Montana

Thanks all!!!

I'd like to thank the Academy, my mom and dad, my Sensei, my students, my dog and 4 cats, and all of YOU for putting up with my shenanigans!

18 years??? Wow..I really didn't realize it had been that long!

Hey wait! I got Member of the Month???

COOOOOOOOOOL!

Again, is he in my "personal space"? Arms distance? Fists clenched? Postering? In general, the law allows you to strike first ONLY if you feel your life is in imminent danger.

Factors to consider, is he drugged? Drunk? Larger than you? Threating words? In your space? Previous encounters?

Self-defense in this scenario is so hard to define because of the factors that could be involved.

Generally, the law says you have the right to defend your personal space. There is no specific definition for "personal space".

What I taught was "that distance that makes you comfortable". That can vary from person to person, situation to situation.

In general, I like to think of it as "arms distance". If I can reach my arm out and touch you, you are in my space.

Now, as to what sort of technique you'd use to protect your personal space, that depends a lot on the situation and who's violating that space. A friend? Stranger? LARGE

On 4/20/2025 at 10:02 PM, KarateKen said:

I prefer the Sharpie, but maybe it is time to check out those BIC markers. 

Well, with a Sharpie, you at least |SEE where you hit them (that'll leave a mark!) to identify the attacker later. But the point is to soft IMO. ABIC is much more solid and also will "leave a mark".

I always have a couple of pens near me. Granted, they're not real sharp, but they can penetrate and against an opponent that's close enough, there are many soft targets you can attack. Eyes, throat, under the chin/jaw, armpit, ribs, side of the head, inside of the arm, back of the hand, solar plexus, groin, inside of the legs, kidneys, back of the head, and back of the knee. BIC pens are especially sturdy. 

Sitting in a restaurant, knife, fork, spoon handle, candle (wax) come to mind.

Somebody mentioned cell phones. They have a small edge/corner and can be used under the jaw bone to press against if you're grabbed. No so good for striking.

A belt was also mentioned. I wouldn't try it like Jackie Chan does lol but it can be used like a whip, and for myself, I wear a heavy Carhart belt, which has a pretty solid buckle.

Welcome Brandon! That's a whole lot of ranks for your age. When did you start training?

None. We have no virtues. We're doomed!

Mine was a partially torn anterior crucia ligament (sp?) on my left knee. I was demonstrating with an adult student a defense against a 2 handed grab, was looking/speaking to the class when my opponent swept my knee. There was no call for it other than screwing around. He was dismissed from my class.

5 hours ago, Spartacus Maximus said:

The open handed hands in front starting or ready position used in Okinawa uechi ryu karate makes a lot of sense for practical defensive use. Does anyone have an idea of where or how it came to be?

Perhaps it is another feature of this style’s Chinese roots. None of the other Okinawan or Japanese martial arts have anything similar. Are there other martial arts in the world with something similar?

Shorin Ryu Matsumura Seito does this also. It's our more advanced "ready stance" for self defense. Hands are up, slight bend of the knees, feet about 2 feet apart.

My guess is it's pretty rampant and frequent. I've gone to many schools in my travels to watch what they do, and some of them just plain SUCK! Yet you read the reviews and they sound like heaven on earth. I've been retired for some time now and never used the internet for my dojo. I always preferred word of mouth.

I always had an 80# heavy bag or two, and a makiwara. I was there to teach karate, not cardio, strength training, aerobics or weight loss. Get a gym membership if that's your goal.

On 11/13/2024 at 10:38 PM, KarateKen said:

What about the other 90%? 

oops! I meant 100%

SHEESH! I'm old, give me a break here! lol

What was his cause of death? I practice the same system, but under the teachings of the late Sensei Kuda Yuichi.

My new goals for 2025.

Begin each day waking up with a pulse.

Don't fall over putting my underwear, pants or socks on.

Be able to manage any aches and pains encountered throughout the day.

Resist the urges to strangle, beat, defame, belittle or run over the little idiot in Walmart with the purple mohawk, dozen piercings, tattoos up the wazoo wearing all black.

That's about it.

On 11/8/2024 at 9:48 PM, bushido_man96 said:

As an instructor, with students paying for their time with the school, I feel I should offer as much to their training as I possibly can.  I don't feel like spending the first 5 or 10 minutes of class sitting quietly and meditating is the most efficient use of that time.  I'd much rather get them started on the physical training.  If students would want to show up early to meditate for a few minutes before class, I would encourage that.

10% AGREE! If you want to mediate, great ... on your own time, not mine. Come early and mediate all you want, or stay late. Either I'm ok with.

I'm thinking my particular system doesn't put a big WHOOP on tests and belt advancement. The testing sensei asks the students to do certain kata, various learned skills or techniques that he\she wants to see (usually ones you've struggled with), decides you know it, or not...and move on. There's not a lot of emphasis or making a big deal out of testing.

The only time my original sensei really did anything special for a test was if somebody got their black belt. Then it was time to break out the Saki and TOASTS!

On 11/5/2024 at 7:36 AM, bushido_man96 said:

Here's an example of what I was visualizing.

https://www.google.com/search?q=question+mark+kick&rlz=1C1UEAD_enUS945US945&oq=question+mark+kick&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyDAgAEEUYORixAxiABDIHCAEQABiABDIHCAIQABiABDIHCAMQABiABDIHCAQQABiABDIHCAUQABiABDIHCAYQABiABDIHCAcQABiABDIHCAgQABiABDIHCAkQABiABNIBCTQ2MDlqMGoxNagCCLACAQ&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:9044369d,vid:6hPtOH1Z6O4,st:0

Here's one that doesn't have the curl at the end.  He uses it with a feint as well instead of just as a one-off.

I believe this is more like the technique you are describing:

 

Yep, that's pretty much it.

I was asked this question many times by new students, whether we mediated or not.

We don't.

I've seen many classes where they mediate before, or after class, to prepare themselves mentally to train. I find that concept troubling because you're teaching yourself a bad habit IMO. Sure, mediate before class, or after, but if you HAVE to meditate to get yourself in the right frame of mind, then what are you going to do when a thug confronts you on the street and wants a fight?

"Pardon me sir, may I be allowed to meditate for 10 minutes before we engage in combat?" You need to get into that fighting, combat mindset IMMEDIATELY!

I've never been a fan of pads of any sort, except for Bogu gear, which is similar to kendo helmet and a canvas chest protector, leather lightweight gloves. Full contact...literally.

I'm old school, learn accuracy and control when sparring. Hit happen, people accept them as part of the "game", but every effort is to control your technique.

The only time I've worn foot and leg pads/gloves was when my students guilt tripped me into entering a tournament that I took a few to out of town. I entered the black belt sparring in these big, clunky and bad fitting "booties" and a pair of foam gloves. Single elimination, I won my first two matches, then the third was against a friend of mine from an eclectic kung fu system. I'd never fought him before. Score ties 4-4, time ran out, and he got the 5th point. I ended up placing 3rd (my first, and only tournament as a competitor), then got 2nd in kata doing Chinto . I retired from competition after that.

On 10/28/2024 at 2:52 PM, bushido_man96 said:

I think the "question mark" kick you mention tries to curl back down on contact as well.  I'm not sure if @Montana's variation finishes with a downward curve, or if it just travels straight across into the target like a round kick would.

I'm not sure what you mean by a downward curve, but all of our kicks are withdrawn straight back usually, not just dropped. Less chance of being caught.

On 8/24/2023 at 6:07 AM, DarthPenguin said:

Am curious about this - from the description it sounds very like a 'question mark kick'. Is it the same kick in execution of if not i am curious how it differs - always good to learn some new techniques

Well, I have no idea what a question mark kick is, so can't help you. Try mine the way I described it. Up to your knee first, knee pointing straight at your opponent, then as it goes forward you hook it into a roundhouse.

Early on in my teaching my first class I would have said no if approached to teach them a kata, especially a higher one. Now I'd consider it depending on who it was and why they wanted to learn it. For example: I've had "sensei's" that had a green belt in one system, brown in another, yellow in something else and saw a few kung fu movies, declared themselves a BB and started teaching. Absolutely NOT would I teach them a kata or anything else. 

On 9/6/2022 at 7:37 PM, bushido_man96 said:

I can't speak to the form itself, but I think it looks pretty good. I would suggest trying to get more hip into some of the movements; you'll really see the power pop that way. I imagine at a faster, stronger pace, it looks even better.

Just a side not, he does Matsumura Seito Shorin Ryu. We don't generate power through our hips like a lot of other systems do.

Well, I could tell you all why we Okinawan stylists stand pretty naturally, rather than in a deep rooted stance, but they I'd have to kill you all. So, there's that aspect.

Well, OK, I'll share. We stand rather naturally because we're a more relaxed and "natural" system. Shorter stances, relaxed posture instead of tense and tight, the entire dojo and training system is based around this concept. A huge part of it is the way Okinawans view themselves compared to the Japanese and Koreans.

Okinawans are more Polynesian in nature, and appearance, than the Japanese and Korean people. Their way of viewing and doing things is different. their entire culture is different. Take a look at the typical Japanese or Korean dojo. Strict regimen, stand at attention when sensei speaks, lots of bowing and scraping, barked commands, loud yelling, punishment for infractions, etc. Whereas in some Okinawan dojos they're laid back, laughing, relaxed, not much for militaristic control, smiling, happy, butterflys dancing and unicorns singing.

Oops, ignore that last part. Those are the very high sensei's doing that stuff.

Anyway, the mindset of a Okinawan dojo is a lot different that that of the Japanese and Korean dojo, as are the techniques.