bushido_man96

Ah, yes, DWx. I have done some reading on Bartitsu, and they actually used La Canne, and brought in an instructor to teach it. Good show! Nice to see someone else has knowledge on this.

We had been hoping that she could take a break after earning her black belt, so that she could maybe take guitar lessons and confirmation classes and start babysitting--just do some of the things other kids do while she's still a kid. Time is passing so quickly for her. But instead the intensive training process continues, and really there's no end in sight; there's no guarantee of when she'll be ready to earn her black belt (if ever).

When you make this statement, you make it sound like you plan on your daughter quitting after getting her black belt. I have seen this happen many times; students get to black belt, and then quit. This if very frustrating from an instructor point of view. There is so much to do after black belt. Earning a black belt should not be an end in and of itself.

This is something I believe in: if you quit practicing the Martial Arts, then you are not a Martial Artist anymore. If you quit once you get a black belt, you are not a black belt anymore. You have to keep it up, or you lose it. Why throw away all of that hard-earned training?

If I may say, this experience has totally disillusioned me from striving for a black belt myself. I'm testing this month for my brown belt, and if I am fortunate enough to earn it, I'll be happy with that. I can then learn the rest of the underbelt curriculum, and I'll feel I have achieved almost as much as a black belt. If I were to proceed to the final exam, it would ruin everything for me. The focus shifts to what you can't do, what you're weak at, where you fall short, what you can't take pride in. (I have no illusions about performing flawlessly no matter how long and how hard I train; I'm overweight and in poor health, and though I've come amazingly far since starting 2.5 years ago I'm never going to look like a "black belt.") It's sad for me, because my martial arts pursuits will come to an end soon, but it's the reality of who I am. I'm happy I've achieved what I have; it's more than I ever expected.

The point of the arts is to improve yourself. You should focus on your weaknesses as well as your strengths, so that you can get better overall. Performing flawlessly is not what its about. Performing to the best of your ability, and feeling good about yourself for what you have accomplished, regardless of what others think, is the key for driving yourself to betterment.

We will experience successes and failures everywhere in life. Trying to shield our loved ones from experiencing them is doing them a disservice. Now, I am not saying that failures should be engineered just to be learned from; far from it. However, when we fail, we have to pick ourselves up off the floor, dust ourselves off, and get right back in the mix. It makes us stronger.

Those are very good, simple points. Thanks for sharing.

I am a bit suprised you'll be starting at white belt again. Given your years of training.... you could wreak havoc at the underbelt levels in local tournaments.

That could be fun.... I'm gonna go join another school and start as a white belt and not tell anyone I"ve been training....

Hey now.... Something about integrity, and yada yada...makes that seem shifty...

I think that the techniques demonstrated in the article have merit. There is always more than one way to skin a cat.

In a purley defensive nature, I think that the double bone block looks good, especially for covers and what not. However, bearich makes a good point here:

Since all blocks are actually strikes, the single bone with less muscular structure on the sides, provides a better striking surface than using a wider flater thicker (read: more cushioning between bodies to re-absorb energy your body would be generating) double bone block.

In my school, we are taught that "blocks are strikes, and strikes are blocks."

One technicality I would correct, if I may:

Take it back to the sword example and why you don't block or strike with the flat of the blade. It's not the intention of the weapon.

In actuality, you wouldn't block with the thin side of the blade of a sword; the flat is used, but possibly at a 45 degree angle. However, the sword is different than the arms, to an extent. You don't have to worry about knicking the blade up on your arm.

You're right, ps1. There are some that won't tranfer well at all. But that is the nature of the beast here. However, working the ones that do transfer well will definitely give you some more options.

What do you think about Greco-Roman types of takedowns? I think that many of those come from a form of the clinch, and throwing from there would make little use of the clothing, and more of the legs and upper body.

look at aikido movements- if that is not circular, i dont know what is...

Good point as well. Another book I have is titled Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere...

Another circular analogy. I think the cirlcle is a big part of how the human body moves.

It sounds like you've got it good. Anytime you get to train with someone with that much experience, it is always a wonderful learning experience, even if you only take away 10% of it!

It isn't bragging, either. It sounds like a great experience for you.

If your current instructor's reaction is what concerns you, then take some time to speak with him about it. If the two know each other, then perhaps he won't mind you working with him. Especially if he has something unique or different to teach you. If your current instructor doesn't want you to do it, then you can choose not to.

People mention things like "betrayal" or "disloyal" all the time in the Martial Arts circles. I say, in the end, it is your journey, and no one elses. Only you can decide which path you will take.

I have not heard of such a blade. What can you tell us about it?

a i think i heard somewhere about cane fencing...fencing techniques used with a cane...

It may be something like the French style of La Canne...I think.

Heloooo Karate Forums..It's been a while since I last posted, so I think most of you might not remember me...But to the topic..here in the Philippines, the term Arnis is generally use, and yeah..It's a regional thing..We Filipinos have about 107 languages, and while the national language is derived mainly from Tagalog, there are many more Cebuano speakers than tagalog (My main is cebuano but I am very much fluent in tagalog)...Well. power-relationships playing here, Some cebuanos feel that the tagalog should not be the dominant language, and it is reflected in the regionalization of terms. I think in cebu its called Escrima...I might be mistaken.

Welcome back! Good to see you again!

Mine involved forms and black belt basics, one-steps, sparring, and board breaking. We usually spar with someone our rank, and someone the rank that we are testing for. It is kind of an "earn your rank" incentive.

Best of luck to you! Keep us posted!

I just saw the Kung fu episode...for some reason itunes put it up and never got around to the MMA one . I'll put on a review soon.

Sounds great! Looking forward to another fine review.

Nice vid, Adonis. Thanks for sharing.

10-28-07

Between 12:25 am and 1:30 am this morning, I worked on various hand technique combinations while at work, back in the kitchen, and outside the bay area. I did various hand combinations from basics, forms, and the like. In between sets and reps, I did some reading.

I have never grappled with a gi . But I d like to. Maybe some day I can take judo clases..... I like the throws , and they dont work very well if you dont have a gi.

I think that you could make some of them work. You just have to modify them by using limbs instead of garment grabs. You could also look into some Greco-Roman Wrestling style of throws, as they are based mostly on grabbing the body above the waist. Try a Google search, and see what you get.

Hm....could the argument perhaps be made that grappling is circular as well?

I think that much of it probably is. I have a book by Wally Jay titled Small-Circle Jujitsu...

Maybe it's because of where I live (Montana, USA) and the way we think up here (bravery, honesty, integrity, honor, chivalry, facing your fears, etc), but the thought of running from a fight just sort of turns my stomach and brings up pictures in my head of cowardice, fear and being a wimp. Part of it my be my generation also (I'll be 55 next month) and we were raised to be men and to face our adversaries head on, rather than running away like cowards.

Everybody trains in the martial arts for different reasons, and the various ares (karate, TKD, kungfu, mma, etc) have different goals and ways of looking at things, but I train to defend myself against and person or persons if attacked. Sure, given the opportunity, I'd much prefer to walk away from a fight, talk my way out of it..whatever it takes to avoid a fight...but I'll be d**ned if I'll run. I'd rather take a chance at getting my butt kicked than to look at myself in the mirror the rest of my life and know that I'm a coward.

Everybody's going to do what they think is best for them...run, or fight. Personally, I'll take fight.

Has you mention, everyone will do what they see to be best. If survival is your primary concern, which is should be in a self defense situation, then doing whatever it takes to get home is the best thing to do. Weather its running or fighting.

You only have to take a look at the news to see the countless stories of a fight were one person gets hit, cracks their head on the fall and ends up dead. It only takes that one shot and its all over.

Where is the honour and chivalry in sticking around to fight and ending up in a coffin, when you had the chance to run and go home safe to your family?

You both have portrayed your points well. Montana, I can see what you are saying, but the scenario I think of in your post is two guys bellying up, chest to chest, understanding that they will fight each other one on one. On the other hand, is Cross and NightOwl's scenario, where one is attacked more unexpectedly, and must react to get away from a situation they know little about.

There is a difference between the goals of fighting and surviving. You can fight to survive, but you can also run to survive.

10-26-07

Hooray!!!! My friends called, and said that we could do our SCA Combat for the first time in many months! So, we had a fight session, from 4:30 - 5:30. It was a great time, and it was nice to knock the rust off. Next week will most likely be an off week, but the week after, we should be at it again.

Ed is right. Check them out, and see what you think. In the end, worry more about your own training and advancement than that of others you work out with. This will serve you better in the end.

Welcome to the Forums, and to the Martial Arts!

I don't know what your instructor wants, but I always tell new students not to worry so much about the elevation of the kick but to focus on the form of the kick (pivoting properly, kicking with the correct part of the foot, pulling the foot back quickly after kicking, and maintaining proper balance) and keeping the guard up while kicking.

Absolutley right. This is what is important. Besides that, a good knee-level kick will serve you better than any head-level kick.

If I had a vid, I would, but no such luck! Sorry!

Thanks, Kez!

ps1, I don't play the lock down (grape vine) game that much any more. I found it less moveable and more often then not I was placed more on my back. Maybe if I trained wth the 10th planent guys more that style of half guard would be better for me. but I only took 3 privates total from 2 of eddies guys.

I gave an Eddie Bravo book to my coach and he has been playing around with it and using it very seccesful with his training partners. So I defiently think it has merit.

Yeah, no doubt there's merit to it. Afterall, he is among the best in the world.

I have the same problem as you. When I try to use a grapevine, I'm on my back. Since that's not where I want to be, I would prefer to let the grapevine go and get to my side. This allows me to get my underhooks and gives me much more mobility. I'm just not that good at the way Eddie uses it. But then again, that's the nature of Jiujitsu.

I think that this is one of the isntances where someone makes some adjustments to an art becuase things work differently for different people. Some will be able to run with it, and others won't. After all, that is actually the reason that the BJJ brand of JJ is around, isn't it? Helio's adjustments.

I think that this is really a difficult thing to research. You can research the battles and wars of various cultures without too much difficulty, but finding out the styles of fighting that the cultures used is very difficult.

I am not sure where you would start, other than looking up the history of various current styles, and then going further back from their into armed warfare, and when the cultures that were battling came from.

It would be a tough road. Fighting has been around since the dawn of man. Have fun, and good luck searching!

The doc should know about it, and may recommend it. You don't have to look on-line for it, either; you can get it at just about any retail supercenter, like Wal Mart, or even at a pharmacy.