bushido_man96

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.

By the two basic strikes, I mean the thrust from below, and the downward thrust from above. I can see what you are getting at, cross, and they are all important points. However, what I am addressing is the idea of obtaining some useful muscle memory related to the initial response when defending against knife attacks. I did not say that is was the all-inclusive way to learn to defend against knife attacks; merely a method to gain muslce memory, and then use it to build on the facets that you mention. Even when we try to reduce things to the most basic concepts that we can, we still have to take things a step at a time. I am not saying that this will take years, months, or days at a time to accomplish. It just provides another piece of the framework.

6-15-07 Legs 1/2 Squats: 315x10, 335x8, 365x6 one leg presses: 102x10 each legx2 Abs Roman chair crunches: 20x2 Side raises:2x20x30 lbs. Swiss ball roll-outs: 10, with 5 sec. holds.

I have read before that a calorie is a calorie, no matter when it is consumed. If you eat and then sleep for 8 hours, your body processes do slow down. I don't know if that just means you digest slower then, or what. I don't know for sure, though. My last meal is almost always breakfast, and then I go home to sleep about an hour after eating. I have not noticed any weight gains.

Good point. I see what you are saying here. It is a very specialized niche, and would be very hard to keep interest in, I think. Here is some clarification on the credit hour system:

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.

Personally, I wouldn't concern myself with creating a "Kung Fu" style, or a "Karate" style, or any other "style" for that matter. Instead, you can do plenty of research on self-defense tactics and methods, grab a partner, and work on simple things to protect yourself. As you research more and more, you will fit different things together. Things such as conflict avoidance, awareness, etc., will also be valuable to you as well. If you do a search of such things on the site, you will find many different posts relating to them. KarateForums.com members cross and USCMAAI have made plenty of posts in relations to such things. There are even links to websites that can help to get you started in the right direction.

It is unfortunate, but it seems that the misjudgements of a few people will now set the stereotype for the MMA genre.

I think she means that she will be supervising the class on her own at times. That is what I got from it, anyways. Otherwise, I think you would be right; it wouldn't be as necessary. Do you have a black belt in Karate, Marie?

Welcome back to KF!