Martial Arts Experiences Discussion Thread

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Naperville
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Re: Martial Arts Experiences Discussion Thread

#501

Post by Naperville »

This is "todays" story on Chicago CCW holders drawing firearms, this time on people stealing cigarettes.

Yes, you read that right. CCW holders can draw down on folks committing misdemeanor crimes....but whatever you do, if 4 to 5 guys are slapping, grabbing, throwing punches and kicks at YOU do not use a 2 inch blade to stop them! Lets not forget that Chicago no longer takes 911 calls for thefts under $1,000. Lets celebrate this nuttery!!!

:squinting-tongue

https://cwbchicago.com/2021/10/conceale ... tore1.html

I am telling YOU, if you are in Illinois, buy a firearm and get a CCW. It is a license to be the law in all respects that I can see.
I support the 2nd Amendment Organizations of GOA, NRA, FPC, SAF, and "Knife Rights"
T2T: https://tunnel2towers.org; Special Operations Wounded Warriors: https://sowwcharity.com/
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Re: Martial Arts Experiences Discussion Thread

#502

Post by James Y »

Naperville wrote:
Sat Oct 23, 2021 7:05 pm
This is "todays" story on Chicago CCW holders drawing firearms, this time on people stealing cigarettes.

Yes, you read that right. CCW holders can draw down on folks committing misdemeanor crimes....but whatever you do, if 4 to 5 guys are slapping, grabbing, throwing punches and kicks at YOU do not use a 2 inch blade to stop them! Lets not forget that Chicago no longer takes 911 calls for thefts under $1,000. Lets celebrate this nuttery!!!

:squinting-tongue

https://cwbchicago.com/2021/10/conceale ... tore1.html

I am telling YOU, if you are in Illinois, buy a firearm and get a CCW. It is a license to be the law in all respects that I can see.

That IS nuts!

Jim
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Re: Martial Arts Experiences Discussion Thread

#503

Post by James Y »

Choy Lay Fut Fighting Techniques and Pad Training, Videos (demonstrated by Gianni de Nittis).

‘Choy Lay Fut’ is the same art/same family as ‘Choy Lee Fut,’ ‘Choy Li Fut,’ ‘Choi Lai Fut,’ etc. All different spellings for the same art. I usually spell it ‘Choy Lee Fut,’ but in the past I often spelled it ‘Choy Lay Fut.’ It really doesn’t matter; it’s the exact same three Chinese characters that comprise the name. Then there are the different CLF lineages: Hung Sing, Buk Sing, Chan Family, and the little-known Wing Foon lineage, among others.

The different English spellings for CLF are like those in the art of Wing Chun, which some people prefer to spell ‘Wing Tsun’ or ‘Ving Tsun.’

Among Chinese martial arts, CLF is one of the most aggressive and attack-oriented. It’s also one of the more recently systematized of the traditional Chinese martial arts, founded in 1836 by Chan Heung. But it was developed from a combination of older systems.

Different CLF lineages may have some different characteristics or emphases, as well as different forms; but again, they are generally more alike than different.

Then there are individual stylistic differences. For example, I personally prefer to apply my CLF in-close; I use long-range strategies mostly to get into close quarters. Many other CLF practitioners use it mostly as a long-range fighting system. But the same techniques and combinations are deceptively effective when modified for use in close quarters, something that most people who are aware of CLF, including many CLF practitioners, seem unaware of. Most people classify CLF as a “long-arm, long-range fighting system” which, IMO, is severely limiting, and grossly underestimates CLF’s application potential. Many of the “long,” circular movements and strikes work very well as strike/throws and takedowns in very close quarters. It’s comparable to a bicycle wheel, and your body is the hub and the arms/limbs are the spokes. As the wheel turns, the closer to the hub, the faster the rotation and the greater the leverage of the spoke(s); the further out from the hub, the slower the rotation. Many observers of CLF think it would be easy to block or avoid, but that’s not really the case, and doubly so when it’s being used in-close. These are some of my own personal observations and philosophy on it.


https://youtu.be/Nmy-b36qPAg

https://youtu.be/xbHdMUlQ7E0

Jim
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Re: Martial Arts Experiences Discussion Thread

#504

Post by James Y »

The History of Choy Lee Fut - Kung Fu Report - Adam Chan

Although Adam Chan is self-admittedly NOT an expert in Choy Lee Fut (he is actually a Wing Chun specialist), he does have a rudimentary understanding of CLF, and he has explosively good Kung Fu skills. I have tons of respect for his ability, and for his open-mindedness as a martial artist (which is a rare thing). He also tells a story from one of Bruce Lee’s original students about Bruce and a Choy Lee Fut man.

https://youtu.be/pNfFyJHxChQ

Jim

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Re: Martial Arts Experiences Discussion Thread

#505

Post by twinboysdad »

Don’t flame me Jim, but to my eyes the Combat Chot Lee Fut just looks like sloppy Muay Thai or boxing. I may be too naive to see subtleties that I am missing though? I do get amused when any karate style shows forms and katas and one steps that are unique and as soon as the gloves come on, it looks like a regular old fight. That alone always has made me value arts that train full pressure sparring with both combatants trying to win. I also laugh thinking about when two boxers or strikers get into it at a weigh in, they immediately clinch and when wrestlers/grapplers get into it strikes are thrown!
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Re: Martial Arts Experiences Discussion Thread

#506

Post by James Y »

twinboysdad wrote:
Sat Oct 30, 2021 8:48 am
Don’t flame me Jim, but to my eyes the Combat Chot Lee Fut just looks like sloppy Muay Thai or boxing. I may be too naive to see subtleties that I am missing though? I do get amused when any karate style shows forms and katas and one steps that are unique and as soon as the gloves come on, it looks like a regular old fight. That alone always has made me value arts that train full pressure sparring with both combatants trying to win. I also laugh thinking about when two boxers or strikers get into it at a weigh in, they immediately clinch and when wrestlers/grapplers get into it strikes are thrown!

I won’t flame you. It really depends on how it’s trained. And there is more to CLF than meets the eye. In the past, I have sparred and competed with it against people from other systems (including some pro kickboxers, Wing Chun, Mantis, Tae Kwon Do, Kajukenbo, various Karate styles, other CLF lineages, etc.), and it has worked for me. There are CLF guys who have entered professional Muay Thai fights, but were mostly using Muay Thai and still calling it CLF. What many (including many CLF people) don’t realize is that, as I mentioned a couple of posts back, many of the “big, wide” CLF movements work well in very close quarters as combination strikes/takedowns. And to me it is very natural to apply it that way, possibly due to influences from my previous Northern Mantis background.

Also, something most non-CLF people don’t know is that many strikes, for example, the big, stereotypical Sau Choi (roundhouse punch) of CLF is used in different ways. I prefer to use the radius bone of my forearm to strike. In CLF, one must properly condition and harden the arms, hands, etc. Getting hit with a properly conditioned forearm strike is similar to getting struck with a conditioned shin from a traditional Muay Thai practitioner. Without all the conditioning and other training methods, all you have are a bunch of useless movements that are only good for hitting air.

Back in the ‘70s, two of my CLF sifu’s students were among some of the local martial artists who accepted a challenge from a team of professional Muay Thai fighters from Thailand, who had come to Los Angeles to challenge the local martial artists to matches. At the time, MT was not well-known in the States like it is now. One of my sifu’s students, a heavyweight guy, lasted one round but was unable to go into the 2nd round. The other student, a Filipino guy who was a lightweight, KO’d his opponent with a CLF Pau Jong (uppercut) after blocking the MT fighter’s knee while in a clinch. IIRC, this little guy was the only one of the local martial artists who accepted the MT fighters’ challenge who won his match. This same small-statured student also beat up a much larger martial artist (whom I won’t name), who later went on to author several martial arts books, appeared in many TV shows, and taught a certain famous Hollywood celebrity in the ‘90s. I know who the guy is, but like I said, I won’t name him.

But I don’t ride anyone else’s coattails. I myself have used it, and I’ve seen too many instances of CLF used by others to dramatic effect in both semi and full-contact competitions. I’ve also seen CLF fighters from other groups knock opponents out. It may look like sloppy boxing to some, but if the fighter is actually using it and really knows what they’re doing, an experienced practitioner can spot it. Keep in mind also that the wide-open looking shots can be and are adjusted in actual use. Long movements can be shortened up considerably, and even turned into elbows. They are practiced long during basic training, and look that way in the forms, to train extension and full range of movement. In actual use, if they are set up properly, they come at you from a blind spot. I’ve seen some people from other styles (Karate, for example) make fun of CLF when they see the wide, circular movements in CLF forms, who quickly change their tune when they’re getting nailed hard with those same movements, modified during sparring and used in blitzing combinations, and find out they’re not so easy to “block” or avoid.

Are there CLF people who can’t use it? YES! I’ve seen whole CLF schools where the students, and most likely the teacher himself, could do a bunch of CLF forms, and could maybe even demonstrate a few ‘applications,’ but when the sparring begins, they couldn’t actually use it. Instead, they used sloppy kickboxing, watered-down Muay Thai, and/or Tae Kwon Do or point Karate to spar/fight. That happens in some CLF schools, and also in a lot of other Kung Fu styles. That’s why a lot of people say Kung Fu doesn’t work, and that Kung Fu people can’t fight. It comes down to having a real working knowledge of and experience in a system, any martial arts system. If you’re not trained properly and under pressure, you won’t be able to use it, regardless of which martial art you’re talking about. If I hadn’t seen and experienced what properly-trained CLF can do, I wouldn’t have even started with my CLF Sifu back in ‘93, after having had nearly 20 years of experience in other arts.

In my experience, there are no superior or inferior martial arts; there are only superior or inferior training methods/approaches (and individual levels of ability).

FWIW, CLF was one of the only Kung Fu styles that Bruce Lee respected, even after he began formulating his Jeet Kune Do.

For the past several years, I myself have been streamlining and simplifying the way I do things for my own benefit. I have always kept certain things I learned that have worked for me since before I learned CLF, which I incorporated into it. But it’s not about accumulating more and more, but making something your own and dropping some of the nonessentials. And since I gave up teaching over 15 years ago, I can custom-fit everything I do to my own way of doing it that’s proven effective for me. Evolving based on experience is what makes someone a martial artist. That is what makes your art “alive” and gives it its soul. If someone just paints by the numbers and does everything the way they were told and shown, year after year, and is only a carbon copy of their teacher and all their classmates, they may have all the moves. But IMO, they’re not necessarily a martial ARTIST, but an assembly-line product.

Jim
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Re: Martial Arts Experiences Discussion Thread

#507

Post by Naperville »

I've been in, and seen many different styles of martial arts.

Some of it works in combatives and some of it does not. Every art is not designed to fit in to the combatives sphere. Some of it is more art than a martial discipline. Practitioners have to pick what is useful and move on to the next art if they ever hope to compete in a ring or on the street.
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Re: Martial Arts Experiences Discussion Thread

#508

Post by James Y »

Naperville wrote:
Sat Oct 30, 2021 11:27 am
I've been in, and seen many different styles of martial arts.

Some of it works in combatives and some of it does not. Every art is not designed to fit in to the combatives sphere. Some of it is more art than a martial discipline. Practitioners have to pick what is useful and move on to the next art if they ever hope to compete in a ring or on the street.

Very true. Some arts (and some skills within them) are “higher-percentage” than others in terms of practicality and effectiveness in the ring or on the street. And what’s best in sparring or in the ring isn’t always the same as what’s most appropriate on the street (and vice versa). But I try to avoid judging any entire system as impractical, because there is always “that person” or people in every art that are genuine bad@$$es who have used it effectively IRL. Whether that had to do with the art or simply what was within the individual is another matter.

I have nothing against people who practice a martial art for its aesthetics and because they love it. Or because they want to preserve the cultural aspects. I can appreciate the former, but I have never cared about the cultural aspects myself, other than showing the proper etiquette during training. People approach martial arts for different reasons. I only know that my original reason for taking up training was because I was tired of getting picked on and attacked by a particular bigger kid and his buddies. I couldn’t have cared less about style or aesthetics, I just wanted to be able to defend myself.

Nowadays, although I still consider myself a CLF man, I’ve individualized it so it’s no longer “pure” CLF. Since I’ll never teach again, I don’t need any “purity” of style. I have a lifetime of experience that has included Judo, Kenpo, Shito-ryu, kickboxing, Tae Kwon Do, Lung Ying, Long Fist, Northern Mantis, CLF and BJJ. As well as having sparred a lot, competed, and been in real fights. I’ve kept whatever has worked in actual use and rejected what hasn’t from my past experiences, and absorbed it into my way of doing CLF. My goal now is to continue streamlining and simplifying the methods of application, while still maintaining some other aspects for the movement/coordination benefits, and for the simple enjoyment of it. If I didn’t enjoy it and wasn’t benefiting from it, I would have given it up a long time ago.

Jim
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Re: Martial Arts Experiences Discussion Thread

#509

Post by twinboysdad »

What does your workouts outside of MA training look like Jim? You lift? Run? Curious what someone with your exposure to so many methods, actually does for strength and conditioning outside of training?
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Re: Martial Arts Experiences Discussion Thread

#510

Post by Naperville »

twinboysdad wrote:
Sat Oct 30, 2021 3:58 pm
What does your workouts outside of MA training look like Jim? You lift? Run? Curious what someone with your exposure to so many methods, actually does for strength and conditioning outside of training?
I cannot speak for Jim, but around '95 I was lifting and was 195lbs at 6% body fat, and trained on Kreitler bicycle rollers with my road racing bike 3x a week for around 1hr each time doing heart rate intervals.
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Re: Martial Arts Experiences Discussion Thread

#511

Post by James Y »

It’s All training.

Up into the early 2Ks I was an avid runner (except for the years I lived in Taiwan, for various reasons). I ran at least 4 miles 3 days a week, alternated with 50 to 100-yard wind sprints the other 2 to 3 days a week. The wind sprints helped more in sparring. During the mid-‘90s, I got into the habit of doing my 4 mile runs in the dry beach sand, to make it more difficult. Other cardio was stationary bike for 20 minutes, and rope skipping for another 15 to 20 minutes straight.

I used to lift weights, but mostly lighter weights at higher reps, more for tone than for bulk. At my peak in weight training, I think my highest bench press weight was only about 200 pounds plus change. I also did lots of “snake push-ups”, dipping and twisting with one arm, and “cat push-ups” on my fingertips. As well as pull-ups.

Abs were basic stuff like sit-ups, leg lifts, and something like ‘planking.’

I held my horse stance for 5 to 15 minutes, then all the rest of the stances that altogether totaled about 25 minutes. Stretching was 30 minutes.

I used to walk most places.

*Now my workout load has lessened.

In 2005, I had a hip injury that slowed me down. I can still run a bit, but I don’t go running anymore. I still do walk a lot.

I still do bag work and dummy work. I still train my arm hardening and iron palm. I train grip strength using Heavy Grips. I drill footwork patterns, basics, speed and power drills, and some forms work. I do light to medium stretching. Various crunches. I still do calisthenics, but am more mindful now. At 58, I’m not training for fighting competitions anymore. And I no longer have the free time, nor the motivation, to devote the several hours of each day to working out and martial arts. If I were a young professional martial artist, I could devote all my non-teaching time to just working out. But I’m no longer motivated to live like that, and have other priorities and interests as well. Including sometimes just relaxing.

In martial arts, your basic foundation for the rest of your life should have been developed when you were younger.

In 2018, an old hernia that was fixed when I was 3 years old reopened and I had surgery for that; then earlier this year I had surgery for a new hernia on the opposite side. I’m done with hernias. I’m mindful now, and respect my body more than I did before. On some days, if I REALLY don’t feel like doing a certain part of my routine, I skip it and don’t beat myself up over it. TBH, even at my reduced workout load, I’m still doing more, and doing it more consistently, than most people, including many professional martial arts teachers my age and younger. The fact that if I shave my beard off I can still pass for late 30s/early 40s, and am still healthy and have quick reflexes means I’m doing something right.

In most real street self-defense fights, it’s over in seconds. And it’s over even faster in your favor if you land the pre-emptive strike(s). I discovered that on my own in a couple of fights, and later read Geoff Thompson’s writings, and he absolutely emphasizes pre-emptive striking when violence is clearly unavoidable. And Geoff Thompson won literally HUNDREDS of real fights. You do not need to be in elite physical conditioning, or be able to go several rounds. I’ve seen gym rats get KO’d by skinny or fat guys who weren’t in elite shape, but who knew how to fight and take someone out quickly. This is why your training must evolve as you get older, and your body, mind, and life evolve. If your method is only effective for self-defense if you’re in elite physical condition, it’s NOT a practical method as you get older, and/or if you have to deal with unforeseen injuries or circumstances in life.

Jim
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Re: Martial Arts Experiences Discussion Thread

#512

Post by Naperville »

There is just one rule in a street fight, WIN. All involved may get a misdemeanor, so for the sake of bragging rights, WIN.

Losing could give you a severe concussion or worse depending on the foe.

Try not to do anything to acquire a felony. That would be bad. Keep edged weapon strikes below the collar bone, preferably off the torso too. Don't employ any "Piper Knife System" methods unless it's TEOTWAWKI.
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Re: Martial Arts Experiences Discussion Thread

#513

Post by James Y »

Street Fight Analysis: Kickboxer Breaks Man’s Jaw In Fight (Netherlands)

IMO, the character analysis is far more interesting than the fight itself. From the start, I had assumed that the victim and the attacker were both drug dealers.

I had been aware that the best Muay Thai kickboxers are produced in The Netherlands. I had NOT been aware that kickboxing is used as a weapon by a lot of Dutch thugs. I guess it’s not that surprising, though.

In the past, in Hong Kong, Taiwan, S.E. Asia, and in many Chinatowns, some Kung Fu systems, such as Choy Lee Fut, Wing Chun, Hop Gar, Bak Mei, Fukien White Crane, etc., became associated with certain Tongs and Triad gangs. A big reason why, in Taiwan, Hong Kong and other locations, many Chinese parents had a very negative view of Kung Fu (especially southern systems), fearing their children would become associated with gangsters if they practiced it. Similarly, in the late 1800s in Japan, after the samurai era ended and before Judo became established, Jujutsu (Jujitsu) had developed a bad reputation as an art mainly practiced by thugs.

How “good” at the arts or fighting methods such thugs actually were or are is questionable. I would assume that ability levels varied, the same as among any other groups of people.

https://youtu.be/x3YFtPDphbk

Jim
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Re: Martial Arts Experiences Discussion Thread

#514

Post by James Y »

Baguazhang (Eight Trigrams Palm)

I posted some stuff on Baguazhang (often just called Bagua) earlier in this thread. I think I also mentioned sparring an advanced practitioner of Bagua in Taiwan; he was a Canadian guy who had settled in Taiwan, and was studying a combative version of Bagua. I also think I mentioned that he got the better of me. Although I’ve never had any interest in studying Bagua myself, I have a lot of respect for the art. Many people may see it performed and think it’s not that effective. All I can say is, looks can be deceiving. The Bagua guy I faced (unfortunately, I’ve forgotten his name) was one of the most difficult sparring opponents I’d ever faced. His only weakness, if there was one, was that he wasn’t as proficient at initiating an attack; he was much more comfortable at countering attacks. The Canadian guy’s Bagua was very good, but there were other Bagua practitioners in his teacher’s school who were better at it than he was.

Song-Li, the Bagua teacher in this video, is from China and teaches in Okinawa.

I like that the Shotokan Karate Sensei, Tatsuya Naka, is so humble and respectful of martial artists of other systems. BTW, Tatsuya Naka Sensei played the evil student/villain in the Japanese movie Kuro-Obi (Black Belt); I posted the full movie on page 33 of the ‘Favorite Movie Fight Scenes’ thread.

The video has English subtitles.

https://youtu.be/AYUhoPbrK9A

Jim
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Re: Martial Arts Experiences Discussion Thread

#515

Post by James Y »

“Finger Is A Weapon Of Okinawan Karate!” Morio Higaonna Sensei

I have much respect for traditional Okinawan Karate. The traditional methods are based on southern Chinese Kung Fu systems, but IMO, many of the Okinawan masters have developed them to a higher and more extreme level than many of the Chinese Kung Fu masters.

https://youtu.be/CGFWDEuZoLU

Jim
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Re: Martial Arts Experiences Discussion Thread

#516

Post by James Y »

Some Problems With Martial Arts People (or martial arts/martial sports coattail riders)

They make themselves known everywhere. If someone posts a video of a Martial arts demonstration, or an Olympic Karate kata performance, or a Martial arts action movie, or anything to do with Bruce Lee...etc., etc., they feel compelled to post stupid comments, like:

"Let's see that old master get in the ring and fight Buakaw Banchamek (a famous Muay Thai fighter)."

Or:

"This Karate guy who won that kata competition in the Tokyo Olympics can't fight, because he has no ring IQ. He can't fight, because he's doing a kata. You only develop ring IQ by sparring and rolling, like I do in MMA." The implication here is that the poster can beat up the Olympic kata gold medalist. Never mind that nobody has ever seen or heard of Mr. Keyboard Warrior; chances are good that he's some 14 year old fat kid with Cheetos residue all over his fingers and his shirt, who likes quoting terms used by fight analysts, and whose 'training' consists of lifting pizza and twinkies to his mouth, washed down with copious amounts of Mountain Dew, and watching MMA on YouTube in his mom's basement.

Such types are usually kids (but not always!), and they are the self-appointed "Martial Arts Police Force (MAPF)." They need to share their ignorance and lack of intelligence to the world, while at the same time staying hidden themselves. Nobody can discuss or share anything without someone of their ilk chiming in, even when said material is completely outside the proposed interest zone of the MAPF.

It's pathetic, really. Nobody with a working brain would tell the world, "Look how great I am! I'm so smart! I really am!! No, really! I know more than everybody else, unless they agree with me! If you disagree with me, you're stupid!" And yet...that is exactly what the MAPF are saying in their posts, just worded a bit differently.

Unfortunately, the subject of martial arts tends to attract weirdos and the Walter Mitties, like flies to you-know-what.

When I worked as a therapeutic massage therapist, I had many clients who actually competed in fighting sports...MMA and BJJ competitors, amateur wrestlers, one female Muay Thai fighter, etc., and none of them had that type of attitude. Besides, none of them had the time nor the desire to waste trolling other people online.

Jim
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Re: Martial Arts Experiences Discussion Thread

#517

Post by James Y »

Continuing from my last post, these videos highlight Ryo Kiyuna, the Japanese Olympic Karate gold medalist in the men’s kata, from Okinawa. I am highly impressed with him. Even though I personally don’t care for the yelling at the beginning of the kata; I would be concerned that it could ruin my vocal cords over time. However, watch his focus, intensity and precision. How many people can ever demonstrate that much controlled, focused intensity? This is NOT some American strip mall kiddie Karate.

IMO, the Olympic Karate kata division was a LOT better and more interesting than the Olympic Karate sparring, which makes Japanese/Okinawan-style Karate sparring look way too much like American-style point Karate sparring. Unfortunately, when a martial art gains inclusion into the Olympics, it tends to become watered down.

When I trained Karate as a teen into young adulthood, I hated Karate kata, even though I naturally did them well enough. I never actually practiced them on my own. My preference was always for sparring. HOWEVER, I always respected those who excelled at kata. And many of those who excelled at kata were also many of the very same people who also excelled at free-sparring. Why was that? Discipline to excel at ALL aspects of their art. Excelling at kata did NOT mean they had “no fight IQ.”

The things that the YouTube keyboard critics post are just stupid. If you don’t like something, you don’t like it. So what purpose does it serve to actively seek out videos on things you’re not interested in, just to put them down? All it does is show to the world that the YouTube keyboard critics are jealous, pathetic underachievers in life, and deep down, they know it. That’s not “throwing shade,” it’s simple truth. And let’s suppose that a specific YouTube keyboard critic does actually train in an MMA gym or other martial arts system. What are the chances that Mr. YouTube Keyboard Expert will still be training past his 20s or 30s, when life’s responsibilities and other priorities and interests overtake most people? Lifelong martial arts practitioners are exceedingly rare individuals. I can guarantee that Ryo Kiyuna will still be practicing and excelling at his Karate well into his 70s and beyond, for as long as he’s alive, and will be looking WAY better than his long-forgotten critics of today.

When you see someone doing a kata, taolu, or whatever a form is called, you’re only seeing them in that one moment in time, showing one aspect of their capabilities. You know nothing else about that person, other than what they’re showing you. Maybe they can’t really fight; but then again, maybe they can, possibly much better than you think, and not necessarily in a ring. It all comes back to my old saying, which I have embraced based on personal experience of having been on both sides of the matter: Don’t underestimate anyone.

https://youtu.be/27B8rEqCFvA

https://youtu.be/HCur4ARiUXs

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Re: Martial Arts Experiences Discussion Thread

#518

Post by James Y »

40 Year Old Doctor KOs younger MMA Fighter

This was from several years ago. The Filipino doctor was (is?) a legitimate MMA fighter, but he originally came from a competitive Karate background (most likely Shotokan), which is very obvious from his posture and standup attacks. A bit similar to Lyoto Machida, but obviously not at the same level.

I’ve seen several instances where “orthodox” MMA fighters were confused when sparring fighters from competitive Karate backgrounds. It seems very odd to me that nowadays, Karate fighting is considered highly unorthodox. Back in the day, facing Karate fighters (or fighters that originally came from a Karate background) in sparring was a common thing.

I don’t like the way the announcers are talking as if 40 is OLD. I get that it’s old for an up-and-coming MMA fighter, but he clearly had a considerable martial arts background before taking up MMA, and he took care of himself. So in his case, 40 ain’t old at all. Also, people age at different rates, whether due to lifestyle, genetics, attitude/expectations, etc. For example, many of the 30-somethings and 40 year olds back in the 1950s looked older than many of the 60-somethings of today.

https://youtu.be/eeO4CqWY5Vc

Jim
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Naperville
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Re: Martial Arts Experiences Discussion Thread

#519

Post by Naperville »

The American who has a terrible record for bouts and should rethink this career choice, claimed to have an MMA background but passed on the easy heel hook.

The Dr gave him some medicine he had to take. Best man easily won.
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Re: Martial Arts Experiences Discussion Thread

#520

Post by James Y »

Naperville wrote:
Sat Nov 13, 2021 9:12 pm
The American who has a terrible record for bouts and should rethink this career choice, claimed to have an MMA background but passed on the easy heel hook.

The Dr gave him some medicine he had to take. Best man easily won.

You know, I thought about that, and wondered if it's possible that the American fighter is a better "gym fighter" than he is in actual pro matches. There are some people in both martial arts and combat sports who are really good at sparring in the gym, dojo, school, etc., but for whatever reason(s), seem to underperform in competition.

OR he could just be a poor fighter. OR he could have been overmatched earlier in his career. I don't know...I'm trying to give the guy the benefit of the doubt.

🙂

Either way, poor record or not, that American fighter could probably handle the majority of recreational MMA practitioners in his weight class.

Jim
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