AndrewGreen

I got a little... It is used similar to a bo in some ways. Bust strikes are generally done with the bladed end, almost like a slash. Thrusts are still done, again with the bladed end, usually aimed at the throat. The "unique" technique that usually gets pointed out as such is a scopping motion, throwing water/sand/dirt/whatever is there up into the opponent before a strike. The motions tend to be very circular, letting the bladed end follow through fully.

So if this stance you are using is so effective at stopping takedowns, why do you suppose no wrestler would stand like that? Stopping takedowns is what they do everytime they step on the mat, yet none stop takedowns in the way you are describing, why do you suppose that is?

Sure, if they completely ignored the set up and just came at you. No one with skill will do that. Chances are if I'm shooting my fist just finished hitting your face a half second before I got your legs, or you just threw a punch or kick and I shoot off that. Yes, you can stop takedowns. IF, and this is important, you train them seriously with people who are good at them on a regular basis. Grappling and striking are not seperate things. Submission and striking are. Being seperated, in the clinch or on the ground are. But if you want to be a good striker, you need to be able to strike from anywhere, get to superior positions and get out of inferior ones.

Weaken Japanese Militarism and Nationalism. Martial arts where a part of that, the whole Samurai idea of if you kill the guy, but die you still win and other such stuff.

Ok, Mount: Use your body, don't try to force his arms out of position with yours, drive your hips into him and use your weight to get his arms up and out of position, keep everything really tight and ride really high, knees in his armpits. What you sant to do is "squish" his armto his face, reach around behind his head and grab his wrist... kinda like if he where trying to rear naked choke himself. Once you got it pull it tight and sit up. This isn't a finish, but it sets up a few really nicely and is a good first step, It will lead to key locks, arm bars, arm triangles, taking the back and more. But don't worry about those yet, just focus on getting the set up. Getting the set up is the key to any attack, far too many people like to skip that and try to go straight for the finish. They get easily escaped and reversed...

No, not even the self-defence aspects. It's more for mindset then anything, they want strong, aggressive guys that keep going even if they're hurting. What better way to get that then to have them beat the tar out of each other in a controlled environment Look into some history of the "Dai Nippon Budokai" around WW2, Same idea was used, and then martial arts got banned when the US occupied for a time.

No, hand to hand is a very low priority for soldiers. Some groups apparantly do BJJ, but it's also been said they do it for fitness and getting them agressive, not as much for use in the field. "Martial Arts" are a civillian thing.

The sad reality is that martial arts schools have big bills which need to be paid. Try doing the math, Pick a salary you think is resonable for someone that risked everything (House, car, bankruptcy, etc.) in order to open a school deserves. Divide that into months, now add 3000 - 4000 / month for rent, phone, power, advertising, etc. Now start breaking that into # of students x tuition. Remember, this is only ONE instructor getting paid, So class sizes of 35 are not possible. Nor is teaching 8 classes a day. Most Commercial martial arts schools are charging less then they should given the business model of a martial arts school.

So, you are using someone that has never fought a grappler as the example of how someone should fight a grappler...? Don't you think this would be a more effective argument if you used someone that has actually succeeded at this against a grappler?

Welcome to the wonderfull world of Martial Arts Politics. Just ignore it, and carry on.

The style matter a great deal. There is a reason full contact fighters all fight in a similar way. There is a reason they punch the way they do, and a reason they kick the way they do. Other ways don't work as well. THere is also a reason you don't see any TKD (or tai chi, or shotokan, etc) fighters in MMA.

Trademarks are not bad things. Trademarks are there to protect the name and the image so that others can't use it without permission. Trademarks are also set up so that if you don't protect them, they are no good. They are used to ensure quality, so that not just anyone can use the name and image. Which without it, they can. Even Linux, a free, open source program is trademarked.

I think you'd be surprised of the range of a shot... But, what top grapplers has Lennox Lewis won against?

Not a good idea as this presents a single leg takedown as a gift and leaves you know way to effectively sprawl. You should keep pretty squared off if you want to defend takedowns.

If you are comparing it too a boxing hook, it is far to wide and involves the arm. A "proper" hook does not go far, if at all, outside your shoulders. It is done close in and powered by the legs and hips, not the arm.

Don't. Why on earth would you want to?

Style does matter, a lot. If my style can take advantage of weaknesses in yours, the odds are in my favour. If your style can take advantage of weaknesses in mine, the odds are in your favour. If you never train ground work or stopping takedowns, someone that trains takedowns and ground work has a HUGE advantage over you. What you learn and how you train it play a HUGE part in how well you can fight, as to size, strength, ability to take a hit, guts and a few other things.

In "Traditional" systems, Red belt is 9th / 10th dan I still vote for none Instructor / coach certification yes, belt ranks, not needed.

That's where it gets its name, that's all. A cross is a straight line punch off the back leg, that's all that really needs to be there. The reasons behind the name aren't always going to apply. Like martial arts, the name hints at war, but very few martial arts have anything at all to do with war, and something like planning and targeting artillery fire is not likely to be refered to as a "Martial Art".

If you train for 2-3 years, what matters more, the color of your belt or how much you've learnt? Belts mean absolutely nothing to anyone outside of your school, no one else cares. They are a internal motivation and retention tool, nothing more. If the school owner has found that by following a promotion schedule that gets people to black in 2-3 years keeps more people there longer, then that is the schedule he should use. If he adheres to some misguided belief that black belt has some high meaning and should take many years while all his students get bored, fed up and leave, he's missed the point. As for me, I only give belts to kids, the adults shouldn't need them. So all black belts I award are going to be to kids

Which is why you need people to train against. It's like learning to play chess on your own(no computer either) Without another person it's just not possible.

"So Yellow belt Andrew can you tell me more about that lineage of kobudo and how it's like compared to others?" Well that's gonna all fall apart if he keeps posting Anyways, do a search for "Tadashi Yamashita" and you should pull up some stuff. His stuff is kinda in the mix of Traditional and hollywood flashy stuff, which makes sense given his acting background. Not sure his Kobudo lineage, but he is a Shorin ryu stylist

See: Billy Blanks, great workout I hear. trainforstrength.com has some good stuff as well. Or get some basice boxing instruction and a heavy bag and a skipping rope. If you are looking to fight anyone but yourself, you need people to train with...

" I'm about 6' 3" and around 255 lbs. " Well, as far as fights go, that right there is a good start... At that size and weight if you are in decent shape you will be better off then a good deal of blackbelts... " would Jujutsu be adequate enough to be able to defend myself in a fight if need be?" No, at best it will increase your odds of being able to do so. Same as any system, some increase them more, some increase them less. Pick a teacher not a style, there is a wide range in each. SOme are good, some are bad.

Stand in front of someone with the same lead, have them stick out a jab, you stick out a cross. They will cross over each other.