bushido_man96

Wecome to KF, and welcome to the world of Martial Arts! Be forewarned, MA training can become addictive! Now, as for the sites you showed: Well, one thing I don't like is 45 minute classes. I think you need at least an hour for a class, in order for it to be productive. I wouldn't pay $150 per month for a class, either. Aside from that, like DWx said, its hard to tell by looking at the websites. You should really go visit each school, watch a few classes, and then make a decision. Also, ask questions when you go. I was wondering, how did you confirm that any of the schools were a McDojo?

I can see how that comes in, the way you describe it. I think that it is important to realize that forms practice is a sterile environment, where everything is clean and crisp, whereas when it comes to resisting application, the appearances of things can change a bit. So, its important to get good practice sessions in on both.

I know that there are some clips on YouTube of some combat Tai Chi. They show the guy doing the Tai Chi moves against an attacking opponent. You might try a search like that in YouTube to get a head start on your ideas.

Thanks, tallgeese. It came to me, thinking about Bill Wallace's side-on fighting stance that I have been trying to mimic. It works well for what I do, and how we spar in class. However, if I came into your gym to workout, I would be more than likely to go back to my old reliable stance, with my hands up, head covered, and body more forward.

I'd have to say that you two guys are a touch deeper than I am. A nice article, though. And a nice response, Joe. As for me, I just go to class and learn technique and application.

That is a great attitude to have. Also, realizing what you are capable of, and should have performed, makes you look really good, too, I think.

Do you do 100 pull ups at a time? Or broken up into sets? And how the hell did you develop your pull-up muscles so well? 11-4-08 I was driving home from my parents house this afternoon, and was finding myself falling asleep. So, to stay awake, I did finger closings with my hands to work my forearms, and also did lots of jabs and palm strikes.

I think that the kids could learn some good things from MMA training, concerning conditioning, pad work, strategy, technique, etc. However, I don't think that they should necessarily be fighting this young.

My most reliable defensive stance is like a Boxer's stance. I tend to block a lot, cram inside, and then attack. I try to work angles a bit, too.

When discussing a topic like this, it is important to know what context we are discussing it in. For instance, using my side-on stance is easier for me to get away with in my sparring sessions, due to the rules of our sparring. But, as you can notice from tallgeese's advise, you can see that his sparring has different objectives than that of my class. Its important to note the situation and the circumstances when making adjustments to your stances.

Awesome!

The Predator costume was pretty cool.

That looks impossible! I wonder how he got off of it?

Very cool phots, especially of the ruins.

Cool pics.

The staff can actually have quite a few weapons applications. In Medieval Europe, some systems began training with the staff, as many of its movements and wards translate to those of the sword as well. It is true that it can be grabbed, but you should have the leverage advantage on your end, if you hold it right. I am also of the opinion that the staff is best utilized when held at the last quarter of the weapon, as opposed to the middle of the weapon. That way, you maximize your range and leverage. Practical today? Maybe not. But some of the concepts do transfer. Personally, I would like to spend time with the stick.

Cool. A smart career move, I think. Perhaps we'll see him in the UFC some day.

I agree. I don't care what anyone might think of him, to keep plugging away like that shows perserverance.On a side note, he says a lot of things in there about Boxing keeping him in a straight line, giving him focus, and helping to be something in his life other than in trouble. It shows that many of the same "spiritual" aspects touted in Eastern MAs can be found in our Western MA sports, too.

Best of the Best scenes do rank up there. Good stuff. The last fight scene in Blade 2 is a fun one, as well. Fight scenes in Action Jackson are up there, too.

Perhaps a cross-collar choke to a downed opponent. The jump could be a jumping attack onto the opponent prior to the choke. However, this is just guess work on my part. Unfortunately, my school doesn't do any forms applications, so any work I do is based off of other ideas, and then toying with it. I have a TKD book with an interpretation of it, too.

I have been a student and instructor of schools that promoted kids under the age of 13 to black belt. I have promoted kids before. Now, with that said, I have varying opinions on the topic. When we bring up the topic of rank under this circumstance, then rank becomes something pristine, something sacred, and something not to be determined lightly (the latter, I agree with). So, with this in mind, many people think that there could be no way that a child could be mature enough to handle the responsiblities of being named a black belt. Now, under just about any other circumstance, we all say that "rank is nothing, proof is on the floor," and "black belt is just the beginning." So, with this in mind, then a black belt rank should be demonstrable by their actions on the floor and with others, whether they were a belt or not. So, I've opened up a whole other can of worms here, I guess. Now that I have come a bit futher along in my MA career, I would most likely have a different opinion of promoting kids. But, it is just my opinion, so take it for what its worth to you.

Ride you bike for 30 minutes at a time, and vary the intensity, based on how you feel. Then, stretch afterwards. Sets of squats, crunches, push-ups, and burpees will work wonders for you as well, if you don't have any weights. I can explain some wall kicks later, if you like, too.

11-1-08 Aikido class: 10:00 - 12:00. The rolling is getting better, and easier. Their breakfall style is giving me some trouble, but I am getting it, too. A few of the throws we did today, I didn't really like. The defenses were from behind, and we did one with a sankyo hold, and it was ok, and I had done something similar to it with Hapkido. We also did some Jo staff work defending a grab of it.

Wa-No-Michi pretty much sums it up. Oyama was Korean by birth, and perhaps Choi met him when he trained in Shotokan. I doubt it, though. They did have quite a bit of correspondence, though. What I truly think is that once Choi had established himself, he wanted to recruit Oyama to his style and way of thinking. Oyama was a legend, as were his physical feats. He would have been a great person to help Choi market and spread his Korean art.

Yes I agree, but there comes a point where you have to stop your imagination overtaking common sense. Unfortunately, there seem to be quite a few "high profile" authors of karate bunkai books these days that seem to "pray" on junior karate-ka's lust for the rapid and total understanding of karate-do with theories and applications that are so creative and imaginary some deserve an Oscar. Don't get me wrong, they serve their purpose to an extent, but they are no substitute for a knowledgeable instructor in my eyes. In referring to these books, would you be alluding to the likes of Iain Abernethy? I wouldn't be uset...after all, I am not him. However, I do think that he has put together quite a nice volume of work.