shogeri

3 years

I agree that it depends upon the teacher, the association they are under, the students, and the expectations that they have from one another, and from their own self.

Population density, opportunities for economic growth, spiritual growth, quality and quantity of job opporunities, and so on. Some people just have a small circle and that's it. Sometimes it's based upon culture, and sometimes it's the environment, and then it could be both. For me, it's about arm's length.

Depends on how you use it, and whether or not you limit yourself to technique alone, are are capable of expanding on the principles of combat in the first place. That is ~ a person wins the fight, and not necessarily the system. I hope the person who posted this thread is finding what they seek! Good luck!

I agree that with any training or experience, the biggest limitations we face are those we place upon ourselves by; 1)either not having the proper information, 2) by allowing other's to speak for us, or 3) by trusting in something without fully attempting to understand just what it is we are trying to learn and or trust in. The more we know something, and the better we know it, and are comfortable with it, and how it fits into our lives, the better we are able to remove fear and doubt from our life in the first place. Take care!

This has been a very enlightening thread. It goes to show, that the folks on here contribute much more to the personal experience and or knowledge of the arts, than google ever will.

Great posts everyone!

Make an effort step back a little, and or let the other person at least appear to take the first swing... Side step them, and do as little as is necessary to end a fight. Start thinking of your legal defense before the fight begins, and or ends. LOL Yes, it is sad that the american justice/prison/judicial system is losing its grip on the meaning of justice, punishment and or reform.

I too have felt the pains of insomnia...Perhaps combat training does such to people. However, when I sleep, I do it well. I enjoyed all the responses on this thread. Thanks! :L)

Many have changed or increased the age, rank, and title expectations or rules. However, this was done some time ago in most of the traditional arts. Later!

Best to worry about diet, exercise, flexibility, and fighting skill, along with the basic foundation of martial art technique, than to concern one's self with hardening techniques. Such things were taught during different times, and withing a toally different culture than most would experience during these modern times. With any you do, I wish you the best!

When I fight I expect to get hit, but do my best not to, nor do I invite such things to me. When you are fighting on the circuit, and not on the street, you have the luxury of choosing your battles. Perhaps the person was out-classed. It is a more Martial/combative/physical circuit, so one can expect such things. Regardless, with any activity that says it involves physical contact, one should expect physical contact, and not just a show of attacks hitting nothing but air. If rules were broken, and someone got hurt, then that is an entirely different subject.

Though I responded prior, we were told to tie it a certain way, in order for it to hang properly, but to also insure that the flow of the Martial Art philosophy (energy training, history) was not impeded by improper tieing of the belt. Weird, I know...

When it comes to how long many people refer back to the premise of: Quality or quantity? The problem is that too many folks try to pit one against the other. In reality, there should be a balance between the two. However, if I were to give precedence to one over the over I would have to give it to quality. What I am saying is that; Practice does NOT make perfect...Rather perfect practice makes perfect. Of course this is with the understanding that anyone on any level of training including black belt, should realize that training never ends. It is that moment when you feel that you have achieved something, that you need to wipe the slate clean, and start again. If the philosophy of system is to produce decent fighters in 18 months, and they are able to do so, then that is great. If the philosophy of a style is to produce decent instructors after 3 to 5 five years, and the results are not as expected or are too mixed to determine the effectiveness, then something is wrong. With any system, the true test of said system is; consistency in skill, training, understanding, and application. Without such consistency, or where it is apparent that it doesn't exist, we are hard pressed to say just how long it should take to receive a black belt. I believe 18 to 24 months of dedicated training, with the right training methods, and the proper intent, and level of expectation from both student and instructor, would yield the equivalent skill level of fighter as that of a 3 to 5 year traditional school. To me a Black Belt or a 1st dan Black Belt represents a two year degree, and or a 'professional certification'... Not a bachelor degree level. This is reserved to those who have trained in similar capacity, and have done so for 4 years or more. Whereas 7 to 9 nine years (after obtaining the first BB), would mean a person with a Master's degree. But as many have guessed, I am not one for traditional arts, when they are not yielding what I feel are the best fighters, either due to training, philosophy, intention, or otherwise. Again, the two roads should meet (quality and quantity), and when they do, it should be on an individual basis. That is we should primarily measure the outcome, since everything that is going in, gets consumed along with all the rest of the variables during the process of obtaining one's Black Belt. Jane might take 2 years, and Bob 3. Fred might take 10. And, whether you count in hours or years, in doesn't really take us to where we need to be. For when it is all said and done, at that moment they achieve such, they are the same, to say the least, and yet they find individuality when they express such skills as they see fit. To have a black belt is saying that you can qualify your skills, rather than merely quantify your skills. Time in this sense, is irrelevant. Those are just some of my thoughts, and I apologize if I repeat myself or go on and on...lol

I thought the answer was on an older forum, but I am not sure where... It is pretty cheap. Unless you want to learn how to make it, just cause, then it's better to just buy it. Try googling the term 'dit da jow' ingredients, or formula.... Good luck in your search!

Perhaps you need to see a qualified sport physician. Take care of yourself, and don't push it. Train smart, not hard. Good luck!

The longer you have that bulge the more your skin will stretch and remain in that position. The elasticity of the skin can only take so much. I am 38 and in 9 months will be 39. I have had love handles so long, I fear I would not get rid of them completely. I am 5'6, and even in my youth, did not have a six pack. Diet and exercise, along with genetics. I have been up to 183, and down to 142. I was 138 for years after graduating high school (about 6). Then I broke the 140 mark, and it seems all down hill since then. I have not really grown in muscular size in 20 years either. My legs perhaps, but little else. I have remained stagnate in the 150's for quite some time. Sometime I drop into the upper 140's but not for long. My pant size is 32, but many times it is the mid-drift, and my thigh size that dictuate what fits, and not just my stomach. Other men my age, either bulk up to hide them (creating the V shape), or they do some extreme things I am not sure I want to do. Proper diet and exercise are crucial as we all know. The hard part is doing it on your own. For without help, then you are just guessing and doing what others say work for them. Well, it doesn't always work that way. My body might produce more fat when I eat product 'a' than product 'b'. It might produce less sugar (than say someone else of equal size and proportion), from specific biological process. I might not burn as much fat as other people, perhaps due to my metabolism, or perhaps due to the fact that my muscles do not work in a sufficient fat burning manner. There are so many variables to deal with, again it wouldnt' hurt to get help when you find yourself at a stoppage. Later folks!

It is sufficient to do as you are thinking of doing. The choice to bulk up or or use resistance training is a personal one. If you did weight train, you could always pyramid down on the quantity of mass rather than up. Remaining flexible, eating well, and doing plenty of resting, and cardiovasular exercise will generally provide the results many of the regular guys desire. Take care and good luck!

I hope with all of these replies, you found something useful. Contineu to train smart, and not hard, doing only those things that add to your skills and not diminish them! Good luck!

It might not hurt to ask around where you are at, work with other students or your instructor. Perhaps search amazon.com or google search it. Good luck in your search!

I am more of a standing grappler than ground grappler, as I too am working on those skills as well. Anytime someone is on their knees there is an opportunity to take them off balance. Unless they have you in a cross lock (where they have their hands locked on something, and their legs), and or they have you pinned in such a manner that you cannot maneuver sufficiently, or they have a lock on you where they have already arched their back, then you have a chance. Nothing is impossible. Since there are things yet to be tried or attempted. I hope others will give you the specifics you desire! Good luck!

It is good to remember the past, so that you know where you are going. The only problem that comes about, is: if you are looking back too often, you will either wind up running into something, or you will find yourself away from the main road or path you are on. Train smart, nor hard!

There is alot of great insight, and thoughts on this thread! Keep it coming in floods of positive support and or encouragement! Later!

I am more into the history of Asian philosophy and culture, than of the language. Those are some of the things I studied while obtaining my bachelor degree. I believe many of us are agreeing upon the use of the term 'master'. These are some great thoughts!!! Ovine made some great points that support what I was trying to say as well. Later!

Traditionally, when we think of roundhouse, outside of the martial arts, we imagine, either; a wide hook to the head in boxing; a wide curving pitch in baseball; or a circular building with a center turntable used for storing and repairing locomotives. Mawashigeri is the term we used when referring to the kick in Okinawan Goju Ryu, and Shotokan. Mawashi, of course, implying 'circular'... In Japanese, which is not the same as Okinawan, the word circular comes in the following flavor: maroyaka, marui, marukkoi, kaihou However, the term mawashi has also come to imply 'sumo loincloth'... Now we when say mawasu/mawaru, we are saying "to turn, or to revolve" mawari means rotation That's what I know for now... Later!