three60roundhouse

I agree with LeaF - I also love school and can't wait for college (call me a geek, I dare you ). I am going into my sophomore year in high school. I'd like to major in English when I graduate, and then perhaps go on to law school.

I have always been ablt to kick over my head - even when I was only a white belt in TKD. Now I can kick a good 6 inches over my head on a side kick - about a foot over on a round kick. I find it isn't very powerful up there, though. i like hitting rib level with the instep, which seems to generate the most power for me. Even though i can do these extremely high kicks I'm no where near a split, and I stretch a lot! Why is this?

It also might have to do with the initials....the initials of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are much better than "Brazilian Judo!"

BJJ is more of a direct descendant of Judo, why it is called Jiu-Jitsu is still in debate. Some think Maeda told Carlos he was teaching him Jujutsu because he was fighting in fights Kano wouldn't have wanted Maeda to fight in. Maybe Maeda thought he would get all the credit for this new "Jujutsu". If you watch a competition match in BJJ, it starts out like Judo, going for a throw or takedown (with the gi it closely resembles a judo match) and continues on the ground. It is pronbably its own style only because of EXTENSIVE use of the "guard" position where the opponent is behind your legs.

Take a deep breath dude, if getting banned on a forum is enough to get you enraged, you need a cup of tea or something.

Jiu-Jitsu is usually the Brazilian Spelling. In Japanese JuJutsu or Jujitsu, there is less "live sparring" or "randori" because some of the techniques cannot be practiced in a controled setting. (They are too dangerous). There are more standing joint locks. BJJ, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, is sometimes called Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, or GJJ. The Gracies "developed" their style from a judo expert who taught the oldest Gracie boy Carlos (the judo dude's name was Maeda, and he was a representative of Kano). The most famous of the brothers is probably Helio, the smallest and frailest, who was defeated by Judo great Kimura in 13 minutes in a vale tudo match in Brazil. There is dispute over who was more influential in BJJ, Helio or Carlos, but it isn't disputed that the deceased brother Rolls, though not the best fighter, was the greatest teacher. Earning a black belt from Rolls was similar to climbing Mount Everest in a storm, with no oxygen - very difficult and a bragging right. Here is a site with a brief history. Many more can be found, and this site (https://www.bjj.org) also contains interviews with members of the Gracie clan and other Jiu-Jitsu teachershttp://bjj.org/rma-faq.html

People think that BJJ, for some reason, is immune to "McDojo"'s but I think if you looked in the dictionary under "McDojo" it would say, "Rorion Gracie" Though he is responsible for making the art popular in America, he is now responsible for making it infamous for badmouthing.

IMHO, certain Gracies are the ones who flame each other and other arts. Carlos's side is the cocky, brash side, Rorion is the mastermind businessman who probably wouldn't trash other arts. Helio, I think, is a fairly humble man. Carley is notorious for changing the story of BJJ and how it evolved from traditional MA's.

Yay! Congrats! What color is your new belt?

In my backside? No, I was too busy choking him out. As for you, I can't wait until you have the chance to roll with a competant female grappler, get your butt whooped, then come back to the forum and admit that you simply aren't funny at all.

[color=indigo]Kensai, BJJ, in my humble opinion, is also by every means an "art" in the sense that it becomes a lifestyle at one point. No, we don't try to master our Ki and become very calm and collected like internal artists, we aren't all that overt about our training, but BJJ is a HUGE part of my life! Every time I go to greab a cookie, I think, "Will that affect how I roll tonight?". In boring classes I imagine a match, where I'm sparring and trying to pull moves. I sometimes use a piece of paper to doodle ideas for transitions from move to move. The "art" aspect is by no means obvious, but if you look hard enough, you can find it. I think almost any sport can be considered an "art" in that there are many ways of going about it and it becomes sort of a lifestyle! [/color]

[color=indigo]I am going to start a Kensai spin-off thread (I'm not too creative) and ask what you think of BJJ as an art, as a sport, and as a self-defense method. Thanks for the idea, Kensai, sorry to steal some of the light of your thread...it was super-informative and I hope others can help me learn more about BJJ and that I can help others get a very basic and primitive understanding of Jiu-Jitsu! Tell me what you think, guys![/color]

[color=indigo] I have never heard of this "competition". I can play this song on the "real guitar", but I don't think I'm talented anough to flail wildly around the stage! This was pretty cool to watch, though. [/color]

[color=indigo] People that think like this make grappling very awkward [/color]

[color=indigo]Jack, I train in two classes a week. One of the main people teaching the BJJ classes is my TKD instructor, I have been training with him for a long time - almost as long as the school has been there! Since I've been teaching there, I have the reputation of always dropping in to help out even if it isn't one of my days or being available to help out if someone is sick. My instructor just said that I didn't have to pay, that it was on him because of my work - which was supposed to be totally volunteer because I was sort of an "apprentice". Now I'm going to start getting paid, but I still roll for free! It is good to be able to train at the same school, I can always ask my instructor for help on something.[/color]

[color=indigo]Wow Jack, 4th Kyu, you acheived that very quickly! It took me about three years to get my GREEN belt, which is what 4th kyu is in our system! Does everyone take that long at your dojang? I would love to study tai chi because I hear it is great for improving strength! I am also starting of informally training in Thai boxing a bit, just to dabble and learn different ways of kicking! Jack, don't let your parents get you down. You have no idea how much my parents opposed the idea of grappling in any shape or form, and my mom makes a face whenever i mention "no gi", "in the guard" "grappling with...(some guy)". My instructor was very understanding, I train in BJJ for free! As far as TKD, once I get my black belt (In a year and a half the soonest) my parents will stop paying, but I just got a job so I am going to be ok! You'll work it out![/color]

[color=indigo]Haha, Jack, I'm going to send Monkeygirl to get you! And stuff you and hold a ritual during which she and her friends take turns beating the crap out of you! I promise to make her sew you up when you lose an eye or a patch of skin! [/color]

[color=indigo]Name calling is the ultimate way to make you look like you have no good point to add to the argument! Keep it friendly! I agree with G95, it's no-win situation as far as PR is concerned, but I think it would be morally better if we tried to coerce them into democracy, or at least offered them a little more financial aid. Or else we will have Taliban II. [/color]

[color=indigo]I'm glad you had a good time, karatekid! Although I have never left the dojang for a really long time, whenever I go on vacation for a week or two it feels good to know that I haven't forgotten everything! It must have been cool to see your old freinds. What kind of "jumping kicks" were you referring to? In my TKD class we do a lot of jumping kicks![/color]

[color=indigo]I found that a bit offensive, diamondick. Are you implying that female athletes have a certain sexual orientation. I think i am going to call one of their linebackers to come show you how their work is done .[/color]

[color=indigo]KickChick definitely "knows" too much ! Ok, now I don't feel so bad about that chocolate bar I ate the other day![/color]

[color=indigo]I never really think about it too much - that way I won't feel bad every time I post something really stupid![/color]

[color=#444444] [/color] [color=indigo]There's a lot more than that with which to disagree. Don't get me started.[/color] [color=#444444] [/color] [color=indigo] It's hard to do it from the table to the couch, believe me I've tried (and failed ) I think God is a little fickle. I mean, in the Old Testament we have total chaos, we have God encouraging extra-marital relations and everyone fighting everyone and people sacrificing their children and killing lions in their dreams, but then in the New Testament we are supposed to believe that God has always wanted us to be kind and gentle beings, turning the other cheek, being faithful and commiting no sin. What is the definition of sin?[/color]

[color=indigo]LeaF, what exactly is a burpee It has a cool name, whatever it is! [/color]

[color=indigo]Peanut butter....I know small quantities aren't that bad, but when it is one of your main sources of energy like it is for me..... Chocolate pudding, ice cream (especially mint chocolate chip), dark chocolate....**whimpers** you've made me hungry now! [/color]