bushido_man96

I don't think that you should have to ask to cross train. After all, the Martial Arts journey is your journey; not anyone elses. Now, if you start training in Judo, and your instructor finds out, then he may get upset, and tell you that you have to do either one or the other. Then, it will be your call. Hopefully, he won't do this, and will encourage your cross training. However, there are some instructors who don't like it at all. I wrote an article on this subject a while back: Martial Arts "Monogamy". The article kind of lays out what can happen when you decide to cross train. It is not the only thing that can happen, but I have seen this before.

This post was originally published as an article in a dedicated KarateForums.com Articles section, which is no longer online. After the section was closed, this article was most to the most appropriate forum in our community. Some time around 1604, an English gentleman by the name of George Silver wrote the second of two books, entitled Brief Instructions upon my Paradoxes of Defence. This book, along with other Silver works, are discussed in the Stephen Hand book, English Swordsmanship and the Paul Wagner book, Master of Defense. In Silver’s book, he describes what he calls the “ancient” system of English swordsmanship (Hand, pg. 1). In describing this system, he begins with the Four Grounds, or Principles, of what Silver described as the “True Fight.” The Four Grounds are listed in this order: 1. Judgment 2. Distance 3. Time 4. Place I believe that although these grounds are used to define a system of weapons combat, they also offer benefits to the unarmed fighter. Though the fighter will not be wielding a weapon, the fighter can still wield the concepts behind the Four Grounds of the “ancient” system of English swordsmanship. Judgment Many martial artists, even many untrained individuals, would agree that judgment is a critical aspect of any engagement. Judging the situation reveals many things to us: the size of an opponent; any weapons they may possess; the layout of the terrain. By keeping such things in mind, we can judge whether or not we are in the opponent’s range of attack or if we are within range to attack the opponent ourselves. We can also use our judgment to determine the opponent’s mental state; i.e., if he is calm, angry or scared. Does he appear aggressive or passive? All of this information and more can be gathered if we use our judgment to the best of our ability. By using our judgment, we can attempt to put ourselves at the proper distance necessary to attack or defend. Distance Distance is a critical element in any attempt to attack or defend. By controlling our distance (by using our judgment), we either keep ourselves safe from attack, or put ourselves in position to initiate an attack or set up a defensive posture. We must constantly be aware of our distance in relation to our opponent and be ready to make adjustments based on the opponent’s action or reaction or based on our desired action. By maintaining an advantageous distance, we can “take our time” or “make an appropriately timed action.” (Hand, pg. 9). Time By using our judgment to monitor our distance, we can time our action appropriately. Our action can take the form of an attack or a defense and can be partially dictated by whatever action our opponent has taken. Many would see our action as an attack. However, perhaps our opponent has in some way overextended himself, allowing us to take our time (make an action) by placing ourselves in an ideally superior position. This is known in Silver’s system of swordsmanship as “winning the place.” (Wagner, pg. 121). Place The place, simply put, is a position from which to strike the opponent. Ideally, the place from which we deliver our strike is a position from which we are superior to our foe’s position. We can attack and the opponent is in a disadvantageous position from which to defend himself or strike us back before our strike does its damage. This is referred to as “gaining the true place.” (Hand, pg. 9). Although this may sound like a perfect scenario that would never exist in actual fighting, this is not necessarily the case. Although we are very likely to be struck in return in a fight, the concept of gaining the place is one where we continually strive to hold advantage over our opponent, by allowing him to play into our strategy, where we can attack and defend on our own terms. The place can be gained in many different ways. Examples include creating angles of attack on the opponent or by making the opponent commit to an attack by feinting or drawing them off. To sum up the basis of the Four Grounds in the system of swordsmanship that Silver wrote about, I feel that Silver himself clarifies it the best: “... knowing judgment, you keep your distance, through distance you take your time, through time you safely win or gain the place of your adversary...” (Wagner, pg. 263). Although this may seem like a long, drawn out process, the Four Grounds are actually observed and registered quickly, given a proper amount of time is spent in training these elements. In all actuality, I truly believe that many martial artists already observe the Four Grounds in most of their engagements. I think that many of us can relate to both sides of the issue; not only during the times when we feel elated because our planned attack or counter played out perfectly, but also during those times when we overextended ourselves, only to realize our mistake after we have been struck. Even though the system that George Silver lays out in his books is based off of an “Olde English” system of swordsmanship, the system still has much to offer those who would engage in weaponless combat as well.

I'm a bit old school: I like George Carlin, Eddie Murphy, Rodney Dangerfield, Damon Wayans. I don't think I'll post much of that here, though.

That looks like a great time. Our school runs a Litttle Lions program, and the kids have a great time with it. Welcome aboard!

I have never enjoyed working with Wrestlers. I just have no knack for it. However, knowing what I know now, I would have stuck with Wrestling throughout my high school years.

I am quite fortunate. I am also fortunate enough not to take them for granted. You are wise, indeed, ps1.

I saw the Cambodian Bloodsport episode this weekend. I rather enjoyed it. There were lots of similarities with the Muay Thai episode, but the styles had their share of differences as well. Interesting, nonetheless.

I learned the equivalent of the "crane kick" as a yellow belt in the ATA!

I hope you get better soon, Kerry. I have a hamstring issue that is putting the hurt on me and my training. Tough it out, and you'll be back in no time.

It would be nice, but not everyone can afford to do it.

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.

Abernethy has some very original ideas for this technique. Definitely something to look at.

I haven't had much experience fighting anyone of a different style. We just don't have much around here, and I don't get to a lot of tournaments. I think that the TKDers that Marie refers to tend to be more like the Olympic stylists. I keep my hands up to protect myself, and I like to get in close and punch. It will really depend on how the person likes to fight.

That is very cool. Congrats to Pedro Sauer. I am envious of your experiences, ps1!

Congrats to all, and thanks to all.

I always thought that this was more of a chicken beak strike. Chicken beak was a downward motion with the fingers. Chicken wrist was an upward motion with the wrist. Ah, ok. I get ya now. We call the upward motion an ox-jaw strike.

I think you would want to do technique work prior to doing some work that is going to wear you limbs down. That way, you don't end up hurting yourself over-exerting fatigued limbs.

Ah, thanks, ps1.

I always thought that this was more of a chicken beak strike.

That may be the case, but it would have been more of a result of your motivation than his teaching ability. You won't get that from everyone. I just think that it would hold that teaching ability is important in most cases to be a good teacher.

11-15-07 Traditional TKD Class: 6:00 - 7:00. Tonight's class was interesting. Hand techniques went well. Working on kicking techniques was an adventure with my hamstring still a bit pulled. I took it easy on the kicks, and even changed up to some knee strikes here and there, so I could get through basics. By the end of basics, my right leg was feeling pretty tired. I think it was from compensating for my left leg. But, I made it through, with no major problems to speak of.

Good luck on your trip! Have fun. Here are a few threads that I dug up that might have a little bit of information to help you out: http://www.karateforums.com/off-to-thailand-vt28744.html http://www.karateforums.com/kickboxing-boxing-and-muay-thai-vf14.html

I was browsing through, and this old thread caught my eye. After watching the video, I didn't think it looked like a mix of Muay Thai and TKD, but it looked like an Olympic TKD fighter fighting a Muay Thai fighter. I am not so sure that matters. He should either lower his kicks to lower targets, or try to create space to better set up his kicks with footwork. If anything, Olympic TKDers excell at creating space with footwork. He should have kept his hands up more, as well.

That is one blessing that teaching has; you have to know the material in order to teach it. The constant teaching is a good review.

What is the juji uke?