ps1

Absolutely not. My Shotokan Sensei, who died just recently, would not even say the name of his first instructor. This was because of a situation just like yours. His first instructor believed that a class was beating up on all of the students. My suggestion would be to get out. There are too many quality instructors in this world for you to stick yourself with an @**ho*e like that. I wish you the best.

Then you must become comfortable with the boards. Because if you are not comfortable with the boards...then you are not comfortable with the test. They are part and parcel. Do not allow two small pieces of wood demonstrate more resiliency than you. It sounds as though you have already given up mentally. If this is the case...no one here can help you. They are only wood, and you are only flesh. Either one can destroy the other...you decide which.

I took a class of Hapkido once. However, after discussion with the instructor and demonstrations on both of our parts...It was virtually identical to Aiki Jujitsu. We both decided I wouldn't learn much new there. He told me I was more than welcome to train there if I desired...but I already had a place to train my Aiki. I guess this is my long winded way of saying I really like Hapkido also.

Amen bushido_man!!!

bushido_man96, You can't tell me that Honest Abe was tougher than Andy Jackson. If you're gonna fight a president...Andy is the way to go.

Oh yeah...be sure to give a brief...or long explination.

Who do you feel is the most innovative modern martial artist. Clearly there were some greats in the more ancient times. Lets try to keep this to those after the mid 1800s.

Very good answer midkiff. That would force you to learn and accept your own weaknesses. I'd still fight the guys I mentioned above though.

As long as you understand the risks of utilizing these kicks and are capable of handling the possible negative consequences use em. I do. I've caught tons of guys with these types of kicks in my MMA classes. They just don't expect it. It's all about timing and distance. If you've got it...flaunt it. Just be careful. We have a wrestler who just came off an international stint with the USA Greco Roman team. I was setting him up for a kick and slipped on a small bit of sweat. He had me down very fast. But...I knew that type of thing was possible, I was prepared for it, and I put him in guard and went to work. Good kicks (high, low or other wise) are a huge part of my arsenal. Use em' with pride.

Did I mention that Judo is considered the safest sport to practice for kids under age 13 by the American College of Sports Medicine? Kano was a genius. And I don't even hold rank in Judo. It just has to be recognized.

I'm going to take this back to the original thread question and explain why a Judoka would beat a Karateka assuming they both had similar training time, size, strength, and athletic ablitiy. It is because Jigoro Kano was a genius. He developed a system that can be practiced at virtually full speed, power and applied to another human being safely. Because of this...a Judoka with say 3 years of training would have much more experience actually applying his (or her) techniques in a combative situation than a Karateka. Sure, Karate is a great system and we train hard and hit hard. But we simply can not apply our techniques in full force to a living human being over and over. A judoka can practice closing the distance and executing a hip throw at full speed and power far more. It is a simple as that. The Judoka would be far less likely to become frustrated or rattled in an actual situation. Karate takes a very long time to learn. At black belt...many karateka have still not developed the timing and distancing necessary to make their techniques extremely effective against a full on assult. However, at Black belt, a Judoka has fought literally hundreds of matches at full force. That is the genius of Jigoro Kano. I will also point out that I am not saying one is better than the other. Just that it takes far longer to foster the skills necessary for combat effectiveness in Shotokan (and most other standing systems). And that this is simply due to the inherent danger that exists in striking another human being vs. grappling and throwing which is far more gentle (ju) and forgiving on the body. Thanks

This is something that Brazilian Jiujitsu does very regularly. It is nothing to call a school and ask if you can bring some students up for the day. This has always been extremely positive. We've also done it in my Chuan Fa school as well. This became almost too competitive. The students began to go a little hard. They're never trying to harm anyone...just get caught up in the heat of the moment. But when you're striking, that can become very dangerous. It was still positive to see the applications and fight against other systems. However, when it comes to Karate and TKD schools (that I've attended)...there is always problems with it. They can't agree on rules or the businesses are too close...Personally, I feel they can't let their egos go. Many of them just worry about the bottom line. Others are forbiddin from doing this by their affiliations. I actually heard the owner of the Shotokan school where I train and teach say he wouldn't do it because he's afraid he'd loose students. Does he really have such little faith in the loyalty of his students? I was shocked!

Death is temporary...haven't you ever played Halo:) (it's a video game for those who don't know)

monkey. It's great when sparring in a Shotokan class. If I find an opponent who is near or above my skill level in that system...I begin utilizing monkey movements and attacks. It really throws them off. I'll back off really far then roll in with a feigned stomp at their foot (of course they back it out) Then the monkey leg scissors are taking them down. Before they know it...I'm kneeling by their head with a punch at their nose. Other times I just get kicked:)

Anyone who says a boxer can not hit hard has never faced a serious boxer. People have died in the ring. Their entire sport is based around hitting hard. If ki was a necessary portion of it...they would train it. I have trained in chuan fa for a 11 years and learned many ki techniques. However, as I have become more and more educated in biomechanics, kinesiology, physiology, anatomy and physics. I can explain everything I've seen. I can bend a spear on my throat, not because of ki, but because of the angle it is placed. Selective breaking IS a parlor trick that requires placing a very small dense object (pebble, piece of wood ect..) below the "selected" brick. It will break at that point due to the disipation of kinetic energy across a small object creating a higher impact effect. Ever see a "master" place a towel over an onlookers leg and then wave his hand over the towel and they experience heat. The towel usually has a small chemical device not unlike you put in your pockets to keep warm in the winter. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying there isn't ki. Just that much of what you see is nothing more than an illusion. Houdini spent his life trying to expose as many of these people as possible. Unfortunately, there will always be someone who is willing to exploit our desires to be something more than mortal. Only our souls reach that goal I'm sorry to say.

Chuck Norris jokes are awesome. Anyway...I would want to duel Musashi. Fight Rickson Gracie. Box Ali. And pro wrestle Andre The Giant. For a cool down I would want to fight Randy Coture.

That's a very nice site

huh...the flow drills are cool. Similar to some of the things we did in Aiki Jujitsu. But the punching stuff seems kinda fake. I've seen people who could hit extremely hard from deceptive angles. But the person being hit couldn't take more than one or two hits. It's just dangerous. I wouldn't say it's something new.

BJJ- Rickson Gracie Karate- Funakoshi Sensei Kenjitsu- Miyamato Musashi Judo- Kano Sensei Chuan Fa- Guru Willy Wetzel

Yeah... I'm one of those naturally flexible people who have been able to do a split since I was 6. But I know several people who've used them. It worked for them. Just be careful not to go too far too fast. You don't want to get injured.

Yes, I have. But I must admit that I was younger (in high school) and it wasn't sanctioned in any way. Basically two guys from different styles just seeing what works. THIS WAS VERY STUPID AND I DO NOT SUGGEST ANYONE DO IT WITHOUT PROPER MEDICAL AND PROFESSIONAL SUPERVISION. I wiped up the floor with him. Side kick to the stomach dropped him and I front kicked his forehead as he tried to stand. He yeilded right there. I later learned that he was not the rank he had claimed. So he wasn't very skilled. He had actually trained less than a year. I felt very bad. When I told my Sensei what I had done, he applauded my courage and punished my stupidity and pride and lack of foresite by banning me from class for a month. We have guys come into the BJJ academy all the time. They always try to go all out on us. We're not stupid enough to do that and just lock em up in guard and submit them. It's very easy and I don't have to feel bad because they don't get hurt. I enjoy the gentleness that BJJ provides me.

If you want more information, you may want to try the Jiujitsu and grappling arts section of the forum

Brandon Fisher brings up one of the golden rules...strike soft to hard, and hard to soft. Excellent point.

It was mentioned earlier that this is very common in BJJ. I've been in classes before and when they learned I study BJJ, they actually challenged me! I must accept since I am their guest. I usually suggest we do it after class. It's funny how no one ever thinks a fight can go to the ground so fast. BJJ instructors encourage others to come into their school and challenge them. It's always a friendly match (as this is the nature of the arts tradition) but it rarely ends as a stand fighter would expect. Understand, this story is coming from a person who has spent the last 20 years studying Shotokan and Chuan Fa. It's not childish as long as it is in the spirit of perfecting technique. There are many famous books by ancient masters who boast about challenging others to a duel. I realize these are not ancient times, but you are dabbling in ancient ways. Some of that past will always be retained.

In general... CSW does not utilize a gi. Brazillian Jiujitsu does. Additionally, CSW tends to focus ONLY on MMA type fighting with an emphasis on takedowns.