bushido_man96

I don't know if there is a double standard, or not. But, I do know that not all Martial Artists will train the same way. Some people really get into the rugged, outdoor, freezing cold training. I don't so much. I don't mind the cold, but I'd rather not walk around outside barefoot in the snow. The same goes for the kind of body callousing type of training. I don't necessarily think that those are just "guy things" to do, but I do think that on the average, you'll find more guys into that than women. And I think that is ok. To each their own.

I was trying to agree with you here....did it come across differently?

9-30-09 Combat Hapkido: 3:45 - 4:30. Worked on trapping drills, doing some movement up and down the floor. Led into some good stuff, too. Weights Assisted pull-ups: 15, 10, 10 Sit-ups: 30, 20, 20 Lat pull-downs: 96x15x3 Dips: 6 Bench dips: 15x2

Hey, the Phins just picked up Tyler Thigpen in a trade with the Chiefs. Although I don't envision him as a starter, I do think he'll give some nice looks in the Wildcat.

Tallgeese has addressed this before, and it is true if the officer is not allowed to move tactically backwards or at angles to get to cover and draw. So yes, it is true, to a point. I've learned over time that these concerns have more to do with an individual's outlook on what the arts are for, as opposed to some blanket philosophy that applies to an Art/Arts in general. Although I have been exposed to various philosophies when it comes stylistic ideologies, I tend to take them with a grain of salt, and keep my own opinions and outlooks in mind. My Aikido training is like that. Suffice it to say that some of my opinions on the MAs tend to sound a bit out of place when I voice them in Aikido class.

Just because the goals of the combat change, doesn't mean that it isn't any less martial. In many ways, being an LEO is being put behind the 8-ball, more so that being in the military. There is considerably more use-of-force that comes into play, and when an officer has to go to lethal force, then they have to get through those steps, first. In the military, the soldiers basically get to engage the enemy, with extreme prejiduce. Law enforcement don't get to open up with that option. But I don't think it makes it any less martial. I think that street fights can go the same way, too. You never can tell if you're getting the guy that just wants to beat the crap out of you, or the guy that is wanting to kill you. So, you still have to go through that use-of-force ladder.

Been there, done that, too. Man, takes a LOT of time, at least good ones do, so its hard to make time for it now. I used to play Magic, The Gathering a ton, too, but too expensive and not much time for it anymore, either. I also LOVE to read. I've been reading lots of fiction lately, including Cussler, Rollins, Gibbins, Matthew Reilly, DuBrul, George R.R. Martin, Ted Bell, Tolkien, and William Dietrich. I pick up some literary classics now and then, too. I also read just about anything MA that I can get my hands on, too. Been Facebooking a lot lately, as well, and that's a good time. I like to use it mainly to keep in touch with family, and mess with my daughter's Facebook account, too.

I think its something that many practitioners don't think about. Training sessions tend to begin with the knife or gun in-hand, and the general assumption is that it will be that way, when it won't. Its kind of like people who view the conceal-and-carry laws as the answer to their prayers in protecting themselves. They feel comfortable being liscencsed to carry a gun on their person, and then just leave it at that. That's just the beginning. From there, you have to figure out where you will carry it on your person, and then learn how to deploy it when necessary. Otherwise, you just have a weapon that you think you'll be able to get to when you get cornered, and it just doesn't end up working that way. One of the popular retorts to the guy asking the Martial Artists the "what would you do if..." questions is the, "well, I'd just shoot you." I'd say, "Oh, yeah? Were is your gun right now?" When they move to deploy their fake gun, crawl all over them, and see how far they would have got. This can be a real eye-opener.

I agree with tallgeese 100%. I hope to begin carrying soon in public; I just want to get straight on the requirments and guidelines. Also, along the lines of the "I'll shoot him" claim, in my area, it become more along the lines of "I'd just taze them." In reality, it isn't always the ready answer. Learning how to clear enough space to deploy a gun or a TAZER is just as important as learning how to operate and qualify either.

I think in the end the way the weapon is used is going to depend more on what the wielder's experience is, as opposed to what "system" the weapon comes from. A jo could be used in the methods that a bokken is used in Japanese sword arts, if that is all you know. The weight will be different, but it could be made to work if its all you have. Likewise, if a hanbo could probably be wielded like in the manner of an Arnis user, if that's what they come across. So, it will depend on the wielder as much as the system at times. As for the Aikido reference, at the seminar I attended, we did some paired jo work, and it wasn't exactly like sword work, but it was pretty offensive/defensive, and more about striking with the stick, as opposed to manipulations. This could have been just scratching the surface though.

Congrats!

Congrats on your promotion.

Heh, weird. I wonder how that worked?

Well, its kind of like Lee said about "styles." We all have the same numbers of arms and legs, so the only way he thought a different "style" could come about was if someone had 3 arms or something like that. FWIW...

I see this, too, and it is part of the reasoning behind my thread on which came first, forms or applications. I like the idea behind learning the techniques in an applied setting, and this training methodology allows the techniques to be more readily employed when the time comes.

If I'm not mistaken, a lot of Muay Thai is back leg stuff. Even when they kick with the leg that is in front, its seems to be in combination with a step forward with the back leg, isn't it?

Thanks for taking the time to read and reply, guys.

I agree, and this is one area that I tend to have the most problems with, and it is for a few reasons. 1. I worry about not being as big as others. I have been lifting and trying to get into better shape, and get stronger, but do think alot about what others are capable of lifting. Being short doesn't help me with this, either. 2. Build-ups bother me. If crap just starts happening, and I don't have time to think it out, not so much of a problem. But if the situation is building, I start thinking, and that sucks. So, I try to work on these things.

We are prone to tornadoes in my area. So, most houses have basements. I don't have a kit put together like you do, but it is a good idea, and I will discuss this with my wife. I have been through CPR training, but I don't retain it well. When I go to academy, though, I'll get a review, which will be good.

Milage will vary on this issue, to be sure. I think that some instructors just expect you sign up for a month, and if you don't like it, you don't have to keep coming back. I don't think we offer a trial; the customers call in, and the instructor sets up the orientation. After the orientation, which is about 3 weeks, I think, they go to regular class.

9-29-09 Leg press: 335x20x3 Leg curl: 90x10x3 Leg extensions: 115x10x3 Did this routine like a circuit. Combat Hapkido: 3:34 - 4:30. Worked on the red belt stuff.

They may have a seperate kumite class, or do it on certain days. Its good to see you found a place. Enjoy your training!

I have noted this elsewhere before, but its kind of sad that we don't consider all Martial Arts "combative." As for JKD...you hear a lot about its "style of no style," and other philosophical things like that, but when you get into it, and I think Joe can confirm this for me, you still learn some things as far as technique goes. Like the straight lead, for instance. You'd think that in JKD, you would just do the straight lead that works for you, but, as I have seen in articles in Black Belt magazine, there is a "way" to teach and do the straight lead, and it is practiced that way a lot. I'm sure that there are other techniques in there that get attention, as well. Like tallgeese mentioned, though, its the methodologies and the concepts that really take it apart from other styles. I think that Joe will also notice that the training that he's done in SBD probably gives him kind of a "plug-and-play" technique repretoire that he can take with him. He can use what works, and discard the other stuff from it. Please, Joe, chime in and let me know how far off the mark I am here.

Of course it counts! At the university in my town, TKD is still offered, and I took it. The Aikido club now also offers a for-credit class, and there is a Defensive Tactics club/class that the criminal justice department puts on. There used to be a Saber club, too, but it wasn't for credit. So, we've got a pretty good range of offerings here.

...do not talk about fight club!!!