stoneheart

Where do you study, rbittner? I used to live in Austin myself. I just received my Kamikaze America a week ago and have worn it twice already. It's a little stiff until you have washed and (I know it's heresy) dried it a few times. The cut is a generous one, though, and the $95 street price is a good one for a quality uniform. The America is definitely better than my ProForce 14 oz or my Wacoku 14 oz. The increased attention to detail is apparent. I think next time I get the urge to buy a new uniform, however, I might pick up the Kamikaze Monarch since it is brushed cotton and might be more comfortable from the start. I've not tried the Juka Emerald, but it is apparently a lighter weight gi than the America. Honestly, the heavyweights are not hot once you get used to them. Once you work up a sweat you are fine, and the heavy cloth is much better for soaking up perspiration.

I thought Juka was essentially Kamikaze copies sold a little cheaper?

Just trying to get an idea of the fit before I plunk down some dollars for a Kamikaze America or Monarch: I'm 5'10'' tall and I weigh about 215 lbs. A size 5.5 Pro Force heavyweight fits great as does a size 6 Wacoku. I'm interested in trying Kamikaze and perhaps even a Tokaido. The Kamikaze size chart suggests I should buy a 6.5 or maybe even a 7, since I weigh a bit more than I should! Can anyone who has actually worn a Kamikaze tell me if they run large or small? Thanks.

Just about any heavyweight gi will be better than the typical 'starter' gi. I find heavyweights absorb sweat better so the cloth does not cling to you, so you actually stay cooler despite the thicker fabric. The 14 oz Wacoku made in Taiwan has a street price of about $65 US and is a decent performer. At that price, you can buy two for your gi rotation and still come out ahead versus a premium Japanese brand like Tokaido or Hirota. I don't think the Kamikaze line is made in the US, although I have heard good things about their performance.

The Shaolin Kempo of Fred Villari is essentially kajukenbo up until the 2nd dan level. Villari was a student of Nick Cerio( who was a student of George Pesare?). I have the DVDs of Shaolin Kempo seen advertised in Black Belt magazine... It's not my cup of tea, although I wouldn't say that some could not get something out of the system and even enjoy it.

Yes. Not too frequently, perhaps once a month, at my dojo.

Papa- Sounds like we have similar builds. I suggest buying a size 5 Kwon Advance uniform. It costs around $35 and it is good quality for an 8 oz 100% cotton uniform. I have a pair that I wear during the summer and early fall/late spring seasons when it is warm, and they perform well for such an inexpensive option.

The above comments are true in my experience. I would add that if you are already at instructor level (skill not rank) in one martial art, learning new material from a book or video becomes much more feasible. You cannot expect to become a master in another style learning this way, but you can certainly pick up new techniques and new perspectives that you can add to your existing knowledge base to become more well-rounded as a martial artist.

If it gets dirty or smelly, wash it. Just common sense. As has been mentioned numerous times, neither the Okinawans nor the Japanese tolerate uncleanliness in their dojos. If we want to imitate their customs, let's start with the ones that are forthright and logical. Soap is a good thing, folks.

This is an old thread, but I recently saw the survey VCD of sun bin quan. The style is by far the most awkward one I've seen, and I can't imagine the 'roadrunner' scurries being an effective way to move at all. The elderly man performing was both stiff and ungainly... I'd stay away. Is this even a real style practiced by martial artists in China or is it one of those curiosities meant for tourists?

Probably any style that stresses in-close combat and has a ready supply of straight-line strikes. Hmm, wing chun sounds like it fits the bill. If you want a non-Chinese style, go with Okinawan Goju-Ryu karate.

Kajukenbo has considerable variation between all of its subsystems. In general, the chuan-fa branch is supposed to be more like kung fu than the Original Method, which frequently resembles hard style karate (see the blocking system and the forms, if you need evidence). In actual practice, I don't know how meaningful an expression "more like kung fu" is. There is clearly some grafting of wing chun concepts like gate and centerline theory onto chuan'fa kajukenbo, but students of this MA rarely have that smooth blending of technique that is the hallmark of chinese martial arts. It's hard to discuss such a general topic... It's not like chuan'fa kajukenbo is a strongly standardized art.

What are some of the claims he makes that may be controversial? I'm considering buying his White Crane video series.

As in title. I just got a DVD demonstrating the First form of Mizong Quan, and it looks fun. It would be nice to know what name is... I gather it is a Shaolin subsystem.

I was a blue belt (3rd gup) in ITF tae kwon do way back in high school...I'm now in my early thirties and fighting the battle of the bulge. I remember enjoying martial arts and I think they would be a great way of getting some much needed excercise. Can anyone suggest a number of useful books and videos for motivated self-study? I'm afraid with my career attending regular classes at a dojo would be very difficult to accomplish. I'm style-agnostic. Obviously, something easier to understand is probably called for. I know if I really want to understand the material, I'll have to seek out instruction from a good teacher, but isn't there something I can do in the meantime?