White Warlock

Not yet, hehe... Actually, it is for this very same reason that no system can be perfect for everyone. Systems vary, as is the individual's approach to studying them. What one gains from their studies will vary dramatically. But obtaining insight into various systems, via comparative analysis, can help one to find a system (or systems) that agree with their body mechanics and mindset.

The biggest problem with proving that dim mak exists and that it works, is that to do so, you must kill... and then take blame for the kill. Even then, even after being put in prison for murder... where's the proof that the means you used to kill was dim mak? It is for these reasons that dim mak will fall into the category of myth and fantasy to most. However, to bring questions forward... there is acupuncture, developed thousands of years ago, which has been proven to work, even if it is still not known exactly how. Damaging a vital organ can result in a slow or delayed death... this is known. Having a means to cause these injuries, without excessive force, is the question. But, more to the question is... with today's medical technology, would something like dim mak actually cause death? A minor gut wound used to be a slow and painful death, as were so many things that are nowadays considered outpatient services. I wouldn't discount the 'concept' of dim mak merely because you haven't experienced it, but i wouldn't also give it too much credence, considering the technological advances in diagnosis and treatment of this day and age. Last... applicability. If you are in a life-threatening situation, what purpose would it serve to cause an undetectable injury to someone that won't incapacitate or kill your adversary until tomorrow? I mean, you're dead today, right?

One man's experience, with one example. And... he got really sick after it was applied, but still lived. I would hardly call that empirical evidence, and certainly not 'smart.' Makes you wonder how many others have approached 'qualified' practitioners... and not lived to tell about it. Thanks TJS, will check it out.

Agreed Tree, although i recall someone else in this community arguing otherwise.

Well, you don't really know that, right treebranch? Anyway, Dillman's a quack. TJS, the link doesn't work. Seems a word in the URL was censored.

It's not simplicity, it's clarity that you need to work on. I'm a heavy reader, but i often struggle with the way you sometimes present your arguments. For example, your starting post and then this post i'm responding to. The 'format' of your starting post is 'non-standard,' thereby forcing people to adjust to a one-liner structure in a discussion board that is more applicable to a chat board. Also, you undermine your post by ending it with something like, "blah blah blah." In the post i'm responding to, you squish all your thoughts into one paragraph, some of which deserve independent paragraphs and independent smileys so people don't take offense. Unfortunately, instead, you include one smiley at the end of the paragraph, confusing the reader. Just some thoughts from a writer to help you along. Not to mention those with longer arms must also contend with higher torque and longer muscles (weaker). Bigger isn't necessarily better, just different. There are still many variables you aren't considering FD. How you trained and who trained you are major factors. Also, many people do not have multiple systems under their belt, or have only had 'limited' exposure to one or another system, so their ability to gauge one system against another is, as well, limited. And then there's the issue of circumstances. Under what circumstances would one system be more applicable, or more effective? Considering all this, as annoying and juvenile as comparative discussions may seem to be, they do serve a purpose, in that of providing an opportunity to discuss the strengths and weaknesses 'inherent' in various systems, irregardless of training regimen or instruction, with those who 'do' have expertise in said systems. Oh, and although i've always held a degree of "pfft" for tkd, i must admit that if my clone had spent these many years studying tkd, i might just have a problem in a one-on-one, especially if my clone thinks like me. The thing is... if he thought like me, he wouldn't have studied tkd, or at least not 'just' tkd. Cloning, for these examples, must also consider the mental aspect... the way a person thinks. After all, martial arts is mostly mental, right?

Yeppers, forgot about that one. Do it all the time, to and from the car or home, out of habit. The tongue?!?

You are able to adjust the amount of water you put in it, or opt to put sand in it (although i've heard this is not a good idea), which directly impacts just how 'rigid' they behave. The majority of weight is distributed about the base. The ones displayed at stores are empty, thus they wobble around like weebles when whacked. When partially or completely filled, they're pretty firm. Best bag out there for the apartment/condo dweller, but be warned... cats love it as a scratching post.

Or put it aside for another day, where they can escalate it AND have the element of surprise in their favor. It's best not to show your cards until you need to play them. Bluff, gruff and standing tough work well only in cases of single-instance, anonymous altercations.

I've been in plenty of situations, real, competition, and friendly spar, where i ended up on the ground. The thing is, i extricated myself from the situation, leaving the opponent still on the ground... and me standing up. Aiming to bring someone to the ground, and hoping to end it there... if that's the end-all of your fighting strategy, expect to be surprised when you find someone like me. Someone who doesn't 'stay' down if he doesn't want to. Something to think about.

bb stands for black belt. Norbert is his name. He also studied muay thai and boxing, and was the asst instructor for san soo at my ol' haunt. Your questions seem somewhat challenging. Do remember, i've been studying the arts for over 25 years, so i'm no pushover... nor was he.

umm... a few years back i had a friendly competition with a bb bjjer. To decrease the chance of injury, we started on our knees. We locked-in, i twisted around and slammed his head into the mat. Had i not held back, and there not been a mat, he would have been out cold. I know what you're trying to say Gumbi, but the mat gives a misinterpretation of the lethality of certain techniques. As well, the attitudes ingrained through competitions can 'hold one back,' thereby giving a false impression as to what works and what doesn't, in a 'real' confrontation. btw, aren't we on a tangent?

When traveling, the best safety precaution is knowledge and common sense. Don't be conspicuous. Don't flash your cash. Know where you are traveling from, to and through. Read the local news. Contact your nation's embassy, as they usually have an up-to-date report on things to watch out for. Your ignorance provides the enemy the element of surprise and a weapon is useless if you don't get a chance to use it. If you do decide to carry any weapons, make sure they are both legal and regionally acceptable (it may be legal to carry a sword in the streets of Los Angeles, but clearly not acceptable). Again, your nation's embassy can provide some of the best information on travel in a specific region/nation.

Myself, my shoes, my belt, the change in my pocket, the chair in the hallway, the dirt on the ground. When riding my bike, my bike itself and the chain i use to secure it. In the car, in addition to a variety of items tossed about and the car itself, i also have a 'short' dime-store wakizashi. But, that's primarily for me to practice with in the fields when i'm in the need for thought.

Don't laugh too hard. You actually can get drunk off a water fountain. You can also die from it. As to the discussions on ki, the biggest problem is ignorance. Many things are considered taboo for Christians, merely because ignorance breeds fear, which encourages hostility. Christianity, unfortunately, fosters a mentality of judgement before knowledge. Therefore, rather than looking into things, they are burned at the stake. Such is the case with ki. My recommendation, as always, is to learn and understand first. Have a basis of understanding before judging.

I couldn't disagree with you more Sai. There are many economically viable schools that do not cater to, or even provide instruction for, kids. As well, exploitation of parent' ignorance, or of kids... for profit... when you cut it down to the roots, it doesn't look at all honorable. Breaking things down to their most basic is required, regardless of the audience. The difference is, having to repeat it over and over again because the kids aren't listening. Anyway, i find teaching elderly to be far more challenging. But, they listen and give you 100% of their attention when in the class. Just to touch on this... i like kids, always have. Enjoy playing games with them and they enjoy playing games with me. But i put martial arts into a different category. I don't view the arts as a game, but as a passion. I met only one kid who also held it as a passion, and no parents who tossed their kids into an MA school. Because of this, when i've taught kids "in the past," i've been put-off by their lack of interest. In short, teaching kids the martial arts undermines the pride and respect i hold for those very same arts. That doesn't mean i've done a disservice to kids when i have taught them. It means i've done a disservice to myself.

I would win.

Judo incorporates a lot of groundwork and judoists have done very well in competitions vs bjjers. It is the practitioner that makes the biggest difference. As to your comment about the breakfalling, trust me... trying to break your fall on concrete... doesn't work too well. To add, i once uke'd for a 3-time junior national judo champion... and he threw me so cleanly, and so fast, that even with my many many years of breakfall training, i was still unable to make a clean break... and this was with his assist. Had it been on concrete, and without his assist, i'm pretty dang sure my hip and arm would have been shattered.

Well said HKF, i have nothing to add.

Ugh!

Well that's not a very nice thing to say. Whatever. I don't like to teach kids, mainly because they are usually not that interested in learning. Mostly, they're there to play and/or socialize. Also, parents tend to toss kids to MA schools as an alternate form of daycare, which i find rather insulting. To me, martial arts is a passion. I've studied most of my life, on the mat and off. It is rare to find me not thinking about it, so i'm not interested in training someone who 'does not think about it.' I find many adults who are half-interested in the arts, and state they want to train with me or learn from me, but most who subscribe to study... are interested. I can't say the same for kids. You can call it an easy way out. I prefer to look at it a bit more honestly.

It is as any field of study. When you share a common passion, whether it be medicine, law, football, drug-dealing, law enforcement, or martial arts, you feel a degree of comraderie.

Be afraid, be very afraid! hehe... Seriously though, when you have adrenalin kicking in your body, your eyes will be glued open. Practice as if your life depended on it, but maintain control at the same time (i.e., respect the trust relationship). Most people tend to blink during their early years of training mainly due to a failure to perceive the practice session as anything more than horseplay, and secondarily due to habit. Break the habit by treating your sessions seriously. Like that!

/me smacks Fenris-wolf Red J, watch kids at play. Boys tend to be aggressive, while girls tend to be passive. Society already inherently teaches aggressiveness to boys and passivity to girls, so these are not things that need to be reinforced to children in a martial arts school. What they need is 'growth,' not affirmation. Well-rounded, not well-seated. Yes, i didn't quite answer what i mean by passive. Essentially, it is the opposite of aggressive. Aggressive systems emphasize striking and advancing. Please note there is a clear difference between aggressive and assertive. One can be aggressive AND assertive, just as they can be passive AND assertive. An example of the two would be someone taking command of a situation by ordering everyone around, as opposed to someone taking command of a situation via leading by example. And one last silly example: Aggressive is to grab the table and move it to you. Passive is to move yourself to the table.

I noted that too DM, but decided to dismiss it and focused instead on the ongoing discussions. This isn't 'our' community (it sure as hell isn't mine) and it's not like the guy insulted anyone with his posts. Well, he might have insulted our intelligence... but i'm used to that.