AndrewGreen

I'm pretty non-traditional Isshin ryu, but there is still isshin ryu in there, I can also point you to others if you like.

How many people get killed in unarmed fights? Not many. Good luck explaining yourself to the cops later.

I wouldn't want to use them on someone who I couldn't beat without them, good chance I'd just get them used back on me worse...

Wouldn't a short stick be more universal if that is your criteria? or even a knife? Broom sticks are usually in the broom closet, not handy.

The reason sport karate is not good for self-defence is because it limits what you can do to the point where it looses any sense of realism. Shootfighting trains in all ranges, with all weapons. Early UFC's where as close to street fight conditions as you can get without being in the street.

To some extent yes, just not with all the tools.

No thats a silly story invented by westerners. No one in Japan ever let there belt get dirty to change its colour.

Jerrylove, I suggest you seek counselling for your paranoia.

First I'd want to know why after a year or two they hadn't sparred

No I didn't, you did. I said work on technique while going hard, not do them seperate.

Why automatically resort to biting and eye gouging? If that is all you can do you've waisted a lot of time and money on useless training. Elbow blocks are fine, the rest are not keeping it friendly. They are also not things any trained fighter should ever need to resort to against an untrained fighter. And since the only trained fighters you will be likely to fight will be fighting you on friendly terms there really is no need for them. That said they are really not that hard to add in, for the superior fighter. The weaker fighter will likely just make the superior one really mad and tell him it is ok to do those things back. Being able to go through it step by step does not mean you've learnt it. Being able to do it against a fully resisting opponent does. Having someone walk you step by step on how to drive a car in a simulator or stationary car does not mean you know how to drive, actually driving the car is how you learn to drive. Nobody said it doesn't work at all, just not as well as it could. martial arts schools world wide have done some really dumb things in the name of "good training." I suggest you turn on the sports channel and watch some boxing, kickboxing, MMA, or any other full contact event. Now ask yourself how those guys can be training and still alive.

thats not agreeing...

Why do you feel that you can't work those techniques hard, why the need to slow it down? Nothing against slowing down once and a while, but not for those reasons.

huh? reread what I wrote... Thats what I said, develop it in sparring, hard sparring if you want to spar hard.

Techniques are best learnt in the environment they will be used. There is a place for bag work and pad work, but sparring is where technique is really developed. If you develop your technique in slow sparring that is where it will stay, if you want to develop technique for hard sparring then hard sparring is the place to do it.

How does going hard negate technique? A good technique is one which hits its target... hard. Mostly no rules, just keep it friendly. Hit as hard as both are comfortable with. that said no heel hooks or neck cranks for beginners, don't break fingers.

Better yet, look here: http://www.royharris.com/techniques/bjj/index.htm The one I described is #1

Vale Tudo is Portuguesemeans anything goes. Striking & grappling. It is not a "style" of martial arts, but a method of fighting. The early UFC's where Vale Tudo, not rounds, no time limits, no rules. Now most Vale Tudo competition has turned into what is called Mixed Martial arts to keep it legal and make the boxing commisions happy.

Most basic (and reliable) method would probably be elbow escape to guard. From this position (based on picture) Bridge up and get your hips out to the right so that you are turning towards him and sticking your butt out away from him. Use your left forearm (into the hip, from where it is in the pic) to push away and drive your left knee in between you and him. Turn your body 90 degrees to the right and work your leg around him into guard. The biggest thing is to get as much space between your hips and his as you can by bridging and turning away and pushing with your forearm. Thats a fairly basic overview but hopefully it makes sense, if not I'll try again.

Shootfighting was initially looked at as a generic name for MMA competition, Ken Shamrock initially listed his style as shootfighting. Now the name is Trademarked by Bart Vale and it is the name of his form of mixed martial arts. Although others still use it as a fairly generic name, it is protected. At least in North America. His website is 2shoot.com Whether it is Vales's, or some other group using the name, you are fairly safe thinking of it as just mixed martial arts.

Amazing how everyone has there own strange traditions that smack common sense and basic hygene in the face... As I said in another post (thinking it was here) washing your belt is ok, washing your jock strap washes away all your hard work. And while we are on the subject, you should never wear deodorant in class as it blocks your chi...

I think you'd be better off worrying about all those new things there are for you to learn and stop worrying about your belt...

"Bo is the most universal weapon" How do you figure?

opps... The last two where supposed to be in a different thread... pretend they are in the belt washing thread ok?

No funnier then not washing your belt for the same reason...