White Warlock

lol guys. aes, i just reread your post and i must say... that was not even remotely a safe exercise to do. "Bounce" exercises do cause tears... so, it wasn't your body that failed you. Please be aware that not all exercises are created equal. Many are actually very unhealthy, where the possibility of injury far outweighs any potential gains. The one you described is one of them. This is one of those things i've had a lot of unhappiness about. Far too many martial arts instructors fail to educate themselves on proper stretching, lifting, and aerobic exercises. This, in my opinion, is one of the main reasons we have so many 'warm-up' injuries. /rant

Hello optional nOOb.

I purchased his book, but haven't read it yet. I will, eventually.

Hehe. When i lived in Sacramento for a time, my roommate would put on Gregorian chants and i would just melt. I have no idea why it would do that to me, but... if i were to make a recommend, that would be it.

Muscle memory maybe no, but mind-body mechanics, yes. In my personal studies i noticed that a right-hander posed in the left-handed striking position tends to be on the defensive, while the opposite occurs with a left-hander (i.e., left-hander posed in the left-handed striking position is on the offense, while posed in the right-handed position, on the defense). This 'is' important and 'does' make a difference in a street encounter, especially if making an initial reading of your adversary. I also noticed this in sparring sessions and strike-oriented competitions. When someone, a right-hander, switches up on me... i press and they break. They are unable to 'maintain' an offensive mentality if pressed while on their opposing stance. Grappling, on the other hand... i notice no difference. Oh... btw, i'm left-handed.

Hmm... well, initially i got into judo as a youngster because my parents put me in the courses and i was switched around between that, swimming, gymnastics and whatever else was being taught at the community center that month, but mostly it was judo. I learned other things here and there, but all of it was mainly 'handed' to me until i reached about 15 years old. That's when my life took a dramatic hit. I won't go into details, but... essentially... i entered full-scale into studying the martial arts because i wanted to end someone's life. A person who 'invaded' someone very dear to me. I studied with that one goal in mind for the better part of five years. My studies were very focused and i dismissed all things frivolous or fancy. It was 'get in,' 'get it over with,' and 'get out.' I entered into confrontations regularly, to test my readiness (yes, in the streets... as you guys call it), but i was never satisfied. Eventually... as i continued studying, i forgot why i was studying. Martial arts became a part of my life... a way of life. I thought it and practiced it with every action i made. I was, essentially, at the peak of body... yet still young in thought. Then... i was run over while on a motorbike. I recovered somewhat, reentered my studies, and a little over 10 years after the incident that brought me to absorb the arts... almost a year after my term in the Army, i realized i had lost my way... and had fallen, instead, on the path. At that point, i stopped practicing. I spent about a year or so contemplating what it was i wanted, whether there was any need for me to 'return' to my initial intent. I thought long and hard... very hard. In no uncertain terms, I had switched one obsession, for another. An unhealthy one, for a healthy one... but was it what i wanted, or had i intentionally walked away out of fear of the repercussions associated with my initial goals? Or had i simply forgotten? Eventually I came to the conclusion that I had never truly forgotten, but had been coming to terms with it. I realized, subconsciously, that my initial goals were selfish and that the action I had contemplated would have brought me to a state of self that i would never be able to recover from. I accepted the fact that my 'superconscious' had guided me to a better state and that I had entered the path of my own volition, and not by 'default.' I accepted, as well, that whatever happened in the past, I was too young to make a difference then and those who were old enough to make a difference, decided it was not prudent to do so. From there, i re-entered the arts with a clear conscience. Because of my foundations, I maintained a no-nonsense study of the arts. I hold no regrets for my decisions, but do hold to a little sadness as to how i came to this path in my life. It would have been nice to have entered this way under happier conditions. Nonetheless, i feel good when i practice... despite the myriad of injuries and scarred muscles i struggle through every day. This is the truth, however ugly or contrived it may sound. Thank you for listening.

Hello koreauechi, Interested in seeing what you have at your site. Will check it out when i have some time.

No kidding. Seagal is one of the few 'legitimate' martial arts movie stars. As to his ability, he still practices regularly and he's no slouch. 8th degree BB in aikido, last i knew. In his movies, he demostrates the harder techniques of Aikido. By harder, i mean the atemi-waza... or strikes associated with aikido. He's not too bad an actor either, although definitely one-dimensional. As to being a lousy person, i've heard rumors from unscrupulous snooty sorts in the movie industry, and comments from a woman scriptwriter i know in Hollywood that says he's a 'typical' Japanese guy. She should know, as she's American-born Japanese. As to whether being a 'typical' Japanese is 'lousy,' I suppose if you hold to the idea that Japanese are conceited, ruthless, and respectful of women... as objects, then i suppose. However, if you view a 'typical' Japanese as considerate, respectful, and open, again.. i suppose. All in your predispositions I suppose. Returning to the original post, i've always found his stance to be quite... tall. Lanky might be a good word for it. I have seen his early pictures and that would be about right. Aikido instructs you to maintain a relatively straight back and to bend at the knees when attempting to lose height, thus ensuring your center of balance is maintained... even strengthened. So... I would have to say that it is a combination of the fact he is tall, has a long torso and practices a system that encourages him to maintain a straight back that poses him as being somewhat... lanky and is probably something that contributes to his odd running style. As to the contention that he "lacks a little smoothness & coordination," or that he "seems kinda sluggish," I would have to charge that to the movie industry, and not to him. Movie directors insist that some things be performed slowly, but for a true practitioner... that isn't too easy to do, while still looking good. Seagal prefers to perform his techniques at or near the speed of implemention. Because of this, directors insist upon playing back his actions in slow motion. Doing so pulls out the 'tiny' flaws that occur when a technique is implemented at 'speed.' The old saying that, most everything works at 1/2 speed, some things work at 3/4 speed, and nothing works at full speed, applies here as well. Because Seagal performs his movie stunts at full speed, or near to full speed, it is not perfect. But the fact that he can apply it at that speed indicates a tremendous amount of skill that should not be dismissed arbitrarily. It is wholly unfair to compare it to the guys that perform their actions in slow motion and have the film developers speed things up (Jet Li) or slow them down even further (Van Damme) so they look good (or at least better than they truly are).

Lemmings taste like chicken. Wanted to participate in this thread, without actually participating in the silliness of this thread as a whole. Your religious belief is one thing, your studies into means to defend yourself and your loved ones, another. At no time do they conflict unless your belief system advocates total and absolute pacifism. Nice article though. Oh and agree with Michigan. All men were created/conceived equal. But, some are more equal than others... whether it be by physical, mental, financial, and/or positional. Nonetheless, we must strive to treat all with 'equal' respect, especially when they fail to do the same to us or to others.

Most MA contracts i have been witness to require that you indicate any medical condition that could pose a threat to you or others during practice, and goes along with indicating that there is a danger of transmission of bodily fluids. This protects the school from liability and puts the blame on the signer for failure to disclose. Granted, it's not much of a consolation prize for the victim... For high school, college, Golden Gloves boxing, Olympics, and professional competition in the U.S., you are required to undergo an HIV test, although the results are private and, in most cases, the doctor is only allowed to indicate that you did not pass your physical and therefore unable to compete. I am not aware of any exceptions to this.

Well, not all... but enough to keep things focused.

Thank you

That too...

Ahh, sort of like my famous 'toothpick' kata, eh?

Well, there are no legal ramifications for accidentally discharging a six-foot stick. Seriously though, i'm not keen with guns as a means to self defense. Offense, maybe... defense, no. As to the discussion of the sword, as opposed to the gun, how about a few excerpts from a piece i wrote called, Understanding the Sword: I agree that a sword is not a reasonable weapon for modern-day self defense, in that you cannot carry it around on the streets and cannot hope to wield it effectively as a home-defense weapon. But its value should not be dismissed, for it teaches, better than most any other weapon, the value of human life. A pistol cannot teach you that. In fact, it can teach you just the opposite. The fact that it requires so little training to use a gun is what bothers me the most about them. People can pick one up and they think they somehow have gained 'ultimate power,' like the power-up ball in some morbid video game. But, in truth, all they have obtained is an extension of their ignorance. They point, click, and take a life... and then wonder how many bullets are left... and how many more lives they could take before having to reload. Granted, a gun is not the culprit here, but anything that helps to accentuate ignorance... i'm not keen with. And no, that doesn't mean i'm an advocate of gun control. Some control, yes... but not extremist control. Anyway... off-topic. As a self-defense weapon, a pistol is only effective if you 'already' have it in-hand, cocked, loaded, removed from safety, and pointed at the threat. However, if you have children in the house, i would say don't go this route. Not only is it your 'responsibility' to protect your children from their own ignorance by putting a lock on your gun (required in some U.S. States), but even if you do happen to manage the difficult task of removing the lock, loading the clip, and removing the safety (in the dark) if you deem there is a threat to your home... you more than likely will end up shooting one of your own kids, or one of their friends, in error. And, even if that's not a big concern for you... because you don't have kids, or you just hate the buggers anyway, be aware that a bullet doesn't just peter out and fall to the ground as soon as it leaves your home. There have been incidents of neighbors or pedestrieans getting struck by a stray bullet. Granted, not many... but how many times does someone shoot off a gun in their home? Not many, right? My recommendation then? Prevention and preparation. A well-thought escape protocol is far more likely to save the lives of your family than any weapon. Secure your doors and windows, install an alarm system, and organize a family-security pattern (a drill). Just like in the streets, the best thing to do if your home is invaded... is get everyone the hell out. In the end, the best home defense just so happens to be the same as the best personal self-defense... Common sense and a good pair of running shoes.

Dang, missed your response on this thread alanseijas. Well, cut and dry... if your instructor let you in with the BB, but now isn't willing to stand by it... either he questions your legitimacy himself but isn't willing to be upfront with you about it, or the organization he is associated with has him by the balls for some reason. I suspect the former, which is unfortunate. I think this because if he truly didn't question your legitimacy, but couldn't 'sign-off' on your being a BB, he would 'dance you' through the requirements just to satisfy those paper-pushers. An instructor should be honest with you, especially on these issues. He shouldn't hand you over to the paper-pushing wolves like this without first being very clear to you that he requires proof as well. In any case, the most important thing here is... your studies are no longer pure. Under these circumstances, it is unlikely that you can practice with a 'free-mind,' meaning... without distraction. Not only is this dangerous to you and others while in class, but it can eventually taint your entire perspective of martial arts and the pursuit of knowledge in this particular art form. Hate to say it, but if you can't provide the evidence they insist upon... i would have to agree with Ramy. That you get out of there, take your kids with you... and don't look back. Either that, or take the belt off and let your pride take a hit, and the look on your kids' faces turn into question marks. Whatever decision you make, i wish you luck.

Clouddragon, i couldn't disagree with you more. I think it should take you long enough to 'master' the basics, whatever the 'basics' may be. Some systems have more prerequisites than others and sometimes personal life interferes with training, causing you to not be as quick at learning for a period of time. Were my instructor to hand me a belt within 3 years, despite my lack of mastery in the basics... I would question his motives. And, if i had not mastered the basics within 3 years, i would not immediately blame the instructor... that's just b.s. Seriously. I mean, if i've been studying there for 3 years and then decide to blame the instructor because i haven't obtained a black belt... who's the one needing a clue? I was not aware of this, and if this is true... if he had practiced the martial arts for but a year before obtaining a black belt... "yes"... i would say it wasn't legit... initially. I, however, do question this and would like for you to provide evidence to this claim. special note: Chuck Norris is an exceptional martial artist that won virtually every championship from 1965 to 1970. It is, indeed, possible that he 'legitimately' obtained his first black belt within a year. Unlikely, but possible. However, you did not indicate if this was his 'first' black belt, or even what system it was that he received it in. If the endgoal of a student is to obtain a black belt, then absolutely... he should go for the school that hands him one as fast as possible. However, if his endgoal is to 'earn' his belt, by actually 'mastering' the basics, i would say, "when he is ready, and no sooner." Unbeknownst to the uninitiated, belt attainment isn't something you should be striving for. Knowledge, both physical and mental, should be your goals. Belt ranks should only serve as an affirmation as to your state of understanding in that particular artform. The fact that it serves as more, is unfortunate. Umm... no. I would say that 'jealousy' is the furthest thing from most people's minds when they refer to another school as a McDojo. In fact, what they more often feel is... disgust. There is a school in Sacramento that is doing very well, financially. Two brothers opened up the school before they even obtained their black belts (they even proudly admit so in a large 'descriptive' display next to their front door... likely serving as a disclosure to protect against lawsuits). Each of them had studied a little over a year and once they got out of high school (or was it college, i can't recall), they started up the school... teaching youngsters. Now they are one of the biggest schools in Sacramento and they make a pretty penny. They have students teaching students, multiple rooms setup like martial arts play pens, and 5 or more classes going on at any one time. They're raking in the cash, and their students are not teaching anything but the absolute basics to a bunch of kids, while the parents watch... not knowing any better. I watched what was being taught. I watched the so-called instructors, uncoordinated kids themselves. I watched... and was disgusted. This, my dear Clouded Dragon... is a McDojo. The nature of some schools to bypass the essence of martial arts, to use it as a means to make a quick buck... to capitalize on an art form, are what most 'seasoned' practitioners have a problem with. The endgoal is truly the definer of whether a school is a McDojo or not. If the endgoal is profit... it's a McDojo. If the endgoal is to spread a martial art system's popularity, that's not a McDojo... even if the art system isn't necessarily any good. However, if the endgoal is to spread a martial art system's popularity so that, eventually you can capitalize on it... that's a McDojo franchise in the works. Now, if the endgoal is to teach a martial art system for the betterment of oneself, others, or the system itself... that's not a McDojo. As to how one can tell the difference between a McDojo and a MA School... it is relatively obvious to a seasoned practitioner. Unfortunately, it is not relatively obvious to most everyone else. In the end, my best recommendations are... 1. don't waste time with credentials (many people have legitimate credentials, but unfortunately, many more have Photoshop on their computers and can print out a bunch of bogus ones from 'non-existent' or schools or deceased masters). 2. instead, watch a few classes at different schools (just be courteous and take a seat. If they ask you, tell them the truth... you're watching how he teaches. Good instructors will appreciate your caution). 3. Don't go to just one school... go to many (10 or more). Shop around and after sitting in the classes just watching, if you feel 'connected' to the people... you might be in the right school. But, just in case, choose three schools. Narrow the 10+ schools down to three potentials...Then, in order to determine what the endgoals of those three are: 1. find out what their courses cost (prices do vary, depending on the amount of times classes are offered and the quality of instruction... but too much... is too much), 2. whether they charge for every belt (some good schools do, but i avoid them nonetheless. If I enter a school and they require me to pay for every belt test or advancement, I will stay a white belt. Why? Because i don't need to pay someone to know whether i've 'mastered' the basics, just as i don't need an A+ certification to know whether i can fix a computer. To me, it cheapens the gift of affirmation), 3. whether they charge for every belt test and 'especially' whether they charge for every belt test, regardless of whether you pass or fail (many more sleazier schools let you fail a few times before you pass, so you end up paying two to three times the amount just to get a pat on the back and a different colored belt to wear around your waist 4 hours a week), 4. whether they make any verbal or written guarantees (no school should offer guarantees, as you are the only who can make guarantees to yourself when it comes to the study of martial arts. Steer clear of any schools offering guarantees on obtaining a belt within a set period of time. You are ready when you are ready, no sooner), 5. who your instructors are going to be (you might have watched the class only when the head instructor was there, while he was teaching the top students. You may end up being taught by some snot-nosed kid that can't hit a paper bag... so knowing is critical), 6. if they have short contracts or no contracts (most instructors want you to make some degree of commitment, maybe 3 or 6 months. This is understandable, as they really don't want to waste time teaching someone just enough to get themselves killed. However, i tend to steer clear of those 'requiring' a contract signing of one year or more. If you are unable to commit to a long period of time, and the instructor is not willing to work with you on this, don't bother), 7. warm-ups... check to see if they do warm-ups. This probably the biggest giveaway to a bad school (not necessarily a McDojo). If they don't warm-up for at 'least' 5 minutes, they aren't worth getting hurt over. 8. check out their equipment and whether they are insured (you may be required to sign a contract agreeing with them that they are not responsible if you break your neck... but this is actually only a formality that helps 'decrease' lawsuits. If you were injured due to instructor negligence or faulty equipment, the school is responsible... regardless of what you signed upon joining. If their equipment is in poor shape and/or the school is not insured, don't even think of joining. They obviously aren't thinking about your health or safety), 9. free is not always good. Completely disconnected from the McDojo discussions... but... it's an important thing to know. Sometimes people want to 'use' you as a guinea pig for their half-baked skills, so they 'supposedly' teach you for free. However, in short order you find yourself being slammed around or your legs being popped off and put back on. Free instruction means no commitments... and no insurance, so get to know someone before you agree to work out with them. From there, you should be able to make a 'reasonably safe' assessment and choose the best out of the three you've chosen. There are many other things to watch out for, of course... but these should be sufficient to help you make the choice for you.

I trained formally for but a short time (kendo and European fencing), then studied on my own for some years, then trained again with the big boys. There are, surprisingly, a lot of similarities with Japanese sword use and European fencing. However, applications based on weapons' design create quite different study paths.

Hehe, i've been the victim of 13 car accidents (9 of which were drunk drivers, 4 'supposedly' sober... none my fault), including a motorbike accident where i was struck from behind and dragged forty feet before being run over (ankles used to have tire tracks embedded in them). Imagine my pains...

This statement tends to discredit your earlier comments posed as an apology... but i'm not interested in pushing this. Harley, the nature of the internet doesn't allow us the privilege of getting to know someone. What i meant by stranger, is that you made but two posts. One to request assistance, and the other to chastise us for not providing the assistance you requested within 43 hours. That being said... it sounds like you've had a very rough time of things in life. I have not met you, nor you I, so what you say must be taken at face value, especially since it costs me nothing to do so. I am not able to assist you with your requests for PKA information until sometime after this weekend, as i am at home with my pathetic 'modem' connection at the moment, getting ready to spend the rest of the weekend in L.A. and won't be returning to my office until Monday or Tuesday, where i have a far better connection. If you could send me a PM on one of those two days, i'll see what i can dig up, as i'm a pretty good internet researcher when inclined. In the meantime you could try https://www.google.com or https://www.aj.com . Chat later and take care

Why isn't "hands dipped in molten lead" included?

A more apt question would be... why would you need to?

Yes, i learned to juggle when i was working a job that required me to do a multitude of things every day. You can't do things simultaneously and juggling helps you to realize that. It also does build up new nueron paths* in your brain that help you to handle dealing with multitasking. Multitasking is an interesting word. When you hear that, you automatically think of someone doing a multitude of things at the same time, but that's not what it means. Multitasking means to be able to compartmentalize the various tasks you are doing, and being able to switch easily from one task and back to the other without missing a step. This is what you experience when you are juggling. And on that note... * A recent study demonstrated that the brain actually creates new nueron paths to deal with new challenges, assuming those challenges are experienced often. This is especially relevant information for wannabe martial artists that think practice is just a waste of time. Proof now exists that clearly indicate... practice allows the brain an opportunity to create shortcuts, so your overall performance increases and your techniques or applications become more effective. Yay! We're not wasting our time after all. Whether it is physical or mental, we are indeed expanding our minds. hehe...

hehe, now you piqued my interest. The only thing i ever learned from yoga was the breathing techniques.

Everyone has their own reasons for not responding to a thread. In my case, i wasn't in the mood to do research for some total stranger that walks in and expects everyone to jump to his requests. Seriously, i didn't realize i was a waiter. Nothing personal.