Jay

Well, in my opinion most "pressure point experts" are severely lacking in anything I would call effective self defense techniques. Dillman carrying that label doesnt lend him any credibility in my book. Someone else mentioned an overly vague description of pressure points- hitting the chin, hitting the liver, etc. Thats about as far as one can go with pressure points. Why arent pressure points valid self defense techniques? I'll tell you: 1: Pressure points do not work on all people. Some people it hurts very much, others will stand and look at you like you've got a head growing out of your shoulder. This brings us to the next point 2: Pressure points rely on pain compliance. Anything that relies on pain isnt very reliable in my book, because pain can be ignored. Alcohol, drugs, adrenaline- all of these will skew the results of your pressure point techniques. 3: They look very effective when demo'ed- mostly because they're being done on people that believe them to work, and such people are in a relaxed state. Its easy to hit particular nerve clusters when your muscles are relaxed. When the blood starts pumping and you're in fight mode, your muscles contract and protect the vast majority of these points. There you have it-I wouldnt buy into it. Fighting is a science like any other physical activity- hockey, football, baseball, baseketball, etc. There are ways to be good fighters and they've been well established. Often the answer is right in front of your face. I agree, In my experience they don't work on everyone, I tend to think they are more a gimick that anything else. I mean I can usually find one that works on pretty much everyone but whats the point when the other guy is murdering you.

They can see me for emergency treatment wherever but something like this, which may need long-term treatment, isn't classed as emergency. Even if I went to A&E and waited there for hours (which I wouldn't like doing anyway because its not something that needs emergency treatment) they can't get me physio appointments at home or other long-term treatment, would have to be at uni. I was registered at home and I can see them for emergencies but like when I hurt my neck (another training injury ) just got told I probably would need physio but I'd have to go back to uni and see someone there. I can re-register at home but then I have the opposite problem of getting treatment at uni (should I need it) and they would have to keep sending my files back and forth. Just a whole lot of hassle. I know this feeling, I was ill at home once and was told I wasn't able to see my own doctor as they didn't have my records because they were at uni. So much for digital copies of records eh? It does just sound like a sprain by the way, I think you should be okay, just keep icing alot it does help, do you write with that hand? One thing it could be is like a repetitive strain injury, not what caused the injury but what is continuing to cause you pain, if you do alot of typing or whatever.

Dude theres a video on youtube where a guy makes an actual gun out of meccano .

Apparently castor oil mssage is good, can always try rolling a tennis ball over it hard helps me with DOMS

No advice as you have been training longer than me I just thought though, maybe watch a couple of No Gi matches to get a feel if you have never done one before. Have fun let us know how you do.

I guess when I initially took them up then yes I would say that I was probably self defence orientated. I would have the say that in the physical sense im mostly not training for self defence any more. I train because I like it. I actually think that most self defence actually occurs before physical confrontation and that most of your self defence is actually not getting involved in the first place, you don't really need an instructor for this, its just good sense.

He has talent lets see in 10 years where he is at. The thing is though theres probably another 100 of him with talent when you get to that stage its about working hard.

I have changed my ideas of working out alot. If I didn't have much time I would probably do like 1 Squats 2-3x5 Overhead Press 2-3x5 2 Deadlifts 2-3x5 Pullups +Weight 2-3x5 and just alternate with a day rest, I mean if you do heavy lifting pretty much everything will be taken care of. You could also train the same thing morning and evening on the same day like do two sets of lifts in the morning and then do the rest in the evening. I like it because its simple, I mean thats only good if you want to go pure strength but its an idea make of it what you will.

I hadn't heard of that before. I didn't realize the toes were an area that could be stretched like that. I will give it a try. Ugh, I can't imagine that. You're one tough cookie! You can but you have to go easy if not you can just use your hand to pull back your toes and push onto. Just see how it goes, I don't personally use it because I don't have that requirement its in one of the stretching books I have. If it hurts then don't do it as im sure everyone is sensible, stretching should be uncomfortable not painful.

To all you football fans, can anyone give me a good link to some info on how american football works., I tried wiki but it was a bit advanced and didn't explain the simpler concepts before the more confusing ones. I watched the superbowl but thats about it 3am is a little late all of us were falling asleep in our snacks and beer. I get whats going on with the scoring and the advancing 10 yards you have 4 downs, but really have no idea about the postions people play and what they do. I pretty much know the quarterback throws the ball and someone catches. I did enjoy the superbowl, the team I picked to support decided not to win but I had no idea what team was the best

There is also a stretch you can do alongside bushido mans suggestions. Similar to what he said find a wall but sit on a chair in front of the wall, now push your balls of your feet against the wall, push into the wall with your toes and then relax. Do this a few times maybe 4 or 5. It should help you. You should feel the stretch in the middle of your foot btw.

It most certainly has to be earned. I won't respect anyone because they have a higher rank in anything unless they prove it. However I will respect them as a human out of that environment. I see it as in one environment you have the opportunity to fill my glass up and in the other you either keep it at the same level or reduce it. In training theres a few things I always do, I help my partner get up from the floor even my instructors and I shake their hand after class. Also im not the instructor so if I have advice for my partner I just say something like 'try this' or 'this may help you'.

It always amazes me the variety in peoples builds and weight at the same height. Im also 5'7-5'8 and im never over about 140. I have been 150 but it just didn't feel right to me. Being a bit heavier would be better but just doesn't sit with my build very well.

Thank you! I don't know if you've done JKD yourself, at one point. But I'm taking on a similar mindset. I do indeed

Its both a style and a mindset. The philosophy was essentially Bruce Lee's marketing tool to promote himself at a time where karate dominated. A lot of the stuff he talked about he actually plagiarised from others especially in the Tao, not so much in the newer commentaries book. This has forever been an argument, but what I do know is that there were tools just like any other art. Punches, Kicks etc. He taught everyone differently. For me I no longer care if what I do is JKD, I actually study more than JKD. Its the idea of what your doing rather than the name as such.

When I was training as a Kid I would say so yes but only with certain instructors. I think we were just scared due to the excessive amount of pushups we had to do if we got stuff wrong or didn't pay attention. However everyone agreed he was the best instructor.

Exactly the same for me. I didn't 'GET IT' until I have left karate some 4 years later. A boxer showed me how to do some stuff and now I understand it. Its just the way it goes.

You know I used to be like that. Always reading in books and vids to find new techniques stuff to try out. But the problem was the only techniques I could apply were the ones I knew and used alot. Application is everything. Technique is pointless otherwise.

+1 im just about to get a 24 after about a year of having a 16. The 16 is too light for somethings.

I would actually give it a week or so and see if it continues. I had this a couple weeks back and was getting overly anxious it didn't stop for about 3 hours. It was nothing nerves get trapped, people lack electrolytes etc. If it continues for a prolonged period like days then see a doctor. You probs just trapped something most of the time it will be nothing.

Scott Sonnon's stuff is good. I really like it. There are plenty of short clips on youtube so make your own mind up.

Try taping a piece of paper to a string and hanging that from a door. Try to break the paper with a finger jab. I guarantee it will help your velocity. Nice Tip

Straight Lead or Finger Jab. Try to intercept.

Well if you just want some stretches the check out trickstutorials. It has most of the stretches from Thomas Kurz's book stretching scientifically. Pick one or two from each group. Generally for stretching you wanna go for small muscle groups first so like calves before hamstrings, back before abs. Generally I only do lower body flexability, not to say I don't think upper body is important but for my goals its defo lower flexability is the key area. I also find the Paul Zaichik has some good youtube videos that are free for stretching. Also for kicking height then do leg raises 3-4 sets of 10-12 reps in front, side and back directions, to increase it.You can also do inside/outside cresent kicks as well. Make sure you warm up as well before you start the dynamic swings just mentioned can be used for that. You can also use isometric stretching which is covered on that site I told you about. I generally don't use it much anymore because it doesn't suit me much. But alot of people find it useful. Tense for 10-20 sections the muscle you are stretching then increase your range of motion. Do this until you feel you cannot go any further.