bushido_man96

I thought I recognized that quote. The last part is "...and you have been found wanting," I think. But that is besides the point. This is a crazy situation. I am not sure what I would do with this. She showed that she can't be bullied, which is good. However, it doesn't sound as though it was in the spirit of the competition, which is bad. What I don't understand is if the Sensei felt that being DQ'd was good for her, then why did he reward her for it? I wish you luck in dealing with this, USCMAAI. Perhaps if you sit down with your daughter and talk about the whole situation, then you can both help each other out. Either way, it sounds like your Sensei was really messing with you pretty good. He must see a whole lot of you in your daughter. Which, is probably good.

I do agree that there is a difference between self-defense and UFC. I will not argue that. Even though it is close to a real fight, the rules and surroundings make it not so. Going back to the self-defense aspect; when the adrenaline is pumping, and the fine motor skills go out the window, so do a lot of those complex moves, I think. When you get all worked up, and your hands are shaking uncontrollably, you can see what I mean. The more complex the movements, the harder they will be to pull off.

I don't think that a complex move would essentially make it illegal. Look at a throat strike, for example. Not complex, but illegal for obvious reasons. I think the fact that is being overlooked is that many simple moves are just as efficient to do, and have a higher success rate.

Good article, Cross. Thanks a bunch for sharing.

6-18-07 Chest/triceps Bench press: 205x6, 215x4, 225x2 Incline bench: 135x8, 145x6, 155x4 Cable Crossovers: 50x10, 50x10, 50x8 Conditioning Tuck jumps: 3x10 Jump rope: 3x1 min. Taught Orientation from 5:30 - 6:00. I took class off today to let my knee rest. It was hurting pretty bad, and I wanted to walk the next day.

Sounds great. It is too bad that you have a forced curriculum to teach. The awareness teaching will pay off for you, I think. As far as teaching blocks, I don't think I would worry too much about the little things, like making sure the other hand comes back by the ribs, etc. I would want that other hand up for blocking.

The partner stretches are a good idea, but they won't help much when Savedbygrace is solo training. If you want to buy a stretching machine, then go for it. I like to set in one every now and then, too. What you can do is set in it, crank it up, and then watch TV or read a book for a while. What it will do is force you to hold one position for however long you set there. You can also do resistance against it, by trying to force your legs together while in the machine. That will give you a different action and feeling as well. Just don't let it become a piece of equipment that will sit around and collect dust. Then, it will be a waist.

I have seen links to these before, and they look nice. Let us know how you like them.

I don't really think this statement holds much water. There are many MMA practioners who have spent many years in other styles. Liddell is was a Kempo stylist. Any fighter with the last name Gracie has spent at least 10 years doing BJJ. PrideFC has had several Judoka involved in it's competitions as well. The fact of the matter is that these experienced Martial Artists are in the MMA competitions. Many of them have probably had some of the same training experiences as we all have. Why they don't apply the "complex" techniques must have a reason behind it.

I think you are right on with this statement. I have studied several different European combat manuals, and you can find many techniques in them that are similar to those that also existed in Eastern MAs. The reason, as you said, is because the human body is universal, and the arm breaks the same way in Europe as it does in China. I just feel that the "Traditional arts from the East" movement has got everyone thinking that all figthing styles came from their, and that simply is not the case. Fighting arts of the West have never been "traditionalized," and many evolved to become sport like, much like boxing and wrestling. Even so, there were substantial fighting arts in existence in the West, parallel to the East. Most had to do with weapons fighting, as well.

It is hard to tell. Something will go onto the store shelf, and a few months later, it will be found out that something in it isn't coshere, and the product gets pulled. Also, like you mentioned, some venues don't allow some things to be used, although they are not illegal. A deeper investigation is probably warranted.

I think that it can be hard to tell, just by looking at someone. There are so many things that can change when someone becomes threatened, like demeanor, actions, etc. That is why Sun Tzu said you should study your enemy; know your enemy. To do that, you have to research a bit. Just looking at someone will probably not yield that much research.

I have never been approached this way in a threatening manner. I have had friends ask to see something, and at times, I oblige. That is a different scenario, though. Otherwise, I would just avoid them and walk away. I don't know what I would do if someone came into the school and asked that question. Guess I'll have to wait and see.

Welcome to the Forums! Did you by chance get your black belt at an ATA school?

Very nice. Do you get in on the Combat Hapkido program?

I can see your point, but some people can be very prideful when it comes to things like that. I can go either way. He was able to get the jump on them, which gave him a slight advantage. Now, if the robber had pulled a gun, pointed it, and said "back off," perhaps he would have reacted differently. In the end, it all worked out, though.

Welcome aboard, and good luck at your fight! I wish I could help more, but I have not heard of that style. What I would do, though, is focus on the rule set of the fight at hand, and just train accordingly.

The only difference between the "traditional" guys and the "MMA" guys on the doping situations is that since the MMA guys are in the spotlight, they will always be reported, as has been the case with Royce. Your run-of-the-mill Instructor/student next door could be doing the same thing, but he won't get nationwide notice, because he is not in the spotlight. There is no question about the damage that Royce has done here. However, I have always kind of looked at him as a more "traditional" stylist, because the original art that he learned would fall under the category of many practitioners' "traditional" definition. He just took it into the MMA competitions with him.

From the scenarios that you just discussed, Marie, I think that it doesn't sound like it would really be compromising anyone's integrity, or anything like that. I think that if you feel comfortable doing it, then go for it.

There are lots of people that probably feel the same way that you do. What it all comes down to is your training; the applicability of it, how you approach it, etc. The fact that you have never had the chance to find out why is a good thing. However, when the time comes, you will sink to the level of your training. Therefore, keep this in mind when you do train. What is important is if you enjoy what you are doing. If you are having fun doing it, and you feel that there is a level of practicality involved in what you are doing, then that is what matters. Welcome to the Forums!

Best of luck to you! Let us know how it goes!

I've heard about the Song of Ice and Fire trilogy before. Any good? Absolutely wonderful! It is a bit graphic at times; a complete different world than Harry Potter. However, if you enjoy that genre, I would highly recommend it. Book 1 is called A Game Of Thrones. Check it out, but don't get too attached to any characters. I'll give you that warning now. It is a mistake that I made.

Very interesting, indeed.

This may be the case with many Eastern Martial Arts, but it is not so for arts around the world. Western fighting arts, ranging from the Greeks to the Romans to the Europeans, had no Eastern roots at all. If you check closely a lot of those did have eastern influence. I don't really believe so. Style such as pankration, Hellenic wrestling, and Hellenic boxing do not have any Eastern roots that I am aware of. There are arguments that feel that many styles root themselves back into Egypt and even Africa.

I agree completely.