worse off' than when you first started. So the idea of using alcohol to relax... is counterproductive. As to whether incidents will happen or not, as i indicated earlier, i've been struck by drunk drivers multiple times. The fact alcohol impedes judgement and reduces motor control also increases the likelihood an intoxicated person will get himself into some sort of trouble (bar fight, etc), or get behind the wheel and create trouble for someone else. So, as it is the goal of many martial artists to avoid unnecessary problems, so should it be recognized that alcohol merely 'adds' to your problems, not detracts from them.

... He's dead. He can't fight from the grave. No amount of wishing or wanting is going to change this, and all the speculations in the world merely present empty postulations. I actually feel sorry for the guy, being remembered by people wanting to see whether he would get his butt kicked against this person or that person.

I read a very interesting article in a journal awhile back, regarding the brain and how it 'grows.' Contrary to popular belief, the brain is not limited in how much information, knowledge, learning it is capable of holding. When new information or concepts are presented, new synapses are created (electrical connections between brain cells) and made more pronounced by repeating said actions or reaffirming information presented. So, what you don't know, you can learn. Interesting story there DKizzle

Sounds like a bit of tendonitis, but i recommend going to a physical therapist for professional insight.

You were feeling guilty. And yes, you're friggin' NUTS! What were you thinking?!?!? Geez... "Garçon, paddy wagon to go please..."

The problem with this thought, is that it is an exceedingly dangerous mentality. You are immediately stepping into the waters of underestimation. You are 'assuming' that you are better than them. But, just as they cannot see you are trained, so is it possible you cannot see that they are trained. I, for one, give absolutely no indication i know how to fight, until it's time to do so. Instead, i do all the actions i need to do to give the impression i am not wanting to fight and then work to see what i can do to get them to realize they don't want to either (that's, of course, running with the assumption i 'actually' don't want to fight... for in some cases i do, and thus would not attempt deescalation). Also, as stated before... you're assuming he's going to 'believe' you, when most likely he is not. It's a lessor possibility, actually. If he underestimates you, he won't present a weapon. This is part of the goal of a good combatant, to have the assailant underestimate you so they don't escalate it to a point where suddenly you're fighting for your life, instead of subduing an idiot. But, telling them you're a black belt is like 'you' pulling out a weapon. It then tosses out the green flag on 'escalating' the incident. "I have a black belt, walk away." "I have a Smith & Wesson, die." Well, that's not really the case. It is reasonable to do what is necessary to avoid getting into a confrontation, as long as what you present doesn't escalate the situation or present consequence down the line, but karate isn't geared to provide a means for you to avoid a fight, only to increase the likelihood you are the survivor should a fight occur. The martial arts, as a whole, are about realism... not pacifism.

As well Ovine King. The link i presented covers this issue from a more sobering perspective. Unfortunately, i don't believe anyone has actually clicked on it.

his info says he lives in Bangladesh...

Not just against me, but i noted me because i have asthma and my allergic reaction to capsicum is slightly elevated from the norm (most everyone has an allergic reaction to capsicum... that's a large part of why it works). It's a tough call, but generally speaking i would disagree, for the reasons stated below. It has the same limitations that a gun has, in that it must be prepared first. It must be removed from where it is (purse, pocket, belt sheath, etc), grasped correctly (with nozzle facing away), the safety must be disengaged, the weapon needs to be presented, you must target the assailant's eyes, and then you must shoot (and hope it fires). A multi-step process that really only works if you're given 'sufficient' warning of an attack. All this while ensuring your adrenal surge doesn't interfere with your ability to utilize this relatively complex weapon (that last issue is a big one). On the other hand, any other weapon need merely be grabbed and used. Or, if already in hand, used. Exactly the same thing that would happen if they were killed by pepper spray. A charge of excessive force if you're a police officer, a charge of 2nd degree murder (that would be plea bargained to manslaughter) if you're not a police officer. In order to use pepper spray, you have to undergo a small training program. This program makes you liable for using the pepper spray inappropriately, or for any death or physical injury caused by its use. Consequence applies regardless of the type of weapon you use, and the outcome of the initial incident need not be lethal or disabling. The secondary factors, that of retribution or otherwise, are solely under the 'choice' of the other persons and may or may not be mitigated by the type of weapon used. My thoughts

Ah, no, that's a good thing niel0092. I see where your mind was going now, and we should stand on your last question then. Soon as i get a few moments of peace i'll try to participate again.

Hehe, i was tempted to respond with a long way of saying yes.