bushido_man96

Cool. Thanks for checking.

This is a good point. Here is a scenario for you: you are walking down the street at night, and minding your own business. You scan the environment, and the people around, like you always do. You round a corner, and after passing a door, someone comes out, grabs you from behind, and puts a gun in your face. What do you do? Do you go for your gun? If so, it may get you killed. Once it reaches this point, the only way to deter the situation would be to be walking down the street with your gun in your hand, not concealed. Now, don't get me wrong. I think conceal and carry is a great thing. However, it isn't a cure-all. That said, if you want to quit the MA, then quit. If you want to buy a gun, then do so. But, you may still be able to find what you are looking for. Many of us have.

look at the list of event results - john shakelford is one of our guys. so is jesse ault. Mike Pyle trains with us when he is in town. Right now, he trains with couture and is the WEC champ. Very cool. How does a school get affiliated with them?

Hehe, interesting.

Awesome!!! Congrats!!!

Interesting. From what shogeri said, I would have thought it would be more like a gym set up. Did you ask about their classes?

Hey guys and gals. Thanks for all the support. Overall, I think the testing went very well. The only hiccups I really had were on board breaks. First of all, for my jump front snap kicks, I kept breaking the back board; I did this twice. I did a knife hand strike, which was pretty easy, and I was the most concerned about this break. Now, for the last break, I did a back leg round kick. The kicker is (no pun intended) that the boards I had to use for this kick were about half the size of the normal boards, making them a touch difficult to break. But, round kick is my best break, so I used that technique for them on purpose. I nailed them on the second attempt, when I lowered them a little, and really grit my teeth and popped them! Watching some of the other students that were my rank testing, I would have to say that I felt pretty good about my technique and forms presentations. I put all of my power into them that I could, and made sure that I had confidence in my voice when I spoke. When I go to test with the other schools, it makes me feel glad that my instructor works us so hard and pushes us to do what we can. It ends up showing, in the end. I felt good about my testing sparring, too. I sparred against two younger, faster, more athletic guys, and I did fairly well. I blocked well, and got in close to punch on them quite a bit. I actually got a round kick through on one of the guys' face, which I apologized to him about afterwards. I didn't kick him very hard, but it made a slapping sound that I think most everyone could hear. I should find out for sure sometime next week if I passed, but I don't have too many worries. My instructor said that I don't have anything to worry about, so that lightens the load a bit. Man, was I nervous, though! I can never shake those nerves!

G95champ is right on, there. Your friend may have adapted to what you do, and now it is time for you to figure out how to grow a little bit more. As for being strong, it should not be a problem. You will want to stay loose, and try to develop your speed as well. That should help things to come together for you.

So who is the technical authority on whether bouncing is correct?the style dictates it, so thus the founders I would imagine. You mention "the founders," and it takes me back to style. I wonder if bouncing would be similar to what the jenga is to Capoeira. Would this be unnecessary motion as well? It is good for the dance, and getting your body going to generate momentum, but would you want to break out in a jenga, a-la Only the Strong, when defending yourself?

Ah, nuts!!! I missed this episode! I am going to try to catch a replay sometime this week. I have enjoyed them all so far. So, is Judo next, or Savate?

8-4-07 Today, I had my testing. It went from 11 am to 1 pm. It consisted of doing all of our one-steps, 3 forms, 2 rounds of sparring against much younger, faster, and fitter guys than myself, and board breaking. I always get a good workout from testings, because I really but my behind to impress. It felt good, and I felt confident in all of my material.

I agree that most times things will occur at close distance. However, even tied up in close, you can still do a back leg kick to the knee or thigh, with good results, wouldn't you think? Even if one leg is just a few inches back farther than the front, then that would make it back leg, and appropriate, I think. As far as back leg kicking to the waist or above; well, I don't think I would attempt front leg kicking that high on the street, either.

It is also a good guage of technique.

I think that Tang Soo Do, much like Taekwondo, had some Shotokan influences, as well. However, over the years, it has evolved to differentiate itself more and more from those roots.

Different systems do things different ways. The site probably showed just a general guideline. Go with what you remember.

Thanks for the info, guys.

Mulling that one over in my head, whoooooaaaaa, man!

I kind of agree. I would say that Muay Thai, Western Kickboxing, and Savate are all types of Kickboxing in general.

I think that Wu Shu may be a demonstration game, or just demonstrated. They wanted to get it added, but I think it fell through.

I have never said that muay thai was complete. muay thai is great for muay thai matches. For mma, it is lacking. It has stand up grappling and takedowns, but no ground grappling. consequently, the training methods don't provide for a means of ground training - a training method issue by way of the style of muay thai. If style had nothing to do with it and it was all practitioner dependent, you would have seen far more successful tma guys in mma. I think that with the advent of MMA now, we can see what our style lacks, and more readily accept it, and can alter our training to make up for it in some way. Really, style is open to interpretation. However, I don't want to say that I train TKD, and then do 3 years of Muay Thai training, and say that I am still strictly a TKD type. I would be using elements of both. However, it may be tougher to tell, because most of the techniques of Muay Thai, save for the clinching, can be seen in TKD movements, with minor modifications. Now, that doesn't make them the same, but more of a hybrid. But, I could incorporate the training elements of Muay Thai into my TKD training, and still be considered a TKD guy, for the most part; I would also have Thai influences, I guess you could say. After all of that, it can get confusing.

I had never heard of it before. Was the school more of a gym setup, or a studio setup?

I want to start by saying that Montana's story really hits home about firearm usage. If someone pulls a gun on you first, you are behind the 8 ball. Now, as for your initial post. I really don't think that the state of the Martial Arts in the world today is all that bad. You are taking a few bad instances, and blowing them up to include every teacher, every style, etc. That is just not the case. A few people mentioned the fact of bettering yourself. A few also mentioned because it is fun. I agree that if it isn't fun, then it probably isn't worth your time. And if you like to improve yourself physically, mentally, spiritually, or what ever way you get out of it, doesn't that make it worth it? Martial Arts can be useful in helping you protect yourself, as well. Just because things have advanced so much to where we are today, doesn't mean that dangers don't still exist. MA isn't the cure-all, but every little bit of knowledge that you can get will help you out. All in all, I don't think things are that bad. However, if you are burned out on it, perhaps it is time to move on to something else. Here is a little food for thought. Not everyone here will agree with me, but I think that if you by a gun, and learn to use it, train with it, etc., then being a weapon of warfare, you would still be learning a Martial style. At least, in my book.

Why there are two at this level, I am not sure. I don't like it that much, either, but oh well. Basically, the recommended is a probationary period, and after you get the decided rank, you also earn instructor certification. As part of the deal, it is required to be doing some teaching in some capacity or other, of which I have plenty of experience. I do have to pay for both tests. The testing is basically physical requirements; forms, one-steps, sparring, board breaking.

Whether you call it sport or art, the techniques are just techniques, and the language doesn't change the technique.

The article stated that this year the UFC discouraged many of the fighters from actually competing in it this go-around. I think they might get worried about their contracted fighters getting injured, and then not being healthy for the UFC.