Hudson

Would I spend 1000 on a black belt? Not the belt alone, but yeah.. I'm spending thousands over the term of my training just to get there because of monthly fees.

I heard that Wing Chun was started by a Woman who took Pak Mei and needed (no offense here to both practicioners and women) a system that was more suited to a woman.

Eh, we did more of what MenteReligieuse said in Hapkido. As for my current Kung Fu, I haven't done that yet.

As long as you're not taking any trips to Japan soon. From what I hear a tattoo in the wrong place will identify you with the Yakuzas. Depending on your style, I think the Okinawa symbol would look good anywhere.

Hehe, walking in snow barefoot is much better the second time you around.

I was looking for more of discussion then I was a list. Strange how many people critcize the Hagakure for its "focus on death". I think that the readers were focused on death, not the book itself. Certain passages from the book certainly deal with death, and there is an overlying theme but it's nothing macabre, rather accepting. And the anecdotes are more then intriguing. Qoute: "When the priest Daiyu from Sanshu was making a sick call at a certain place, he was told, "The man has just now died." Daiyu said, "Such a thing shouldn't have happened at this time. Didn't this occur from insufficient treatment? What a shame!'' Now the doctor happened to be there at that time and heard what was said from the other side of the shoji. He got extraordinarily angry and came out and said, "I heard Your Reverence say that the man died from insufficient treatment. Since I am a rather bungling doctor, this is probably true. I have heard that a priest embodies the power of the Buddhist Law. Let me see you bring this dead man back to life, for without such evidence Buddhism is worthless." Daiyu was put out by this, but he felt that it would be un- pardonable for a priest to put a blemish on Buddhism, so he said, "I will indeed show you how to bring his life back by prayer. Fleas' wait a moment. I must go prepare myself," and returned to the temple. Soon he came back and sat in meditation next to the corpse. Pretty soon the dead man began to breathe and then completely revived. It is said that he lived on for another half a year. As this was something told directly to the priest Tannen, there is nothing mistaken about it. When telling of the way he prayed, Daiyu said, "This is something not practiced in our sect, so I didn't know of any way of prayer. I simply set my heart for the sake of the Buddhist Law, returned to the temple, sharpened a short sword that had been given as an offering to the temple, and put it in my robe. Then I faced the dead man and prayed, 'If the strength of the Buddhist Law exists, come back to life immediately. ' Since I was thus committed , if he hadn't come back to life, I was resolved to the point of cutting open my stomach and dying embracing the corpse." " Now, yes, there is plenty of death in that one anecdote, and it cannot be taken literally. I think that it is an example to live by. Dont MA's always say that they must train a bag like they're in a fight to the death?

Funny, a Fat Donkey giving nutritional advice You could eat Thai style, or you could eat anything good. Just remember: Carbs in the morning, Protein at night. Drink lots of water. Watch out for trans. fats and things of that nature.

I think it would be nice to have a thread dedicated to book discussion and philosophy discussion. That way you can keep the other threads clear of thought tangents. Now, recently I've been compiling a collection of must-reads for all Martial-Artists. So no books like "Deadly Ninja Mind Control" or specifics like that, but books that relate to everything. I believe my favorite book is NOT the Book of Five Rings, or the Art of War, but rather the Hagakure. I think that the way it deals with a code of morality and honor in many of its pages is something missing from today. So, now to change directions again and make this post even more poorly written, a question to anyone who has read the Hagakure: What did you think of the book? Anything you'd like to point out? Any stories that relate to it? Any thoughts that come to you on living a certain way? Any thoughts on anything at all?

Well, I can't apply any of my TKD skills to my Kung Fu. I say this because I was tought sloppily in TKD and my new instructor is much better and much more personal in the training. I do, however, think that much of my Kung Fu would be useful if I were taking TKD.

Well, why wouldn't you be? Are you looking for excuses to be fat? In reality, I think a trim MA is a better MA. Does it mean you HAVE to be trim and strong to teach? No, but I think you'd command more respect that way.

Well, that all depends really. I mean, theres a way you should eat in general, not just in martial arts. If you're supplementing martial arts into your life and your not obese then eat how you like, but if you live as a martial artist you certainly should eat correctly. That means waking up and eating something other then coffee and donuts. Remember, you are what you eat.

Kung Fu is hard. Kung Fu, depending on the style, is one of the hardest martial arts to learn completely and master, because it's very technique heavy and complex when you're learning it. I took me 4 months to get the basics founded in my system, and its really just punches, kicks, and strikes. The best thing you can really do for yourself to prepare for martial arts is train physically. Make yourself strong and tough.

Dirt cheap.. I wonder about the instruction. I pay around 100/per month US Dollars. However my school is open 6 days a week with up to 11 hours of that being classes. Also, it is rather large and has a downstairs with multiple bags, weights, dummys, wooden dummies, stretching machines, rice buckets; etc. It is well worth it and the instruction is good.

This is not a personal experience but my friend said one time in his Judo (At least I think he said Judo) class they all got into a horse stance, and the teacher told them to go lower, and as he proceded to do so he broke wind and concentration of the class

Alright, here's my current schedule, with variation for working. Monday: Early Morning, Running Afternoon, Bagwork, followed by MA. Possible swimming. Tuesday: Early Morning, Running. Afternoon, Bagwork, followed by MA. Weight training. Wednesday copies Monday. Thursday copies Tuesday. Friday: Running in the morning, Cycling in the afternoon. Saturday: Running, home practice, which looks like: Meditation, Stretch, Bodyweight exercises, Shadow-Boxing, Jumping rope, Bagwork, Kata practice, Cool-Down, Meditation. Possible swimming on Saturday. Sunday clones Saturday. Running works in a pyramid, Mon: 2 miles, Tue: 3 miles, Wed: 4 miles, Thur: 5 miles, Fri: 5 miles, Sat: 4 miles, Sun: 3 miles. Also my personal rule is 50 pushups everytime I leave the house and 50 crunches when I come back in.

No, in fact, I believe that a lot of martial arts are intended for those who aren't fit and need a form of defense. Now, will being complete fit help you teach? If my Sifu couldn't do the pushups with the class like he does, I might come to the conclusion that physical fitness isn't important. Will it help you practice? Yes, in some ways more than others. For example, practicing kata, forms, sequences, whatever you want to call them, you do not need a lot of fitness. For fighting in tournaments, you need great fitness. The true question is: Is there a reason not to be complete fit?

Wrestlers bridge (Google search it), Shrugs, and Neck Crunches.

Yeah... and get some pointy teeth too. And make your eyebrows like this ---> Intimidation comes from confidence. For example, showing up in a shirt that says "Numero Uno" will help with that.

LOL at the Wet Gi Contest idea

Depends on the TKD style.... theres so many of them.

I have no clue where you are. Any way, the most extreme thing I ever did for the MAs? Unfortunately its not as extreme as the other guy but I do meditate in the woods behind my house for long periods of time as well, up to 8 hours.

I think it'd probably be one of those Buddhist koan type things you have to figure out for yourself to reach enlightenment, I don't know for sure. Now, maybe you Shotokan people can help me out. Wasn't Funakoshi's Second Master Itosu a rather large bellied man but was undeniably powerful?

High, flashy kicks can be used without much fear, but really, only if your some kind of showboat with experience to fight with the high kicks. The best fighting you can do with your shoes is walking away. Edit: To the person who trains in "Shaolin shoes"... you mean the Feiyues?

This should probably be in the Health and Fitness section.

Unfortunately, I don't have a link, it's Pai Lum Tao, (Yes, I asked for information on it but I was looking for comparisons before) and my instructor is certainly certified, you can find him and his teachers in the Pai Lum lineage, dating back to the Great Grandmaster Daniel Kane Pai. It's a very complete art and I would suggest looking into it. And I call it dragon because it is supposedly "The way of the White Dragon".