marie curie

Agreed!

I think that when a person strikes a few at you, you can tell if he'll be all head shots, or if he's more likely to hit all over. Interesting point!

We probably do about 90 striking, 10 grappling in Kajukenbo

Dana white is my hero. I want to be bald, rich, and on TV.

oh it is very much like Princess Bride At least I like to think that.

Yeh, I've seen (and recommended) people be held back from their fellow rank-mates simply because they were not ready- most usually due in large part to poor attendance or lack of dedication. I don't think that there is anything wrong with that practice, in fact it is what is missing from a lot of schools, big however... If your sensei has nothing but negative stuff to say all the time, particularly to 6-year-olds who just completed 90 minutes of testing... well I would consider that a bad attitudes and probably not the best learning environment for my kid. That's really up to the two of you. If he sees it as "Okay, I just have to work harder", then great, but if he is thinking "Sensei seems to only see failure in me, so that's what I must be and do", then probably find a new sensei. Good luck! ***Edit*** I just talked about this with my fiance- another instructor- who identifies himself as the most critical martial arts instructor he's ever met, and he even thinks that not coming up with a couple good things to reinforce is crazy for adults, let alone for children.

I don't have to actually get hit, for someone else to strike first. I can block that arm or whatever, evade it, or maybe even attack it. The point is that he makes the first move. I typically wait for the other person in training. I hate when I have to strike first.... of course what I hate more is when you are trying to fight someone and they just keep backing away... dumb people with really long legs and no desire to actually spar... anyway off topic too much... I get hit first plenty.

I must admit that I really enjoy watching TKD fight Japanes Karate, then one of them fight a judo guy, etc... Of course that wasn't a group of guys training for the same sport- it was people from different sports competing. Now everyone is just really well rounded, I think, and all around better fighters in that they can fight one art, then transition to another to better defend/attack.

Agreed- I think it also depends more on what you want to get out of the practice

these are about the same few that we learn

I may be wrong, but I think this is along the lines of what BM was talking about - this is more of a victim style mindset. you won't attack unless you are attacked first. I on the other hand will attack FIRST If I feel an attack is inevidable. This is the pre-emptive strike which he referred to. In many schools, they teach only to defend, and not to attack unless you are attacked first. I won't say this is a bad thing per se, but it can place you in the situation of not having time to use your skills to defend yourself, because that one strike may have been all it took for him to KO you. I don't worry about getting in the first punch, but if someone attacks me, I'm going to defend myself well...very well. and if they end up in the hospital or something, I'd rather not end up in jail, thank you very much

there are women's judo gis, but I forget where. They are pretty sweet.

Welcome!

Ummm... it depends what you mean. I've been doing martial arts maybe collectively 11 or 12 years and have had some immediate responses. 1. Once I was doing my nails on my couch and this guy was punching me (he was very much like a little brother) and he punched me when I wasn't expecting it, and I stood, spun, and front snap kicked his nose into broken. 2. When I was walking along, someone grabbed me from behind (later determined to be an acquaintance) and I spun, arm-barring him. 3. Once I was waking my fiance up and trapped so as to arm-bar, but I was faster (due to being awake) and countered. One might consider those "second nature" but I was also once grabbed by a friend from behind, and did nothing. I have a friend (an instructor who is married to one of my girlfriends) who fake punches at my face, and I block on his way out So I think that a lot of it is situational, and some of it just where you are in your day/mood/etc.

Hehe, ok, I'll let everyone know when I go and come back

1.) How physically intensive is Bazilian Jiu-Jitsu? I'm looking for something that's physically challenging, since it's either a gym membership or this for me. I'm a broke college student, can't afford both It is really strength building and you work a lot if you are allowed to roll for 10 mins or more (I know that sounds short, but in BJJ it feels like much longer) 2.) What's it like to learn? How difficult did you find it as a new student? And any other experiences you had as a newbie coming into the art. Coming from karate and judo, I got the standing/balance stuff quickly. The bulk, though actually took a few months for me to catch on and learn things quickly and easily. 3.) How practical is it? I'm, of course, familiar with the Gracies and their achievements. But I'd like to hear your personal opinion and experiences on the outside-the-mat applicability of BJJ. Not very. If John Q Attacker has a friend, pretty much you can't use any BJJ and if he doesn't, but you are on gravel or even pavement, a lot of stuff is out (sacrifice throws and things that end with you landing hard on the ground)

Yeh, in fact when my fiance bruised his ribs, they did a cat scan and x-rays to make sure that there weren't any rib fragments that had chipped off, because if they lacerate your liver it can result in a mild case of dead.

yeh, they guys aren't' the best hosts, maybe, but i enjoy the history.

haha, i've been to classes with guys like that!

Yeh, I have to add what Dano said- stress reducer and once you get going there is an addictive/inertial component

Good post- I think Martial Artests often find themselves asking these questions. Honestly, at this point, the reason I stick it out is because I like bonding with my fiance over something that is fun.

Hehe, though I'm not a big beer fan, my fiance is and I figure we'll go on the brewery tour. We are looking to stay mostly around Dublin.

My fiance and I are thinking about Ireland for a honeymoon- anyone been? Suggestions of where to go?

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

Having to choose one- I do it for fun