Harmony

I know your pain, I recently started in kyokushin and I could hardly move the first week!

No classic kung fu movie collection is complete without Master of the Flying Guillotine. I also like any of them that show how the young disciple must train in all those bizarre exercises to learn to fight and take revenge.

Is there not a chief instructor? Someone needs to get a handle on those senior students. If this is their typical behavior, they have missed something in there training. If the main school administrator is oblivious to this problem, I would suggest bringing it to his/her attention, or perhaps suggesting to your daytime teacher that he consider developing his own school.

If your not within arms length, or there is alot of space between you, I wouldnt risk it, unless of course I felt he/she is squeezing the trigger regardless. Then I would suggest remembering the gun is useless without the human. Never attack the weapon, attack the human. Before I get too flamed, I know there are circumstances that may allude to dealing directly with the assailants weapon, but Im speaking in the broader sense.

I'm sorry for your loss.

The Bujinkan teaches or has taught eye exercises, for increased reflex to movement in dimly lit areas or at night. I"ve heard Stephen Hayes speak on them, and they are covered in text within one of his books.

Even handed and informative moderation. (Thanks Patrick)

I started MA at 7 so I dont recall too many fights before then, but because of unusual circumstances, I have been in several real fights.

Im placing an order this week, so I'll look into it for you.

I respect others traditions, but to me the belt at any color is just a symbol to remind us of the level we have achieved in self understanding and technical prowess. What Ive become through training, no belt can encompass, wash it or not, wear it or not, not important to me. Theyre just adornments that accompany the learning process on the the way to my main goal, and that is to be the best fighter I can be, and survive the best I can.

I double checked first so I know Im right, the 2005 century catalog sells multi colored or solid, and yes the have purple and green. So maybe they can still be an option. Good luck regardless of what you choose!

Although I wouldnt agree that sparring full contact or not, is actually combat training. I still think sparring is going to benefit you because you can see the techniques youve learned applied to a fighting situation. That alone is helpful to your training. Does it prepare you for actual combat? Alone, I would say no. Still a very important part of training though.

Im not so eloquent as to know all the right words to say, so I'll borrow a quote I once read: "A Black Belt is more than something you wear, its more than something you earn, a Black Belt is something you become." Considering my past, and my life, it is one of the most remarkable events of my life.

I hope that my greatest moments are yet to come, but to date, the greatest achievement/moment for me was hearing several small children shouting yes sir! at the first class of the first day my school opened. I felt like I arrived at the first rest stop on the Martial journey.

I incorporate it in my triaining regimen once a month. I also mix shugyo with a technique of training from 10 pm at night until dawn. I offer shugyo to my students roughy 4 times a year. Some however get together with me for occasional private sessions. In my humble opinion no training system is complete without it. Glad to hear from someone else who does it.

Funny you say that, I saw how several traditional tactics fail miserably against seasoned fight hungry inmates. The warden seldom made an appearance though! It falls mostly under the idea that we are always looking and preparing for combat, trying to focus and visualize staying ready in any situation. Not nearly as immature or hostile as you alluded. I too have been at it awhile (31 years) , not quite the length of your tenure, but I still respect your opinion, I enjoy several of your posts by the way. Kudos to you.

The motto at my Dojo reads: "Be professional, be polite, but have a plan to kill everyone in sight."

I wouldnt advise the windpipe thing in this particular situation. You cant give someone there life back after you take it. Striking his throat would ruin two lives his and yours, not worth it. Plenty of other good advise listed above, choose wisely.

When I first decided to teach, I was in a new area. It was my home town but I had been away nearly 20 years. So once I decided this is what I wanted to do, I sought out students. As I met people throughout my day to day, I used martial arts as an ice breaker, I would share my love for it, with anyone I met, and anyone who would listen to me. I worked in maintenance, and had a job at a church, where sone of the members began to know me. These were my first three students. From there I gained up to 11 through word of mouth. I created a website to cater to those people looking for private instruction only and gained several more students that way. As a marketing strategy I hired a female jazzercize/pilates teacher. Since I supply the building I charge her rent and 10% of her student tuition. Thus any of my students who have family interested in what she does, I send them to her, and I still earn, and vice versa, when she gets student relatives interested in MA, I sign them up. This works well but word of mouth is still the forwmost way to get poeple in the door.

"There are two rules that when followed help to create a superior martil artist." Rule 1: "Never share all that you know."

I know that in my century catalog there are several different colors available im sure they could accomodate you, try century.com

Just my opinion here, but if anyone is ever really attacked by suprise you should consider a few things. Regardless of the style you choose, or styles, there are aspects you need to train in to handle a real attack. Psychologically, you need to train yourself to not think like a victim, and react as such. This has to be trained on as well as techniques. Plus you need to be aware of the physical things happening to your body like adrenaline dumping, increase in blood pressure, fight or flight response, and freezing up. When training for real combat it is important not only prepare you body, but also your mind so that you can react and apply whatever your chosen techniques are. Even black belts can and have been easily hurt and beaten in street situations because they never really trained to develop those types of skills. Technique is important, but while deciding whether you prefer to throw, punch , kick, or grapple them, be sure you train yourself to remain calm and keep your focus under the stress of a surprise attack.

A warrior is someone that is fully engulfed with war. Strategies, tools of the trade, psychology, anything to gain an advantage on the battlefield. He or she spends a great deal of time contemplating techniques for battle readiness, while also training the body to handle the strain of combat. Having a high level of honor does not guarantee victory in war. The honorable and just dont always win. Honor is a wonderful trait, as are respect, chivalry, and the like. None of these will lengthen your life in combat though, and the true warrior is concerned mainly with survival, or the survival of whomever he is charged with protecting. By nature warriors are not cowards because they face an arena where injury and death are always possible, to undertake such a position takes courage to begin with. As far as laying down your life for another, that seems as though it would rarely be practical, especially for a warrior. Several do die while doing the jobs, but most I would venture to say did not set out to die, it happens in the heat of battle when their mind is on protecting their charge and defeating their foe. Cowards can have honor and self respect, yet lack the confidence to act. The fact is, honor, chivalry, and all the other romanticized traits have little to do with warriors or cowards.

The idiots of the world always want to try to defeat the martial artists. I suppose they see it as some glorified trophy they can share with all their idiot bully buddies, if they were to beat one. Then as expected they will file suit against you if you beat them. Sadly many of the laws favor the criminal in this aspect. Thats why in my school we teach our students not to readily advise everyone they train to fight. In fact I prefer they keep it as secret as possible. After all it is a personal development they seek, and it shouldnt matter if anyone else knows. In a street/real life attack we as martialists certainly shouldnt be pondering legal ramifications. The response should be swift and decisive, so we go home that day/night. Its about survival. The old adage is true, Id rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6. Also remember the 5 words of defense: "I feared for my life". Martial arts training is like any other weapon or tool of protection, the less your opponent knows about your weapons, the more effective they are. If you tell everyone you carry a gun, you can bet only gunmen will assault you. Be smart, be safe, stay alive. Leave the law to the lawyers.

Nice to know others share some of the same ideas. Thanx, and nice to meet you!!