ps1

You should be able to move freely. Deep stances are for beginners. It trains their legs and helps to develop spirit. However, if your are fighting and trying to stay in a low stance that does not allow free movement (not that all low stances prohibit movement) than you're gonna get pummeled.

I've read it. You're correct. It was very good.

I was at a seminar by Ted Rubo. He was very skilled. Has the ability to generate a stagering amount of power. This was also a good seminar.

On crossing elbows and rising elbows I use the last inch of my elbow. On downward and rear moving elbows, I use the very tip.

Good luck...stay strong...don't let it get you down. Continue training when you can. This may be the perfect opportunity to work on techniques from a seated position. If you can defend yourself when you're injured...you can defend youself when you're well. Recover well.

For self defense, my Thai Roundhouse is definentally bread and butter with my side kick also being extremely good. For sparring, I agree with that sneaky hook kick to the back of the opponents head. I especially love to do it to new black belts. I will pummel them with side kicks, then let them think they've beaten it, and hit em with the hook. When they start to worry about the legs too much, they get the reverse punch. Wow...it brings a tear to my eye just thinking about it It's just my way of keeping them humble. I remember when my Sensei did the same to me

I think they really over reacted to the dragon. I mean...what if just wanted to play fetch or something. Those kids have clearly not learned patients. Poor dragon

Tied between Saulo Ribeiro and Pedro Sauer. Their understanding of Jiu-jitsu is virtually unparallelled. In standing arts, John Viol, he's not extremely famous, but very knowledgable.

100% different philosophy on how to fight. Focus is geared directly toward fighting effectiveness. "Sparring" is usually very hard core. There isn't much about life philosophy. You'll see. Good luck

Another good place to get application to crane forms would be to see someone who specializes in White Crane style Kung Fu. Having alot of experience with the art, many of its applications are similar to those of Karate Kata. Their kata are just asthetically different.

elbows & knees and zr440 hit it pretty much right on the head. Silat tends to be a generic term for Indonesian martial arts. Just like Karate tends to be a generic term for Japanese empty handed arts. The type I have studied is called Poekoelan Teii Chuan Fa. It actually has had some Chinese influence. We have animal forms...Blecock (crane), Monjet (monkey), harimau (tiger), Oler (snake) among others. There also tends to be alot of techniques based on the use of knives and escrima. The best thing you could do is to "google" silat, penjak silat, poekoelan, Cimande, and pukulan. You should find plenty of info that way. Good luck

I don't believe it can be put any more clearly than this. Bushidoman96, if you wish to write on something, you must first define it. Every orginization has a definition of what their "masters" are and what they know. If any orginization gives the title of Shihan/ Master/ Pendakar or whatever, without a definition of what skills and qualities that person should posess, the title is meaningless. If one, as several have already pointed out, defines master to mean perfect...or even near perfect...than it is something unachievable for all except God. And I know one thing for certian in life...I'm not God. Perhaps your article could be one of comparitive research. You could do research on what major orginizations require for their "master" ranks and compare them from there. For example...I saw someone posted saying a person should be at least 25 yrs old. That seems kind of young to me. Most 25 year olds have lived very little life to be wise enough IMO. In the Kwanmuzendokai a person must be at least 35 before earning godan (the rank associated with Shihan in that orginization). I think an article of this nature would be extremely interesting. Thanks

I understand your point Nothings Shadow, but a basic understanding of the terms is not enough. In fact, having only a basic understanding is what has led to the confusion. Afterall, a basic understanding of the word Sensei leads most to believe it just means teacher. That would be inaccurate. Japanese language is so ingrained into Japanese culture that the two have become inseperable. Tradition has nothing to do with it. The Japanese speak their native language. They did that because it's how they talk. There is nothing wrong with using English, Spanish, or any other language. The reason many have chosen to learn to the Japanese terms is for when they visit Japan (or the country of their art's orgin) they know what's being said and what's going on. This is called "freezing the language of the art." Not unlike all Chemists in the world follow the same system of naming chemical compounds (IUPAC). Speaking the native language of the art is no more traditional than wearing a gi. JMHO. Thanks. PS1

I just realized I neglected to mention that I do not "regrip."

In general, I would stay with my instructor. Of course it depends on why he/ she splintered away from the orginization. I've seen people kick out of orginizations for various dishonorable reasons. If this were the case I would probably not stay with him then. However, if it was for most any other reason (avoid political mumbo jumbo, waste of money, just dosen't like it, ect...) I would stay with my instructor.

24 Fighting Chickens, in Chuan Fa we call that strike an Elephant's Head. Just a little piece of useless trivia. I agree with Killer Miller on this one. A fist is simply a term for a hand position. It does not need to be "tight." As long as the wrist is straight, the arm will tense as necessary to avoid it bending and being injured. If your squeezing your fist, you're wasting energy.

Herein lies the problem. Unless you live in Japan and have a strong understanding of their culture...the titles used are quite supurfluous and are too often taken out of context. For example: many have sited the use of Sempai as the senior student. However, there can be many different sempai in a dojo. The sempai will always have a kohai. Without one, there is not the other. I found a website that outlines it rather well. http://www.angelfire.com/nj4/aikiinfo/sempaikohai.html My point is that it is misunderstandings and misuse of these terms that has caused the confusion that exists today. This is why I usually sugest the use of the word Sensei, or to just use the language that is native to you. Thanks.

Cool videos... thanks for the post

It's funny...after nearly 21 years...I still don't do any of them to my own satisfaction. I think I'm gonna go do Tekki Shodan now.

As long as you have learned and grown from your experience...it's not really failure. Just another practice. This is an important lesson for you to have learned. I bow to your new understanding.

The most important component to executing a good sweep is the angle on which you attack. Here's some general instructions for a basic front sweep. Assuming a closed stance orientation you will need to line up your front foot outside your opponents front foot (to your opponents front outside angle). This will allow for a 45 degree angle of attack. Then make sure you connect low on the leg of the opponent. The closer to the heel, the better. Of course, timing and distance are everything. But we can't teach you that. Start slow and static with a willing partner. Good footwork is the only thing that will help you in using it in sparring. It's not really that great of a self defense technique though(requires too much setup). For self defense sweeps you're better off with those taught in Judo/ Jujitsu. Small and Large, inside and outside reaps and such. With these techniques you already have grips on your opponent. Therefore you are able to control the reactions of the opponent better.

Hold on...I'll be right back. Trogdor the dragon is burninating the pesants again.

ouch...that one hurt... I wondered how long before someone pointed that out. When I came up with my screen name, I combined the title of master from both Chuan Fa and Shotokan. The two titles represent my goal... to achieve mastery. I didn't achieve it today...perhaps tomorrow. If not tomorrow...there's always the next day. I suppose I'll always be one day away from mastery.

Pretty sweet

The object of any self defense technique...submission or otherwise...is not to "mangle" the opponent. It is to keep the opponent from "mangling" you. That said...if I felt it necessary to "mangle" the limb...so be it. Chances are, however, after breaking one limb, their violent reaction would lead to another opening. If the attacker kept coming he would likely end up with more than one broken limb. Probably made to pass out from a choke or strangle. Of course...this only goes for the "life and death" situations. Not for drunk Uncle Eddie at the wedding reception:)