bushido_man96

Welcome aboard!

Welcome, Jason. I have experience with the ATA as well. Depending on the school you find, you can get good or bad. The ATA does have some good programs out there. As far as the training on your own to get back into shape before rejoining a class, I would forego that, and just find a class to join up with. That training will likely whip you back into shape quicker than doing so on your own, and the training may be more focused, too. Best of luck to you in finding your training!

haha funny you should say that.. I've always wondered if any of you guys had ever attempted armbar-ing a pole or something and seeing if you could bent it. Think it was Rickson Gracie that armbarred a crash test dummy on Fight Science... A lot of old stories say that Masahiko Kimura practiced his throws on a tree. With how crazy he was about Judo, and how crazy good he was at Judo, I wouldn't doubt it. This is true but it didn't involve much pain. This is done today on poles, and cages in the gym. Probably not what everyone assumes. When I was in junior college, we had some Wreslters there that were from Israel, I think, and they used some big elastic bands they wrapped around a tree or a pole or other fixed object to practice Wrestling throws with. Is this similar to what he did?

I have the same issue with these pressing blocks. I don't see much practicality in them, especially as blocks.

I don't have a problem at all with historic preservation. I do have a problem when those preserving history like that then argue for its effectiveness of efficency after its time has passed.

Knowledge and size can both be dangerous things. What happens when you put them together?

Why at 18? Why the difference?

Also important in flexibility is having strength in your legs, too. If your legs are not strong, then flexibility will do you no good. Must have a good balance of the two.

Good luck!

Its studies like these that make it mandatory for LEOs to get "certified" in things like head and neck restraints.

That's cool to hear. Congrats on your moment.

At the DT club I have been attending, they were doing free rolling at the end of the session, and they started from lying down, side by side, with maybe a foot of space between each, heads facing opposite. I wasn't sure why. I haven't done any of the free rolling yet, but when I do get back there (I've been sick the past week), I intend to try.

The training may not be useless, but the question is whether there are more effective and practical ways to come to the same ends. In the Martial Arts world, there is always resistance to changing a training methodology, or for that fact, getting rid of one to bring in another. This is a terrible thing, too, as it stifles the evolution of the Arts.

Hello, I do not study BJJ so I would not know whether or not it would be of any benefit - in terms of getting better at BJJ. In my experience in Koryu Jujutsu however (which bear in mind is often very different in both its approach and also requirements compared to Gendai Jujutsu) - it is good at what it is designed to do. As I mentioned earlier; ime, idori helps isolate certain movements and restricts others - the end result being greater efficiency of movement. The theory is this "efficiency" of movement is then applied to stand up techniques - making them all the more effective. Sojobo In my time in Aikido, I've seen these done as well. I'm not a big fan of them, either. But, they are required more and more at higher levels. But, the Aikido school doesn't like striking, either, and I still do it, so I'll probably take these on as I get more time in, too. I'll do it, but I don't have to like it!

Chuck Norris wrote a pretty good book called Zen in The Martial Arts. Worth the read.

Just because someone has a bad attitude doesn't justify they need a butt-kickin'. Perhaps they have that attitude because they want someone to try them? Then, they win anyways.

Yeah!!!!.....like posting...on a Martial Arts forum......

I can see where there are disagreements coming in with changing how the women's fights would be. But, looking at it from a scientific standpoint at how the bodies would respond/react takes the subjectiveness out of it.

I don't understand this really. One could still have a good foundation after that time, and still get better after that. My school has a problem. That problem is, to be honest, too much basics/forms. Good foundation is stressed a lot, so we nail basics and forms before anything else in class. The result of this is the fact that my sparring pretty much sucks in my eyes. After a while, basics need to be weeded out some (not completely), and things like two man reactionary drills need to take form so that applications can begin.

One also has to consider what one is being exposed to in those four hours of training. Four hours of TKD and four hours of BJJ are learning four hours of very different things. Likely in TKD kicking combinations, counters, paddle/clapper pad drills, etc, are the norm (along with basics and forms, if thats your bag) and hopefully sparring. Four hours of BJJ are going to be very different, with likely lots of rolling and learning transitions to techniques, etc. Different exposures, to be sure.

I see some great discussion points coming up here, so I want to put my thoughts in on them. This discussion is getting good, too! This is how I see it anyway. In most athletic endevours being bigger is an advantage. Anyone who is big and strong will be very hard to beat. As a smaller individual I know this well. If you look at the animal kingdom and how they fight there are imo two things that result in winning. Aggression and size. Most of the time the bigger one wins. Occassionally you see a super aggressive smaller animal and he can trump the bigger one. I agree to an extent here. Its tough to liken the human race to the rest of the animal kingdom, though. Humans experience things such as compassion and reason, which both can work to an advantage in a fight. I will concede that aggression levels can play a role in fighting, both advantageous and disadvantageous. I also agree that using aggression can be good for a fight. I also agree that there are no guarantees. I don't agree that the smaller guys always tend to be the better technicians. Big guys can be just as good with it. I think the misconception here comes in because the lighter wieght fights tend to be faster paced at times, and so they get dubbed as "technicians." I'll go with that. I agree here. I can remember when just teaching newer students to spar, they would throw things in such unorthodox ways that I thought I had a block on, but it would get through somehow. Its always fun to be exposed to. No, I don't think that is what is being said here. Size isn't the only thing that matters, but it is one of many factors that must be taken into consideration in the totality of the circumstances of a fight that may take place. There are many ways size can be a factor. Take the big WWE Wrestlers, like we have discussed. Their MA knowledge may be limited, but you will know they will be great athletes in great shape. Now, take a different type of size; the Sumo Wrestler. Not likely as great a "pure" athlete as a Pro Wrestler, but still athletic, and a very legitimate Martial Artist. You have to account for the size in a different manner. Now, with this statement, you are saying the complete opposite of the what has been said before ("size matters") with a different subject, and still end at the same conclusion you made previously ("According to some of the posts here; knowledge matters. Therefore, those of less knowledge need to give up for one reason or another.") As you can see, I replaced your words with from the original quote with other of your words from the same post, but I hope my point comes across. Basically, it ends up that those who don't know as much as one who is experienced like that, then they should just give up. But, we all know that isn't the case. In the end, size, strength, speed, knowledge, technique, aggression, fighting ability, experience in fighting, etc, all end up being traits and characteristics that have to be taken in the totality of circumstances when it comes time to fight. One doesn't matter. They all matter. Good topic!

I've never liked the idea of "walking and punching." Outside of training, I don't see it as practical. However, it is good for training, and learning how to transfer that power without stepping is very useful.

Yeah, I think I'm good with just beating on wood. I've got a little brother who is considerably larger than I, and he liked to beat on multiple slabs of innocent concrete from time to time. Impressive, for sure. But what a mess to clean up!

Thats awesome to hear! I hope to get my son to training with me soon. He'll be 5 this month, and I hope that soon he will be able to concentrate enough for me to work with him.

He also wanted to be the best actor around, too. He was just as focused on being a great actor as he was on being a great Martial Artist. Had he lived on, and his career continued, I wouldn't have been surprised if he had ended up being nominated for some Oscars.