Monday, November 16, 2009

Ninedemonsgods and philip you give ma a very bad name.?

the truth about ma isn't about beating someone up. thats narrow minded. ma is self discovery , exercise ,self defence, among others. Shaolin martial arts should be givin proper respect. aswell as japanese, korean, thai ,isreali, brazil. but shaolin is and has deep roots. if not for people like them noone would know ma. the thing about range i said, for a wing chun man that is his range and you got chi sau all wrong. its an exercise that does increase sensitivity, but also works on footwork and mastering the centerline. the center is what is important to him. but thats besides the point ufc fighters are great fighters but in real life sitaution they won't have rules. then nature is to take its corse. but skill over strength should't be just tossed to the side. the point was you shoutn't call your self a m.artist and bash a style. Martial arts meant to stop fighting. respect one another. and the place we live, not argue about pointless opinions. I respect you but not what you said

Ninedemonsgods and philip you give ma a very bad name.?
I have to agree that people with such mindsets haven't learned the true meaning of Martial Arts, and this is truly sad.





But there's always gonna be a few of those bad apples who think that Martial Arts is more than defending yourself, your family, or those who cannot defend themselves.





these're always the kinds of people who're just mad at the world (it's just my opinion guys) and think they've gotta prove to someone; possibly themselves more than anyone else that they can pound someone's face into a bloody pulp.





I mentioned it before in another posting, that these types of people remind me of the John Kreese character in the Karate Kid movies, always emphasizing the physical side of Martial Arts, when it often has a spritual side to it as well, because if the physical side fails, what do you have to fall back on? They view Martial Arts as an offensive sport rather than a defensive art. and if it doesn't involve anything that the discipline's they've studied, they trash it by saying it's useless or an inferior discipline and boasting how the disciplines they've studied are the "best". when even their OWN disciplines have their weaknesses.





unfortunately the attitude that rests in the fist alone IS a fact of life, a stupid fact yes, but a fact nonetheless.





So yeah I wish these guys would have more respect for ALL Martial Arts instead of just fanning their own egos. because they do make good points (while they are few and far between I'm afraid, again it's my opinion) I don't always agree with their WHOLE answer because it seems to come from a bad attitude standpoint





and illiria, just because someones talking s**t to you, just means that it's all their doin' talkin s**t out their a**, and by thinkin' you gotta beat them senseless doesn't make YOU any better than them because your bringin' yourself down to their 6yr old mindset.





You DON'T have to let them beat you down in a fight, but you gotta be smarter than them, but and have the right to fight back.





but flying off the handle and kickin' their a** just because their talkin' s**t to you makes you look just as bad or worse when you should be above that mentality.
Reply:I regret that you morons are so narrow minded yourself that to you MA means eastern religious practices with kata Report It

Reply:Self defense is beating someone up. Also if people do not respect you and walk all over you, stab you in the back a few hundred times you are saying they should get away with that? What about verbal abuse is that OK for you too? No one respects anyone anymore. What cave have you been hiding in. If someone ***** with me I will kick their ***. That is why I trained. I will NOT tolerate *ssholes anymore.
Reply:What?! You may want to read this first:


http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...





In this situtation I could have pound the guy's face until it's size of basketball ball then snap his arm into two with that arm lock. In second situtation I could have turn the knife against the man and kill him or hurt him more after he pass out. but I choose to not to do it! Do you really think I'm a bully and violent? Most people, even MAist would have go crazy and beat the hell out of guys in both situtation. I didn't because I have self control and respect for other living thing!





So are you saying Shaolin martial arts are perfect no matter what? When did I say anything bad about them? I simply say what make it so special compare to other? Are we suppose to worship Shaolin martial arts like as if it's holy of martial art? sorry but I don't bow to anyone but my Muay Thai instructor because he's one who train me and give me the skill.





WOW I answer one question wrong, go ahead and give me a "F" on my report card.





About UFC fighter. Well... Have you heard of Angelo Antuna? He was a wrestler... A VERY good wrestler. One time he got in a fight with this one guy. He totally destroy that guy. How? Simply by using his wrestling technique to his advantage. Let me show you the article:


http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2...





Wrestling is a very rule oriented sport but Angelo manage to use it with great success. I've seen the video. So what do that tell you?





UFC and fight sport may be a sport but do you honestly think you can take on those guys? If so why don't you go to your local boxing gym or Muay thai gym and ask to spar and see what happen?





martial arts was develope for warfare fight! why would you learn martial arts if you are all about peace? That's like as arming yourself with a rifle and run around and preach about peace. You will look like a fool.





I and Philip are more of a Martial Artists than you will ever be! Why? because we actually train and test the technique out and learn what work and what don't work and compete against others with skill. by doing this we're bringing martial arts up to other level. Why would you keep your martial arts so not updated? That's like as using a horse when you can be driving a car.





So do yourself a favor before you say something stupid, go visit Muay Thai gym or a MMA gym and see what those guys are like and what they have to offer. Like as I say many time they're very nice people, not some caveman.
Reply:Many people use the term "martial arts" for any thing that resembles combat. Frequently, they are talking about fighting systems, or even specific fighting techniques. This is mostly due to ignorance. Don't be angry with them, rather you should pity them for their ignorance %26amp; for what they are missing by not participating in a true martial art.


Which one is the best martial art?

I am refering only to these following: hapkido,aikido,karate,taekwondo,wing chun,jiu jitsu,jeet kune do,muay thai,kempo.

Which one is the best martial art?
Quickest to learn for Self Defense – Judo





In 6 weeks to 6 months you can learn to defend yourself. Highly recommended for females. The bigger your opponent is - the harder they fall. After two / three years of Karate you're still a danger to yourself, it’s not easy to fight with your feet.





Best for sports education – Judo and Tae Kwon Do





You are likely to find Judo and Tae Kwon Do offered in College and of course they are Olympic sports.





In general Korean Karate is 60/40 - feet / hands and Japanese Karate is 40/60 - feet / hands. A young man already taught boxing would find Japanese Karate easier to learn for this reason.





There are many soft styles of Martial Arts (i.e. Aikido) that are effective but by design take a very long time to master.





There is no “Best” style. The individual athlete is more important than the style.





What to avoid –


American created Martial Arts, often with a Kung Fu type name. Such as - Jim’s Kung Fu and Karate’. (There is authentic Kung Fu, but Americans often plagiarize the name).





Good Luck and Have Fun!
Reply:the one you are good at.
Reply:None of the ones you listed are the best. If you're looking for the best in a limited focus, you'll never find it.
Reply:There is no "best". I favor the traditional arts that teach philsophy %26amp; values along with fighting shills. That eliminates Ju Jitsu %26amp; Muay Thai. Of the rest, it's more important to find a good instructor.
Reply:Another one of these questions. Each has it's pluses and minuses. There is no clear cut winner.
Reply:The best for doing what? The ones you listed all have strengths and weaknesses. and the fact is that the better fighter will win regardless of his style.
Reply:There is no such thing as a "best" martial art; never has been and never will be. Especially if you are asking which one is superior when tested against another in combat, for that is always determined by the individual and not by any style. I have met some teachers/masters of taijiquan, a style that most people do not think of as capable of being a truly 'martial' art, that I would bet on against the most competent of 'fighter' I have ever seen on television; you know, the MMA brawlers of the UFC that claimed that only their 'style' is superior in combat.





The bottom line is that style isn't important. In fact, it carries so little importance that you should study multiple styles that focus on different approaches. However, all true martial arts have the same goal in mind; the unification of mind, body, and spirit and seeking enlightenment through a physical, mental and spiritual discipline. Anything that doesn't focus on these goals is merely training in fighting and has little to do with what the martial arts are really about.





It is time for us to stop asking questions such as "which is the best style" and time to start asking questions such as "how can I learn and grow, find peace and harmony, and develop myself in mind, body and spirit within the path of the martial arts?" Then we can all let go of this egotistical search for the "best" and return to what this is all really about.
Reply:The type of martial arts you chose should depend on your current skills.Different styles of martial arts are fought from different place for example if you wanted to fight a guy someone close you could chose aikido and if you wanted to fight someone further away you would chose a different style. Besides martial arts is a form of self defense and way of life to many people so studying it should be for that reason to enlighten ones self, Grasshopper
Reply:None of those, take up Origami instead ;-)
Reply:JITSU
Reply:There is always someone whom wonders which is best when they should wonder how to make myself the best.





Martial arts training is only 10% of the fight.





lr





http://www.pacificwingchunassociation.co...
Reply:Dude it's a personal choice of which discipline YOU want to study there isn't a "best" Martial Art. Only YOU can Make the decision about which one is best for YOU and what you want to get out of studying Martial arts for your personal benefit.





The problem with asking "what's a good Martial Art for me to learn?" or “what’s the “best” Martial Art to learn” has 2 major problems:





1st: these questions just beg for the majority of people here to start blurting out names of disciplines that are probably not even available in your area.





2nd: Just because they recommend a Martial Art that they may (or worse MAY NOT) have studied and it just happened to become THEIR favorite Martial Art because they’re interested in studying it or it worked for them** doesn't mean that it's going to work for you or that you’ll find it interesting.





The discipline you may wind up studying DOESN'T MATTER because there is NO discipline that is better than another, because they ALL have their strengths AND weaknesses.





so hears a couple of tips you may want to consider about choosing a discipline that YOU think is right or "best" for you:





First of all, what YOU need to do is research local schools by looking in the phone book or internet search engine to find out if there ARE any Martial Arts schools in your area (which apparently you've already done considering you have a sizeable list here.)





Second, if you can find at least 3 schools that interest you the most out of this list then you're on the right track, watch a few classes at each one and decide which one out of those 3 schools that interested you the most.





Third, the next thing you should do is find out if your final pick has trial classes (up to a weeks worth to help you make a decision, hopefully without being hassled to join or sign a contract to join the class), and if you find that you like the school, then enroll in the class. if you don't go to your next pick and start again with trial classes to see if you like it.





You just need to find a Martial Arts School that will provide a safe, "family like" environment for you and that the instructor(s) are going to help you become the best Martial Artist that you can become.





What matters is that you feel comfortable in the classes (and like the classes) and feel comfortable that the instructor (and the instructor's TEACHING style and not the discipline itself) can properly teach you self defense without the "smoke and mirrors" .





The instructor should also like to do it more for the teaching aspect rather than the "making money" which it is a business to make money after all; but it should not be the only reason for teaching the discipline.





The biggest problem you should worry about in finding a school is being aware of schools that're a "McDojo's" or "belt factory" type of school.





These schools usually do a lot of boasting; particularly about how soon their students make their 1st degree black belts. A prime example of this: having several "young black belts" that're usually 9 or 10 yr old kids, which should be a rare thing to see unless the child started learning the discipline when they were 4 yrs old, or promising that as a student you’ll be making your black belt in about a year’s time (the average should be between 4 to 5 years or better) which often means that they have a high student turnout rate. This is a Red Flag





They may also try to get you to commit to (by signing) a contract, usually one that's 6 months long or more or try to get you to pay down a large sum of money for that kind of time period. This is a BIG red flag





And don’t be fooled by these schools telling you about how many tournaments or competitions their students have entered and placed in or won a trophy, which is NOT a necessity in Martial Arts. Tournaments/competitions can be good to test your own skills at point sparring but again, it’s not necessary because they are the LEAST important aspect to concern yourself with in Martial Arts.





Long story short, these schools will basically "give" you your belt ranks every few months as long as you are paying the outrageous fees per month, and you won't really learn self defense.
Reply:I would try them all to see which one chooses you. All body types and mind sets are different. Find the one that compliments yours.
Reply:there all the best if your tall muay tai is for you, if your athletic choose karate or take won do , if your not strong and have very little striking skill choose aikido.( jeet kune do is not a style its a system that martial art can adopt to fill up the caps it take the punching of boxing the kicks of kung fu but you can do it by it self .)wing Chung and jiu jitsu is for every one.





choosing the best type of martial art is like choose your dream car some might choose fast one ,some big ,on looks it depends on the person just like martial arts that why there is so much argument which one is the best a short person might argue that bjj is better than muay tai because he cant kick as good as the tall people in muay tai and a tall person will get grappled easy in bjj because hes got alot of limbs and bones sticking out . no one can tell you the best martial art they would just tell what there good at.
Reply:None of them can be considered as the best. It is the application that matters; the self-discipline, the concentration and focus.
Reply:It is hard to pick one discipline above all the others, because each one has their pros and cons. I would advise someone to become proficient in wrestling, brazilian ju-jitsu, kickboxing, and submission fighting. The more disciplines you're good at, the better all around fighter you'll become.
Reply:While technically not a martial art in itself, of the ones listed, Jeet Kune Do might be the "best" only because it's not actually a style of fighting. You just use whatever technique works to come out victorious in a given situation. Example: If a person is very aggressive in punching, Aikido moves would be appropriate as it is defensive, but if your opponent switches to trying to kicking, Aikido is no longer as effective, and Muay Thai blocking would be better. Some one who "studies" in Jeet Kune Do incorporates all different styles of fighting into their own technique, so when the situation changes, they can adapt easily.
Reply:The one that works for you..it may take some time before you fine an Art that fits your personality, I have studied some 6 different Arts over the past 30 years and today...its Kenpo. In other styles I felt like I was being programed like a robot, do just what my instructor told me to do without question. kenpo is not like that at all nor are the instructors.





Go on-line and check out some Kenpo video self defense clips and enjoy. I started my Kenpo training 10 years ago. I wish you the best in your Martial Art endeavors.
Reply:they did a special on this on the history channel i believe if memory serves me correctly it was kung fu followed by karate .im not sure of no1 but no2 was definately karate.going by the list you have presented it is not that simple since you have styles that fall under kung fu and karate.understand that kung fu is an chinese martial art form so any style with chinese roots is a form of kung fu.karate is japanese.tae kwon do is korean.what you would have to do is see which style fits you.if you are small and flexible i would recomend a chinese art form (kung fu)if you are all about power i would recomend karate.but like i said it is not that simple .i for one study karate but i do like the jeet kune do philosophy of using the best technics from other styles to enhance my own
Reply:Hapkido.


Conducting a poll...Which MA is best suited for YOU? Out of the following?

All terms are generic (shotokan and bushidokan karate just fall under karate...all styles of kung-fu just use kung-fu)


Choose from the following:


1. Karate


2. Judo


3. Tae Kwon Do


4. Aikido


5. Jiu-Jutsu


6. Muay Thai


7. Krav Maga


8. Wing Chun


9. Kung-Fu(any variation)


10. Kempo





Please choose only one of the listed above...sorry if your fav isnt up there..AND REMEMBER this isnt to find out which is the best or anything like that..Its to see what you think would BEST SUIT YOU..

Conducting a poll...Which MA is best suited for YOU? Out of the following?
I am a Correctional Officer for a state prison. Most situations I encounter involve close fighting.





There are two styles that fit my needs best.





Wing Chun. It's perfect for fighting close to your opponent. Moves are direct and to the point. It's perfect for fighting multiple opponents. (It lacks ground fighting techniques and submissions)





Aikido. This is best suited for my line of work, although it's rather weak on striking and kicking.





The two combined are perfect for me.
Reply:9. Kung-Fu (any variation)
Reply:Krav Maga but I would also like 2 learn Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.
Reply:5. Jiu-Jutsu
Reply:#8 Wing Chun. It's very simplistic in nature. There are no extended motions, Very Fluid not rigid, You can control your opponent even if they try to take you down. The hits you can deliver waste no energy. Many strikes should take your opponent down on the 1st hit. Of course you won't see Wing Chun in UFC because most of the strikes would be considered illegal. Also it(Wing Chun) was developed for Mutliple attackers.
Reply:Karate, Judo, Jiu-Jitsu, Kempo, and Kung Fu, because I'm in Kajukembo, which is all of those styles combined. This is the first real mixed martial arts.
Reply:Muay Thai - very efficient and effective.
Reply:Judo would probabaly best suit me personally, but I'd like to learn Brazillian Jujitsu and Muay Thai also
Reply:And where is ninjutsu? Shame on you.... hehehehehe.





You left out the X-Kans.
Reply:Muay Thai - I have been studying that for about 4 years now and really enjoy it. Very effective as far as self defense goes. But the reason I got into it is it is a great cardio and strength workout. It also isn't very 'fancy' like some of the other ones which works for me since I have never been the most graceful person.
Reply:kung fu %26amp; ningitsu combined were the first
Reply:wing Chung and kung fuu but why didn't u put in tai chi its a very good Martel art especially wudang style but good poll anyways
Reply:#8 Wing Chun





I have trained in many styles of martial arts and have truly benefited from the trapping, in-fighting, and striking that is taught in Wing Chun.

flowers baby

Martial Arts help?

i want to take martial arts but im still choosing between Southern Shaolin, Wing Chun or Ninjutsu. Which one should i take?

Martial Arts help?
A small bit of advice, most schools using the Shaolin name are not actually affiliated with shaolin temple in any way. Not saying that their kung fu doesn't work, it's just most likely not really from Shoalin. Wing chun is a good style if you find a good teacher. Ninjitsu is a good style if you can find a school that actually trains in ninjitsu. Many schools that claim to are fakes. If you need help researching a school, feel free to contact me.
Reply:These arts are all available in your area? Wow!!! If you get the chance try the Wing Chun or Southern Shaolin. There is a lot less of a chance that your going to be scammed. Anything with "Ninja" in the title makes me a little nervous about the authenticity. Of course I could be wrong and you could have a real Ninjutsu school in your area.


Look out for the scam artists.


Good Luck
Reply:I might be wrong, but Ninjutsu is not a particular art per se, it is more of a school which incorporates things such as taijutsu (empty hand) bo/jojutsu (the 6 foot and 4 foot staff), kenjutsu (sword), stealth, hojojutsu (restraint) etc. etc. From memory there are about 18 disciplines. Some of these (such as Kusarigamajutsu or even Naginatajutsu) would be very rare in Japan, let alone anywhere else. As above, I would tend to think that any school claiming to teach Ninjutsu is a scam.
Reply:Try Dekti Tirsia Siradas.


Is NightWing (Dick Greyson the greatest hero? You decide.?

Dick Grayson is 5'10 and 175 pounds





Skills and Abilities


He is a master of a half dozen martial arts disciplines that include Judo, Jeet Kune Do, Taekwondo, Aikido, Wing Chun, and Escrima, Hapkido, Jiu-jitsu, Karate, Savate, Kendo, Ninjitsu, Tai Chi and Fencing. He was also Trained in escapology, criminology, stealth, disguise, and numerous other combat/non-combat disciplines. He is the only person on Earth who can do the quadruple somersault, speaks with fluency in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, Mandarin and Cantonese and has some knowledge of Romany and the alien language of Tamaran He is also a brilliant and experienced strategist with superlative leadership skills, having served as leader to the Titans, the Outsiders, and even the Justice League. Additionally, Dick's interpersonal skills and efforts to remain in contact with other heroes makes him a master at rallying, unifying, and inspiring the superhero community, a skill in which he has surpassed his mentor

Is NightWing (Dick Greyson the greatest hero? You decide.?
In some ways he did surpass Batman, but there's also still a lot of room for him to improve, and a lot of things that he cannot (as of yet) be called in the same league as batman. First, he doesn't have the same lateral-thinking and deductive skills as batman, as well as the technological expertise, nor does he have the resources available in the same way batman has. I don't think he can be called the greatest hero (that term is usually reserved for superman) since there is still a lot of things that he is yet to achieve, at least in comparison to superman or batman. He is however, one of the potential great heroes of the next generation, but as long as the "trinity" (superman/batman/wonderwoman) is up and about, he cannot yet claim the title "greatest."
Reply:if you see him in that way he is but in some ways hes not, i like him because he became nightwing
Reply:I would agree, but to an extent though. Remember, Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, has years of experiace over Greyson not only in combat, but in detective skills, and in mental skills. So don't count Bats out just yet.





But yeah, Dick was the best Robin and I like his transaction to Nightwing. How ever, I don't really like his 80's costume, I like the newer one that he wears, you know, the black and blue one.
Reply:For a person with no real super powers, he does well
Reply:While I'm totally biased in saying Nightwings' the coolest character in DC(alright, I said I was biased), and he's become a great character in his own right I'm not sure he will ever totally surpass Batman in total skills. Mainly because Bruce has had years more experiance but he did surpass the expectations of many, including Batman I think. By becoming Nightwing and doing all that he has done, on his own or with the Titans or Outsiders, Dick has proven that he's more than Batman's first sidekick and he certainly surpassed any of the other Robins. I do eventually feel that once he accepts it that he will step into the mantle of his mentor once Bruce steps down.


Oh, an I totally agree that his costume in the 80's was horrible. This one is much better.
Reply:You're pathetic
Reply:I'd say Dick Grayson is the greatest of the original Teen Titans. While on paper he may be more skilled than Batman, he doesn't strike fear into the villians the way Bats does.





He's not as likely in a crisis (no pun intended) as Bruce Wayne or Hal Jordan in to pull everyone else's fat out of the fire. I think Batman sees in Dick greater potential than anyone else, but it remains just that- potential. For all he's accomplished, that intangible element just isn't quite as strong as in the first-generation JLA'ers.





And while he's quite a strategist, his mentor is a notch above him at thinking on his feet. Dick's humanity makes him stronger in some ways, but his thought processes just don't go to the dark extremes quite as quickly.





I agree that he's the best at maintaining relationships with former teammates and has surpassed Bats at inspiring and rallying other heroes, but he's 2nd fiddle to Big Blue in that regard.





Still, he does fill a niche that no one else can- in that regard, Dick Grayson is somewhat like Oliver Queen... very much underappreciated. His impact upon everyone around him is profound, but beneath the surface. The fact that Batman's decision not to help reset the universe during the infinite crisis boiled down to Dick Grayson, says something.


Going back to the start begginning, would you have chosen another art to start in?

Going back to when we first started our martial arts training, lets say we had the opportunity when we we're 3 or 4 to start in any art we could have chosen, what would it have been? Would you keep the art you already started in? Or prefer to be proficient in another one?





If it we're up to me. I would have chosen to started in Folkstyle wrestling, so I would perform better in high school right now.





If I never got into sports. I think I wouldn't change then. Tang Soo Do is a great art for me and I undoubtedly would have picked up for what it lacks in later on in life, by studying Wing Chun and Judo.

Going back to the start begginning, would you have chosen another art to start in?
i don't think i would have changed my martial art, because then that would mean i would never have been taught by my instructor. he is the best teacher i have ever had and it is a great honor for him to teach me. not only that, but because he does multiple martial arts but is mainly a tae kwon do-ist, his style is quite effective because he shows us multiple ways to do things based on what your style is. yes, i know, i'm basically describing either jeet kune do or mma but still. thats ok. i still couldn't have asked for a better teacher even if i had started with a grandmaster (although that would've been really good too).
Reply:I started out in traditional Shotokan, before moving to PaSaRyu TKD, Aikido, and eventually JyuWazaTe (no, you never heard of it).


The only thing I would have changed is dropping the PaSaRyu, or, as I now call it, "Hollywood Ballet" (to be fair, it might have been the instructor); Shotokan was, to me, the perfect base for martial arts study; I only wish I could have stayed with it longer than I did.
Reply:What reason would a human have for regreting their martial arts experience? My own goal and ambition is not to MASTER a martial arts style, but to PRACTICE and UNDERSTAND many. A person who has mastered one style is respectable, but a person who is educated in many is just as respctable, and in reality, has a wider range of movements and abilities. A person who studies and does well inTai Chi, Aikido, and Kung Fu, for instance, would be just as or more better off that a person who mastered one. Tai Chi uses internal power, Aikido uses redirection and the opponants own power against them, and Kung Fu uses many techniques and works to improve mind, body, and spirit. A man who knows many is respectable to a mn who has mastered one.





I am happy to simply have started martial arts, and if I choose there is a style that intrigues me that I would bennefit from spiritually, physically, or mentally, I will add such a style to my skills. I wouldn't change my begining style because I know that what I have said above it absolutely true.


Whats your favorite stance for combat/sparring?

I have two.





The stand-up Snake stance, where the feet are in the usual position similar to a boxers but the arms and hands are both extended out in a "knife-hand" style with one higher then the other. This to me is superior for defending the upper body as the hands are already extended out and can reach the opponents forearms to redirect force in less time.





The second is the Wing Chun Charachter Two Abduction stance, creating a stability resembling that of the Eiffel tower. The hand position also makes it harder to telegraph moves and makes protecting the centerline easier.

Whats your favorite stance for combat/sparring?
NONE





I prefer no stance and to be open and stanceless. I vary from opponent to opponent and go with the flow and rythym of things. I try to make myself one with what is transpiring and not allow myself to be held down by a technique that dedicates myself and allows myself to be possibly open to anothers counter attack because I gave my move away by being predictable.





Dont get me wrong there is nothing wrong with stances, I am only saying i do not stick to just one, my stances vary all the time and I am always moving on my feet never staying still for an object in motion tends to stay in motion hence allows me to react faster to something than if i was in a set stance and dedicated to that posture now. I would lose the ability to adapt to my surroundings and overcome them as they changed if in a fixed position.





So I choose all stances and none at the same time. I believe you should stay on the balls of your toes and never stop moving making you a harder target too and take control of the ring if it is a match!
Reply:Same as your first one, only closed fists
Reply:muay thai will kick any fighting style's butt
Reply:you would get the holly crap beat outa you if u pull that jackie chan crap with mma dudes.
Reply:something from none other then ralph gracie himself http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/2991/... good set up for take down and good defense becauseo f the low stance, but watch out for those knees,





the only thing i would change about this stance is putting the arms up for defense, and position your strikes.
Reply:My favorite stance is the kick your *** stance. You don't win fights with bunny-foo-foo animal stances, you win with technique and prior training.
Reply:Back-stance. Period. Doesn't matter about hand placement or actual foot placement. Just body-weight slightly back of center. All moves flow from there.





Your wing-chun stance, though, telegraphs everything and will get you knocked out before you even get into position.
Reply:Kajukenbo / boxing stance.
Reply:capital c how can you say that? with wrong foot placement youre going to get leg kicked into oblivion. with your hands down youre just going to get knocked out.. fast.





look you only want to use 1 stance otherwise youre going to get KOd





its pretty much a muay thai stance in mma, just be alert for takedowns .
Reply:bagua stance
Reply:walking stance or neutral stance the one you do boxing in hehe
Reply:I prefer my opponent in an idiotic horse stance.

wall flower

Horseback vs Character 2 Abduction stance?

Which one is more stable? For those who don't know, the character 2 abduction stance is the Wing Chun stance and the horseback is a basic Shaolin Kung Fu stance.

Horseback vs Character 2 Abduction stance?
The YJKYM (the wing chun stance) is not made for stability, but is actually a structure that will support your own strikes fully while able to break up into another stance (the turning stance) without losing structure. It is also almost equally strong in all directions.The point here is mobility and versatility.


The basic horse, father of all low stances is very strong against frontal, but will give in against diagonal force easily.


While the basic horse guards the lower body just by the position of the frontal leg, the YJKYM structure also gives a little more protection.


If you are sure you can stop the incoming momentum, the basic horse is your choice. If in doubt, the character 2 is.


I'm 1.90m 110kgs (yeah, plump, but big nonetheless) and I'd only choose the deep stances to push a car or in similar situations, not in fights.
Reply:Which gives you the most mobility?


Many styles have a beginning kata, (form) or kata series, which is the best? Why?

Many styles of Kung Fu and Karate have a beginning form, like Siu Nim Tao in Wing Chun, Goju-ryu's Sanchin, Isshinryu's Seisan, Shorinryu and Shotokan's Pinan series, and some styles use Naihanchi Kata. In Isshinryu, which I study, it seems the founder was moving toward "charts" which are sets of exercises. Many more non-traditional/eastern styles like boxing, MMA, and Ed Parker's Kenpo are formated with series of techniques. I think the primary kata of any system plays a big role in what the entire system looks like.

Many styles have a beginning kata, (form) or kata series, which is the best? Why?
I love doing the heian kata's for a lot of the deep stances and strong movements it shows off the traditional side of karate. The advanced forms are more in depth and vary in difficulty with the side to side movements of the teki forms to the most advanced formes like hangetsu and empi to name a couple.
Reply:While it is not my primary style, I have always liked the heian / pinan katas of shotokan and the other Okinawan karate styles.
Reply:SANCHIN is rarely taught as a begginers kata geki sai ich and ni are the usual begginer katas in goju and fukiyu for some styles of shorin.


You are right about basic kata get them right the rest is easy.
Reply:I can tell you about Okinawan Karate that the Pinan kata and the Gekisai/Fukyugata were created for school aged kids as a physical ed curriculum.





However, the techniques were all taken from the advanced kata, which is obvious. Knowing this, what do you think? You are learning advanced techniques that have been modified, and in some cases not.





In the Goju Ryu Kata, which are of the Naha-Te styles, there is no "Jodan Uke" or Upper level receive, commonly misnamed "high block". Miyagi Sensei adapted it from the Shuri-Te styles. He wanted to bring variety and completeness.





So, if you studied the Pinan kata and the Gekisai kata, you would have advanced techniques from both styles.





Concerning Sanchin, it is an advanced level kata but it's taught prtty early because it is actually the first form you learn in the Old Naha-Te arts, before the creation of Gekisai. It is the foundation training for Naha-te and develops "iron body". It is Hard Internal. It comes from the White Crane Fist developed in Fujian China.


What are your favorite martial arts?

For me:





1. Jeet Kun Do (the philosophy at least)


2. Wing Chun


3. Tang Soo Do


4. Chin Na


5. Greco Roman Wrestling


6. Judo


7. Tai Chi Chuan


8. Northern/Southern Praying Mantis


9. Capoeira (for fun)


10. Okinawan Karate

What are your favorite martial arts?
1. Gracie jiu jitsu


2. judo


3. muay thai


4. greco roman wrestling


sri I only have 4 favorites I believe all the other martial arts are kinda obsolete
Reply:I like alot of the ones you listed, definately JKD. But you might also look more into Krav Maga from Israel
Reply:Muy Thai


Escrima


Silat


Tang Soo Do


Zi Ran Men (Natural Boxing)
Reply:Kyokushin - full contact - OUS (Mas Oyama)
Reply:Jiu Jitsu(Brazil)


Greco Wrestling


Gracie Jiu Jitsu
Reply:jeet kune do is good as long as you don't copu bruce lee's hairstyle.....





tae kwon do is good too but the stance looks kinda stupid cause you have to keep jumping around but very powerful kicks and very minimal concentration on the fists...





aikido is great but no offense, extremely powerful defense but most of the senseis look out of shape. you can throw or grab people 3 times your size!!!





judo is good, too. really strong throws. but slighty same principle as aikido. some throws require using your opponents weight or momentum





wu shu has really cool weapons like kwon daos(kinda like a spear and sword hybrid) but i don't like the other weapons like the staffs and swords.





capoeira was developed by brazillian slaves before and pretended they were just dancing and looks cool, too





oh and my all time favorite!!! VALE TUDO!! translated in english: anything goes!! you can even bite your opponent's ear off i think and this is also brazillian
Reply:1. TKD


2. Jeet Kune Do


3. Kali


4. Bujinkan


5. Taekkyon


6. Capoeira


7. Iaido


8. different Karate styles





wtf is wrong with bruce lee's hairstyle
Reply:I believe they are all good .I believe you should have a core method a central idea to work with .You discard techniques that dont work for you and replace them with technique from other methods but you stick with your original training adapting new technique to suit it.





Some techniques of JUDO JUJUTSU AIKIDO are excellent additions to OKINAWAN JAPANESE arts and many locks and throws are hidden in the kata.





No art stands alone as all are influenced by the past and what has gone before.
Reply:capoeira for sure..it is complete and you develop speed making the Roda goes.. it is a combat, it is a conversation..you play in the air, face to face..upsidedown..becareful with some of the kicks, they come really fast, think your next movement..make the strategy..respect the rules..so you don't hurt your camarada..just make him fall down and continue with the game...


The practicality of martial arts in general today?

As I read this forum and I reflect on my own training and the effort I put into it for self defense. I wonder, is it all that useful?





Wing Chun upper body movement, High School Wrestling for ground, Tang Soo Do for lower body movement, all great arts for me. But how useful is it against someone in the streets of Detroit with a gun or knife?





Grappling is argued to be one of the most effective ways to defeat your opponent on a 1 on 1 basis. But being a close range ground art and having an opponent 15 feet away with a gun, how are you gonna cover the distance before getting sport?





Striking, namely fast hard kicks, have been spoken of to defeat many opponents at one time and would be a better option to pick then. However, there's still distance to cover and my even the longest of legs do not exceed 4 and a half feet. How else are you to cover the distance?





What I'm saying is, with the availability of guns/knives, combined with their ease of use. How useful truly martial arts today?

The practicality of martial arts in general today?
Guns are only dangerous when they are loaded and if it is in the hands of an expert other than that it is useless I saw people who used to carry guns and still got beaten up by some thugs who are REALLY eager to jump him, and really did jump him, those thugs waited for the "he will reload" minute and acted upon it quickly, and about knives I thought Wing Chun was supposed to teach you how to disarm??? Anyway Martial arts is still useful now and forever, the discipline alone could help us everyday in different situations


soldiers even practice Martial arts too, despite the fact that we could only push a button and the opponent is dead, BUT hey Martial arts still IMPORTANT





oh and a real Martial artist will walk away from trouble, and if you have multiple opponents trust me, the chances that you would win is very, very slim so Martial arts will help to give you time to escape or call the cops
Reply:They serve much in the way they always did, as a last resort if you didn't have or had lost your weapon on the battlefeild(with the exception of things such as kendo) they were never meant as the primary means of fighting in any society and they aren't today either, we have tanks, planes, missiles, guns etc. for that. today they are still a last resort, if you are unarmed and cannot run away its better to know something(provided its a useful martial art and not say tae bo) than nothing, that will increase your chances of survival even if only 5% or something
Reply:Well if someone has a gun close to you, martial art usually teaches you how to disarm and defend. Same with a knife. However I would personally prefer to have someone up close with a gun than with a knife because there is a greater chance of getting cut than shot up close...control the barrel of the gun.


If someone has a weapon with an apparent advantage, best bet is to run =D AAAHHHH
Reply:Training and study of the martial arts is about much more than simply learning how to defend yourself. It is about overall balance, fitness, mental agility, physical awareness, increased sensitivity, and much more besides.





The truest self-defense technique may be the one that is the hardest to "teach" and the technique that sneaks up on one before you realize it - self-confidence. Most criminals and bullies look for easy targets. Competent martial artists don't "appear" to be easy targets on the whole. In all the years I've been involved in the martial arts it is very rare to hear of a story of a black belt master or grand master being forced to physically defend themselves. Undoubtedly it happens on occassion, but I personally believe the training and preparation allows them to avoid problems, de-escalate trouble, and evade the need to defend physically.





With regard to defense against any weapon, I would always bet on someone who is in tune with their body and whose reactions should be faster and more controlled that a lay person to survive against almost any weapon you may meet on the streets. Martial arts training specifically prepares you for the unexpected, and trains your own weapon - your body - to react instictively, in the most appropriate way possible for the given circumstances. That provides an advantage someone untrained will not posses. It doesn't guarantee anytthing, but it may provide the fraction of an inch or fraction of a second that makes the difference between living and dying.





As to someone with a firearm. As an ex military policemen and VIP protection officer, only a few people out there are trained properly to use a handgun effectively at anything beyond five feet when their target may be moving and when their own adrenalin may be flowing. Most police officers are not very good marksmen when the target is moving and beyond 10 feet. Very few thugs that may confront you on the street will be any better. The quicker you react, the faster you run away, the greater the distance you put between you and the weapon - the greater your chances of surviving the incident. I would argue martial arts training may just give you the critical response timing and physical ability that may just make the difference.





I personally believe martial arts training today is as absolutely necessary for everyone in our society as they have been for thousands of years, but perhaps for somewhat different reasons in the modern era.





Ken C


9th Dan HapMoosaKi-Do


8th Dan TaeKwon-Do


7th Dan YongChul-Do
Reply:yeah forget going to class and working out.... just buy a gun and sit on your couch and eat potato chips? for some people its a way of life, for others its exercise, for others it is for self esteem... i could ask the same ? about religion... but some people want it and others need it. Usefulness... how about my daughter gets attacked by a dog, or an unarmed (or armed I'd still kill him) pedophile (yeah I'm going to jail and he is gonna die)... Maybe my time in martial arts taught me to respect people... sure what good is that... Maybe it taught me how to be a better man and to be a better father... to instill discipline and values into my children... but your right, a machine gun could wipe us all out and it would have all been for nothing.
Reply:Martial arts is useful for keeping a healthy mind and body. Think of it as a sport.





As for practicality, i think it is best to ask the instructors
Reply:You are correct in that a gun in the hands of a person 15-20 feet away has a huge advantage and they can get off two shots with just a revolver before you close the distance. Over half the gun shootings in this country take place at a much lesser distance according to the Department of Justice crime statistics. Most people are stabbed at close range. Knifes usually are not balanced and when thrown have much chance of hitting their target. Either weapon though is a serious risk to a person and so that is why you avoid those situations whenever possible but practice dealing with them for years in the event that you are confronted with a weapon and have no way of avoiding it.





If you are confronted with a weapon then usually it is a combination of strikes, knees, elbows, punches, and kicks along with some joint lock type maneuvers that will enable you to gain control of the weapon rather than just one particular type of counter or technique.
Reply:You raise a good question and the best answer is people do indeed expect too much from martial arts.





The modern martial arts philosophy of 'self defence' is beating the bad guy, who in theory is always bigger, nastier and better armed than you, and finding some way to do it.





In fact the art of war is all about siezing the initiative. If you are being attacked for any reason, you have already lost half the battle before you even start. Someone in your intelligence section has fallen asleep and allowed you to get into this mess before you realised it.





The simple fact is if you turn it around into 'attack' and you are the bad guy with the knife or the gun, or who is stronger or who hits first, you have won already.





Now I'm not saying you can go round shooting people! It may be that the 'inititiave' is you don;t near bad areas, or become rich enough to hire bodyguards or get a permit to carry whatever.





It is more about mentality of always having the initiative right from the start, where you don't try and create martial arts as some magical formula to lifes bad problems.








In other words don't be afraid to say "As good as I am my martial arts are almost useless in this scenario" and feel good about thinking of other ways to get around it.
Reply:You ask an excellent question, and the answer is, all your training may not work. You seem to be trained in 3 excellent systems, and you are smart enough to realize it won't help you stop bullets. What you have is wisdom. The benefits of martial arts though are that in a situation, you'll at least have a chance. Look at the Virginia Tech massacre last year. If a few of those students were martial artists, perhaps something could have been done. The gunman wouldn't have known who the martial artist was, and where the attack was coming from before it did. Other situations, like drive-by shootings, can't be fixed by martial arts.
Reply:You are right that guns are dangerous, but I think you are forgetting one of the most important things that you must have learned in all of your training. You learned to read and out think your opponent.


Most guys with guns and knives like to intimidate and will wave it in your face before they will pull the trigger. They get off on any fear that their intended victim might show.


Believe it or not...


As a martial artist you have been taught to recognize possible dangers and to analyze risk even if you are not conscious of it.


Who says that you have to sit still and be a victim... The statistics show; that unless trained in how to shoot, that your assailant has only a 10% chance of actually hitting a moving target. So distract your attacker and run away. Better to be smart and live another day than go home in a "hero's" body bag.

peach fruit

Burning muscle in my leg. I know what sore muscles feel like, and this is different. What could it be?

I've been doing Wing Chun for awhile now, and for the past year or so my upper thigh on my right leg has been burning. It's the worst when I'm stretching and I lean backwards. But it also bugs me when we do stance training. It's not just a sore muscle, this is more of a sharp pain. And it will hurt sometimes when I'm not even using it. I don't use steroids or anything, but I've heard of some steroid using body builders who put too much strain on their muscles and cause them to rip. Could it be something like that? Our stance training can be pretty intense. Any ideas would be appreciated. I don't know what this is.

Burning muscle in my leg. I know what sore muscles feel like, and this is different. What could it be?
Sigh....





I love the pseduo scientists here..





It is not lactic acid, it is not a cramp.





Burning means severe strain. It is unlikely you tore it because it wouldn't stop hurting.





Sharp burning means severe strain, any type of sharp burning denotes an injury, not a common cramp, and certainly not lactic acid.





That is a warning sign you need to look at. You need to rest that muscle for a little while, also anti inflammotories will help (Ibuprofen is a good one). But rest it, take it as a warning sign. Good athletes and Martial Artists know their bodies, and two things to watch out for are sharp burning (again denotes strain, can be tears but usually you REALLY know when you tear something) or any kind of tingling nerve feeling (like when you hit your funny bone).





What you have my friend is a severe strain, it will only get worst and could eventually tear. It is probably just a small strand of muscle fiber that is doing it, give yourself two weeks off and take some Advil. Then go light on any exercises that heavily utlize that leg for a month or so. (I would avoid excessive stance training for at least two weeks after your recovery period).





The fact that it has been going on so long means you are continually reinjuring it. Take some time off, let it heal up, be cognicent of it, and in a month or so you won't have that problem anymore.





In the meantime make sure you are getting enough potassium and protein. During your rest phase I would kill the protein.





In the future ensure you are hydrated, eat a banana or two before practice, and listen to your body. Sharp burning is bad.





Good luck!
Reply:'s not cramp is it
Reply:I would say one of your muscle strands have ripped
Reply:That burning in your legs is coming from an excess of lactic acid, common in runners. Have someone rub you down after each time you do your Wing Chun this will get that acid out of your legs.
Reply:no, its not like the steroid users. you probably just overworked yourself and pulled a muscle. give it some rest for a couple days or just do some really easy workouts. whenever you feel that sharp pain again, just stop workout out right there. if it hurts, dont do it for a while. everyone says no pain no gain, but thats not true. if you feel real pain then u need to stop immediately.
Reply:Sometimes, and I am not saying it is your case, but when you exercise alot, the cells in the part of your body use up all their normal "fuel" I will try to explain easily instead of using biological words because many people would not know what I was talking about. Anyway, when the normal fuel for your muscles are "used up" your cells start creating another "fuel" to use, and a side effect of this is burning and pain. If you are "thin" and exercise alot, you should make sure you are getting enough "sugar" to fuel your cells so that they do not have to switch to this alternate fuel source. Eat a power bar or drink one of those high calorie drinks before you work out and see if that helps.
Reply:When a muscle is injured and constantly put under strain it will move from it's correct position in relation to the nerves and ligaments surrounding the tissue and cause a pinching or squeezing effect which causes sporadic blood flow and sometimes leads to a burning sensation. Sometimes the sensation is a tingle, other times it takes the form of an itch on another part of the body, like the bottom of the feet(which is common)


What you need is a REMEDIAL Massage therapist who uses eastern massage techniques like Shiat- Tzu(pardon the spelling). I have found these to be the most effective by far.


If the injury is a year old, you can expect a 2 month lay-off while you get this fixed. The good news is, your hands can never be too fast-work on them while you can't kick.


When training, not all pain is good. Learn to listen to your body-you're putting too much work into it to ruin it. Would you keep driving a car with a buckled wheel?Or would you get it straightened and re-aligned?


Bourne Ultimatium: What Martial Arts is he Matt Damon using?

The previews look good, but I'm wondering what Martial Arts is Matt using? Looks like some sort of Wing chun or Mauy Thai

Bourne Ultimatium: What Martial Arts is he Matt Damon using?
in the extras to one of the bourne movies he said he learned kali/escrima it does also look like krav maga which involves quick devastating blows and weapon defense and is an art used by some military branches


however like i said matt damon himself said kali.





kali is taught with sticks and knives however the same techniques with those weapons can still used without. along with strikes and weapons grappling/joint locks are also learned in kali. and is taught to the military in the philippines.





krav maga is a hybrid mix martial art using different techniques from different styles for self-defense and is taught no rules anything to survive(eye gouge, nut kicks etc) also focus on defending from guns, knives, and sticks and also using improvised weapons





now like most martial arts in hollywood its probably a mix of many different arts(hollywood fu) but mainly rooted with escrima





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escrima


http://www.history.com/minisite.do?conte...


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krav_maga


http://www.history.com/minisite.do?conte...
Reply:Bourne-Ku-Do
Reply:Its not Muay thai for sure... I took it before. My guess is he is using a good mixture of martial arts and not one pure form.
Reply:dunno... i watched the movie today... i don't know much about martial arts, but there's a mix of everything, it's a more defensive type of fight, not offensive, like yudo
Reply:I think it's Kali (or Eskrima). It's a Filipino fighting style which evolved from stick or knife fighting for which the practicioners learn to fight either with sword (or stick) or with bare hands. I based my theory on the observation that Bourne hits his opponent with either the back of his hand or the 'heel' of his hand.... as opposed to hitting your opponent with knuckles like a boxer's punch. His hands were also held up close for defense and effecient on extremely closed quarter hand-to-hand combat with emphasis on strikes using the hands rather than feet. Check out the link below as it also featured a video clip of the style. You will notice that the fighting style is very identical to Jason Bourne's





Just my humble opinion as I could be wrong
Reply:Hollywood version
Reply:Its kick *** that's what it is.


Muscle memory?

All right lets cut to the chase. I'm into martials, but my parents don't have extra money to send me anywhere and I don't have a job, so I'm wondering when muscle memory gets considerably stubborn. I know the older you get, it becomes harder to learn new things so I want to know when it will get very stubborn so I know when start. I'm almost 15 and the style I'm intending to learn is wing chun or jeet kune do. So when does the muscle get stubborn?

Muscle memory?
You will be fine at your age and have plenty of time, no worries
Reply:It starts right away. Muscle memory is: when your muscle gets use to doing something. Like if you only stretch to a certain point over and over. Then later you try to go further, it is very difficult. Another good example of that is with push-ups. If you do 100 everyday for a year, then one day you decide you want to see how many you can do. Once you hit 100 your muscles are pretty much done. So this starts right away.


Good luck with your studies!
Reply:Stubborn muscles? Interesting concept. Never heard of it, and I've been in the fitness and martial arts industries for more than 20 years.





If it helps any, I have more than 50 students over the age of 35, and none of them have complained about "stubborn muscles." Their muscle memory has developed at the right pace, just as expected. The only problem is that these students tend to think too much, not trusting their muscle memory. I have to continually tell them to listen to their bodies, to let their arms/legs do what they're trying to do instead of stopping them and thinking over what the next move should be.





So if you are asking when is too old to develop muscle memory, I've yet to see someone of that age. I don't have any students over the age of 60 though, so there's always that possibility.
Reply:It is true what the othes are saying: muscle memory has no age limit. Muscle strength and flexibility do however, If you don't keep yourself fit and exercised then your muscles will begin to weaken as early as 25, however, at that age, you would still have plenty of time to fix them. I would have to say late 40s early 50s, if you are already out of shape, would be the absolutely worst time to begin exercise/martial arts, because many of those muscles will just never be as healthy as they could be. But then again, I'm 22, so I am only hazarding an educated guess (my father is 46 and at least as fit as I am, but has trained since he was 13).





Now, as for learning martial arts with little to no money I can help you, for I was there myself once: if you get an allowance, save it! Or if no allowance, knock on your neighbors doors and ask them if they have any chores they'd be willing to pay you to do for them, like mowing the lawn, etc. ( I did this one a lot, you can make really good money depending on how far you go. 4 blocks away? They're still neighbors!) Just save until you have 50 bucks (or more if you want to get several videos. I also recommend buying at least one punching bag at some point, to have something "solid" to practice your techniques on). That is enough to buy a single (sometimes 2) martial arts training dvd online and cover shipping and all. Buy the first video in a set of videos teaching Wing Chun (which I am currently learning both in studio and on video, good choice BTW). Watch this video over and over again and listen carefully to the instructions, and if there are no instructions,(sometimes these videos just have a teacher performing the techniques) then you can still mimic the teacher. Practice in front of a mirror until you do the moves identical to the person on the tape, it helps if you buy a dvd and slow-mo the video to take your time in learning the techniques. When you are just starting do the moves slowly to ensure you aren't making any mistakes (this also helps your muscles to remember the motions better), and then speed up as you memorize them. Wing Chun is a great martial art to learn from video because it is direct and structured, the more "flowing" and "graceful" martial arts (like wushu kung fu) are very difficult to learn from video. A good video training set is taught buy a guy called "Randy Williams," he has something like 15 videos all on every aspect of Wing Chun, which is rare. Often you will find sets of like 3 or 4 by one teacher, this one instructor has 15! (dvd too) And he knows his stuff. Go to www.superfoots.com, or do a google search for Unique Publications, (they're the guys that sell his videos). Wing Chun was the first martial art Bruce Lee trained in (outside of his home anyway) adn he used it in all of his Jeet Kune Do classes, up until the day he died. On a side note, if you decide to learn Jeet Kune Do, research the names of Bruce Lee's original students and either learn from a video made by one of those original students, or learn at a studio taught by one of those original student's protege's, because there is a lot of SH*T out there with the words "Jeet Kune Do" slapped onto it. People claiming to have met Bruce Lee, or to be distant relatives of Bruce Lee, etc. Just be careful, and good luck.
Reply:You have nothing to worry about. Muscle memory has nothing to do with strength. By practicing the same movements over a period of time you begin to think about the movements less and the brain sends its signals to the muscles without you having to think about the action you want the body to do. For example, babies concentrate on how to move their legs and balance correctly to be able to walk. After a while the baby doesn't need to spend as much energy on walking because the brain has memorized how to walk and takes over.
Reply:You should be fine.
Reply:What I would suggest is to go and speak to a Wing Chun or JKD school and talk to them, say that you are really keen to learn but that you don't have much money, if you have an allowence tell them how much you can afford to pay and that you are willing to work for them to pay for the rest of your training. They may or may not be willing to help you or might recomend a student of theirs that might be willing to help you learn for a reduced amount or maybe even free if you're super lucky.





One thing that you must be though is diligent, if they do help you out then you must train hard and stick with it to repay them for their faith in you.
Reply:Unless you experience a major injury, what they call "muscle memory" will never go away.





Now. as far as training with no money, many of us went through this and you already have some suggestions. I did this myself. My first classes at the YMCA were free. Eventually my teacher gave me an old GI that he picked up somewhere.





Approach the schools in your area in person. Tell it like it is. You have no money but would very much like to learn. You are willing to be the janitor, wash cars, or any other work in exchange for your training.





I have been in the gym business for more than 20 years now and we always have someone like this working for us. Expect to get some really crappy jobs at first, but this is just to test your commitment. We would start you out cleaning the hair and other nasties from the drain in the locker room, scrubbing the steam room and sauna, and washing towels. I also remember sweeping a gigantic parking lot when I was your age in the same situation.





You might get 9 "No" answers, but stick with it. You only need one "Yes". As you progress the chores set out for you will get easier. For me it lead to a career in the business.





Good Luck.

wallflower

Whats the Best Martial Arts School In New YOrk?

I want to go to one that uses Bruce Lee Fighting techniques. Like wing chun, Jeet Kune Do and all that stuff.

Whats the Best Martial Arts School In New YOrk?
the best martial art is you're martial art don't listen to instructors they just want you're money honestly get some martial arts books and mix the moves up and honestly express yourself it'll be interesting.
Reply:If it must be that style, here's a webpage with a Sifu...


http://www.yipwingchun.com/sifu.html


But, were I in NY, I'd be at this Sensei's Dojo. He was quite the Martial Arts Master when I met him.


http://www.isshinryu.net/dojo/huntingt.h...
Reply:Do your homework and check out schools listed in Martial Arts directories. Determine for yourself if that school is right for you. You'll have to do some legwork on your part.
Reply:write or e - mail curtis wong editor and publisher of inside kung - fu and black belt magazines and author of many books and a authority of martial arts schools and the authenticity of the schools and their sifus / sensais...give him a holler
Reply:Intrested in JKD go to INOSANTO academy of martial arts website.Look on the list of certified instructors in NY(there are quite few through out the 5 boroughs) near you nad go check it out.Anyone coming through Dan Inosanto is the closest thing to Bruce Lee as you can get.Hope this helps.


What Martial Arts XP have you got?

Karate - 5years





Tae Kwon Do - 3 years





Hap Ki Do - 3 years





Boxing - 2 weeks :p





MMA (thai boxing wing chun) - 2 weeks :p





MMA (ju jitsu, judo, akido, karate, boxing thai boxing, stick fighting) - 2 weeks :p

What Martial Arts XP have you got?
Traditional Styles:





-Shotokan Karate - 12 years





-Japanese Ju-Jutsu - 3 years





-Brazilian Ju-Jutsu - 1.5 years





Modern military fighting styles:





-SCARS, Defendo, Krav Maga, and (currently) Systema - 12 years.





Used all styles at one point or another in actual combat.
Reply:Tae Kwon Do - 3 years





Freesyle Wrestling - 5 years





Street Fighting - 20 years





Edit: I would love to study Jujitsu





Everybody Wang Chung tonight!
Reply:I hesitate to answer this question out of false modesty: though i believe i have a reasonable grounding in a variety of different systems i don't want to appear a braggart or claim i know it all - because i don't.





But then, by answering, it my lend some credibilty to any answers i have given or intend to give. So here goes:





Started formal training QLD Police Academy 1974


Ceased (for now) formal training 2004.


Karate-do - 2yrs


Judo - 3yrs


Taekwondo - 3yrs


Amateur Boxing - 6 mnths


Army Unarmed Combat exponents course - 6 wks full time


Army " " instructors course - " " time


Military Police Defensive Tactics course - 1 wk


Budo jitsu - Sempai (assistant instructor ) - 1 yr


Aikido (aikikai %26amp; Yoshinkan) - 18 mnths total


Jujutsu - 2 yrs


MMA training ( incl. JKD, Muay Thai, etc,etc) usually having other soldiers as training partners at different bases all over Australia and S.E. Asia during a 22 year Army career.


Over last 4 yrs have been conducting one-on-one instruction to "training partners". At 50 yrs of age I am considering going back to Aikido.
Reply:I've trained in one thing or another since I was 12, now 40. I really don't think I need to give spec. years of training because I tend to be eclectic and gather what i want from things and move on. With that I could list 4 that I remain training in to this day. Aikido, BJJ, Escrima/Kali, MMA. Those four span for around 16 of those years, total.
Reply:Tae kwon do = June 2004 - August 2006


Muay Thai = August 2006 - current..(and plan to do it for aslong as possible)





interested in learning a grappling art to compliment my standing skills..
Reply:I train in my head mostly.





Shaolin-do, 4 years and counting





ki-aikido, 1 year and counting





Capoeira, 1 year and counting


For people who know how to use their chi only?

In shaoling eagle claw kung fu we are taught to sink are chi. While I am able to minipulate my chi well I cant quite make my chi " longer" for a move that I want to do from wing chun style. Anyone have any ideas on how I could make my chi longer?

For people who know how to use their chi only?
Practice...patience and focus. Chi moves and is stored according to the time of day as your aware. Visualize your taget, be calm and passive and your chi will get "longer"





PS. interesting choice of wording....LOL





best wishes
Reply:Practice, at first you might chi real quick but eventually you got her chi going multiple times before you unload on her face.





Sink your chi and come back to reality. There is no mystical energy eminating from your body that you channel. Power and speed. Martial arts + religion = BS.


I live in Glendale, Arizona do you know any places nearby that are not mcdojos?

i want to look for either tae kwon do, jeet kune do, or wing chun. if possible please list the place's website


thanks for your help

I live in Glendale, Arizona do you know any places nearby that are not mcdojos?
If you are looking into Taekwon-Do, look for a dojo associated with:





ITF - The International Taekwon-Do Federation.





The ITF has the strictest quality standards for school certification.





ITF certification is probably in the ad in the yellow pages!


.
Reply:try the tae kwon do center
Reply:623!!!!!!!!....sorry, cant help you, but its nice to hear from someone from Glendale! Go Jordin Sparks!





Yeah, I didnt answer the question, so what?

Furniture

Jeet Kun Do?

Since jkd is alot about taking what is usefel from alot of styles and putting it into your own arsenal and taking away what is not useful, this means that we dont have to be in a jkd class to say that we practice jkd, or the concept or wtv.





Someone can simply do what Bruce Lee did, take a few lessons from diffrent types of martial arts, and taking whats useful ( ofcourse you have to start with a main martial art, like he did with his wing chun )





So if you do this, can you say that you practice the art or concept of jkd? without having gone to a JKD class?

Jeet Kun Do?
you are half right there. but there are two sides of the coin, perhaps let me tell you more about jkd. because at the end of it, only you can truly answer youself. by knowing what jkd is.





one one flipside, i borrowed the quote from the 1st website i listed below:


"JKD has long since been known as the style of no style, but this term has been overused and to a great extent exaggerated to "allow" others to teach JKD without using actual Jeet Kune Do techniques under the guise of defining the art as anything you want to make it." - this often is , i will use the word dilute the core of jkd. this is a view from one camp. what is this core teachings of jkd? i will elaborate later





the other flipside is, i got from wikipedia:


"Jeet Kune Do is just a name used, a boat to get one across, and once across it is to be discarded and not to be carried on one's back." - quoted from bruce lee. couldnt be said much better. some people are too hung up about the name and too set upon it, that they limit themselves. this is another argument, from another camp of jkd.





admittedly bruce lee is perhaps the pioneer of MMA today. those who decide that mixing styles, taking whats useful to you and discarding the rest. but i would like to perhaps explain if you dont already know the state of jkd today





after the untimely death of bruce lee, and like many other founders of other martial arts (eg aikido) - the debate as to what really is jkd began and continues to this day. because there cant exactly be a correct answer that is determined. hence there are two branches of jkd.


1. Jun Fan JKD


2. JKD Concepts





Jun Fan JKD teaches the things that bruce lee had taught, the way he found to be true. this is what i call, the websites and certain books call the core of jeet kune do. strongest lead forward, bai jong stance etc etc. everything the teach you was how bruce lee taught the original instructors.








JKD Concepts as wikipedia stated correctly basically continously modify their teachings, perhaps even vary from instructor to instructor. some might argue that it is no different from any tom dick and harry MMA class. but than again in their defence jkd is 'just a boat to get one across,' it is always changing and never static, as the arrows in their logo (the yin and yang with arrows and its philospy, it is shown in both websites, but better explained in the first website)emphasizes. thus their belief. but what i believe is that in this way, it is harder to say what you learnt is jkd but at the same time easier to say so.





as david cheng joked in his book: jeet kune do basics 'how many jeet kune do instructors does it take to change a lightbulb? 10. 1 to do the work, 9 to tell him he is doing it wrong" to cut my habitually lengthy explanations.





if you have (read and) understood all bruce lee has said (bruce lee's commentaries on the martial way - a book he wrote is not bad to start with), adapted your 'expression' (your style, the original one he taught or simply what the concepts believe), dispense with the name jkd. than you have learnt jkd. jun fan or concepts, they are not at war with each other. they just have differing views, but i believe they mutually agree that neither is better.
Reply:Almost every concept in JKD is actually Wing Chun. Bruce got very far in WC so i'd advise starting with that. He basicly uses wing chuns methods for teaching and uses it as a base, and throws in logical defenses, ground techniques and goes into depth more with kicking.
Reply:While application is wing chun...the philosophy of JKD is what you make of it. everyone is different.


My master said it the best....Martial Arts is like a guitar player, while there's tons of players that can play the blues, Clapton is Clapton and SRV is SRV...some play only notes they know and do it very well, others play everything they know and sound like crap because they have no sense of self.
Reply:here is the flip side. if you take jkd you'll learn it all alot faster since there is already 2 generations of info in it. so taking the way you just stated may be a waist of time and money, however it still may be alot of fun and well worth it depending on you
Reply:i would say yes. if you ever read bruce lee's works putting any definitive moves in words goes against what he wrote because what may be jkd for him may not be jkd for you. for example, take someone who really sucks at kicking, well he would have to focus more on his other tools trapping, punching, and grappling. you also have to take into account that alot of the "jkd" out there is really inosanto's jkd. he's teaching kali and all this other stuff. maybe he's furthering his country's martial arts or that it works for him, just don't believe one art will have all the answers. boxing is good, tae kwon do is good, wing chun is good, jiu jitsu is good but a combination of all those things are even better (well rounded) its a CONCEPT, a thought not an art.
Reply:I've read the book, and from what it says, it seems that Jeet Kun Do is not so much a fighting style as it is a mindset or way of being while alive within a fight. I do think, however, that saying "Someone can simply do what Bruce Lee did, take a few lessons from diffrent types of martial arts, and taking whats useful" - is not accurate. It's nothing so simple as just swiping from established styles. Bruce Lee put his soul into his art, and was able to discover things about himself and being alive within a fight that he may not have been able to othewise. My advice to you is to look inside yourself and decide what you want to get out of this, because any true martial artist will tell you that there is nothing simple about it... And no, I wasn' tbeing smug - i'm just a blun tperson.. sorry if it came across as arrogant..


What benefits will i get from chinese martial arts ?

I wish to practice jow ga kung fu and wing chun kung fu.....Thanks

What benefits will i get from chinese martial arts ?
If you choose to steady a traditional martial you will find many benefits, some will take time to develop and others will become apparent early in your training. Anything worth doing is worth doing well and for an extended period time. Give yourself time to develop in the art.





I'm not familiar with the first style you mentioned but Wing Chun is well known and quite diverse. Jackie Chan's favortie style if I'm not mistaken.





Find out if these arts work on internal aspects as well. You will want to learn as much internal as external to create a powerful base in your art.





If you want to look into more free fighting arts try Kung Fu San Soo. This is not a traditional kung fu style but focuses on aspects of free fighting, it has leverages, takedowns, throws, striking and lots of great manipulations. All chinese martial arts have a form of boxing or free fighting aspect to them San Soo focuses 100% on this aspect of the art. It's a down and dirty self defense martial art.





Whatever martial art you seek find one that fits you as a person and be sure to find an instructor you enjoy and respect. Also be prepared to be a good student.





I recently read a story that is very applicable to new potentially, head strong students (not suggesting anything I simply like this story for new students). A ninja climbed a great wall and entered a well known master's home to plead for the master to teach him his style of fighting. Upon hearing the request the master immediately left the room and returned with a pot of hot tea and cup, he placed the tea cup down and began filling the tea cup which quickly overflowed and began to puddle on the table. The ninja exclaims to the master, master your cup is overflowing you should stop pouring. The master quickly replied this tea cup is like you, you are so full there is no more room for my training. To be a good student first you must empty yourself, are you able to humble yourself?





Remain a student for the entirety of your life and be humble in your practice and endeavors. You never know when your next teacher will appear so learn from everyone you encounter in your life and in your art.





Enjoy your quest and enjoy finding yourself through your studies.





KK
Reply:Chinese martial art can benefits you the defend technique and strength. However you should also learn or get train for free style fighting that can be apply and practical use in street's defend.
Reply:Benefits? A great Body.





And the knowledge to defend one's self and others. Do you need anything more?
Reply:The benefits to practicing Kung Fu are many and varied, I would recommend to get the most out of any art you should select one and dedicate some time to it. Wing Chun Kung Fu is designed to be learned over a period of around 5 years of full time training which is pretty rare these days which is why people seem to think that it isn't effective for "real" fighting, realistically there aren't many people that have the dicipline, time or faith in a style to train it in the way that it was inteded to be learnt and this is why these styles are more readily being discarded or being merged with other ideas to make the journey quicker.





I can't tell you much about Jow Ga as I do not practice it. I do however practice Wing Chun and do believe it to be an excellent and well thought out system depending upon the style of Wing Chun that you learn, try to find a teacher that is open to new ideas and training methods.





Wing Chun has both an internal and external focus so this will benefit both your body and mind, however most martial arts have this aspect as it understood that you must first master yourself before you can master someone else.


Here are the top 3 martial arts!! Good research?

Muay thai


Hapkido


wing chun

Here are the top 3 martial arts!! Good research?
VERY GOOD!!





You actually spelled them correctly.
Reply:And what exactly did you base these conclusions on? Anyone can pick three random things and say they're the best in their class.
Reply:Hmm... Neither of those combine too well. May Muay Thai and Hapkido will be okay but... I wouldn't count on it.





Wing chun with anything else is a big no no!





Plus what if someone take you down? Those will be useless and you'll be laying perfectly still as you get a free dental job done.
Reply:First off, there is no best in martial arts, it's like a game of rock-paper-scissors. Just because rock beats scissors doesn't mean it's best, paper comes along and beats it.





Muy Thai is a very hard physical art and it's both very violent and very effective. However, it is also prone to student injury. In real Muy Thai training you are hitting hard wooden object to practice and to harden your limbs. This means a lot of broken bones though. Later on in life that adds up to some crippling damage done to your body. Just look at the old Muy Thai instructors, old in Muy Thai is anything over 50. Other arts get much more longevity out of their instructors because they can still do their arts into their 90's.





Hapkido is very good, very effective art. However, I've seen it beaten by JuJitsu, BJJ, Jeet Kun Do, and Shaolin Chuan Fa (Kung Fu).





Wing Chun focuses on speed rather then hard hits and is a really good art for street fighting, especially if you're not built like an athlete. However, it focuses heavily on hand use and leaves kicking training almost as an afterthought. This leads many students to get incomplete training until they have almost mastered the art.
Reply:A statement like that is meaningless unless you document your standards, specifications, data and data source/s.





In other words: What is your JUSTIFICATION for that statement?


.
Reply:Thats a load of crap. Who told you that ???
Reply:American Boxing


Muay thai


Jiu Jitsu





if i had to pick 3, that's what i'd pick.





P.S. - Dont say American Boxing isn't a martial art, because it is.
Reply:That is your opinion. But, you know what they say. Opinions are like a**holes. Everyone has one and most of them stink. How did you research that? I'm sure many other martial artists would argue those findings.
Reply:I prefer Okinawan karate-do myself
Reply:Yeah that sounds about right, muay thai, well thats kickboxing,hapkido=jujutsu, and wing chun well thats just another rendition of irish boxing. the style doesnt make the man the man makes the style.
Reply:All I can say is that if that is your assesmet, and you truly believe that then your right. I, myself, would not choose those three but if you have experience with the three and have used them in practical application and they work. Then your right , for you. Don't let anyone try to alter your view if you believe this to be true. (of course I will assume you have experience and practical application with those three systems)


How do i find out what makes me happy?

I know this sounds like a stupid question but i'm sure there are alot of people out there like me who feel a little bit lost and don't know what to do!


I know i like drawing and thats one thing but what else?


I mean one other thing is i have been thinking about joining Wing Chun because i've always loved Bruce Lee but when i think of the prospect of me training in that kind of enviroment (i'm not sure if i'm writing this properly) it sounds quite daunting! Maybe i just have to go down there and see for myself.


But what else?


What fun things are there to do and i'm not thinking of drinking or taking drugs!!!


Things that make u happy, good honest answers are welcome!


Thankyou

How do i find out what makes me happy?
Have a friend go with you,you never know both of you might just enjoy it and can practise the moves with each other. If you enjoy drawing check out art classes in your area, you don't have to be Picasso to have a bit of fun with it. Look through a list of classes in your area there might be something else that you haven't thought about doing that grabs your attention. Photography is great fun too and there are sites you can join in order to show your images and receive advice from fellow photographers on how to improve your technique. You don't need an expensive camera or equipment. Rambling / hill walking can be fun too, check for clubs in your area. it's a good way to meet people and keep fit at the same time ( if the photography idea appeals, there's a good opportunity there too to catch some great images ) If you like art then invest in some watercolours and brushes and give it a try or some other arts and crafts, like pottery. Try lots of different activities nothing lost if you don't like it , but just maybe you'll find something that you love. Good luck to you in whatever you do.
Reply:I can't help you find out what makes you tick, but I don't think you have to feel worried about starting a martial art. The instructors and the other students are probably friendly and will be glad to have you there, so don't worry about that and give it a shot.
Reply:Sounds silly but spending time with your friends. I also think that being on your own is often nice, i think you have to spend time alone to enjoy the company of others. I dont mean just sit at home doing nothing, i mean reading/drawing....etc!
Reply:in my opinion, you are going about the search for happiness somewhat backwards. the secret is to feel happy and then to do. true joy is always within you. seek it there and you'll find that everything you do makes you happy.
Reply:If you're creative, why not pick up a guitar or something?





No-one becomes Bruce Lee overnight, but we all know what happened to Bruce Lee... AND brandon Lee
Reply:I think I Know what you mean. Try out the Wing Chun you will probably enjoy the training and everybody has to start somewhere. You will certainly meet like minded people and you never know what doors that might open.





All sorts of things make me happy and I guess they vary greatly. Obviously my children's laughter makes me happy in a motherly love way, driving on a beautiful spring day lifts me but for a buzz of happiness that lasts for week it has got to be a Will Young concert.
Reply:just give it a bit of time. Life gets better as you grow older, as long as you haven't encumbered yourself by making bad decisions earlier on (e.g. having a kid with the wrong person, or getting into crime or whatever.) As you grow older you become more relaxed and self-confident. You become more aware of what you like and what you don't.





If you want to try a martial art you could start with Tai chi or something a bit less hectic than Wing Chun. I did a bit of Kung fu for a very very short time and the teacher always got us to do some Tai Chi at the end of each lesson. I guess it was to ground us before we went back outside. I liked that more than the actual Kung Fu come to think of it!





I recommend foreign travel too. Like they say, it broadens the mind.
Reply:For me, when I'm feeling a little lost or unhappy, nothing works better than getting on a highway with my windows down, and just listening to the sound of the road, and some great music. It's like meditation for me. Or go out into nature, get your hands in the soil, and listen to the sounds of a wild place. I really feel like that's a good way to ground yourself. Do your karate class. Don't be afraid of life, even when it's scary and intimidating. Have a conversation about something controversial with someone you enjoy talking to. There's nothing like a spirited debate to revive the soul. What it comes down to is, there are a lot of very simple things in this world that can make us feel happy, and motivated, and secure. The key is not to ignore the simple moments of happiness, those seconds when the whole thing feels right. Thats where you find joy.

cotton tree

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or Japanese Jiu Jitsu?

What is the big difference between brazilian jiu jitsu and the traditional japanese jiu jitsu, what would mix better with Wing Chun?

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or Japanese Jiu Jitsu?
BJJ has more ground techniques. It is intended more for a "one on one" match style fight. It works great in self defense if you are isolated and alone with your opponent. It does utilize more "leverage" style and as such requires less strength. Most of what makes BJJ, BJJ is there ground techniques. They also favor the guard quite a bit. Japanese JJ will probably blend better with wing-chun. Traditional JJ is a combination of striking and locking. They try to avoid the ground at all cost. This is, in my opinion, better for actual defense since very rarely would you want to be on your back on the ground in a fight. Or on top of your opponent on the ground in a fight. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that most fights aren't going to be "one on one." Especially if you are getting the better of someone else. Since JJ is the "parent" style of BJJ then if you are not interested in the "ground techniques" you're better off to get the stand up from the source. Plus, I doubt Wing Chun is very functional on your back with your feet in the air.
Reply:i think japanese is better because dispite that brazilians have better judo and they have that other techneque that gets the opponent confused japenese have more techneaques and it would blend with wing chun
Reply:i would recommend boxing, most of the street fights are fistfight, nobody does grabbling in the streets, so boxing remains the most effective way of fighting.
Reply:Japanese Jiujitsu is based more on power. BJJ is based much more on technique and leverage, allowing amuch smaller person to submit a bigger stronger opponant. And personally, I prefer learning ground skills simply because the first thing a man does when he attacks a female is knock her to the ground. You have to know how to defend yourself from your back
Reply:BJJ is more sport, JJ is more defense. The reason to learn it over boxing is because most street fighters punch, use the element of surprise.


Like we say in jujutsu


punch a man he gets back up


kick a man he may get back up


break his arms and legs he is guaranteed not to get back up
Reply:japenese.cross train in muay thai.
Reply:Japanese is going to be less practical and more "traditional". More of an "art". BJJ is more for fighting. Prob BJJ goes better w/ Wing Chun since it's more loose.
Reply:The first thing that you have to understand is that there is not a single system of jujutsu (that's how you spell the Japanese kind). The Japanese use the word "jujutsu" to refer to unarmed combat in general; so many older martial arts would include a few jujutsu techniques among the more important sword, spear, archery, etc. techniques.


At the beginning of the 17th century, a thousand-year-long period of civil war came to an end, and Japanese samurai were able focus on one specific area of combat for study. From this period come many different styles called "jujutsu," some of which are very similar and some of which are very different. Some still incorporated weapons; some specialized in ground fighting; some specialized in striking, and were very similar to Okinawan karate; most, however, specialized in throwing techniques and standing grappling.


At the end of the 19th century, a man named Kano Jigoro developed an athletic form of jujutsu called "judo"; it was designed from techniques taken from several different styles of jujutsu, but eliminated the more dangerous techniques, such as joint-breaking throws. It was intended as a form of physical exercise and self-defense which could be practiced at full speed without partners injuring each other.


Maeda Mitsuyo was a practitioner of judo who moved to Brazil and taught the Gracie family. He modified judo to incorporate more ground fighting, and used the old designation of "jujutsu." The Gracie family continued to refine it to their own purposes until creating their own public vehicle, the UFC. They also used a Portuguese pronounciation of the word, calling their system jiu-jitsu.


Brazilian jiu-jitsu enjoys a great advantage in the ring. Essentially, you trade all of your mobility and situational awareness for the ability to inflict pain or unconsciousness upon a single opponent.


Contrarily, most systems of jujutsu train to remain standing. While this may lose matches in a necessarily aggressive competitive sport, maintaining situational awareness and the ability to move around your environment, especially in the presence of weaponry and multiple opponents, makes the Japanese systems more tactically viable. Also, due to the emphasis on remaining upright, the Japanese systems would blend better with Wing Chun.


My personal recommendation, if you have access to a school, is to check out Danzan ryu:


www.danzan.com.





Train hard!
Reply:Development of Jiu-Jitsu


Jiu-Jitsu itself was developed in Japan during the Feudal period. It was originally an art designed for warfare, but after the abolition of the Feudal system in Japan, certain modifications needed to be made to the art in order to make it suitable for practice. During Feudal times, Jiu-Jitsu was also known as Yawara, Hakuda, Kogusoko, and an assortment of other names. The earliest recorded use of the word "jiu-jitsu" happens in 1532 and is coined by the Takenouchi Ryu (school). The history of the art during this time is uncertain because teachers kept everything secret to give their art a feeling of importance and then would change the stories of their art to suit their own needs.


After the Feudal period in Japan ended (Jiu-jitsu was no longer needed on the battlefield), a way to practice the art realistically was needed, which is why Jigoro Kano (1860--1938), a practitioner of Jiu-Jitsu, developed his own system of Jiu-Jitsu in the late 1800's, called Judo. Judo was helpful because it allowed practitioners the ability to try the art safely and realistically at the same time. The most important contribution Judo made to the practice of "Jiu-jitsu" was the concept of Rondori. Rondori was a form of sparing and contained a set of sportive rules that made practice safe, yet realistic. Because of the sportive outlet (rules that made practice safe), students of Jiu-jitsu from Kano's school were able to practice more frequently due to the fact that they were not always recovering from injuries. This multiplies the amount of training time for student's of Kano's school and drastically increased their abilities. Judo (Kano's version of Jiu-jitsu) was watered down from the complete form (of Jiu-jitsu), but still contained enough techniques to preserve its realistic effectiveness. The one problem that occurred was, in Kano's opinion, ground work was not as important as achieving the throw or take down, therefore ground fighting was not emphasized in Judo and became weak in that system. Judo also began placing too many rules and regulations on the art to make it more acceptable as an Olympic sport. Leg locks were not allowed, and when a fight went to the ground, a player had only 25 seconds to escape a hold or pin before the match was lost. These are a few of the rules that hindered Judo as a realistic form of self-defense. Then why did Judo flourish and why was it so great? Even with all the rules and restrictions, the time-tested principle of "pure grappler beats pure striker," still holds true. The fact remains that most fights, even those fights occurring between strikers with no grappling experience, end up in a clinch. You see the clinch in just about every boxing match, and hundreds of punches usually need to be thrown to end the fight with a strike, which gives the grappler plenty of opportunity to take his/her opponent to the ground, where a pure striker has no experience and is at the grappler's mercy.





After a match-up between older styles of Jiu-jitsu and Judo at the Tokyo police headquarters, Judo was named the national martial art in Japan. It was the official art used by law enforcement in the late 1800's, and continues to be popular to this day. During World War II, many U.S. soldiers were exposed to the art of Judo and brought it back to America with them. The first issue of Black Belt magazine here in America (1961), featured a sketch of a Judo throw and was a special Judo issue.





It wasn't until the birth of martial arts in Hollywood that the mystique of martial arts myths were catapulted to the public eye on a large scale. Here in the U.S. especially, Bruce Lee was one of the greatest catalysts for martial arts in the world today. Bruce Lee was actually a student of Judo and did many studies on grappling while he was alive. He criticized traditional martial arts as being ineffective, but ironically spread more myths about martial arts through his movies than almost anyone in martial arts history.





Jigoro Kano was the founder of Judo, however, Judo is simply a style of Jiu-jitsu and not a separate martial art. Kano was not the first to use the name Judo, the Jiu-jitsu schools he studied at, which would be the source of much of his Judo's techniques had used the phrase before he made it famous in the late 1800's.





The first use of the name Judo was by Seijun Inoue IV, who applied it to his Jujitsu of Jikishin-ryu. Students of Jikishin-ryu Judo were not only expected to master its ninety-seven techniques, but to also develop into generous and gentle-mannered individuals.





Kuninori Suzuki V, the Master of Kito-ryu (Kito means to Rise and Fall) Jiu-jitsu, changed the name of Kito-kumiuchi to Kito-ryu Judo in 1714. The most important contribution that kito ryu would offer Judo was the principle of kuzushi (off-balancing), which is the key to the throwing techniques of modern Judo. Jigoro Kano studied the judo of Jikishin-ryu and Kito-ryu, and incorporated some of their concepts into his original system, which he named Kodokan Judo.





Judo is made up of many styles of Jiu-jitsu whose masters Kano had studied with. The most notable were Jikishin-ryu, Kito-ryu, and later Fusen-ryu would be incorporated for its groundwork (ne waza) as Kano would ask the style's head master, Mataemon Tanabe for his syllabus. Yokiashi Yamashita (Kano's Chief assistant) would add his knowledge of Yoshin Ryu ju jitsu and Tenshin shinyo Ryu ju jitsu, both of which, he was a master.





In 1912, Kano met with the remaining leader masters of Jiu Jitsu to finalize a Kodokan syllabus of training and kata. Aoyagi of Sosusihis Ryu, Takano, Yano, Kotaro Imei and Hikasuburo Ohshima from Takeuisi Ryu. Jushin Sekiguchi and Mogichi Tsumizu from Sekiguchi Ryu, Eguchi from Kyushin Ryu, Hoshino from Shiten Ryu, Inazu from Miura Ryu and finally, Takamatsu, a Kukkishin Ryu master, whose school specialized in weapons training.





Before the formal meeting between Kano and the grandmasters of Japan's greatest Jiu-jitsu schools, a defining event occurred, which is one of the most historically important pieces of the Brazilian Jiu-jitsu puzzle. By 1900, the Kodokan had been challenging other Jiu-Jitsu schools in sport competition and winning with throwing (standing) techniques. Much of the Kodokan's status was built on the throwing skills of Shiro Saigo, a practitioner of Oshikiuchi, the art of Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu. Jigoro Kano had actually enlisted the help of Shiro Saigo in order to win a famous tournament at the Tokyo police headquarters in 1886. This tournament, mentioned briefly earlier in this chapter, was Judo (Kano's style of Jujitsu) vs. "old" Jujitsu. It is interesting to note that Kano's champion was not originally a Judo student at all, but a student of an older Jujitsu style, which in reality, defeated the purpose of having a Judo vs. Jujitsu tournament in the first place.





As I stated earlier, Judo was a collection of Jiu-jitsu styles, once such style was the Fusen Ryu. Fusen was a school of Jiu-jitsu which specialized in Ground Work (Ne Waza). In 1900, the Kodokan challenged the Fusen Ryu school to a contest. At that time Judo did not have Ne Waza (ground fighting techniques), so instead they fought standing up, as Kano had been taught in both the Tenshin Shinyo Ryu and Kito Ryu systems he studied. Both Kito Ryu and Tenshin Shinyo Ryu had excellent striking skills and effective throws.





When Kodokan Judo practitioners fought the practitioners of Fusen Ryu Jiu-Jitsu, the Kodokan practitioners realized that there was no way they could defeat the Kodokan Judoka standing, thus they decided to use their superior ground fighting skills. When the Kodokan fighters and the Fusen Ryu men began to fight, the Jiu-Jitsu practitioners immediately went to the guard position ( lying on their backs in front of their opponents in order to control them with the use of their legs). The Kodokan Judoka didn't know what to do, and then the Fusen Ryu practitioners took them to the ground, using submission holds to win the matches. This was the first real loss that the Kodokan had experienced in eight years.





Kano knew that if they were going to continue challenging other Jiu-Jitsu schools, they needed a full range of ground fighting techniques. Thus with friends of other Jiu-Jitsu systems, among them being Fusen Ryu practitioners, Kano formulated the Ne Waza (ground techniques) of Kodokan Judo which included three divisions: Katame Waza (joint locking techniques), Shime Waza (choking techniques), and Osae Waza (holding techniques). This all occurs shortly before Judo arrives in Brazil, and serves as an excellent suggestion as to why Brazilian Jiu-jitsu contains a higher percentage of techniques on the ground than most styles of Jiu-jitsu or Judo. Thus, we find ourselves faced with the impending development of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil.








Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil


Eventually, in Japan many different variations of the art (Jiu-Jitsu) took shape, including Karate, Aikido, and Judo. But these arts were missing essential pieces of what the complete art of Jiu-Jitsu originally held. Soon the day of the Samurai came to an end, the gun replaced the sword, and new sportive ways to practice martial arts were developed. This lack of reality created years of confusion in the martial arts community, a confusion that legendary Bruce Lee would later refer to as the 'classical mess'. The 'sport arts', such as Judo and Kendo were wonderful in the way of offering their practitioners a safe way to realistically train the techniques of their system, but often limited their practitioners with too many rules to maintain effectiveness as a combative style. The more traditional combat schools were simply practicing techniques no longer suitable for modern day combat, and with no way to safely test them, practicing these arts became like swimming without water. It wasn't until the sport art of Judo and the combat art of Jiu-Jitsu were introduced to the Gracie family in Brazil that the real art of Jiu-Jitsu would be brought to life again. Japanese Jiu-Jitsu (practiced as Judo) was introduced to the Gracie family in Brazil (@ 1915) by Esai Maeda, who is also known as Conde Koma. This name came about when Maeda was in Spain (1908). While in Spain, Maeda, having some financial troubles, used the Japanese verb "komaru", meaning to be in trouble, to describe himself. Maeda decided this didn't sound right, so he dropped the last syllable and changed it to "koma." The word "conde" comes from the Spanish language, meaning "Count." Later in his life, Maeda would be given the Brazilian title of "Conte Comte," or Count Combat.





Maeda was a champion of Judo and a direct student of its founder, Jigoro Kano, at the Kodokan in Japan. He was born in 1878, and became a student of Judo in 1897. In 1904 Maeda was given the opportunity to travel to the United States with one of his teachers, Tsunejiro Tomita. While in the U.S. they demonstrated the art of Judo for Theodore Roosevelt at the White House, and for cadets at the West Point Military Academy. This is an exert from Roosevelt's letters to his children on wrestling and Jiu-jitsu (note the spelling is Jiu-jitsu, not Jujutsu due to the fact that it is before 1950):





That is all about the two different arts so decide for yourself ^.^