bushido_man96

This is an interesting way to put it, but you do make a valid point.

First of all, the sensei needs to inform everyone that you are going to be helping out more, and that they should show you the same respect that they show him. If they choose not to, then you need to let the sensei know this. Otherwise, people will just steamroll you. There are ways to "gain" respect, but I think that they are a last ditch option, in my opinion. As for the person that sent you the email. If it were me, I would most likely have a heart-to-heart with this person myself, as opposed to going to the sensei first. However, the right thing to do is probably report it to the sensei, and let him know about the treatment you are receiving. Not everyone is a teacher, and I firmly believe that. However, I do feel that higher ranks have an obligation to be able to assist with lower ranks when needed.

I thought it was interesting in the article that the author pointed out the differences between Aikido and Aiki-jujitsu.

This is an excellent point. It is easier to learn the slang and jargon of the times when actually speaking and asking what it means.

Thanks for the clarifications, Clash. That helps out some. 9-6-07 I worked on some kicking exercises while outside with my son this afternoon. I was kicking our basketball goal post: Back leg round kick: 10 each leg Back leg front kick: 10 each leg Front leg side kick: 10 each leg Front leg front kick, back leg round kick: 10 reps of this combo on each side. Back leg round kick, continuous side kick: 10 reps of this combo on each side. Step up front leg round kick, cont. side kick, cont. round kick: 10 reps of this combo on each side. I maybe spent about 15 minutes doing this. All I got today, so it felt good to do something.

Agreed. That is one thing I like about the resistance in the brief grappling sessions that my friend and I have. The high emotion is not there, but the resistance is. We also try to work some of that stuff into our Defensive Tactics and Combat Hapkido workouts. I am going to suggest to my partners that we start to work on more of it, too.

To add to that, you shouldn't worry about being Renzo or Saulo. Just worry about being you, and practice like a madman to get as good as you can. Who knows? Maybe someday someone will be inspired by you as well?

This one I dissagree with. I do think that some students would be overwhelemed, but that's them and their issues. Some people would absorb the type of calm training as a lesson in keeping your mind clear when faced with a high-intensity confrontation. Which most people know and agree is a good idea. Unfortunately, I would have to agree with this concept for the most part. If you never feel contact, or make contact, or experience a higher (not necessarily the same level of fighting) intensity, then it will be tough to know how to deal with it in a situation.

That clarifies things a bit. In my sources, it actually states that closing is the idea to defend, and that the movement backward is usually a result of a situation, as opposed to be the rule. Whilst i agree with you for the most part, the only thing i see that has changed is some of the older material(this applies to hand to hand also) focuses on the "dual" mentality of 2 guys squaring off outside a bar and going for it like a sparring match. The reality is, however, that a guy attacking you with a knife isnt going to stand back taking delicate little slashes at you, they are going to be trying to get close enough to get one hand on you so you cant move whilst they are pumping you with the knife in the other hand. Actually, the defenses and situations that are discussed in my sources reflect the very scenarios that you have described. It was stated that a dirk (referencing my current source) would have been pulled in a surprise attack, and very rarely was "mutual" knife combat a result. The person to defend themselves would have to a). intercept the attack, and b) then attempt to counter and try to pull their own dirk.

The answer is simple: you have to speak the language. I pointed out the quote you made above because this is the very atmosphere you need to learn you language. If you don't ever speak it and hear it spoken back, you won't get it down. Even if you mess something up, who cares? Then, the person you are talking with can help you figure out what you are actually trying to say, and then help you to get it right. That is how you have to learn a language. Believe me, I speak from experience. I took 3 years of Spanish in high school, and was pretty good at it, as far as writing and vocabulary go. Hearing it and translating it was tougher, especially hearing it from Spanish speakers (hearing an English speaker speak Spanish, and then hearing a Spanish speaker speak it are two different monsters!). I then had some time away from it, but took some more classes in college for it. It came back pretty quickly, but then, I never used the opportunities that I had to talk to Spanish speakers to really get the language down. So, all that time squandered, and I really wish I had it now. Don't be like me. Talk with Japanese speakers in Japanese. Don't be scared. Do it. It will be the best thing you do. As for learning the other 2 languages, the same thing applies. If you get to where you don't have someone to speak them with, they will begin to slip.

I loved that article! He didn't do a lot of bashing. He just talked about his experiences and revelations. There is a lot that I agree with in that article, as far as philosophy, time-in-training, and the like. Thanks for sharing that, Adonis.

A very nice article, indeed. I would love to have had the experiences that he has had. I particularly liked this quote: "But I’m into breaking tradition. So this will be an experiment and we’ll see how it goes." I would also agree with the remarks that he made in regards to humility in the Martial Arts.

I personally believe that gaining proficiency shouldn't take too long. I would say 6 solid months of hard training, and you should begin to feel proficient. Maybe even less, if you have lots of time to train, and get in lots of reps and feedback. Now, mastery, on the other hand, will take a considerably longer amount of time.

I had a few questions for you: What are these? I think the terminology your are looking for here is shoulder shrugs. I think. As for the stretching, just stick with it. Stretch like you say you have, to discomfort, not pain. If stretching is painful, then you have probably overdone it already. It takes time, but it is worth it.

What you need to do is get on a stretching regimen that you will follow every week until Christmas. Look up information on strength training for flexibility, and look up different dynamic and static stretches to incoporate into your routine. Ultimate Flexibility by Sang H. Kim is a good source for stretches. Thomas Kurz is also well known for his books on stretching. Look into those, and see what you can come up with.

Very nice!

Nice posts, cross. I have been reading up on quite a bit of historical knife fighting, and have seen some of the same things that you talk about. Some of the sources, though, do mention slipping the attack, or even shifting back from it, if not to regroup enough to carry out your plan. Do you think this is wrong? Or just different? Mind you, this is historical stuff, and not recent stuff. However, knife combat has not changed much over the past 1000 years, in my opinion.

Best of luck, and keep us posted!

No, it wasn't 15 minutes straight. It was broken up into two segments. Very tiring, though. Yeah, post your training up. I would love to read it.

I think that different people just like to express themselves different ways. Some like to do it while fighting, and some would rather not, as you mention for various, legitimate reasons. What I don't like is when one talks down of the other for their viewpoint of how to express their style or art. If one master wants to be a fighter, then great, let them fight. If another doesn't want to fight, and feels that he has nothing to prove, then I think that is awesome. In the end, though, both should be given equal respect.

Hey, works for me! 9-5-07 Tonight I had Black Belt Class from 6:00 - 7:00. We worked on stuff for our next upcoming testing, and got a pretty good workout. My instructor wanted to look over our forms for testing. He had one of the students go before me, and gave some tips for him to break them down and tweak things a little. When I did mine, all he said was "You got it down," and he kind of smiled. No pointers or tips for me, though! Maybe that is a good thing? For the last 15 - 20 minutes of class, we worked on Hoo Sin Sul (self-defense). Me and a friend also had a grappling session prior to the class, and after the class, we had another session. I got my butt pretty much kicked, but it was a good time, and boy, did it make my arms tired! I would guess that we did around 15 total minutes of grappling.

Clash has some good ideas. Physical condition is important in the Fighting Arts. Even if you can't get some of the equipment he mentioned, the only equipment that you need for push-ups is the floor. Also, a jump rope would only run you about $3. You can also get a kitchen timer to do stuff like that for set timed rounds. In the end, it is all up to your imagination. Look into these books: Solo Training and Solo Training 2. Find them here: http://www.turtlepress.com/Solo_Training_Set_p/set-slt.htm

Yeah, it was impressive. It kind of reminded me of the kind of fights that the kids that do Muay Thai in Thailand have. However, I think a lot of those kids get their bodies so abused that they are done with Martial Arts by the time they are 30. I would hate to see that happen to my kids.

Well, just stay positive, Laurie. I am sure in time, everything will come together for you.

Sounds like a typical beginner class to me. Keep at it, and things will start coming to you better.