bushido_man96

Yeah, mostly TKD places. They are usually required equipment for sparring at tournaments. So most will train with them on in class, in order to be used to them.

Wait till you have kids...then, you will be so busy running them around, that you won't have time to be bored!!!

I think so. Doesn't Tony Jaa use a set in Ong Bak? Don't know...haven't seen it yet.

Eww, that sounds nasty, Zanshin. I would have to say that I have never had anything that bad happen to me. A girl that was in our TKD school, testing for her 2nd dan, I think, blew her knee out during the testing.

Wow! Amazing! I had never had the opportunity to see that before. Thanks for sharing.

I agree, true Pankration won't be seen, because of the nature of the sport. Very dangerous, and no rules, I believe. However, it was the predecessor.

I hear ya there. I don't like them either, and would prefer to go without them. That way, my punches would get respected a lot more, too.

There are some that are called "instructor hogus" or something to that effect, and they are quite a bit thicker, but less maneuverable, I think. However, instructors will wear them to allow full-speed counters and such to be worked on by students gearing up for sparring in tournaments or what-not. Maybe that would be better for your purposes.

By looking at just the website, it is hard to tell. You really have to see the quality of the students to get an idea. Is the school affiliated with any national/international organization? What forms systems do you use? What are the sparring/self-defense curricula like? There are a lot of questions that can be asked, and all of them may help to answer your question.

Way to go, Karate Ed!

The tourch is constantly being passed on. You just have to know where to look.

We wear chest protectors at my school. Previously, I had never worn one. We do Olympic sparring rules, so we wear them. However, we don't wear them for testing purposes.

Yes, well done!

Ofcourse, anything can be effective if you land it. Some tactics have a far better chance of working than others however, and a kick to the stomach is a fair way down the list of tactics in my opinion. Yes, at this point, it becomes a matter of percentages. High-percentage usually wins out.

I agree, set up is key for any technique. I also feel that the back leg round kick to the thigh is a great kick, and it can be quite debilitating. A back leg front kick into the knee can be, as well.

Make sure to get warmed up really good. If you aren't doing a MA class that night, get on a bike or a treadmill for 20 minutes. Then, work spits to the front and each side. Also work seated stretches, with one leg extended, and the other tucked to the inside of the stretched leg. Butterfly stretch is good, too. Standing with feet together, and bend at the waist, try to touch your toes. These are just a few examples. Hold each stretch for around 1 minute if you can, and do 3 reps of each.

That's cool. Sometimes it is good to revist something that you haven't done in a while, like a board break. Have fun training at your new place!

A little is an understatement, I'm amazed he made it as far as he did. Thank god the UFC is starting to get some good fighters, and not just poster boys like Lidell and Franklin. his form is very intentional. He teaches seminars on how to throw those same punches. he uses an unorthodox overhand. Not a big deal. When it comes to fighting, results are far more important than form. When you get into the mix, technique is likely to slip some. When two people are moving around, the other trying to avoid getting hit by you, then you have to make adjustments, whether it be in technique, strategy, or whatever. Bad technique or not, his success speaks for itself.

In some reading that I have done on Muay Thai, I had come across the fact that they don't bob and weave much. They parry and move side to side more and slip. I guess that would be the way to go.

I would jump at the chance to learn BJJ. I would go check out the orientation, and then ask about price again. I have heard that it is quite challenging physically, and should fit your needs as far as that goes.

That is a good quote. I have read about Teddy Roosevelt, and we was kind of a rough-houser. He actually moved some of the funiture aside in a White House room once so that he and a friend could have a cudgel match together! He also had a black belt in judo, I believe.

I think I would even go so far as to say that Pankration was the original MMA.

Yeah, there isn't much behind those punches. Apparently the only requirements were to make contact with a closed fist. I also agree with you and Ed as for the aerobics kickboxing; when they say they do it, they should say that it is aerobic kickboxing/boxing.

lol yeah, its like a Boy Scout badge collection, where you can say "yeah, i got this bruise for....." they're like mini trophies telling you you did good. Hehe, badges, that sounds good! The only thing about them is that since they wear off, we have to keep re-earning them!

I think that $130 per month is a little extreme. I would not pay that much. However, $28 for a belt test is decent, compared to what I have seen in the past. One thing you can do is search out other schools in your area, and watch and see how things are done. Compare the schools, ask questions, and then narrow your choices down to what you think you will like best, and go from there. If this is the only place in town, then you may be stuck.