GhostlySykanRyu

My breakfast tends to be larger than my supper...why would I make the more important meal smaller?

"i never said that my stick training wouldnt prevent him from getting the wind knocked out of him." -Then what's the point? "this strengthens the bones only and probly kills a few nerves while your at it, if you muscles are weak then the stick training is pretty worthless." -Killing the nerves...is that really a good idea? I wouldn't recomend trying to strngthen the ribs themselves...which in theory will not work very well. Strengthening the core muscle group, controlling your brething and Ki, and learning how to defend that particular area would be much more beneficial. The ribs are meant to protect the innards, if you're breaking them down, you're leaving the innards more exposed. I have yet to see any evidence of calcium deposits on ribs (if anyone has any please send it!)...when they are broken, they bruise and heal slowly compared to other parts. If you're striking your ribs then well...that's probably about all you're doing in the process...

It can take more time than you have, especially in an unexpected situation. you're walking to your car, I blindside you. you've already been hit, now in addition to dealing with pain, sudden adrenaline rush, etc. you are trying to fight me AND clear your mind at the same time? Aye, that's kind of the point. One can clear the mind and defend simultaneously, so long that the physical movements come naturally.

I would suggest learning how to use your body effectively... I'm a knife enthusiast...but unless you're in a trench or similar situation, a knife is not a weapon, unless you want to get yourself arrested/beaten by knife enthusiasts for ruining our good name I usually carry 2-5 knives on a normal day. Utility, general purpose, rescue, heavy duty, multi tools. It's a must around the firehouse for me, and anywhere else for that matter (except for school, I only carry one there, illegally: damn the law, if someone's in trouble I have a rescue knife handy). Would I ever use one as a weapon? Hell no. Using a knife as a weapon will get you the full punishment that the law can give you. And if you do draw, be prepared to kill. A knife is just as deadly as a firearm when used in the wrong hands. Did I mention learning how to fight

How could I have forgotten Spaceballs?!?!

Meditation doesn't necessarily take a lot of time. One can clear the mind rather quickly...

Maybe because in point sparring, you don't need power? In real combat, over-telegraphing is a really bad idea, I can see how training to do it would inhibit the usefulness of the kick.

Anything with Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan is a must for me... My favorite comedy is Kung Pow:Enter The Fist. Insulting to the martial arts? Maybe, but in a light-hearted way...to me it mock's the ignorance in people's views of the MAs more than anything. We just need to learn to laugh with them and shrug it off until the time comes (when they see the effects of training). "Do not worry about the chosen one. I am going to kill him...with a rock, you know? Like a stone or something."

I take all of the adrenaline, imagine it as a ball of light in my center (as theorized in Aikido). It seems to help a bit. I meditate if there is time, and then I am relaxed, calm, and ready to do some damage.

Not in all cases, with all people. Larger muscles are not necessarily stronger, and bigger people are well just...bigger. You must take into account how the muscle was built, and what it's made up of. Different people have different densities of muscle, and that effects how it acts. Muscles also have memory cells...a large muscle with few memory cells will not be as effective in combat as a smaller muscle with more well used memory cells. I've overpowered people with much larger muscles than myself, and not with technique either (though that is always more fun).

This reminds me of something... Question: How can I become a faster kicker? Bruce Lee's reply: "Kick faster." It's basically practice, and I see myself improving with time as well.

I know it will vary from dojo to dojo, but what is used to grade students for belts. It's not that they matter to me, but I'd might as well know what to expect. I know in most arts, kata is a large part of it, but in the school I'm entering there is none. So, what will be used to grade me? I heard from a friend that sparring will be a big part of it, and since they don't limit you to Jiu-Jitsu techniques, I'll have a nice advantage.

Yes, bashing someone verbally is just as exhilerating! Well, I'll share some things with you Gilbert under one circumstance...WHAT'S YOUR BACKGROUND?

1)A group of criminals or hoodlums who band together for mutual protection and profit. 2)A group of adolescents who band together, especially a group of delinquents. 3)Informal. A group of people who associate regularly on a social basis: The whole gang from the office went to a clambake. 4)A group of laborers organized together on one job or under one foreperson: a railroad gang. A matched or coordinated set, as of tools: a gang of chisels. 5)A pack of wolves or wild dogs. 6)A herd, especially of buffalo or elk. See Synonyms at flock By the impressions I got, I'm strongly going towards one of the first two definitions. Why not the others? Well, he doesn't seem the type for clam bakes, I doubt highly that he is part of a union, and I'am assuming that he is neither canine nor bovine. And if it wasn't the violent type of gang, why would he bring it up here anyway?

Maybe he's afraid that we just won't understand his advanced wisdom? That's it! He's just protecting us...

To add a little to what WW posted, in a real situation, do not think of outcome. All you need to know: hurt him.

Its funny you mention JKD, and the jab specifically... I happen to go off hte premise of my powerhand being the rear hand, but with JKD they have the powerhand up front and the weaker hand in back so it can pick up speed and be stronger when used as a reverve punch.. -Actually, in the original outlines of JKD, Lee says it is a good idea to mix up stances to confuse the opponent and keep yourself mobile. IE switching between strong lead and off hand lead position. I'm not going to give any pointers on the dynamics of a strike, for I'm sure as one who studies Lee's way and has an instructor in it, you already have them down pat. Becoming more ambidexteritous in your striking is just a matter of practice. As a side note, the jab(along with the cross) has the potential to be the most devastating strike. It is a straight line to your target (and through your target!). A straight line is always the quickest route, and speed as you know is the main factor in power.

Hmmm...interesting to say the least. Not going to comment, that could be bad

"P.S me and my mates are basically a gang" So in other words, you and your mates are detrimental to society, unskilled in anything productive whatsoever, disrespectful to everything in existance, preying on the weak and those you outnumber, while fleeing like dogs with your tails between your legs from any possible threat? After all, that's all a gang is, a a group of those who are too incompetent to take care of themselves singularly. Unless that is, the word "gang" means something different in Australia, in that case I apologize in advance...

Bruce Lee had a really well rounded workout, the weight training regiment wasn't perfect, but it was way ahead of it's time. Both him and Chan are/were big fans of cardio. High weight and low reps will have the tendency to bulk you up more. It's not a bad thing IMO, unless you go to extremes more mass won't really slow you. Mid weight and mid reps will get you a well rounded workout, obviously. You can gain mass and endurance this way. High reps and low weight will get you more muscular endurance and stamina. Personally I implement all of the above.

Pull out the tanto. Grapplers hate knives ... Anyway, theres not a whole lot that hasn't been said here. I was pondering this today just so I could write it down, and I of course got basically the same strategies. Being well rounded basically keeps any style from overcoming you, it's the key. 80 to 90 percent on the ground? Where are these 10-20 percent where no one gets knocked down? I know what you meant, I'm just being a smart-*

I'm seeing people getting in better shape in their fifties...25 should be no problem. I would definitely seperate the cardio and the anaerobic exercises, it'll allow you to devote full time to each...you won't be winded for lifting, and you won't be sore for running, etc. The length of the workout doesn't really matter, so long that a)you're doing it safely b)you have the time to do everything right c)the workout is kicking your *. Just keep going at it and you'll improve. Good luck!

Ouch...throwing a perfect strike must be damn near impossible for you at the moment.

The best martial art to learn? No such thing, it all comes down to how much effort you want to put into your training. I'd say any is a good start...see what's in your area and price range, and go with what interests you.