Zaine

That's a really powerful quote. I'm actually blown away.

I've started to see more and more Japanese influence at SCA events and I love it! They're usually very accurate and very well done.

I think that Martial Arts is limited only by the Martial Artist. That it to say, if it is limited it is only because we impose limits on it. A person with the ability to find the limitless potential in a thing-in-itself (that being Martial Arts) will find no limits in any art they commit themselves to. I furthermore don't believe that any Martial Art is complete. Too much is left to interpretation for the old ones and modern creators constantly evolve their systems to fit their ideologies. Take Matsumura Seito Shorin Ryu. Recently the Grand Master changed a move to fit better with what he thought the system should be. So no, I don't think that the Martial Arts are limited.

I cannot count the numbers of way a punch can be thrown. The short answer to all of your questions I think is "yes." Vague, I know but it hits it. Punches generate power in a widely varying amount of ways. Some are similar to systema, some to boxing and some to things that are wildly different from those two concepts. Even within one system, as you touched upon, there can be many different ways to the same punch. So again, the answer to your question is "yes."

I hear that a lot as well. Mostly it's a lot of enthusiasts who just love that period of time. You see a lot of scholars and people who just like to swing faux swords at each other (for good reason, it's a lot of fun). You have a a handful of EMA people and fewer WMA but from all reports it's a great time.

I don't know if the founder of the Schola has EMA experience, just that he was (and is?) a member of the SCA and his interest in WMA was sparked from there causing him to take interest in medieval manuscripts.

Tradition blocks generally turn out to be strikes. I would disagree with calling them useless. Generally Martial Arts (whichever it may be) don't teach "useless" techniques.

I recently have ventured into the world of WMA! It is supremely interesting to see the contrast between east and west. Why did EMA focus on this where WMA focus on that? I have found that it is starkly different (when it comes down to it, the reason this or that technique is found here and not there comes down to history and the environment). Lineage exists just as in EMA to the masters (or originators) of the system. Currently I am taking a system from Fiore Dei Liberi, an Italian fencing master. It utilizes the longsword, poleaxe, spear, sword and buckler and rapier (I'm sure I'm forgetting something). It does have an unarmed aspect but it focuses mainly on weapons. It's a lot of fun. If you want more information scholasaintgeorge.com. Anybody else have experience with WMA?

I learned the sai via the Ananku kata. We learned it first unarmed and then couple ranks later with the sai with basic sai training in between. It's a fun weapon that seems simple but has so many applications that it takes times to really grasp how practical it is. As example, I was starting to branch out into Mantis and my instructor asked me to bring every weapon I had. When he saw the sai he asked if I would show him a kata so I showed him Ananku which involves hitting someone with the end of the handle. He had never thought about that application before so we drilled it the entire class.

There were a lot of times that the Muay Thai fighter got in close and the TKD fighter just got a little flustered. Props to the MT fighter for seeing where the TKD fighter was weaker and exploiting.

Yes, they should. Why? It's part of a karateka's training, and in that, it's not age restrictive, imho. No, imho, a 10 year old shouldn't be a BB, but training in Jiyu Kumite ISN'T the same thing. Train in it, and trian hard UNDER the supervision of said instructor. Exactly this. Very little of Karate should be withheld because of age (and what is should be at the instructors discretion). The key is certainly to always supervise to ensure that it is being done safely and correctly. Just because they are young doesn't make them oblivious and if they think that you're holding something back from them it will cause frustration and it could turn them away.

Welcome to KF and back to Martial Arts! For supplement I do a lot of cardio (especially riding a bike, it's my favorite). I also mix in some strength training and swimming. Swimming does amazing things for your body and it's a lot of fun.

I guess it's subjective. I was lucky enough to have a free class for much of my training and when I did have a school that I paid for there were no testing fees. To my eyes it seems like a lot (just had a baby as well so maybe that factors for me). That being said, when I do see the numbers for testing fees $150 seems to be the mid range for tests that involve "tenured" masters and a lot of people tell me (never experienced personally) that having someone that high on your testing board is awesome.

I'll take effectiveness any day of the week. My job as an instructor is to teach the proper technique but if it works it works. Most times effectiveness extends from knowing the technique and making it work for you. I make it a point to teach my students the way our system does it and then stress that if they're ever (and hopefully not) in a physical encounter that they do what they know works, regardless of whether or not it is orthodox to the system.

I really think that this says it all. As an instructor, it's our job to have a herculean amount of patience sometimes. Not every person gets it right off the bat and it's easy to forget that we were all where that student is at one point. In my experience the best thing to do is as the OP suggests and tell them what they're doing right and coach them on how to better what they fall short on. That not only sets a good example of how to act as a Martial Artist but it harbors loyalty. The student sees that we are willing to be patient with them and coach them through it many times to ensure that they are the best that they can be.

Welcome to KF!

Welcome to KF!

Welcome to KF!

Welcome to KF!

4 years. Usually somewhere between 4 and 6 years is average I think. There are other variables such as certain styles take longer to get to BB such as BBJ. That BB is only the beginning is a popular saying because it's when you've proven you have the ability to reach BB and it's when you start learning secrets and your training becomes more intense. Black Belt is when you start becoming intimate with your chosen system.

Speaking as someone who is physically fit and 6ft tall I run if I can. The truth is that there are too many variables in a street fight and you just aren't going to consider all of them in the heat of the moment. If I can, I run. I generally assume that in a street fight the opponent is going for my life, or at least as no qualms in ending it and I personally like my life. That was a imperative taught to me by my sensei. Run if you can, fight until you can run if you can't. Martial Arts is a way to defend yourself and I only ever want to use it if I absolutely have to. Otherwise, running is a good way of defending myself.

The growling does help a lot. It seemed silly to me but it helps regulate breathing so as to not have the wind knocked out of you.

Agreed. Those fees seem reasonable as well. Plus, in relation to the name of the kids program, they usually have some sort silly name to suggest fun while training.

Pretty good control drills.

We used to do knuckle pushups on broken glass! Didn't worry about the wrists any! In all seriousness I do like push up bars because it's less strain on the wrists, on top of that push ups are eventually gonna strain your wrists. A good alternative, and a good way to strengthen wrists are knuckle push ups.