Dragn

Its for the fun! I dont do it, but I used to compete in wushu which is also very acrobatic and flashy. Some people just love perfoming highly technical and spectacular jumping kicks. Its a rush. Just like doing a skateboard or a bike trick.I had a passion for doing spectacular tricks and flips when I was younger.I also loved MA. Wushu gave me a way of combining my 2 passions into one powerfull challenging and spectacular artform. I wasn't really concerned with self defence at the time. Most people who practise extream performance oriented arts realise its not practical, but thats not what they do it for anyway. These days I keep my performance arts and fighting arts separate. I perform with fire knives, incorporating alot of staff , double sword and jumping tricks in my routine. If someone was to ask me how I would apply some of my moves against an opponent I'd just laugh at them! I dont carry my knives around with me and I dont use them for SD! I perform with them ,and I get great enjoyment from it. I also make a few bucks here and there putting on shows. Similarly xtream MArtists can use their talents in the movie/entertainment industry. The MA may have started out as primarily SD oriented but they have evolved into a variety of forms, each with a place and a purpose in this diverse world.

I dont have time to post in here so often. But I call in for a read pretty regularly. I've been training about 16 years all up. But not in one straight run. And divided among various styles. Started out in TKD and earned my 1st dan at age 16, 2nd dan at 17. But it was a bit of a mc dojo, and I was too young and naive to really know the difference. So I dont consider myself a black belt by my standards. From there I spent a number of years jumping from style to style looking for one that contained everything I wanted in a MA. Problem was I wanted too much! I love all the arts from Tai chi to wushu to MMA. I wanted to do all of them. I went from TKD to Muay Thai. Then to Aikido and Kyokushin in Japan. Then I stopped training for a few years. Got back into Kyokushin in Australia while cross training in some obscure Kung Fu style. Then capoeira and Shaolin Long fist , and chi gong. Then on to competing in Wushu in Japan. Then I started cross training in Muay Thai again and competing in sanshou. At this point I realised I had wasted alot of precious time trying to learn too much varied material without really excelling at any one in particular. I was the classic practisioner of many but master of none. So thats when I finally decided to let go of my passion for flashy acrobatics and focus on real fighting skills. I started training seriously in Daidojuku about 2 years ago and I'm still going strong. 34 years old and more addicted to training then ever. Here in Japan I dont often get the opportunity to discuss MA with other English speakers, so I really enjoy the discussions on these forums. Hope I can share something of value to someone out there and expand my own understanding at the same time.

Pressure points deffinately have a place in our training either as a means of causing instant pain or releasing a grip and even occasionaly for a KO. But to see pressure points as some kind of magical all powerfull technique is a grave mistake. Many of them arent so effective against an adrenalin pumped attacker.And you have to be realistic in the way you apply them. I saw a clip from a Dillman video where one of his students hit 3 different points on the attacker while he just stood there letting her do it ,and then slumped to the floor apparrently KOed. Supposedly the first 2 hits were primers setting up the right chi flow for a knock out strike to the 3rd point. It was really sad. Like anybody is just going to stand there...... Every art has some kind of pressure point use. Even Muay Thai kicks to the thigh are aimed at a certain points to inflict more pain. But what I've seen Dillman teaching is just rediculous.

Yeah thats one of the real applications for a so called outer forearm block. Which isnt even a block at all. I used to train with some Kempo guys who would practise it on each other holding their palm over their neck to help cushion the blow. Didn't help much though. I was seeing stars a number of times from just light hits. It takes some practise to be able to hit the exact spot though, which I aint gonna tell you over the net. If you really want to learn that kinda stuff you should find an instructor willing to teach you when he thinks your ready for it. A good shot to the jaw or temple is probabaly the easiest and most direct method anyway.

Boxing defences crude and difficult to counter from!??????? Man you gotta go to a boxing gym and try some TMA blocks on a boxer. Most of them just dont work. Personally I think thats because alot of the movements enterpreted as blocks in TMA were not even meant to be blocks in the first place, but are actually strikes. I used to get really exasperated when I couldn't seem to be able to aply alot of my blocks effectively.I thought it was because I was too slow or something. Don't make the same mistake. Since I developed my boxing skills though my defence is way stronger. Blocking slows your counters.While your blocking hes already throwing the next punch. Use of foot work, slips, bobs etc enable you get out of danger and counter your opponent AS hes punching!. Some pros have this skills so well honed that it looks easy. But dont be fooled. Its not an easy skill to develop at all. But worth the effort.

Nice article. I turned to MuayThai after getting really exasperated with the impractical training methods I had been getting at so called traditional dojos for years. Then a while ago I met some guys who practised real Okinawan kenpo.Their enterpretations of the movements were completely diferent to the things I had been taught in Korean and Japanese systems, And waay more efective. It really opened my eyes to what karate was originally intended to be like. The training was realistic and they were also open to encorporating effective techniques from other arts.I trained with them for a while and really got alot out of it. But my body is so accustomed to Muay Thai now that I decided to stick to what I'm doing. I think when people refer to traditional arts they're generally talking about Japanese and Korean influenced Karate and dont realise that its very different to what was practised in Okinawa.

Great tips Andrew!

Absolutely! If you do kickboxing and you're going to Thailand you gotta do some training! Dont worry they have some camps that cater for foriegn visiters with milder training schedules. The wmtc camp in Koh Samui had a wide variety of levels when I was there.From begginners through to pro.There are similar camps in Bankok and Phuket. Trust me you'll learn alot. Dont miss the opportunity.

Hehehe I know what you mean.I'm typically a long range fighter too.Aggressive guys who just push in close with hard heavy punches always really test my abilities. Theres been some good advice givin already.Heres my 2c: Dont move straight back.Always circle to 1 side or the other and counter with hooks, low kicks etc. Work on your balance and keeping a solid center of gravity.Often guys who kick alot tend to work from a high center of gravity and are thereby easily off balanced and pushed back. Are knees aloud?They are a great counter against punches.Tie the guy up in clinch and use your knees. And how about takedowns? I used to spar with a guy who sounds a bit like your friend.I couldn't beat him at punching range but I had better takedowns and ground skills then him, so when he came in close I'd clinch knee takedown and lock/choke.We had alot of fun and I really learned alot from fighting him. Otherwise theres the good old front kick.Work on really driving your hip into it and pushing your weight forward.After eating a few of those as he comes in he may loose a liitle of his confidence. And of course work on your punch defences and evasion skills. Well knowbody said it was going to be easy. But as previously mentioned be thankfull for him. He's going to make you a much better fighter.

I read somewhere that kyokushin adopted the use of low kicks and using more swing in the hips after kyokushin fighters fought against Thai fighters and realised the power in their kicking technique. The kyokushin mawashigeri kick is somewhere inbetween a Muay Thai roundhouse and a regular Karate one. More hip swing then most karate styles but not as much as MuayThai, and also utilising a snapping motion. So depending on who you're talking to you'll get a different enterpretation.Karateka will say they swing their hips whereas MT fighters will say they are snapping.

I have total respect for Mas Oyama but I beleive it is only natural for arts to evolve.I went from kyokushin to Muay Thai, and had a real hard time with the superior boxing skills of my opponents.Its not just a matter of striking higher.The whole fighting range is altered. If you think the kihon blocking defences will protect you from a skilled boxer then you're really in trouble.Kyokushin fighters who compete in K1 aren't using just kyokushin.They're incorporating alot of boxing drills into their training.Its a must. If you dont do it then you have a very exploitable weakness.As a serious MArtist I am always looking to transend any weaknesses.Isn't that what true budo is about? Whether its bare flesh against flesh is not whats important.Its the spirit behind your training and your dedication to constant improvement that really matters.

I practise Daidojuku in Japan.Thanks for doing that article! Lately its also being refered to as Kudo( the way of emptiness?) rather than Karate, signifying its evolution beyond the boundries of "style" and its openness to encorporate techniques from any MA.Well thats my understanding of it anyway.Its still pretty hard to find English written material on the art.What do I know I just go to the dojo and train! These days we're seeing alot more Muay Thai and BJJ being encorporated into the system. Elbows and knees are also allowed in competition.Usually ground fighting is limited to 30 secs and only twice per match. Its a pretty hard core system.When I tell people I do Daidojuku they look at me like "what r u nuts?" I like the realistic nature of the training.Its like a mix of NHB and kyokushin.It can serve as a good starting point for those looking to get into pro NHB.Or for someone like me it offers the benifits of MMA training and competition combined with a Japanese budo mentality. I love it!

These days alot of kick boxers here in Japan dont spin the full 360. Focus on projecting your body weight forward to give the kick more power and length. After missing you plant your foot slightly past 180. This may seem like a dangerous position and it would be if you stayed there. But if your opponent has moved back far enough for you to miss it means he's probably out of range too. After planting your foot immediately push off the floor with it to bring yourself back into regular fighting stance. Once you get the hang of this it can sometimes be preferable to turning your back. I've seen alot of Thais do this too. Both methods have pro's and cons, it pays to practise both.

congrats! But aah, whats a yellow band? I've never heard of gradings in MT before.How many ranks are there?

Yeah you deffinately will need to get your self in shape if your going to do any training in Thailand.I'm planning to head over there again in January. Do you know where you're going to go?

Performance martial arts.Alot of traditionalists will probably trash these flashy forms.But being an entertainer myself I can appreciate the skill and beauty of these kind of performances. As long as people realise that this is a performance and not real Karate, I dont see any harm in it. They obviously trained very hard to develop those skills.

trainins great. Just came back from summer training camp.Got to work with some top ranking Japanese kickboxers and a current world champ. Got some tips on little details which can make a difference.Like curling your wrist slightly toward you at the moment of impact when throwing a hook.It adds just a touch more sting to the punch. Also got some tips on how to set up back spinning blows which I sometimes like to throw. I'm getting better at recognising my weaknesses and correcting them lately. For eg: my poor ballance when sparring.I have a bad habit of leaning back when I'm on the defence which puts me off ballance and makes my counters weak and sometimes awkward. Not to mention leaving me open for body shots. So I'm really focussing on keeping my upper body forward now, over my centre and not leaning back.I find I'm able to bob and weave more effectively, with less energy wasted, and I'm in a better position to counter.This one detail has been the main cause of alot of my problems in sparring. Although my technique was spot on and powerfull on the pads I was having difficulty transfering that skill into my sparring, because I was caught off ballance alot. I'm also working on elliminating little unnecessary movements that waste energy. Turning 35 soon and stamina is really a big issue to deal with. I have to find ways to conserve my energy so I can keep up with my younger competitors.

I used to train at the Kamata dojo in Japan with Kazumi before he was a big champ.He's an awesome fighter. I think he's incorporating more kickboxing into his style now.I fought against one of his blackbelts in a kickboxing match last year. I did kyokushin for nearly 2 years. that was many years ago though. Now I do Daidojuku which originated from kyokushin. Been training in it here in Tokyo for about 2 1/2 years. I'm 3rd kyuu. I love the fact that my style has its roots in kyokushin. I stiil regard Oyama sosai as the forefather of my art. OSU. I also cross train in Muay Thai, which I've been doing for about 3 years.

What I'm having trouble understanding is how this guy who is supposed to be a shodan ever got his rank with that kind of an attitude problem. In my dojo we all fight hard, but we all respect each other. Showing up without a uniform, and taking cheap shots on your partners???? If anybody acted like that in my class he'd learn the unacceptability of his actions Long before shodan.He'd first be warned and if he didn't shape up he'd learn the hard way by getting the ***** beaten out of him by his seniors. Alowing someone of such low character to be promoted to that rank represents the failure of your instructor as a teacher.

Sasori_te, You think that the samurai code of bushido was only about following orders? That was just one part of it. I'm not saying all samurai were perfect examples of morality.Far from it. But the code of Bushido had a great influence on the creation of the Japanese martial arts. Read the books of any of the great Japanese masters .The message is very clear, the Budo Martial arts of Japan are very spiritual in nature. If you study Goju and dont see anything beyond mere destructive fighting techniques then you are sadly missing the point. Perhaps officers are over romantic.Then again perhaps the average infantryman has difficulty understanding higher ideals. I guess we just disagree.

Yeah elbows and knees is pretty extream! I tried training in 4 different arts on a 6 day week training schedule at one stage and my body just started falling apart after a few months. Now I do Daidojuku twice a week. MuayThai once, and jujitsu whenever I can squeeze a lesson in to my tight work schedule. I wish I could just quit my job and train full time, but I have a wife and bills! I've always had a problem limiting myself to 1 art. If I had just stuck to 1 for the 15 years that i've been training I'd be alot higher ranking than I am now and alot more skilled in 1 limited way of fighting and thinking. I've made some mistakes and wasted alot of years on inpractical methods of training but in the end I think I've come out alot more of an allrounded and capable martial artist for it.

Obviously people have different deffinitions of what a warrior is. When I refer to a warrior lifestyle I'm speaking of a life of dedication to following a certain path of developing your inner self.This is a common philosophy amoung the traditional Japanese arts which use the term "do". i.e:karate-do, aikido.......And is also found in many arts and warrior cultures from other countries. It has less to do with soldiers and wars, more to do with facing life with conviction to do what you know to be right despite whatever obstacles stand before you. Ghandi is a prime example of the warrior mentality I refer to. Few men posess the kind of strength he had. Phisical stregnth is nothing compared to inner strength. Its more then just mental strategies to beat your opponent. Its a total lifestyle. The battle is fought within. The results are seen without. To some this may seem extreme, or over romanticised. But for some of us this is a very real, and very powerful way of living. Theres a good book by ......Morgan called "living the martial way" which speaks in more detail on this subject. In the words of Mas Oyama, one of the most feared and respected Karate-ka in history: "subjecting yourself to rigorous training is more for the sake of forging a resolute spirit that can vanquish the self, than it is for developing a strong body." "Since Karate exists for cultivating the spirit and training the body, it must be a moral way surpassing mere technique"

I agree with alot of what empty flower said. Even here in Japan the spiritual aspects of the traditional arts is losing out to sport oriented fighting styles. Its a shame, because the rewards of training in a warrior lifestyle far surpass mere fighting skills. But kids these days just want a quick fix. They're just not interested in the deeper aspects. As a result ther are alot more dangerous people walking our streets. Trained in potentially lethal techniques but without wisdom and self discipline. Eager to prove how tough they are . i.e."martial thugs" The traditionalists only have themselves to blame though. By being too rigid and hardheaded they failed to evolve with new developments in fighting concepts and as a result their arts became obsolete. Many of those who did evolve made the mistake of forgetting their roots, and so although their arts became more effective, they also became shallow. I imagine its even worse in western countries. The concept of "do" is not part of your culture. Self introspection and spiritual development are often scoffed at. And with the amount of violence around people just wanna know what works in a fight. I guess I cant blame them really. I personally feel that for an art to be truly effective and truly complete it must be both fighting effective and spiritually focused. Thats what I'll be teaching.

I'm sure the Thais do suffer alot of serious shin injuries in competition.But theres no reason for it to happen in the gym/dojo. When I was in Thailand we always used thick paded leather shin guards when doing sparring. And I was surprised at how light the contact was in sparring. I was told to tone it down when I started sparring pretty hard with 1 of my trainers.This is because they fight in the ring so regularly, that they cant afford to risk injury in the gym. I have fairly weak shins(for a kickboxer) I cracked my shin bone in a tourney and it became a recuring problem.But since I brought back a bunch of those shin guards my shin injuries are alot less frequent now. When we spar in the dojo we dont go 100% power. We hold back just enough to keep injuries to a minimum.We focus on power on the bag and the mitts, and go for speed and technique when sparring.Thats pretty much the norm in all full contact gyms here. In the week or so before a fight we might spar without the shin pads just to get used to the feeling of bare shins, but we always take it real easy on the contact so as to avoid any injuries. In the ring, shin injuries are almost unavoidable. But that break on the video was just NASTY! I've never seen anything like that in a fight.

That sucks about your students leg. Don't you use any kind of shin protection?