Jay

They're excellent rules, and may be interpreted--just as "no first strike"--that you are practicing self-defense, not bullying others and starting fights to feed your ego. The main reason I don't adhere to or repeat these rules very much is because they are often taken too literally, and people start wondering why things don't work for them. I just prefer layman's terms. I agree, most people take 'theres no first strike in karate' to mean that you not allowed to hit first. I usually think if your on the offense and hitting them its much better than standing there and trying to block. You can only block so much against many many hits, one will hit. Usually I can defend about twice beofore I get hit. When im blitzing the other guy he has the same problem. Be aware, hit the person when they are aggressive enough to warrant it and then keep hitting them until they drop or give up. Im not advising people start fights but people that do have a big advantage. For instance getting hit from behind with a bottle or a punch usually starts and wins the fight in one shot. I agree with either boxing or MMA or Muai Thai. Or being a bit biased JKD.

31st July Weights Sesh

I would say the same as joesteph. We do a fair amount of trapping hands type stuff. We tend to go with the trap and destroy argument, so thats like your number 1 We spar more like number 2. However we always stay out of range. The opponent has to significantly move to reach us and when this happens they usually get stop kicked. We tend not to engage more than necessary. I don't know if this is better or worse but its generally how we do things.

28th July Weights Clean and Press Stiff Legged Dead Weighted Pullups+One arm negs Russian Twist 30th 2.3miles-20min 20s

I wouldn't mind to see a good boxer for a change. In my opinion the calibre of the hands in MMA have gone down. I really think if you get someone with good head movement and slipping then most MMA fighters would struggle, Until they got the other guy in a clinch then thats another story.

I thought it was more along the lines of the last book is very long and the film would be 4hrs. Although Ben Hur isn't that bad........

Its very true. In our results orientated society we often look to much at the ends and don't enjoy the means. “A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves simply as something to aim at.” B. Lee

There is no problem with BJJ im a big fan of it. For me the attitude of a certain family or rather only certain members of the family is rather clouded. Somehow they still think its the ultimate 'thing' but after the original UFC matches and everyone was equipped on the ground striking became important as well. BJJ is great, but like all martial arts its only a tool to be used in a certain situation likewise boxing, karate and even Kali. They are all good at what they do if done to a high level, they all have advantages and disadvantages. In my experience there are always practitioners in all arts that think they can rule the world. It sometimes takes something to happen that maybe their art doesn't cover as well as another one to accept it. There will always be a situation where and art doesn't cover something enough, against a gun we are all in trouble

What you wear doesn't matter as much as you. For kata there are lots of things you can do. Watch Videos-I see you do shotokan so look up kanazawa followed by th kata name. Most of them are on youtube. Then learn one move at a time. Concentrate on precision of hands and feet. Weight transfer is very important. Its not so much the techniques but the transitions between them that make kata look good. You must be fluid and not too jerky. Kata is one of the few things in martial arts that you can learn very well from video.

Spot on Ignore everyone else. People get caught up in an ego battle in martial arts. I have noticed it alot. Your not here to live up to someone elses expectations. You here to live up to your own. If you wish to go back then go back, if you feel its time to move on then move on. However if you have a good relationship with your teacher then this can be a rare thing.

Im hopefully going to be starting some Judo soon. Am pretty excited. I thought 0.53 was funny. It was like 'Oh he's unconcious, Cool I Win :D'

I thought I better start to put things on this thread as it may make myself train in a better way. 27th July 20min Bag Workout Focused On Punching (Straight Lead and Cross) Abs 5x5 Ab Wheel On Knees 2x10 Reverse Crunches 3x5 Leg Raises Run 7.2 Miles 1hr 27min (Complete accident got lost, was first run in months and will suffer for it tommorow, walked a large amount of it, was so suprised how long it was when looked on google) Also did some kicking in the afternoon as well only light stuff.

I know some people that do XMA. Its more like gymnastics with some kicks thrown in. For me it doesn't cover my definition of martial arts. But nevertheless it is very impressive and if thats what someone wants to do then great, I love to go and watch.

Yes in my experience this is true as well. In JKD the kicking is a bit of a mix. We do the low style thai kicks as well as the karate/tkd higher kicks. In my experience the higher you kick the more your foot needs to be planted.

I struck me as more towards defusing or avoiding falling into the violent situation. It doesn't glamorize the fistfight but encourages steering clear. It's a lot like saying that you're the decent one with the job, etc., and the other has nothing so he has nothing to lose. Is the title deceptive, Jay? Should the title have been altered in some way? It sounds like a how-to book on busting heads, and it's far from that. I have to say that yes the title is misleading but I think it was intended to be like that. To aim at the target audience I think it would have to be something like that. I think it was designed to be for hot headed young people that like fighting.

I got it from a UK company called the book depository. I find they are really good for the old martial arts books. I can usually get anything that comes out in the US from them. I usually buy through amazon and find one that this company is selling. Ah okay joesteph-What did you make of it overall? I will look at that thread in more detail at some point

Has anyone read it? I received a copy last week. I though it was a great little book explaining the realities of street fighting, its comparison to competition and how to avoid/ de escilate the situation. It starts at before violence which details all the things that occur before violence starts and the psychology behind it. It then goes on to show some good street worthy techniques, but mainly provides thoughts on things you want to do during the encounter. It also has many stories of actual encounters to back the points up. Stories such as what happened when someone tried to head kick the author during an actual fight and graphic stories of gun and knife trauma. The last chapter details how to deal with the after effects of the fight, things such as legal issues and first aid. I might add that it is very US orientated in terms of laws but even though im from the UK I still found it very relevant. It really hits home with its points and illustrates that no matter how good you think you are it is in fact very easy to get injured, maimed and killed during combat. The main emphasis is on avoidence and escape for the reason just stated. There are also a number of graphic injury photos. It is mainly aimed at unruly young men to think twice about fighting. Although not really unruly I found it pretty relevant for my age group to which it is aimed 16-25. This wasn't meant to be a review as such but it kinda turned into one. I think people on this forum would enjoy it and if you have read it let me know what you thought good or bad. I thought it was a great book one of the best I have, it gains a place right next to Tao Of JKD.

I like the outside in cresent kick much like a thai kick but with your foot up it has a lot of power. Inside out im not too keen on, you lose balance very easily I find.

Me too damn you across the pond!! I dunno when it will be coming out over here. The karate kid isn't even out yet.

This is a good idea. I have a few more: Offer to teach privately, lessons can be much shorter than classes and there are plenty of kids out there that maybe want to learn. Take on a protege. Take up a hobby that is waaaaay out of your comfort zone, painting, knitting, volunteer somewhere for 1 day a week, take up dancing. Start a webpage on your art. Train for a world record-they will approve anything these days. Hope that helps a bit Let us know what you take up

I think the foot acts like a fulcrum which when lifted allows your weight to go forward rather than stay back. Moving weight=momentum which allows you to hit harder. That is just how I see it.

If you spend those 10 000 hours doing the kick correctly. Sloppy or bad form for 10 000 hours would just ingrain bad habits which would take more time to correct. Yes but are those 10,000 not the point of correcting the sloppy or bad form? You start sloppy or not so good and then through aquisition of feel you become more and more coordinated. The more you play with the technique the more you can get it to work. Well that's my approach anyway. I like to make small changes when I feel like it to try and get the technique to work better.

When punching much more rotation in your hips and trunk are aquired if you are able to pivot on the balls of your feet, its much harder to do so when your foot is flat. From a purely scientific point of view the raised hell allows more weight and momentum to be put into the punch because of the added 'springyness'. It enables your calf mucle to be used more because it contracts when your heel is lifted. It also adds a little bit extra reach. In shotokan (I did shotokan for many years) although they say not to lift your rear foot off the floor many actually do. Usually this is only in sparring though when the shorter stance is employed. I think the reason you don't lift in a long front stance is it does make you slightly unbalanced. There isn't any right or wrong its what one suits your particular structure that you use. For my structure the advantages of the lifted heel work well.

Here you go http://www.trickstutorials.com/index.php?page=content/flexibility Most of that stuff is taken from Tom Kurz's book. It is a brilliant webpage, excellent reading. For a workout I recommend doing dynamic stretches with the reps and sets from that webpage in the morning (webpage explains why) and do passive static stretching after exercise. I find the best time is just before bedtime. Hold each stretch until you have reached your maximum range and can't go anyfurther (Just relax don't force yourself). Once your maximum range has been reached and you have held that for 20-30s you may as well stop. Couple of things Try not to sit down too much during the day this can effect your flexability. Strength goes hand in hand with flexability thats why isometric stretching is effective as it strengthens your muscles at that particular point. Work on increasing the strength in the muscles you stretch with weights and you will progress much faster.

Yes I agree it is very hard to be honest and realise that somethings you yourself are unable to do and others can do them, it is just the nature of the game. I do think in the midst of drilling in the middle of class often what happens is the meaning of the exercise is lost and it becomes just that, an exercise rather than realistic practice. StrangeBacon-If something works then it is the best technique sure there may be something easier but maybe not that suits you.