Replies

Shrug.

Since most people don't want to learn to fight really, many commercial schools teach them pretty things and get them in shape, so at least they can run from wheezy thugs. :)

OTOH, a serious teacher and serious student produce a real fighter, whether it's 'traditional' like Karate or western boxing, newer stuff like JKD or Krav Maga, or even things that are 99% fluff in the U.S. like Tai Chi.

"Sparring"/Full-speed: I like to hear people talk about how they train full power full speed. Yes, I bet your first day in Krav Maga the instructor said, "here, let me show you something, punch me" and proceeded to break your arm? Mm, maybe not. In Kali stick training do you break the other guy's hand? No, you hit the other guy's stick, but you know on the street you will actually hit the other guy's hand when blocking. Some schools don't spar until students develop sufficient control and show maturity; others spar earlier; and if they use pads, it's to allow some power while minimizing injury (ya know, those things that slow down training). Even the Dog Bros. wear fencing masks and so forth.

UFC: Yep, if I'm ever stuck in an octagon with no exits in a one-on-one fight, I'll probably end up grappling :) Otherwise it's probably good to remain standing, since if I take the time to roll around on the ground to hit thug 1, thug 2 is probably tapping on my head with a stick. Failing to learn grappling, in any style, is a mistake though; the ground exists.

There are some very silly things out there though; one place I saw advertised themselves as "Wang Chun Kung Fu is Atlantean Temple Dance!"

Anyway the upshot is that just because one person failed to become a fighter though Karate that Karate is BS. Heck, "spetznaz", you yourself pointed out the serious Karate types in Okinawa are not fluff!

For the record, since you will probably ask, I'm in Tang Soo Do currently, with prior training in JKD, Kali, Thai boxing, and many years of fencing. Glock-jutsu still has more street applicability, though :)

UR#8)...............bttt!

The 'secret' Secret of Karate!
(NEVER use an empty hand!)

:-)

For the record, since you will probably ask, I'm in Tang Soo Do currently, with prior training in JKD, Kali, Thai boxing, and many years of fencing. Glock-jutsu still has more street applicability, though :)

What is your opinion about getting black belt in JKD and after that learning Aikido from good teachers? Is it a good combination?