bushido_man96

The books arrived today!!! I opened it up, and thumbed through them all a bit, and I can't wait to get dug into them. Well worth the price, I think.

Very nice.

I have read a brief bit on the movie. It sounds like it may be interesting. I am looking forward to it.

This book is a facsimile copy of one that is held in the State Library of Bavaria. This Medieval European fectbuch is written by the Master Paulas Kal, who was employed by Ludwig IX, duke of Bavaria-Landshut, who reigned from 1450-1479. Kal was a master of defense whose lineage is tied to that of Master Johannes Liechtenauer from the late 14th century. This Grandmaster, so-to-speak, spawned many Masters that repeated his work. Most of Kal's teachings here are founded Liechtenauer's teachings, which Kal has illustrated in sections of duels on horseback and foot in with a lance, with poleaxes, clubs and shields, between man and woman (a judicial duel), sword and buckler, longsword, messer, dagger, and wrestling. Along with the illustrations and captions is a detailed technical analysis of each section, plate by plate, done by the author. The author also garnishes from other similar fightbooks from other Masters of the Liechtenauer tradition, gleaning further translations and insights. This book was printed on a special limited run of 900 (mine is number 374). The facsimile is full sized, and the illustrations are beautiful. The author even makes notes about the dress and armor used in the illustrations that would be of interest and use to historians of the period. This subject is just my thing, but I think that this is an excellent book, and a great example of the application and practicality of the Medieval sword arts. From reading this and other fightbooks, I have seen that the European weapons systems were trasnferrable from weapon to weapon, with common applications and principles ranging from weapon to weaponless combat. The author is quick to point out where there are similarities between the wrestling plates and the plates of armored longsword combat. Great book, great research, and I look forward to cross-referencing other fight manuals with it in the future.

I think you can justify being a member of both by not including yourself in the political dilemas of the two organizations, and just concentrating on your own training. Aside from that, the two organizations have been meeting, and are working on some things together. I don't know how far along they are, but they have made some strides.

Congrats to your instructor! That is very cool, indeed.

Those are all very valid points, gzk.

Those are some good points, bearich. Do you think that strategies such as those would be more suitable for ring fighting or sparring, as opposed to a street altercation?

But they are not political parties, they are Martial Arts associations. Each has something to offer, and each can make you better. Why close off other branches of learning?

What was the title, KNOCKuOUT?

I think that Bill may be able to pull off more of the wrestling type upper body throws in the Pankration, though. Either way, it should be good.

Mine too!! This used to be pretty common, until companies like Century started making the new belts with stripes on them.

You mention that the newer students get a lot more grappling work than striking work to start out. I have also seen that the new Modern Army Combatives training starts out with grappling as well. The first level is grappling, and then they move up to the striking and Thai style kicking. Just a trend I noticed.

Very nice sites, NightOwl. Those associated with it are very straightforward about what they plan to accomplish, aren't they? (By the way, that book title you put out keeps taunting me! Since it is pretty cheap, I may have to order...soon...)

I was punching the bag at home one time, doing a punch out or something; anyway, I was punching full power. I did an uppercut type technique into the bag, and I felt my wrist kind of tweak. Well, for some reason I didn't register it right away (just one of my crowning moments of realization ) and I wound up to punch again. Lucky for me, the second hit (same hand) did register. Thus concluded that day's punching drills!

Very well put.

I think you are talking about an essay contest for non-Korean Masters in the ITF. I saw an add for it in TKD Times. I am sure that not everything between ITF and WTF can be shared. There is just too much bad blood there, I think. However, the competition thing is based soley on being a WTF member, and qualifying at the tournaments. A guy I competed against while I was in the ATA trained at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, and won the Colorado State Qualifier in his weight bracket. That is one other example I can think of where a student was a member of another organization, and still competed.

I have also seen black stripes on belt tips to show rank, like one brown belt being senior over another, due to test performance, etc. In our system, each belt has a high and a low distinction. Low blue belt, for example, has a white stripe through the middle. High blue belt is a solid blue belt. This continues up to recommended black. I have also been in schools that put stripes on one side of the belt to show the acquisition of certain requirements for testing; one stripe for forms, another for new basics, etc. That way, an instructor can glance at the belt and see what they need the most work on.

I thought the Judo episode was good, too. I think that Bill might have done ok, with his wrestling background. Jason got tossed very clean a couple of times. He was a good sport about it, though. I got a little caught up on the Karate episode, and I was a little disappointed with the fight at the end. I thought that Bill might have tried a few more kicks, especially to the legs. I'll give him one thing, though; he is tough! I think if Jason and Bill would have switched for the end fights of these two, they may have been more interesting. I can't wait for the Pankration episode! That should be sweet.

I agree with DWx. It is basically the underlying story being recycled. In the original, Lee wasn't an agent, he just helped the agency out (if I remember right). There have been lots of remakes of movies, and they aren't all bad. You just can't go to this movie and expect Enter the Dragon. That is when you will disappoint yourself. Aside from that, there are plenty of skilled Martial Artists out there that could make the role look good. Granted, not as good as Lee, but it can still look good.

Ah, that makes sense as well. That way, a plateau doesn't necessarily stall you out?

Battle does not favor the righteous, or the just; it favors the prepared. My personal favorite: I concede that it was a cheap shot, but it was the only one I could afford.

Seeing the white, I don't really understand. I don't think you are blanking out, though. As long as your are moving and reacting, and are in control of yourself, everything should be fine.

Sorry, but I laughed a bit when I pictured a soccer mom looking to take her 9 year old into martial arts and seeing this drill as soon as she walks in the door... Well, that may not be the exact context in which it would be trained. The students that you would do these drills with would need to be able to understand the situation, and the circumstances that would make it justifiable. I would hope that none of our children would have to face a situation that required the usage of such a technique.

Thanks, NightOwl. Although I don't discuss the Chinese MAs very much, I do find interest in just about every style that is, has been, or will be. I will look into your title, and maybe it will become mine some day as well. Hey, just checked it, and it does look interesting. Those kind of manual set ups are right up my alley, and it has a good price on it, too. Thanks again; I'll look into it. After this load, though, it may be a month or so...