bushido_man96

Solid Post! When I see students get double graded I think that they must have deserved it and been very talented. I see this usually as pertaining to a student with some prior experience, as well.

Ideally, these concepts would be taught in concordance with a self-defense course, and thus, self-defense would be enough.

I agree with DWx. I would imagine they are learning hand-to-hand techniques, knife defense techniques, possibly some firearm defenses of some kind, and hopefully some situational awareness.

I agree with the others. All of the techniques and concepts we use as Martial Artists are the tools in our preverbal toolbox. Choke defenses are great, if you're being choked. Sometimes a punch is good to use, and sometimes a palm heel is better. Knee strikes are good when you're close, and kicks are better at range. So I say yes, it is a pertinent analogy.

We teach to talk all the time, giving verbal commands during training so that we do so in a confrontation. Saying things like, "stop resisting!" or "stop fighting!" and giving commands like "get on the ground!" or "your under arrest!" Other phrases that key in on what is really happening helps other officers to realize the severity of what is going on. When we train choke defenses, we yell "stop choking me!" When we train weapon retention, we yell things like "gun grab!" or "he's got my gun! he's got my gun!" If an officer hears a fellow officer yelling that, it keys the other officer in on what level of force to come into the fight with. Civilians in a self-defense situation can yell similar things out that might help others around to realize who the aggressor is. Also, witnesses telling police officers that one person kept yelling "leave me alone" or "I don't want to fight" can be very helpful in shaking out who started what. In the case of body language, there are a few things that can make a difference. Holding hands up in what is commonly referred to as the "fence" position (hands open and facing the aggressor in a placating manner, but up high to protect the face) is much less aggressive looking than the typical hands up in balled up fists position. These are just a few things that can help others determine who might be the aggressor and who might be the victim.

Either would be ok, I think. The two have different goals in mind, though. A police officer is in the business of restraining for the purpose of arrest, and are subject to the use of force continuum. The military are not beholden to this, and will likely teach in such a way that they don't have the idea of use of force in the back of their minds.

I agree. You can use the "head test" to make sure its a hard, durable wood. If, when you are slinging them around, and you bonk your head, and your first reaction is to cuss and throw them across the room, then you've found the right wood.

Yep, same thoughts I was having. Just grade, and don't worry about it. If the instructor deems that you are worthy of double grading, then they will decide that. Otherwise, just enjoy your training.

I'll pass on the sushi.

The way I see it is that there are some people who are more than happy to only test themselves against themselves, and delve into those "spiritual" aspects of the Martial Arts. There are also those who are more than willing to embrace a challenge against another in a contest. Not everyone is geared like this. This is what professional sports is about, and MMA is the new "professional" aspect of Martial Arts competition. It will attract those who desire to compete, and those who are naturally gifted and physically talented into the upper echelons, the UFC levels.

Very cool. Really smooth and flowing.

Yes, I saw that as well. If I recall correctly, his skills were tried in the BJJ class, and they didn't work, "because the BJJ students were very athletic," or something like that.

Today marks the 15 and a ½ year anniversary of KarateForums.com. Patrick has asked me to address the community, as a senior member of the staff. I see this as a great honor and a privilege to be able to address this great community on this day! Being online for 15 and a ½ years is quite the milestone, and it brings to my mind one of the most important qualities all martial artists must have: Perseverance. First, a definition: Perseverance: steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement (Dicitionary.com). Perseverance is a tenant that every martial artist is familiar with. Succinctly put, it’s the ability to endure. To endure in the face of physical challenges that push our bodies into previously unknown levels of performance. To endure in the face of struggles that challenge us mentally. These struggles come to us in varying levels at varying points of our training. A white belt starts out and must persevere through that first class, and then that first week, and then that first month. The white belt begins to gain confidence in the techniques and the material. They find enjoyment in this new activity. Training in the martial arts is one of those activities, however, where it can be difficult to share your early enthusiasm with your good friends and even family that fall outside the martial arts community. For some, KarateForums.com becomes a place for these excited, young martial artists to speak about their enthusiasm to other martial artists from many different points in their journey. We see this kind of enthusiasm in the Introductions and Getting Started in the Martial Arts forums all the time. It’s the courtesy and understanding of the great members here at KarateForums.com that makes these new martial artists feel welcome and appreciated and helps them to persevere. As the martial artist goes along, a few months or a year down the road, more interactive work probably takes place with higher ranked individuals. It could be sparring or some other form of partner work. Now the novice practitioner experiences the abilities of those who have been at it longer than he has, those who have persevered for some time. This can produce a positive influence on the young martial artist to persevere, to become like those he looks up to. At times like this, perseverance comes more easily. KarateForums.com has always been a place that I’ve been able to come and share my successes. The members here are always offering words of support and advice on continuing the journey. At some point in the martial artist’s career, we reach those stumbling blocks, those obstacles that create a new challenge for us. These obstacles can take many forms, from a failed testing cycle, to a competition loss, to sustaining an injury that sets back training for an extended period of time. Circumstances like these can have a negative influence on the martial artist. This is when the mental aspect of perseverance comes into play, telling ourselves to get up, to keep going, to endure through the hardships. These obstacles can also come in the form of outside circumstances; after all, life does happen. The martial artist could get married, have children or change careers, all things that can have an effect on training. Obstacles such as these can have different effects on different people. Yet, we are martial artists, and perseverance runs through the blood in our veins. We will persevere. In those times in our journey that we really need to dig deep and persevere, one of the best resources we have available to us is our fellow martial artists. Many of us have that training partner at our school or from another school that we can always talk to, who we can share our troubles with, who we can vent about our shortcomings with. Our fellow martial artists know our situation, having been there before us or there with us now. Our training partners will pick us up when we fall to the mat, they will lift us up with encouragement when we get down on ourselves for failing or for losing or when the wall in front of us seems too great to climb. No man is an island, and as martial artists, our greatest resource is each other. KarateForums.com is, for me, and I think for many other members, a big contributor to that great resource for us, our fellow practitioners. KarateForums.com provides martial artists with a positive community where we can come together to speak of our successes and our failures. It’s a community where others will pick us up, where others will pull us out of a hole we’ve fallen into, where others will help us over the wall in front of us. This is due to our wonderful members. The members of KarateForums.com are the reason we get to acknowledge this 15 and a ½ year milestone. For the 10+ years I’ve been a member of KarateForums.com, I’ve received support in times of struggle that have helped me pull through, over or around those obstacles that crop up during a martial arts journey. I know many other members of this community have received the same kind of support, as well. The membership of this community is such a positive force in the journey of a martial artist, because we know and respect the value of each and every martial artist, from the fresh new white belt to the experienced masters. KarateForums.com is also an example of perseverance. Celebrating its 15 and ½ year anniversary today is a fantastic milestone. A community that has existed this long will have its share of peaks and valleys, and it has endured. By doing so, this great community helps us all to continue to persevere as martial artists. Thank you, Patrick, for the diligent work you’ve done over the course of these 15 and a ½ years in maintaining such a great community. It is an honor and a privilege to be able to address this community at this great milestone. Thank you for reading.

I agree with tallgeese. Spending some time grappling is important, because if you ever do end up on your back, you'll need to know how to improve position from there. It doesn't mean you have to become a full-time grappler, but spending the time to learn these things will pay huge dividends.

Absolutely!

That thought alone makes me further question the validity of the "no touch" knockout.

Just looking over your rules, it looks like no kicking below the belt, as well. If that's not the case, please let me know. Also, the knees to the head, how will those come about if there can be no clinching? The only way to do it would to be to either get them bent over, or do a flying knee. Just curious on that one. To sanction your own, you might be required to have some form of insurance coverage, and your own association or some such animal. I'm not sure how you'd go about getting that set up. If you've found someone to sanction it, you might consider that route for now, and try to learn on the go how to get your own sanction going. Best of luck, and let us know once you get an event going!

I've read him. I enjoyed the text, and its probably time to reread that little gem.

I had a family acquaintance tell a story about him getting into it with an older fella at a bar one time. As the gentleman was preparing to get up to "go outside," he said, "Here, hold my beer." The spry young chap held the beer, and then, since he had a hold of two beers, found himself flat on his back a short instant later. The older fella stood over him and said, "I'm too damned old to go outside."

"I am."

There's one problem...THEY DON'T HAVE ANY!! All of that expensive equipment every where you look, but no floaties. Although I do have a ducky ring at home that I could wear...yeah...that's what I'll do...come with me Mr. Squeaky, let's you and I go to the pool.

I don't think being a vegetarian is a good thing. I'm a meatatarian.

This is going to depend on each individual. Some might get drug along for a time because of the parents, and then it will click for them, and they take off. Others will go right off the bat. Some never will. You just never know.

This is so true. Quality and consistency are so important for training. But I would also say don't be afraid of training if your form isn't 100%. I think people can be scared off progressing to the next level because they haven't perfected all the minute details. This is another good point, Danielle. "The perfect is the enemy of the good" at times.

Welcome to KF! The others have mentioned some good places to start, so I really can't add anything to it.