Kensai

I think I am about a 5, but I have good balance, something that Aikido promotes well, so hopefully with the aid of good balance my speed and power will increase. Take Care.

Aikido is very different, not better or worse, just different. Sorry Blue, I did not mean to be so blunt in my previous post. They are both very effective systems, I dont really know enough in terms of real experience about Hapkido, but I only hear good things about it. Anyone that is confident in the techniques of both Aikido or Hapkido are going to be able to look after themselves in real life. Take Care.

Happy Birthday Big Man! All we can all bast in the joy of our wonderful little piece of Martial Arts net space. (Feeling poetic) Take Care.

I was a member of the KUGB, it is by far the best Shotokan group in the UK. And the big cheese it Sensei Eneoda (8th Dan), it dont get much better than that. Take Care.

Here here omnifinite! Spoken with true heart. Take Care.

Thai_Kick, here is a good clip. http://www.aikidojournal.com/new/video/Isoyama_1983.asp Take Care.

Aikido, Hapkido and TKD are "lumped" together. I think not. Aikido is a very different system to TKD. Its simplaities with Hapkido are only really superfical as Hapkido has a very different approach to combat. Just IMHO ofcourse. Take care.

A good question. I started MA in general, for self confidence. But its more than that to me now, I try to incorporate it into my daily life when I can. Take Care.

Perhaps you are onto something there, kata would be a good area of competition as there is nothing really like it in the Olympic's. Take Care

I respect your honesty there Shootfighter, I have not met many Modern Martial artists that will agree its the person not the style. Take Care.

I was going to start the very same thread Submission. I have nothing but respect for you modern stylists, I also believe that there is something more to your training than UFC. Unfortunately there are a small minority that do do so, the ones that bad mouth other styles because they DONT train for NHB and UFC. Back to the post. Ki Aikido Weak points: Takes longer than most to be able to apply effectively about 2 years or so depending on how hard you train. Ki development takes a long time to get right, a life time. Defences against Kicks, but they come in late Dan grades, as the breakfalls from them a really hard. Not so good for knee's if you dont train properly. Strong Points. Great History, Great Founder. Very effective, against both strikers and grapplers. Lots of breakfalling, important not just in combat but in daily life, if you fall over a lot. Weapons training. Ki is centeral to Aikido. Natural system, so no broken bones etc... Katsu Hayai, which means to win an instant victory with minimal damage to you and your opponent, which is a nice thought. Very complete at later stages. Take Care.

Shaoling Shaoling shaolin, ever tried coming down a mountain at 5:30 in the morning doing what looks like press ups. Shaolin do, at the age of 9! Traditional Samurai training, Taiso, or body conditioning. I dont do this, but the Aikido teachers have. Those hard prickly tree combes throw at you until your skin bleeds, over time your skin hardens. Doing your strikes and stances against the flow of the rivers at the base of Mt Fujiama when the snow melts. Also taking strikes of Bo, jo, bokken etc..... nasty. Take Care.

We can only train against an "attack". The dojo is not real life. We all know that, UFC is not real life. Lets not confuse them. A MT boxing match is not REAL life, although my hat go's off to there dedication. But its not real. I dont think anyone on here said that they would want to kill anyone. But I do stand by the belief that it is easier to kill someone than not. For example, from the way you talk Thai_Kick, you are probably pretty strong. Now without pads, gloves and shin guards you could kill someone in a "real" situation, if the choice was between you or them. I would imagin that it would be harder for you to show restrait in the real life situation. I know that I would have trouble doing so. Real life situations are not easy. I have not been in any, but I am sure they are. I am sure at 17 you are a seasoned street fighter...... dont make me laugh. The key to being a good martial artists, and what is promoted in the great traditional styles, is a free mind. We learn the basics, we do combo's and locks and throws. But I might not be attacked like that in real life, but I am going to adapt. For example, if I was to fight you Thai_Kick for real, I have not trained against kicks, does that mean when you kick me I just give up? HELL NO, I apply my mind, not so much thinking about it, but using what I know and react naturally. (Disclaimer:Not that I want to fight you Thai_Kick) As for Chin Na, I have some documentation in writing of real fights using it, for reference please read: Xing Yi Quan Xue by Sun Lu Tan ISBN 0-86568-185-6 Chinese Gung Fu The Philosophical Art of Self Defence by Bruce Lee ISBN 0-89750-112-8 Introduction to Shaolin Kung Fu by Wong Kiew Kit ISBN 1-874250-21-9 Practical Chin Na A Detail Analysis of the art of seizing and locking byZhao Da Yuan ISBN 0-86568-175-9 Ba Gua Hidden KNowledge in the Taoist Internal Martial arts by Liu Xing Han ISBN 1-55643-276-3 The Power of internal martial arts Combat Secrets of Ba gua Tai Chi and Hsing I ISBN 1-55643-253-4 Best Aikido : The Fundamentals (Detailed account of Aikido Sensei Vs Mauy Thai boxer in Challenge match) ISBN 4-7700-2762-1 I think thats enough examples of real life encounters with thugs and muggers from the best of the best. Does this mean they are better than the modern ones. Nope. Does this mean because these martial arts have not been on TV they dont work. Nope. Its just some facts for you. All the best on your reading Take Care Chris.

Possibly Kyle-San. Take Care.

Thanks everyone! I only just relised I won memeber! I am so sorry I must appear really ignorant. I wanna thank everyone here for listen to what I have to say. Take Care.

I cant be bothered, we all do rubbish styles I REALLY WISH I COULD DO MAUY THAI! All I told you is the truth, they are all proven styles. Expect what you will. May the Aiki guide you. Take Care.

So what are its main attributes? What styles does it take influence from? Does it teach you more than just hurting people? Take Care.

Read up Thai_Kick.

I hate thoery based systems. Thats why I like: Shaolin 2000+ old, helped defeat the Armies of the mongols. Oh and undefeated in single combat challenges to Shaolin temple. Japanese Jujutsu 1000+ years old, SAMURAI! Does not get more practical than that! Aikijutsu 900+ Years old, SAMURAI! Ninjutsu No reason needed Aikido Japanese/UK/French and Dutch police. O Sensei Ueshiba. TKD General Choi and used in Korean Army Karate, Oyama, Funkoshi need I say more Judo Japanese police Hsing I, Tai Chi and Ba Gua, Taught to China's Republican Army No theory there old bean! Take Care.

Osu! Could not have said it better myself omnifinite. Take Care.

sigh*

I feel about shootfighters the way I feel about every style. Open minded, if you are open minded to my style, then I will only return the compliment. Shootfighting, from what little I know, is a very effective system. But there are alot of traditional stylists here that would love to hear about it. Like myself. Take Care.

Chin Na has excisted for 2000 years, I am sure it has proven itself in that time Just because it has not appeared on some TV show, does not mean it does not work. Some Martial Arts have not sold themselves out to entertainment just yet Take Care.

Again KickChick, very wise. I will always be in favour of Martial Arts, not Martial Sports. Take Care.

mcdojo.com and got to downloads. WC guy gets wasted by Karate guy, but the WC guy dont look very good. There are lots of other clips of Leung Ting and Willaim Cheung. Take Care.