bushido_man96

Hello, Descartes, and welcome to the Forums! If your main goal is improving your physical fitness, then I think that Muay Thai would suit your needs the best of the styles that are available to you. They will focus a lot on techniques/physical movement and repetitions, and the sparring is done in rounds, which is great for fitness improvement. As a side effect, you will probably pick some notes on fighting in competitions, and may find you will want to do that down the road. I imagine that the Thai training would be pretty demanding on your body at first, so taking on an additional style may overwhelm you for a time. However, if you feel that you have the energy, and more importantly, the time, to contribute to another style, then go for it. Best of luck, and enjoy the journey!

I agree with KarateEd's suggestions as well. Slowing down and breaking your technique down will definitely help. Just make sure that you know what you are breaking down. Have your instructor or a high-rank student watch and help point out to you what area it is you need to correct. Remember, practice doesn't make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect. Always ask questions, too!

Well, it is back! Did everyone enjoy week 1? I would have to say that I did not. However, I figured as much. This year, I look for the Chiefs to finish 3rd in the AFC West, and maybe win 5 or 6 games. However, we will always have the fantasy leagues to fall back on! Right, Patrick!

Huh, that may be cool. I wonder if he will play the role of Youngblood (was Jack his first name?), or if it will be some other character. A buddy of mine and I used to play BattleTech on the old IBM computer, and I got into playing Mechwarrior 2 on the computer when I was still in high school/early college years.

You mean like clinching?

It appears that the Krav Maga episode is the last for now. Does anyone know when they will pick up again?

It is a good point, but I really think that a situation like this is most likely the exception rather than the rule. You can't take complete solace in a technique like that, but you can't abandon it, either. Also, makes you think that if you do get your finger into that eye, then the next step is to dig with that finger.

I think that perhaps that comment was made in direction toward their style of competition. TKD and Karate have elbow strikes, but you don't see them done in TKD or Karate Competitions. I would guess that this is what they were getting at.

I have never heard of this term. Are you perhaps doing too much of an exaggerated movement of the hips when performing your hand techniques?

I guess that is where the proper safety equipment comes into play. That, combined with the proper training methods, should make for the right mindset.

I remember hearing about this incident as well. I was actually quite surprised when I heard about the fighter going on to win the fight, and later the sight in that eye. Very interesting, and very thought-provoking.

That was great! Thanks for the trip back...

I completely agree, if people want to learn fan techniques for their personal enjoyment go for it. But when they start making claims about it being effective and relivent in modern self defense practices (has some posts in this topic have suggested) then there is a problem. I understand. However, there may be some small applications that can be made from them, if need be. Anything can become an improvised weapon. Using a weapon as an improvised weapon does sound redundant, though.

Sure, its possible, everyone could carry around extendable batons also. But the weapon of choice on the street these days is a blade of some variety, not a fan. And unless a martial artist is carrying his fan all the time then training it for self defense purposes is pointless. You also have to look into the consideration that perhaps the fan is being chosen for aesthetic purposes, and not for self-defense purposes. Sometimes, when something interests us, we look into to learning more about it, just for the enjoyment of it.

Yeah, and Bruce Lee was a big advocate of the shin kick and instep stomp.

There is a lot of weird, freaky stuff that goes on in the world. Many people may not like to see this, and the reason is because it is a shot of reality that no one wants a part of. You have to accept that these kinds of things go on out there, and be willing to defend against such things, even if the odds that they will happen to you are slim to none.

Another nice article. I enjoy his writings. There are some very good points in this quote.

I don't think it is really fair to assume something like this when we don't actually see them performing a "traditional" form set. We know that the moves get modified somewhat for XMA, so therefore, we may not be seeing their full potential.

I would say a yellow belt would have somewhere between 2 and 4 months training.

This is where I would tend to disagree. What you state here is the ideal of what a Martial Art is according to what has been presented to us by the Eastern-types of philosophies inherent in Eastern styles. This should not be considered the hard-and-fast rule that governs whether something is a Martial Art or not. It just happens to be one culture's rule. You also mention fighting. Fighting is Martial. When you fight, you are experiencing the epitome of "Martial."

I think I may have seen that once before. Very clever, I think!

To an extent, this is true. However, low line kicks can be executed much closer than mid to high line kicks. Even if you are too close to throw a round kick to the thigh, you migh still be close enough to kick the shins with the toe of your shoe or boot. The dynamic just changes a little. Knees would also be available (I kind of consider them kicks, too).

I agree the transitions are useful. But marching up and down the hall doing the stances in a static manner is no way to learn them. Trying to learn transitional positions by doing static stances is like trying to learn to drive with the car parked in the driveway the whole time. You train the stances in a static manner in order to build some stamina in the legs, and to get some form of muscle memory into them. Now, I agree that it should not have to be done for endless hours, but that form of training does have some use. Static first, then applications are important. However, relating the applications needs to be emphasized. This is going to be more style-based than otherwise, I feel. Look at boxers, for example. They can generate a lot of speed and power with their strikes, and they stay more upright than some other styles. Thai fighters would be another good example. Generating power comes from so many different places; from the floor with the feet, up throught the hips, shoulders, and then with the arm. Even though one may have a higher stance, it is still important to be stable on the ground, like you say. Just not necessarily in a deep stance.

I do see what you are saying here. However, you can only learn so much of a culture from a Martial Art. If I wanted to specialize in learning the culture of a country, I could find it in more intensive study through paths other than the country's Martial Arts. Its like I have said before; a side kick is a side kick, and if it hits you, it doesn't matter which language it is in.

I think that you guys have answered each others questions without realizing it; why not train to do both? Couldn't a woman in this situation begin by distracting with the eye-gouging, ear-twisting, and face-clawing techniques to get the aggressor's attention elsewhere and then move on to applying the BJJ techniques that would be useful in dispatching the attacker?? I honestly think that both can benefit each other. You both (cross, ps1) have presented good points about the nature of the event we are discussing. I think the two of you have put the answer together.