ps1

Ditto!

Very true

There is much yelling in the sport of XMA for a reason and any martial art practitioner should know this. I would give her at least a 9/10 easy because of the difficulty of the techniques this is supposed to be set to music as preferred by the practitioner it is judged seperately so don't think that this is all she does is a creative form, it is just another event like sparring or board breaking. I used to teach XMA so I know a little about it but they are judged on difficulty of movements and flash and it is supposed to be"non-traditional" as it appeals to the younger audiences who are sucked in by the "cool" factor. I don't know much about karate but the gentlemen did outstanding as well. To which form were you referring? The only one I complained about the yelling and music in was the "traditional" form. I understand how the events are arranged and set up. I've competed extensively and successfully. In addition, I've judged rather extensively.

Yeah...I agree. I think it's helped tremendously.

I like nijushiho and unsu. Probably best at Bassai dai though. I just find them fun to do.

For the longest time I've always felt my clinch/takedown work was my weakest skill set. About 8 years ago I earned a black belt in aiki jujitsu where I was required to demonstrate all the throws of judo;but I've never felt comfortable in actually using them. About a year after that, I began studying BJJ. For the past 7 years now I've continued working on my throws and takedowns. I've studied with Judo BBs, D1 and D2 all-american wrestlers. Still, I've never felt comfortable with my skill set in this area. I know the moves and the set-ups, just never felt comfortable giving in to them. Fast forward to the present. At the beginning of the summer I began teaching BJJ 2 days a week out of a local TKD school. I have made it a priority to teach one or two throws per month and to drill them at the start of every class. The other night my students asked me to do some sparring that focuses on the feet. So we did eight 2 minute rounds of takedowns. I have a few tall guys and some bigger strong guys. Being a little uncomfortable, I decided, "ok Bill, just go out there and flow. It's just BJJ on the feet." This is when the biggest surprise hit me. I easily threw and took down everyone in the class. Of course it was a class of beginners. So don't go calling me Kramer just yet. What amazed me is that all I did differently was flow. Despite their pushing and pulling and shoving, they were taken down; and anyone who was overly aggressive, I just let them grab my leg and they were in a sub by the time we hit the ground. This makes me happy because it gives me even more confidence in what I do. These are guys who are expecting a throw and trying to set their base to avoid it. I just imagine what would happen in self defense when they aren't expecting those movements and aren't likely to know how to avoid them. To anyone who is already good at takedowns or throws this may seem like some obvious stuff. But to me, it was a personal triumph, one that will take me to another level, and I just wanted to share it.

Wrong. There are many certainties in an altercation. For example: When defending, you MUST always create space between you and your opponent/opponent's weapon. When attacking, you MUST always eliminate space between you and your opponent. Fighting is no more complex than the human body and the levers that govern its movement. Quite complex, but totally predictable. Certainly I feel like when I get into certain positions I know i have the fight won. But what's most important is learning how to get to those positions from everywhere else. That's what training is about. I let people start standing, mounted on me, clinched with me, in cross body on me and so on. My goal is always to learn to get to a position where I can win. Sometimes I am successful, others I am not. That's how we train. However, in the course of this training, you start to become good at other positions too. Eventually, you're comfortable (or at least confident) in nearly every position. Nobody "lets" me get anywhere. I learn to find the paths that lead me to salvation. It's funny you say this because in BJJ we view fighting as a chess match. There are no prerequisites however. The fallacy of perception is to assume that because I do not feel striking is predictable means that I feel striking is useless. As a person with a 2nd degree black belt in Shotokan, 3rd degree in chuan fa, and training in boxing and kickboxing and traditional weaponry, I feel it's certainly useful. I simply don't want to depend on a strike that may or may not render my opponent unconscious when i can depend on a choke that certainly will. TRUE! Also true...and a great point that even Renzo Gracie makes in his book, Mastering Jujitsu. Kinda harsh. Clearly I offended you with my post. That was not my point. It's important, however, not to confuse confidence with smugness. I have trained martial arts for 25 years now. Only the past 7 have been in BJJ. However, in those 7 years, I feel I've learned more about combat and fighting than ever in the past. That's my experience, and I am very proud of it and have a great amount of confidence in it. Again, I apologize if that confidence comes off as smug, but do not apologize for the confidence its self. You're right here. It wasn't a fair comparison. I guess i was trying to point out how time on the mat leads to a great ability to predict the way an opponent will react. I understand your point, and do not totally disagree. I do believe that many arts, BJJ included, require long term training to become good at it. I also see this as a good thing. In those arts, it is not uncommon to see people training well into their 70s, 80s, and if they live long enough, 90s.It's clear to me, however, that you don't have a clear understanding of what BJJ is about. I don't mean that as a derogatory remark. Simply that you have likely met the wrong people in the art (assuming you've met any). Here is a vid of Master Pedro Sauer speaking after awarding someone a brown belt. Perhaps it will enlighten you. He is certainly more capable and qualified to explain the beauty of the art. He's done it for over 40 years under Helio and Rickson Gracie. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkYFoCAwn8s&feature=related Enjoy the link and sorry again if I came off as offensive.

Thanks for the info. It seems to make sense. Among other things we practiced were Tanbo, Hanbo, Rokushakubo, Tanto, Kenjutsu, and Tonfa. We focused on the similar skills between the weapons and performing junretsu (I believe that's how it is spelled...permutations is the english) of combining strikes. Thanks again.

I had the feeling you were going to ask me this question. As much as I hate to say it, I simply do not know. I learned it under John Viol Shihan ( http://www.seishinkan.com/martial_members_area/john_viol_daishihan_menkyokaiden.htm ) during about a year and a half sogo bujitsu course he was hosting (the course was longer than a year and a half, that's just how long I participated). During that time, one of the many things we covered was "Yagyu Ryu Ju Jitsu and Kenjitsu". It was not until after i stopped training with him that I learned about the Shinkage/Shingan verbiage. You are not the first person to ask. It is odd to me that it was not stated during the course. But he simply never told us any more than "Yagyu Ryu." I believe his website has the means to contact him if you choose. He may be a very interesting person for you to get to know.

When I trained under a Yagu Ryu instructor, we learned many techniques from kneeling. But as you mentioned, it was a training tool and the movements were performed in isolation. Certainly, this is a useful method of training those techniques. The training I am referring to is truly randori beginning on the knees. From the knees, there are no throws. In essence, what usually happens is the two opponents go at each other like pit bulls until one pushes the other into guard or manages to step around him into side control. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKz9L0vzGLo This is a link to the stuff I'm talking about. These guys make it look much prettier than it is. Quite often, guys just use it to circumvent the guard position because they aren't good at passing. Also notice that it's just not a realistic position from which a fight (sport or otherwise) would start.

I agree. I would not suggest anyone use a weapon (more specifically a knife or gun) unless they are very highly trained with them. Anything you have, can be used against you. Moreover, it's been proven time and time again that an assailant can take 30 full speed steps in the time it takes for a police officer to draw, acquire, and fire at a target. And the police are trained for it and using an unconcealed holster they find fits their style best. Now imagine you have to reach into your coat to get a concealed weapon; or need to pull a knife off your pocket and open it. I am willing to wager that most people are not skilled enough to use either weapon efficiently from its holstered position. Therefore, it may be more of a hindrance than you might think.

Are you sure that's not actually a Judo throw? LoL. Not in my jiu jitsu manual! But yes I understand what you mean as well. Look at the BJJ video. Phenomenal take downs. Some schools have weak stand however many do not. It's a huge part of what we do ate the Nation. We either start from an established position or we start standing. No wrestling from the knees as I have seen in many places. I agree. Starting on the knees is just silly. It's just a game of muscle from there, not to mention that it's completely unrealistic for both sport and self defense.

That would be awesome!!!! I'd love to see that.

Sorry to hear your troubles. This is common, however, once the leader of an organization dies. Have you considered offering your services as a consultant until the Hombu becomes reorganized? This may serve well to both keep you retired but allowing you to pass on how to run the system to those who are clearly a bit lost. This is very common for company presidents and CEOs to do before they really get to lay back and enjoy retirement. Good luck and I hope things turn out for the best.

The original KK movie is how I got started.

congrats evergrey

The problem with the video is that the "self defense" spouted is all about establishing dominance over the attacker. While this is great if you're a 200+lb well built male, it's not always possible for everyone. I would like to see a 100lb woman do the same thing. There may be a few who can...but the majority could not do that. When I studied Shotokan, my instructor was a very well known police officer in the state of Ohio. He taught self defense seminars to women all the time...but he never taught striking to the eyes or gouging the eyes. When I asked him why he said, "It takes a special kind of person to put their fingers skull deep into an eye socket, most people don't have it in em to do it." When you think about that...it's very true. Rather, he focused on prevention and carrying things like mace with them. A quick strike to the nose or smack to the groin and run to a populated area. His stuff was boring, but effective for the target group. The simple fact is big guys like the one in the video rarely, if ever, are singled out by an assailant. Instead, like in the video, it's more of a macho thing. I mean...the dude just plastered his shoulder right into the guy. Who does that? Elk, Bears, and two macho, testosterone driven guys. That's it. The problem is that when most people say "the street" they actually envision a dark, empty alley, sidewalk, or parking lot. The simple fact is that the target of most violent crimes are women, elderly, and children. The most common violent crime among women is rape, with over 50% being committed by someone they know in a place they are usually comfortable. Among children it's abuse...again, by someone they know in a place they are comfortable. Elderly are the most likely to be mugged. Let me see an 86 yr old with a cane react the way they did in the video. You need a manner of defense where by a weaker person can overcome a stronger person. Additionally, your reaction needs to be able to counter the amazing aggression that these assailants usually exhibit. More than anything, you need to have the will to go home to your family.

Very good post.

Nice vids...and that's an understatement.

And this is why you have the potential to be a good martial artist.

This is interesting. Are there any other situations like this that are commonly miswritten? For example: Gedan Barrai, Age Uke...ect...

The problem I have with strikes is simple. No matter what the target is, the outcome is rather unpredictable. As a science geek, I love predictability. That's why I love grappling so much. It doesn't matter if they guy has a tough chin, high pain tolerance, is really strong ect... when I choke him...he sleeps. When I heel hook, their knee and/or ankle give out. When i take away their base, they fall over. Moreover, with large amounts of training on the mat, you can predict the outcome of even small movements. A black belt in BJJ has an average of 2000 hours of training. The average Black Belt in other arts has about 500. 4 times the training will equal 4 times the ability to predict. This is why I, personally, love grappling. This is why I am supremely confident in my ability. I've done it over and over again.

We had a student travel to Chicago and train at a Barra school there while on vacation. He said they were great guys and were very easy to get along with. To that end, I really haven't met very many good BJJ practitioners that didn't welcome another practitioner with open arms. We've got a pretty good community out there.

Oh yeah certainly! I think you'll see that within each academy today too. That's part of the beauty of BJJ. Two people can train together for many years and have a very different way of applying the same moves. And it's considered good, not frowned upon. Did Master Palhares train with Carlos Jr after the death of Rolls? It's my understanding that many of Rolls' students chose to train with Carlos Jr afterward. Have you heard the same thing, seems like you're in a better position to know that half of the history.

Congratulations. I'm glad you had a good time at the tournament.