bushido_man96

Neither did European knights. Here are some articles that I found online that clear up how Medieval European Knights used their weapons defensively: 1. http://www.thearma.org/essays/edgemyth.htm 2. http://www.thearma.org/essays/parry.htm 3. http://www.thearma.org/essays/parrying.htm 4. http://www.thearma.org/essays/parrying2.htm 5. http://www.thearma.org/essays/parrying3.htm These articles are written by practitioners who also research how the Medieval European fighters trained and used their weapons. Their research is based off of information from Medieval fighting manuals combined with hands-on applications of sparring with the intent of hitting the opponent--not the sword.

What do you think will happen with Brienne, and poor Podrick? I like her character as well, and I couldn't believe it when Biter ripped into her face. I have also enjoyed watching as Jaime learns to fight with his off-hand, working to get back to where he was. The sword fight between Brienne and Jaime was great as well.

I'm so happy now....my wife got me a subscription to Taekowndo Times and Black Belt Magazine for my birthday! Hooray!

Wow Brian i would love to see meatloaf live, i absolutley love meatloaf, his music is great to train to. I have never been to a concert, and unfortunatly it's nothing i can ever experience because i have a perforated ear drum. The concert was a good time. While we were there, he said he had a new CD out, but I have yet to find it. Not a lot of hardcore Meatloaf fans around here!

I hear you there! My wife is the guilty party here...she keeps everything!

I do like coffee as well. I like it black--nothing to 'improve' the taste. When my wife and I went to Jamaica, they had a local brew, called Blue Mountain Coffee. I loved it, and we even brought a bag of beans home with us. Otherwise, I don't drink anything too fancy; just Folgers. I got my wife a percolator one year for Christmas, and we usually make it in that.

At home I have a Dell. We also have an Acer laptop, that tends to be slow, but I think it is more due to the wireless internet than anything else.

This is more of how we refer to it as well. Staying light, on the balls of your feet, so that you are ready to react and move.

Thanks, Sengra. Although I get to do a little SCA style of fighting, I know that it is not completely representative of true Medieval Combat, and so I do a lot of reading and studying. There are some things that transfer, though. I agree. This is one of my pet peeves in the MA world as well.

I don't really understand how the Karate Kid movies could be partially responsible for the McDojo movement. Machio's character was a teenager in the movie. I feel that if any fingers are to be pointed about the rash of McDojos, it is towards the instructors who let their standards go down in order to make it easier for the kids. Kid's wrestling isn't easy, and they still do it. MA for kids can be the same. I think that it is possible to still make it fun for kids, but it doesn't have to be easy.

Wow, that is cool! What was it like?

I don't think the problem really lies in being overcharged. Most consumers are thrifty enough that they can spot a deal or rip-off when they see one. If there are other schools around, a simple comparison can lead one to some conclusions on price preference. I think the major problem lies with the instructors who will allow students to test at every coming testing, even if they are not prepared. They are told that they are ready, and that they are improving, and all they have to go on is the word of the instructor. Then, before they know it, they are a black belt with an improper side kick, or don't do their back stance right. The best thing that these students can do is get themselves exposed to other schools via competitions, testings, etc., so that they can see what other people do, and how they do it. Then they kind of do a school by school comparison, to see what they are really getting out of it.

This kind of makes a paradox of the martial arts, doesn't it? On one hand, you have 'styles,' and on the other hand, you have training methods. You can adapt any style to different training methods, however, many feel that you end up altering the style completely in the end. I don't think this is the case, but there are some that would argue that it does.

He certainly did not improve on Wing Chun. I don't think that this is what he sat out to do, though. I think he just wanted to take the things that worked well, and then add things from other people he trained with, and went from there. He was the epitome of self-improvement.

That clears some things up for me. Thank you for the information.

I had my first post-holiday class today, combined with some arm work in the gym. We did forms and one-steps, and my arms and legs are a bit tight right now. Stretching felt good, though.

Fight that urge!!!

After you check out each of the classes, go with which ever one strikes you as more fun, or fits you better. Good luck to you!

I think that MA for kids is a good thing. It gets them off the couch and doing something. In today's society of fast food and video games, it is important that we have kids be active. Now I know that there are other options for kid activity other than martial arts, however, there is no reason that the martial arts cannot provide this activity. Take kid's wrestling, for example. Tens of thousands of kids across the nation participate in kid's wrestling every year, and many carry it on into high school with them. It is great conditioning, and also teaches them a little about body mechanics, working hard, and self-defense in a round-about way. Martial arts classes directed towards kids, done right, can do the same for them as kid's wrestling does. It is up to the instructors to push the students, make them work hard, and lay down the law when they do not. If it comes to the point that MA just isn't working for one of them, then it is the responsibility of the instructor to say so to the parents. Teaching MA to kids is not easy, nor is it for eveyone. However, it can be beneficial, if the instructors are willing to work hard at it.

I got a chance to read this article in its entirety, and it has a lot of great information, and provides a very objective viewpoint about the potential confrontation.

Welcome to the Forums!

Thats what i like about his articles also. Straight to the point. Tells it like it is. Well, at least he tells it like it is for him. I like how he words his opinions, though. He doesn't beat around the bush.

I would love to have the opportunity to learn Medieval European quarter-staff fighting.

I didn't see him tonight, but I have seen him recently, and he is a shadow of his former self. Nothing like he used to be. You have to wonder if he took too many shots to the head, though.