Enviroman

I certainly think it's doable. Many small businesses are not fully profitable within the first few years. If he can simply break even (paying his home mortgage/bills AND the school's bills) that's not too bad at all. Fantastic (read: decent and low cost) marketing tools include: giving free self-defense seminars at local high schools or the YMCA. Having a decent website with a lot of information about the school and then making sure people know about the website. Put an ad in the local Yellow Pages (including your website if you can afford a splash ad).

Found it: http://www.fudebakudo.com/en/movie_aikido.html You can click on the other movies below it, too.

I agree 100%. Unless you know the people pretty well and they're aware of your ability, there's no way I'd practice "UFC style" with them...you could really get hurt!

Exactly.

Working from seiza (kneeling) helps your mechanics by making you "step" more precisely (you don't have feet to dance around on when you're kneewalking) and by making you use your hips better. Also, less leverage means you're less likely to resort to just arm strength instead of involving the whole body. And you can do pretty much all the techniques standing or kneeling, so you can practice the principles. You don't have to worry about your standing ukemi, either, if you're afraid to fall -- but that shouldn't matter except to beginners or injured people, since you can't do much in aikido if you're afraid to take ukemi.I'll just assume they're doing their standup while you're not watching. Seiza work is interesting, but I'm not sure how applicable it is anymore. I'm sure you know why it was developed and whatnot, with the small Japanese houses and the fact that O'Sensei designed the seiza throws for a time if you were attacked while taking tea or something similar (kneeling).

Well, yeah, but why use smoke bombs when you have high tech surveillance and other gizmos (not that certain SWAT squads don't use smoke/flash bombs, they do)? Ninja were spies; spies today just use technology available to them. They still train in MA.

http://www.shoshinryu.com/ for info on the style. http://www.shoshinryu.com/schools.html for a list of schools. hth

I didn't vote because I haven't been to a play since like 11th grade (when I was forced to see MacBeth by my AP English class).

Well, as old GMs die off, new ones tend to take their place. At least in a lot of styles that's the case.

If you can find the article, I'd be happy to read it. I've never heard such a thing about cycling. In fact, most nutritionists will recommend the use of a stationary bike to weight loss and leg strengthening.

For a lot of people, it's availability. Financial availability, distance availability, etc. If you're lucky enough to be able to choose among a lot of arts, I'd recommend sitting in on a few classes, check out the style, and see if you would feel comfortable committing yourself to that style.

Absolutely. I agree with Daedulus in part, but I feel he has the "BJJ is the best and only real MA" attitude. Maybe I'm wrong.

Very interesting.

Well, Aikido has a lot of throws and joint locks. I was just watching some of DeLucia's combat Aikido videos and it shows you how you can use various techniques in a combat situtation.

It's a great movie, but it's still a movie! There are training programs that show you how to properly use a firearm...I strongly recommend them to anyone that will shoot a gun (be it for self-defense or hunting).

The only judo school near me is in a really nasty area...otherwise I would have considered checking it out. Judo uses a lot of the same ukemi that Aikido uses, so that's a bonus.

I saw a bunch of those types of flash animations. There was one for aikido, JKD, TKD...some were pretty funny. If I find the link again I'll post it.

Absolutely. I certainly could not take a sword in the stomach and bend it! But I can assure you that it's not some mystical energy that allows the monk to perform that task.

It looks decent. I do upper body twice a week, lower once a week (supplemented with daily stationary bike riding with decent resistence), plyometrics twice a week, "chinese" forearm strengthening daily (probably too much, actually) while in low horse stance...that's about it. Your program looks decent.

In the Japanese military?

Well, if you have a backyard you can easily install a makiwara. A heavy bag requires a chain, a ceiling strong enough to support it, sand to fill it, etc. So, in a lot of cases, a makiwara can be easier to keep around. And they're normally a lot cheaper. Both have "give" and both can strengthen your punches (and/or kicks). Some people say that a makiwara can cause serious damage to your hands...do some research and make a decision for yourself, I guess. Overall, I'd recommend a heavy bag over a makiwara, I think. It's more versatile (bigger striking area, as you said) and nearly anything you can do on a makiwara you can do on a bag.

Ah, got it.

Cool, I'll check it out on winmx.

Well, since you take TKD, you might find Hapkido a nice compliment.

I checked limewire and found nothing...hmm. Which do you use? I refuse to use Kazaa or Bearshare due to bundled spyware.