bushido_man96

I am not sure how the copyright laws work exactly, but the ATA did get it done. Basically, you have to be an ATA affiliate in order to teach the forms. But how much you can get away with, who knows?

You should talk to your instructor and see what he thinks. If you ask me, 3 days of karate and 2 of judo a week sounds like a pretty good deal. Making 3 karate classes a week should keep you sharp on that end of the deal. Hope things work out for you. Incidentally, I KNOW for a fact that my instructor would not approve of this idea. Guess I am lucky not to be tempted with the idea.

Sounds like a joke to me. Do they have their patterns copyrighted? That is what the ATA did when they made their new forms systems. I don't know, but it sounds kind of funny. I would definetly watch a class before signing up. In my personal opinion, there aren't any "secrets" left in the martial arts. They must have some very special ways of doing things.

No kidding!! The guy I was fighting with is a lefty, and I am right handed typically. I can do both, but my big shield is only right handed, so when I use it, I am limited. I got a smaller round shield that goes both ways. Any how, my right shoulder has quite the bruising and scratches from Lefty hitting my weapon arm. Feels good though, I LIKE the pain!! Also caught a nice stinger on the right forearm, too.

I called up a friend of mine, and we put on the armor, grabbed our rattan "swords" and metal shields, and went at it for a while. We tried some single sword, and it was very difficult. Trying to parry the blows was very difficult, and almost didn't work. I was only using the sword in one hand, so the blows were moving my arm. Also had a tough time moving sideways. I also notice that my MA training causes me to get my off hand up in a guard postition, and I end up trying to block when the sword gets by my weapon. Not good. Wondering if anyone had any suggestions or comments.

You are right, UseoForce, they are good fighters. I am not saying they are not. And the UFC is the closest thing to real fighting. I don't think that the format that they fight today has anything really to do with the toughness of the fighters, but more with the mainstreaming of the sport in order to make more money. I am also not saying that the first couple of UFC did not have rules; it was just a different game. These guys today could fight tournament style, but they want to get paid for each match, bottom line. I think Royce made half-million, just for showing up, didn't he? I am not bad-mouthing UFC, I just liked it better before. I still love it. Most of the MMA venues are enjoyable to watch. And they are all great athletes.

You are right about it being a sport, UseoForce. That's why the rules have changed, to make it more sport and less fight.

I was just thinking of matching him and Sapp as I read his stats. Set 'em up!

That is a cool armbar/throw. Don't see stuff like that in the UFC.

I would like to see a tournament format back for the UFC again. It was great then. The weight classes are ok, but they could go, too. When the UFC started, it was a fight, it seemed. Now, it has a few rules that make it more sport than fight. It is very close to fighting, but bring back groin kicks and head butts, and let them go. Just a note, I think that the Gracie familiy now realizes how the UFC has evolved, and they should respect that.

I understand what you are saying. I have been with my current instructor for 5 years now (I think ). He is a slender, lanky guy, with great flexibility. I am a short, stocky, heavy guy with good flexibility and speed for my size, but lack the height. I study TKD, in which height can be a major advantage. So, when my instructor teaches, I have to adapt tall guy strategies and principles to short guy, or I have to study my body and movements, and come up with my own way around. This is how we all make each of our arts our own. Now, should I ditch my instructor, just because he is tall? No way! He is an excellent instructor, and has helped me to adapt somewhat to fighting taller people than me, which usually includes everybody. Now, when I perhaps have my own school, I can take with me what he has taught as being able to fight tall, how tall guys fight tall guys, how the fight short guys, and my knowledge of how short guys should fight tall guys. So, I have learned so much, and even though I have my own way, I can still help the tall guys to find their way as well. Maybe a little long winded, but does that make sense?

If the judo school is focused on Olympic training, then what they teach may be limited to what scores in tournament play, whereas the BJJ schools are almost always training towards MMA fighting venues. If you are looking to be more well-rounded, in this instance, BJJ may be the way to go. But, check out both schools, just to see which will offer what you like. Good luck in your training.

Congrats, Sohan!!

Elliptical machine by far...it doesn't hurt my knees.

A child is from it's mother..that does not mean it IS it's mother. being FROM somethign and BEING somethign are alightly different. Fighting is fighting, plain and simple. All is one, and everything is nothing. I guess... (I feel Zen like.... )

Stooping to that guy's level will probably not be beneficial in any way.

When I moved from one style of TKD to another, I had to start over. I have now been promoted to 2nd degree twice. You may have to do the same. My condolences on your loss.

I would just ignore the kid. Tell him/her courtiously that you are focusing on your practice, and would talk after class or something. If the problem continues, talk with the head instructor.

This is very true, and the same can be said for wrestling.

Absolutely right!!

I was wondering, could you tell me who GM Hwang Kee had for an instructor, and how he learned his orginal style?

That is a very nice and very informative explanation, Andrew_Patton. You are right about all of the arts limiting themselves because of competition. I do have Kano's book, and I love it. Me and my brother began practicing the throws at one point, and we had a blast. I would love to be able to learn the art as a whole. As far as BJJ is concerned, since the advent of the UFC's, everyone thinks it is the end-all, be-all of ground fighting systems. It is important for people to realize that these other styles encompass much of the same concepts.

That is intersting that Judo has so much, but limits itself so much because of competition. Andrew_Patton, do you still work the other stuff in your classes, or just the point stuff?

Did you check out some of the links off of that article? There is some more interesting stuff there, including tournaments and demonstrations that he performed, and that he was going to perform in front of the Prince of Wales, but had a bike accident.

That is a very interesting article. It shows kind of a halfway point between the martial arts of 14th through the 16th centuries and the martial arts of today. What he did may have been revolutionary at the time, but before him various masters-at-arms were training troops in hands, feet, wrestling, and weapons. As far as how things would be different, I don't know. People worked a lot more hours then, and may not have had time to do it. It would have been more for the upper class to attend, and most of them probably spent time boxing or fencing.