Anything Goes Martial Arts's topics - tribe.net

Highland Challenge 2010

Paul — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:34:45 GMT

Dear All,

Following hugely successful past events, the Highland Challenge 2010 is scheduled from Sunday 6th June through to Saturday 12th June, and open to all who are up for it.

What is it about? -

An entire week of martial training, physical challenges and social sessions, all in the glorious setting of the West Highlands of Scotland.
The challenge offers an opportunity to train hard, play hard, push yourself, discover, experience and enjoy, all in the purest environment Nature has to offer.
Moidart is a land rich in genuine Celtic cultural and combative legends. It still provides one of the most historic, inspiring and challenging training grounds available today.

This is the setting for the Highland Challenge.

The 2010 Challenge is all-inclusive, as course costs cover the following -

- Transport - Minibus to and from Edinburgh and around the various Highland training grounds.
- Accommodation - All participants are based at Glenuig Inn, Moidart (www.glenuig.com/) which serves as our base of operations for the week.
- Meals - Breakfast and lunches are included each day, as Highland air works up a rare appetite! Evening meals are available from Glenuig Inns quality range of local produce and cooking.
- Training - Six days of intense tuition in the traditional Highland weapons of quarterstaff, backsword, dirk and more! (weapons are supplied), all given in some of the most stunning locations, steeped in Scottish history and legend. All tuition is given by Mo. Paul Macdonald of the Macdonald Academy of Arms.

Each day consists of a morning challenge (details of which are not revealed until the day), a full afternoon of training at specific locations and naturally, an evening session, all for six days and seven nights straight!

This is as authentic as it gets, as we train on original Jacobite training grounds with traditional weapons and martial techniques.

It all adds up to one unforgettable adventure and experience.

The last Challenge saw participants arrive from throughout the UK, Norway, Canada and the US.
Dates are confirmed and booking is now open. Please note that places are strictly limited, so early booking is advised. Fortune Favours the Brave!

For further details, please contact Macdonald directly at macdonaldacademy@aol.com or on 0131 557 1510 (0044 131 557 1510 for int'l)

Yours Very Truly,

Paul Macdonald,
Macdonald Academy of Arms,
www.macdonaldarms.com

Check out http://forums.swordforum.com/showthread.php?t=93326
for info. with images of past Challenge events!

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

Free forum for martial & neigong artists to connect with others by region for partner practices and for information sharing, networking, etc..

aaronironscmt — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 06:57:18 GMT

For anyone interested, I am in process of creating a totally free forum for connecting with other martial & neigong artists who would like to meet up for practicing together, sharing information, reviews, suggestions, etc..
The forum is totally free to join, post, reply to posts, view media, etc..

Url is - http://martialneigongpracticepartners.lefora.com/

Please feel free to share and forward this forum address to anyone you feel may be interested. The more people know about it and join, the more it will grow and be more useful in many ways.

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

Fixed Karambit

Doctor_Who — Sun, 17 Oct 2004 04:59:08 GMT

I'm looking for a nice fixed blade karambit. I dont have the money to blow to have a nice custom one made and the only other blades i have been able to find are so cheap I would only use them for soft butter.

I'm not looking for a foldy or a aluminum training knife and reccomendations or websites would be greatly appreciated...I've spent many hours on the computer searching and I keep finding either cheapo blades or ultra-expensive custom rigs.

I actually use my blades but spending $350 on one is too rich for my blood. I practice a two handed technique so I would like to be able to buy a set at the same time.

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 4 replies

Vagabond kungfu training

james — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 11:01:30 GMT

Hello i was curious to see if anyone else has heard of and or ever seen vagabond style kungfu? I was trying to find anyone in my area of NY that has any knowledge of this style but now one i spoke with has heard of it before. I know there were a couple of book out in the past describing the vagabonds and their system howver due to the very nature of the way the system was originated i doubt seriously that anyone today practices it.

Any thoughts?

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 1 reply

Krav Maga

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 03:58:34 GMT

Just wondering if anyone out there practised this form and how effective is it?
Thanks.

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 13 replies

Preventing Violence vs. Doing Violence

Kas22 — Tue, 12 May 2009 12:34:53 GMT

Two Very Different Things

Obviously, right? When stated in opposition like that, it's self-evident. And yet, I get enough feedback to tell me it's still fuzzy in most people's heads. Nearly everyone we train shows up looking for the former -- they want to prevent violence from happening to themselves -- while only paying lip service to the latter.

If given the choice, sane people would rather prevent violence than do it to another. This is fine as long as everyone understands the difference between the two.

The Empathy Problem

No one wants violence done to them. Once a person has heard, seen, or unfortunately experienced enough of it, they start looking for answers. How do I keep that from happening to me? What can I do in that situation? These questions would be fine if they were looking at the right side of the equation. The problem is one of empathy -- we naturally look at the guy on the ground, the one getting kicked, or stabbed, or shot. We empathize with the victim, feel his pain, and the questions become about preventing what's happening, rather than owning the situation.

No one looks at that situation and asks the real question: How do I maim, cripple and/or kill the other man? Most sane people will not reflexively see themselves as the victimizer, look at the situation and say, "That guy's obviously got it handled. I want to operate like he does."

Confusion sets in when people believe that violence is a tool to prevent violence -- in other words, that they can maintain their safety by using physical action to prevent the other man from hurting them. Blocking, countering, 'using his energy against him,' etc., are all dangerous conceits that do little more than make us feel good about violence.

They make us feel prepared while wearing the white hat (since we don't stoop to the criminal's level) -- while doing almost nothing to solve the essential problem. They don't do anything to shut off the other man, or otherwise degrade his ability to function. At best such tactics delay the inevitable; at worst they give the other man free time and opportunity to carry out his work. The work of hurting you and shutting you off.

Preventing Violence

I take a lot of heat for constantly wanting to couch the discussion of violence in social, antisocial and asocial contexts. The primary argument I hear is, "Who cares?" The second one is that I must be a simp, because that is not how badasses talk. The funny part is, if most people show up to learn how to prevent violence from happening to them, well, this is the key.

I always thought this stuff was common sense -- don't go looking for it, defuse and de-escalate when given the option, only hurt people when that's the only way out -- and then I meet people who think knocking someone out is the answer to the smart remark, social posturing and territorial disputes. Of course, it makes my hat hover. For those who don't listen, or don't care, I hope they are lucky. Luck is the only thing between them and something really horrible, or, at the very least, life-changing. And not in the good way.

The best way to prevent violence is to not be there. Second-best is to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, be calm, and go out of your way to make peace everywhere you go. While on the surface it may seem like a good idea to be intimidating, you never know when this will bite you in the ass.

The primary problem is that the people it works on -- the ones who will see you coming and clear out -- are not the ones you're worried about. The ones you're worried about, the criminal sociopath, will see your intimidation tactics as a challenge, or, indeed, a threat that must be neutralized. In other words, you'll scare away harmless people while simultaneously attracting monsters.

It's important to note that preventing violence has nothing to do with physical action -- unless that action is running away. Otherwise, preventing violence is all about navigating everything that comes before violence. There's nothing you can do once the violence has begun to prevent it. At that point your only option is to be the one doing it.

Doing Violence

This is really simple. It's taking eyes, crushing throats, breaking legs. It's being the successful person in the situation, kicking the man who's down. Instead of worrying about how to prevent violence, you're doing it. You can see how this is at odds with the idea of preventing violence -- doing violence does not prevent violence. This is not the same as attempting to thwart a knife-thrust or keep from getting kicked while down. This is you doing the things you wanted to prevent to the other man. This is focusing on the right side of the equation, the winner's side. And over here, it's pure physical action.

Now you can see where our problem, as instructors, lies -- and maybe even some problems of your own. When people see the man getting stabbed, they want to know how to stop that from happening to themselves, and they assume -- wrongly -- that there is some kind of physical action that can keep them safe from such things. So they are looking for physical training to prevent violence. And there is no such thing.

Because we are looking at different sides of the equation -- they see the man getting stabbed, I see the man doing the stabbing -- the answers don't always fit the question. When someone asks, "What do I do if the man wants to stab me?" and I show them how to take his eye, crush his throat, and break his leg, they are usually aghast at the 'severity' of the action, as well as being uncomfortable since I really didn't do anything about the knife.

When they ask, "How can I prevent him from stabbing me?" and I launch into a discussion of social/anti-social/asocial and mention running away, using your words, letting him have the parking space, etc., they are even more puzzled. What they really want is a way to not get stabbed once the stabbing starts, and there is no such thing.

You can't prevent violence once it's on, and if all you want is to change someone's behavior, violence can't do that. All it does is break down the human body, and shut off the brain. While some of you may want to argue that technically you prevent violence with violence by shutting the other guy off, please remember that that occurs only as a side effect -- the goal must be to break things inside of him and take him to nonfunctional. If the goal is to prevent him from stabbing you, you're at odds with the goal that will actually get that done.

Understanding that what people really want is an easy, painless way of preventing violence from happening, rather than to learn how to be the one doing it, cleared up a lot of misunderstanding for me as an instructor. It's much easier for me to communicate when I know this is the baseline assumption.

From the other side, it's important to make it clear that there is no physical action that makes you safe -- physical action is not the path to safety, it's the path to ruin him. If you want to prevent violence, be smart and use your social skills. But once the violence starts, the only thing that's going to change the situation in your favor is hurting him. Confuse the two at your own peril.

Taken from the TFT website
Written by Chris Ranck-Buhr

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

Highland Challenge 2009

Paul — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:16:13 GMT

Dear All,

After one hugely successful 2008 event, the Highland Challenge 2009 is scheduled from the 31st May through to the 7th June, and open to all who are up for it.

What is it about? -

An entire week of martial training, physical challenges and social sessions, all in the glorious setting of the West Highlands of Scotland.
The challenge offers an opportunity to train hard, play hard, push yourself, discover, experience and enjoy, all in the purest environment Nature has to offer.
Moidart is a land rich in genuine Celtic cultural and combative legends. It still provides one of the most historic, inspiring and challenging training grounds available today.
This is the setting for the Highland Challenge.

The 2009 Challenge is all-inclusive, as course costs shall cover the following -
Transport - Minibus to and from Edinburgh and around the various Highland training grounds.
Accomodation - All participants are based at Glenuig Inn, Moidart (www.glenuig.com/) which serves as our base of operations for the week.
Meals - Breakfast, lunch and dinner is included each day, as Highland air works up a rare appetite!
Training - Six days of classes in the traditional Highland weapons of quarterstaff, backsword, dirk and more! (weapons are supplied), all given in some of the most stunning locations, steeped in Scottish history and legend. All tuition is given by Mo. Paul Macdonald of the Macdonald Academy of Arms.

Each day consists of a morning challenge (details of which are not revealed until the day), a full afternoon of training at specific locations and naturally, an evening session, all for six days and seven nights straight!

This is as authentic as it gets, as we train on original Jacobite training grounds with traditional weapons and martial techniques.

It all adds up to one unforgettable adventure and experience.

The 2008 Challenge saw participants arrive from throughout the UK, Norway, Canada and the US.
Dates are set and booking is now open. Please note that places are strictly limited, so early booking is advised.

Please contact Paul Macdonald directly for further details at macdonaldacademy@aol.com or on 0131 557 1510.

Yours Very Truly,

Paul Macdonald,
Macdonald Academy of Arms,
www.historicalfencing.org/Macdonaldacademy

Check out http://forums.swordforum.com/showthread.php?t=93326
for info. with images of past Challenge events!

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 1 reply

Female Submission Grapplers needed for short film NYC – free training

Zorikh — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 03:47:31 GMT

Female submission grapplers are needed for a scene in a short film that takes place in a non-gender divided grappling tournament.

No pay, but free training from now until the shoot in April. There will also be additional performance opportunities with potential pay.

For more information about the project, go to http://www.captainzorikh.com/redemption and http://czredemption.blogspot.com/

We are casting for diversity, so all sizes, skill levels, ages, etc. welcome. Actors appreciated, non-actors also welcome.

Our next audition/workshop is Saturday, January 31 in Manhattan.

Send picture and resume to zorikh@juno.com for confirmation and details.

Captain Zorikh
zorikh@juno.com
917-865-1214

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

Donate old gear to a good cause!

Spicy — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:30:53 GMT

Ladies and gents,

I am volunteering my time to help coordinate a martial arts gym/dojo at this year's Burning Man called the Black Rock City Combat Club. Everything is being provided for free by the volunteers of my team - instruction, equipment, the dojo, transportation, etc. Unfortunately, the event is less than 40 days away and we still lack a number of items. We have tried to contact gear manufactures, but none have been interested in supporting our cause. We need your help - grassroots style.

The goals of our club are to increase awareness of martial arts among Burning Man's 45,000+ participants and to give fighters a place to train while at the event. Donations directly help to promote the sport and fighters.

More than anything we need matting. I have personally donated a 10x10 mat, a 6x4 mat, and a 8x6 puzzle piece mat. As most of you know, that's not much. Ideally, we'd have at least one more 10x10 mat. Do any of you have or know of anyone with puzzle piece mats - people use them to line garages, gyms, etc. I'm also willing to take old yoga mats, gymnastic mats, etc. Anything at this point.

Secondly we need gloves. My team will be donating about 6 pairs, but we need 20 total. Every pair helps! I will happily take used pairs that are falling apart.

Lastly, we really should have focus mitts or thai pads. I know these are less common, but if you know any ex-boxers/kick boxers please check.

I am in Orange County, CA and am willing to drive around LA County to collect gear. I'm also willing to pay shipping for large donations if you are elsewhere. Thank you for reading and asking around!

If you want more info about what we're doing, check http://brc.cc

Thank you for your time and any help you can provide,

Curtis

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 1 reply

has anyone trained in SYSTEMA or HIKUTA

hand — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 22:05:36 GMT

both systema and hikuta seems like very deadly arts. any practitioners out there. they both seem to have very weird ways on hitting but it also seems very effective. can anyone give me some insight on these styles that is more that what a web site said. thank you
haniff

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 50 replies

Stick fighting instructors in the East Bay?

miguel_s — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 18:57:53 GMT

Hi,
I'm new to the group, er, tribe. I've been studying hapkido for the past 10 years. I'm interested in learning some stick fighting techniques. My instructor has a background and some knowledge in stick techniques but no real time to spend one-on-one. I'm not bent on learning just this or that style, but want to work with someone who knows what they're doing.

Any recommendations?

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 4 replies

Mixed Martial Arts Training while at Burning Man

Spicy — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:17:55 GMT

I'm a noob here, so I hope I'm not over stepping my bounds. I just wanted to let any martial artists going to Burning Man this year know that we will be providing a Combat Club during the event! We have two goals in doing so, one to increase awareness of martial arts among the citizens of Black Rock City; and two, to give martial artists and combat sport athletes a place to train, compare technique, and hang out. We'll be offering introduction classes on fundamental MMA techniques as well as an open mat for more advanced players. So if you want an easy and free way to learn what has made MMA the fastest growing sport around the globe or if you want to just have a place to train while at home, please stop by our theme camp.

We have a group here: http://tribes.tribe.net/brccombatclub

Or you can see our site at http://brc.cc

Hope to meet you there!

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

The 2008 Kufferath Masters Seminar

benjiman — Wed, 28 May 2008 06:25:17 GMT

The Kufferath Masters Seminar is the premier event of the year for Kilohana Martial Arts Association. We have gathered together some of the finest teachers available for this year's event, and we hope that you will want to join us for a day of intense training. We invite you to spend Saturday, June 7 with us at the Campbell Community Center in Campbell, California for an unforgettable day of martial comradery. Please check out our website at www.Kilohana.org to see more about this and other events, and to pre-register.
Instructors scheduled to appear include: Great Grand Master Ming Lum, Olohe Solomon Kaihewalu, Professor James Muro, Grand Master Arthur Gonzalez, Sensei Charlie Robinson, Professor Michael Esmailzadeh, Hanshi Anton S.A. Muhammad, Professor Bob McKean, Sensei Hans Ingebretsen, Kru Pornsak Luerngchaimongkol, Sensei Scott Merrill, Sensei Jack Carter, Sensei Joa Schwinn, Senior Instructor Poh Kheng Loi, Great Grand Master Al Novak, Master Jeff Speakman, Master Bill Chun, Jr., Grand Master Max Togisala, Suro Jason Inay, Shihan Richard Pietrelli, Sifu Andy Ching, Sensei Dale Kahoun, Sensei Al Ikemoto, Kyoshi Russ Coelho, Guro Jena Inay, Sigung Don Togisala, Sean "Hellraiser" Bassett, and Sensei Sauveur Soriano.

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

nunchucks

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 01:06:29 GMT

I've some awesome wooden nunchucks I've had for years and I picked them up today and had so much fun with them.
Never realized what a cool meditation it was.
Can anyone offer any links or advice on progressing nunchuckku technique?
KEEAH!

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 16 replies

MY FIRST KICK BOXING MATCH

Kas22 — Tue, 20 May 2008 01:36:06 GMT

Last night one of my friends who works in the ministry of sports got us some tickets to go see a kick boxing tournament, and seeing I had never actually gone to one of these things in person I jumped at the chance. So I invited my girlfriend and strange enough she was actually more excited than I was, her first thoughts were "great I can go see ways that I can beat them up" She was kidding.... but not really.
So we went, and the very first match that we saw was great, There was this huge guy from Guatemala fighting against a smaller guy and I just loved the way he would slowly but constantly just move toward the smaller guy cornering him then beating the shit out of him. But the really interesting part came when the smaller guy was going for a kick to I guess the inside of the thigh but he just nicked him in the groin, and sure enough the guy gave a picture perfect groin reaction bending over, grabbing on to his genitalia with one hand up in the air signaling for the ref to halt the fight.
And when I saw this I immediately remembered my last post here about whether or not you could shut down the human body using just your hands and feet in the time it takes for him to shoot you, because I spoke of this exact example, I know a lot of people will say well that only happens sometimes and you cant count on it, but I'll get to that later. The point is though that for all his size, speed, training, will to win, aggression, positive thinking etc, it only took a nick, not even a full on body weight driven volley to his groin and his body betrayed him, now if this was on the street and right after that kick to the groin the guy stepped in and dropped him on his skull, then stomped his nose in, the fight would be over in a matter of under 5 seconds. Oh just in passing the big guy won the fight at the end, but again only because he was allowed the opportunity to recover. oh and then my GF was like” this is great we actually get to see the real reaction for the stuff we practice" god I love her, my warrior princess.

So on to the next fight, and then I realized a striking similarity with what happened in the first fight and this one, only this time the guy got hit there a total of 3 agonizing times and then eventually lost the match, but the reaction was the same, instant, predictable and unambiguous and then this happened again for another 2 matches, what can I say they had horrible aim, or did they.

This is why anytime someone tells me that they've been hit plenty times in the balls and they were able to continue like nothing happened I only smile at them and shake my head

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 2 replies

Do you shoot the gun out of his hands?

Kas22 — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 14:39:29 GMT

DISARMS:

So heres the question, what if the other guy has a gun and he's about to shoot you and you have your gun as well, you shoot the gun out of his hands right? of course not that would be silly, you aim centre mass and offload into him shutting down his central nervous system right?. So what about if he has a gun again and you have a knife, you stab the gun right? again of course not you get the blade into him again and again tearing apart his major organs to get him to bleed out with every heart beat. Now you have a stick this time so this should be different right cause we can argue that you can hit his hand to get the gun away from him, but wouldn't it have served you best to crack his skull instead, then the gun wouldn't be much of a problem.

So by now I guess you can see where this is all going right?

So why should it be any different if the tool at your disposal is your body? Why is it ok now to wrestle over the firearm instead of knocking him unconsious,crushing his throat or breaking his neck? With a gun you can shoot him with a knife you can stab him to death, with a stick you can crack his skull. And so to you do as well with your bare hands

Check out and join my new tribe @ http://tribes.tribe.net/rbsd

Till next time
KAS

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 19 replies

Systema, what is it like?

Bo — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 05:04:45 GMT

Can somebody tell me how is Systema different from the rest of martial arts in terms of movement, say delivering a punch or countering one. I can’t view Systema videos on my granny computer. I have training in Tae Kwon Do, Wing Chun and Aikido.

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 34 replies

Brock goes down!!

Thomas — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 02:55:20 GMT

Anybody else catch the fight on saturday. Brock Lesner looked great in the first few minutes, but got caught in the foot lock and didn't make it out of the round.

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 4 replies

Van Donks Ninjutsu Series 7th kyu.

Sun, 05 Feb 2006 18:59:45 GMT

I use the Ninjutsu Blackbelt series as a supplement to my formal training in the dojo. I purchased the entire black belt series and am the legal owner of all 10 videos. However, I taped over my 7th kyu. :(

I was wondering if anybody would be able to help me out with either a burned copy of 7th kyu, or video copy. I would be willing to trade and/or give cash in return....

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 27 replies

Janna martial arts

Altair — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 03:53:29 GMT

Hey all, i'm new here, Anyway i'm wondering if anyone knows where i can learn "Janna" or know anything that can teach it or something like it? Spent 4 years now looking for it and only found 1 book with some of the moves in it and some refrences.

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 7 replies

Dojo management software

martyparty — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 03:17:20 GMT

Just curious - if there are any dojo/school instructors or owners on the tribe, what software or tools do you do to manage attendance, agreements, schedule, retention, billing etc.

Thanks

Marty

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

versus Aikido

Grim23 — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 04:02:17 GMT

This weekend, I'll be sparring with an uchideshi who trains in Aikido.

I have several years of training in Karatedo, and a year of Tang Soo Do.

Any tips or suggestions?

*crossposted*

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 22 replies

Knife throwing classes?

LeDuge — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 21:34:31 GMT

Anyone know of any?

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 3 replies

Drunken Kung fu

Thomas — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 23:04:12 GMT

Howdy Everyone

New to the tribe network, but not to martial arts. I am currently researching and practicing Eight Immortal, or Drunken Boxing. Anyone else in the San Francisco doing this, or have info to share on the style.

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 11 replies

Dim Mak

Swaz — Sun, 13 Mar 2005 20:37:32 GMT

Dim Mak is known as "Death Touch" you are all probably familiar with it so I'll let someone else expound on it. Anyway there's this story I read, who knows if it's true, but the story goes something like this:

An old master was sitting by himself having dinner one night. A younger guy was talking trash to him about how bad he was and the old guy ignored him. The younger guy became pissed that he couldn't get a rise out of him. When they younger guy finally got up and came over and interrupted the masters dinner, the master did a Dim Mak strike from his chair right on the guys heart and dropped him. The story goes that he did it just sufficiently enough to teach the young upstart a lesson and bruised the guys heart. Supposedly the guy never fully recovered. Anyone else hear this story?

Swaz

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 42 replies

Guru Plinck's Las Vegas Sera Workshop - August 2008

Todd — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 03:56:11 GMT

Guru Steve Plinck will be having a three day Sera seminar the second weekend of August in 2008. I realize that's a long way off, but he'd like to get the word out early so that interested people can make travel plans.

It's open to Silat players in general and Sera stylists in particular. We don't know everyone who is coming yet, but there will be participants from as far away as Italy and Scandinavia and quite a few from the Americas including (we hope) people like Guru Bob Vannata, Guru Bud Thompson and Guru Cliff Stewart. The schedule and particulars are still being worked out.

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

Stirring the pot

Ben — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 04:11:25 GMT

This is to stir the pot and hopefully bring out some more activity in this here tribe. too many experienced martial artists here for there to be this little activity...

okay, I just ran across an OOOLLD (2000) article in another MA website that stemmed from the debate regarding chi, its existance and its use as an offensive martial force. The pragmatists will say that it doesnt exist because there is not enough quantifiable proof, and even if it DOES exist its not worth the effort to train because it doesnt have the pay out (in timeliness of training) that "realistic" training has. The Internalists disagree, for various reasons, usually stemming from personal experience(s). So, Ive included what links I could find from that "conflict" (there was an article recoring the outcome of a test, a rebuttal that was asked to me removed and I can no longer find and a response to the rebuttal, which is still available), and lets hear it. Yes? no? why?

http://www.uechi-ryu.com/an_empty_force.htm

http://uechi-ryu.com/response_to_the_empty_force_test.htm

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 31 replies

Training in Lake Forrest

LeDuge — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 15:30:35 GMT

MMA through Mike 'Joker; Guymon. Great classes + fighter only classes in the day. Men, Women and Kids.

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 1 reply

Kalijin Women's Double Fans

Joseph T. Oliva — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 23:38:39 GMT

Tess defending with the double fans: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkPTC-V4Gqg

I will be teaching a woman's seminar on the "fan" as a weapon in San Francisco on Nov 15, 2007.

Tuhan Joseph T. Oliva Arriola

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

Help me choose a style!

Chris — Thu, 18 May 2006 14:21:45 GMT

I need some suggestions on which martial arts to look into. I'm a big guy, 6'2 260 lbs. My older brother is into Ninjutsu and wants to pull me into that world but I want to do some research of my own first. I've seen his school and I like it but they moved and can't be found. O_o I have gotten a few suggestions. My friend takes Ninpo, but I don't think I'm fast enough for it. On top of that he seems to have no grappling skills, so when he spars my brother he does well, but gets shut down as soon as he gets into a lock. Another person suggested Bear/Tiger forms of Kung Fu. I have a feeling it would be hard to find a real Kung Fu school though. There is a Brazilian Jui-jitsu school nearby though, and I really like what I've seen, but there doesn't seem to be much striking at all. Besides that, I've heard shorter guys have the advantage in the art. Someone suggested Hapkido but I know nothing of that art at all. So any ideas/suggestions?

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 51 replies

kamatuuran Kalijin Women's Self Defense Double Fans

Joseph T. Oliva — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 17:07:39 GMT

You will notice a difference in the woman's style and the man's style.

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

For Fun (Chuck Norris facts)

Jonathon is Mr. Addington!!! — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 22:11:32 GMT

Chuck Norris can do a wheelie on a unicycle.
Chuck Norris can speak braille.
Chuck Norris can slam revolving doors.

http://4q.cc/index.php?pid=top100&person=chuck

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 2 replies

Dream matchups

Judah — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 19:56:26 GMT

hello fellow MMA fans. I am trying to make a list on my blog of all the dream matchups you would like to see so please post it in my UFC BLOG at ufcblog.blogspot.com. Thanks and I hope to hear from you all of you, I have only posted one so far but im interested to hear your opinions

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 9 replies

Disgraceful Reylson Gracie School- Las Vegas

Victoria — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 02:05:58 GMT

If only I had done research on Reylson Gracie before my son signed up for classes! It was bullying and intimidation. On certain websites, Gracie was called "a classic scam artist who wants cash." And, the poster wrote: "All he did was hound me for money." There was more. "He has promoted only one black belt. Its white belts teaching white belts." There was indeed a constant demand for more money!

We must start a post about bad schools and grandmasters who do not teach.

February 13, 2006

Grandmaster Reylson Gracie
Gracie Reylson Health Center
1928 Rock Springs Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89128
(702) 243-2300

RE: Cancellation of Classes

Dear Grandmaster Gracie:

This is to inform you that I have decided to end attending classes at the Gracie Reylson Health Center as of this date. I have discussed the situation with a family member who is a 10th Dan Black Belt, Combat Isshunryu Karate Systems. After discussing the matter with him, he advised me to immediately terminate our relationship and to demand a refund.

Considering the sudden increase in the cost of my lessons, and my disappointment over the inferior training (that you were well aware of), I must request that you reimburse me for the 7 lessons I will not be taking. Last month, even though I had paid for 3 classes I had not yet taken, your school insisted I pay for another month of classes.

The constant demand for money and being trained by a 17 year-old inexperienced teacher has strongly influenced my decision to terminate my relationship with the Gracie Reylson Health Center.

I expect your prompt response with the mail delivery of a refund check to me in the amount of $600.00.

I do not want to be compelled to take this matter to Small Claims Court, the Better Business Bureau, the Martial Arts Community, and Las Vegas media outlets.

Respectfully,

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 100 replies

Intro to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu / Submission Wrestling Seminar in SF (THIS Weds!!!)

JessiTaran — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 10:18:28 GMT

INTRODUCTORY BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU SEMINAR

(BEGINNERS WELCOME!!!)

WHERE: K-1 Fitness, 2001 Van Ness Ave (at Jackson), San Francisco
WHEN: August 1st (THIS Wednesday!) at 7:00pm
PRICE: $20 for non-members, FREE to members of K1-Fitness

Professora Jessi Taran, (2 time winner of the US Open in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), 1st place winner of the Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic in BOTH Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as well as submission wrestling, and currently ranked by grapplers.com as the number 1, female BJJ heavyweight in the world) will be teaching an introductory BJJ/submission wresting seminar this coming Wednesday night, at K-1 fitness in San Francisco at 7:00 pm. For almost ten years, Taran has studied under and trained with some of the most well-respected BJJ fighters in the world today, including Ralph Gracie, Renzo Gracie, David Camarillo, Ricardo de la Riva, and Sergio Silva. She is one of only FIVE American women to have ever achieved the rank of Black Belt in the art of BJJ. She also holds a Master's degree in philosophy from the Katholiek Universitat Leuven, in Belgium. She wrote her thesis on 'The Role of Courage in Women's Moral Action'.

Often referred to as 'the world's most practical martial art', Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is grappling based, combative art. Primarily focused on the 'ground game', in recent years, BJJ has won substantial notoriety due to it's unparalleled success in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) venues such as the UFC. Like Judo (which shares a common history), no strikes or kicks are used in Jiu Jitsu. The object of a BJJ match is to achieve a dominant position and immobilize your opponent. This is done by trapping the other person in a submission hold, (usually a joint lock or a carotid artery choke) and applying just enough pressure in order to get him to 'tap out' or verbally submit.

Because of the enormous popularity of televised fight shows such as the UFC and IFL, many people think that BJJ and MMA are the same thing, or that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu's primary importance is it's functionality in winning MMA fights. While it's true that the study of BJJ is an integral element of any MMA fighter's education, it's important to remember that BJJ and MMA are NOT the same thing. Despite it's practicality and proven combat effectiveness, a BJJ match is NOT 'a fight' - it's a GAME, an ART, and a SCIENCE. Only when the art is viewed as a whole, and not just as a means to an end (i.e. : cool submission holds for MMA fights... ) can the beauty, complexity, and subtle, non-verbal, truths that lie at the heart of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, be fully understood and appreciated .

Professora Taran is the co-founder of the Open Door Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy in Oakland, California, where she has been teaching for the past four years. She currently teaches at both the Open Door Academy in Oakland, and also at World Jiu Jitsu in Marin. Taran's stated goal is to make the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu accessible to ANYONE who wants to train, regardless of age, fitness level, gender, or sexual orientation. According to Taran, 'Most BJJ instructors focus the majority of their energy on those students they think have the best chance at becoming tournament champions. Personally, I feel that if a student really wants to compete, that's fine. But if he doesn't want to compete...well...that's fine too! You do learn something from competing in tournaments, but honestly, I really don't see the karmic value of taking a bunch of really tough, athletic, guys, and turning them into really, REALLY tough, athletic, guys. Where's the challenge in THAT, you know? I myself am much more interested in taking regular people of average, or even sub-standard, athletic ability, and giving them something that they never had before, or even knew existed. Now THAT means something! I love seeing how people's lives change when they don't have to worry about feeling afraid anymore. You don't need to be 'tough' in order to be successful at Jiu Jitsu. That's the whole POINT. That's why it's so amazing!'

Aside from her many accomplishments, both as a competitor as well as an instructor, (Taran's students have placed in multiple high level BJJ and submission wrestling tournaments, including the US Open and the Pan American Games) what truly sets the Professora apart from other BJJ instructors, is her precise attention to technical detail, and her 'philosophy of control'. Says Taran, 'Despite popular misconceptions about the art, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is really NOT about injuring or hurting one's opponent; it's about controlling him. We know this because it's the ONLY martial art in which you can spar FULL FORCE, without necessarily getting injured or injuring your opponent. Of course, like any sport, injuries can happen sometimes, but only accidentally. You certainly aren't trying to hurt anyone! As a matter of fact, I believe that if you DO hurt the person you're rolling with, it's same as a loss. This is because both results are ultimately rooted in the same cause - a loss of control. In order to be able to physically control another person stronger or larger than yourself, you must first learn control of your own body. '

Professora Taran will be teaching at K-1 Fitness on a regular basis starting the second week of August.

For more information please write to: info@karate-one.net , or call (415) 474-3322

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

A beginning...

Abue — Mon, 20 Oct 2003 19:58:34 GMT

I have been training in Mantis Kung Fu under Grand Master Kwon Chun since I was 14 years old. Over the past 10 years I have spent considerable time dabbling in many other styles. Let's get people together and share thoughts, training techniques and experiences.

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 5 replies

Joints Care?

w45fy — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 14:23:41 GMT

Should I take some supplements for my joints for twice a week hard kick box training and lighter ones in the other time?

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 13 replies

Do I use it now?

Kas22 — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 13:21:02 GMT

I saw a very interesting answer for an age old question yesterday and I thought I'd share it with you guys; and it is "When do I use my training" how am I to know for certain that this guy really wants to rip my head off or is this just social blustering?.
But before I tell you guys about it I wanted to hear a couple ideas from you guys as to the signs etc you look for in a situation before you decide to act (eg. do you wait for him to attack, show a weapon or did he just say bad things about your mother's butt?....)

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 9 replies

Serious Quandry

Ryan — Fri, 25 May 2007 20:46:10 GMT

So, I've touched base with the local Bujinkan dojo, but have since found out that Bujinkan doesn't allow students with any mental illnesses. I happen to suffer from a very mild case of schizophrenia (just a random murmur here or there that I can pretty much always tell is in my head). My doctor thinks I really should be back in a school/dojo/qwoon, so I'm sure I could get a letter of recommendation from her, but now I'm very apprehensive. Does anyone have any advice? I've been dealing with the illness for about 5 years, and it seems like ever since they slapped that label on me, I've been dealing with bullsh** at every turn. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know. I could really use the advice.

Namaste

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 8 replies

What does your MA say about you?

Justin — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 01:12:04 GMT

I want to make some contentious generalisations about the personality profiles of people that do certain martial arts. It has often been noted that certain social classes do particular martial arts - i.e. working class and boxing, upper classes do aikido, etc. Now I find these to not be very accurate. However, I do see certain MAs attracting certain personality profiles. My time with boxers was very different from my time with Tai Chi practitioners, and again very different from BJJ, Filipino MA, Krav Maga and so on.

I think that many people are atracted to MA initially for hopes of power and control. In some ways all MA offer this in some fashion. But ultimately MA deal with combat (in one sort or another), even if it is self cultivation through martial activities, it still has combat as its backdrop. However, not everyone is willing to get knocked about to become good at MA. This is one of the major factors in determining what MA you do.

There are many MA that promise power, great amazing power, without having to do contact sparring. Lots of these arts talk about death strikes, 'too deadly to spar with' etc. In my experience, people who are attracted to these MA are often less physically capable (in the western sporting sense for lack of a better term). Moreover, they don't like conflict and being threatened. In some ways it is the nerds of the world who like these arts - promising big gains through power other than physical dominance (again, with that Western dualistic notion of physical). In some ways there is a denial of the realities of combat that allows them to have a sense of control. This is why these arts have often been associated in sociological terms with upper classes - they have a distance from the physical realities of the world.

Conversely, boxing and kickboxing and other contact MA, are very upfront about the physical aspect of their game, hence apparently appealing to the working class who are more familiar with the urgency and confronting nature of conflict. Hard-nuts are drawn to this game - people who enjoy, or get something out of confrontation, the very thing that the above group want to avoid.

There are exceptions to these generalisations. BJJ (and grappling more generally) is an interesting one as it is a mixture. Whilst physically confronting and engaging on an explicit level it does not involve the same kind of confrontation as striking arts - there is something emotionally confronting about hitting another person as opposed to submitting them. In some ways it aims to avoid the striking aspect and sublimate aspects of combat by engaging on a different level - the ground game. Yet at the same time it is inextricably linked to Vale Tudo and MMA, the most confronting of all MA. But there are still allusions of superiority - "if your opponent doesn't have a ground game or know some BJJ then they will lose". So whilst BJJ admits the addresses the invariably confronting physcial nature of combat it hopes to subvert the dominant (non MA community) conceptions of combat and advocates superiority through different means. But most importantly, they deny the problems of street combat - the problem of multiple opponents. Whilst considered eminently practical, it forgets that whilst on the ground you can get kicked in the head, stabbed etc. by their assailants mates.

Now these generalisation are meant to rub some people the wrong way - they are oversimplified for the sake of pissing some people off (to provoke some discussion). The irony of all of this stuff, which is at the same time admitting the bias that some MA have of other schools, is that they all started off as pretty much similar. Old school tai Chi guys were hard nuts that proved their metal in combat, same with aikido. However, in China there is much concern by some older internal masters that those thay are doing these styles now are lacking that same psychological aspects that engages with the inevitable confronation of combat. Similarly, some senior BJJ practitioners bemoan the overemphasis on the sporting aspect at the expense of it street combat interests. This will be reflected in following posts - my instructor did this and that, and he is really hard etc. etc. And you are right, they probably are. But their students are a different matter. The problem with all of this stuff is that most MA operate in a relatively autonomous social field that does not engage with others. The classic case of this is the 'dim mak' myths. Now we all know that people can die from a strike to vital points, but practitioners that emphasis this stuff forget (because they rarely, if ever, spar) that a moving target that sees where they are about to be hit is hard to hit and, secondly, does not get affected in the same ways as a dude standing still - moreover, they are trying to hit you and that can hurt! The BJJ version of this 'bad faith' is forgetting that the eye gouge and the knife or second and third assailaint who only attact a victim on his own and surprised is not playing their game.

Now I am not immune to these critiques. But what I want people to do is reflect on how much this stuff could be true to them. Lots of sport MA don't kid themselves to be good street fighters - TKD, boxers and smart BJJ guys know that they are playing a game with rules that has some carry over to the street. Similarly, some Tai Chi, aikido or Krav Maga guys know that they wouldn't last one round with a boxer MMA dude etc. It is about knowing the limits of your MA and yourself. I know that I like combat sports but don't like conflict. For this reason I like boxing and BJJ in training but not competitions. I know that I enjoy internal martial arts and that improve my ability as a MA generally, but if I don't spar I will never learn to use these skills under pressure. Moreover, I know that I am not cut-out to be a pro fiighter as I couldn't handle it psychologically. I can train hard but struggle with the confonting nature of competitive fighting - I fear losing in chess let alone when the loss involves getting smashed up.

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 14 replies

Poekoelan Tjimindie Tulen (Indonesian) Classes/Oakland

~SaRaih~ — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 21:39:47 GMT

Hey guys, the studio where I train is offering some great classes. Here is some info : Studio Naga; A tulen center for Martial Arts and Wellness (Oakland)
Poekoelan Tjimindie Tulen is a beautiful martial art with highly effective self defense, creative animal movement and dynamic sparring. Training Poekoelan builds focus, confidence, muscle and power.
Introductory rate for one month UNLIMITED training plus a complimentary uniform for $99
Please visit website for more info: www.studionaga.com
Cheers!

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

New endevour

Ryan — Wed, 02 May 2007 00:41:42 GMT

Well, I'm about to join a Bujinkan school here in Ottawa. I'm hoping it works out.

Just out of curiosity (I'm going to try it out either way), I was wondering how the Bujinkan schools were seen in the martial arts world. I'd never heard of them until recently.

Any thoughts? Anything I should know going into it, Bujinkan guys (and gals)?

Namaste!

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 11 replies

Iron Ruler

Tim — Tue, 22 May 2007 02:38:05 GMT

Anyone know of an Iron Ruler set? Choy Lee Fut or Hung Gar maybe?

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

Team Artemis Women's Grappling Tribe

Zorikh — Tue, 15 May 2007 07:52:58 GMT

Ladies,

A quick reminder that our women's grappling meet/practice will be tonight from 6-7:30 pm.

Note the time change. Due to Fight House's schedule, we will now always be meeting 6-7:30 on Mondays.

Review of Information
What: Women's Wrestling Club Meet
When: Mondays, 6-7:30 pm
Where: Fight House. 122 W 27th street, 2nd floor. btwn 6-7th Ave. Manhattan.
Mat Fee: $15 (all women) / $20 (male companions)

Important Note! Behold: Team Artemis.

We have are pleased to announce the creation of Team Artemis, sister to the Doom Maidens in women's wrestling & grappling.

Team Artemis is our new organization for women's fitness-grappling. Team Artemis runs and manages the weekly grappling & fitness meets we currently hold on Mondays. Team Artemis will be the organizing body for our women's events and fitness-grappling happenings in the future.

While Doom Maidens continues on as the funky nightlife wrestling performance troupe, Team Artemis will grow as a mainstream community group for legitimate grappling, fitness conditioning, and female empowerment.

Visit our website here:
http://www.artemisnyc.com/

Cheers,
- JV

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

Arnis Clip

Dave-Leon — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 03:33:24 GMT

This is from a movie, but the drilling sans sound effects is great. Recording quality is horrible too.
But old school Kali!

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 2 replies

Ottawa Ninjutsu

Ryan — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 17:40:47 GMT

Does anyone know of anywhere in Ottawa where a person could train in Taijutsu? When I was younger, I'd heard of a closed group that trained in Orleans, I think, and I found a group online that trained near Heron, but the Sensai didn't reply to my email.

So, is there anywhere else in the city?

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 3 replies

New school in Lake Forrest

LeDuge — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 16:26:23 GMT

Mike 'Joker' Guymon of Tap Out has opened a new training facility in Lake Forrest.

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 2 replies

Styles that work well together

Djinn — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 21:58:03 GMT

I really didnt mean for my last post to become a question of whose art is better. While I still think the focus of military/combat/stealth arts are vastly different but in a few ways similar to ring arts, I didnt intend for it to be a contest of who is better.

I think what i was really interested in was talking about which styles work well together, and which ones are harder to bridge the gap between. It seems that some arts compliment each other, which other arts expand on each other to cover more ground, while other arts contradict each other and require a lot more creativity to make them work as a unified system.

What combinations of styles have you seen that produce interesting results. What combinations of arts do you think might be difficult to unite into a single fighting system?

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 15 replies

Best combination of styles?

Djinn — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 19:47:21 GMT

What styles do you think work well together, and which ones dont?

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 37 replies

SF Sambo Seminar Update

Abue — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 20:44:29 GMT

Event: "Cali Combat Sambo" Seminar
Seminar Dates: April 14th & 15th

Event Overview:
Combat Sambo Champion Serge Gerlach presents a full day of ‘incremental’ instruction in this highly regarded Russian full-contact martial art.

Day one:
We will cover the core movement series that will elaborate from large-body movements and refine into protective rolling/breakfalls, takedowns and counters and striking. We'll use posture drills, partnered unbalancing and restoration drills and some efficient footwork that will assist in quickly gaining command of stand-up Sambo work. All of this will then be connected to groundwork where, if we can't walk like men then we will "move like a snake"- as Alex always liked to say. Every movement in Sambo is useful in all phases and this will be the focus of "day one". A light sparring session to end the day.

Day two:
We will focus on the various "keys" that quickly teach an excellent repertoire of knife/stick/choke/punch/kick et. al. defenses and maneuvers. The previous movements we explored will be elaborated into more detailed throws and followups with an eye toward more realistic application (i.e. increased resistance). We'll have a short sparring session to see how everything is being absorbed. After that, we will go through arm&leg-locking series and, depending on interest, chokes, no-gi work and weapons work. Again, we will finish with a sparring session to properly tire ourselves out and celebrate our manhood ;)

Materials to bring:
I'll bring my sledgehammers but if you have one or two kicking around bring it along (dosen't everybody?), stick (single-stick/escrima rattan), training knife, a mouthpiece if you're comfortable with one. A kurtka (Russian jacket), judo-gi or anything approximate to that. Wrestling shoes, sambofki, or the like-if you're used to training with shoes. Bring gloves if you like to hit people/stuff, same goes with shin/foot protection.

Location:
Downtown High School Gymnasium
693 Vermont St btw. 18th&19th (Potrero Hill district)
San Francisco
**Note that there's off the street parking in the lot next to the gym.**

Times: Saturday and Sunday, April 14th & 15th 10 am-4 pm with a short lunch break.

Cost:
$150 for both days, $75 for a single day. Please bring cash.

Instructor Overview:
Serge Gerlach teaches regular weekly classes in the bay area, he has a long history in martial arts with training in san shou, submission wrestling, BJJ, and Sambo under Grandmaster Alex Barakov.

Competitive Highlights:
2006 silver medalist - United Gracie Tournament
2005 silver medalist - North American Freestyle Sambo Championships
2005 bronze medalist - Sport Sambo Unity Classic
2004 gold medalist - United Gracie Tournament
1997 bronze medalist - Gene LeBell World Grapplers Challenge

This coming May Serge will train at Sambo-70, the premier sambo gym in Moscow and bring those teachings to his next seminar.

“The uniqueness of Alex's teachings caused me to form my own working group to carry on with these ideas. We haven't come across another "Alex", but through community building we have found some like-minded sambists. I look forward to exploring this with everyone.” Serge Gerlach

For more information:
email: calicambo@gmail.com
Serge Gerlach
415 717 7985
Cody Fielding
415.203.8449
Email: dcfielding@empoweredhealth.com

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

I tend to stay out of the mix, but I think this may be of interest to some of you! (Abue)

Abue — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 20:44:47 GMT

Event: "Cali Combat Sambo" Seminar
Seminar Dates: April 14th & 15th

Event Overview:
Combat Sambo Champion Serge Gerlach presents a full day of ‘incremental’ instruction in this highly regarded Russian full-contact martial art.

Day one:
We will cover the core movement series that will elaborate from large-body movements and refine into protective rolling/breakfalls, takedowns and counters and striking. We'll use posture drills, partnered unbalancing and restoration drills and some efficient footwork that will assist in quickly gaining command of stand-up Sambo work. All of this will then be connected to groundwork where, if we can't walk like men then we will "move like a snake"- as Alex always liked to say. Every movement in Sambo is useful in all phases and this will be the focus of "day one". A light sparring session to end the day.

Day two:
We will focus on the various "keys" that quickly teach an excellent repertoire of knife/stick/choke/punch/kick et. al. defenses and maneuvers. The previous movements we explored will be elaborated into more detailed throws and followups with an eye toward more realistic application (i.e. increased resistance). We'll have a short sparring session to see how everything is being absorbed. After that, we will go through arm&leg-locking series and, depending on interest, chokes, no-gi work and weapons work. Again, we will finish with a sparring session to properly tire ourselves out and celebrate our manhood ;)

Materials to bring:
Clubbells-if you have your own (I'll bring my sledgehammers), stick (single-stick/escrima rattan), training knife, a mouthpiece if you're comfortable with one. A kurtka (Russian jacket), judo-gi or anything approximate to that. Wrestling shoes, sambofki, RMAX "ugs" or the like-if you're used to training with shoes. Bring gloves if you like to hit people/stuff, same goes with shin/foot protection.

Location:
Downtown High School Gymnasium
693 Vermont St btw. 18th&19th (Potrero Hill district)
San Francisco

Cost:
$150 for both days, $75 for a single day. Please bring cash.

Instructor Overview:
Serge Gerlach teaches regular weekly classes in the bay area, he has a long history in martial arts with training in san shou, submission wrestling, BJJ, and Sambo under Grandmaster Alex Barakov.

Competitive Highlights:
2006 silver medalist - United Gracie Tournament
2005 silver medalist - North American Freestyle Sambo Championships
2005 bronze medalist - Sport Sambo Unity Classic
2004 gold medalist - United Gracie Tournament
1997 bronze medalist - Gene LeBell World Grapplers Challenge

This coming May Serge will train at Sambo-70, the premier sambo gym in Moscow and bring those teachings to his next seminar.

“The uniqueness of Alex's teachings caused me to form my own working group to carry on with these ideas. We haven't come across another "Alex", but through community building we have found some like-minded sambists. I look forward to exploring this with everyone.” Serge Gerlach

For more information:
email: calicambo@gmail.com
Serge Gerlach
415 717 7985
Cody Fielding
415.203.8449
Email: dcfielding@empoweredhealth.com

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

Free Online Training Resources?

Sun, 18 Feb 2007 04:36:16 GMT

Being new to most of this and not having much funding to work with, where would one go online (or otherwise) to find training videos of different styles?

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 3 replies

Shortest Distance

grasshopper — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 22:00:03 GMT

Is the shortest distance between two points ALLWAYZ a straight line? I've recently had an intriguining lesson to the contrary. Does anyone have any observations/experience with this?

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 15 replies

Kamatuuran: Meeting a True Master in Paris

Joseph T. Oliva — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 09:29:53 GMT

On a train from London to Paris, I met a true Master...she was traveling with her 22 year old daughter. They had been in europe showing her paintings and celebrating her daughter's graduation from nursing school.

As we were all getting on the train she smiled at my daughters. I nodded to this woman as I noticed her interest in my kids. She was in her early sixties, blond haired and a bit overweight. I could see from her gait that she most certainly suffered from health problems. But, from the twinkle in her eye and the smile she radiated, I knew there was something special about this woman.

As soon as we were situated in are seats, my wife pulled from her satchel schoolwork for the kids. Though, we were on vacation, our "homeschooled kids" still had to do there work. The woman, watched intently as the kids did their math problems.

She then blurted out, "your children are unusally focused". Few people can reckon the talents and abilities of people simply by the way they walk or move.

I simply said, "thank you". After all, my children are representations of the values and beliefs that I and my wife hold.

"I'm a teacher and I can tell you your children are quite bright", she continued.

"Oh really...I'm really interested in "educational techniques", I said as I looked forward to hearing her opinions. Any person, place and situation is an opportunity to uncover truth.

"Well, do you mind if I switch seats and join you", she asked. "Great...then I will share with you my years of research and education", she muttered under her breath. I smiled to myself thinking this woman is quite confident...quite confident.

In the next three hours we scoped each other out, sparred a bit and then settled down into a mutual respect. We knew that like-kind always attracts like-vibration even on a train to Paris.

This true master was not a martial artist. But, a master nonetheless. I was to discover many things about her in that short 3 hours: a few doctorate degrees, a private educational consultant regarding brain research and educational technques, and the fact that she was a woman who had taught in the canadian prisons.

I would also learn that she was a woman whose gait may have been unhealthy, but a woman who walked quite comfortably in the power she possessed. It is one of the tell-tale signs of a true master.

As time unfolds, I'd like to tell you more about this true master. I'd like to tell you about the man she defended herself against. He is in prison now, in a wheelchair and with a broken spine. I'd like to tell you about her days hunting from horseback, in the Canadian outback, exhiting her painting in Venice and getting into the mind of a psychopathic killer...but, then that's for another time.

Joseph T. Oliva Arriola
Grandmaster Kamatuuran School of Kalijin

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 4 replies

In memorium

Dave-Leon — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 16:53:11 GMT

Tomorrow marks the first anniversary of the passing of Master Carlson Gracie Sr.
He made a huge impact on martial arts here in Chicago and all over the world, and will be remembered by his students, family and friends as a great teacher, fighter and human being.
RIP Master Gracie.

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

kamatuuran Kali

Joseph T. Oliva — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 18:43:03 GMT

Posting: Kamatuuran Kali Seminar
Topic: 3 Sectional Staff
Date: Feb 17, 2007 Saturday 10am-12:30
Place: Union City, California
Tuition $75

email: Josepharriola@sbcglobal.net

Presented by: Tuhan Joseph T. Oliva Arriola
Please view the following on 3 sectional staff:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejDrAF-CsyM&mode=related&search=

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

Any Tai Chi (Taiji) or Cheng Hsin players amongst you?

QiPlayer — Thu, 09 Mar 2006 00:39:33 GMT

I'm curious, any good Tai Chi (Taiji) players amongst you?
Anyone study Cheng Hsin Tui Shou?

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 2 replies

SAMBO

Matt — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 04:56:48 GMT

Hey I was looking for a Sambo group in the bay area. It looks like there was a school in Emeryville but it's closed now? Anyone know of any sambo groups in the east bay?

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 3 replies

My Jung Lo Han!!!

tmba — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 17:54:24 GMT

Anyone else out there practice Northern-style Wushu?

~maharina

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 1 reply

van donk's bujinkan ninjutsu series

hand — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 07:38:52 GMT

if there is anyone out there that is willing to trade copies of martial art dvd's email me at haniff_ali@yahoo.com. i am really looking for van donks ninjutsu series. thank you very much. i have a lot of great training dvd's. some of my new ones include from the martial art mubai silat, also have chinese chinna, trapping, single stick stickfighting(kali) and some others. if you are interested leave me a message or email me at my email. haniff

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 2 replies

If your short... HOW TO get inside your opponent???

Cliff — Sat, 20 May 2006 13:01:39 GMT

hi all, i need advice... i read all the postings on "short guys Vs Tall guys"... and i think it was established get inside or stay out of range and use angles...
i'm 5"6 and have js recently joined an mma Gym (having experience in karate and tae-kwon do) I find these guys jus keep me outa range and pound me with jab's... when trying to move inside the follow with the cross or dance back and around still jabbing!

I am SOOOOO frustrated.... HOW can i get inside?
plz help!!!!!

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 7 replies

Good places to train in San Antonio, TX?

Noman — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 18:43:04 GMT

Hello,
I just moved to SATX. I would like to find a good place to train. (For reference, Rick Faye's JKD/Kali school in Minnesota is what I think of as a fantastic place to train.
www . mnkali . com. )
Any recommendations on places in the Alamo City?
Thanks for your time.

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

Introduction to Sword Fighting Seminar - November 2006

Damion — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 04:39:43 GMT

Introduction to SwordFighting

www.ModernKenjutsu.com www.PhillyKenjutsu.com

Saturday’s November 4th, 11th and 18th, 2006 from 12pm until 4pm

This series of seminars will introduce the student to sword fighting for
fun & combat. It will cover a mix of combative techniques and modern
swordplay for fun and defense with a sword.

Topics to include introduction to:
Stances (Classical and Modern)
Drawing the sword /Draw Cuts
Basic Strikes, Cuts and thrusts from Classical and Modern sword styles
Blocking and Parrying
Partner Contact drills (a fun yet safe speed)
Combat techniques
Sparring (optionally)

Each day will be a mixture of theory and practice.

No experienced required. Open to men and woman 17 and over.

Cost and Registration:
$25 for weapons - you receive and keep one oak and one bamboo sword
and ($50/70/75) for 1, 2 or 3 dates.

Class limited to 24 Students – Sign up early to avoid missing out.

Non-Refundable Pre-registration fee is $25 (approx cost of materials)
payable by check, money order or Paypal. Cash only at Door.

IF YOU NEED WEAPONS:
Please register ASAP So that I may have time to purchase them and have
them reliably for the first day of the seminar.

Location:
25th & Spruce, Schuylkill River Park, Right of Basketball Courts.
Training area is outside, Classes held rain or shine.
(Class may be moved close by or rescheduled in dangerous weather)

Seminar Taught by Damion Waltermeyer, Head Instructor for the
Philadelphia school of Modern Kenjutsu and Aikijujutsu

This seminar is a required attendance for “Advanced Sword Fighting”
next Seminar: December/January

Contact information:
Damion_is@yahoo.com

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

Combat Cane/Stick Training

Paul — Thu, 26 Aug 2004 18:32:26 GMT

I'm working with the cane and trying to learn more about stickfighting in general. I have a "triple-grip" cane from http://www.canemasters.com, and I can't say enough good things about the quality of their product and customer support. I'm looking now to branch out from the videos they provide.

I'm interested in what I think of as practical stick work: that is, combat applications of sticks that are legal and practical to carry. That basically means canes, short staffs, MAYBE escrima sticks (though they're often classed as clubs or truncheons by police), and very short sticks like the yawara and koppo stick. The bo and quarterstaff are pretty and effective - when you can carry them - but in the real world they aren't very useful.

Can anyone recommend good books, videos, websites and/or teachers (the latter in the SF Bay area, please) on the combat cane, short staff (jo or hanbo), koppo stick, yawara, etc?

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 26 replies

JKD HIGH PERFORMANCE STREET FIGHTING

Morne — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 07:12:19 GMT

Check out www.jkd.co.za

Morné Swanepoel's JKD High Performance Street Fighting offers a unqiue blend of Reality Based personal protection and High Performance Mixed Martial Arts training methods and techniques which will give you a better chance to surive the streets of today!

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

New acadamy opening in Lake Forrest

LeDuge — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 16:40:27 GMT

MMA run by Mike 'Joker' Guymon - Sept. 1st. From being new to MMA or if you are a pro fighter, this will be a great place to up your game.

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

SAMBO TRAINING CENTER

Val — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 20:55:58 GMT

The Russian Combat Sambo Training Center is located in Emeryville, CA. It's a private training center for Combat Sambo team members and other MMA athletes. The facility is over 3500 square ft with a full size boxing ring, heavy bags, thai pads, focus mitts, and cardio equipment. It is open 6 days a week from 10am to 10pm. Please feel free to contact us if you are interested.
-------------------------------
SAMBO - Teaching the fundamentals of sambo for both beginner and advanced students
COMBAT SAMBO - We teach authentic Combat Sambo with basic and advanced techniques
SELF DEFENSE - We teach self defense such as defending against attacks by both armed and unarmed attackers.
MUAY THAI - We teach Muay Thai with basic and advanced techniques
JUDO - Teaching the fundamentals of judo for both beginner and advanced students
STRENGTH /CONDITIONING - This class will help you achieve and maintain the highest level of power and strength
-----------------------------
ADDRESS:
1035 WEST MAC ARTHUR, EMERYVILLE,CA.94608
SAMBO TRAINING CENTER
PHONE : 415-246-1239
WWW.RUSCOMBATSAMBO.COM
WWW.RUSSAMBO.COM
WWW.SAMBOSF.COM

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 2 replies

Lee Shone : OFFICIAL SITE

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 10:49:44 GMT

Hey, MMA fans and supporters!

I'm Lee Shone (professional fighter from the UK) and I'd like to invite you to be my friend on my OFFICIAL WEBSITE at www.mynetspot.org - This site has much love for mixed martial arts, so I've decided to make it my homebase online.

Make a profile, and request to be my friend!

I'm a real guy, not just some fighter on the internet.

My page: www.mynetspot.org/leeshone

I hope to hear from you in there, mates!

Cheers!

Lee Shone

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

Please comment on our martial arts website

Mon, 20 Mar 2006 16:57:07 GMT

please give us some feedback on

www.jkdkickboxing.com

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 5 replies

Survey how many of youz guyz grapple? and what style?

UglyBoxer — Fri, 31 Dec 2004 14:07:39 GMT

Myself submisson grappling and ju jitsu and judo.along with the muay thai. and (GI or no GI) Or Both..i like no gi..

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 19 replies

x-training... expensive :(

Tue, 14 Feb 2006 01:08:49 GMT

I'd love to study MT, BJJ, Taijiquan, Wingchun, and Bunjinkan... but Oy! The money!
Heh...
Is there anyway I could trade massages for training???

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 8 replies

Barzilian Jiu Jitsu

revjoshua — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 19:26:50 GMT

Does anybody here belong to a BJJ tribe? I can't seem to find one.

Thanks!

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 4 replies

Jack Dempsey's "Punchers Are Made; Not Born!"

FreeCircleFighting — Wed, 10 May 2006 23:28:33 GMT

This old book was on the net for awhile and recently dropped off the web.

http://www.FreeCircleFighting.com/jdarchive.html

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 4 replies

Train In L.A.

Duane — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 21:52:52 GMT

Anybody want to train w/me? I am a certified instructor in JKD Concepts and the Filipino Martial Arts.under Paul Vunak. I am located just south of Hollywood(LaBrea/Pico). I have a small studio in my home. Hit me back if interested. Thanx, Duane Yoshito Walden

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 2 replies

online magazine

giorgi — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 13:25:48 GMT

i've found this online magazine, dedicated to the combat arts. quite complete and the design is kewl!!

http://www.cut-mag.com

they only write in spanish at the moment, but seems they want to translate it also to english...

cheers!

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

Mui Thai Vs. Kung Fu settled

Swaz — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 01:31:20 GMT

I was traveling in Thailand a few years back and heard a story that you all here might find interesting. The story goes that Thailand and China trash-talked each-other for decades about who's fighters were better.

So the Thai's laid down the gauntlet: Bring your five best fighters in five different weight classes and pit them against our five best guys and we'll see who's badder. The result? EVERY Kung Fu fighter got knocked out and NONE of the fights lasted longer than one minute. No more bullshit from the Chinese these days.

I'm sure this is going to spawn a debate but I heard the story at a Mui Thai place in Phuket. I might add that I had an opportunity to get my visa renewed in Victoria Point Myanmar (Burma). That's where they train alot of their world-class Mui Thai fighters. Supposedly the schools there have them toughen-up their shins by kicking coconut trees. No fucking kick-bags there.

Swaz

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 32 replies

Multiple Opponents Training

Sat, 07 Feb 2004 17:49:14 GMT

Hello all,

I'm throwing this out there: Does anyone know of any good techniques, schools of thought, or general drills for multiple opponents training? For example, 2 on 1, 3 on 1 or 4 on 1.
Thanks!

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 17 replies

New Kyudo tribe...

marshallelliott — Mon, 13 Feb 2006 22:12:17 GMT

Just started a new Kyudo tribe for all those interested in the Way of the Bow:

http://tribes.tribe.net/kyudoka

Check it out!
-m

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

UFC Vol. 1 - The Beginning

Fri, 14 Oct 2005 19:13:51 GMT

Hi folks,

I'm looking for this video on dvd.....does anyone have a copy I could borrow? If you're not local, I'm willing to pay for shipping. I know it's available on VHS but I don't have a vcr. Thanks!

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 6 replies

Training for fighters and fierce fans.. MMA in San Jose

mikemardis — Thu, 01 Sep 2005 07:29:28 GMT

Hey future fighters and fight fans...

Anyone in the San Jose, California or immediate area seeking MMA training by the pro's fighting in today's UFC, Pride & NHB venues?

I'm trying to bring new fighters to the sport and give the current pro fighters the much sought after cash between fights.

Three options..
Class/group training for kickboxing, boxing, jujitsu, cardio
Private group for MMA training, wrestling, conditioning
Private one on one with today's fighters you pay to see

San Jose is not that far from anywhere and when you get the specialized training from private classes you really see immediate results and improvement to succeed at your short term goals and acheive your long term objectives.

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 5 replies

Putting together a new Sunday Fu Bunch...

Abue — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 19:44:05 GMT

Liooking to have a multidicipline workout where we all teach and pass techniques. Will be mostly technique exchange, Self defense and sparring. Anyone interested?

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 7 replies

Thoughts on qi and internal energy work...

LowKey_Loki — Fri, 15 Oct 2004 23:04:27 GMT

What do you think of qi and internal energy work from a mixed martial arts perspective? Does anyone have any high end experience with internal work?

I'm fairly new to internal work, but some of the basics have come to me through my study of Txujtshajlim (Hmong art of "simple fighting") and (recently started) Shaolin martial arts. Also I have felt the effects of what some call "energy work" in Systema and have been fairly impressed.

I've been offered a number of different perspectives on the so called "internal energies"...

1. It is a bioelectric phenomenon and therefore has a material basis.

2. It is a psychological "energy" along the lines of yi, "in-/attentional energy".

3. It is simply a quality of mind/movement that comes with long, nuanced practice rather than an "energy" to be cultivated seperately from practice. It is a sort of sensitivity to nuance combined with a soft but firm psychological state that results in optimal movement.

4. It is simply the use of breath and relaxation to optimize movement and power.

The commonality among these perspectives seems to be that they all emphasize the importance of breath and relaxation. Yet things get even more confusing when people (especially "new agers", but also apparently some traditional daoists) start talking about "bad energy". Now is this energy simply an overall quality or an actual "energetic" phenomenon?

What do you all think about these matters?

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 5 replies

Short guys vs. Tall guys.

Berto — Fri, 04 Mar 2005 18:54:34 GMT

This is a question for short guys. I'm 5'7", 170 lbs. I have a hard time fighting tall guys. I always find myself on the defensive. This is in a Chinese boxing style of sparring. Our chief instructor is a little shorter than me so he understands what I am going through and spends extra time with me. I was wondering what works for you guys in this situation.

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 46 replies

anyone in the Bend area want to train sticks?

djembemon — Sat, 26 Nov 2005 03:53:02 GMT

I'm simply looking for other Kali/Escrimadors to train with. I have a stong base in modern Arnis with plenty of knowledge on how to train. In other words I know my locks, drills, and all that.

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

Question?

UglyBoxer — Tue, 05 Apr 2005 13:31:35 GMT

Have you guy ever had to knock are choke out another student due to there disrespect' to you as a training partner? It seen that every time we get these new young guys that myself or someone else seem to all way have to put them on there back.

Why is it like that now. When i started in Martial arts we had respect for those who were higher up then us. Is this just student envy no their behaft?

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 8 replies

Remedy for kidney punch

mikemardis — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 20:13:30 GMT

Its been a long time since I took one to the kidneys, but last night sparring with my son he landed a beautiful knee on me during a tie up that is now killing me!!

Any ideas/suggestions/known remedies recommended??

Not bad enough to go to the doctor, and of course it will pass in a few days, but interested what others do.

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 7 replies

Favorite DVD's

Wed, 23 Nov 2005 17:47:48 GMT

Do people have favorite DVD's they watch for analysis or training purposes?
Bonus points for suggestions that can be obtained through Netflix.

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

And the moral of the story is...?

lowglowrider — Tue, 20 Sep 2005 12:19:38 GMT

http://www.big-boys.com/articles/asswhoop.html

Always hit first.

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 16 replies

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer

richardrants — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 23:01:00 GMT

"To know your enemy, you must become your enemy ... Keep your friends close and your enemies closer." This familiar quote is from Sun Tzu (China - 400 B.C.), author of On the Art of War.

Ageless wisdom... as Musashi (Japan 1643 - The Book of Five Rings) said about the science of martial arts:

"If you want to learn this science, then take everything I write to heart and think it over carefully."

and

"Matters such as this need not be written out in extensive detail; myriad things are to be inferred from each point. When you have mastered the practice of the science of martial arts, there will be nothing you do not see. This should be given careful and thorough reflection." - Miyamoto Musashi, translated by Thomas Cleary

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 4 replies

suggestions--2nd style

Adel — Sun, 06 Mar 2005 09:13:58 GMT

I'm looking for a new martial art form and was wondering if others would be able to give me some direction. I haven't been on this tribe very long...

Basically I'm looking for something which would not be brute force versus brute force. I heard people talking about ba gua and looked that up...I like the focus on evasion, agility, speed, circular movements...I even found a recommendation for an instructor near my area (East Bay near Pinole).

To give you some specifics on what I'm dealing with, I'm 5'2" and 107 lbs. So I'm not all that strong, really. But I can utilize agility/quick movement/awareness/speed. I would need to focus on avoiding attacks and striking at weak points/when someone's guard is down.

I took aikido for 5 years, though I'm thinking about going into a martial art which is more battle oriented...because I would like to be capable of an offensive. I'm not planning on going out and beating anyone up, but I do have a drive to fight that could be released in sparring...though I don't really want to hurt others. I know; I want to fight, but I don't want others to be hurt...

I also like fluid motions, which is a reason why I may look at tai chi. When I was looking up ba gua I read that it and tai chi are 'internal' martial arts. I remember a little of what that means...but I'd have to look it up again to be sure.

I'm looking at Chinese martial arts now instead of Japanese ones...From what I've come across and what I know from experience in Japanese martial arts, I feel that it's possible that Chinese martial arts might be a little less psychologically militant...a little more relaxed. It's kind of hard to put into words, but I think there's a cultural difference and that this is reflected in the arts themselves.

I am trying not to get into race relations or politics here. But I had an experience in aikido that kind of creeps me out now when I'm reminded of it, and when I find out it was unusual, and when I know who I am now is shaped by what happened then. It's possible that I'm overly extrapolating my experience there onto other Japanese martial arts...I looked at a kendo site where the school overtly speaks of "molding" its students...there is a mix of Japanese militarism, nationalism, and racism (as existent separate from kendo), some of which I've internalized, that I don't want to be a part of.

I don't want my teacher brainwashing me (though now I'm a little old to be 'molded' or 'shaped'), or intruding into my daily life (e.g. my old sensei's telling us not to curse inside or outside the dojo, *ever* [i.e. "Right Speech"]), or trying to make me into a 'perfect soldier'. I was a perfect goddamn student until I found out that life existed. I fucking didn't know who I was all through high school. (sorry, I was writing the below paragraph about my mom, and also thinking about my old sensei, and got pissed off.)

I have the capacity for violence and I know it, and I don't want to be guilted into trying to repress it (as repressing it just makes it turn into depression and self-hate and/or suddenly erupt into rage). However, I could use help in managing it, as it is sometimes frightening. (I'm transgender and bisexual, as well as sexually repressed [can't handle affection, currently celibate], so I have a deep well of anger. The sexual energy [plus anxiety] may be being rerouted towards a desire to exercise and fight. Yes, I know how to keep sexuality out of training...)

My mother says that if I take a martial art I'm just going to have to live with my teacher controlling me (as "that's what a martial art is about" [as if she knows!]), but I've trained much longer than her and she knows how to make it seem to me like she's right and the whole world would agree with her--so I shouldn't bother seeing if other people actually do agree with her.

I guess maybe that nationalism tangent wasn't as off topic as I thought...anyway...please review what I said earlier...could any of you recommend an art for me? I should add one more thing--I would like for this art not to destroy my joints (I read on an aikido forum that in tae kwon do, which I also trained in for a short time, you don't see many above 40 because the knees begin to give out). Ideally I'd like to be able to do it for a long time and not have it break down my body.

Thanks, if you got this far. If you remember, please don't call me Adel. :) That's just a private joke for the people who have played Final Fantasy VIII...(Adel is the name of the manly sorceress in my avatar.) ^_^

Thanks for any input,
S.

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 25 replies

ACL bye bye

Berto — Wed, 31 Aug 2005 16:17:43 GMT

Went to a follow up and MRI on my knee sprain ... my ACL is torn. We'll see what happens when I see the ACL specialist this week.

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 6 replies

FitnessAID.org

scotiascott — Thu, 08 Sep 2005 18:42:32 GMT

Bringing together the fitness community for a 'Pledge Your Sweat' fund drive and a Charity Benefit Fitness Seminar.

http://www.fitnessaid.org

100% of proceeds will go to the American Red Cross Katrina Relief Fund.

"We named this event FITNESS AID because as a physical culture community we need to redefine what it means to be fit. What are we 'fit' FOR?

Fit-ness is our ability to take effective and expedient action. What more dire circumstances could EVER require our action? What more crucial could we be "fit" for???"

The Charity Seminar will be especially a treat for the martial art enthusiasts. Participating groups are:

RMAX International
Western Washington University
Blauer Tactical Systems
Scrapper Athletics
Progressive Groundfighting Concepts
Eastern Arts Online Magazine
Straight Blast Gym International
One Dragon Gym
Scientific Wrestling Research Group
Crossfit London Group
Fitboot Professional Training Group
ModCom MMA Team
Warrior Force
Tactical Strength Challenge
Raw Perfection Ltd.

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

WOMEN'S SUBMISSION STYLE WRESTLING CLASS in OAKLAND

JessiTaran — Fri, 08 Jul 2005 04:23:04 GMT

In January I posted a notice on the 'Women in the Martial Arts' tribe message board about a wrestling seminar I was conducting. Several women showed up for the training and I promised everyone in class that a regularly schedualed women's submission wrestling class was immanent. Unfortunately things didnt happen as I had planned. (Sigh)

I've been waiting and waiting for the chaos in my my life to sort of settle down before commiting myself to something like this, but you know what? Life just doesn't work that way. Screw it. Let's do the class anyway! That was a big part of the motivation behind starting the Academy in the first place darn it! To get more women involved with submission wrestling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu!!!

If those of you reading this havent attended any of my classes or seminars in the past, the thing about the way I teach the women's classes is that the focus is more on technical precision, getting a good work out, and above all, HAVING A GOOD TIME. 'Winning' is defined by everyone in class walking off the mat at the end of the training in a better state of mind and body than when they first arrived. I think of it as being more along the lines of 'Fitness Wrestling' rather than the kind of training geared towards competition or tournaments. If that's what you're looking for I can steer you into the regular classes once you get comfortable on the mat, but what I've found is that most women really just come to class to get a good work out and have fun. The fact that they can do this and also learn some self-defense skills as a side benefit is just an added bonus.

* This is a no-gi (no uniform), submission wrestling class for beginning, female, grappling students.

* All ages and fitness levels are welcome.

* Price: $150 per five week session.

* Date: Women's Class starts AUGUST 1st

* Times: Monday and Wednesday evenings from 8-10pm

For more information about our school, please visit our website at www.opendoorbjj.com

For more information about the art of submission wrestling or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu check out www.bjj.org .(Please feel free to check out my credentials while you're there!)

If anyone has questions, either send me a meesage here at tribe.net or write me directly at vonmott@gmail.com .

Thanks!

Jessi Taran
2x US Open BJJ champion

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 3 replies

Inspiration for Jeet Koon Do

Swaz — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 21:16:09 GMT

Okay here I go again. Not a martial artist but I love the story. Bruce Lee was teaching Kung Fu in the early 60's in Oakland. The older "keep it Asian" camp in San Francisco disliked the fact that he was teaching to Occidentals. So they gave him an ultimatum which he ignored.

Finally they said we're going to send you our best guy, if you can beat him we'll leave you alone. And he accepted the challenge. From what I've read before he came over from Hong Kong he had plenty of experience in rooftop-challenges where the loser got tossed off the top.

So this guy shows up one day and in front of his class both guys go to town. The fight is supposed to have lasted about two minutes, no holds barred and both came close to killing each-other. Lee however won and they left him alone after that.

What he realized from the fight though, as the story goes, he stopped teaching a bunch of shit that was showy but just didn't work in real-world combat and this layed the seeds for his form known a Jeet Koon Do.

This is my understanding of the story. Feel free to fill in the gaps.

Swaz

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 19 replies

looking for a JKD or similar type school near Berkeley

chrisodell — Wed, 22 Jun 2005 08:16:00 GMT

i'm at a JKD school in SF at the moment but i want to check around and see if any other school might offer similar training near Berkeley. Even some sort of basic Gung Fu might do well. Unfortunately very few schools have websites so...any suggestions?

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 6 replies

Inferno Meltdown June 24 Dallas

Texashana — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 08:15:53 GMT

Anyone going?
Frank, Devon & Victoria are fighting out of Austin area, should be sweet

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies

Longevity and your art

Charles — Tue, 26 Apr 2005 20:32:25 GMT

I find it interesting that many people practicing some arts die young. Some die old. Have you noticed a trend among active teachers and lifespan? Do your teachers like Kempo die young? Taoist Taichi founder Moy Lin Shin dies in his 60's and Tai Chi promotes health? In my Tai Chi class I took, people began to drop like flies. Anyone experience this, or the opposite?

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 9 replies

Changing styles

jorga — Mon, 21 Mar 2005 04:01:21 GMT

Anyone out there changed styles after training in one style for around 10 years? What were your challenges?

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 7 replies

did anyone see Couter vs. Liddell?

Thu, 21 Apr 2005 19:15:19 GMT

I heard it was pretty short...

any feedback on the fight?

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 8 replies

Ca State AAU Tae Kwon Do Champoinships.!!!!!

Sat, 16 Apr 2005 00:55:54 GMT

AAU CA State Tae Kwon Do Champoinships.. April 30!!!

hey folks.. just a heads up.. the California State Tae Kwon Do Championships are Sat April 30 at Dominican University in San Rafael. Come check out an amazing group of athletes.. both children and adults.
Volunteers are really needed for the event...Please go to www.academyoftkd.com for more vital info...

If you are interested in volunteering..you will get free admission to the event, lunch and the enduring appreciation of all the folks at the Academy of TKD..

you can send me an email thru tribe or contact Bill Dewart, Tournament Director at jidokwantkd@sbcglobal.net

Thanks and Peace to all!!

posted in Anything Goes Martial Arts - 0 replies