bushido_man96

Hehe, that's funny. It won't stop.

I took archery when I was a kid for three summers and then again in high school. I loved it. I had sort of forgotten about it, never really thought about it as a martial art. Maybe I'll add it to my styles list. There ya go! On a serious note, the use of modern arms would be considered martial as well.

Well, Baron, the cutlass is much akin to the sabre, just smaller, I think, in blade width. Uses would be much the same, but the curvature would lend it more towards slashing, I would guess. You could thrust with it as well.

Is Chuck Liddel in this movie?

Thanks, Baron. Yep, the sledgehammers are like what Sohan described. When the weather gets more tolerable, I am going to modify the exercises to do more horizontal swinging. 3-8-07 Today, I stretched for about 20 minutes. I did sitting front splits, and then stretched to each side, and did some reverse hurdler stretches. I didn't warm up, but the stretches were gradual, and they felt good. I also noticed today that my lower back muscles and leg muscles are kind of sore. Fortunately, I am not really experiencing any significant pain in my knees.

I don't think you wear it; you hold it for someone else to kick.

Being nervous is natural. Before you go out to compete, take a few deep breaths, and then let it all hang out. Trust in your training, and do your best. Good luck!

I think that it would help to alleviate some of the technical differences, but I don't know if that is good or bad.

How is a spinning heel kick different from a reverse turn kick? Just trying to understand the terminology... The hooking kick is done with the leg snapping out at the target, and then driving through, in a snapping motion. I look at it as doing a side kick to a 45 degree angle, then rechambering for a round kick by pulling the heel of the kicking leg back towards the butt. The spinning heel kick is done primarily with the leg straight, driving all of the momentum through the target in a big circle with the heel. There is a lot of weight and momentum in this kick.

Nothing wrong with using your emotions in a fight, I was referring to totally losing it. I agree. Everything in moderation (including moderation).

Very good point. Welcome to the Forums!

A good instructor will know the techniques, and be able to relate them to the students in a way that is conducive to learning. I think being constructive is also important for an instructor, along with patience.

Shootfighting would be great for the self-defense aspect, until the fight goes to the ground. That is where the BJJ would come into play. Learning how to grapple is great not only for groundfighting, but also for learning to defend takedowns. Of course, the takedowns in Shootfighting may help you learn to defend takedowns as well. However, I think knowing how to groundfight would be an excellent advantage. What if you did a rotation, where you spent 2 or 3 months training in one of the styles, and then switched to the other style, and just kept cycling them?

Hey, that's ok, Baron. There is plenty of other stuff you can do to keep your training up. Just focus on the positives, and go out there and get it.

What I love the most about the arts right now is the expressive ability that it gives me. I am kind of hefty, but I can do some things that a lot of people can't do, and it makes feel good to know that I can surprise someone. I was sparring with a friend of my brothers once. I really outranked him, and he knew it, but wanted to spar anyway. He was young, athletic, and quick, and had some experience, but not a lot. He had good stuff for as much time as he had put in. I outweighed him by around 70 pounds, I imagine. Well, we sparred, and he made a few comments like "Big guys shouldn't be that quick; that just isn't right!" It is when people make comments like that, that it makes me feel good. I also got some comments about how I fought at the last tournament I competed in. I got beat in the first round, but still had some people asking me questions, and making positive comments to me about my fighting. That made me feel good, too. So, it is these things that the arts give me that I enjoy. Knowing that I am capable of accomplishing things that others don't try to.

That's a great analogy, DWx. I like it! You are welcome. It can be kind of emotional. It was more-so for my mom, she was so proud of me, and that made me feel good as well.

I would do both, if you can manage it. If not, I would lean towards BJJ, but that is just because I hold more of an interest in it. Either way, I don't think you will be making a bad decision. They both sound great.

Wow, that was a lot of information! This is a very nice article, and I enjoyed reading it very much. I love martial history!

This book is a compilation of excerpts taken from the ancient Chinese texts of The Seven Military Classics (including The Art of War) and Military Methods. The excerpts are arranged under 41 topics, with excerpts from each of the works placed together that describe the same topic. It reads very much like The Art of War, and is arranged much the same, but with extra contributions from other military geniuses. I enjoyed reading this book, and if you love military history, then this book is for you.

Joe Horn has agreed to terms with the Atlanta Falcons. The Ravens are interested in Willis McGahee, and Corey Dillon will be visiting the Bills this week. Jamal Lewis signed with the Browns. I am not sure how that will work out for Lewis. At least Cleveland doesn't have to worry about him rushing for 500 yards per season against them anymore. I thought that Dillon was contemplating retirement, but I guess not.

It will, if you swing it like a baseball bat. Otherwise, you can make very controlled motions with the stick, and use the length to your advantage to keep your butter-knife weilding counterpart at bay.

Sure, you can throw it, but it is just a butter-knife....I don't think it will do much damage. Plus, if you miss, you are weaponless, while the other has the stick.

Nice post. Thanks! I have been known to get a little angry at times. It is just a part of my nature, so instead of fighting it, I use it.

3-7-07 Today was a decent day of working out, I felt. Conditioning: Sledgehammers: 3x1:30, 1 min rests. Steppers: 3x30 sec, 1 min rests. Jump rope: 3x1 min. Technique work (along with Kicking Class: 6:00 - 7:00): Reverse cable punches in front stance: 50x10, 60x10, 70x10 If anyone has access to a cable pulley weight machine, like the kind you can do cable crossovers with and such, then I highly recommend trying this out. I do a controlled punch forward, at solar plexus level, and then control the motion back to the ribs. I twist my hips into the completion of the technique, and un-twist them as the punch goes back. Really a great feeling. Scissor kick on the floor: 25 each way. 2 steps, then jump and chamber only for scissor kick: 3x5 each side. Jump and chamber only for scissor kick, with no steps: 3x5 each side. Scissor kick, making contact, running between 2 standing bags: 5 each way. Stretch kick: 3x5 each leg. Back leg inside crescent kick: 3x5 each leg. Back leg outside crescent kick: 3x5 each leg. Jumping back leg front kick, followed by round kick with other leg, all in air: 2x5 each way. Jump 360 degree side kick: 3x5 each way. Following all of this, I had a real good stretch. And, I was tired.

Welcome to the Forums. Do you practice Taekwond?