BDelich

Jujitsu styles vary a great deal. Some are more of a composite system with throws, jointlocks, chokes, strikes, groundwork and some weapons training. Others might pick one of these areas and specialize in them. Check out the school and see if it it fits your child's needs/personality. Some throws are not appropriate for children in that they are too dangerous. Joint locks are not appropriate for children either because their bones are not mature enough to handle the type of stress joint locks put on the bones. Choke/strangle holds are not appropriate for children as well. Talk to the instructor and ask him/her if these things are taught and practiced with the kids. Most of the basic fundamentals can be taught to kids safely so that when they are old enough the other techniques can be introduced safely. Regards, Benjamin Delich

Yeah, that was the case. We just run class now from 730-9 now. I have not changed the website schedule. Then folks stay after nine to either roll or do iaido. Depends on who is there and what folks want to work on.

Rates are $50.00 a month. Members of the dojo have to pay a $50 fee each year to our organization (the AJJF). This fee provides members with a quarterly newsletter from the AJJF, Rank Registration/certification, the ability to go to our regional events (usually 3-4 big ones a year), and of course helps provide insurance for the dojo. Go to the school website for more info and you can follow the links to the AJJF for more reading... http://home.comcast.net/~bdelich/skkhome.htm Regards, Benjamin Delich

Teal, There is a Jujitsu school about 15 minutes west of Lancaster City on rt 23. It is located at the Silver Spring Dance Conservatory, 3730 Marietta Avenue, Silver Spring, PA 17575. 717-285-0550. We train in Danzan Ryu Jujitsu. Classes are 7:30-9 tues & thursdays. Some nights we roll (stand up and ground) after class and some nights we do Iaido. Depends who is there and what folks want to do. Come buy and watch a class if you wish. There are students at the dojo who have trained with both Masters mentioned on this thread as well as other instructors in the area. Respectfully, Benjamin Delich

Some things on knife defense: someone who knows how to use a knife is extremly tough to defend. They can probably hit you with some substantial hits in 2-4 seconds and then take a step back and watch you bleed and then finish you off once you get woozy. A good cut to the femoral artery gives you about 15-20 seconds before you go out and die. If you get attacked I hope it is in winter and you are wearing layers of clothes and wearing leather. long range weapons are best vs knife (belt, sticks, etc). I am sure everyone has heard of the police training video that shows a knife guy getting to the cop from 21 feet before the officer can remove his gun, sight the weapon and squeeze off a round. After 15 years of trainig in MA I still don't feel comfortable with knife defenses. We have done those drills where you put on the white shirt and lipstick on the blade and go at it. After about about five minutes you both are covered in red. In any case, someone said it right before, you are going to get cut. Another scary thing is to look at those prison videos with the shankings. Hard to see, fast and always to a vital organ scary stuff. Ben

TMA and MMA are training for two different things. A Traditional Martial artist is training in techniques and methods that were designed quite some time ago against various scenarios, people, and situations. It might be against Sword, knife, gun, spear, pole, jutte, group of people/animals, people in armor or whatever... The object here is to survive and possibly kill the other person in the process. These things also happen whenever. Out for a walk, taking a dump, sleeping, grocery shopping, or washing your car A Mixed Martial Artist is training to fight somone who is half naked, extremely well conditioned, and is using a specific cadre of techniques (that they have drilled and mastered). The object here is to tap them out or punch them out. Don't get me wrong, I do think that most MMA techniques could severely injure another person, but the intent is to take the person to tap out and win the match. This fight happens after you have been training and preparing for it, get all pumped up for it and you walk into a ring and someone yells "Lets get it on!" Another thing to consider is that MMA techniques all came out of some traditional art somewhere. Most of the chokes are all from pre-war judo, as are most of the throws, even the wrestling moves. The holds, pins, takedowns, punches, kicks, etc I have seen them all in TMA's somewhere at sometime either as a standard move or a variant of some sort. Personally I feel that it is like comparing apples and oranges. A TMArtist trains to improve their life and develop survival skills and strategies they can use in life all the time. A MMArtist trains to improve their life and develop their specific cadre of skills so they can be victorious in the ring. That might lead to some of the same benefits that TMA's get, but through different means. Regards, Ben

Hi Fangshi: I personally think it is very important to have a philosophy wound in with martial arts training. While in college I did a lot of research into the effects of martial srts trainng on people and here are some basics of what I found: Folks who trained in an art that had no philosophy or ethical code actually became more aggressive and more likely to use their art in a negative way. They also suffered from more emotional issues. Folks who trained in an art that had a strong ethical/moral component became more peaceful and comfortable with themselves as well as others. I think it is a good idea to always have a balance in anything you do. As part of their training young samurai had to learn calligraphy, art of tea, bonsai, or ibuki (flower art). These things were to help calm their spirit after training in martial arts all of the time. A way to help balance out the psyche. As far as the Bushido, Buddhist, Taoist, or whatever ideals I don't think it matters as long as they are of a variety that would help calm one's spirit and allow for a place of respect for self and others. Definately. Most of the ideals found in the Philosophies/ Religions that you mention help one find peace within. In then end, I really do belive martial arts can do this for people who train in them. Having an art that develops you physically, mentally, and spiritually will really help improve the quality of your life as well as those around you. When one person or group dictates what another group should or should not do, problems arise. Some people are drawn to these things and other people are turned off by them. So I actually think we need both. Ben

One thing to keep in mind about JJJ: It wasn't meant to be an art in and of itself. It was used as an auxillary art when your main weapon wasn't available for whatever reason. Most of the time you were looking to stab someone in the carotid or subclavian with a dagger or cleave them with a sword. So locking out an ankle doesn't help you get to the head. Where if you hit somebody or stab them in the head you could do some serious damage. So some JJJ training doesn't really focus as heavily on those techniques. Why lock out an ankle when you could put someone in a kesa gatame and punch them in the head or thrust a dagger through their neck? But back to your question, DZR has plenty of ankle and knee locks in the system. You can sit and train them from many different angles. Someone mentioned Sambo as a good reference and that is true. Also look into Russian Martial Art.... they have lots of good locks as well. Ben

TJS: Visit at least four different schools and try them out. Get the feel for the art, the instructor, and the students. It usually helps that you mesh well with the art and all of those other factors. Most of it is based on your personality. You might be surprised and enjoy Karate or Judo better than BJJ. Or might go to the BJJ class and ask yourself, "How did I ever live without this stuff?" Ben

Hi Fu Man, I mainly do Jujitsu, but I have practiced a great deal with Judoka. Most of them will pick one throw to work on for about 6 months to a year. When they can hit that throw whenever they like, they pick a new throw that they can use if they miss their first throw. The reason it boils down to 4/5 throws is because it is either a Te-waza, ashi-waza, koshi-waza, or sutemi waza. happy falls! Ben

Sanford Strong has some points about guns and people who are trying to mug you: resist run make alot of noise A couple of things I have been told in my years of training: Most people miss when shooting at someone 5 yards away (even trained gunners) The closer the gun is to you, the better your chance of escaping it You have to read the situation. If you feel the person wants to hurt you, fight. If you sense they just want your money, give it to them. The burst or flash, if at night, will blind you for 15-30 minutes. The sound blast will disorient you and can make you puke if it goes off too close to your ears. Always get behind the weapon. It will protect you from the blast and the bullet. Get yourself on a gun course and learn how to use the weapons you are defending against. Do a stationary course and a walking course. Shoot the lowest caliber to the highest caliber and note the differences. Shoot the revolvers and the autos, pistols and rifles. Get one of those human targets and see how you can hit it from 5-10-15 yards away stationary and then do it walking. All of the gun defense arts we do in our style are based off of the person pressing the gun in your person. In any case, not a good place to be...

*Disclaimer* this is not legal advice, just my opinionated understanding: It all depends on what state you are in. In PA, if you are attacked and have the ability to leave the situation, that is your first expected recourse. When you have feeling of "imminent harm" or danger, than things change. It basically boils down to what was the situation and what would a reasonable person due under those circumstances? Once the imminet danger has ceased, you must cease defending. Example: someone comes up to you and pushes you. You retort with a punch to the throat. In PA, they have done simple assualt. However, you have done much more and the law will see you as recklessly endangering another's life. PA law expects you to find egress from the danger first, if that is not an option, stop the danger with enough force to stop it. If someone pulls out a knife and you pull a gun and shoot them in the leg to "stop" them, then you might get off in the criminal proceeding, but boy will you be paying them out in the civil proceeding. That is based on the idea that a gun is a lethal weapon so you can't say that you were trying to stop them without killing them. Some courts will asuume that when you have pulled a lethal weapon to defend yourself that you have already made the decision that is neccessary to kill them in order to presere your own life. So, for the folks who post on this list and make comments like: ...want to kick them in the throat... ...Teach them a lesson... ...Crack their skull... Or any other comment that insues that you would like to take action that would severly injure, maim, or kill another human being you are setting up a case against yourself if you ever get into an altercation. The court could take your written words (that perhaps you see as just blowing off steam) as precursors and evidence leading to the point that you are a violent person who is more than willing to injure others. In any case, ask your Sensei or teacher to get a lawyer to come to your class and explain what you should and should not do in relation to martial arts as far as defending yourself.