Willannem

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What record? Don’t use sport events as a guideline for effectiveness. Traditional systems teach a martial art while MMA systems claim to teach "street fighting", ring fighting, a mix of traditional systems, or selective techniques from whatever the instructors have learn'd. It all depends on what you want out of training on what school you should choose. On another note, I've trained in a traditional art and it is considered to be too "hard core" for most people. It takes a certain mentality to stay in it. Classes are normally small (I've maybe seen 10 people in class on the best day). We've had Army Rangers and other special ops alike come through and never stay (sometimes the kids stay but parents don't...go figure). The school has not changed its teachings to keep the doors open.

Thats not true. Adrenaline does a great job of sapping all of your energy from you. Adrenaline makes you feel great for about 10-20 seconds if you decide to go beserk and crazy. If you dont get the job done by then (or do significant damage) then you're in some trouble. I've been in a few street fights and have whitness'd many more. I've never seen anyone tire out after a 10-20 second burst of rage. Also, none of the fights lasted longer than 2 or 3 min. In a competition/sport, you'd be in trouble. Based on personal experiences, adrenaline induced rage has last'd long after the fight is over. Its not so much the skill of the individual in a fight that determines how quickly its concluded as it is the comparitive skill of BOTH the fighters (and weight disparity as well). For instance, Roy Jones Jr. could quickly defeat and knock out some scrub who has no training whatsoever, due mostly to the difference in experience between the two fighters. When he fights another professional boxer, it suddenly becomes a fight that becomes drawn out, because the other boxer knows how to defend properly and counterattack as well. Well, I said the more experienced martial artist. Roy Jones would fall into the 'more experienced' category in your scrub scenario. Also, Roy has knock'd out several well train'd boxers in short stints. Roy was just the more experience fighter in the matchup. Besides, as I've said earlier, street fights (from my own personal experience) don't last more than a few minutes, no matter the skill of the fighters. Rules of the ring make fights long and drawn out. Rules of the street keeps 'em short.

Mr. Mike, I think you did an excellent job of conflict resolution. Individuals like him are used to being in control and the aggressor. When they find themselves on the other side of the coin, they cower. A simple slap is all it took. Restraint doesn't seem like a strong enough word for what you displayed. The only mistake I say you made was allowing him around your family. Thankfully no one was hurt and you learned your lesson. I've learned through experience that if things can get worse, they usually do.

Looking to impress someone in fight usually precludes you get'n beat half to death...or worse. Save flash for demo's when you're trying to recruit. If your school is teaching flash as a self defense technique, I feel sorry for you.

That isn't the only thing that creatine does but that is a big exponent of it. I'd agree to shy away from supplementation until you're an adult except in cases of some protein shakes and vitamins. As far as lifting goes, I suggest you start with light weights (stuff you can do for 3 sets of 10-12 reps) until you build up the knowledge and skill level to lift properly. Most people with years of practice have horrible form which can get you hurt. If you can afford it, seek out a personal trainer to show you how to lift with correct form. Make sure he is certified, though. Click here for a great resource on working out. It even shows you proper form. There's a faq section that can answer many questions you may have, also.

Training in either art will help you shape up. I'd go with the one that I feel most comfortable with.

Ice it down, take some ibuprofen, and see a doctor. You may have to fight with one hand. I did when I broke my wrist. You can do it.

Systema

I wouldn't compare a sensei to a gun runner. Gun runners engage in illegal activites and deal with people they know will use their wares to do harm. They are in it for pure profit for themselves and little more. Senseis build character along with teaching people to defend themselves and/or compete in organized events. They teach people not to engage in combat unless absolutely necessary; the avoidance of war. If anything, you can call them 'Lords of Peace'.

I'd like to try that. Gotta upgrade this dinosaur, though.

Sounds like a great idea. Make it happen!

As some will say that you can’t defend against a takedown unless you train against someone who is an expert in takedowns, you can reverse that statement for strikes…You can’t defend against a strike unless you train against an expert in striking. I agree and disagree with both statements. You have to train with those that are experts in both. In ideal circumstances, it’s within one system. Also, just because you do something more than someone else does not mean you’ll be better than them. Our Soke constantly said, “Quality over quantity!” In traditional jujutsu, you are train’d in stand-up, ground work, locks, throws, weapons, etc. There is just too much to focus on one aspect. I’ve fought against pure strikers in their own tournaments. More times than not, I’ve beat them. Some of the credit goes to me but most goes to the training I’ve received. I’ve spent, at best, 1/5 the time training to strike they have. Due to me being call’d up to active duty and subsequent relocation, I haven’t had the opportunity to fight pure grapplers so I haven’t tested that side of theory. My instructor has, however, and has prosper’d well against ‘em. In essence, it all comes down training and the individual. You may have the perfect technique against takedowns but if you screw it up, oh well. Same goes for techniques against strikes.

After about a month of jujutsu training, I let my instructor know I wanted to train in Karate to be a "well rounded fighter". Little did I know he held black belt ranks in Karate, too. He wore me out in a one-on-one training session. It was just me, him, and 35 years of his exerience. He taught everything I needed to know. If you seek what your school doesn't have, I don't see why it would be a problem to crosstrain; as long as it doesn't detract from your current training.

His movies were ok. Nothing to brag about. I caught some footage of him in actual tournaments. He's a good fighter. Tae Bo has made him a LOT of money. It's an honest living. Other than that lil bit, I know little about him.

I'd equate it to going to a job interview and them wanting to verify your education and employment history. Lineage is important to me because I want to know that my instructor has legitimate credentials to teach and not someone that just up and decided he had enough knowledge to teach. A martial arts instructor is a profession like any other. If I use the services of a lawyer, I check out his credentials. If I seek the aid of a doctor, same credential check (in case of emergencies, I hope the hospital did the checking for me). Many MA instructors learn the basics (sometimes even less) from a few systems and open their own school. This is fine and all but what happens after I've learn'd the basics in a few years? Personally, I want to reach advanced levels that can only be taught by someone who has learn'd the advanced levels, himself. The only way I can verify the legitimacy of the techniques I'm learning is to check instructors certifications with the system the instructor is claiming to have gain'd it from. If John Smith claims to teach So-and-So Ryu, I should be able to contact the school where John Smith claims to come from. They should have records of who they certify to teach their system. If I claimed to teach a system, I wouldn't mind at all if someone wanted to check me out. It tells me they're serious about their training and won't be there to waste anyone's time. You don't have to ask for lineage to be serious but when someone checks, it is a good sign they are serious. Some people could care less about lineage. More power to 'em. Personally, I do. Along with a lineage check, I make sure I vibe with the instructor. Lineage isn't everything.

Why the hyphen in the middle of your name?

I couldn't agree more.

I can't tell if you're agree'n with me, disagree'n with me, have a thing against the mythology of Bruce Lee or the man himself. First I said he was a great fighter who made great things happen. Then I said the great things were the martial artists he inspired to train...some of which are in turn doing great things. In the first paragraph quoted above, you agree'd that he inspired martial artists. That's what I've been saying all along. I could care less about the morality of his movies because it's only entertainment. I'm not talking about the wannabes or what not who gave up when they found out what the martial arts are all about. I'm talking about good/great martial artists that were initially inspired to seek out the arts due to Bruce Lee's influence. What happens after they step into the dojo is of no responsibility to Bruce Lee. It's between the individual and the instructors. In short, the propagation of martial arts is a great thing. When someone aids in this process, it's a great thing. Bruce Lee deserves and gets credit for aiding in the process of great things happening within the martial arts community.

Welcome!

I wouldn't. Great things were already happening in the martial arts. He just ended up getting credit for a lot of it. I'm sure there were great things already happening when he burst onto the scene but there are countless individuals who were introduced to the martial arts though his movies. Several of them are now masters, preserving and teaching martial arts thoughout the world. I'd call that a great thing. I'm sorry, but if his accomplishments are going to be centered on his 'screen' efforts and the ensuing 'media' exploitation of the arts, i just don't think that's such a good thing. A lot of people entered into the martial arts because they saw him on screen? The growth and change of the arts is due to individuals within the arts that look beyond idols, and instead into themselves and into their arts. Granted, there are many people who found idols from different mediums, but i can't readily give Bruce Lee credit for the 'horrible' influx of wannabe martial artists that occurred in the 70's Bruce Lee era (as some people like to call it). In that time, a lot of fakers jumped into the scene, claiming to have belts and opening up schools with a modicum of legitimate background. Worse, however, were the many persons entering the martial arts for the 'wrong' reasons. The movies didn't help the martial arts... it hurt it. Mass consumption is for the masses, and that's what movies and other network-products target. As to Bruce's movies as a whole, they were mostly geared towards revenge and other 'unhealthy' MA ventures, but common-theme movie ventures. I also don't give credit to the times. It was at that time recognized there was an interest in Asian martial arts. It was the media moguls that capitalized on Bruce Lee and other martial artists of the time, because they noted the consumer interests... and went into it for the money. Bruce Lee found’d Jeet Kune Do. Are you willing to dismiss the entire system as fill’d with “wannabe martial artists” along with the untold number of individuals he inspired to learn martial arts? For whatever reason people entered into the martial arts arena, the ones that persisted throughout the years aren’t to be considered as wannabes. We all know that training weeds out those who aren’t in it for the love. If you only choose to look at the negative aspects of his movies, that’s a choice. It’s an undeniable fact that he inspired many “true” martial artists. If it were not for Bruce Lee’s movies, he wouldn’t have been able to draw in nearly as many people, good or bad. Even one good martial artist inspired by Bruce Lee is a great thing. That may be true but Bruce Lee did it…”someone else” didn’t.

Many people confuse traditional training with ineffective training. The techniques you learn in jujutsu systems are simply building blocks for techniques and principles to follow. Looking at individual techniques and dismissing them because of not being ‘street applicable’ has a lot to do with short sightedness. You probably won't be able to collar choke someone with a t-shirt on, in the streets. You can't rely on a ref to enforce rules on the street, either. Tradition serves its purpose. As my friend used to say, "There's nothing new under the sun."

Research plyometric training.

They coulda pick'd a better name for the tournament than 'Final Fu'. It doesn't look to be for the die hard martial artists. You have to look between the ages of 18-30 (most likely attractive, too) and it's a stand-up, point driven event. There needs to be a disclaimer on it...For entertainment purposes, only. lol…What do you have against sports bras?

I wouldn't. Great things were already happening in the martial arts. He just ended up getting credit for a lot of it. I'm sure there were great things already happening when he burst onto the scene but there are countless individuals who were introduced to the martial arts though his movies. Several of them are now masters, preserving and teaching martial arts thoughout the world. I'd call that a great thing.