bushido_man96

Not cool, man...not cool at all!

Tallgeese is on the money here. The SCA, although not completely accurate as far as historical swordsmanship goes, is still a lot of fun, and it gives you some ideas as to how to work a sword. You can still learn the cuts and parrys, but what you have to watch for is that the SCA runs on almost like a point system for their fights. When a limb is "rent" then it must be removed from the fight, like arm behnd the back, or kneeling when a leg is cut, etc. In the end, it is fun, and I think you would enjoy it, if you like Medieval European culture and history.

Providing them with applications to work on that they can use is a good way. Give them some back and forth drills in which each gets to apply different applications, and help to interpret them. Bag work and mitt work are also good for breaking up monotony as well.

8-18-08 I was sick yesterday, and feel pretty weak today. I am taking the day off. It really sucks, being sick.

It will also depend on your interpretations of the moves in the forms. Is that a downward block, or a downward hammerfist strike to the groin? It just depends.

I agree here as well. At the age of 30, I already have my outlooks on life pretty well set, and unless someone has a pretty convincing arguement, then I am unlikely to change my views of right/wrong, my moral and ethical outlooks on life, and my spiritual viewpoints. A high-dan instructor or MA style founder's ideals don't necessarily translate to my ideals.

I haven't but I hope to someday. I have read The Way of Sanchin Kata, by one of the same authors, and really enjoyed it. I have heard good things about the book.

From the reading that I have done, I don't think that this is the case. Neither has every Samurai warrior or Master of old been the most benevolent souls to walk the earth, either.

True Karate is not about competition though. So you don't think it is possible for someone to Box into their 70s? I think it is.

Ah, more Fantasy for me! Thanks!

They may not be competing. 70 year old Karatekas don't, either.

What does this ideal mean to you, in sport fighitng, and in self-defense?

Bummer.

Gotta love those NES games for challenge! Castlevania was tough. I loved those games.

Hehe. Nice.

Interesting idea.

Then, you sucker punch him!

No, you're not missing anything. The truth is that there are many similarities between Medieval European and Japanese Swordsmanship, technique wise.Pick up some Medieval Combat manuals, and you can really see the similarities. Truly, combat is universal.

Congrats on the break. Breaking always feels good when you get it.

Post note: Bare in mind here that I am talking about fighting, not competition. So: Does anyone think that it is possible to "fight dirty?" Or does the very nature of fighting lend itself to the fact that there is no such thing? Likewise, is there any such thing as a "fair fight?"

Yeah, it always seems the moves we like aren't always the moves that work. Its hard to ditch them at times, too.

You might just check the Yellow Pages when you get there. That may be the only place the local schools are listed. Also, the college may have a club or two for you to look into, or better yet, it may have an MA course that is offered for credit hours! (I have around 9 college credit hours dedicated to MA training myself ) Otherwise, just ask around when you get down there, to see what is around.

I concur here. I have a friend that works Defensive Tactics and Combat Hapkido with me, but he started out in our Taekwondo class. He says that he will come back to TKD sometime, when he gets his forms back down, or something. I keep telling him that he won't unless he gets back into class. Just go. Get it started now. You won't regret it, thats for sure. Welcome to KF.

At the same time, if no one ever threw the first punch in kumite, it would be pretty boring..... My dad always said, "don't start it, but finish it." He didn't say nothin' about not hitting first.

Its kind of funny, the way kiai is viewed at times. Some use them to enunciate a point; MMA fighters rarely use them; Olympic style TKDers almost never don't kihap.