spinninggumby

Comparing styles and discussing the differences between the ideologies, methodology of teaching and instruction, and variations in body mechanics for various techniques, etc. is not wrong. However, that is different from just an all-out brawl over which art beats the crap out of which art. This is not the sissy way out when I say that we should probably refrain from this area of conversation (i.e. arguing over whether or not a competent muay thai, bjj, karate, tkd, wing chun, whatever guy will be able to cripple another guy of a different style on the street). IMHO You will never be able to prove that one style is superior to the other, simply because (1) statistics have not shown total domination of one art over the other (excluding muay thai vs. sport tkd, but come on here, this is sport we are talking about) and (2) the way a certain style's superiority should be measured is subject to many different opinions (is it the most practical, is it the most beneficial for those in need of cardiovascular health improvement, is it the best if you want to increase your fast-twitch muscles, is it best if you want to increase your flexibility, is it best if you want to improve your quality of breathing? etc. etc. etc.) Obviously though, most of the time these arguments gear towards the "as long as I am the last one standing" result. Ironic that so many people (NOT ALL)who advocate practical street-fighting techniques, macho-istic attitudes, and arguments insisting on the superiority of their style, are ones who support traditional martial arts (which, as far as I know for the most part, do not include the promotion of bragging or beating down the opponent as the main intent of study). It is often the sport-oriented styles (which these people are against) which seem to stress winning winning winning and competition. My humble opinion: Martial arts is supposed to be, ultimately, something that holds special between you and yourself, and the true purpose does not involve you and another adversary (obviously many people who think the contrary, but that's okay). The fact that so many of us have decided to begin the journey of uniting our physical and mental halves is excellent and refreshing in itself, don't poison or taint your devotion by boasting or displaying hostile expression that you can layeth the smackdown on anybody with your sacred and super ultimate powerful art. Some people study m/a so they can become better people and become more complete and fulfilled in many ways. Some do it because it is fun. Some do it out of pure interest. Others do it so that they can seriously fu*k someone over in any alley brawl or confrontational situation. Some do it for a combination of the above-mentioned reasons. It's that simple. _________________ Want to know if a man's ideologies are correct? See if he is happy every morning as he arises from bed. [ This Message was edited by: spinninggumby on 2002-03-13 22:07 ]

lol Golden showers reserved for golden people

LOL that's some funny sh*t. I suppose that's why my instructor keeps a shotgun in the closet just in case it is off-hours and he is alone in the office and 50 big hairy cheap-a$$-jitsu guys bust thru the front door demanding that we hand over the school sign or sumthin

I used to play Karate Champ on my Commodore 64. I never could beat that damn bonus stage where the bull comes charging at you. yea those were the days!!! hehehehe

Although unrelated to me or my school, I heard that a rival kung fu school gathered about 20 members and broke into a Choy Li Fut school in our Chinatown and attacked the members there. It was kind of like an old-fashioned type of beating. Anyways, I heard it was sickeningly hilarious. The guys were yelling and making obnoxious testerone-laden sounds that would make good footage for WWF or Jerry Springer. My friend's little cousin knew somebody who went to that school, and he said that there was around 20 assailants/attackers as opposed to only about 10 max (not all high-ranked obviously) people training at the time at the Choy Li Fut place. Anyways I can't believe that this crap still happens, it is only good for a laugh nowadays. Back then I guess it was done to show the superiority of one's kwoon or style over others, but nowadays it's all about the bling bling (i.e. McDojos, cash flow, etc.) that gives u power, not the strength of your iron palm. [ This Message was edited by: spinninggumby on 2002-03-13 11:23 ]

When I reach red belt here, I will stop posting. Red is just toooo pretty, I want it to stay that way! LOLLOL

Flexibility to martial arts is just like strength training to martial arts. It is a great supplement, but it is not everything. Flexibility is not only needed just so you can perform fancy dynamic maneuvers. It is needed also because it makes your body less susceptible to injuries, increases blood flow, and you will feel more at ease when you make general overall movements. Just like how muscleheads equate huge biceps with fighting skill, some people equate the ability to do high kicks and great flexibility with fighting skill. Same thing. One thing on fancy maneuvers though (i.e. high kicks, jumping spinning thingies, flips, etc.). I feel that there is great value in learning these ONCE one has mastered or had a solid foundation of the basics. Fancy movements are simply more dynamic versions of basic practical movements, except requiring perhaps more stamina, strength, flexibility, suppleness, and training. Obviously, there will be billions of people who will argue that it is useless practicing such a movement since it has no real practical use for combat. However, a high round kick is simply a more dynamic medium or low round kick, requiring a slight change in bodily mechanics, but just a movement that requires more energy and flexibility to perform (your body naturally expends more energy when it nears its limits of flexibility or range of motion 'ROM'). Essentially, a flying spinning hook kick is simply a more dynamic version of a spinning hook kick, which in turn is a harder version of a hook kick. When in the air, you have the added challenge of leaping and spinning, which may require more plyometric and calisthenic training as well as coordination. Same with the jumping front kick. Although much less practical in combat, the basic low front snap kick to the groin is not. All these fancy movements are simply 'much more challenging' versions of their simpler, practical counterparts. This is why I feel that practicing this stuff is beneficial because it can only increase your fitness, tolerance for strenuous physical demands, flexibility, strength, blah blah. Obviously, there is a problem nowadays b/c kids rush into the flying spinning roundhouse thingies when they don't even know how to throw a regular one yet, but I'm just saying that there is a different way to look at everything Um, I realize I kinda got off topic here, hehehehe.

The point has already been made that being a competent practitioner and being a competent teacher are two different things. But is this really true? Do you feel that somebody really is (or deserves the title of) a master or really knows his/her stuff if they are unable to relate or pass on his knowledge from a variety of different angles? It would seem to me that a true master or competent practitioner who truly understands his/her art would have no trouble teaching or providing effective guidance to his/her students. IMHO there is more to being a master in karate, kung fu, tkd, whatever art, besides engraining all the techniques into muscle memory and turning them into natural reaction or movement. What do u guys think? [ This Message was edited by: spinninggumby on 2002-03-12 19:21 ]

It's funny though cuz even though it's called 'kickboxing', a lot of kickboxing (possibly even the majority of it, with most people) is punching (hooks, jabs, uppercuts, etc.). Kickboxing almost simply means that the legs and kicking is allowed to a lot of people. Efficient and good kickers should know that their hands are that much faster and have lots of potential, and that in order to train to become a good kickboxer you need to learn how to use your hands and develop them so that they become just as efficient as a boxer's. This works vice versa. Kickboxing means good boxing plus effective kicking, not half-assed boxing mixed with good kicking, or half-assed kicking mixed with good boxing. The leg training is added hard work.

Yes, my old kung fu school has received challenges (albeit not barbaric or threatening ones, but usually just people from other schools asking if we just wanted to 'experiment'). Although carried out in a professional and friendly manner, my kwoon has always come out on top. This obviously doesn't say much though since it says a lot about the schools if they actually make an effort to go around challenging people, although one school that challenged us had a good reputation. We have had challengers from taekwondo to muay thai to wing chun. I am not longer a member of this place, just for information purposes, LOL. Once again though, I feel that if you are confident and credible that you should feel no need to prove yourself.

yo yo Yo..da, hehehe Just thought I'd say nice spiffy website(s).

Geez how many people from the Reece/Leak school in Leeds are there on this forum? hehehe Just like one big happy family _________________ Want to know if a man's ideologies are correct? See if he is happy every morning as he arises from bed. [ This Message was edited by: spinninggumby on 2002-03-12 02:44 ]

Yah Yoda, but those spinning hook kicks are kinda tough aren't they? hehehehehehe But hey u know that if you can do them there, you can do them anywhere anytime anyplace.

Yea I would hafta agree with u, JKD kid. Takes many years of intense training and the sacrifice of much blood and tears to build up the muscle memory for an itchy trigger finger The practitioners of such modern arts have formed an even more controversial coalition than the politics-laden WTF. Fear the NRA!!!! :lol:

Chh: Funny funny!! I love Dave Barry, he is a hilarious individual.

If I were to be held back at one level forever, it would be at the red belt level. Know why?? Cuz red is my favorite color P.S. I envy all you lucky *******s w/ red gi's or doboks. Black or white just doesn't do it for me [ This Message was edited by: jamesdasher on 2002-03-19 15:15 ]

Sometimes belts aren't even good enough for that :lol:

Canadians don't live in igloos??? OMG, I'm a fool Anyways here are some I can think of...(obviously some of these aren't exclusive to us but we sure are known for it) Only as Americans do we - Use yards and gallons instead of litres and metres. Take up 7% of the world's population and use 50% of the world's resources (that's some f'ed up sh*t) Think that Bruce Lee was the ultimate martial arts bad a$$ Get married early in a society where half or over half of all first-time marriages end in divorce. Think that our citizenship comes with a free lunch anywhere and everywhere. Pay Canadians like Jim Carrey $20 million to make faces for an hour and a half while we pay jackdoodoobeans to people who are committed to protecting our streets. Let people make mucho money even from a jail cell b/c they can write books. Let people sue others for just about anything. Place ultimate worship and admiration towards thinness yet still be one of (if not the number one) fattest nations in the world (maybe that's why). Breed a whole new generation of cutthroat telemarketers and insurance adjusters. Let people screw up over and over in life and still allow them second chances to go back to school to develop a new and promising career. Think that fortune cookies were invented in China. ok ok so I notice that these are all not meant to be funny but they are just things I noticed, hehehe. Btw on the subject of overpopulation here. What overpopulation?? I don't get it. You drive out into the middle of Nevada or Montana or Iowa and there is nothing there, nobody. Set up camp in the midwest and you will never go hungry with all those corn fields. Maybe we just need to spread out a bit :razz:

I think you cut and pasted this article a while back on this forum. Maybe you forgot or just decided to repost just in case many did not get to read it? Anyways it's an interesting read. Didn't know that he is, can we say, somewhat disfavored in the eyes of Taiwan, hehehe

Just martial arts in general (for info and links) or do you have a specific style or niche in mind?

On the topic of Tai Chi (or Taiji), it is a common misconception that it is a great art for 'old people' or people who have retired from some art that is known to be more strenuous (i.e. perhaps Muay Thai, boxing, etc.). Taiji is an art that takes a long long long time to master and the benefits are not as apparent or superficial as most other arts, but perhaps they are more worthwhile depending on personal opinion. Just as with any other art, the younger you start taiji the better (simply because you have more time left in life to continue to learn, refine, and perfect what you have taken in).

Hi and welcome

Joe Cooke 007: Of course! Why do you think I wanna live there? um.....kidding [ This Message was edited by: spinninggumby on 2002-03-10 16:43 ]

Errr, actually I just realized that you are not in Miami. I just saw you type 'Miami river' and assumed too much. You are from Ohio hehehe. Boy do I feel sheepish and stupid But nevertheless, I still love Miami.

I love Miami! I wanna move there someday when I grow up, er, get older, hehehehe