shogeri

Like any system it's up to the instructor and student to determine any other advancements in technique or skill proficiency which correlate directly to street fighting ability. The time it takes comes down to how the following concepts come into play: 1. Individual 2. Methods of Training 3. Techniques and Principles involved 4. Instructor Ability to bring it together The time range varies, even within a system, let alone when one compares one system to the rest. In what teach, 18 months of hard work, and or previous experiences helps alot. Besides, pretty much anyone can get nailed with a sucker punch (or handstrike, or legstrike, or knife, or with a gun)... You will fight how you train. If you train hard, and work hard at specifically pinpointing weaknesses in skill and improving upon them, then certainly you will advance further and faster than those who do not. With Black Tiger, and most systems two years is the average baseline (or should be) in which you move from being technically proficient to being able to bring such skill to an actual situation that demands it.

I was stating the marketing tactic or rationalization instructors use in addition to getting in shape, or learning to defend one's self. Those are a given. The ability to use one's legs (and other appendages) dyamically in a fight, gives the smaller, less agile, or not as physically strong person an edge they might not have had otherwise. Sure, they get in shape, that is how instructors draw some of them in. Then they try further their MA interest, but this usually doesn't work, since as you say, many just want the best trend in which to stay in shape and, 'burn off steam'...

I have been training in MA for 25 years, since the age of 11. I have a 1st Degree (TKD), a 2nd Degree (GJR), and a 4th Dan (SNK), the highest possible in the system... During this time, I've cross-trained with others of exceptional skill in Muay Thai, JKD, SK, WC, Taijiquan, Baguazhang, and JJ. It's not my rank or title that dictates my experience, it's my knowledge, ability, capacity, and willingness to continue training myself and others to apply such skill that means the most. We stop learning, we die. Your skill might speak for itself, but the rapidness of rank obtainment proves the age old saying, that rank in any one style equivalates to very little in others. I do not believe that any system or person or association has the right to tell someone how fast they can move people up in rank or title, nor should those who do fully grasp the philosophy of such systems say anything or think anything negative toward such systems. Their own methods, and production of quality students (or lack thereof) will speak wonders above and beyond any speculation or conjecture or 'tradition'. Just some thoughts...

The posts above brought everything I wrote into one nice package.

In oklahoma, there are some husband and wife teams, but even fewer female soke. I personally think it's great that women get involved, and move up. It's similiar to those with disabilities or confined to wheel-chairs. The desire and capacity for the human spirit to achieve beyond those expectations of others, and of their own self, is a wonderful thing.

We use them quite a bit.

It's not about how strong one should be, it's how long one can last. When you add resistance, you increase strength. When you add repitition, you increase indurance.

Nice one balrog...Many can learn from such wisdom.

That's sounds awesome...

Many systems are really similar. It's what is behind the belt in regards to principle, technique, and fighting ability that really count.

That's alot of forms. We learned about that much in Goju Ryu you include kumite, bunkai, and kata.

This thread just enforces the idea that the Martial Arts are what you make them out to be. You get out, what you put in.

I second that opinion...

Follow Jed's advice, it sounds very reasonable.

It should be practiced with a gi, a t-shirt, a suit, or without a shirt (for guys)...

The police around here are so afraid of lawsuits, or penalties, due to physical harm, they just prefer to shoot you. Jujutsu was taught around here. Taiji Boxing can also be used. No breaking bones, strikes, or throws, or painful submissions. Just controlling the situation with as little force as possible.

The act of standing up to them is a start. What you do from there, well if you can't avoid a fight, then it might just happen. The more you empower yourself, the more you exhibit confidence and strength unto others. The less empowered you feel, the more you want to compensate by doing things outwardly or physically. The above is how a bully is born. Take care!

I agree with sam!

Elbows accompanied with knees, and strikes to the vitals with plenty of throws or strike downs. On occasion a frontkick or low kick.

I have only seen two ways of tieing a belt. Both seemed reasonable. Can't explain them. But they worked. So long as the loop does not impede what you are doing, then that is good. The loop also represents a particular philosophy as well.

It seems many of us keep posting the same information over and over and over...lol It's the fighter, not the style. I can use my Mountain Dew can against someone dangerously. Does that mean I practice Mountain Dew Fu? KM is like Muary Thai, Penjak Silat, and others... Someone's way or understanding of how to fight a fight.

From what I wrote before, and have also concluded is the same thing that Harmonious has... One really doesn't know unless one was there.

Fu Jow Pai =Tiger Claw System Tiger style's combat strategy is to destroy the opponent with a relentless and unrestrained attack. The attitude is that of fearlessness, and fierceness. Tiger uses hard-external power. Its movements are very aggressive and brutal with lots of breaking,striking,locking, ripping and tearing. Mentally, one must cultivate an attitude of indestructibility, courage, and disdain for discomfort. There are differences between the Dragon use of the claw and the Tiger use of the claw. The Dragon Style implements many internal aspects similiar to that of Taijiquan. The dragon claw hand (long zhua) is a grab, while a tiger claw (hu zhua) is a squeezing and tearing motion. The dragon claw techniques are primarily pulling and locking techniques and are softer and more circular than a tiger which initiates downward ripping techniques more often than not. The Snake fighter will calmly await an attack and then, unlike the Crane which uses a stepping hop to evade the attack, they will simply parry and slightly maneuver the body out of the way of the attack while at the same time executing a counter attack with finger tips to a vital point on their enemy. The snake uses many coiling methods to snare, and manipulate their opponents hand and leg strikes. Typically a fighter that uses Tiger style will not use such against another Tiger style. When two tigers fight, one is usually killed, and the other severely injured. Tiger style uses many knees and powerful frontkicks. It's strategy is simple and straightforward. Get in, attack, and finish it. The Crane does not barrel through its opponent with power as the Tiger does, but rather uses evasion by stepping (almost hopping) out of the way and then counter attacking with a forearm or finger strike(s) to vulnerable target zones. The Leopard is a lively, spontaneous fighter using sudden springing maneuvers and surprise attacks which suddenly overwhelm the opponent and then, prior to an initiated response, the Leopard will have retreated out of range of the counter attack. I would say that the Fu Jow Pai system is linear, aggressive, forward moving, and brutal. They are concerned more with the attack, that with any evasive manuevers. There are my two cents...Other opinions may vary...

Essentially we are mimicing sleep, just while awake.

I've seen them go up in rank, and earn it. But to be the head of a system or school seems to be a rare thing...