ADN

I didn't want to start a new topic on strength training and workouts since they are related to martial arts in a way, but here is a link for exercises:

http://www.exrx.net/Lists/Directory.html

Great site and it also has some .gifs showing you how to do exercises properly.

I never took any thing... I just had to learn how self defense the hard way.... Getting my ass whipped a bunch of times and finally learning how to guard myself and slowly winning fights....

Fighting Dee and Damien don't count...But I remember you training like Rockey for that rematch w/Rodney..! :p :laff:

word as bond.

Hsing Yi. That is Five Elements. A DEEP style that eventually leads into Ba Gua (Eight Trigram Boxing), and then Tai Chi Chuan. It is a martial art designed to build up the power you need, and learn to focus in more elegant styles. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hsing_Yi

If you are looking for technique that works with no real power, you can not do better than Hapkido.

as far a tae kwon do. Everyone I know who did it, who stopped has hip issues. 20 year olds who have popping joints from the over extension.

Kumicho wrote:Fighting Dee and Damien don't count...But I remember you training like Rockey for that rematch w/Rodney..! :p :laff:

LOL!!! Am I going to hear that forever...? I was in the 6th grade and when we fought again, it was a no contest....

I have been doing some Aikido for a bit. It can be taken in its classical form which is not the best for quick personal defense, or it can be taken with a personal defense approach but you will not find many who do this as it can be dangerous and can quickly divert from its philosophy.

Aikido was originally taught only to the Japanese elite and top military. It has its origins in several other arts including Daito Ryu which was an extremelly violent martial art, but its techniques were modified to try to avoid permanent damage to the aggressor(s). That is also part of the reason why aikido in its classical form is taught very carefuly and in a non competitive form. Attack techniques are also taught only in later levels as its objective is a defensive one. The disadvantage of this is that in some schools the techniques are taught in an unrealistic situation. A good school will try to find a good balance in a realistic approach and the well being of its students. There are also very violent branches of aikido but mostly it goes the other way.

It is said that Aikido is also great when taken in addition to another martial art. In Japan the best of their riot police are given aikido training as it is provides techniques to disable multiple attackers without causing permanent damage (when properly applied). The defense against multiple attackers is one of the main objectives or Aikido but it requires lots of practice and control over your body and surroundings.

Below are a couple of examples I found in youtube which can give a better idea of how it works in personal defense.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEZMCaiIJME
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-u8yPB9Anw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIH1TAuIg9U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Wmnx2S7ceI

Most of the videos on youtube show how techniques are done so it is difficult to see it used in practical situations but there are a couple of decent demonstrations. Below is one which is fairly good and has some good examples of defense against knife attacks also.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39ntb1LABss

Something that is imortant to understand in Aikido is the "spectacular" way attackers sometimes seem to be launched. These projections are not the attacker being launched, nor are they an acrobatic stunt. These jumps or rolls are done by the attacker to help avoid injuries (particularly if the technique is applied carelessly). People who do not know ukemi (the art of receiving the techniques) may be scared of the way it looks or may mistakenly dismiss it as eye candy.

In a real life situation the attaker would certainly fall in a less graceful manner and could have serious injuries if the defender is not experienced.

I've been studying Chicken-shitsu for many years, mastering the fleeing-giggle and "dont hit me I have Hep C and I think I got aids last night" defensive styles.

At its core the focus is on humour, mastering goon style and python style being very effective in diffusing heated situations.

It's greatest know attack is the "even if you beat me I still win" style, but one must be prepared to die for that laugh...as this tends to expose your opponents true nature...

^Didn't work with those skinheads some years back though did it?

Jig-A-Meister wrote:^Didn't work with those skinheads some years back though did it?

Yes foolishly I was using my skilld for evil....missuse of "piss of the biggest cunt you can find" style

I did learn I wasn't prepared to die......

Oh and that I can take two steel cap boots to the head from a big bastard(while very drunk) and still get up climb a fence and walk home....

But .....seriously when young, as long as Ra is enjoying what he is learning...he can always decide to do the mastering thing when he's older?

have enjoyed watching this series over the past few weeks...
I like the presenter he seems like a good guy, I enjoy the small segments where he hits the streets in the UK, and shows your average joe simple techniques involved in martial arts.
And suitable for kids if watched with an adult.