bushido_man96

I suppose the complete offer, where the principles could be applied to any number of pottentail scenarios. IE its not so much the techniques you use its the way you employ them. Also a complete system should have more to offer than just "Fighting". Through the study of it, there should be a natural by product of self improvement. I see the point you are making here, but this is along the lines of what I like to refer to as the Eastern Bias. This is soley an implementation concentrated on in most of the Asian and other Far Eastern Martial Arts. Western styles never really concerned themselves with it to the extent that the Oriental styles did/do. Sure, there were some that claimed that the fighters should be gentlemen and such, but the "way of life" aspect of it wasn't a focal point like it is to Eastern styles. Therefore, I don't look at it as a major prerequisite for a system.

I don't usually listen to much music. If its playing, cool. If not, I don't go looking for some.

In my case, if I could get you to abandon the choke and go to the armbar, then I see that as a small victory, because at least I won't be going to sleep, and then not know what the heck happens to me.

I agree here. There is such a rift between these two, and it is mostly politcally driven. I was going to mention this today, but you beat me to it!

I have never witnessed anything like this first-hand, but have read plenty of stories about it. I think it is a great thing. Congrats to him!

Thanks, Zanshin. I guess I need to look to see what the point scoring system is, then. Are they just trying to include sparring in the Olympics, or are they looking to do a forms competition as well?

What are the requirements for creating a comprehensive system? What would "comprehensive" entail, exactly? I agree with you here. But what would you say are the wrong reasons to cross-train?

I have been wanting to get a life-sized tatoo of myself, but taller...

On what day of the week do your testings usually fall on? At my first TKD school, we had our testings on Saturday mornings usually. At my current school, they are usually on a Thursday evening. How about y'all? When are yours? When do you think is better? I kind of like the weekend idea, as it allows for more time, gets you started earlier, and done sooner. I also think it is easier for the spectators to get to on a Saturday.

Very nice, NightOwl. Now, how about the other 3??

Time to become a monk!!!

I think Marie is on the right track. You may need an x-ray to check it out.

It isn't that they aren't allowed to punch, its just that punches don't ever score, so they don't waste the energy to do them. Just musing but what if you managed to get a TKO off one? I'm assuming that would win you the match. Absolutely. The only problem is generating enough power to punch through the chest protector. I punch them all the time in class, and I think you could wear someone down with them, allowing your kicks to do even more damage.

Well of course! And then give us a full report!

I think you may be right, here. I think that Olympic Boxers have to wear head gear, so I think that safety is an issue. Of course, the new Martial Armor could maybe help with this. Then they would have to figure out the points scoring system, the legal target areas, and all of that lot.

Thanks for the info, Killer. I think it would be great to see Karate in an Olympic format. What the WKF needs to do is essentially the same thing that the WTF did in establishing TKD in so many various countries. They founded the Kukkiwon, which is the center of the WTF, and from which all the technical decisions are made on forms performance, rank advancement, and instructor, coaching, and officiating certifications are made.

That's great, NightOwl. I tried to hoist a taller class mate in a throw like that, and had a heck of a time. Now granted, I am not a Judo thrower, so that could be part of it. However, if I used my left leg, and kicked it back, it helped me to throw him. Much like one of the throws that they demonstrated on the Judo episode of The Human Weapon.

Someone once posted that the idea behind the Dim Mak came from a technique that someone performed to just the right spot on an opponent, and the technique was so powerful that it may have caused internal bleeding, or burst a spleen, or something of the sort, that long ago there would have been nothing that could be done about it. So, the victim would naturally end up dying, and then it would be shrouded in mystery. Today, if some gets a spleen ruptured, you can go get it taken care of, and the result is living instead of dying. To whoever pointed that out, I think it is viable, and agree with it. I don't want to take the credit, though!

One I remembered from reading that ESPN article: Boxing and MMA. This rivalry is very real. Many MMA fighters are upset with comments that were made by Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

Very true, Marie. Leverage is an important aspect that comes into play with joint locking. I agree with Montana as well. Not so much ki or chi, but very much about body mechanics.

Very well said, ps1. When it comes to the OODA loop that you mention, it is very important to stay ahead in that loop. Forming those good habits is important for that. I think that many people learn to do a block in one style one way, and then go to another, and it changes slightly, and then the worry about which you perform comes up. In the end, though, I think that the gross motor moves are going to be of more consequence than the finer motor skills. My Self-Defense partner has a saying: if it worked, then you didn't do it wrong.

That is good advise, ps1. I wish I had the opportunity to just train at a gym like that, as opposed to fight. Echoing your first comment, the article stated that a lot of "tough guys" show up, trying to get their shot. A lot of people who are big guys that have been in lots of fights, be it bars or whatever, show up. There was an interesting bit in the article on a guy who was a former college football player from Minnesota, I think. The guy was kind of cocky, and one of the IFL heavyweights from that gym got to line up with him, and gave the guy a nice piece of humble pie to take home with him.

I agree with you here, NightOwl. ESPN has been playing highlights from some of the big fights (Liddell/Jackson is one I remember) on SportsCenter highlights. So, I think it is going to happen more and more. FoxSportsNet is really good about covering MMA, and Spike as well. Speaking of MMA in the mainstream, has anyone seen the new Dell commercial with Burt Reynolds, Chuck Liddell, and Brook Burke in it? It is creeping in more and more.

Now I think that would be one heck of a fight to watch. Let's hope this happens. It would be a huge fight for Le.

Thanks, Kajukenbopr. That is much better than I could offer. I have read about the differences, but can't really pull them off the top of my head. I really need to read up on more Chinese styles.