Shorinryu Sensei

Having watched quite a few non-martial arts trained men fight men, and a number of non-martial arts trained women fighting women in bars or in the streets, I can say that men tend to make fists and hit each other, whether effeciently or not, whereas women tend to grab and pull more. Martial arts-wise in a street fight, I can't really say, as the only person I've seen use martial arts in a street fight is...me! Martial artists generally don't get into fights unless they have no other option.

I've never heard of Iasonrue...what is the system based on? I have a slow dialup connection so I don't download videos...takes to long.

This is correct generally. You can match the force of the attack, but can't really exceed it. You can't "teach them a lesson" and pound them once you obviously have the upper hand. Also, if he retreats, you aren't supposed to go after him, as then the roles are reversed and now you are considered the attacker. When I was in England during the holidays of 98/99, my host and her adult sons told me that somebody could break into their home and steal everything in site while we were sitting there, and by law, we couldn't do anything about it except call the police. I thought that was the stupidist thing I'd ever heard! Just sit there watching TV while somebody stole the Christmas presents? I don't think so.

If you would please elbows_and_knees, please respond to my comments about my chosen system doing all of the things that you state your MMA does. What's the difference? Sure, we do kata and you don't...but it's a method of teaching your body to move and teach muscle memory. MMA does the same by hitting bags (which we do also), sparring with an opponent (we do also), practicing self-defense techniques (we do also)...so...what's the difference???

Uhhhh...yeah, but kenpo4life doesn't say anywhere that he is teaching martial arts as his professlion/job. he's just asking how to make some more money for the holidays. I've been theree, and seasonal jobs are usually plentiful, and a steadier paycheck than trying to put on a seminar where you might, or might not make some money.

That would be nice...IF you had the money to take numerous different classes at the sme time, and IF you didn't have a life other than to devote to the study of various martial arts. Myself, I have to work (you know...a job?) and that alone takes up well over 40 hours/week, then there are the other things like friends and family. I'm not married, but if I was, I'm sure she would be thrilled to have me come home from work and then disappear to martial arts training for another couple of hours. Another thing to consider here is that different arts are designed for different purposes. Shorin Ryu, my chosen art, is designed for personal self-defense, not sport and not to be an all consuming forcus of my life. When I was 22 and just getting into the art, yes, I worked out considerbly more than I do now because I had the time and energy to do so. Now at 52, I have other interests....but I have the skills also to be able to defend myself if need be. My focus isn't to be a killing machine or enter the UFC of some other sort of competition.

I think what Sauzin was saying was that what you describe above is exactly what he and I do in our traditional martial art...so what's the difference? We kick, punch, tie up, take down, roll around, ground and pound a little, through in some submissions and then hit people with a stick (we call it kobudo btw) also. There are "well rounded" traditional arts out there, but most people with MMA training believe that all we do in karate (and yes, some systems do this) is kick and punch. Or that all TKD does is kick. That is a misconception. Not all systems of karate or TKD (I can't believe I'm sticking up for TKD! ) are like that.

My position exactly! Being able to do the movmeents...heck, any monkey can do that (and have been trained to do so I might add), but being able to actually use tyhose skills when you need them is another story. Being able to pass on that information to others is also important, and a young person under the age of at least 16 (IMO) isn't capable of understanding the concepts needed to teach an art.

Or another option you might consider instead of searching the internet for information, is to fly ME over to the UK (I need to get to the Norwich area REAL BAD! ) and I'll be glad to show you the ins and outs of Shorin Ryu.

I agree with Sauzin, one GOOD art is just fine with me....but that depends a lot on the art IMHO. My chosen art has served me well in several street encounters. As for a MMA sport fight...beats me, as I have no interest at all, and never have had, in entering an event like that. Shorin Ryu isn't designed for playing and winning trophies and purses, it's designed to save your rear end in a street fight.

I think your sensei is pulling your leg. Possibly there is a technique that could make you lose control of yourself (I don't know it though myself), but "pee to death"? Nope...

Just a quick note on pepper spray. There are MANY different types of pepper sprays on the market using different materials inside them. Some work well, while others are good for seasoning your steaks on the BBQ. Up here in Grizz country, they use Counter Assualt spray. http://www.counterassault.com/ There's nothing else on the market that is as effective.

Actually, Step one needs to be...train in the system that you want to teach for the franchise. For example, you mentioned Tracy kenpo. You're not currently training in that system...right? So how are you going to open a Tracy kenpo school...and not know a thing about Tracy kenpo? As for the other guy, Parker Lee..what system does he do? Are you training in that system currently?

Maybe getting a joib...or a 2nd/3rd one just for the season?

I'd recommend going to any bookstore, grocery store or such and there should be numerous martial arts magazine, including Black Belt and Karate Illistrated that you can purchase.

Question...are you talking about transporting/concealing the bo for self-defense purposes, or just from home to the dojo? As for transporting a bo, just carry it like a walking stick. There's no way you can conceal it, assuming of course that you're talking about a generic 6' bo. Kinda tough putting it up your sleeve or inside your coat...unless you're a 7'6" tall pro-basketball player? As for a retracting bo, I've never heard of one myself and can't really see a need for one. There are a multitude of other weapons out there of shorter length that would work better.

My observations of aikido and discussions with it's local sensei and head student give me these conclusions about it: 1. aikido is a great martial art but has several weakness's that worry me. a. It takes many years of training before you can use it effectively in a fight. You won't see many instant results in a life threatening self-defense situation. b. aikido has little defense against a boxing type of jab. Meaning, stand back and jab, not a full blown attack. Aikido is designed to defend against a grab and a fully committed and aggressive attack. Aikido is also a very traditionally run Japanese martial art. Be prepared for a lot of sensei and senior student rear end kissing and grovelling. If you're OK with that, then there's not a problem. Myself, I don't care for that....but that's just me. Don't get me wrong, I like aikido and it's the only martial art I would ever consider crosstraining in if I chose to do so. They have very solid techniques against grabs, wonderful body movements and falls, and it's pretty to watch the students obediently fall when they're supposed to for the instructor.

I think you need more practice to improive your aim next time. Yes, this can be true and we, as martial artists, always need to keep in mind that NO technique is guaranteed to stop an opponent because of any number of factors. It could be that the person is on drugs, adrenaline rush, or just to plain stupid to fall down and die! There always needs to be a "Plan B' in case your full-proof technique doesn't work. There are documented cases of an average sized man on PCP being shot IN THE HEART and still continued fighting for over a minute...and fighting hard! Those are the scary ones I think. Technically, the guy was dead...his heart was gone, yet 3-4 officers still had their hands full until his mind gave out.

I have some 248 college credits in teaching, plus 11 years of school teaching experience..that helps a lot. I've also been teaching my own karate classes since 1978, and there's nothing like experience to tell you what works, and what doesn't. If possible, I'd suggest taking soem college courses in teaching. You don't need to get a degree in it, but learning how the human mind works can be very beneficial.

I 100% agree with that statement. sometimes you just HAVE to fight and stand up for yourself or others. As I stated before, I'm from the old school, and this "kinder, gentler" nation/world that we have now is turning...IMHO...our youth of today into *using my best Arnold voice here* a bunch of girly men. I believe that you have the right to defend yourself. I also belive you have the right to defend others if you so choose to do so. I also believe STRONGLY that you have the obligation to defend your significant other from people that would spit on her, or otherwise mistreat them. To what degree and what situation, that depends on the individual. I call it being a gentleman...and a man.

Everybody has an ego. Period. to what extent that ego entends can vary with each person. Myself, I can take a whole lot of verbal crud from somebody and not do a thing about it because I learned many years before I began my martial arts training that words can't hurt you unless you let them. On the spitting issue...well, if I was you, I wouldn't have kicked the guy. I'd have PUNCHED HIM! I'm from the old school, and just with the facts as you gave them, I'd say your were protecting your ladies honor and standing up for her. I would have done the same at 16 years of age, and would do so now at 52.

What you're experiencing here is one of the disadvantages that TKD has, in that they need room to kick. If the person you're fighting wants to be close and stay close to you, then your kicks are not going to work. Use your judo and possibly consider crosstraining in a system that uses their hands more. Many fights end up close in, if not on the floor. both are weakness's of TKD IMHO.

Well,m you have your Okinawan styles, then the Japanbese systems that branched off from those, then Korean that branced off of those, then American that branced off of all of those...and let's not forget the systems from India, Phillipines, and every other little island in the Pacific. Oh yeah, I heard of one that was supposed to be from the Native American Indians, Russian, yadda yadda yadda. Basically, as someone else already said...there are lots! You can say shorin ryu for example, one of the oldest systems of karate, but there are offshoots and sub-systems within that, plus Sensei Joe Blow out there that took a few TKD, judo, BJJ or Aikido classes somewhere and added them to the class...thereby changing that system once again and basically forming another version of the system. I wouldn't even want to try to guess how many systems of karate are out there...a thousand maybe?

Is a used car salesman a "lord of war" because he sells something that has either the potential to be beneficial, or deadly, depending on how it's used? How about that guy that sells the Ginsu knives on TV?