TraditionalDan

I have since found a good 3rd dan instructor from Brazil, so I have stuck with him.

I don't think this has anything to do with TMA vs MMA, the simple fact is most TMA classes, and MMA classes neglect many important aspects of self defence. Both MMA and TMA on thier own have thier weaknesses on the street, and experience on the street is also a big factor. I also believe there is difference between learning to defend youself as a bouncer, security guard or police, than as a person. I have experience of this, as I am sure many others do. But you cannot condemn a person to MMA or TMA only, as either may be diversified in thier training. The simple fact is, if you just say 'here I am, a martial artist, I want to gear my training 100% to learning and researching self defence.' Then considering yourself a TMA or a MMA goes out the window.

I can only second what ps1 has said, it may even be worth having another topic on. Some people need more water than others, such as myself. I seem to sweat alot. Where some of the other students might not. People need to be treated individually, just as thier martial arts should be. This being said, I have heard of some clubs, and body building clubs suggest training in warm conditions. (Maybe this was just meant as opposed to cold conditions).

I am with the JKS, (in my signature).

Hey!

If you want to know what books either Iain or Geoff have, just go to thier websites for an idea. http://www.iainabernethy.com/ or http://www.geoffthompson.com/ These guys are great, and very approachable. They have good knowledge and experience.

When I was at work a little while back, one of the guys jumped out on me to make me jump. I was interested to see my response. I stepped back away from him and assumed a half back stance, and put up my 'fence'. Arms in front of my body. I was glad to a certain extent that some of my training paid off. Do you have any more details of the article itself, or how it is supposed to work?

That's the guy!

I'm glad we agree, if people want to learn self defence, then we need to find it from a good source. If we want to learn self defence, we need someone who has plenty of martial arts and self defence experience. These people are often hard to find, but if we do research we can find out alot. If anyone reading is seriously considering real self defence, they should check out some of Geoff Thompson's work. He has some excellent books, backed up with plenty of experience. That's just a start, and I know there are plenty of others.

I think to MMAers and TMAers can learn from each other. But there are also areas of self defence that can be neglected by both. Such as verbal engagement (and many others) etc, even some self defence classes neglect these things.

I think alot of western people think that karate is just for kids, seeing as there are classes at most schools. I think it is just down to lack of knowledge and understanding, some people just nervously make fun of martial arts because they don't actually understand them. If I was in a similar situation, I would ask why he thought karate was just for kids. You would be surprised at how quickly, and how much he would come unstuck.

It seems as thought there will never be competetive fights to the death legally. I am sure we would see more deaths, and possibly more traditional martial artists. If you look up the rules of the UFC, the first 17 are all valid karate techniques!

I will be doing the same, trying to strengthen and sharpen my karate further. The one problem the summer brings is the impossible hotness of my conservatory! (Which is where I train alone twice a week). I have started to train in the back garden in the evening now, on some unlevel concrete slabs. But I stand on some level slabbed steps to drill basics.

Nicely put.

A good post, one that practitioners of any art/arts should read. It's good to let people know that it is sometimes your goals as a martial artist, rather than the style that will be effective in self defence.

I have done training in both styles, and I am glad you have found the right one for you. Goju is a powerful and practical style. Good luck!

I'm sure this happens to many people, and I have been in situations similar. You think to yourself 'how dare they', and at times you get worked up about it. But I have learnt that it is best to just let it go. If you're a competent martial artist, you will know that if a physical attack did arise, it would be your assailant in the regretful position. If anything, you can be sympathetic to these people by letting them off. Thier misplaced anger will be vented on someone similar to themselves one day, then they'll either get what they want, or the complete opposite. If you know how good you are, then it is easier to walk away.

The key words in your quote are 'might' and 'may'. In addition to the sound advice already given, I must add that if you want to benefit from meditative practice, you must persevere. Do not be doubtful, if you think doubtfully, you will do doubtfully. I hope this helps.

Hopefully it will be painful too!

That sounds like a good conclusion to me.

To cut a long answer short, yes.

Thanks for the equation (which I am aware of), I am just bringing up something for us to think about. I still don't think I would have got the same score on this 'Dragon Punch' machine with a straight punch, even though the mass is much greater behind it. With a rounder arm technique however, the hand-speed is much greater, but the mass behind it is less. But I will get a better score. The reason being I think, is that the punch ball on the machine is actually quite small (speedball sized). So it doesn't really have the time to caculate the mass thrown at it, and being as it is quite small it doesn't give much feedback. So the mass is therefore not needed for a higher rating. If you catch my drift..?

I agree with bushido man and DWx. There is a medium however. I agree that speed = power, but if I was to perform a reverse straight punch on the machine I wouldn't get the same results as I did with a hooking punch (which got me 9300). But I personally think that a reverse straight punch (contact with the seiken) to an opponent's body (not the head) I would cause alot more damage than the punch I performed on the 'Dragon Punch' (hooking punch). Simply because of the extra mass behind the technique, but then, that it only because of the opposing mass (the opponent's torso). I conclude that, it may read your power for that particular technique, but the makeup of the recieving reader is not that of the human body. As such it will not be able to determine the outcome of the technique if it was inflicted upon a human.

If 'taught properly', then any one of them.

If you feel that you are in danger and there is no way out whatsoever (but only if there is no other way out), then defend with a non lethal effective attack with 100% force. The law should be understanding of this (I live in the UK). Think out what your 'main artillery' will be, and train it until you can do it in your sleep.