bushido_man96

I've heard lots of good things on Miller's writings. I just haven't had a chance to read any of them yet.

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There is word that floats around about ambush attacks like this in response to cops shooting down armed suspects. Its very realistic to assume someone wanting revenge would just call in a "suspicious activity" report or a "welfare check," to lure in an officer and kill them. Always be vigilant.

Never have experienced this, and I feel bad for you. I hope it heals soon!

Have you tried a google search? That will give you relatively close options. Also, check the phone book for whole-in-the-wall places that haven't moved into the internet age.

If there is a Hapkido school nearby, you might check it out, as well. Aikido is a nice art, too, but I find its a bit too pain avoidance for my tastes in self-defense, but I have learned some good things from it. I'd start checking out schools in your area, see what they offer, and see what fits your desires the most. Who knows? You may practice a while to find out what you thought you wanted in training isn't what you wanted after all, and switch to something else. Best of luck and keep us posted.

Enjoy your Shotokan training, and keep us posted as to how it goes.

Tallgeese gave some good answers, and I can't add much more. Finding some guys or gals that are willing to up the intensity with from time to time might give you what you are looking for. Also, ask your instructor about it, and see if he knows and would recommend anyone you could some more of that kind of sparring with.

I agree that MA skills don't transfer to other things. There are MAists out there that think they do, but they don't. I would also offer that you didn't choke there on that game, Bob. You did your best, gave your all, and that's about all anyone can ask for. I think the word choke is a bit overused when it comes to sports analogies. Now, if you lost a game of bowling to me, who really sucks, and I ended up winning some over-the-top bet with you, then that would likely be a choke. But this instance, na, I don't think so.

Good thought here. I think there was a book written about a down block, with like 75 different applications. I'd check that out.

I think its important to practice the techniques, and then as you apply them with different people who attack differently, things will have to be modified and varied here and there. It takes time and practice to work techniques through to find out what works for you and what doesn't, and what it takes to adjust. As for fault? I don't think I can put a good answer to that.

This is more the way I feel about it. I base my feelings on suicide on my religious beliefs, as well. I just don't see the honor in a ritualistic method of suicide. It says to me, "I give up, because I can't fix what's been done." Maybe I just don't really understand the viewpoint the Samurai had on the subject, but its just too foreign to me, I guess.

This is a tough one. Here's another way to look at it--do you make friends at work? I've found that with Martial Arts training, its hard not to make friends. I've been both instructor and student, and have been the instructor that would hang out with students from time to time, and I don't think there is anything wrong with that. As humans, we tend to make friends with those who have the same interests as us, and become involved in the same things as us. As an instructor, its important to make sure to relate to the students that maintaining the professionalism of the classroom is important, and to not allow that to become compromised. But, if the students are being true friends, then that shouldn't be a problem, either. I think this is the major bridge. If friendship is used to try to circumnavigate the rules and expectations of the dojo, then that person doesn't want to be your friend, anyway. They are a manipulator. I met my wife at my current TKD school.

Well, I'd never thought I'd want to see the end of the NFL regular season, but man, this year has been trying. I could say they couldn't be any worse next year, but they could lose all of them. I guess we'll see what the draft and free agency brings.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you as well, pittbull. I hope everyone has some good, safe, and fun holidays.

I could never chain kicks together like that. And no way could I do his jumping spinning axe looking kick. Nasty! When I started my current TKD style, it was cool to associate the form he was doing at the game intro, Hwa Rang. Loved it. But when the Panda does it, its just not as good.

As an LEO, I would concern myself with the levels of force used, and then the justifications of those force levels. If a trained puncher hits someone and has better effect than a non-trained puncher, then no big deal. It doesn't change the need for a response; one guy's response was better.

I've said it before and I say it again, I think kata should take a bigger precedence then that. There are a lot of very useful things to be learned in kata. That being said, I'm glad that you found a dojo that fits your training preferences and that you can be happy in. Congrats! I agree, kata should have a greater emphasis. However, in my experiences with several Kyokushin dojo's, kata application is usually left until higher ranks. I dont know why, perhaps to build up strength first as well as tame the "flight" part of adrenal response through free sparring. Glad you enjoy it so far OSU! I don't necessarily think that kata "should" have greater precedence. If its not necessary, then I say move away from it and do something more productive with the time, and find a different testing venue. But if kata is going to be done, then it should have more value than "just for testing."

lit-arate -- Thanks for sharing the form link. That was a long one, I was wondering when it was going to end. It had some very interesting moves in there, too.

I wouldn't go so far as to consider it a UFC precursor; there were plenty of challenges like that going on throughout the decades. To me, it is what it is; a challenge match in black and white.

I dont know if I should be ashamed for saying this but, I heard about this style in an anime/manga. Although to be fair in the anime there is, judo,sambo,karate,jujitsu,boxing,muay thai,tae kwando and more irl styles... No shame there. At least not for me.Its nice to check out references like this to see what turns up. Someone out there probably does a Klingon Martial Art.

Love the robe.MA jewelry....like one of those knives that goes on a chain around your neck?

That sums up a whole lot of what being a Martial Artist is in a very nice way.Hard to argue with this, just as human beings in general.