Do you study/train in any type of mrtial arts?.

[EmptyForceOfChi]

Do you study or take part in any forms of martial arts?,or did you used to train and have quit?.


peace.

[solidsquid]

I first started when I was in high school in Korean Freestyle Karate and did that for a little over a year. Later I started studying aikijujitsu for almost two years. Later (after a stint in the Navy) I started studying shaolin kung fu and some Muay Thai and I did that for a bit over three years. I started back into school and haven't really had a chance to practice since about 2003. After I finish up my grad work I plan on picking back up my training. I hope to start some parts of the training sooner such as basic stretches, short forms and line drills. Later on I plan on getting heavy back into Kung Fu - I started (not long before I started school again) for a short time to learn the five animals and was really attracted to the snake.

I'm not sure what my ranking would be considered in Kung Fu since our school didn't use belt ranks - just teacher and student, that's it. I've talked with my brother in law who has a black belt in jujitsu and is an mixed martial arts fighter in a local organization and he thinks I should start training again and try out even if I don't have a documented black belt (a requirement for entry). However, I don't know if MMA is my gig. Last time I was in a tournament (my sifu put me in the sparring event at the red belt rank, they used Tae Kwon Do rankings at the tournament I think) and I scored one point and then was disqualified for punching the other guy's side kick he threw at me. Apparently punching the kicking foot is illegal, all well.

Anyhow, that's my story there.

[Avatar]

Taekwon-Do (ITF) since 12. But I'm rusty as hell atm. Today I was at training after 6 months of not showing up and my mates wiped the floor with me. :D

But it's ok, and I'm now back in action. Feels good.....

[spidergoat]

I think I mentioned this before. I took Tang Soo Do as a teenager. It was fun, but I quit to take piano. I never practiced enough at either thing, but the martial arts did help me hold my own in high school wrestling. People who thought I would be an easy target were surprised.

[Tnerb]

I used to take Yoshukai Karate. But I quit about 6 or so years ago. I have ever since I was about 10 taken the classes. I practiced a lot on my own. I was pretty good.

[CutsieMarie89]

I practice martial arts. But I don't specialize in any particular style. I just do what they teach me and use whatever my body decides to for the current situation I'm in. I've only been doing it for 3 years or so, but I've gotten really good so I help the marines out on weekends. I get beaten up a lot, but it's so much fun I love it!

[visceral_instinct]

I do kickboxing. I've done it for 3 years. I've only been to one competition. Was going to go to some last season, but there were no other girls/women (I'm 18, use whichever term you like) to fight me. :( I really want to go to another one. The adrenaline rush is fucking awesome.

[nietzschefan]

I am a master in dickcumDD.

Seriously I took Tae Kwon Do. Learned lots about Korean Culture, some language and had some fun competing in the SPORT.

Did not really learn how to fight from it. It's a sport, almost useless in a life and death fight.

[visceral_instinct]

I did some Muay Thai and jujitsu informally, too. It was great fun, I miss it.

Also did shotokan karate for a while, but it was boring.

And some taekwondo, but that was early on a saturday morning. :D

[spidergoat]

I do know an expert in Hapkido, he is pretty incredible.

[visceral_instinct]

Hapkido is pretty cool, I wouldn't mind learning some.

[spidergoat]

He saved the lives of two women he was with when they were threatened by two muggers, he got his jaw broken in the process though.

[visceral_instinct]

Wow.

That is noble.

My respect goes to him.

[spidergoat]

He's got a pacemaker now, but I still wouldn't want to fight him. He specialises in escapes (lockpicking, straitjacket, ropes, chains), and lately, the bullwhip as a martial arts weapon.

[Anti-climactic]

I am currently in Wado Kai karate

[Pandaemoni]

I've been boxing for about 15 years.

[EmptyForceOfChi]

Cool,

Solidsquid you have studied very simular styles as me, I have been training since I was about 4 years old in martial arts. Started as people usualy do in basic karate with a mc dojo instructor, Then moved onto boxing but as I got a little older I started really training with most of my free time. I have trained in Muay Thai under instructor bill chudd he is very respected in thailand by the locals. I trained in a little jeet kun do but not a serious amount, I box on a regular basis (well not so much lately). I have trained in systemma and other military combat forms, I have done a fair bit of Taiji and Qigong But my main focus and love is Shaolin gong fu which I have trained under for some time now at the only shaolin temple in the UK in north west london under Shifu Shi Yanzi who also teaches many Iron conditioning classes and sanshou on the side. He is by far the best teacher I have ever trained under, A true shaolin monk with great skill and a very nice person. I study Chuan buddhism with him sometimes also.

I dabble in many forms just to test my own skills against whatever anybody else may have. I am a big fan of realistic training that works on the street. But I do not neglect the old traditionl ways because they are what gives me great form, endurance and focus. I train now and then with friends in weapons training, using fake knives and wooden sticks in place of swords etc. We don't use padding or armour of any kind and it is full contact, I don't suggest anybody else do tha because we have had some painfull injuries, but if you know the risks and still want to then feel free.

I also have been involved with training security officers and protection teams as a part time job in the past, which was quite fun.



peace.

[Carcano]

I dont believe learning any martial arts technique improves your chances in a real fight.

[Avatar]

I dont believe learning any martial arts technique improves your chances in a real fight.
Of course it does, because you know how to hit, how to evade and how to block, your stamina and ability to withstand pain is a lot greater than for those who have no training, besides you then are able to have a strategy, think ahead and cheat your opponent a lot better, because that's what you've been learning for years.
People with no training usually just go straight at you and thus make super easy targets.

[Carcano]

Of course it does, because you know how to hit, how to evade and how to block, your stamina and ability to withstand pain is a lot greater than for those who have no training, besides you then are able to have a strategy, think ahead and cheat your opponent a lot better, because that's what you've been learning for years.
People with no training usually just go straight at you and thus make super easy targets.
If you trained for six months lifting weights, running, and improving flexibility you would be much better off than if you had spent six months learning judo or karate techniques.

[Avatar]

Lifting weights doesn't help much. We've had some weight lifters come to our trainings, they're big, heavy and slow. You could just dance around them and strike 5 times before they even understood, what's happening.
Besides there's a difference between knowing how to lift a weight and how to do a lightning fast kick or a hit that can not be grabbed or stopped.

Any way, think, what you wish, it matters not to me.

[Steve100]

I'm sure Bruce Lee would have defeated someone of the same build and speed (and probably someone even stronger and faster to an extent) who had not learned any martial art.

[inzomnia]

Do you study or take part in any forms of martial arts?,or did you used to train and have quit?.


peace.

I did taekwondo for one year, but that was already many years ago, in the last
year of my high-school.

In addition to that, when I started my elementary school (age 5), I follow
pencak silat (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pencak_Silat) for few years. Every weekend, we had to wake up at 6 and
did long-march few kilometers to a nearby mountain (my home was in the
foot of a mountain) without shoes/sandals, then we started practicing.

[Carcano]

We've had some weight lifters come to our trainings, they're big, heavy and slow.

Besides there's a difference between knowing how to lift a weight and how to do a lightning fast kick or a hit that can not be grabbed or stopped.

Theres no such thing as a lightning fast kick or a hit that cannot be stopped.

That sounds like the silly lines one reads in popular martial arts magazines.

Weight lifters are NOT slow...:p

If they were they would not be able to lift weights!

[Avatar]

Just talking from my experience. Clumsy and slow compared to martial artists.

[MacGyver1968]

Too much muscle mass can slow you down...that's why the best boxers are ripped, but not huge.

[Carcano]

Too much muscle mass can slow you down...that's why the best boxers are ripped, but not huge.
Strengthening muscle shortens it, which creates inflexibility.

This is why boxers and sprinters do stretching as well as weight lifting, but its generally only a problem around the hip joint.

Reaction time is another speed factor and is primarily determined by IQ.

This was one of the first things discovered by intelligence researchers like Sir Francis Galton more than century ago.

If you happen to be stupid, martial arts class wont make you quick.

A person's overall sense of ethics can also slow you down. In martial arts class there is an ethical standard of practicing without causing harm, so you get into the habit of using restraint...a definite liability in a real encounter.

[MacGyver1968]

One thing you do learn is "muscle memory".

It's alot like playing the piano. I've been playing the song "Moonlight Sonata" for 20 something years. I don't even have to think about it when I'm playing...it's like my fingers just magically know which keys to press. I can even carry on a conversation and never look at my hands, and still play it perfectly.

Martial arts, teaches your body what it should do in a fight, "muscle memory". It doesn't give you super powers or make you any faster than you body could be on its own. Just after years of training, you develop a "muscle memory" that allows you to know what to do without having to think about it...leaving your brain open to think about more important things..like "How do I get out of this alive?" :)

[Avatar]

Couldn't have put it better, MacGyver, muscle memory is very important.
There are (or were) some schools who practice two hits for five years and nothing more.

[Carcano]

One thing you do learn is "muscle memory".

It's alot like playing the piano. I've been playing the song "Moonlight Sonata" for 20 something years. I don't even have to think about it when I'm playing...it's like my fingers just magically know which keys to press. I can even carry on a conversation and never look at my hands, and still play it perfectly.
You'll notice however that a organized karate sport competition looks nothing like a real fight.

So what are you really memorizing besides unrealistic situations and movements.

Even Bruce Lee recognized that traditional exercises have more to do with dancing than real fighting. He adopted a more natural western boxing posture for his own art.

[Avatar]

There is a difference between a sports variation of a martial art and a combat variation - they are two completely different things and serve different purposes.

Nobody in their right mind would use a punch that puts a rib through opponents heart or lungs during a sports competition. And nobody in their right mind would use a fancy high kick in a combat situation.

You don't see combat moves during a sports competition exactly because it's a sports competition and not a combat situation.
And bad for people who study sports thinking they train for combat.

[MacGyver1968]

The art that I studied was a combination of several arts. It is only about 50 years old and designed specifically for modern "street" fighting. It's called "ka-ju-ken-bo" (i dont know how its spelled, that phonetical) its a combination of karate, jujitsu, aquito, and kempo boxing.

As you said, Carcano, Katas performed for competitions are more like a dance, and are meant to show grace, and beauty. They aren't what you would use if a drunk at a bar tried to take a swing at you.

Our art even had "drunk buddy" katas that were designed to use to subdue someone without hurting them using grabs and submission holds... In case your buddy or your girlfriend has a "mean drunk" episode, and gets violent...and you don't want to injure them.

Our instructor taught us that unlike the movies, the winner of a fight in public in this modern culture, doesn't get the girl, he gets to go to jail for assault. So learning when not to fight was just as important as when to fight.

[Carcano]

Our instructor taught us that unlike the movies, the winner of a fight in public in this modern culture, doesn't get the girl, he gets to go to jail for assault. So learning when not to fight was just as important as when to fight.
Certainly an excellent point there.

I saw a demonstration once by a 9th dan Japanese Aikido master, who said something extraordinary.

"If you ONLY want to defend yourself and nothing else...go buy a gun. Even I cant stop a bullet."

[Avatar]

True. I train because of the great feeling it gives and aids in my hiking expeditions.
When I see potential trouble I try to avoid it - choose a different path, hide or run.
It's very dangerous to fight for real, because the human body is so fragile. One strike is enough to kill or cripple, and I don't like taking such risks.

[visceral_instinct]

Our instructor taught us that unlike the movies, the winner of a fight in public in this modern culture, doesn't get the girl, he gets to go to jail for assault. So learning when not to fight was just as important as when to fight.

Talking of which, how far is it legal to fight back when someone grabs your ass or something?

My instinct is to just get his little finger and wrench for all I'm worth, but I usually manage to suppress that and use my voice instead...but you can't always do that, for example in a loud area like in a nightclub..

[Carcano]

My instinct is to just get his little finger and wrench for all I'm worth, but I usually manage to suppress that and use my voice instead...
Carry a Speargun!

He'll get the point...:cool:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zxalCnW2ao&feature=related

[Carcano]

If thats too cumbersome...try a quick elbow to the teeth.

Perfect if the molesting party is behind you...assessing your assets. :bugeye:

[visceral_instinct]

Am I likely to go to jail for that?

[Carcano]

Am I likely to go to jail for that?
Which...the speargun or the elbow to the teeth???

[visceral_instinct]

Elbow to the teeth.

[Avatar]

If you go beyond reasonable needs of self defense you are prosecuted.
For example, if you shoot a person who just scratches you.

[visceral_instinct]

But if someone is sexually molesting you on your way to the loos at the pub...and he's 3x your weight and you don't know if he might go further than just pinching your ass and you're scared and your nervous system is going crazy because he's 100kg or so and has 3 mates with him....?

[Avatar]

But if someone is sexually molesting you on your way to the loos at the pub...and he's 3x your weight and you don't know if he might go further than just pinching your ass and you're scared and your nervous system is going crazy because he's 100kg or so and has 3 mates with him....?

Depends on the situation. Choose the least damaging way to get out alive and well. In the end, nothing matters more than staying alive and well.
Maybe you can get out of the back door, or ask for help, or call a friend, phone the police, run away, etc.

[visceral_instinct]

I think my dignity is more important than staying alive and well.

I would never just take it lying down for the sake of my safety.

[Avatar]

Of course, I meant that too!
You wouldn't be well after a rape. Psychic health is as important as physical.

[Carcano]

Elbow to the teeth.
What do you think hes going to do...go blubbering to the pooolice???

"Whaaaaa...a girl knocked my teeth out....whaaaaa!!!"

The cops would laugh in his face.

"Ahhahaha...run home to your mother boy."

[Avatar]

What do you think hes going to do...go blubbering to the pooolice???

"Whaaaaa...a girl knocked my teeth out....whaaaaa!!!"

The cops would laugh in his face.

"Ahhahaha...run home to your mother boy."

If they follow the law, they wouldn't, but start a criminal process.

[visceral_instinct]

Avatar, surely they would not have a legal leg to stand on if they got their teeth knocked out because they were feeling up a girl?

[Avatar]

Depends. It's enough to file a complaint against you.
There would be evidence on their lack of teeth, but no evidence that they were "feeling you up".

[visceral_instinct]

Yay, so basically you go out at night to see your friends, it's open season on you, even if you dress in clothes that make you look like you could be either male or female.

What do you do?

[Avatar]

Don't know, I don't go to such places.

[draqon]

when you people say "feeling up"...what exactly do you mean by that?

[Avatar]

when you people say "feeling up"...what exactly do you mean by that?

Someone grabs your ass or touches your boobs, or something like that.
Someone ever touches your boobs, Draqon? :D :p

[draqon]

Someone grabs your ass or touches your boobs, or something like that.
Someone ever touches your boobs, Draqon? :D :p

isn't that an incriminationg sexist question, Mr. Avatar?

I don't have boobs...

Neither does anyone touch my ass...but ocean in which I swim in and bed upon which I sleep on.

[Steve100]

I don't think the bloke would bother going to the fuzz.

[draqon]

I don't think the bloke would bother going to the fuzz.

"going to the fuzz"? :bugeye: I never had a slang class in my lifetime...

[Avatar]

"going to the fuzz"? :bugeye: I never had a slang class in my lifetime...

Going to the police. Jeez, draq, I'm from Latvia, never been across the pond, but even I understand that.

[draqon]

I'm from Latvia, never been across the pond

...but :bugeye: I thought you like nature and have been traveling across ponds and rivers and lakes...

[Avatar]

Don't play stupid.

[Steve100]

I've never been across the pond either.

[Avatar]

Sorry mate, thought you're from the US. :D

[EmptyForceOfChi]

Carcano,

The military and all police forces across the globe all train in martial arts, purely to improve the real situations they are going to face. Why do police officers train in martial arts?, it's so they have the advantage on the street taking down and over-comming a target.

Basic strength training, stamina training, flexibility etc are all needed for combat, that is why most martial arts prepares you for this not just teaching you "moves". The majority of my shaolin training involves mostly body conditioning and strength/flexibility advancing.


Ofcourse lifting weights helps but you cannot just be strong and healthy and expect to win on those merits alone. Look at the gracie family, they have documented how skill can win over strength many times over. You do not see many body builders winning MMA matches who have no prior martial training.


Learning how to fight is as much mental as physical, you need experience and to develop a fighting mentality. The human body has reactions built in, some of these natural reactions hinder your fighting ability, like flinching and closing your eyes when punches are being thrown. you need to learn footwork and be aware of your surroundings during a fight. Who has better chances of survival if attacked by more than one armed person with knives, a guy who just lifts weights and does cardio training, or a guy who has been training for years in weapons classes, learning how to fend off armed attackers.

Who would you bet your money on seriously if you got 1 pro athlete and stuck him in the ring with a cage fighting heavyweight champion with 20 years fighting experience.

If you train in a particular field it makes you better in that area, like if you practice playing tennis for 15 years its going to make you a better tenis player than somebody who just went to the gym for 15 years.


peace.

[Carcano]

The military and all police forces across the globe all train in martial arts, purely to improve the real situations they are going to face. Why do police officers train in martial arts?, it's so they have the advantage on the street taking down and over-coming a target.

Who would you bet your money on seriously if you got 1 pro athlete and stuck him in the ring with a cage fighting heavyweight champion with 20 years fighting experience.
Police train to subdue. Subdue means render powerless without damage.

Thats fine for drunks and people freaking out on drugs and such, but if a criminal is seriously intent on hurting a cop the police will turn to billy clubs or guns.

If the pro athlete and the heavyweight champion are of similar weight and strength its not really a good comparison.

Lets take a more extreme example:

Suppose you had an Olympic weight lifter up against an average looking guy with three years of technique training. Lets say he knows every Jujitsu move in the book, but is not terribly athletic.

Weight lifters at that level can typically lift 500-540 pounds over their head.

Who would you put your money on???

[Avatar]

guy with three years of technique training. Lets say he knows every Jujitsu move in the book
In three years? Make it at least 10. Besides moves are not everything, it's also muscle memory, ability to think within fight, etc.

[Carcano]

Besides moves are not everything, it's also muscle memory, ability to think within fight, etc.
Thats my point...effective combat has little to do with techniques.

[Avatar]

Thats my point...effective combat has little to do with techniques.

The same as writing has to do with the ability to draw letters.

I suggest you just go to a martial arts class, pick someone who's been training for a 5 years or so and try out on yourself. Thai box would be a good choice.

[EmptyForceOfChi]

Police train to subdue. Subdue means render powerless without damage.

Thats fine for drunks and people freaking out on drugs and such, but if a criminal is seriously intent on hurting a cop the police will turn to billy clubs or guns.

If the pro athlete and the heavyweight champion are of similar weight and strength its not really a good comparison.

Lets take a more extreme example:

Suppose you had an Olympic weight lifter up against an average looking guy with three years of technique training. Lets say he knows every Jujitsu move in the book, but is not terribly athletic.

Weight lifters at that level can typically lift 500-540 pounds over their head.

Who would you put your money on???



Those police officers are also trained in how to use those weapons that they draw on people, which is also martial training. Martial arts was and is used in warfare, from the orient and middle east, right through europe and into america. All of our military forces train in martial arts for good reasons not for the fun of it.

If you got a world champion body builder and put him in the ring with the best heavyweight MMA champion do you really think the body builder would win?. Ontop of that 3 years experience is not going to cut it your still a rookie after 3 years of training, I have been training for 20 years almost and I still have alot to learn and develop.

If you do not train to fight how can you expect to fight better than a person who has put in years of training for the very reason of being a better fighter. Your body and joints simply will not be prepared or conditioned enough for fighting, I do shaolin iron fist training so that my fists do not get injured while pounding peoples hard skulls, if you have regular peoples hands and you punch a skull over and over again it will damage your knuckles, it is simple science bro, your bones are not dense and solid they are simular to a honeycomb structure which can break easily or fracture on high impact. when you do bone conditioning methods it will condense the bone making it much more durable and tougher. I can punch a solid wall and come off without injury because I have been conditioning my bones for years. If you went and punched a solid wall or a tree over and over your hands would be damaged. not to mention your skin is weaker and can be broken faster than mine.

Hitting a heavy bag or bag filled with sand will prepare your arm/hands/wrists for the impact needed for an effective strike. You can't just think you are superman because you can lift some weights and jump into a fight with a skilled veteran and expect to win, that kind of action will result in somebody getting there ass handed to them. I have personaly taught bodybuilders how to fight in the past, also a good point to stress would be bouncers working clubs and bars, I know plenty of them a few of my family members are doormen/bouncers around the east end in London, they all train in some form of martial arts, mostly Jujutsu/judo/boxing/MMA, they are already built like mountains most of them dwarfing regular folk by miles, but yet they are still sensible enough and feel the need to train in martial arts, because martial arts is designed for this very purpose, go and read up on my good friend Kevin O hagan or visit one of his seminars when he comes your way. He is one of the best people who teaches on this exact subject.


Maybe you got martial arts confused with the sporting and semi contact stuff that has become so fmous in modern times, look into some Systemma, Krav Maga, Jujutsu, Shaolin and see what rel martial arts is about, it is not about flashy bullshit you see on TV, it is about real coombat life or death situations in the real world. MMA cage fighting is as real as sporting events can get, but we cannot allow people to go all out with no gloves and no rules to the death for our entertainment, we would be clearing bodies out of the ring every day.


Bottom line is that learning how to fight increases your chances of surviving and winning fights, simple as that. Why would the military use martial arts if it was not effective?.


peace.

[Carcano]

I suggest you just go to a martial arts class, pick someone who's been training for a 5 years or so and try out on yourself. Thai box would be a good choice.
Yes theres many examples of people who got their black belt in karate, thought they were hot stuff now, and then picked a confrontation with an unschooled street fighter and lost...badly.

Thai boxing or kick boxing are good examples of how most martial arts are only relevant against themselves. High kicks are never used in Wing Chun for example because they are too slow and require too much space.

This is why a Thai boxer is only effective against another Thai boxer in a formal match with rules. All you have to do is move in close enough to make kicking impossible and youve foiled half his arsenal.

[MacGyver1968]

Thats where knees and elbows come in handy.

[EmptyForceOfChi]

Yes theres many examples of people who got their black belt in karate, thought they were hot stuff now, and then picked a confrontation with an unschooled street fighter and lost...badly.

Thai boxing or kick boxing are good examples of how most martial arts are only relevant against themselves. High kicks are never used in Wing Chun for example because they are too slow and require too much space.

This is why a Thai boxer is only effective against another Thai boxer in a formal match with rules. All you have to do is move in close enough to make kicking impossible and youve foiled half his arsenal.

I have trained in muay thai to a decent level, under instructor Bill Chudd who was a Thai champion at one point, He teaches in the KO gym in globe road in bethnal green East London,

We favour low kicks and are taught not to use high kicks in a real fight outside of sporting competition, Muay Thai has a main focus on low fast kicks to the side of the knee or just behind the leg. Most Muay Thai fighters will favour low kicks over high kicks.

Boxing and muay thai are effective in street fights, using knees, elbows, various hand strike, clinches and low kicks which work if near to perfected. Boxing is very effective for increasing your fighting stamina and teaching basic hand strikes which work in street fights.


How can you say punches have no effect in street fights?, I have won (guessing roughly) over 20 fights on the street with a clean combination of punches.

You seem to lack real life experience in combat and fighting.


peace.

[visceral_instinct]

All you have to do is move in close enough to make kicking impossible and youve foiled half his arsenal.

Good luck using that tactic on any martial artist worth their salt, let alone a MT fighter.

[Carcano]

How can you say punches have no effect in street fights?

I never said that punches have no effect, what I suggest is that repeating technique forms wont help much in reality.

The truth is that between opponents of equal weight and strength most fights end up on the ground in 10-15 seconds, and all those choreographed moves go right out the window. The martial arts business is primarily about extracting cash from the male ego...by making you look cool!

Take this video for example. Here is a martial artist I can respect - Bruce Frantzis. He trained for many years in the orient and demonstrates many different styles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMtjzQ_XV5M

But this is the point...styles dont matter much, because whats really going on here is the extension of internal power, or Chi. Called Qi in Mandarin and Ki in Japanese.

Unless youve got LOTS of that...all techniques are equally ineffective.

[EmptyForceOfChi]

I never said that punches have no effect, what I suggest is that repeating technique forms wont help much in reality.

The truth is that between opponents of equal weight and strength most fights end up on the ground in 10-15 seconds, and all those choreographed moves go right out the window. The martial arts business is primarily about extracting cash from the male ego...by making you look cool!

Take this video for example. Here is a martial artist I can respect - Bruce Frantzis. He trained for many years in the orient and demonstrates many different styles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMtjzQ_XV5M

But this is the point...styles dont matter much, because whats really going on here is the extension of internal power, or Chi. Called Qi in Mandarin and Ki in Japanese.

Unless youve got LOTS of that...all techniques are equally ineffective.





Repeating the strike is done to perfect muscle memory and get the movement drilled into your mind/body as a response and natural reaction. You can reconfigure your bodys natural reactions and reflexes with enough effort in training.

It is true that no style is king, if somebody trains in wing chun it does not mean they can beat a person who trains in karate or TKD, the individual person and there effort and skill is what matters. I know cage fighters who only hit heavy bags, lift stone locks and practice stance holding and they have wiped the floor with s called karate black belts. your grade and belt mean nothing, your style does not garantee you success it all depends upon the individual. Some people are just not built for fighting also.


Most fights do end up on the ground this is a true fact, but this is where your grappling and ground tactics come in. It would be foolish to only train in standing combat with strikes, everybody who wants well rounded fighting ability needs to train in ground fighting and grappling it is insane to rely on strikes alone.


I go against most of what modern day fighters believe, I do Qigong and Taiji trining I do believe Qi is real. Internal power is a big factor in your fighting bility I personaly think. I get scolded by most people I know who do reality ased training for this viewpoint, But I usualy try to teach them the art of relaxing and letting your energy flow to demonstrate it. I find tht when relaxed you are much stronger/faster than when tensed up and stoic. Strikes flow with better accuracy and speed when you relax. This is a ontroversial subject though and I cannot provide any evidence to support my claims on Qi. Maybe it is because I believe in Qi that my mind allows it to work through focus and mind over matter, who knows.

There is a huge difference between choreographed moves and repeating strikes over and over, One is for entertainment the other is for drilling fighting memory into your body and perfecting your form. Like for instance I can give you a quick example and little tip to try out, when using elbow strikes the slightest angle mistake of your hand can result in either you finishing some guy off with a KO, or you nearly breaking your arm on his skull. Take a regular stance raise your arm for an elbow strike and lightly tap the wall, if you clench your fist and make a zero with your thumb and index finger the zero should not be facing your chest but instead up in the air, palm facing your chest.lightly tap the wall both ways. (not too light, put a tiny bit of force into it) you should feel a pain when the zero is facing your chest, wen you twist your wrist/hand so the clenched palm faces your chest it should feel "right" on impact. little things like this can make all the difference, and it helps to have somebody like me who knows what they are talking about to guide you to avoid these little mistakes in body mechanics.

Trust me man.


Oh and by the way Ki is not the equal of Qi, that is a common missconception, Qi is life energy or breath energy, Ki would in my opinion be the equal of the chinese "shen" energy. whih means spirit energy. The chinese believe in 3 main energies of this type, Shen (spirit), Jing (essence) and Qi (breath/life force).


Ki would be Shen more than Qi. As shen is aquired and earned, some people do not ever gain shen. Qi is everywhere in all living things, it can be cultivated and manipulated.

peace.

[Carcano]

Ki would be Shen more than Qi. As shen is acquired and earned, some people do not ever gain shen. Qi is everywhere in all living things, it can be cultivated and manipulated.
Shen in Chinese medicine is vaguely defined as consciousness.

Ki or Qi is internal energy which can be accumulated and projected outward.

The literature of Aikido speaks about Ki with the exact same meaning as Qi in Chinese martial arts, and anyone who doubts its existence should watch these two videos very carefully.

The first is of a Chinese master who has developed his mastery of Qi to the point where he hardly has to move at all in defeating an attack.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu99GRUUN6Y

And one sees the same kind of seemingly effortless movements in the founder of Aikido...Morihei Ueshiba.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxxb2ctulEs

[EmptyForceOfChi]

It is only working because the guys think he can do it, Qi can be used for healing and maintaining health, you can use it to a certain extent for defending and making your body much more resistant to aattack. What that guy is doing is not real I study Qigong myself we have to study it as part of our Shaolin training at my temple. That old chinese guy could not do that to me See if his chi can ward off some iron fist to his face.

I will show you some people actualy focusing there internal energy, that guy is a clown.

hold on.

peace.

[EmptyForceOfChi]

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=AKCrfZt_3Bo

[EmptyForceOfChi]

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-V0_Xj9dZWI&feature=related

[Carcano]

It is only working because the guys think he can do it.

:rolleyes:

[EmptyForceOfChi]

Shaolin gong fu is based mostly on Qi it is not a mystical force that you cn blast people with like some kind of super powers. Here is a demonstaration fight just to compare the difference in reaction times of a shaolin monk and regular martial artists. I found this to show you what I mean by drilling reactions into your body and installing fighting reflexes.

See the shaolin monk most likely trains alot more intense and for much longer hours than the japanese styled fighter. result is the monk is not a regular human anymore he is specialized and adapted for fighting, This was obviously not meant to be a anything goes cage fight, but it does show the difference between what most people think of as a martial artist, compared to somebody who has actualy honed his skills very well with consistent training.



Look at the monks focus and how relaxed he is, very comfortable in his element.



http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Pvq1BHpRAbc&feature=related


peace.

[EmptyForceOfChi]

:rolleyes:

He cannot project tazer like energy powers that shock people out of his hands, if he held my hand I would not be effected like those guys are, you might though if you make yourself believe he can actualy do it.

Its not real to tha extent thats over exaggerated, No Qigong master I have ever trained with has ever tried to do any of that rubbish.


peace.

[EmptyForceOfChi]

Watch this documentary Pt one and two.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=J6Z-ekyyK8o&feature=related


http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=OKE5rM1IH_4&feature=related


peace.

[EmptyForceOfChi]

The movements, Forms (katas for the japanese), are not all what you do in a fight which sme people get confused, you don't just get into a fight and start busting out some 5 animal forms in perfet choreography, They are performed for training purposes, flexibility, strength, stamina, and other reasons.


peace.

[EmptyForceOfChi]

Here is Pt 3 of the Shaolin doc. even if your not interested in fighting this is still very interesting for people who do not know about real shaolin.


http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Th86UpAHyic&feature=related


peace.

[EmptyForceOfChi]

Here is part 4 of the doc, the part concerntrating on Qi.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=navpy95bOfE&feature=related


peace.

[Avatar]

Any way, qi or no qi martial arts is awesome fun! This morning had a great training, blood on my lips, got my leg fucked up (low kick), but the feeling is the awesomest! :cool:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3180/2930463419_a59cf9735f.jpg?v=0

[visceral_instinct]

Agreed, screw ki, the adrenaline rush is awesome. :)

[Carcano]

No Qigong master I have ever trained with has ever tried to do any of that rubbish.
Maybe its time to widen your experience huh?

You should never let your attachment to any particular school define the entire realm of possibility...as you see it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAAB0dbc3Es

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6UTGkC73GE

Youve probably seen people making animal shapes out of balloons. Its the same with martial arts, no matter what forms you practice it is the internal air pressure or Qi which gives those forms their strength.

[EmptyForceOfChi]

That was interesting.

peace.

[Iropod]

I trained Kung Fu Dju Su and Boxing but stopped both.

[visceral_instinct]

I'm on a big motherfucker adrenalin high right now from kickboxing class...Yay.