Kyle-san

It depends on your style, your sensei, and how often you do things. Mine is a hard workout, but because of time constraints with my sensei he only holds class once a week. If I had three times a week I'd be in amazing shape, as it is I'm still doing pretty well for myself.

Heian Shodan

Wrist weights.

The owner of these forums and the person you just quoted.

I agree that there are different paths to effectiveness in combat, however from the perspective of many there are arts that are naturally "combative" and some that aren't. For example, Krav Maga is a good example of a "combative" art, specifically because it was designed for modern security and self-defence forces. Whereas something like Tai Chi isn't what most people think of when the phrase "Combative Martial Arts" comes up. With that being said, though, I'm aware that Tai Chi has several aspects that lead it to combat. It's all a scale based on degrees of usefulness for combat and, generally speaking, is completely subjective.

Feel free to test that theory at any time.

Theoretically, those moves are possible. However, in reality, it's near impossible for most people to do any of those. Remember, just because the original basis for those games comes from actual martial arts, the characters have been designed to do the nigh-impossible.

Because some have a specific focus on combat, while others... don't.

Yes. And vice versa.

Unfortunately, the history of my art hasn't been traced with any type of accuracy. In fact, other than my sensei I haven't seen anyone else teaching this specific art. Heh, and I only know the first names of his two sensei. So, by default, my style's champion would be Rob Roziere.

Andrew gave several good reasons of why karate is looked down on, but because you [fireka] disagree with them you choose to write off what he's saying as a "personal attack" or "crazy ex-military paranoid ramblings". Try listening to what Andrew has to say, and if you disagree with it, fine. At least you'd be giving his statements some thought that way.

Unarmed, probably not. If she had a weapon though, that's a matter of serious injury or life/death. There's no gender then.

Honestly, go with whatever makes you feel the most comfortable. It doesn't matter if the focus of many people is on the BJJ/MT combination, just find an art you feel at home with. There are a lot of advantages to a BJJ or MT background, but most of them are geared towards time in the ring.

It depends on what style and the sensei. Sadly, there are a lot of karate factories out there right now with the goal of making as much money as possible, even if that means a loss of proper training. Hell, I even saw an ad in a financial magazine about starting your own karate dojo: NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. And people wonder why karate is the butt of so many jokes.

It's just a fact of life, the popular marial arts world is no longer oriented on karate. All that matters is if you are comfortable with your style or not. It doesn't matter if people are making fun of karate, as they likely have no idea what a decent karate-ka can do.

I've been choked out, but never knocked out.

So? You know better, your instructor knows better. Does it really matter what your brother says?

Hah, if a girl decided she wanted to attack me I do my best to avoid actually striking her, but would have no problems locking her into a nice wrist lock or arm bar. But, that never happens. They always seem to send their boyfriends at me.

Shotokan is slow in comparison to a lot of other arts, specifically because it relies so much on one hit kills and gives no thought to combinations. Specific fighters will always be faster, or more powerful, or whatever, so saying that you're fast is... well, not a very good judge of the art.

It's not so much about him being a fake as showing that his methods weren't as infallable as some people make them out to be. Despite the fact that the truth will never be known, I feel that was an excellent article.

I'm not so sure about that, Shuriken-Jutsu would translate to the art of projectiles, correct? So wouldn't the focus of the art be on darts and other such thrown projectiles?

Take it to whatever level he's at. If it's nothing more than pushing and shoving [posturing] then I'm just going to walk away. If he's really trying to fight I'll try and warn him off, but defend myself. If he's got some weapon or there are more than one of them picking the fight, I'll defend myself and probably try to break whatever I manage to get ahold of.

Good for you. If you're ever up north in the Manitoba area, let me know. I'd be more than willing to spar you and help out with your journey. I think it's great that you want to prove yourself with Shotokan, however keep your eyes and mind open. Even if you don't switch styles, knowing what they focus on and their philosophy is very important.

Apparently, a variation of Muay Thai used to be used for combat, but I don't know nearly enough to fill you in. But, it isn't the martial part that's in dispute, it's the "art" element. What does boxing or kickboxing or Muay Thai have that qualifies them as an art? Any philisophical views, any traditions as an art, any of the things you would normally associate with an "art" style?

I was using the example of the schools being a dime a dozen, with the quality of instruction dropping. Of course there are good and bad instructors regardless, however the number of bad increases as belts are dished out without regard for technique.