bushido_man96

I think that Matt Hughes and Chuck Liddell could get some nods as well, with their popularity right now. However, Couture is very deserving, and I think he is a great choice.

I think that the MMA fights in the UFC are top of the line. You see the three ranges of combat usually. Ground fighting tends to be a common theme, and the reason for that is because it is sucessful; Royce Gracie proved that years ago. I do believe that it is "Mixed." Even if you are just mixing two arts, it is still mixing. As far as ranges of combat goes, there are 3, standing, clinch, and ground. Kicking falls into the standing range. If fighters don't want to do highly advanced kicks, then that is their perogative. Most of the fighters will stick with the high-efficiency moves, like leg kicks, as opposed to head kicks. However, I have seen head kicks, with limited success. Here is one important point to understand: A FIGHTING STYLE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE "TRADITIONAL" TO BE CONSIDERED A FIGHTING STYLE. Long ago, when the first person picked up a stick to defend himself, he didn't instantly worry about his spiritual development and well-being; he worried about surviving. Many "traditional" stylists get caught up in the ideals that the "traditional" school imposes upon them, and then believe that it is the only way to learn. It is just not the case. The MMA competitions began as a tournament between styles, and has evolved into its current form over the years because of what makes the fighters successful. And if you think that MMA is not an old style, look up Pankration. It is very similar to this lost game of the ancient Olympics. A Pankration bout would have been much more brutal than an MMA competiton. However, they are very much related. I don't think that it is a requirement to have spent time in a "traditional" style or two in order to become an MMA fighter. MMA gyms are going to start popping up like boxing gyms have; this is the nature of the sport. Whether other stylists like it or not, this is the way that it is going to be. The traditional schools will still be around; they won't go anywhere. The MMA schools will grow right along with them.

I have done demos in the past, with board breaking involved. I don't mind it, but I never try to do anything to flashy, or anything that I haven't practiced. If you don't want to do it, then don't. In general, just doing the demo could be considered a bit of "showing off." In that case, you just as well go with it. However, if you don't agree with it, then don't do it, and don't worry too much about it.

Very nice. I have always been a fan of the 70s-80s models of Trans Ams. Smokey and the Bandit inspired, of course!

My brother and his wife had a baby boy last night, 6-25-07, at around 10:15 PM. He weighs 9 lbs. 12 oz, and is 22 inches long. Hooray!! It is my brother's 3rd child, and first boy.

The problem with Buster is that he can't give qualitative feedback. You can actually tell me which of my punches hurt you the most!

That is a good point. However, it is not always the case. Before organizations were created, it was done differently. You can also take Bruce Lee as an example. However, that is a very special circumstance; perhaps the exception that proves the rule.

Watch the interview posted in this thread, and see if you still feel that way: http://www.karateforums.com/bruce-lee-the-lost-interview-vt31705.html

Hehe, if your spirit didn't run so far, then your body would not have to keep playing catch-up! j/k! 6-25-07 Chest/triceps Bench press: 185x10, 225x4, 235x3..assistance on last 2 reps. One arm alternating dumbbell bench: 40x8, 40x8, 40x8 one arm does the 8 reps, while you hold the other weight up. Then switch roles. Triceps push-downs: 105x10, 105x8, 105x6 Bench dips: 3x10 Forearms Plate pinch: holding 2 10 lbs plates together, swinging back and forth, 3x10 Abs Roman chair crunches: 3x15x22 lb medicine ball Side raises: 2x20x30 lbs. Taught Orientation from 5:30 - 6:00. Traditional Class from 6:00 - 7:00. Basics got switched up, so it was refreshing. Sparring at the end of class was ok. I was tired, but I was able to stay on my toes and move around.

I like red meat. I will continue to eat red meat. I just don't think a vegetarian diet can be as nutritous as a diet that includes meat.

Reading the article on the page when it comes up (I assume that is the one you are addressing), I don't see anything that jumps out at me to suggest the things that you are saying. More than anything, Bruce wanted to be the best at whatever he did, I think. Therefore, the measuring stick when it came to movie making is revenue. In this case, dragging in the most money meant that you were making the best movies. Perhaps that is the case. The reality is that all of our heroes are (usually) human, and all humans have faults. We all want to know everything about our heroes, so we can try to emulate them. Then, something comes out into the limelight that we don't like, and then we start to question our choice. Humans make mistakes, and our heroes are no different. It makes them human, and in the end, closer to us than we would originally believe.

I had seen many of the kicks that were done in the vids. I can't do some of them, especially the more spinning there is. However, when you see them enough, you can figure out defenses for them. The biggest thing is getting over the initial shock factor of "what the heck was that?"

That is the general idea. I like to get in and punch. I'll trade with just about anyone. I think that if we didn't wear the chest protectors, the punches would be respected a lot more. Therefore, when I punch, I try to punch through that damned protector!

I had not heard that the Olympic rules were going to start allowing punches to the head. When did this come about?? I think it would be good for the style, that is for sure.

When I was in the ATA, our testing sparring was used to show off what we had learned, so we did some of our more advanced techniques in our combinations, if we could get them to fit.

The kumite video was particulary interesting.

Tuttle Press put out a series of books based off of Bruce Lee's notes and commentaries. By reading these kinds of books, along with Tao of Jeet Kune Do, you can get an insight into the kind of person he was. The book recommended by Linda Lee Caldwell might be a good one to pick through, as well.

Welcome aboard!! What kind of racing do you enjoy? I love dirt track racing, and NASCAR. I grew up watching dirt track racing...I think I still have the taste in my mouth!!

Thanks, all. I will keep everyone posted.

That sounds great. When what you are doing no longer conforms to what your goals are, then it is time for a change. Take with you what you can, and keep your mind open. Good luck in your future endeavors. Also, welcome to KF!

I can see the point that you are making here. However, when training under specified ideals and rules (be they right or wrong), when someone steps "out of bounds," so to speak, many of us want to deal with it without calling it to the attention of others, like instructors.

Those are good points, Ed. However, when you do pack something into your fist, like, say, a roll of quarters, you now have something to grip, which some think tightens it more, or just makes the striking tool more dense. Maybe we can suggest it to Mythbusters, and we could be on the show! However, I get to punch you first!!!

Good for him. I hope he does well. If anyone finds news on how the fight went, let us know.

If you think that you can help someone learn a few basics, then go ahead. After all, you learn just as much from teaching as you do from many other things. Ideally, you will want to up front with someone about how you view your teaching abilities, and perhaps how you feel about learning the MAs in general. That will help to guide your way.

Just keep your hands up, get in close, and punch them in the chest. That will start to get them thinking about punches a bit more.