Kensai

Addition, Passion and enjoyment. Like most people on here. Sorta like the Pringles advert, "once you pop ya just cant stop".

But I think the art of Judo, has done moreforf the MA community than any other single style. From amature, Olympic standard and even doing the business in NHB events. Kodokan Judo, is a very very complete style and very wide ranging. Most dojos however just go for the no thrills competition fighting, when Judo is famous for. For it to not even get on the list is a disgrace.

I think we have ver similiar mats in our dojo. They are pretty good. They dont move to much and they are pretty easy to put together.

Indeed. But then again, even the great ninja did not overturn the Samurai!

Matt Thorton? Who is he? what is a purplemonkeydishwasher?

For number one, I think in total achievements in both spiritual (budo), world wide apprecation and REAL application. It has to be Judo. It is the little Martial Art that could.

I think the main problem is the complete lack of solid sword form. No other weapon comes close, other than possably the stave. The Okinwanan weapons are farming tools and not really any comparison to the elite weapons of the Bushi. There the fact............ The combat forms were ,although powerful, no match to the contact based Kenjutsu styles. The fact that the Okinwanans lost their island for some 400 years is proof enough? For reference try "the world truned upside down" by Pierre Fancois Souyri.

JJ fighter, I was thinking the very same thing. I think its a toss up between, Gundo and Rundo.

With the invastion and capture of the RyuKyu's in the 1600's. Could this be due to superior Samurai arts or poorly trained peasant class karatedo practioners? PS, not a Japan/Okinawa flame war.

Is there a difference other than what lies in the kata? Unique moves in each style? Weapons? Its just that I have been reading about Yamaguchi and Miyagi resently and was justing wondering what the difference was. Osu!

BRING IT ON PEOPLE! RAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

WHO CARES ABOUT MMA!? He did not ask that, he asked about BJJ and Hapkido. Not your opinions on UFC! Jeez!

Its difficult to answer that Ghost. As its down to you, and your dedication to it. Aikido is probably the ANTI - Mauy Thai. If I list the problems I have with the style, then you can make a better decision: Hard to find a good school. Hard to make it work. Hard to use Ki. Takes some 4-7 years to be able to use. Weapons come later in training No "real" blocks. No Shin kicks. No full contact sparring. Why I LOVE Aikido. Gives a understanding of energy movement. You learn KATANA! Wrist locks. Helps in life, other than Martial Abilities. Unique Throws. Great Hertiage. Can make you a truely powerful person in every sence. Just IMHO ofcourse.

My opinion is in my sig. Seriously, if someone can spell out a good debate then I have no problem. Its just the ignorant flame wars that enrage my "ki".

Blonde moment.

KickChick, shame indeed.

"Look at top ranked fighters" Do you know the reason why the are top ranked? Well, mainly because they train full time. It does not matter what style you do, as long as you love it and you train hard in it. Proven itself? To whom? To those fighters, yes indeed it has. But to KM1, maybe, maybe not. If you want my honest opinion, go to the gym/dojangs. See for yourself what YOU think YOU can use. On purely techniqes, they are both pretty good. Jiujutsu (brazilian) specialises on ground work. Hapkido does'nt really specialise, but it is very very board. Just IMHO ofcourse.

Who is to say the list is wrong............? You Jiu jitsu fighter? If there were say (for arguements sake) 100 martial arts. Then there should be 100 Number 1 spots. Its all about preferce at the end of the day. If the guys that made that show prefered those styles to BJJ then so what....... you know how well or baddly you can use it. It does not matter what they think.

Well.......... I guess doing Aikido I have a lot of explaining to do about Aikido's "Martial" effectiveness. So, let us begin: I could spout on about O Sensei and the fact that that his uchideshi just about destroyed everyother style in Japan at the time, including Mauy Thai and some Shaolin schools. But I wont, mainly because they dont apply to me. I have never gone to a Mauy Thai gym and fought anyone. To be honest, I have NO idea HOW effective Aikido is. I have never been in a fight, so I cant say at all with any certainity. So WHY do I think it is effective. I guess it boils down to 2 main factors: FAITH: I have faith in my Sensei. I believe in what she teaches. Not doing ANY full contact work I have no idea whether it works. So the real question is do I want to take my life in my hands, just on FAITH. For example, people will probably something like: "BJJ is a proven system in the ring. With cameras and everything so the WHOLE world can see." I guess my question for them, is can THEY use it. It does not matter a toss if Helio, Renzo Gracie can use BJJ..... its all down to you at the end of the day. Same applies for Aikido, I KNOW that O sensei could use it. But can I............. I dont really know if I want to know the answer. The second is understanding: This is the relisation that it works. For example, if some throws you Shiho-Nage, and does not let go, you'll probably suffer very unpleasant injuies. But how do I KNOW that it will do that. Well I dont, but then again, how do you know a Arm Bar will break your arm if you tap all the time. Very very simple, UNDERSTANDING. Sensei Tohei said it the best, "You dont stand infront of a moving train to KNOW that it would kill you." Some things are certain, the train would kill you. Same applies, a Kote Gaeshi (wrist twist) fully applied would rip your wrist out. Simple, because I can feel the pain even when its not fully applied with all the momentum that could be used. As for the typical reply of, "I can react like a cat instantly and with no hesatation. I can smash boards with my bare hands, I have fought in NHB tournments with my BJJ/MT and won......." These are all amazing things, but not true effectiveness. At the end of the day, its how you react at one given time in the universe. Training or no training in Mauy Thai, BJJ, JJJ, Shaolin, Aikido, TKD, Karate even Tae Bo. It does'nt really matter. Because you win one day and lose the next, does not make an art any more or less effective. Its all about you and whether you truely understand and believe.

Well......... When your as great as me, adding the Martial Arts bit it really just over kill.

You'll never take me ALIVE! MWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I agree Kyle San. It depends really on how far you are willing to go. If its sparring between mates or people you just met, then I probably would not go all out. When it comes to demostrations, people will always try and make out that there style is better and fully resist to the point where it becomes annoying. But the key word there is "demostrations". In sparring/fighting situations, its usually a lot more Dyamic, Powerful and more mental factors come into play. Just IMHO ofcourse.

"We got the 3-B's ---- brawn, brains & beauty!!!" WHERE?!

Kung Fu is not a MA. Wing Chun Kung Fu is, Shaolin Kung Fu is and Choi Li Fut Kung Fu is etc. Aikido could be considered Kung Fu, so could Mauy Thai or Brazilian Jiujutsu. Kung Fu, literally means "hard work". Gung Fu and Kung Fu, are one and the same. However if you look at the soundings of the word in Chinese/Cantonese and Romanised English, you will see that to write the word correctly you would say KUNG FU, but to SAY that word you would say "GUNG FU". Sorta like Thru and though. THRU is how you say the word, however (in the PROPER ENGLISH), it is spelt TH-ROU-GH. Hope this helps.