Martial_Artist

When I was younger they were several hours.(4-5) Now, I no longer am young or a student. When I taught the classes where for 2-3 hours. Now, however, my personal training is my 'class' time and that is usually an hour or two a day.

The story is related....(i.e. see above )

Good advice. Try hitting a heavy bag too while holding the weights. It's good to help initial development of muscles, but after a while it gets redundant and you need to be training with a closed fist to develop proper hand form when hitting a solid target. It's better to hold a heavy weight such as that and go through your movements slowly, making sure your form is perfect and repeating said movements until your arms feel like falling off. You can do the same with kicks using ankle weights. Remember it's better to go slower with perfect form than faster with poor form when learning technique. Speed can be developed and will come when proper form has been ingrained into your soul.

Every single day of the week except Sundays. Hours on end, if I can. Otherwise, at least 1-2 hours daily.

stl, Let's just say that this coconut and I somehow got engaged in mortal combat. I ended up with a chunk of flesh missing from my right middle and ring knuckle and the coconut ended up in about nine pieces. The moral: you really need to beware of shaved coconuts issuing challenges. Who knew they could talk?

Spear wound in lower left abdomen. Machete wound on right shin. Four severed tendons on right hand from sword wound. Knife wound on right top forearm. Broken noses. Bruised bones on right foot. Various spranged fingers and toes. Blood blisters galore. Wound from coconut.(strange story) Aside from bruises and cuts and bangs and aches that's about the gist of my injuries. Most are training related.

They lose.

*Contemplates leaving*...NAH! Patrick can monitor everything I do at this site. However, Google does track your IP and what sites that IP visits through Google. If you don't mind that, it's fine. I don't recall where I got the report that google did that, but it was from a reputable source. I might be able to find the link somewhere...... BTW, Yahoo doesn't track IP addresses. Of course, I could be wrong, but the world won't end because of it. If I am, oh well. Life has a funny way of going on.

I never really knew anything else. It's just something I've been doing my entire life. Heck, when I was in elementary school I thought everybody knew martial arts. I had been doing it since before I could even speak, so you can imagine my surprise when I got into my first school fight and the other kid got creamed. I was like, "wait a minute, why didn't he fight back? Why is he crying? Why can't he punch right?" I have since, however, learned otherwise, but it's something I can't get out of my blood. I mean it's as natural to kick and punch as it is to walk for me. The martial arts is just me, I didn't know much of anything else until I grew older.

I don't use Google. They keep track of your IP and what sites that IP visits through Google. It's my extreme paranoia that prevents me from using them.

Thanks. Actually, I've written a couple books on the martial arts, but have no plans for trying to get them published. They were for my students use when I used to teach. Now, they are for my sons. If asked to write again by the admin, I would, of course, be more than happy to supply. MA.

From my meager experience, I'm going to have to say that full-contact, when done properly, requires an excessive amount of finesse. I've been doing full-contact most of my martial-arts life. It is finesse, from my experience, that wins the fight. Blocking, parrying, moving, countering are all best applied and seen when done with an opponent who is not restrained. To win in full-contact you must be accurate. Otherwise, what an inefficient waste of energy your attacks will be. What point is there in throwing the attack if it is not done with purpose? I'm sure, for the goals of certain martial artists, point sparring has its place and can be a tool used within a classroom. As KSNDoug put, I can see it being an adequate place to learn the basics. I prefer full-contact over all other types. Beginners need padding, but they also need to train with less padding. Injury is a possibility and more often than not someone gets a bruise or bloodied face. But these results are trivial in the pursuit of the end goal. However, like I mentioned earlier, that is all relevant to the goals of the martial artist. MA Nominate in the Karateforums.com Awards

ROFLMAO. I like that last part Jerry. "I heard TKDists can kick you in the head." I'll remember that one. Don't forget to nominate in the Karateforums.com awards for 2003. (Just thought I'd plug that here.)

I don't believe every move in TMA's is combat proven. There are some that are nearly useless and there solely for the sake of tradition or ceremony. If the author of the thread wanted to create a "style" by simply using logic and thought and applying that method to the creation of technique, how--outside of individual limitation--could he not create something at least minimally effective? Not talking about books or videos, if the author of the thread wanted to set out and create a "system" all his own, I see nothing preventing him from doing so except the limitations of his own mind. He could only create so far as his mind and body allow him. A punch can be dealt with in a myriad of ways. But each of those ways are not beyond the scope of human invention. In fact, they were invented by humans. That being so, it is quite possible for another human being to come to the same effective conclusions, perhaps in a different method, on their own without ever having been exposed to prior TMA training. I do not see any difference between a man a hundred years ago and man today. Other than the man today has the advantages of science and technology. Why cannot a man today develop something on his own and it be as "valid" as something created hundreds of years ago? In my eyes, I see no argument other than ,"That's the way it is." or "It's tradition." or "it was proven in 'combat'". How is that any different from someone who has been in fights, survived fights, and has developed a logical approach to fights? Sounds no different to me than what the ancient masters did. I just don't see any water being held by the argument of tradition being the sole source of effectiveness. I can find fault with many TMA techniques and philosophies. So, how can they be better than anything else created by another man hundreds of years later? Gods didn't create the styles of old. The dieties of creation didn't. Humble, mortal men did.

So wait a minute, what were the credentials of the cherished masters? What references? How did they come up with their styles that are now so holy and sacred? Hmm...I guess self-teaching just doesn't work. Somone must have taught the originators of the styles, right? Such a silly idea, human invention. I guess it's just quite impossible for someone to give thought to the idea of creation and work towards refinement of that idea. Teaching yourself from books is one thing, but teaching yourself from human invention is another and I would dare say it is not as silly or far-fetched a concept as many would like to believe. I mean, how did the old masters accomplish anything if they just didn't create it?

So be it then. Thanks for your input.

Yes, you have missed the point: it is merely a principle of fighting, not the whole thereof. But that is fine and is not worthy of argument. All that is necessary for comprehension has been divulged. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. It is much appreciated. All of what I spoke of was not solely relative to the external. But, one must look beyond the metaphor. I could, and have, written books about fighting. What I have written about this simple principle is short, and perhaps, therein lies the difficulty for comprehension. However, I also do not feel it necessary to expound more than I have. I have never much liked oversimplification in explanation. I prefer to let the reader infer the deeper meanings through contextual understanding. Again, thanks for sharing your opinion. MA

Actually it applies to anyone. You see, the human body is bound by laws that govern the mechanisms of its function. In general, physical defects or abnormalities aside, all bodies are equal. Skill, in relation to the "human-ness" of your opponent, is irrelevant. If I fight an opponent of greater skill I understand that his skill comes from being better able to manipulate his body. If I fight a lesser skilled opponent I understand that he does not have the ability to manipulate his body as well as I. The purpose of the article was in relation to style. As a principle of fighting, style, that is system, is a component that is meaningless to the person who understands that regardless of the style of my opponent he only has two arms and two legs and as long as I have trained my body to perform as I require it, then the style of my opponent means nothing to me. His punches, regardless of the system of their origin, are still governend by the laws that govern the mechanics of the human body. It is still a hand attached to an arm, attached to a torso. He may call it by a hundred different names, he may throw it vertical, horizontal, or in any number of ways, but--to me--it is nothing more than his hand. This is the principle of fighting that many martial artists do not grasp. Too often a martial artist is concerned with what technique from his arsenal will he apply to the technique being administered by his opponent. This system is simply just ineffective. No single system can cover every possible attack an opponent might possibly deliver. A pure martial artist understands the limitation of system and technique and learns to utilize what he has been taught and the myriad of things he may learn to free his mind from system and grasp pure combative expression. Therefore, he views his opponent not as a stylist or a "fighter from a particular art", but as a human opponent whose movements are limited to the limits of the human body. Many martial artists spend their entire lives learning one art and are surprised when a stylist of another art defeats them. It is because they have grasped the simply concept of human movement. I have been traveling the path for over 25 years. I learn new things every day. However I have reached the point where the style of my opponent is completely meaningless to me. Whether he be a grappler, a striker, a combination of a hundred different styles, it is all the same to me. That is the principle of fighting described in the short article I wrote. While there are many different principles I chose to specifically write on that one. Skill, style, technique, application, strength, speed, and other principles were not discussed. In fact, discussing every single principle of fighting would take a long time, and compile a work much more vast than a simple article. MA. p.s. The training habits of other cultures do not defy the boundaries of the human body. They may, perhaps, more fully refine the capabilities, but they are still human. If you, as a martial artist, do not train to the fullest potential, then you cannot expect your body to perform at the same level as a martial artist who trains at a higher level. It is the responsibility of the martial artist to decide at what level he fights. I most certainly agree that perfect practice makes perfect. Anything else, is as you say, just practice...

Nothing less than 100lbs. 70lbs is too light, 40lbs is an insignificant weight to work with, and anything less will only hinder the development of kicks and punches. (excepting a speedbag for punches) Been using several for over 20 years. Excellent piece of training equipment. MA

Why are we even talking about this? What purpose does it serve? Does it make you a better martial artist? Does it improve your technique, the time you spend training, your ability? If not, then why does it matter? I don't not think someone truly concerned with self-improvement dwells much on on whether two icons could fare well against each other. Besides, I would check to make sure a post of this topic even fits the required guidelines...

I use to buy them in when I lived in the Philippines. I brought some back to the US. They're fun for sure. Here in the US, though, you're right, be careful or you'll end up getting shot or being mistaken for a gun-totin' thug.

Pretty nice toys. Much cheaper than using real guns with simmunitions and better than using rubber replicas. At least you can get "shot" with the plastic BB and know whether you just performed a technique properly. Even though the BB moves much slower than a bullet it is the reflexes of the shooter you are ultimately trying to defeat.

Howdy and Welcome!

No prob.

This post was originally published as an article in a dedicated KarateForums.com Articles section, which is no longer online. After the section was closed, this article was most to the most appropriate forum in our community. As martial artists we train for various reasons. Some of those reasons deal with our physical health. Some of us train to attain higher levels of spiritual enlightenment. There are some that seek both. Whatever our reason behind the dedication devoted to our training we are all martial artists. We are all seeking personal answers to our personal questions through combative expression. The martial arts allow us a great deal of leeway in finding our paths for personal self-expression. We can either seek this goal aggressively or passively. That is, either our hunger for personal growth expresses itself through the seeking of fighting or through the movements we dedicate our bodies to. A martial artist, however, is not one who is full of anger or hatred. A martial artist is an artist of the methods of things martial. How we define those things we encounter in our schools, with our teachers and fellow-students and in the philosophies of others is what gives a personal touch to our martial arts: our growth as martial artists. The hobby, art, recreation, life we have chosen has its roots in the basic human right to survival, to self-preservation. No one has the responsibility for your safety other than you. You decide how your life will be lived, the choices to be made, and the paths to follow. Responsibility for survival is the martial artists’. For some there comes a time when the martial artist, seeker of peace and things enlightening to personal development, must exercise the techniques learned to defend self or others. And not all martial artists will succeed in this endeavor. This is what is dangerous to the casual martial artist. This is the thread of chance that could lead to disaster for the martial artists ill-prepared for the encounter that could forever affect their lives. This is the fight. Every fight is not the same. Every encounter is different. You are never the same after an encounter. Whether the martial artist survives with no harm he is still not the same martial artist he was before the fight. Change always happens. The open mind always learns. So can the closed mind. For every fight with every opponent there is one singular constant that is beyond the reach of any style, that supersedes the boundaries of system and pattern, that frees the mind and body. That is: your opponent is human. While there are many elements to define and regulate each and every chaotic fight; while fighting itself is volatile and subject to no rule; and while there are many factors that few will ever understand there is one element that can be heeded and comprehended regardless of the insignia the martial artist bears on his uniform. That is: your opponent is human. While you may study karate in its many flavors, or the arts of Korea, or China, or America, or the arts varied across the world there is one constant amongst every single man or woman you will encounter. They are in many ways no different than you. A human being, being normal as pertaining to things that are considered normal, has two arms, two legs, a head, torso and a variety of organs necessary to properly function. Aside from rare cases, this is the state of every human on this rock. There is a principle of fighting to be learned in this semi-universal truth. And the wise will find it. The wiser will utilize it. No matter who stands before you threatening your person, he has two arms. He has two legs. So do you. He may study a different style than you. He may not study any style other than the style of reckless experience. It matters not to you. Whatever movement he may attempt on you, regardless of the style from which it springs, bears no importance to you, the martial artist. For you are a human as well. And, hopefully, a human well trained. His two fists can only do what two fists are capable of. His legs can only do what human legs are capable of. Your opponent is built no different from you. Whatever technique from whatever style still only springs from the human model. The same model you are using. There is no magic in the movements of your opponent. You train to have your body react in a certain way, but you have the control of how it acts before the reaction. The martial artist sees that the person he is facing is another human being. The martial artist sees that though the movement may be different, though the punch be delivered differently, the punch is still a punch. It is still a hand attached to an arm attached to another human being. It can act no different than it was designed to. It is still an arm acting under the rules that govern the movements of an arm. It is still a man moving like a man, moving within the rules that govern the motion of the human body. There should be nothing that man does that the martial artist is not expecting or capable of dealing with, because there is nothing that his body can do that falls outside the boundaries of the human being. It is important to remember that any opponent you fight is basically no different from yourself. It is imperative to remember in a self-defense situation that the person attacking you is flesh and blood. Pain, injury and death are ultimately the weakness of every person. There is no place for fear against an aggressor. Regardless of their intent, their style of "martial arts" or their device they are ultimately human. That is your strength and their weakness. Conversely, it is your weakness and their strength. In the end, you must choose how to live your life. You must decide what you will do and in what direction you travel. Some of us will do whatever is necessary to protect precious life. Some of us proscribe our lives to certain dogmas. Some of us seek purity in action. In the end, it is how we travel the path that decides what destination we arrive at. Side Note: The title of the article does state A PRINCIPLE. This article was never intended to cover every aspect of fighting, just a single concept deemed important by the author.