dete

mine is in an area that you will never see. it's a type of talisman. also I did the design, since I'm a big dracula fan...

Hi Brian thanx back when I was training Thaiboxing, I was pretty violent and arrogant, thought I was quite invincible, and I sparred a very good Karate guy. His style was very different from mine, and I had to admit it was a draw. He also had this very respectful peacful personality so I admired him and was able to see that it's not the style but the individual, I never thought I would have a hard time sparring with a traditional Okinawan stylist. Up until this point I had made a few other Thaiboxers retire by destroying their shins. It was a nice lesson for me to learn. When I was training in BJJ I once again fell victim to my own arrogance and thought I was quite invincible, I go to spar a national qualifier Shuai Jao stylist. his style doesn't focus on ground grappling but because of his training he had fantastic attributes, it felt like he was a seasoned submission wrestler. Not only did I realize the beauty of style, I also had to admit that his style would be better suited for FBI, CIA. More importantly I had gained a friend and a training partner. Long time ago I had dreams to become Thaiboxing state champion. around that time, right before I was gonna take my Thaiboxing training to that level and follow that path, The UFC was in. I had a choice to pursue my old dream or go explore this thing called Gracie jiu-jitsu. I decided to try this ground fighting which was something from my past. a decade later, I got to meet the former state thaiboxing champ who was in my weight class, I got to spar him. I stood toe to toe did fine, then took him to the ground and gave him an armbar nice and slow not to upset or hurt him. I was happy with the path I took, and we became friends and trained together! moral of all these stories, make friends and train together

the final guy I think took it pretty easy on Jason even though much lighter, looked like a mean fighter. his elbow when he was warming up looked vicious.

most of their episodes, the final match is usually VERY much in the class of light sparring, exhibition, but this is one of the ones where it looked pretty hardcore.

I thought a martial arts instructor would be a kind of spiritual role model, if not then just a role model as a good decent human being.

Thanx for your detailed response Marie Curie, you just made this thread. as for my own response, I'm going to exclude grappling for a moment, I have to go with what Bruce Lee mentioned in his Tao of JKD. He said something like, western arts are way too risky (because of the sport aspect, gloves, rules, refs.) & eastern arts are way too defensive (self-defense aspect). When I spar in Thaiboxing, they are in your face, trading shots, fighting for the clinch, organs get hammered, I see stars, my jaw gets sore, etc. When I spar with traditional martial art guys generally whether it be out of respect or they are not use to it or whatever, there is much less commitment. And we start striking each others defense, so now we got shots to the bone, lots of forearm shots, joints, the outer surface, and it hurts in a totally different way. this of course is just generally speaking of my own experiences.

What is some of the biggest differences you have noticed when sparring a Karateka and a practitioner of another style?

I just saw it, very impressed. I think it was Bill's toughest match, and the experience made him much stronger and also respectful towards less tangible things not commonly found in western sports.

I think Rickson Gracie said it best on CHOKE, strong guys grow on trees, they're everywhere!

when you live it that sounds like myth, but when you understand the principals and you have been applying them to your everyday life for years now. Some intuitive people will recognize it in you right away, they will say you move differently than regular people. I remember in college I took a class, intro to gymnastics, my coach told me he noticed it in my movements. My parents don't see me train but they notice it in my behavior when something critical happens, they say I'm abnormally calm. Just working out in the gym, I've had people tell me, don't try to hide it, I can tell you train. And then here are more automatic examples of benefits: I was on the track team, they changed the track to this weird bouncey tire tar like stuff, a week later, everyone got shin splits, except for me, I credit the shin conditioning. Another time working as a over night stocker in home depot, my partner and I had to carry buckets of paint, he was a big strong guy, and I'm a little guy, he thought it was odd that I would sit down and push the buckets with my legs instead of shoving them in with my arms, I'd always think of leverage & keeping the body tight as one unit rather than over extending or reaching. He ended up with back surgery, aside from being a little sore everynight I was fine.

I've seen that video before, I heard tales of that story back in the late 90's it was legendary to me at the time. enojoyed the video again, thanx! even though Mr. Utah clearly doesn't know anything about subs to face someone 100lbs. heavier in a vale tudo match is impressive to me, maybe not to Matt Hughes but it is to me. congrats to PS for his promotion!

if the ground is the worst place to be in a street fight, it is nice to know that your comfortable in there. Then the other places don't seem as bad

nice to attach a face to the name.

nice!

I also enjoyed this.

I enjoyed this one.

knife, knife & anything pertaining to the knife

I think this article has many information that one can benefit from if they are willing/open.

I had my own school, and it wasn't for me. it's very difficult to make a living. for me esp. because I'm more like the Mr. Miyagi type backyard training kind of guy. I'd rather go to a park with a friend and practice escrima or Tai Chi and see if anyone is interested too. testing for belts, kids class & aerobic kickboxing is a turn off for me.

I'm glad you enjoyed Omid

one of the best teachers I had was in Biology, a world famous scientist. honestly he didn't teach good. but he was a good human being. That made me study very very hard.

Jay it took me a while to get use to Lee Evans comedy, but after a quarter in, I was rolling on the floor. He was in Something about Mary wasn't he? And Marie Curie, I gotta give this to Jay, his comedian of choice was funnier than yours.

I'm totally on this bandwagon! I like Omid and if you liked that then check this one out. http://youtube.com/watch?v=G6ln3TjuB_Q&feature=related

I didn't want to, didn't mean to, but they were so loud

Dundee in that scene is the perfect example of composure giving you the edge