elbows_and_knees

coincidentally, a few years ago, one of the children in my judo class was watching me teach hiza guruma. She didn't understand what I said, and replied "What? He's a gorilla??"

yeah, I figured, because in another post, you said you were a marine, but not a soldier. I don't disagree with the training part. If you've read any of my posts at all here, I'm always talking about how things are never as easy as people here make them out to be when you are in the middle of an altercation, with rushing adrenaline and resisting opponents. Experience keeps you calm under pressure. We're definitely on the same page here. working as a bouncer, I've seen friends get KOed, stabbed and swung at with bottles. That's definitely not on the same scale as what you've seen, but it illicits a similar response, I'm guessing. humanity. Not training. It's human nature to not want to kill. By our nature, we are violent, but we are not murderers. Matter of factly, I just read something about a study which states that "it is being proven that only 15 to 20 percent of soldiers actively engaged the enemy, showing an ingrained reluctance to kill fellow humans. Many purposely fired high, many more not at all." The book is called "On Killing" Like I said, not to kill is human nature.

they are taller. you can simulate leg kicks to them. Smaller bags are higher off the ground, usually waist height or slightly lower, unless you have them hanging low, and then you can't do head strikes.

I'm in the gym 5 days per week. I do strength training - O lifts, powerlifting movements, etc. I also do plyometrics and cardio. it comes with time. relaxation, flexibility, technique and time on the bag all factor into it. stretch everyday.

Huh?? I have trained with Royce Gracey. He is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. As for Tito, he's a pig. Might be a good fighter, but in my view, he's not a Martial Artist. I've met royce too. Even got pics of him choking me. Tito is another very good guy. He just doesn't show it on camera. He actually gives A LOT of money yearly to various children's charities, among other things.

that has nothing to do with being a warrior. that is simple rationalization. You assessed that the threat did not justify extreme means. Any average joe can do that, and it doesn't require special training to do. In addition, you're human. regardless of training, most humans have no desire to kill another human, even in extreme circumstances, despite what they may tell you. that's not the morality of a warrior, that is simply being human.

Here's a quote from musashi: "The Way of the warrior does not include other Ways, such as Confucianism, Buddhism, certain traditions, artistic accomplishments [,] [-and] or dancing. But even though these are not part of the Way, if you know the Way broadly you will see it in everything. Men must polish their particular Way."

Your kidding me right? You think because two guys step into a cage to beat the snot out of each other makes them warriors? The only cause their fighting for is themselves. Like I said before, there's nothing wrong with what their doing, its great entertainment, and its how they feed themselves and their families. But they certainly are not putting their lives on the line for people they've never met, a certain way of life, or some higher meaning of life they live by. Not warriors. Professional athletes, maybe even gladiators, but NOT warriors. Am I kidding? No. It's not about a sportive venue - it's about the spirit of what they are doing. they are fighting. Are they warriors? No. And I didn't say they were. I said they are living more along the lines of a warrior than your "martial artists". A warrior is someone who has been in a war. Few of us on this board are truly warriors. However, we, training MARTIAL arts are training for combat. Sport fighters realize this. they train their skill and test it. Many "martial artists" do nothing more than spar in class or enter point style competitions. Yet, because they learn about philosophy and spirituality, that makes them more MARTIAL?? Not at all. Out of curiosity though, who here puts their life on the line on a regular basis for people they've never met, a way of life, etc.? I do. But I've never been in a war. I still wouldn't consider myself a warrior.

it's on topic and a good post - Now, based on what you said, why do we know these people? Do we know of napoleon because he was an upstanding citizen? hell no. We know of him because of what he accomplished in battle.

I should reiterate. there have been many well known masters who have killed people. some made a living doing it. moral is not a characteristic of a "warrior". once again, you are ADDING things to make it fit your definition. A warrior is merely someone who has been in battle. period. As for courage, a "warrior" with no courage will quickly end up beaten or dead. That is not a characteristic, it's a byproduct of training. warrior 5 entries found for warrior. To select an entry, click on it. warriorcold warriorroad warriorweekend warriorBlack Warrior Main Entry: war·rior Pronunciation: 'wor-y&r, 'wor-E-&r, 'wär-E- also 'wär-y&r Function: noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English werreour, from Anglo-French *werreier, guerreier, from warreier, guerreier to wage war, from werre war -- more at WAR : a man engaged or experienced in warfare; broadly : a person engaged in some struggle or conflict Now, where does it say anything about morale or compassion? Main Entry: fight·er Pronunciation: 'fI-t&r Function: noun : one that fights : as a (1) : WARRIOR, SOLDIER (2) : a pugnacious or game individual (3) : 1BOXER 1 still no mention. Main Entry: martial art Function: noun : any of several arts of combat and self defense (as karate and judo) that are widely practiced as sport - martial artist noun STILL no mention. Like I've been saying, there are things that have over time become associated with martial arts - the things you guys are mentioning - mainly through arts that have been influenced by shaolin. You won't find such things in shuai chiao, nor will you find them in non asian arts. The closest thing you will find in non asian arts is the concept of chivalry, and that was influenced by the church. Notice the pattern? buddhist monks...warrior code. zen...bushido. christian church... chivalry.

Martial Arts and Sporting events are two different things.I really don't think so. In reality, the guys competing in MMA are living more along the lines of the warrior than the "martial artists" of today who train for self defense and nothing more. we train hard. We test our skills in combat (as close to real as allowed). There is a camaraderie among many competitors.... The romanticized life of the warrior is now carried out through sport fighters. "martial artists" train for a possibility. Sport fighters train for an inevitability.

I'm not referring to the purpose of the art - that is beyond the scope of this topic. What I'm saying is that those who killed, worked for gangsters, etc. were no less martial artists than anyone on this forum. Actually, IMO, they were more of an MA, if anything. As for upbringing, I live in a city with three times the national murder rate... I've seen just as much as you. that has nothing to do with my perception of what is or isn't a MA though. This is where definition comes into play. Martial means war, nothing else. Some people adhere to the ideals that monks and the samurai tried to create - adding codes of conduct to the art. That, however is a cultural thing. The japanese have always been big on honor anyway. However, bushido dealt things besides honor, like being cheap and mastering your art. same

because you choose to. I call them fighters. I've never said "so and so is a martial artist", except on the internet. HOWEVER, in this day and age, there are a lot of people who train martial arts that cannot fight. so I don't refer to everyone as a fighter. I may just say "so and so trains in X style" like "fighter", "martial artist" is a name we've given to a person who trains fighting arts. If through the years, people referred to them as "flowers", that's what you would call them, because that's what you've always known them as. What's in a name?

That depends on your definition of a Martial Artist. If you believe that a good Martial Artist is nothing more than a good fighter, then you are correct. If you think (like me) that being a good Martial Artist is also about being humble and respectful, then it's not the case. As above. That depends on your definition of a Martial Artist. Just because these people were great warriors and great soldiers does not make them good Martial Artists (by my definition). It's got nothing to do with "Waking Up". It's got to do with definition. If you believe that a Martial Artist is nothing more than a fighter, then great, hooray for you, but don't be deluded into thinking that most people here share your views. That doesn't mean your views are wrong, it just means that your views are just that.I'll give you that, but by very definition, martial means war. none of the things you guys are talking about will help you when it comes to that, which what triangle and I are saying.

yup. I've even fractured my shin. And fought with the same fractured shin. Ideally, you don't want that to happen, obviously. the ideal way is to not get bruised up at all, because when you do, you now have to go lighter until you heal, setting yourself back.

"analyze- since all fighters, do not fight the same and are not all, as deadly or difficult, because of this you must take time to view ur opponent, and analyze your oppenent to find many things before attacking. things such as : style of fighting( if you can tell ) which will sometimes reveal how ur may react to sertain moves, strike, or best moves but sometimes not all of this is sertain from just looking at ur opponents fighting style so U must keep and open mind, also u must then find out what type of threat level ur in to figure out some techniques ur opponent might use." that is along the same line - you are trying to analyze what style he's using. You will likely not have time for that. If I walk in your face and hit you for no reason, how would you know I was high? Like I said, those are things that are nice to know, but in a confrontation will likely not be things you will have the benefit of knowing.

yeah, I know what you meant. In boxing, I would make an angle and wear out his body or face, weakening his legs. It's the same principle, but different means of execution.

see, that's the other thing... 1. being arrogant doesn't make you a bad MA. It simply makes you arrogant. 2. my skill doesn't entrust me with anything - I'm not spider man. I didn't start training to learn to defend myself or others - I started training because I wanted to. That said, I help others all the time. I've stopped muggings, stopped men from beating women - and that was before my job as a bouncer. That's not because I train though, that's just who I am. I would've helped even if I didn't train. Martial arts training does not require that help others no more does being a cop force you to help others -It's not required for the job. 3. being a bad person does not mean you're not a good martial artist. Seriously, some of you guys here should look up a lot of the old masters and how they lived. When I was in CMA, my sigung trained under johnny tsai. He does videos and things now, but back in the day, he was an enforcer for chinese triads. Chan tai san and several others have also been known to kill people for various reasons. Musashi was the greates swordsman in japanese history and earned his fame by killing men in duels. Like I said, we paint this nostalgic picture of what we think martial arts should be and try to conform to it, like we are humans trapped in the matrix. When you wake up, you see that reality is not how you perceived it to be.

1 and 2 were way better than 3 adn 4, IMO, but like the others said, try amazon. Try ebay and half also.

I train for free

This is completely different from what you've been saying. Feeling your art is best is very arrogant. Who are you to think that your art is better than any other art out there? Saying that you think your chosen art is best for you though, is completely different.

I have those same things, and I compete. Plus I have three jobs, if you count teaching the muay thai class as one of them. Time isn't really an issue. Your normal training time is enough to prep for a fight if you use it wisely.

non trained thugs use strikes effectively in fights all the time. I use the terms high and low percentage. A high percentage technique is something that is effective most of the time and can be used by most anyone. ANYONE can punch somebody in the face, as long as they have arms. The head is a moving target, making it harder to hit, but it is a bigger target than a small pressure point, making it easier to hit than a small point. Same thing with an arm bar. Once I control your body, your arm is an easy pick. I can teach anyone to do an arm bar in one day. after a week, they would be able to apply it. these are higher percentage techniques than pressure points. In addition, there are so many pressure points, unless you only train a few, you have to think about which one you want to hit, how hard it needs to be hit, does it need to be hit, rubbed or used in combination to activate it, time of day, etc. There are WAY too many factors involved in using pressure points. agreed, to an extent.

I don't do anything special for my legs other than absorb kicks. drilling, sparring, etc. same with my shins. All I do is spar and kick bags and pads.

I dunno if the dilenneation is that clear. shuai chiao and xingyi were arts taught to royal soldiers, and both arts use forms. SC's forms are MUCH different, but XY uses forms as we know them to be.