bushido_man96

Hehe, yeah, short one that time! I think that they can expand if they want to later on to get into the history of more of the offshoot styles, like you mention for Karate. I doubt that the show was going to run perpetually, anyways. Besides that, they seem to be hitting regional areas, as opposed to simply styles. Like the Muay Thai episode included Krabi Krabong, which could probably have warranted its own show as well. However, it worked into the history of Muay Thai.

It seems to me that you view the Martial Arts with the "Eastern bias" that has evolved with styles like Karate, TKD, and such. Keep in mind that Martial Arts come from all over the world, not just the Orient. Different cultures have different ways of doing things, so not all will look the same.

Certification is good for credibility. If you have a certificate from a sanctioned body, like the ITF, WTF, JKA, or what not. When I was in the ATA, I had to meet certain trainee instructor requirements, and then went to Instructor Certification Camp for a week. Upon successful completion of the camp, I was recognized as a Certified Instructor. In my current organization, once I pass my 3rd dan testing, I will become a certified instructor, as long as I have been teaching in some facet to meet the requirments.

8-22-07 Taught Orientation today from 5:30 - 6:00. I have been sick this week, as has my family, so training has been hit and miss.

Movies are just that; movies. Fighting multiple opponents is going to be hard, no matter who you are. The Bourne Identity is choreographed, keep that in mind. You could do pushups and stretch at home. Learning moves on your own is going to be tough. You could find someone who has some training, and see if you can get some personal training that way.

Only one lesson a week isn't that great, I don't think. I would much prefer to have a choice of several days per week.

I am the short guy as well. I am 5'7"; a little taller, but still shorter than most in the class.

Tall or short, you have to learn how to make your Martial Arts work for you. Even being short can be good; think low center of gravity.

Lordtariel has some good points. You don't want to discount the place just because he has expanded. He may have produced some good students who wanted to teach, but could not get started on their own. Therefore, he may have helped them out. Check them out first, and see what they are like.

I see. If you take both styles, then do you progress through both styles at the same pace?

That is a good option! I, however, prefer baseball. Batter up!!!

Yeah, you can train hard, with aggression, and with decreased risk for injury. I am curious, though; does the grappling level of training just go from the ground, or do they work any type of takedowns?

Very nice, ps1. Who is the person that you quoted? I like it.

I think that friendly rivalries in school are a great thing. I also think that rivalries outside of a school, say, tournament rivalries, are also great. They can be a great motivational factor in your training. When you get tired, and want to quit, you picture the other guy holding the 1st place trophy he got for beating you in forms or sparring, and it can help to push you to keep at it.

Don't wait!!!! I have seen many students have to work to cram in the knowledge of their old forms once they got close to black belt, and it takes a lot of time away from other training. Review them now. You will be better for it in the long run. You will be more confident with them, and you won't end up second guessing yourself. I take lots of pride in being able to recall a form on the spot. It makes me feel good to know that lower ranks can come to me with forms questions, and I can answer them without any problems. In some schools, it is a requirement to be able to demonstrate the material for the rank prior in order to be eligible to test for the next rank. If I run a school again, that is the way I will do it, as well. Nice explanation, Kevin!

Cool, thanks. I currently only have one book on Arnis/Escrima, and I am looking to expand my library in that area.

If you really want to take Judo, then go to that school. If the belt tests cover both styles, then you may be getting a good deal.

That is a good point, as well. So, you are an LEO? I work as a Detention Officer at a county jail. Grappling/restraints are important.

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.