Menjo

Yea some good points, id say skill overall. My example would be a professional Muay Thai fighter verus a bodybuilder, the MT fighter would win without question. Thats how id see the situation.

Welcome!

I thought this was a good qoute. ~One reason I don't drink is that I want to know when I am having a good time. (Nancy Astor)

I'm interested to know what you train for grapple defense. Myself, I'm currently doing shootwrestling twice a week (3 hours total) and weight lifting 3 to 4 times a week (3-5 hours total) plus the occasional bag work to keep up my striking. Well ive only been doing it(grapple defense) for 3 weeks now so not much knowledge here. Right now my sensei is just showing me how i can apply shotokan to takedown techniques he knows from akido and judo. This sat ill have to learn how to stop takedowns using my stances. Yea so right now i know nothing of the subject, sorry.

I train everyday of the week for as long as i can. Usually 2 hours at home, sometimes only 1. During the weekends i like to train again as long as possible so that could be any amount of time depending on other stuff. Formal classes are wed and friday, i do grapple defense with my instructor on sat for 1 hour and on sundays are free workouts(2hours).

Do your kicks a thousand times over and over. Lastly(not really, but i cant think of anything else ), prefect your kiba dachi, and look around google for lower body training.

Thug, really i didnt know that? Ive always read that he was very ill and feable before he practiced MA indepth.

Good point,

Thats tough, for the first part, it would kinda be like comparing TMA and MMA which has no end of debating. I used to be a MMA enthusiest however now I enjoy the ideals of TMA, why? Im not sure. Indeed the techniques intended for sport fighting are VERY effective, i find them somewhat limiting(in regard of mental thinking). Also because MMA(in general) have mostly evolved from past MA or borrowed techniques, i find everything is based on other peoples success, and i enjoy the thinkable challenge of mastering a TMA. Id like think of TMA as a completely personal system(i guess except for your insturctor), I like how TMA dont say what you can and cannot do, and less grouping in competetions. In MY OPINION, TMA is about personal endevors and balance of life, while MMA holds less personal meaning. Its just what type of journey you prefer. As for the second part, i agree training with other wieght classes is great. But I just so tired of hearing same old things, i wouldnt have done the things ive done in the past, but hey, who wouldn't want to change things of the past right? Now that i think about it, perhaps i just joined a bad gym for MT. As for me not beleiving in weight classes, thats because really if your going to fight and become the best then you should have to use every advantage to each his own. But its not like i could run the UFC or anything so my opinion is really shot down there. Sorry I couldnt answer the post very well, but that was tough.

maybe, but they sure are delicious Ha!!! I should try it someday

If i was to judge a kata, id base it firstly on the katas main points. Such as for Heian Yondan, id look for Expansion /contraction and control. Then id look at their stance, followed by how solid their technique is.

I'm terrified of octopi. Ocotpus are the most horrible creatures on earth, period.

Thats why i left Muay Thai, i dont beleive in the way of weight classes and that stuff. I even won agaisnt fighters "above" my class to prove it isnt the end all of sport fighting. Now obviously fighters will have the advantage, but there are exceptions. Im just trying to say that, (off topic) i find thats one of the huge differences in MMA and TMA.

I find smoking would be contradicting to training in the first place. I wont get into uselessly typing away with a long answer as the result would be obvious. However my opinion may not be 100% valid because I've never had problems smoking, i heard its difficult to stop and many other aspects to keeping the habit. But from what I know...

Good advice above, id say just forget about her. Especially if shes walking around with that attitude, just focus on what you have to do and your priorities in regards to your training.As said above, many people will pass and go, O yea and welcome to KF.

I was acutally forced into MA years ago by my father because he had taken in his youth till about 30. However i often thank him for forcing me, because i loved it after about 3 weeks and i still do, but more.

As far as differences, I like to think there are more similarities than differences in styles. Especially those coming from the same roots, Shotokan is mainly from Shuri lineage (Itosu). There are similarities to some TKD and Tang Soo Do because those systems are basically Korean versions/interpretations of Shotokan. Old TKD looks almost exact, TSD still does. In Shotokan the difference is you will learn "why" you do everything you do and you will practice it until it's coming out of your ears until you perfect it. Less techniques and more time spent on each to hone them to perfection is their way. Fast, clean powerful weapons. Fighting style is mid to long range and very ballistic meaning time your opponent find or create an opening and then send in the big bomb before he has a chance to react. Fast covering of distance. Mid to long range suggests no grappling. Doubtful you will learn grappling unless the instructor is into it. Bunkai (analysis of kata) has been all the rage these days and grappling found in kata is more and more being explored so some Shotokan schools are getting into it. Typically this is not their way though. Kata is big and practiced endlessly. Competition is promoted and kata and kumite (sparring) are worked to be flawless. I'm from a more old school Shotokan and don't compete or train that way. We don't wear safety gear and sparring is full contact. There are still some schools like that out there but they're fading fast. Some schools practice both hard contact and point. It's a whole lot stronger than TKD and the punches are trained to count. Tommy Really well put, i think we can say almost all of the old dojos regardless of the MA are losing the more traditional style dojos fast.

Shotokan is also very focused on deep stances, so it develops and gives a good basis for strength and versatilty, also if you want to take another martial art. Over all shotokan is full of alot of sport dojos, however its not very hard to tell the differenace between more sport oriented and secluded dojos out there(not saying either is better). If you want to take shotokan, solid and surprising strength will develop along with good distance and somewhat close-quater combat. If your looking to start martial arts, shotokan would be a very good choice, with a good instructor you'll develop valuble martial art skills. Good luck with your training.

Welcome!

Thats a good idea, im going to try to see if i can gather enough buds to do that.(except for busting the lip open thing)...

Mauy Thai is relitivly easy to learn and is nowadays all sparring. However by no means i think just because youve found a weakness, you should give up. If want to improve and stay in your MA, then ask the instructor and try practicing sparring drills. Obviously within a couple of months id find it hard to picture someone winning every single match and proclaimed a champion. Different MA take different amounts of time, just try to remember to stay patient.

That was a great article. What needed to be said was said, and some more, so nice job on this one!

I know i use kicks alot so i dont know what you mean by "we", im sure there are tones of people who only think about using thier legs also. however any martial art that uses kicks should have a decent instructor who can teach alot about the effectiveness of using your legs.

I agree, but im sure a organiation would earn a couple extra dollars with excessive gradings.

I really must compliment this saying. I agree, well said.