Taikudo-ka

Be careful Bon, you're treading mighty close to enlightenment there... Still, most people are incapable of thinking beyond stereotypes and symbols, so ridiculous phrases like "I am a doctor" or "I am a student" or "I am a capitalist" suit their purposes. (Those really awake will realize that the last sentence commits the same offense). See these links for an article on what is called "E-Prime", i.e. English without a form of the verb "to be". http://www.nobeliefs.com/eprime.htm or http://www.rawilson.com/quantum.html (a less PC version of the same article, contains some 'profanity'). For what it's worth, the author, RA Wilson, was actually editor of Playboy back in the 70s. He is now a "guerilla ontologist", specializing in blowing away your perceptions of reality. But anyway, you know that trying to define yourself based on who you REALLY are (whatever that means) is probably the hardest thing in the world. Can you even remember? It's easier to take a popular image or stereotype, and live up/down to that instead. You are right that anyone who doesn't will be branded eccentric. In life, people seem to constantly make assumptions about me based on stereotypes. They are almost always wrong. I've found "friends" of many years believing the strangest things about me... or acting shocked when I deviate from their bromide view of who I am.

I have practised karate moves and katas in an extremely slow, relaxed "Tai Chi" style. The idea was to eliminate all muscle tension and get the move technically "correct" with absolute minimal effort. Then I switched to "fast" mode and was astonished at how much faster I was. The difference was that I was no longer tensing antagonist muscles so much. As far as soft styles "out-powering" hard styles, there is some basis of truth here. By eliminating antagonist muscle tension, your strikes will become more powerful. You'll also "follow thru" more, rather than pulling the punch on impact, which is what happens when you tense up. See, the old "soft style" masters were neither stupid nor relying on magic.

"What they don't do is learn specific movements forced on them by someone else and then invent pair techniques to put them in before going out for the hunt." Yeah, this is the bit I agreed with - but not 100%. There are plenty of things I would never discover myself just by "playing around" - i.e. sparring, makiwara/bag work. The reason I attend lessons is to learn stuff that I wouldn't think of myself. I mean, how many people discover the hip throw while sparring, vs having to be taught, and then practised? Also, there is the fact that moves can have multiple uses - something I consider more and more. Practising an "odd" move that doesn't initially make sense can stimulate the brain into thinking "hmmm, how can I use this?" and suddenly there is a revelation that would NEVER happen otherwise. Also, remember that all these movements were once developed and used "for real" by someone. Having been proven effective, the move was retained and taught to future students. So, initially, moves were developed exactly the way you describe, it's only now, generations later, that they seem to be arbitrary and forced.

Ibouchet, one advantage blocking could have over just dodging is that the block can set you up for the counterstrike as well, all in one move. Just about every block is also chambering the hand for a strike, you just have to think about what strikes could be applied from that position. You can even use this "aggresively" in sparring by "blocking" away an opponents guard, then striking before they can recover. Of course the blocking motion itself can also be a strike.

Once. Boy do I wish I could get that money back now...

- "at my gym i was told for 5 "9 140 pounds is ideal weight." WTF! That's me... and I've been called an "anorexic junkie". (Yeah, she'd seen me naked, but no, neither terms are true.) My scales have a chart which says I should weigh 162lbs (74kg). Never gonna happen, not if I lived off whopper burgers and thickshakes. (Already tried it.)

And that is? I agree it's best to deflect rather than do a hard "block". Sometimes in the heat of sparring I've done just that, though. I have a red scrape on my forearm right where I've blocked a kick last week.

Very interesting article. Made me think about it... I can agree and disagree at the same time, if you like. I'd say there is a place for all forms of training - basics, sparring, kata, hojo undo, and whatever else helps you out. "An animal in the wild does not spend 5 years learning movements and then another 5 years inventing environments to fit these movements into before going out to catch lunch. If it did it would be dead" Well the great cats spend plenty of time as kittens practising all sorts of "hunting" moves and mock sparring each other. It takes a few seasons before they're out hunting successfully on their own. But without all that practise they'd never make a successful kill. That said, the average karate school is probably not THE most efficient teaching environment ever. But that's largely a function of cheap group classes in a short space of time, with everyone at different ranks and people always coming and going. Also the military mindset can go a bit far sometimes.

Hehe I heard something similar once. That when Americans came to Okinawa to learn karate, the Okinawans taught them extra tricks they hadn't told the Japanese, just so the Americans would beat the Japanese in competition. Never underestimate the attitude of people you have conquered with military might.

Yes, because most people's "strength" involves tensing antagonistic muscles and general poor use of body mechanics. Basically defeating themselves. I remember practising block strike combos ultra slow with zero tension anywhere for a while. Then when I did them quick, and still relaxed, they were ULTRA fast. I mean really fast, faster than I've ever moved before. Faster than the instructor even. All from relaxing and focusing on slow movement without tension. Maybe Tai Chi is onto something after all?

In some cases the word has become part of a style name, eg "Ed Parker's Kempo". However, originally it is just a word that refers to martial arts. It means "fist method" or "fist system". In Chinese it is pronounced Quan Fa. On Okinawa it was pronounced Kempo. (or Kenpo). It is often translated as "boxing" in the west. Many early karate masters have referred to their art as kempo - Funakoshi's first book was originally titled something like "Ryukyu Kenpo Karate", with the "karate" written as "China Hand" as well. (To-te).

"I wonder if the reputed "side effects" of Sanchin training (Hypertension, cardiovascular disease, etc..) might have more to do with the prevalence of smoking in the Ryukyus" You know, I've always wondered whether the whole Ibuki breathing thing didn't just come about due to some sensei toking a bit too much on the kiseru, and his students imitating the results... ?? Anyway, Sanchin hasn't made me pass out or go red so far, although I've only done it twice...(sort of, well a poor imitation.)

Shaolin Princess, I notice you do Okinawan Shorin-Ryu - that is what I'm talking about. I think the ultra-low stance was a Japanese development. More on the hand chambering. I found a teacher who does it pretty much as in the picture. He teaches the Goju style as passed down from Seko Higa, a contemporary of Miyagi who also studied with Higaonna until the later's death. In fact, I noticed that he often keeps the other hand in a guard position rather than "chambering", particularly with close hand techniques. He only chambers after things like open hand blocks, and the way he does them they are clearly grab and pulls.

Shorin Ryu = Shuri-Te + Tomari-Te Shorin-ryu is basically what Funakoshi was taught. Shotokan is what Funakoshi taught in Japan.

Yes G. I can't understand the predilection some (most certainly western) instructors have for turning martial arts into a kind of military boot camp. I mean, if I'd wanted to join the army, I would have joined the army. I wanted to learn karate, so I joined a karate school. If I can perform all of the techniques correctly and know how to use them, what does it matter if I can do 100 push ups, run 10 miles, or whatever. Nothing would annoy me more than being a great karateka but failing to progress because I can only do 90 push ups, or some similar sergeant-major boot camp attitude. Might I suggest tests related to actual karate ability, like performing many katas, continuous sparring of many opponents (Like Mas Oyama's 100 man kumite), and the like. Note that this will also test the students physical fitness and like, without resorting to silliness like "drop and give me 100". If they are too unfit to perform, let them do push-ups in their own time until they are fit enough. Put it this way - the test should require a certain level of physical fitness to perform. However, it should not simply be a direct "fitness test". That should be a side effect of the technical demands.

Well, with the obscenity filter taking out the word g-a-y, this topic makes little sense now. C'mon. Since when has g-a-y been an obscenity? It used to mean "happy", but now has become the defacto "politically correct/acceptable" word for homosexuals. I mean, 99% of homosexuals refer to themselves with this term. What gives?

BTW, for all those who seem to "hate rap", have you ever realized that rap is poetry. Poetry is meant to be read aloud. Peotry is meant to be listened to. Poetry has always traditionally been accompanied by music. Rap is poetry. Poetry is rap. Poetry is living, breathing, popular, and a voice of expression for many many people. Perhaps the English teaching establishment hasn't clicked to this yet, as they think poetry must be boring, stuffy, dull, old stuff written in psuedo-middle English and published in book form by Penguin, to be silently read and analyzed for meaning that was never there. That's because they don't, won't, and never will understand poetry.

Hey Pat, you beat me to the rock-crock thing... I was about to add it, clicked for the next page, and there it was. Anyway, P Diddy rap? C'mon. He's as Pop as Rice Bubbles. Try Wu Tang, Public Enemy, Old Dirty B*stard, and the amazing Tricky. Although the Trickster will, if really pushed to categorize his music, tell you it's "blues". If you want relentless nastiness that kids really shouldn't listen to, try the Insane Clown Posse. Or what about Jack Kerouac - his beatnik recordings are proto-rap from the 50s and actually sound quite contempory nowdays. Or Gill Scott Heron. He's black. He rapped. He was there long before Grandmaster Flash. Nothing makes me want to smash and destroy and hate like the pop dance music that infests all night-clubs, bars, pubs and most cars today. Sometimes it has even triggered such a response. (True-Really!) Makes me long for Tricky's cathartic chaos. "I'm premenstrual - I bleed cause I'm not a vegetable... Is this making music or making money, I can't make my mind up, You think you're safe cause you're signed up Record contracts, break those backs, Brag and boast, now look here I control my destiny, I control my career... In this industry full of vomit, my voodoo make 'em sick... And if the radio shows throw low blows, we do this - with or without the airplay! ...I don't rap, I don't sing - I'm an emotion player... I can't meet the expectations of these radio stations, 'cause I'm living with different vibrations..."

I don't mind wearing a dogi. Actually I quite like it. Also it's better than wrecking my street clothes, which are generally more expensive than a cheap/normal gi. Nothing would make me look fat. I still keep my inverted triangle torso with the gi on. I wouldn't mind a slightly longer top though. I can see that the more expensive gis would be better fit and more comfortable.

Well with the usual low level of "school violence" probably any martial art would give you something of an edge. We're not talking the UFC here. Read up a bit about the different arts and styles and what they involve. There is a lot of information on these forums. Also look around at plenty of schools - don't be too impatient to sign up. Even within something like "karate" you will find many different styles, and each class will have a different feel and emphasis. Don't judge an art based on one teacher, as you might go down the road and find the same art taught in a completely different manner. Also every school will say "beginners welcome" or something in their advertising. Some really mean it, and will take time to introduce you slowly and properly to the art. Others don't give a rat's, and will throw you in the deep end and leave you to drown.

Muay Thai-ted Kwon Do. (mutated kwon do)

This has been posted before. Warning. Do not subject yourself to this. No-one should suffer this even a first time.

I'm with Bretty and ZR440. I know these open hand strikes as "spear hand" and "sword hand" (shuto). Spear being a fingertip strike and shuto being the classic "karate chop" with the side of the hand. I also heard that spear hand is for soft targets - mainly the throat, and not much else. Are you guys really breaking tiles with a spear hand? Physically impressive! Not sure about combat usefulness though... I prefer the idea of specialist strikes to different areas. Even the seiken punch would be less painful than doing it with a spear hand. Anyway, for those desperately seeking an almighty unbreakable spear-hand, two historical methods come to mind: 1. Thin bamboo canes are bound together into a bundle. The hand is repeatedly thrust into the bundle. The canes can initially be bound loosely, and gradually tightened as hand strength increases. 2. The jar of grain, as mentioned above. A jar is initially filled with a fairly giving material like rice, and the hand is thrust in repeatedly. The material is changed to progressively harder, less forgiving types as hand strength increases. Typical sequences go something like - rice, beans, sand, small pebbles, large pebbles, metal pellets. Other combinations are possible. Some traditions start with hot sand... A noted side effect of all these methods seems to be loss of fingernails, amongst others. If you think makiwara training is bad for you, wait until you see this. Use at your own risk.

"The "militant you are refering to was the leader of HAMAS!!! He was personally responsible for the deaths of hundreds of innocent poeple through terrorist actions. The people knew who he was they should not have been near him. " So can you explain how, by in turn killing innocent people to get back at this HAMAS leader, you are any better or different than he is? Is it because you are "good" and he is "evil"? Think of how pi$$ed off you were after September 11. I've NEVER seen the US so pi$$ed off before. Now imagine, this is how angry a Palestinian man gets every time an Israeli bomb with "Proudly made in the USA" stamped on the side demolishes half his house, killing his wife, children, and elderly mother.

"If Bin Laden were sitting in the middle of an orphanage I would hit it with a missle. The world would be a better place. The ends justify the means........... " Well guys, I hate to say this, and I'm not directing it at Shotochem in particular, but this attitude is exactly the reason you guys got attacked. I could not express it better. Most people disagree with your assessment, some more strongly than others. Particularly those who've been victim of the "means". I know a LOT of middle eastern people and they universally believe that Palestine has been given a raw deal, and that it is Israel that is the terrorist nation. They are extremely upset at America's unquestioning support of Israel, despite continuous acts showing they are no better than the Palestinians when it comes to violence and mayhem and killing innocent people. Does the US realize exactly what they've put their foot in here? I'd suggest you start with the Book of Joshua, Judges, and perhaps also Chronicles of the Kings (Old Testament Bible). You'll see exactly how long (about 3000 years) violence between Israelites and Palestinians (aka Philistines, Caananites, etc) has been going on. Poor old Hebron has been disputed ground for WAY too long. Also, can you tell who the original aggressor was? [ This Message was edited by: Taikudo-ka on 2002-08-01 22:39 ]