bushido_man96

I didn't see or hear those comments on the video. However, I don't think that they are correct with them. The video did show that it is important to have some idea of how to defend yourself when you get taken down, though. It appeared that the Karateka attempted to strike or grab the throat, but was still unable to get the attacker off.

You are welcome. I hope you enjoy your experience in Shotokan!

Those are good points, YoungMan. The UFC does appear to be a young person's game. Unless, of course, you are Randy Couture!

Again, you are basing your idea of what a Martial Art is on what appear to me to be Oriental/Asian concepts of what the Martial Arts have become. Just because there is no designated "Grandmaster" doesn't mean that it can't be a Martial Art. Just because it doesn't have forms doesn't mean that it can't be a Martial Art. Look at BJJ and Judo. Are they that much different? Sure, they wear a gi, but that does not define an "art." This may be how it appears, but ask anyone who has Wrestled, and they will tell you differently. I Wrestled for a year in middle school, and the conditioning training was the best that I had ever had, and I can tell you that it is not easy to do. Looking back now, I wish that I would have stuck with it, because it would have served my Martial Arts training very well. There is a lot of technique involved, just like in Judo or BJJ. The goals are simply different. If it was all about strength, then there would not be a need for Wrestling coaches.

Wasn't Norris' trademark a spinning back/hooking kick, though? I thought that I read that somewhere.

I think that Wrestling deserves just as much respect as a Martial Art as any other style would. I think that people get caught up in the idea that Wrestling is not a Martial Art because it is perceived as a sport, or because it doesn't come from the Orient. I think that Wrestling can have just as many applications for self-defense as any other style that is out there.

8-30-07 Went for a 15 minute walk tonight. Beautiful evening, too.

This is a drill to improve observation and memory recall skills. Just try to do it when out in public. Glance at someone, and then try to recall something about them afterward. Which hand did they hold their cell phone with? What color was their hair? Things like this. It will help to improve your awareness.

I wouldn't assume that just because two people end up wrestling around doesn't mean that they don't know how to fight. On the contrary, it could be the very reason they are Wrestling at the time; it may be their strong suit. Also, just because someone can fight standing up, doesn't mean that they won't be taken to the ground by someone who doesn't know how to fight standing up. There are a lot of variables in the chaos of combat, and any exposure that you can get to help prepare you is great. Be careful about making generalizations. When you assume too much, you can overreach yourself.

Ah, I see. I don't think I would want to hit the forehead with my bare hand, for sure. That is a hard bone. I am with you on that one.

To an extent, I think this is correct. I think that many of the exaggerated stances found in striking arts, like the front and horse stances, are more transitional than static. However, I think that there is also a "base" type of fighting stance that most will use, depending on their preference, that they will start in, and eventually revert back to many times, during a confrontation, like a Boxer's stance, if that is the fighting stance that one is comfortable with.

As opposed to concentrating on body conditioning, I think you may want to focus on some physical conditioning, in aerobic and/or anaerobic capacities. This will help you with your energy levels during training, as well as with recovery time to get back to it. Later on, as you get a handle on your techniques, you can then ask your instructor about some advise on body conditioning.

That is good advise. If everyone knows you like it, and use it, then "feinting" it in this way will allow you to play off of their defense. Good call, ps1. I never thought of trying something like that.

Very nice, Heidi. Very informative. Thank you for sharing that with us. I think I could make an article like this required reading for prospective instructors.

I believe that there is a difference between instinct and conditioning. However, I also believe that through constant conditioning, you can make something very close to instinctual. I know that not all will agree with me here, and that is ok. I think it is related to time in, if that makes sense.

That is hard to say. Lack of performance in a UFC is not necessarily a standard to judge by. However, I don't see why a stylist with a Kung Fu base couldn't succeed in an MMA format. If you want to fight professionally, then you would have to train professionally. Cung Le, a Chinese stylist, has had some success in some lower levels of MMA competition. However, the training goals of Le's style is different than that of other Chinese styles. I do think there could be a happy medium reached there, though.

Welcome to the Forums, James! It sounds like you have some good plans. We had a discussion based Martial Arts curriculums offered as a college degree: http://www.karateforums.com/you-can-now-get-a-b-a-degree-in-ma-in-the-usa-vt30350.html You will have to let us know how it goes there, and what you think of the program. I look forward to your insights!

Nine: I would respectfully disagree with this. I have never been intimidated by the size of an opponent. Maybe it is because I am too stupid to be scared, but I would rather think that my personaliy doesnt lend to being intimidated very well. I would think that the "1000 yard stare" is more intimdating than size. A person (regardless of age,size or sex) who looks as though they are looking trough you can be unnerving. My students accuse me of this all the time during sparring. We call it "total commitment" in our system and infact is what Zanchin (our schools name) means. it varies from person to person. on my job, I have ended confrontations before they started merely because of my size. I have even had guys tell me they would whoop me if I wasn't so big. size is a very powerful intimidator. I would have to agree with this as well. There is a reason why night clubs and bars hire great big people to be bouncers and doormen. I know that size doesn't matter to eveyone, but to the general, non-MA practicing public, it can be a factor.

Wow, I would not have guessed it was that high! Very cool to know, though. Good article.

You make good points, Patton. However, weren't the tourneys of the "Golden Years" of Karate tougher, with harder contact? With the likes of Joe Lewis, Chuck Norris, Skipper Mullins, and Bill "Superfoot" Wallace, and Benny "the Jet" Uriquidez?

8-29-07 I helped teach the last half of our Kids Class today from 4:30 - 5:00. From 5:15 - 5:45 I helped teach Orientation. Black Belt Class was from 6:00 - 7:00. This was a really great workout tonight. We went over some advanced basics sets, and did some kick sets and stretching in between each. Toward the end of the class, we did strike and counters, with 1, 2, and 3 strikes and counters, and strike-kick counters. Fun class, and I was tired.

The thing is, getting in close and grappling can happen a lot in self-defense situations. Therefore, that knowledge could be very useful. After a while, you get more used to the manipulations, and when you feel it being applied, you can go with it.

I agree. As long as you are confident in your striking ability, and your aim, you should be able to pull it off. If you strike as much as Liddell does, I don't think it would hurt his fists too much.

If that is what works for you, then I would stay with it. If it isn't broke, don't fix it. On the other hand, you don't want to rely on it all the time. Sometimes in class, you have to make yourself abandon it, so that you can learn to get into other moves and submissions. Eventually, everyone will figure you out, and may start countering your move. Then, you will have to find another path to victory. Stick with it, but let yourself learn others, and work on them, as well.

As far as a physical workout goes, my TKD workout is better for that than my Hapkido workouts. The Hapkido workouts are not as high-impact, like the TKD is. Hapkido is very hands-on. I actually enjoy it quite a bit. We don't do a lot of ground work in our Hapkido sessions, though. It mainly consists of joint manipulations, locks, and takedowns to joint locks. Some styles of TKD are a little similar to Karate; the ITF brand of TKD actually owes a bulk of its techniques, and some of the forms, to Shotokan Karate. However, over the years it has developed its own stylized differences, so they won't be the same. Have fun in your Shotokan class! Stick with it, and you will do just fine.