Kensai

That was a great link, I have heard my Sensei give similar stories. Feel Nothing, Think Nothing, Be Nothing and no-one can hurt you. Its called "moving the mind", for example when you strike, you are thinking about the point of impact and if you are not thinking about it, your Ki is there. But if you redirect, cut and drop the Ki, your attacker will go with it. One time my Sensei asked me to root myself to the ground, then he tried to push me over and could not. But then he just placed his finger on the top of my skull, then gently pull me back on my shoulder, and i fell like a shack of bricks. You cant expect to move a man when he wants to stay. But if you make him stop thinking about it, then he is yours to command. IN the same way that magic works, when you think its being dohe, its been done and you are being fooled. Thanks for posting it. Take Care

Excuse me Thai_Kick. I cant remember attacking you in such away. I was merely stating the facts, and if you had read what I wrote. I said that there are some great modern martial artists out there. I have no doubt that they could send me to hospital, did I ever say that I could defeat one? NOPE! Could you? To my knowledge there are no Links to such tornuments. Mainly because they dont want to draw attention to themselves. Also I cant remember where I put the sport down, I only said that NOT ALL moves are aloud, for example small joint manipulation. Also for me to have an opiniuon on something I have to compete, so if I have a opiniuon on football, I have to play professional football. Or opiniuons on politics I have to be a politician. lol. Funny. I have no doubt in my mind in the abilitys of such men, not one, did I say I did. NO. i think perhaps you are reading what is not there. Kick Chick, As I understand it, many shotokan practioners are turning to shotokai. Shotokan, over the past few years, has gone on a decline, in that it really teachs lots of drills. Only really focusing on the kata for grading. Shotokai focus's more on the Bunkai so reveling more of the secrets of Shotokan, other than just simple drills. I agree that kata are only really apprieciated over time. Its one of those things that you never like at the beginning, I know that I would rather Kumite. But now I like it alot more. Although I dont really have any in Aikido, I miss them alot from my Shotokan days. Take Care.

I dont want to get into an arguement Bon. But I will put this concept to you. Traditional Arts were created some 2000 years ago. Starting in either Greece in the form of Pankration or in India. These arts then travelled to China, creating Amazing styles like Shaolin and Hsing I to name but a few. They then made there jump to Korea and Japan. So was born Jujutsu, Judo, Iaido, Aikido, TKD and TSD etc. I would now like you to think back and tell me what ALL these nations had in common. To save you thinking I will tell you. It was unfortuntely WAR. These arts were created during possibly the HARDEST time in Eastern Asia, formed in fire and blood all the techniques that did not work were lost, as the practioners of them lay dead and decomposing in the battle field. Whats the point in this you ask. I assume you do BJJ? People who do BJJ tend to unfortunately have this opinuon. These forms/kata were created to faciliate learning and understanding. The true understanding of ALL traditional styles, even soft and hard traditonal styles, is to produce flowing techniques from a calm mind. I would agree that you need sparring in the way that KSN said. To compliment, but not to REPLACE Kata. I am sure that you will dig up this whole thing about UFC. An arguement that we have ALL heard a million times before. I have no doubt that there are some great modern style martial artists out there. But UFC, is not the battle field, in which arts like BJJ were created. Not all moves are aloud. Now you will probably say that NO traditional stylist have won a UFC. I would say to you that most of the best artists would not be seen dead at something like that. For real fighting you would have to travel to China, for the full contact no pads events, where if you know anything, the internal styles of Tai Chi, Ba Gua and Hsing I are holding the majority of the titles. But I would love for you to tell me, how you can improve on prefection? I am all for evolution to techniques, but not a revolution, getting rid of the core of many styles. IMO, its like giving a child a gun. When you dont teach some form of mental martial arts training, this in many cases comes from kata, hyung, form, people get into trouble. "'Traditional arts' ... That's ALL they are, tradition. There are new and improved arts, techniques, ways of training which are much more effective." So for you to say that there more are "effective" arts out there than traditional, then the traditional ones are being taught wrong. I would also say that it has been done before, it is simply sealing ideas from lots of styles and created a hybrid, again I would agree that this is important as styles do need to evolve. For you to knock traditional styles, is possibly a little fool hardy. Traditional arts were created to kill, to maim, to police and combat, but also to reflect, meditate and calm, to be a great martial artist one needs both. Take Care

IMO, the Sensei, should instill his/her students to push themselves. MA's unlike school are not forced, so if they dont want to be there, they should not be there. If they dont want to learn kick them out. But thats the Sensei's job, to police his ranks. Take Care.

Ah yes, I have encountered such people. There are alot of them out there, especially in the West. Its mainly due to the ignorance of most people, especially to anything that sounds different. My Sensei was doing a conference in Scotland with Sensei Abbe Kenshiro. When my Sensei went to the car park to bring the car around to the front of the building. (As my Sensei was a Unchideshi, he basically had to do all remendal tasks). 17 men approach Sensei, the basically told him that Aikido did not work and that he had dedicated his life to nothing. All Sensei remembers is that they all attacked, then, they all lay on the floor around him. He is not an aggresive man, and in this case he had to use what he had learnt. But yea, some people are like that. Unfortunately its not just non martial artists that attack our styles, its other martial artists. I had problems with other Martial artists at Uni. The ones that did do something and were soundly beaten, became my friends. So good can come out of it sometimes. Take Care

Traditionally, the students are a reflection of the Sensei, so if you have one then you should have both. If the Sensei does not have good students, then the Sensei is not so good. Take Care.

I know what you mean Shotochem. I am sure that there is a scientfic explaination, but I would like to think that there is still some mystery in this world. Some things are best left undiscovered. Take Care.

The Sensei. Take Care

I agree KU, science cannot explain everything. Ki can only be felt, and not really understood. Take Care

Shotochem, I think Ki use in martial arts is a little different to the "zone". But I do understand what you mean. We all have Ki, but very few of us know that we have it and even less know how to use it. Take Care

Thanks Jerry, I find it difficult to understand as well. shotochem, I have no tumour, but I have passed out because of the effect Ki has, its very real. Its true that we cant create fire balls or float in mid air (unfortunately) buts its combat applications are limitless. shotochem I also said that this thread was ONLY about techniques, we all know that its always down to the martial artist. Also not only Shoalin Monks are taught Shaolin gung fu

Thats very true KU. Take Care.

lol Bon, I wrote that a month ago. Sorry Patrick. Ps Bon its Aikido not akido. Take Care.

Bon, what is your problem with internal styles? I dont think you have any experience of them, so why knock what you dont know? Ever heard of Dim Mak, if not then go get some knowledge about it. Xtreme Fury Yea Shoalin are nice people, but I mean just purley on there techniques, and lets be honest, no-one trains as hard as those guys do. Take Care

For me it would have to be, a good Wudang Gung Fu master, something like Tai Chi or Ba Gua, that can bust a lung just by placing there hand on your chest. But then again, a Shoalin Monk would be a challenge...lol.

Assuming the worst case senerio, you HAVE to fight. Purely going on the techniques of the style, which Martial Art would you LEAST like to go up against and why? Just a bit of fun. Take Care.

I would say Shotokan stands a good chance in close close combat. But I do understand what you say, when I would "play" spar with my friends, who did Bujinkan Taijutsu, I would always get killed. I dont really know about Gojo Ryu. But Wing Chun, is a really sweet system. Wing Chun is no thrills, all action, nothing that could not be applied in real life, however like all traditional systems takes time, like Gojo. Take Care

ok, I understand that. I dont understand what you mean by "clinch". Also, I train equally from grabs as I do from strikes, so I know how important it is to be able to deal with both. Take Care

From this article Mr John Will seems very knowlegdeable on his subject. But then again, he is a BJJ practioner and as they train to grapple, then he is likely to think that way. I dont agree that grappling is a certainity, there are many factors that can influence combat. I think in a real life situation, it is import to be able to handle many attackers so being on the ground does not help with that. In the street you are more than likely to fight a coward and six of his friends. Perhaps Mr Will, is correct however, in a "no rules" competition, that grappling is "more" than likely. Is he talking about UFC style combat? I think when its between martial arts styles, its all a question of distance, if say a TKD practioner can keep his/her distance against a BBJ practioner then TKD would win the day, then again, if the BJJ person can close that distance, then BJJ would win the day. Horse's for Courses. Take Care.

Ki in Daily life sensei-K Tohei The Art of Peace- O Sensei Ueshiba The Five Rings. Code of the Samuari.

This is the sort of thing that really annoys me! Judo, Jujitsu, Aikido, Karate, Boxing, Bu-jitsu, Ninjitsu it takes a life time to be a master at one, but 7! MY GOD! These people should be........... you know He is a disgrace to ALL 7 styles. Take Care

In Ki Aikido, we do: tanto at blue belt bokken at brown jo at 1st Dan Live blade knife at 3rd dan Live Blade kanta at 5-6th Dan Take Care

What good is that? Not being able to walk. I guess thats one of the nice things about internal styles, is that you get better as you get older. Take Care

Hi, Firstly Wado Ryu, is karate. However there are many styles of karate, like shotokan, Gojo Ryu and okinanwan styles. I would say that you dont have to mix judo and karate at all, although I know some people aht are in favour of mixing. Wado Ryu, is a mixture of Aikido, judo and shotokan karate. It is a very defensive style, using your opponents weight and attacks againt them. Take Care

Yea I would agree with that, the Wudang Kung Fu styles are soley internal and pretty effective styles. Aikido is one of the only soft Japanese styles. Does Korea have any internal styles? Take Care.