Logan

I'm glad that is not the case. I just wanted to play devil's advocate. I have seen that a lot though, and it is a shame when it happens. Good luck with the test. Let us know how it turns out!

Whew!

I understand that completely. However, "our" is completely different than "people like him" naturally, it's seen as an attack. Granted. Bad choice of words. you hlaf- read the thread. I quoted above what that was in reply to. If you notice, I NEVER mentioned how much I made. I may only make 3.00 an.. D**n! [And, IMO only a fool would think that the things described here would help you MORE than training in a direct manner. So yeah, we agree to disagree. I do completely agree that something can be learned from everything, but the something in this case is not as direct. If all you consider is the physical aspect you are probably right. I am more of a spiritualist MA. So, I would get more out of it than you. You would get more out of a gym. That's all I have been trying to say all along. You cannot see the infinite potential that I can. Before you misconstrue that, I am not saying that because you cannot see it makes you any less of an MA. Just different.

I understand that completely. However, "our" is completely different than "people like him" naturally, it's seen as an attack. Granted. Bad choice of words. you hlaf- read the thread. I quoted above what that was in reply to. If you notice, I NEVER mentioned how much I made. I may only make 3.00 an.. D**n! [And, IMO only a fool would think that the things described here would help you MORE than training in a direct manner. So yeah, we agree to disagree. I do completely agree that something can be learned from everything, but the something in this case is not as direct. If all you consider is the physical aspect you are probably right. I am more of a spiritualist MA. So, I would get more out of it than you. You would get more out of a gym. That's all I have been trying to say all along. You cannot see the infinite potential that I can. Before you misconstrue that, I am not saying that because you cannot see it makes you any less of an MA. Just different.

Sevenstar, You're right I have no idea how you were raised. Of course I've read over my post and cannot find one iota of information stating anything about how you were raised. Perhaps you are reading into this a little too much. If you took my post as a direct attack on your parenting or method of rearing, maybe you have some deep rooted issues you should discuss. The point was that society is the cause of our, yes our, perception of success. I would be narrow minded in saying that I don't have any luxuries, or don't enjoy some from time to time, (i.e. computers). I had at the point of my last post read the whole thread. And the part of scottnshelley's post about responsibilities I perfectly agree with. The part that I was trying to point out was that you had to include 'I do all right' was not pertinent. That was just a jab to let everyone know you do 'all right'. No where in scottnshelleys forum has anyone asked "I wonder how well off sevenstar is?" It is just a psychological glitch that in this day and time comes out. Kind of like posturing before a fight. One upmanship, however you want to describe it. Most people don't even know they do it. Next, as far as hunting rabbits go. I can compare the two, because I have done them both. Have you? Hunting rabbits only makes you better at hunting rabbits? Does doing benchpress only make you better at pushing a steel bar off your chest? Ignorant? Moi? At this point I am willing to agree to disagree. You have your perceptions and little ol' me is not going to change them. But IMO, only a fool would not acknowledge some benefit to the training described in this topic, or for any type of training for that matter. I have been taught you can lean something from everything, if you look.

Scottnshelly, I am with you. I have done many 'seclusion' sessions. By seclusion I mean clothes on my back and a knife, in the mountains, usually a national park. I have always come out healthier in body and mind. If you don't believe that think of what we as people eat nowadays. No Mcdonalds, no hot dogs, not sodas, nothing except what nature can provide. My body fat went down considerably my senses went way up. Sevenstar wrote that you couldn't train effectively without a sparring partner because of timing and distancing issues. Try grabbing a rabbit as it hops down a path. Try stalking within spear thrust of a deer. My senses became amazingly acute. I could tell when another predator was in the area or when a hawk flew through the woods. After returning to civilization I would know when someone entered a building two rooms away because of the atmospheric pressure change. I could hear someone make quick movements behind me. of course that faded to some degree after time. But whenever I feel out of touch I head back to the woods. You don't have to do it for a year to get the benefit. A solid week would do wonders. As far as sevenstar goes, he doesn't get it and never will. He is a product of the Me generation. "I spend several five hour sessions training a week, I do cardio, I hit the gym, blah blah blah . I'm 25, I have a full time job, I do all right" Who cares how you do? That was not even pertinent to the topic. He just wanted everyone to know how much money he makes, and that he's successful. I'm sure he drives a nice car, If he doesn't he wants one. It's not really his fault, our society has created people like him. People like that could never fathom the idea of having nothing and liking it, when they have always been taught you should seek accumulation of luxury. Good luck with your endeavors scottnshelly.

not really - nothing that I can't already get by training on my own. I have not read all the responses but did sevenstar just say there were no advantages to secluded training that he wasn't already getting by training on his own? If he is training "on his own" isn't he secluded from everyone else?

IMO You really have to evaluate your reasons for testing. For example, Are you in competition to test so you can be a higher belt than someone? Is there a training reason? Like your sensei will not teach you anything new unless you are a certain belt. ( Which I personally think is ridiculous, and nothing more than a money making scam)? Is it just purely ego? Because, correct me if I'm wrong, being handed a different color belt will not automatically enlighten you with more MA knowledge and skill. I have always been fascinated by those who seek the the admiration of others, and feel they have to brag about what color their belt is what dan they are. Solar kid said that a week before his test the instructor gave him some real specific advice on certain aspects of his ability, stances and things like that. My question is this, Why hasn't he been more strict up until now. Basically he has let solar kid get away with sub standard performance for this long but since he will be testing under him he wants him to perform well. Sounds like it doesn't matter to him how he does until he is ready to fork out some money for testing. But of course I really can't say for sure, just an outsider looking in. I just know when my instructor ask for a stance or anything he lets you know right then if your doing it wrong. P.S. Can I have fries with that belt?

For goodness sakes?! Some wrestlers are MA's, but not all wrestlers are MA's. Just like some Cats are Lions. But as Professional Wrestling as a whole a MA. Negative. Unless someone is willing to concede this: I was watching a lumberjack competition the other day, and one of the guys chopped a tree in half with an axe, another, ran across a pond on floating logs. Still another climbed a pole to the top. The Axe guy obviously could kill with his axe, the log guy showd extreme balance and focus, and the pole guy had extreme agility. Is this a new MA?

[quote name="SevenStar I can squat over 400 lbs. Can you? If not' date=' how is your power from stances different from my power? stances don't build power beyond a certain point...they are endurance exercises.[/quote] Are you saying that strength equals power?

It's interesting to hear people talk about what they would or wouldn't do in a situation like this. There are to many what ifs involved. Good or bad, you never know what you are going to do until the situation arises. There is no way to tell, even if a similar situation has occured before. You could be in a different mind frame, the surroundings could be slightly adjusted. Any number of things can affect your judgement, and ultimately your decision to act or not. So to answer the question what would you do? You'll know when it happens.

C'mon. You've been around here long enough, you should've expected that by now. I bet it has something to do with all the bowing. (<-----doesn't bow) "Arrogance and Ignorance go hand in hand"-Metallica

well you know..im not the kind of person who one day decides to go outside and kick a tree until my shins start to gush out with a raging river of blood.And that was like...after i watched kickboxer...tv can relly take affect-.- Im not into those kind of movies where u see people training hardcore in the outdoors with sum hyped music. So you don't think it is possible to condition your shins to withstand that kind of punishment? Focus is power. Expand your mind.

I guess the true test would be how practical their techniques are outside of TV land. *shrugs* IMO, no it's not an MA, but a sport (and I use sport loosely). I think pro-wrestling lacks depth of technique, practicality, philosophy and the discipline to be a true MA. I see a true MA as a search for harmonizing mind and body... these guys come off as crush/kill/destroy in a steroid rage for no other reason than TV ratings. If you put these guys up against a true MA, they wouldn't last, IMO. They're big and intimidating... but it's not the size that matters... oh, wait... that's something else. What's your definition of a true MA?

I am saddened by the western influence of MA. Why do we as americans feel we have to take everything we encounter and "improve" on it. MA was in place a thousand years before our nation existed. It has remained because of time honored 'traditions', such as Honor, Humility, Respect, Responsibility, and Discipline. I have seen dojos where the members do not bow in and out. They say they can respect something without showing it every single time. Why wouldn't you SHOW respect every single time? I have visited many different dojos in my travels and the one thing I see lacking most is discipline. Which I feel is indicative of our society as a whole. I believe it has spilled over in virtually everything we do from overeating to financial problems. I had always felt MA was a sanctuary from the evils of american over-indulgence, but it seems the trend is infecting it as well. Just ask young MA and they will tell you MA is about Kicking A**.

I started MA when I was about 12. I trained pretty hard for about 10 years, at which time I took about 3 years off because of my career and I was moving alot at the time. Once when I was cleaning my office I had stacked a box on a counter top. I had my hands full moving something else when I knocked another container into the box on the counter. It started to fall. It was full of breakable stuff and if it had fallen it would have shattered. I didn't have enough time to put the stuff I was holding down and grab it, so , on mostly instict I threw a side-kick, (quick, but not forceful), and was able to push the box back on the counter top. I hadn't been to a class in 2 years. My point, (rather long winded point), is that if you embrace MA it becomes a part of your very soul. It is not something that can be turned on and off. It will show up in every aspect of your life. Just like jarrettmeyer said about being more polite to his co-workers. You will find that you don't have to be training to be 'practicing' MA. So you ask why I continue doing MA? How do I not? Why do I breathe?

Can someone tell me how to put someone else's quote in white. Whenever I hit "quote" it ends up in gray and it looks like I wrote it. Thanks.

You're a kid right? As you mature you will find being practical and looking good are two different things. With the former being all important.

Professional wrestling a MA For it to even be a topic in this forum does not say much for the direction MA has taken in recent years. However I would, just about consider it a MA as some of the freestyle forms I have seen in competition. I watched a very elegant, graceful, wu shu display with extreme focus get beat by a gymnastic routine with a few kicks and punches thrown in. What practical application does doing a double back flip with a kick straight up have? What form was it ever a part of? If you can accept that I can accept WWE.

In my day it was called freestyle wrestling. I used to wrestle as a lad.

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. Thank you for clearing that up. For the longest I thought it meant Lots of Love?!

Taking on unarmed people, "fools", who you SHOULD have an advantage over, in an uncontrolled environment. Wow, You're brave and smart. I'd brag too.

Thanks to one and all for the info. you've been immensely helpfull. One more question. Just to reveal my ignorance, What is LOL?

Where a shin pad? Defeats the purpose doesn't it? The most 'extreme' I have ever done was meditate for 24 hours in the woods. That by far was more challenging than anything physical I have ever tried.

By no means an I a stretching expert. I will just tell you what worked for me. I could get pretty far but eventually got to a sticking point where it seemed like I was going to go any farther. What I started doing was watching TV in the stretch. I would stretch as far as I could at the beginning of a sitcom. At each commercial I would go down to each knee and then to the middle. Then I would try to get my legs to go farther apart. I would not try to push any farther until the next commercial. It took a month of a couple times a week but I finally did it. One more thing. I found if I stretched in the morning even if it was just for five minutes I could make better gains in the afternoon than if I didn't stretch that morning.