bushido_man96

Taking little steps forward while you are moving around can get closer than you might realize. Try it while you're sparring next time.

That doesn't sound like a bad idea at all, Andrew_Patton.

Cathal said: I agree wholeheartedly with keeping away from that Kempo school, it doesn't "feel" legit to me. I wouldn't discount this school completely based off the web site. Maybe the owner doesn't have a good web designer. Cathal said: I don't recommend signgin up with a school which locks you into a fee contract forcing you to pay even if you quit, so watch out for that. I have a direct deposit contract through my school. My instructor doesn't like have to collect the bills. Also, for those that sign up longer, they get a better deal on the class fees. Just because a school uses contracts doesn't make it a bad school. Most of them should have a 3 month trial period you can sign up for, or something like that. Personally, I think it would take about 3 months to see if you like what you are doing, anyways.

Not sure on that one. I imagine round where traditional, because it was a grain milling tool. I say, whatever you think.

Not sure if I caught Conquest or not. I do remember some shows where they actually compared different types of weapons fighting, and had some historical fencers to bounce ideas and stuff off of. That was kind of cool.

We can argue this until we are blue in the face, and we won't get anywhere. When I punch towards someone's face, I am looking to bloody a nose (or break it), water the eyes, etc. I am not aiming for a miniscule point to hit. There are some points that are great for use, but they are easier to deal with, like the brachial plexus and common peroneal. Also, like I said, joint manipulations work well, if you can adapt them. As far as not requiring strength to apply them, this is false. You can't just touch a pressure point and do damage, you have to apply the pressure, and this is going to take some strength. If your ability to grip weakens, and your ability to hold other body parts to apply the pressure, then you start losing ground. One may retain this strength for a longer period of time than punching strength, but it is all in how you train, and how you take care of yourself as you get older.

OUCH. That sounds painful. I had a student tell me that not once, but twice, while drunk, drop down into the full splits. Only problem was she couldn't do the full splits! She was a little sore, needless to say!

Kind of off topic, but I notice this skewed view of shotokan as of late. Sounds like it gets picked on a little, like TKD. Don't understand that.

You have a good point here, but as an experienced MA practitioner, I will pick up one of these books and not think twice about it, because I truley believe that there are not secrets in the martial arts.

Train all of your low rank material: forms, one-steps, self-defense requirements, etc. Practice all of your forms in order, nonstop. If you train hard all of the time, and make around 3 classes a week, you should have no troubles at all. Good luck!

That's what it is all about, right? Learning. The other day I decided to go with a two weapon system...long sword and battle axe. I learned a lot.....like I don't know how to block my right side against a lefty worth a darn. I did learn some positive things, though, like hooking weapons with the axe, when to lead with which weapon, etc.

No, just like boxing, the KO always wins.

Here ya go. "Martial" means "war," right? Now, not every culture that has gone to war over the ages, let alone been successful in war, has been a buddhist culture, right? So there ya go....easy answer.

Sure. I am not a buddhist, and I study MA.

That is good stuff. I would love to have the opportunity to take up Thai boxing a few days a week; I think my TKD would improve tenfold.

Pulling goofy stunts in a fight...

COOL!

That is a cool video, Sohan. Looks like fun!

Your point about judo, as you mentioned earlier, relates the same to boxing, Thai boxing, etc.

I agree, you do have to adapt all techniques to the situation you are in. However, I feel adapting punches and kicks is easier and more efficient than trying to figure out if pressure points are going to work on someone. Check the video again. The touchless knockout worked on his students, but the ju-jitsu students just kind of laughed at him. And besides, the set-ups that the guy was using took FOREVER. In a confrontation, you don't get that kind of time. And you are right, we won't be young, fast, and flexible forever. This affects pressure point fighting just as much as other techniques. You have to have some quick motions, and a steady hand, along with some reaction time, to get the technique you want accomplished. Another scenario that you don't get to practice in class: applying pressure points to a drunk brought in on disorderly conduct, or a guy jacked up on meth. A lot of times, things like that don't work in these situations.

In my opinion, the takedowns shouldn't matter, it is what goes on afterward. If someone is working for a submission, and the other just holds, what should be done? How should it be scored? The person working for the submission is active, but the other person holding is defending, just in a less active way. I don't think a scoring system similiar to wrestlings would work as a solution either. This is very tough to debate, as there doesn't seem to be a clear answer jumping out to us.

That is a very well written article. Very informative. I like the way KSW sounds, and think it would be very interesting to learn.

I think he was a student of Ed Parker's, but I am not sure. I am pretty sure he is a kenpo guy, though. The Perfect Weapon is an ok movie, and so was Street Knight (I think is what it was called). Other than that, I don't know much about him. Don't know why, but it just popped into my head the other day. Thanks.

amen to lordtariel.

Sohan recommend books by (Donald, I think) Chu. The last name is right for sure, can't remember the first. I have some of his books, and they are great.