Jay

If you have some sort of goal then we may be able to help better. Do you want increased kick height, be able to do the splits, better hip mobility or hamstrong mobility. The reason I say this is because its easier to stick to a program where you can measure your progress other than stretching for no reason.

Cool thanks for that review. I will have to put this on my list. I think we used to have a book thread, maybe if I have time later I can compile some of the reviews from the old one and add in some of these new ones, maybe as a sticky with a contents page if a mod will allow it. I posted some last year as well. I agree with you that books are not a replacement for class but as you said they are great tools for reference. I have been reading/viewing some technique usually before I go to class and then work on it when I get there, I think it has helped my progress. Edit Im stupid the research library thread is already a sticky just not very well organised. Can't believe that I missed that!!!

I have to say that sometimes I work grappling with kids as sometimes they come in our class. I always learn something. For instance if you go about to escape certain positions you will find there is much less space so you have to be more precise. Then when I have gone back to a regular sized person it is much easier. I don't have much choice who I work with but I can honestly say I like working with everyone because I always have somthing in my head im working on. Bigger people are hard to work with but I have gotten to like the challenge.

Hypermobility has one solution, strength train. You need to strengthen the muscles around the joints to prevent this. Its pretty common in ballet dancers and gymnasts.

You know what I never have. I would love to try it.

I don't understand what is hurting I would assume it would be your elbow but if you can clarify with us we may be able to help. If its a joint then R.I.C.E (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)

I say none because I do not really like the belt system. Martial art is a process not an outcome. By having outcomes the student gets frustrated they are not progressing. When there is no objective measurement system for progression the student can't get as frustrated. Everyone is different some of us are more talented others not so much. I think the instructor should say when they feel the student has learned as much as they can from them and to go and find another teacher. I don't believe one person is the solution. Problem is in this day and age where clubs are run for business it won't happen.

Its interesting I have always thought they should make gloves out of a material thats like balistic jelly but doesn't shear as easily. It would make cuts much less common and prevent fighters from head trauma. Of course the side effect would be knockouts would be much less common. I guess the sport would lose viewers.

Thats exactly the same reason I got into Martial arts. Except I wanted to be the green one. Maybe one day I will get to play him RW I think you should start another thread with that I would have replied but don't want to derail a good thread.

I would say better than a DVD try some of the only training series, however you have to try and attend seminars with the people you are trianing with otherwise you won't get critique which is what you need. The other option is to use the DVD but tape what you are doing and constantly compare them. I try and do this when training on my own. Best to really get to a gym you could also go down the private lesson route as well.

Kumite, you have a strong point here and a very intriguing thing for me is that I noticed that one day while I was sparring. While rolling with a heavier stronger guy, I thought if I try to out powering them it wont help me at all but rather hinder me from learning and of course in a strength vs strength situation, the stronger guy usually wins. There is nothing wrong with making it a habit to achieve small goals and eventually reaching a top goal. Great post. I actually do this as well. Im only beginning so its little things like escape side control, don't get submitted etc At this stage I suppose I can't really expect much more.

I play it as the following. Im effective if I am using myself to the maximum I can. This involves the correct technique selection that I am good at. If I can't do something or don't like something I will not worry about it unless I think it is essential to learn.

I have never and that actually worries me more than anything. There have been times when I should have been angry but never got angry.

I want to have tapped out everyone at my club at least once or at least have gotten close. It will be very challenging considering my inexperience but sparring is meant to be challenging.

The concepts are actually part of zen buddhism and are explained well in the the book Zen In The Art Of Archery. As a little quip to BushidoMan's last sentence If you attach a meaning to achieve it you are not being 'it' Ahhhh Zen. Bruce Lee drew heavily from both zen and Taoism which is where alot of his quotes come from. I really like the part about stalling in the Stage of Art. In JKD Bruce Lee assigned 3 definitions for different 'versions' of this. A person is either intellectually bound, emotionally bound or physically bound. The first means thinking too much about technique, the second being too concerned with the welfare of either yourself or your opponent while sparring and the third using too much muscle. Tallgeese I agree, im in the second stage, still learning and am likely to be there for a long time yet. The key thing is in JKD is efficiency above everything else. How many times do you see someone shoot straight at the target with no preparation and no misdirection along the way. Bushidoman im glad you chose this topic I really like it and enjoyed your article about it.

It was brought up a few times in the movie Troy that Achilles would have his name remembered. Being immortalized is being kept alive in the minds of others, and it may be for reasons good or bad. And this one 'The key to immortality is first to live a life worth remembering'. B.Lee

I do some anti grappling and after doing this I realised that if the guy your on the he ifloor with knows what s doing/ is much bigger it is very difficult. So I now do grappling stuff. I think the thing is here to be prepared for anything. To me if you get taken down your usually at the bottom that is not where you want to be. Position is everything which ironically is the same thing for grappling on top generally seems better. When you are on top as well its usually easier to stand back up.

What happened to me was I started at a 1BW squat and started to find it tough when I got to 1.5 squatting 3x a week is very hard. Problem was I hadn't built up the necessary conditioning, which on any program is very important. Even if you think you can do more its not always best to go 100% you need to build up slowly. You don't just go and run a marathon you build up to it.

Nice post I would like to add one thing though, Mutliple hits in a short space of time can be a substitute for being able to hit very hard. Repeated shocks where no recovery time has been given is just as effective.

I was on that routine. Now I just do bodyweight training. But it was a very good routine. I would say though that if you do stronglifts do the second edition the new one is a bit watered down which is unecessary if you start from the beginning. Im doing a routine from convict conditioning atm its good because I don't need any barbells or weights.

Im still reasonably young so I tend not to think about it much. But when the time comes I will do my best not to be worried. I don't believe in something after we die. Therefore as far as my thinking goes I won't know im dead. So for me there isn't anything to fear.

Yea you should. Although most of what the guys talk about is too advanced for me at the moment I pick little things up. Doing ground work is one of the best things I have done. Knowing you from the forum im sure you would enjoy it alot. Im grateful that I have schools close to me now. Anyway carry on guys

Well done guys, its been a good year for the boards. Now bring on 2010.

I think what JJN is alluding to is that it is much easier to prevent the bad position occuring than escaping it. From my limited knowledge base I see it the following way. Most if not all positions can be escaped from. However like deadly alliance pointed out it gets harder and harder the further on they are to submiting you due to attributes, better leverage etc. Little things like keeping your elbows in tight can prevent you having to do a more complicated and difficult escape.