Chaz

You have a very good point made here about restraint, and your right, we do practice restraint but it is a different type than a tournament fighter would use, once again I feel your only seeing the surface. Correct me if I'm wrong, and lets be mature here, but in a tournament you are fighting for points, and those points are made by making clean hits. So in a tournament your aim would never be to kill as to go for the throat, Spine, or to punch in the kidney to get a painful reaction backwards to open up all sorts of lethal opritunittys in order to end the fight in order to survive, your going for the point, you allready have it for that matter... The only kind of restraint I can relate to is the force of my blows, but the mental part is well intact where as the tourny guys is not. When I am in free work out I am hitting vital points with discretion causeing different reactions to my partner that I know the concequnces of which will open oppritunitys to me, the tourny guy, he's got the point what does it matter to him? Thats why I don't agree with MENTAL restraint. It would be silly if my instructor said " Ok, if you hit here or you do this, this will break this or kill him. But don't practice it because you'll be disqualified if you become accustomed to it and use it in a tournament." It's all on the surface... You have to train deeper if you really want the best protection out of youself. (Also, we do things to elevate our adreniline, you don't think a San Soo practitioner gets tunnel vision?) To me it's just much more comprehensive and efficient, maybe not always at a lower level, But almost certainly in the Mastery. I hope I'm making my opinion clear...

Sorry, I was a little vague/general witht that statement. What I was trying to imply is and average everyday MA trainee, so not a Pro MMA, or a San Soo Master. Just the average joe that trains in either San Soo or a tourny based art. And when I speak of mind-set and psychology, I'm thinking more about the deception, and art of war reasoning involved, the witt of REAL combat not the endurance of a prescribed fight (Which I'm not trying to put those pro's down, i know they are tough) for we all know, a real conflict will almost never be anticipated before it happens unless your acustom to getting yourself into trouble... But, I also base my opinion on one of San Soo most valued principals, "If your opponent is a better fighter than you, don't give him a chance to be..." The Tao of War and All Combat is deception. I hope I'm explaining my opinion clear enough... (And it was under 20 seconds...)

Learning how to be effective in combat is important, but don't forget that forms and basics still need alot of practice, they're your foundation and with out them you cannot be the best fighter you can be...

All of us in San Soo develope our own unique style, because we are all different, so there cannot be an absolute certain style... Since I am small I rely on different techniqes then a large man would...ect...

You definately can, no question... I'm a christian and I've found ways to be spuritual and philosophic in my training accordingly.

Pain is your best friend...Simple as that...

Having a black belt means your probably wearing pants...

Run! A 30 year practitioner and only a 5th dan! RUN!!!

lol, forget it... Thats what I did, and I've only benefited from it...

I'd rather be tried by twelve than carried away by six...

Kendo is one...

I'd like a date please, I happen to study chinese history and I want to see if you can back that bold statement...

Just remeber what happens to a house without a strong foundation. Form is not all there is but without it, you have nothing to build on...

You know, MA is not only skin deep. From the way you speak you seem to not comprehend this. For one, "too deadly" is only one reason out of many that some arts don't compete. The main reason I justify my art and the reason we don't spare with it is psychology. If all you do is train for the next tournament/cage fight, you will NEVER become the best fighter you can be. You are teaching yourself restraint and failure to strike vital areas, and most importantly being very shallow in the mental part of combat. Sure, you might be able to protect yourself on the street, but not nearly as effective as an average San Soo practitoner can. It's not the technique that is most deadly, but the knowledge, mindset, and the deception that is practiced and utilized... Even Sun Tzu would agree with me, read the Art of War. In my opinion Sport MA is the shallow way to learn the art of self-defense. (Even Cage Fighting...)

Get off the power-line and let 'um have it!

San Soo! One of the arts mottos is. "If your opponent is a better fighter than you, don't give him a chance to prove it..." If you want more info PM me.

Think simple, if your actually in a situation where you have to protect yourself, be spontanious and don't plan what your opponent or you yourself are going to do, that will lead to disaster. Thats all the advice I can really give you at this point...

Cool

2-3 days a week depending on my scheduale, about 5-8 hours a week not counting the training I do at home and with my friends...

I played soccer for about 10 years and got invited to play professionally in Belgiam when i was only 13. Unfortunately we couldn't afford for me to go at the time but who cares... They wanted me I also played basketball and baseball as a boy, worked out in high school, you know the usual...

Simple, people are uninformed and only see mainstream media... Not everyones obssesed with MA like us.

You should really consider palms to the nose and under the chin, your fist can get messed up if you punch at everything...

Bruce Lee wasn't.

Yes we do free workouts as well as one step sparring in a sense, but what I'm reffering to is Full-contact put pads on and jump around the place sparring... This is where a San Soo practitioner can not use his/her full ability. In san soo you learn psychology, you know when you gouge an eye or kick a groin, there will be a certain reaction that will open up another target or shift balance in your opponent. This is a crucial part to any true martial art. Full contact completely throws this aspect out...

Google!