shogeri

qi or chi is real. its not part of a belief system since they have done scientic study of the effects of chi manipulation on animals, especially on horses. if your brain doubts chi (energy, or work) then of course you will inhibit your ability to tie into it with your intent or yi. when you sleep your brain tries to balance itself in many ways. when you are hurt the body does what it can to heal itself sending energy and blood and fluctuating temperatures etc to that point or area. no hocus pocus or mystic voodoo, just an other persective in adition to the often harsh ways of western medicine. later!

Another, or shall I say, a better word for 'chi', 'ki' is 'work'...we can bring it all together and into a simple and yet diverse package of making your body do as it needs to do in a physiological manner, along with training your brain to realize just how important of a role that it plays as well in the whole scheme of 'chi'...it only becomes occultish or spiritual when a person makes it that way...if your mind slips into la-la land during meditation, you have simply trained your brain to find the thresh-hold of consciousness similar to that of sleep. No magic, or hocus pocus...just working toward learning the balance between relaxation, the work your body does, and how you can tap into that for your well being, and or health, or for the Martial benefits as well. later!

I seen this one ufc fight, where a 165 pound guy took out a much large man, about 250 or more, in just seconds, by going for one knee, and then the other...the big guy just curled up in the corner and threw in the towel. I supposed the same could be done by repeatedly attacking the kidneys, or the throat, or the eye region, or the sternum, etc. Repitition in striking is usually a success in these matters where a person isn't familiar when jujutsu or aikido throwing and or lock/breaks. Good luck.

Not a death touch...rather dim mak means death strike...which yes, there are death strikes.

In what I teach: 18 months to provisional black belt, and three years to certified instructor...A guideline which is laid out for the over-achiever...The Focus is on combative fighting, and the basics, over and over...weight is given to that more than to the kata and or drills, which are secondary... If someone was just learning kata, why not give em one in 3 to 6 months if they learned all the moves properly and could explain them, and demonstrate. The person and their personal experience and what they get out of it, regardless of time, is all that matters...which in turn, what they can give from that point on is just as important... later!

Historically, the Asian martial arts are based upon the physically dynamics of people being shorter. Many of the motions look more natural, and sharp. This holds true especially in the areas of kung fu, and some forms of karate where low deep stances are required. Get in low, and get in fast. It is the inside fighter, in my view that will win fights, and not one that tries to pick and choose strikes from a distance. Size doesn't always matter in the case of MA, but mindset does!

Authentic ninjutsu {Bujinkan} as taught by hatsumi could hardly be thought of as having useless techniques or curriculum. Now just how applicable is some of it, that remains a good question. If you want a striking art, then find a non-sport muay thai, or perhaps a chinese boxing {fighting taiji}. There are many wushu arts that also practice more kicks than punches in case you enjoy that. There is also Chi'na or Shuai Chiao. Just a matter of finding your likes and dislikes, and matching that with your physical capabilities.

I believe that ka-ke or push hands does exist in many okinawan arts, but doesn't go as in depth as the chinese internal arts do. We practiced a form of it back in the day, but the sensitivity wasn't developed as that wasn't the purpose of GKD. However, now having practice the internal arts for a while now, I would say that standing qigong has it's pluses, and so do push hands, but in order to bring it all together, one would need to do the form as well, which is my favorite.

Now that is an unforgiveable rule that should never be enforced, rather than be broken. That is so sad in these modern times. Any felonious act would do it for most schools.

If a person cannot afford it, I would teach them for free... If you truly love something it would show by your willingness to give it away, as you would yourself. Because of the cost in formalized training, I traded my time and skills for the opportunity to train with some highly skilled people in many different arts. Bartering is still a concept that many people may explore in the US. You never know, as it wouldn't hurt to ask.

depends on what tradition you want to approach...uniforms {including gi's}are alright if you want to create a feeling cohesiveness or belonging..

Freestyle Fighting Championship School or one that practices such things as MMA or UFC style fighting. That is my guess.

gzk did well...I concur with that answer.

....to better oneself {physically and mentally}, remains on of the better 'why practice the MA'... later!

I would have to see what each person is doing on video or in person to determine what is effective or not. Bobbing side to side while maintaining the same center of gravity is fine, as is shifting the position of your feet back and forth in an effort to confuse your opponent as to what you are doing, or to close the gap. But just plain bouncing up and down, doesn't make alot of sense, and I would tell my students to stop such a waste. later!