ps1

If you're asking for a more direct answer...I kinda skirted the question didn't I... I would say yes. Here is my reasoning: 1. It was honed and redeveloped in Brazil...a western country. 2. It's main strength isn't in its current techniques...rather the addition and modification of techniques as they are found effective. This is a big nono in many eastern styles; you stick to what the founder did and do not vary it at all. 3. Most of the development and growth in the art is occurring in the Americas...both south and north.

I never thought about it too much. It certainly has the western thought process of taking what you like and leaving the rest. But, in many ways, it pays homage to its Asian heritage.

Here's what Bruce Lee really had: 1. He was an athletic machine. He would likely have been good at any sport he tried. 2. He was not confined by the rules of an instructor for very long. He trained only what he liked and felt worked. But he had learned very solid basics in Wing Chun. 3. He was smart. He knew what people wanted to hear and see and he gave it to them. 4. GIFT OF GAB. His degree was in philosophy. His whole degree was based on talking in circles and riddles. People really eat that stuff up. He could make himself sound very wise (not to say he wasn't) while using the same old references the ancients had used hunderds and thousands of years in the past. 5. People wanted to believe in him because "if he can be that good...so can I!" I have no doubt that Lee was a very gifted martial artist who was a rare breed. However, I only believe about half of what was said about him and his skill. He was a braggart. He was the kind of guy that would exaggerate details when it suited him. That was a fact as well. Let's look at the things you pointed out about him. *Lee's striking speed from three feet with his hands down by his side reached five hundredths of a second- The speed of the blinking eye is 300-400 miliseconds or 3 to 4 10ths of a second. There is no possibility of a human being moving as fast as you suggest. *Lee's combat movements were at times too fast to be captured on film at 24 frames per second, so many scenes were shot in 32 frame per second to put Lee in slow motion.- This is common for film makers to do. *In a speed demonstration, Lee could snatch a dime off a person's open palm before they could close it, and leave a penny behind.- A basic slight of hand maneuver used by magicians world wide. *Lee would hold an elevated v-sit position for 30 minutes or longer.- If it's true, I'm impressed. But doesn't make him the best that's ever lived. *Lee could throw grains of rice up into the air and then catch them in mid-flight using chopsticks.- Probably happened once in a bar and his friends carried it on as though it was common place. *Lee could thrust his fingers through unopened cans of Coca-Cola. (This was when soft drinks cans were made of steel much thicker than today's aluminium cans).- This is much more common than you'd think. Actually, the can being unopened is the key. It's much harder to do to a can that's open because there's no resistance to the strike. It also depends on finger length as the strength of the joints change with length of the digits. *Lee performed one-hand push-ups using only the thumb and index finger- He was strong. A great athlete. This also has more to do with the construction of the finger joint and length than strength. I've met many people who can do this, I can't because my fingers are too long for it. *Lee performed 50 reps of one-arm chin-ups.- To a gymnist, this is an easy workout *Lee could break wooden boards 6 inches thick.-Huh! I saw this kind of stuff when I was competing. I finally stopped competing when a guy broke 15 bricks with his head. *Lee could cause a 300lb bag to fly towards and thump the ceiling with a sidekick.-Really? Never had the opportunity, but think I could do that. *Lee performed a sidekick while training with James Coburn and broke a 150lb punching bag.- I have done this. Admittedly, James Coburn wasn't with me though:) *In a move that has been dubbed "Dragon Flag", Lee could perform leg lifts with only his shoulder blades resting on the edge of a bench and suspend his legs and torso perfectly horizontal midair. - Gymnasts do this with ease. -on many of these points the same could be said about Rickson Gracie, Georges St. Piere and many other current martial artists. But that does not make them the best ever. My point is not to Bash Bruce Lee. The man isn't even alive to defend himself for goodness sake. He did wonders keeping the martial arts alive and in the public eye. I probably wouldn't be training now if it wasn't for his contribution. For that, I am eternally grateful. But I don't think it honors his memory any more to grant him special powers or make him super human. I realize this was not the entire point of your post. But what you're doing is like telling someone who played college football on scholarship for 4 years and never made the pros that everything they did is worthless because they weren't better than Barry Sanders or Joe Montana or Jerome Bettis. That person may still have been very good. There can only ever be one "best." Just because you're not him does not make your accomplishments any less important.

For the most part, pressure points are useless in ground combat. You're better off using leverage based techniques. Case in point...your sensei couldn't find it on you. Now make that a life and death situation. That could be a big problem.

http://pkcheadquarters.org/tournamentschedule.html several of these tournaments have a continuous division.

I think the answer to this depends completely on the reason you're practicing kata.

If you're willing to try out Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu than I would recommend it. Pedro Sauer (a 7th degree Gracie black belt) has several affiliate schools in Utah. Salt Lake City is where he used to live himself until he moved to VA a few years ago. Here is a link to his website. You'll be able to search the affiliate schools there by state. You'll also be able to get a feel for who Pedro is. http://www.pedrosauer.com/pedrosauer/page.asp?id=10 To answer your question more directly, yes. You should expand your search to include any and every martial art.

You will need to totally immerse yourself into the grappling art for a while (certainly more than a year). Then, when you are good at the grappling art (Judo in your case) you can begin incorporating your striking into it again. Don't get me wrong...I'm not saying don't train any striking for a few years. I'm just saying that you shouldn't try to combine then until you're absolutely sure you really have a strong understanding of the grappling and how to do it properly. I suggest the same in reverse as well. Some people go learn two or three boxing strikes and immediately try to incorporate it into grappling. That is also a mistake. Every martial art is more than the sum of its techniques. It is and should be an overall strategy. Understanding that strategy is necessary before in can be employed properly.

Luta Livre and BJJ (especially the gracies) have a pretty rocky past. I tend to agree with your point of view.

Certainly. I would also add that it's one of the few that can be practiced at full speed/strength in both practical use and when just sparring with a friend.

You're probably focusing too much on the action of your leg. That's a common mistake. Great point! I'm wondering also ps1, if their NOT driving forward to aide in the off-balance of the uke. This also could be a problem trying to execute Osoto Gari. What do you think? absolutely correct! The focus of Osoto gari should be driving the top half of the body far beyond the base provided by the legs. The leg reap is just icing on the cake, ensuring they can't step back to recover their balance.

You're probably focusing too much on the action of your leg. That's a common mistake.

Tani otoshi would be a good option.

sukui nage maybe? But if you're really low, it's gonna be tough....I'd just sit to guard I don't like getting thrown...it hurts.

WOW!!!! THIS IS SOOOOO GREAT!!!! Do you realize what you've found? I'm not sure you do!! It's an opportunity to improve. Not only that...it's several opportunities to improve. First, you need to improve your attitude. That is to say your overconfidence in your skills. You've learned that if you don't constantly hone them...they begin to fade away. Second, you have learned that you will constantly come upon bumps in the road. Some you will swerve and miss. Others, however, you hit and flatten a tire. You can either stop and give up...or fix the tire and keep on truckin'. Never be discouraged by failure. You learn very little from success. But failure is the ultimate learning tool. Congratulations and keep up the hard work. They day you stop failing is the day you stop learning. When that happens...what's the point?

The main problem with defending gi chokes, as well as any other submissions is this. You're already late. Anyone good, who gets two hands in your collar, is going to finish. Tucking the chin is not a good defense. It's a late defense. Sometimes that's your only option...but you must start off in good position. Here are some tips to avoid chokes. 1. Posture!!! Posture!!! Posture!!! DO NOT ALLOW YORSELF TO BE BROKEN DOWN! If you have a straight back, the opponent is going to have trouble getting into your collar. The beginning of this vid is a good demonstration...Tony talks about punches...but imagine it's someone reaching for your collar. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf-dBq1NHOI&feature=channel_page 2. When the opponent grabs your lapel deep, you need to pass to the opposite side. NEVER TRY TO PASS THROUGH AN OPPONENT'S ARM. It sets up an easy choke! I'll post a vid later with some advice on that. So...if your left side is being grabbed, you need to go right. This will keep your other lapel out of reach. Try those two things for now. I'll make a vid tonight and try to publish it by tuesday on youtube.

Now you see why it takes so long to earn a black belt. You're exactly right. It can be very overwhelming. Once your drill enough, all the steps become second nature. Once they become second nature...there are more pieces to learn. And so on.

Ok. I had Tony demonstrate these. He also includes some good setups for them. Hope you enjoy.

I love that video!!!!! Actually, most of Eddie's vids are very good! He gets a bad rap from people who can't do his moves.

Any particular position? Guard, Side Control, ect...

Yeah...we get some too. More of them on MMA nights than BJJ nights. However, one of my friends has taken it upon himself to handle the "cowboys" as he likes to call them. He's 6'3" 240lb and getting ready for brown belt. In all reality, he wouldn't need Jiujitsu to be intimidating, that just adds to it. In the end, they either shape up or he shapes them up. This method has some merit. Tony, our instructor, just ignores them and doesn't promote them. Eventually they get tired of it and go away or fix their attitude. This method works well too.

That's absolutely right. In fact, it may be a good idea to send each of your students this video and tell them that this is what good jiujitsu looks like. Not two people grunting and squeezing trying to make anything work.

Glad to hear you had fun. Sounds like the typical BJJ class. We do a little less cardio, but the general format is the same. But we're also a school of Gracie heritage, so I guess that makes sense.

Flowing is always great for training. However, you need to make sure your students are doing good technique when doing it. Otherwise it just builds bad habits.

Don't sweat it. Officially, only a blue or white gi can be worn in competition. However, I have NEVER seen anyone asked not to compete due to gi color. As far as it being for cocky rooks...that only applies if you ARE actually a cocky rook. BJJ is a really laid back environment. Nobody will really care what color gi you wear.