bushido_man96

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.

Just check the Post titled Wing Chun in Action, in the Chinese section here. Just scroll down the page a ways.

Check out the Sticky Forum of the Martial Arts Research Library. It has plenty of good stuff in it. I also agree with UseoForce--read The Tao of Jeet Kune Do, and the book on grappling. We ALL need grappling. (me especially )

alsey, you talk a lot about Bruce Lee's training methods, and how he focused on actual combat situations. However, his combat methods would translate very nicely into the ring. He did heavy bag work. He practiced kicking and striking. He trained with the likes of Bob Wall, Chuck Norris, and Gene Lebelle. He was kind of a pioneer of his time, cross training and learning from others. Bruce would probably have liked the challenge that the octagon presents, because it the closest that we can come to having a sporting event that envelopes most of the situations that you will see in real fighting. Yes, there are some rules, because after all, it is a sport. But you cannot discount the effectiveness of MMA fighters abilities on the street, either. Their toughness and superior training and conditioning would make them very formidable on the street. And I feel that, as fighters, they would be able to adapt to the street fight very well. They do leg kicks; lower it a few inches, and you get the knee. They jab to the face; open your fingers, and you get an eye-gouge. These are all simple transitions. As far as the medieval battle field comparison goes, you are comparing a weaponless combat to weapons combat, which is a WHOLE other world of fighting and training in and of itself, so that is really not a fair comparison, in my opinion.

The main problem with pressure points and joint manipulation is that they are not the same on everbody. Let me explain. You learn how to apply a manipulation technique, and finish is it with a pressure point. You practice with your partner, and get it going well. You feel good about it. Now, you get a new partner. You apply the same pressure, and he squeals, and is hurt because he was not as stiff as your last partner. So then you get a new partner. This one is big and burly, and you try to crank him, and he smiles, and then you feel like you have to over-exert to get him to comply. Then, when you try to finish with the pressure point, he laughs and asks if you are trying to tickle him. I like pressure points and joint manipulations. I think they are very valuable to martial training. The only downfall is that they must be adapted constantly to your particular opponent. When you punch, you just punch. It is true that a punch does not affect everyone the same, either, however, it is much easier to re-apply a punch, in my opinion. For my job as a detention officer, I will utilize joint manipulations and pressure points. If my safety or that of my family's would become threatened, I am going to punch and kick and do maximum damage.

You can get around this by training with some partners with different rules. Put some gloves on and allow face contact. You may have to do this on your own time, or ask your instructor if you can change things up in class from time to time. Also, just constantly keep these ideas and targets in mind, so you know those options are available.

You make a good point ps1, however, Bruce did have some work in ground fighting. I believe he worked with Gene LeBelle for a time, if my memory serves me correctly. Although it was not extensively, they did work together, and if he was in this environment now, he not only would have begun ground training, he probably would have been doing it before everyone else.

The problem with trying to adapt any traditional style system to MMA is that you are going to strip it down. Blocks become hands up, and parrying and slipping. You don't see complex blocking manuevers. Things are kept simple and efficient. Therefore, when you see an MMA fight, you will see stiking with the fists, kicking low to mid level for the most part, and takedowns to work a submission. Most of us have seen the video of the Wing Chun guy, with the super fast hands. But, realistically, there is a reason why he is not seen in MMA. (I am not assuming that he doesn't fight in MMA, but he is not readily recognizable to any that we know, and you don't see hand techniqes like that in the MMA for a reason.)

Plyometrics, my friend, plyometrics.

Yep. Strikers have very good success in the MMA.

Bruce could punch through a wall, his punches were so good. I don't think the gloves would hurt him much.

That is kind of a cool site. I may have to try a few things on it. Got kind of some different exercises, though.

Good stuff, guys. We gotta laugh at ourselves from time to time, right?

This is a cool method. Also, on the night before each of these two testings, I have to go to black belt class, in which we have to demonstrate all of the forms and one-steps, and black belt basics that the GM designed (which end up being like 5 more forms, more or less). Then we finish the class with sparring. An hour of pain, and then testing the next day!

Quote from aefibird: Many students doesn't automatically equal bad school. People are happy to pay high prices to join a gym or have tennis lessons or pay to see a sports match but often feel that an instructor which charges for lessons is a "rip off" and a McDojo". People will happily pay £70, £80, £90 or more a month to be a member of a gym or a health club but moan at paying half that price for karate lessons, even if the instructor is Funakoshi himself!! You are right on here. Very well said.

I liked the Cincinati Shotokan site, and the two wing chun sites. Didn't like Cinci Shotokan's 50 minute classes, but that's just me. The kenpo place is probably legit, the website was just too cluttered, though. Spend a day or 4 and go check out each school, and talk to the instructors, and learn everything you can about them before making your decision. One more thing....you said you didn't have a lot of money, being a student, so you should check to see if the college you attend offers a martial arts credit. The juco I attended and the 4 year college I attended both offered MA classes for credit, so I have 6 credit hours of TKD on my college transcript! One more option to look into.

I try not to worry about dieing too much. "Death smiles at us all. All a man can do is smile back." Quoted from Gladiator, and I love it. One thing I don't believe in is fate, destiny, or that our time is already decided for us. I believe that I am in control of what I do, and I don't believe that I have a scheduled time to move on. I believe that I can control my factors as far as health and being always aware of what is going on around me, and that by making good decisions, I can give myself the best chance for living a long and healthy life. If I was staring at death, gun pointed at me or something, I would probably by scared, but don't know. A lot of things can cause fear, and death is just another one. I am not trying to be tough, I am just trying to realisticly prepare myself, I guess. Hard topic to discuss.

The directors of his fimls, no doubt. No, I think they were his idea. Pretty sure I heard this somewhere, like in a documentary or something.