bushido_man96

why not? Increasing your max strength, also known as limit strength is excellent for fighters. you are increasing your power output, which has its obvious advantages. I'm sure it's not uncommon for fighters training for a fight to spend at least 4 weeks of their cycle to increasing limit strength. I've seen it talked about in boxing circles. Also, most workouts are based off of reps performed at a percentage of 1 rep max. Therefore, testing a 1 rep max every 3 months or so will let you know if you should increase the weight in your rep training.

I have used the ICHF videos to review material, but I have practiced it in class before as well. I think videos are great if it similar material as to what you have trained in before. I wouldn't buy videos to train to get a 'black belt in such art' or anything like that.

Fast food is kind of my bain. I try to regulate, but I have such an appetite anyways....oh, I don't know.

I agree with you here. That is why I try to include both equations for power when I start discussing it. Both are important, and it is important to know what you have to work with as well.

While I agree that someone who knows little about the ground should attempt to bite, claw ect... However, let me first point out that a blue belt represents only about 1-2 years of training. Additionally, we have methods to deal with people who bite (or attempt to) such as moving to the across side position. From this position pressure can be applied such that the head is effectively immobilized. Reaching of any kind (be it for the groin or otherwise) usually ends up in nasty consequences. Small joint maneuvers (wrist locks and whatnot) are effective, as you pointed out, but we practice them also. I'm not saying what you propose is not correct, I have practiced Shotokan for some time. I believe karate has very effective self defense techniques, not to mention the amazing tradition and cultural lessons it tells. However, elbows_and_knees is exactly correct that ground fighting is all about position. Once you get into the proper position, you can beat anyone. Shotokanwarrior, you make the same assertions that people, myself included, did during the first few UFCs (the only things outlawed were biting and eye gouging). The grapplers dominated because they got into the most superior positions. That said... Karate does, as Alsey wrote, teach the nage waza (throws) and kensetsu waza (joint manipulations) and Shime waza (chokes & strangulations), but does not, as elbows_and_knees pointed out, it does not teach how to gain the most dominant position on the ground. There are several plausible reasons for this. I submit the following possibilities for dispute: 1. Those who had developed the kata had never ended up in a less dominant position and, therefore, never considered the possibility. The techniques in the kata were enough for them to appropriately dispatch their opponent. 2. The techniques in the kata are set up to place you in the dominant position to begin with. Most of the nage waza allow a person to perform a take down and end with a joint manipulation or strong strike. 3. Some of the more ancient techniques are based on battlefield combat. Staying on the ground was not a good idea when weapons were in use. Plus their armor made ground combat a little cumbersome. So they were always trying to utilize techniques that avoided having to go to the ground to begin with. Grappling was a last resort, just like today's combat situations. Please do not think I'm saying the above are historical fact. Just possibilities I came up with off the top of my head. But, none the less, karate kata do contain many grappling techniques. These are very good points that you make here. I, too, feel that the groundfighting we know of today is more rooted in earlier sport wrestling like that which was practiced in ancient Greece. It was not heavily trained due to the weapons fighting that was used in combat. If they came in close, disarms or arm locks were utilized, or maybe a trip/throw (i.e., stand up JJJ). But going to the ground was a bad idea. The true basis of today's groundfighting probably originated with Jigoro Kano and his theories and techniques for practicing judo. You could also relate it to the roots of folk/high school wrestling.

if you make a low kick against an untrained fighter, you will probably hit them if your techniques is good. if you try the same low kick on its own against a pro, he will most likely avoid it. you have to do something else against a pro: you have to deceive, combine moves etc. that's the difference in technique i'm talking about. as for grappling, there are different levels of it. with some basic grappling knowledge i can beat most untrained people on the ground. but i won't be able to beat an experienced grappler. Yes, the pro is trained to avoid low kicks....and a lot of other things. But hey, so am I. I just don't get to train 6 hours a day. Now, a pro Thai boxer, he will be able to defend it well. A pro boxer, maybe, maybe not. You have to be able to formulate strategies quickly, to use your strengths and counter their weaknesses, and to hide yours. I just don't think you want to tell your fellow karate students that if they get attacked by another martial artist that they are in trouble.

quote alsey: unless of course combat starts closer than long range striking distance, or your opponent moves in close. If combat starts out close, then you are already that much closer to their eyes or other soft targets. Do you remember how close Tyson and Holyfield were when Tyson bit his ear? quote alsey: untrained fighters are still extremely dangerous. however, because they are untrained you don't need to use complicated techniques to defeat them. this doesn't mean that fighting them is necessarily any easier than fighting a trained fighter, it simply means that the methods you will need to use are not as advanced. If I have to defend myself against a pro or an untrained fighter, I am going to use simple techniques anyways. Punches, kicks low, maybe a grab or two to twist them up, but nothing that I would view as overly complicated. Keep it simple. You could view grappling techniques as complex movements. They require a lot of fine motor skill development, and in my opinion, grappling skills require more training to develop than other, more rudimentary fighting skills.

Exactly. That is the arguement I have been making for this particular kick, and that is why I prefer it.

Practicing self-defense is very important, and I think that a lot of schools relegate self-defense to bunkai or one-steps, and then call it good, and move onto the fighting. Self-defense must be practiced with some form of spontaneity in order to become more proficient at it. This kind of practice can also help to improve adrenale-stress training.

Because they use the stuff that they learnt inside the dojo. Like blocking in the same line as the enemy, instead of moving out of the direction of the enemy's force. It is the instructor's job to teach his/her students to be prepared for self-defense situations. It is their job to teach the differences between the forms, and the applications used in the forms. The students should be learning some kind of footwork in the sparring as well, even though they spar under rules.

https://www.dragon-tsunamni.org and you can subscribe to Classical Fighting Arts Amagazine which used to be Dragon Times. I to enjoyed dragon times. Hey, thanks.

Wish I was like a cat. Burst 3 times my height from a standing position. Balance on narrow objects with no problems. Cut on a dime and give 9 cents change. Oh, yeah, to be a cat.

I think the side kick is very powerful, and a very good kick. The only thing I see is that you most likely will have to turn your body sideways to perform it, causing a little telegraph. That is why I like the round kick; there is a little less telegraph, in my opinion.

These two styles differ enough in their focuses that crosstraining them so early should not be a problem for you. The combination should keep you pretty well rounded.

ATA Black Belt Academys are not necessarily McDojos. I ran one myself at one point. Also, check out all of your options to see what you will like the best. Good luck on the journey.

That is a great interpretation.

Just added battle axe to the mix! Battle axe and shield, also battle axe and long sword. Cool combinations. You can get a lot of hooking actions with the axe, pulling away shields and stuff like that.

I am not sure that I agree with this. True, those parts of the technique are very important, that is Power=Speed + Technique part of the principle. Improving how fast your strike travels will improve your power as well.

I like the ICHF. The curriculum is easy to incorporate into existing schools.

I liked the Dragon Times publications, but our bookstore quit carrying them.

You really show how much the study of martial arts means to you in this post. Glad to see the history of the arts means something to you. I love everything about the martial arts. I love learning about all of the styles. I like hearing other people's takes on art and style. If you lived near by, I would call you up and hope to work out together, not practicing karate or TKD, but practicing martial arts. If you are ever in this area let me know. I sure will.

Good luck to you. Remember, your best is all you can do.

I still don't agree with you. Almost every system of martial arts in practice today have some sort of "sport side" that is trained, along with the kata practice. You talk of fighting with rules, and then compare it to fighting a UFC fighter, who still fights with rules, just a different set. Now, here's the deal. When you train like this, it is decent training for preparing for a fight. Not the best training, but it is decent. You learn to move, block, counter, and adapt to your opponent's strategies. I get to spar in class with rules. And, I know that if it goes to the street, I can adapt to street fighting, i.e., kick to the legs, strike to the throat or eyes, and otherwise. If you can kick a pro fighter in the groin, or get to his eyes, then you can successfully defend yourself against a skilled opponent. And another thing you may want to consider is to not under-estimate "street thugs." Take Tank Abbot, for example. There are lots of skilled fighters out there, who have never had a lick of training. It is beneficial to never under-estimate anyone.

Go get 'em, and good luck to you.

You really show how much the study of martial arts means to you in this post. Glad to see the history of the arts means something to you. I love everything about the martial arts. I love learning about all of the styles. I like hearing other people's takes on art and style. If you lived near by, I would call you up and hope to work out together, not practicing karate or TKD, but practicing martial arts.