thfsnc

but do you think anyone wants a roundhouse to the face when youre wearing those puppies? ....obscure Napoleon Dynamite reference....

I was a close combat instructor in the Marine Corps circa 1996-98. The things we learned and were taught were mainly battlefield techniques used as a last resort...the first thing you're taught is to use any weapon of opportunity (bayonet, rifle buttstock, stick, knife). I always felt that you were taught just enough to get your butt kicked....they instilled a feeling of invincibility into you and then gave you just a smattering of knowledge to defend it with. Now my instructor for the instructor's course was a pretty decent guy. He ran a mixed martial arts training center off base and was an all around decent fighter and instructor. He was a Master Sergeant, a ju-jitsu instructor, a boxer, and a fairly nasty guy. He tried to teach us as much extra as he could in the limited time frame of the course...I think it was a 3 week course. 3 weeks to completely master a system so that you could teach it to a group of infantry Marines. That should give you an idea of how proficient your average Marine is in close combat. The system we learned (Line - Linear Infighting/Neurological Override Engagement) focused on overriding the neurological system by causing extreme pain(usually from a broken arm and then a front kick to the face while you were bending your opponent over - maybe where the idea of the front kick being taught to the Marines comes from?) and then ending in sweeping the opponent to the ground and killing him with a heel stomp to the face. Nearly every technique was designed to severly incapacitate or kill your opponent. It was very simple and we taught it like Kata. 1...2...3...getting faster and faster. My squad worked on line about once every 2 weeks...and that was more than most...so my feeling is that your average military member is not that proficient. We didnt use any snap kicks or standing kicks or punches...everything we taught was defensive except for bayonet fighting or sentry removal with a knife. All unarmed techniques were self-defence based. We did a lot of knife fighting, both offensive and defensive and bayonet/pugil stick fighting, again offensive and defensive. I dont really know much about what system they are using now.... but just wanted to give a military perspective on your question/experience. TIM

Damn near knocked my self out while working on the heavy bag. Doing combos and threw an uppercut, slipped a little in the mud (training outside, not a dirty dojo), and smacked myself right in the upper lip/nose. fun for all.

basic katas: tac form one, side stance one, and quick form one. and breaking. tried for the first time on wednesday...one 1&5/8ths in. cement brick with a palm strike...couldnt get 2. Broke the top one on the first attempt at 2, broke the bottom one on the second attempt. I have to do 2 each hand and one head break for my next belt. and body hardening...primarily my shins. The bo staff on the shins is killing me. Any tips on how to harden them up on my own?

the style I train in is: white, yellow, blue, green, purple, purple2, brown, brown2, brown3, black-black10

My shins hurt. I recently started training in Karate after many years of working in various styles while in the service. I had taken about 3 years off from any serious pursuit of MA... I think my instructor wanted to test my heart as I am a pretty big guy. He put me through the proverbial wringer. I've been training with him for about 4 months now and every session (@ 4 per week) seems as hard as the first. I am preparing to test for my Blue Belt, for that I have to break 2 bricks with each hand and 1 with a head break...this is something entirely new to me and has my wrists aching. The bricks are winning so far...I can do one, but the technique has me baffled for two and three...its driving me nuts as one of the other guys I train with (green testing for purple) is 80lbs lighter and smashes them like its nothing. I personally love the feeling of being sore all over and of complete exhaustion... but I guess that's the little bit of a sadist in me coming out.