I Am Sick Of So Many Things

[ckdstudent]

I'm not quite sure if that proves Einstein right or wrong, but its a theory anyway so it doesn't really matter.

 

I think you need to add a fourth category, the self-defense arts, to include those arts that teach how to defend in the average confrontation, but not how to streetfight. Then again maybe not. I'm not sure. Ack. Head go boom.

 

 

[G95champ]

That is what we consider the traditional arts. You only fight when you have to. I should have added that in my statement.

 

 

[MonkeyNinja]

I totally agree with you!! Especially with the comptitions. I did a point tourney up in Denver. And I was expecting to be coming home with some serious bruises.

 

I did lose, but I felt no pain at all!! The guy merely tapped me and he got the point(s). I have heard a lot of people complaining that these tourneys are getting to watered down.

 

If we "Americans" were to fight like that in Japan or Thailand we end up in the hospital!

 

As far as kids with blackbelts go? I can't give a real opinion on that. I do believe though that many kids do not deserve it. I have even heard that a kid as young as 4ys. old got his blackbelt!! No joke. I think it was in TKD.

 

Now as an instructor, I will not allow any student, regardless of age to be promoted till he/she can do all the techniques required, and do them effectively. Especially against a bigger oppenent. We only use a cup, and sometimes ,gloves and headgear. but that is it! no shin guards, mouthpieces are used on occasion. But our system is 70percent combat, 27 percent evasion. The only katas we learn/teach is a basic staff kata, and kata dante.

 

We do use belts but it is more for tournements then as a ranking system.

 

In my system no one can get their cerificate in ninjistu till they are 18yrs. old.

 

MonkeyNinja

[Bon]

G95champ, you answered my arguments quite well, better than I expected. =p At this point in time, I'll say nothing more on kata until I've trained in it in quite some detail.

 

MonkeyNinja, your point is clear.. Heh. =)

 

 

[Bitseach]

It seems odd to me to see very young black belts. And faintly ridiculous! I started MA in judo and in the British Judo Association at that time (don't know if it's still the case) juniors were not allowed to become Dan grades for that reason, and for safety. Once they reached a certain age (16?) they were allowed to grade as adults, but not necessarily at the equivalent Kyu level. This seemed to me to be a good system. They could get to brown belt and this was recognised as being bloody good! However they then had to work hard again to get used to fighting adults and grading against people heavier than they.

 

When I started karate (shotokan) I was shocked to see some very young BBs!

 

Incidently, as I've said elsewhere on the boards, the only time so far I've had to use the MAs physically to defend myself or others it has been an instinctive move straight out of drills, not anything I've learned through sparring! I'm am NOT saying that sparring isn't useful for self-defence (that would be silly!) but that seemingly mindless drills and katas CAN be bloody good for self-defence too. Often you DO just need one or two moves to get you out of immediate danger and then the mouth can do the rest.

 

Personally I don't like sparring as a) I'm not very good at it, b) it hurts (see a)) and c) where I work I cannot turn up with black eyes or anything! (Oh yeah and, d) I'm a big scaredy-cat!)

 

 

[Withers M.A.A.]

I agree with kids getting blackbelts. My instructor wouldn't promote me to blackbelt until I was 18. If I was with anyone else I would have gotten it by 15 but I had to wait. I'm glad that I did because it meant so much more to me. As for getting a blackbelt in 6 months, well I've never heard of that. If you can get it that soon then that is so wrong. 6 months makes you still a beginner.

 

 

[G95champ]

Bon

 

It was fun lol. We will have to do it again soon. Good luck and I hope you find a good kata teacher one day. I would stick with the traditional kata if I were you that way you can get many differant resources on them like books, magizines, videos. etc.

 

Just wondering how old you are? I am 24 made my blackbelt at 18.

 

 

[Sinbad]

Bitseach

 

loved your 4 reasons for not being keen on sparring!

 

<>

 

I pretty much agree with you

 

 

However, despite that I think all martial artists should get some sparring under their belts for obvious reasons.

 

I do think that LOTS of sparring makes you a better fighter, but fighting is not the same as self defence.

 

 

[Bon]

G95champ, yeap it was! I learnt a lot.. I thought I'd talk about physics 'cause most people have never studied it, but as it turns out I don't know what I'm talking about myself. =p

 

I just turned 17 in April.

 

As for the kata, I really can't do anything but agree with it now. The moves really did flow like second nature when I did karate.. Maybe I was doing the right art but didn't appreciate it at the time.. Ah well, my jj will do for now.

 

 

[Bon]

ONLY for now while I'm doing my last year of school though. As soon as that's finished, I'll be training in all the dojos in my area. =)