ps1

I love that gi! It's kinda like a Pedro Sauer/Gracie Jiujitsu billboard.

Especially since your grading in a week, you should get with your instructor on that. You don't want to take advice from us that may be different. I'm sure your instructor will be understanding.

I'll also point out that in the first situation, as the opponent attempts to pull away, this is prime opportunity to drop to the single leg.

Chuck wins in the first round. KO!

Thanks for the info Bushido and YoungMan! I actually want to get into TKD again at some point. Really just waiting for the timing to be right.

I know what' you're saying Justin Treadway! I get the same thing all the time. Actually, because I currently study at a BJJ academy, many people asked me if I "switched styles" because chuan fa doesn't work. I am always sure to explain to them that it works just fine and I still practice it. I just happen to really like BJJ also. I think most of the "doesn't work" stuff comes from watching MMA events. But they never stop to think that those are sporting events and no one who does just one style (Kung fu, Karate, or otherwise) ever fares well in MMA events anymore. The other problem is that Kung Fu arts tend to get a bad reputation from the fake chi masters that are out there. I've seen some real wackos claiming to do the impossible. Of course, it only works on their students. That's another story though. Don't let the negativity get you down. Just keep doing what you like to do. Most nay sayers tend to be people who don't know what they're talking about anyway.

Looks like we have similar views here.

That's great news (both that you're still alive and that Mr. Gilbert fared so well)!!! Congrats!!

Finally!!! I figured out my software!! I've got the video posted on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDJraM4ARNg The quality isn't great, but it's my first you tube video ever. I just played with it until it was the right size. However, it's good enough to get the idea for the t-position/l-clinch. I don't go into alot of detail, but I think it's alright. Enjoy.

Since the title of the thread is "deadly techniques-are you prepared?" Let's try to define a little about what that means. I say this because I'm not convinced we're all on the same page about it. I'm going to use the following post as an example. I'm not trying to pick on you Kajukenboper, yours was just the closest one. I get from this post that a "deadly technique" is purposefully causing someone to die. That is, you break their neck/ use the 5-point-palm-exploding heart technique or any other method you feel WILL cause death to the opponent. I look at a "deadly technique" more as a matter of using "deadly force." That would be any type of lateral vascular restraint (chokes), weapons (make-shift or otherwise), and even certain types of empty hand strikes (gouges, stomping a downed opponent...). The exact techniques would vary from state to state and even local court district to local court district (as court rulings are what sets precident for what is deadly or lethal force). What are some other opinions on this? What do you think of when you hear the term "deadly technique?"

This is always the question isn't it? Do you ever really know anyone's intentions? In Iraq, you're a driver in a convoy. You see a father push his child into the road in front of you. Do you stop? Stopping would hold up the convoy and make you and your soldiers suceptible to ambush. Rules of engagement tell you that stopping is the wrong thing to do and that you should hit the child. But it goes through your mind, "what if it was an accident? What if the dad was reaching for his child trying to stop him from going into the road? What if..what if...what if..." Clearly this is a disturbing and extreme example. But it's a real example. You will never KNOW the intentions of anyone. You can only make your decisions on perception. That's why the saying, "perception is reality" rings so true. I think I see what you're saying here. I would say it goes more toward what a person considers "deadly techniques." When I say I would use deadly techniques, I am saying that I would make sure the opponent is incapacitated and not able to continue their attack. This may entail a single punch to a vital area, an elbow strike, a rear naked choke, breaking the knee, or finding a make shift weapon. Whatever is necessary to ensure my survival, or the survival of my family.

I think the real problem with that is determining who is a master any more. I don't remember the exact ranks of the guys who fought in the first few UFC cometitions, but I think some claimed to be as high as 5th or 6th dan. As we all know, that doesn't necessarily mean anything though. At this point it wouldn't make a difference because the rules of the sport are set up to cater to the types of fighters you see today. That's not a bad thing, just the way it is. Bottom line: In the UFC or any other top notch MMA event, if you only know one system, you will lose rather quickly. That goes for Karate, TKD, BJJ or any other martial art. If that's all you know, you'll lose.

Sounds like you're just interested in what's next. I think it's pretty normal to be asking questions. Don't expect all of them to get answered right away. But it's good to ask. It will let the instructor know where you stand and that you care.

Wow! That's pretty crazy. It looks like JJIF style fighting except tougher. It's like kyokushin meets judo meets sub grappling. Honestly though, would mats on the floors have killed them? Crazy. Cool but crazy.

I think that kicking power is more a product of speed and mass than it is from flexibility. However, flexible muscles will typically be looser and more relaxed, which can help with speed. However, I don't think it is that determinant of a factor when it comes to power output. Well... others would say proper form. Its a combination of a lot of things. But as my example, if i can kick over your head as my LIMIT, an your limit is barely the head.. obviously my kick compared to yours would be stronger at the head area. That same kicker who can barely kick to the head, would still struggle to get proper form to the neck area, where as the high kicker kicks even more powerful then the guy in my example. Some people are so flexiable a kick to the neck area feels the same as someone with less flexiablity kicking to the stomach. I can see your point, but some of that comes down to how tall the person is. Someone who is 5'4" tall is going to have to kick higher to kick my head than someone who is 6'4" tall. The agles will be different. Bushido is exactly correct. Power is certainly the product of speed and mass. Actually it's velocity and mass. The difference between velocity and speed is that velocity has a vector (direction) associated with it. Speed is just a number that says how fast something is traveling. That's where the angles (aka: proper technique) come in and why they are important. Anyway, as Bushido also pointed out, the person who can easily kick higher is likely more relaxed through that movement. Therefore they will move more quickly through it (relaxed muscles move quicker than tense ones, which are actually done moving but that's another discussion). So you're both saying the same thing. Bushido has simply explained the physics behind why the more flexible person may be perceived as having more power in the kick. Hope this helps clarify a little. As for the original post. I think being overly flexible is certainly great ( I happen to be very flexible and love it) but not necessary. Additionally, it's important (I think Bushido also mentioned this earlier) to have strength throughout that flexibility. Here's a good drill. Make sure to warm up good. Then pick a kick and kick as high and fast as you can. Be sure to mark where the kick came to. Now, slowly attempt to raise your leg to the same level. The level you can slowly raise your leg to is your actual strong and controlled kicking range. The rest is just show and should not be depended upon. The more you do this drill, the higher you'll be able to raise your leg and the better your kicks will become.

So is Ho Sin Sul self defense? I'm not well versed in Korean and I only studied TKD for a few years (age 6 to 9). It was very sport oriented at that time. Lots of forms and not much else. Anyway, assuming we're talking about self defense, why would it not be a part of the testing curriculum. What is the doctrine (mission statement) of the art if self defense is optional?

Thanks for comming by! Welcome

Is anybody? There's no way to train for this. But it's better to have to deal with the aftermath than to be the tragedy. It sucks. Period.

Yes, this is correct. The foot is traveling faster than the rest of the leg! This is because the shin is one of the most dense bones in the body. It supports the weight and takes all of the shock and impact you put on it. Only your femur (thigh bone) compares in strength and durability. Plus the shape of the shin gives it a nice little ridge to strike with, kinda like having a blade on it. Less little bones, more dense, sharp, not much loss of impact = better to strike with IMO

It's nice when a problem solves itself sometimes. Now you know to be more careful next time and the student is performing well! Lessons learned by all

Be sure to monitor what you eat. Weight loss is mostly dictated by your diet. Exercise will get your cardio and muscular strenth/endurance up, but your diet will reduce the amount of body fat on you. The combination of the two will make you lean. This doesn't mean to skip meals or anything. Just eat a little less at each meal. Choose healthier foods and so on. I suggest consulting a registered dietitian about it or buy a book on the subject. Be careful not to get caught up in "fad diets." They don't work and are often detrimental to your body over long periods of time. It should be a life style change. Not something you do for a few weeks or months and then go back to your old ways. The advice everyone has given you on your cardio is fabulous. Take small steps at this and don't expect to lose everything at once. It will take time.

This thread is along the same lines as what you're asking. http://www.karateforums.com/deadly-techniques-are-you-prepared-vt31503.html Enjoy:)

This seems like the appropriate thread for this. Today may have been one of my worst days of training ever:) It's been too long since I practiced any of my boxing skills (over a year). I decided it was time to get back into the MMA class (just for fun) and proceded to fight like a wimp! I even caught myself closing my eyes as a cross was coming my way. Oh well, guess I just train harder and get to that class more often now. The best part of the training session was that I found a HUGE weakness in my skills. I won't let it last long.

Wow!!! There are some really great ideas here. Thank you all for sharing. Keep em' coming.

Thanks. I do what I can. I have seen several instances of the OODA loop, and if you get caught behind the 8 ball, it is very hard to catch up. Why wait? Exactly what MSG Howe asserts. The person/ team/ unit that can apply the loop the quickest will win. Period.