MenteReligieuse

oh im sure he knows how to fight, just not with karate

Pfffff you live in germany and you like budweiser? Hope you mean thats what you drink for water... and LOL means Lots Of Laughs or Laughing Out Loud.

For the heck of it, here is what I currently do at my gym (changes about every 2 months) : (note : english not being my natural language, I might not know all the technical terms) -1 Leg at a time squats : With a machine, You lay on ur back and push upwards at a 70degree angle, more or less. (quads and butt) - Leg flexions (dunno how to translate "ischo-jambier" ..basically the muscle opposite to ur quads) - Bench press immediately followed by 10 clap pushups. No pause between these 2 exercises. (pecs and arms) - "Wide grip pull down" : for upper back muscles, followed by 10 reversed push-ups. - Military press (shoulders and deltoides) - Biceps/triceps flexions with a machine, no pauses between each exercises. - Abs : Iron belt - Stretching Each exercise are done in 3 sets of 10 repetitions. I need to add more cardio work-out in there, Ill get myself a nice jumping rope. ps : This training is just to complement what I do in the kwan. My aim is to stay in shape, not necessarily get real buff.

didnt do it at my kwan but was at work doing some forarm strikes on stuff...then a fellow co-worker asked me if you could ever have forarms as hard as iron...so I gave 3 strikes in a row as hard as I can on a wall corner...that shut him up.... I just didn't let him know that I had a pretty big bruise on my forearm afterwards and some mild pain for a couple of days

He is the current Grand Master of 9 schools of ninjitsu in japan. So yes.

[Here!] Ok, lets change the question : I am looking for books that discusses Buddhism. From introductory titles to works that go in depth. Titles that discuss both MA and Buddhism together would also be interesting. Any one has read something like this? thanks in advance

I prefer not taking shots.

Bleh, seen some spar on tv and stuff. They do demonstration shows and all, and I doubt they do it for free (like any organization, shaolin needs money to survive).

Dunno if this will bring anything to the topic, But I'm an avid reader and I read the whole Dune series (yes, the new ones too). In the Dune universe there is a planet reknown for the quality of their mercinaries, Ginaz. One of the ginaz trainers was hugely overweight, yet moved with speed and grace of a cat. It is often hinted that he keeps his condition that way to fool the ennemy. .... cool huh?

Like I said, didn't really think it was true. But I'd give alot of money to be able to see a shalin monk tornado kick a charging mounted warrior off of his steed...

Very true. For me, a martial art is not just techniques but must incorporate a whole training (fitness) method to get the techniques you learn more effective. Someone out of condition will naturaly be more slow and sluggish. But you have to take into account the age factor and metabolism. As someone gets older, they naturally get, err...think jell-o! They can still work to get fit, but it demands much more care and I think it is just too risky for older ppl to do hard training without professonal help. And metabolism, I know a guy since elementary who always used to be fat, we haden't seen each other for quite some time now and suddenly saw him again at my kwan when I started. He was already advanced at the kwan and is still a bit fat, but way more muscular and can do things that even I, who have a light build (5'10", 150lbs) have a hard time doing (like some acrobatic tricks and stuff). Some ppl just tend to be fat while others, don't. Now it is not impossible for old or fat ppl to get slim and fit. But with the realities of our world (work, studies, family, etc) it is not always possible. The important thing is to be well and proud of our body!

would of been nice to see him go full speed. But I guess these are instructive videos.

My kwan also teaches other MAs like Kempo Karate. What I have been told is that this karate is insipired by chinese MA. What are your feelings on this art? As good as okinawan styles? What is the difference between chinese kempo and amercian kempo (Ed Parker?).

Everywhere I go I see ppl worshipping muay thai (MT)...it's a sport (depending where you train, lots of strikes are banned). It's like boxing with kicks! (or kickboxing). They do have nice stuff, like their round house and all, but I do not see how it can be more effective than something which is not sport oriented. Now I know MT used to be tought to thai warriors in "ancient" times. And it also has the traditional double swords. But unless you can find a traditional muay thai gym, and you really wanna learn something for self-defense, I wouldn't go for MT.

Southern styles rarely have much developped kicks (read : fancy kicks) compared to northern styles. The reason I heard (not saying it was true, but is interesting none the less) was because in the south there was alot of rivers and rice cultures (rice is cultivated in water) so they fought concentrating on their upper body, legs being submerged. While in the north, there were periods where they were in war with the huns (mounted warriors) and they developped those high kicks to unmount them. Pretty cool.

Hmm..I learned it the other way around...lead hand lower at stomach/chest, blocks whatever comes in, back hand at chin level...blocks whatever passed my lead hand. If I need to block low with my back hand, lead hand then goes up to chin level.

Arf...its pretty hard..has to do with paper, a rope and a table...hehe read it in Bruce Lee's "Tao of gung-fu", but can't describe it precisely at the top of my head. Trains reflexe/coordination and strenght.

basics also incorporates philosophy and knowledge which is not accessible to a 10yr old...

TMA = Traditonal Martial Art (e.g.: shaolin kung-fu) MMA = Mixed Martial Art (e.g.: ...hybrid stuff...) Difference is in TMAs greater care is givin into keeping things traditional with the ancient ways. Whille MMA focus more on today's situations and training techniques. TMA are harder to learn perhaps, but have more depth in the long run, while MMAs will be easier to start in and apply. BJJ = Brazilian Jujitsu : Has nothing to do with jujitsu really...it is elaborate ground fighting techniques (locks, some throws) Maybe Jujitsu (standup and groundfighting + muchmore) would be more appropriate than brazilian jujitsu. edit : I actually thought MMA meant modern martial art...

dunno if i'd go for Muhay thai...unless you find a real good school, else it will be very sport oriented (which isn't bad) so will be far from your job's reality (which is bad). I fingur you'd want something that lets you train realisticaly in close combats (like very close). Like BJJ or Krav Maga (as previously said), something with alot of locks and pressure point applications. And something that you can start using ASAP (like MMAs....TMAs are very good but are harder to grasp at first)

err me? As in, I just found out of it's existence...

oh my...sorry

Northern, shaolin.

Just discovered the kobutan (a pocketstick), looks to me like one of the best self-defense weapons one can carry in western countries. Legal, good for locks and strikes, can be fatal if you need it to be, as it can only be used to cause different degree of pains with pressure points...sweet deal.

yeah, we pronounce it shifu (shimu for his wife, sheyung for the student instructers) but I always wrote it SIFU ... bleh