bushido_man96

Definitely not trying to get into overweight bashing, by any means. I think my point was that some masters who were in good shape when they were younger sometimes take dramatic steps backward as they age, perhaps resting on their ever-widening laurels somewhat. I felt that though they have become masters by nature of their extensive knowledge, past results, and contributions to the arts, they are likely not to be as feared performance-wise against younger and much fitter practitioners (who are somewhat lesser skilled) because of their decline in fitness. And really, could anyone really see putting one of our venerated 60 year old buffet jockeys in the ring, or even on the street, with a trained professional fighter like Fedor or Matt Hughes? However, don't misconstrue my comments to mean that just because a master is a Buddha-belly geriatric that they are necessarily a pushover. At less than 5 feet tall and well past 80 y.o., Shorin-ryu Grandmaster Eizo Shimabuku is still a very dangerous man who I personally would not care to tangle with. But keep in mind he still trains regularly and has kept in very good condition even at an advanced age. Interestingly, I recently experienced a seminar and some one-on-one with a very popular and renowned Buddha-esque master who I shall leave unnamed that I feel quite certain doesn't have the fitness to successfully leverage his skills to defeat me. Twenty years ago, there would be no way I could say this, as he was always in top form, but today he might want to hope he catches me with his first few blows, because otherwise he's in trouble. With respect, Sohan No offence was taken from anyone, I was just trying to keep things light. I understand exactly what is being said here, and I agree that Masters should try to live the example, so to speak. It is important for them to be able to move well in some capacity, although I don't think they should have to be in the same form as the likes of Fedor or Hughes. And, in case you are wondering, I am not really buddha like fat, just a little round. My aeorbic capacity isn't great, but I do my fair share of working out, and I am trying to improve it.

Wow, that is interesting. The last movie I saw relating to Bruce Lee was Dragon, the Bruce Lee Story. I don't know how accurate it is, but it was an ok movie.

Oh, I've slowed down a lot since my wife began rationing my internet hours. With respect, Sohan

I was always told not to wear the uniform unless I was doing a TKD related event. I don't like wearing it in public, and prefer to change in the locker room at my school. When someone asks about me studying martial arts, I try not to make a big deal out of it. I am proud that I do it, and I am proud of what I have achieved, but I don't like to brag. That can get you into trouble. The attitude that the guy in the initial post had was pretty bad in my opinion. The "I want people to know what they are getting into" routine it seems like.

Yep, that answers my question. Now, to find a boxing club to get my son into...

Actually, a lot of countries do say "jab, cross". In Thailand for instance I can often hear "jab, cross, hook, uppercut". I have also heard the same in Japan. I'd also like to add if you don't know the Japanese terminology you're not doing Japanese Karate anymore. That's what I mean by "watered down". Am I saying you can't fight? No, not at all. I am saying you don't do Japanese karate, though.(If you trained for a few years or more) I know many Americanized schools that don't know the Japanese terminology will sometimes claim to be american/japanese or something along these lines. I mean, I guess you could say that but why? Saying you're a Japanese style and not knowing the terminology seems silly to me. Well, that's cool. I learned something new. However, I don't believe that if you use English that it makes it an American style. What you want to hold to are the training methods, not the language it is taught in. As I have mentioned earlier, mine is a Korean style, and we do use the Korean terminology. So, I do know the terminology. So, does this mean I am not practicing Americanized TKD? I am not sure about that. When I was in the ATA, I learned everything in English, except for the commands to attention, bow, ready, etc. Techniques were discussed in English. Then, I came to my current TKD association, and learned the Korean words for basic techniques. However, the techniques did not change in and of themselves. There were some style differences, of course, but other than that, I don't feel that I went through any change, or that I was learning authentic Korean style as opposed to an Americanized style.

quote Shui Tora: incorporate the Five Elements (Earth, Wind, Fire and Water) with opposites. You left out an element. What is the other?

Sure, just as there are people who can do complex math problems in their heads, whip up a gourmet meal with spaghetti O's and pancake syrup, or dunk a basketball while blindfolded. We all have our talents, but it is up to us to apply ourselves to reach our potential. Sometimes those who reach the top aren't always the ones who can leap the highest but those who never stop focusing on reaching the summit. Or something to that effect. Respectfully, Sohan Man, that is good. I like that wording a lot. Very inspirational.

Well said.

I have seen both here, wash it, or don't. One philisophy I have seen is that your belt represents the blood, sweat, and tears that you have put into your training, and washing it washes it all away. Just what I heard, not saying it is right or wrong.

no kidding! I learned the hard way to give up the body to save the head. I've gotten three concussions in my tournaments, 1 from baseball, 2 from football (other than karate they were just tough luck). It stinks! But now I haven't got hit in the head for about 4 years, lol, I learned my lesson. I always get asked to go full-contact by kick boxers and army people I train with...and some masachists...but I never do. I let them go full, but after seeing what happened to my opponent in a bare knuckle boxing match at about 75% I decided that was enough of that. Ahhh, makiwara and kime training. I hear you there. Those people who can do that stuff, they are a special breed. I have a friend like that, and a brother like that. Working out with them is fun!

I don't know about that. I think that it was probably jiu-jitsu for the most part early on, when it was taught to the samurai as unarmed combat techniques. Later on, when these techniques were not as necessary for combat (advent of the firearm), they started to become more like karate. Just my theory, though.

Quote: As for the later debate about carrying a knife to a gun fight, I would almost always choose to face a person w/ a gun over a knife, if they are inside about 10-15 feet distance. If you get in close and have some control on their arm the side of the barrel cant cut you where the edge of the blade easily will. I would agree about the range there. Knifes are harder to control than a gun in defense.

The Marial Arts are all part of the same family tree, aren't they.

Joe Lewis had a mean crossover side kick as well.

I agree with this quote here, and I am a TKD guy. I don't think I would ever try a head kick in self-defense. However, I do believe athleticism is a good attribute to have. Being athletic will help out immensely if you ever have to defend yourself. It will help to recover after the adrenaline dump, and your muscles won't get quite so tired as well. Technique may beat atleticism, but if you catch up with an athlete who has good technique, then just plain technique gets beat.

This is just my opinion, but if you can train hard in a 3 minute round, and wear yourself down each time, then fighting a two minute round should be a little easier.

Go with Sohan. I have that book, and it has all you will probably ever need in it.

Hey, don't knock the fat guys! I am fat, and hope maybe I can achieve a level like that some day. As the body gets older, metabolism tends to slow down, so that may have something to do with it. Being a master may have something to do with the knowledge they possess, and not their physical appearance.

I am not in karate, so I can't offer info on different variations of the form. I kind of like the way it looks, though.

You may have fast moves, it may just be the time between moves. See if you rest a little less between moves if it will speed up the form a little.

At the age of 65, he would probably be one of the most fits elderly people in the world today. I think he would continue to be an MA icon as well. I feel that he would have continued to make great MA films, and would help to improve them as well. He probably would be the most sought-after private lessons instructor in the world as well. And, he may have embraced the onset of BJJ, and would have studied and adapted it to what he could do as well.

I have seen a lot of ISKA on ESPN at late nights. It looks like fun, but don't have a way to get into it. That, and I would be a 5'8" heavyweight!

An ego can be a dangerous thing. I am finding that a problem that I have is that I am not an overly aggressive person, and not very confrontational. I am trying to overcome this in my new job.

Also, if you use bleach on your gi, I have found that it makes the gi fall apart sooner because it weakens the fabric. With respect, Sohan Good point. I never bleach my do-bok.