even KARATEKAS can fight back...

[Nit]

A little dry wit on a monday morning, thread based on another floating around here...

Once in a mixed tournament I was in a bout with a big TKD black belt guy. He had been demonstrating his destruction techniques earlier and was pretty fast and competent. In fact downright scarily fast with combinations and defense (throw what you like at him and he blocked it perfectly with no fuss and without sweat).

When my I went up to fight I was very scared as I had no clue on how to fight properly, even though I was 4th Kyu and quite technically good in the dojo.

He beat the hell out of me, I had no guard, no defense and my attack was slow and predictable.

Except at one point he got very cocky and started flashing it up, he went for and axe kick, and by luck and fearful advance I managed to X-block and catch his foot above my head, I then by automatic reaction stepped forwards and front kicked him...

fully in the nuts.

The man was not happy. I recall thinking 'this really hurts' as I flew to the ground.

That was my second tourney and second lot of 60 seconds.

I didn't fight again for another 2 years what with the injury and the ring shyness. I resolved to learn how to use my Karate properly before using it to fight.

One thing I realised, cynically I started to belive that the whole reason why a Karateka refuses to fight unless attacked is because most Karateka are so rubbish they can only rely on their skill in a life or death situation. Not that I'm trying to say that if your good at fighting you should go around blatting every one mind

Since then I have gotton better at the whole fighting thing, but it has taken be about 6 - 7 years before I felt I was controlling a fight situation rather than reacting to the blatting being dished out.

[Ox Lion]

Kinteki alriiiiiight thats cool, well not if your on the recieveing end, thats bad, very very bad.

What style of karate are you practicing? I know in the thread i created i asked what was the best style of karate, it's just that i think it's interesting to know the variations of one style because you can learn an extra thing or two from others styles and different types of MA.

[Nit]

I study Wado Ryu, although I mix it with Shotokan, Kickboxing, JuJitsu, tai chi and street defense... also I have been taking advice from Bri Thai as he has questionable communication skills yet good knowledge of MA.

But mainly I study Wado Ryu...

What do you do?

[Thai Bri]

I have excellent communication skills. Its diplomacy where I am occasionally thought to be lacking.

ps - Karate vs TKD does not prove a thing. Go into a tournament with a Thai Boxer, or a grappler. I'll send you grapes, just tell me which hospital you're in.

[Szczepankiewicz]

I have excellent communication skills. Its diplomacy where I am occasionally thought to be lacking.

Amen brother!

[Thai Bri]

But delete the word "occasionally"......

[Szczepankiewicz]

No, sometimes you're very diplomatic.

I've seen it.

You can't deny your good nature.

Even if you are a crusty cantankerous old man!

[Thai Bri]

I object to the crusty.

[Szczepankiewicz]

Then take a shower.

[Thai Bri]

Ok. Do you know where the shower is in my house? Or the bath?

[Szczepankiewicz]

Well, from what I've seen on the webcam you do your 'shows' on.

It's down the hall to the left.


You're lovely wife is either a saint or a glutton for punishment for putting up with you!

Send her my regards, and my sympathies.

Spanky

[Metsunami]

...

That is a common thing to here Thai Bri i mean the whole Muai Thai kickboxing is basically the best...don't get me wrong i know you didn't exactally say that but that is just how i took it...as a matter of fact i personally have faught many a kick boxers and won so i know it's not the style that totally matters it's the combatants skill with the style that matters...Just thought i should add that...

[ryanhall]

Metsunami,
I believe that Bri's point was that boxers, grapplers, and Thai boxers are by and large much, much better than your average or even above average martial artist. You're 15 years old, so you really couldn't have possibly seen much in the way of Thaiboxing or grappling talent, so your assertations to contrary of Bri's point do not really stand (congrats on winning, though). I have sparred a few Tae Kwon Do, Karate, and Kung Fu students, and none of them put up much of a fight at all. I'm not a professional. They were all blackbelts of varying rank. No power, no defense, no body/head movement, can't take a hard shot. The list goes on. Granted, these are not the best that traditional martial arts have to offer, but the fact remains that arts such as Thai, boxing, BJJ, Judo, wrestling, etc. are much more efficient at developing the skills that you will need to be successful in the ring (and the street to a lesser degree).

(throw what you like at him and he blocked it perfectly with no fuss and without sweat).

Things like this aren't possible in the ring against as skilled combat athlete. You can't block everything, and every shot a good boxer or kickboxer throws sets up their followup. TKD and Karate fight in such similar, robotic ways that it's no wonder that many attacks can be blocked. However, when you step out of a deep stance, develop some hand speed and power, and learn to move properly, it becomes hard for others to block much of anything. That's why you see the 'glue your glvoes to the forehead while moving your body' tactic used in the ring. If you reach out and try to TKD/Karate block punches/strikes, you'll end up eating a series of them to the face.

Since then I have gotton better at the whole fighting thing, but it has taken be about 6 - 7 years before I felt I was controlling a fight situation rather than reacting to the blatting being dished out.

That's awful. I'm not commenting on you in any way, just the fact that your comment is typical of traditional martial artists. Who the hell has ten years to become proficient? In addition, if it takes a long time to gain usable skill in an art, then somene with the same amount of experience in a more time-effective martial art will probably be that much better than you. Just a thought.

[Ox Lion]

I study Shukokai karate but i am looking for a Thai Boxing gym (Not just from Thai Bri's advice, but thanx) so i can study it ASWELL as karate. Sure you could say there's no point in training both at the same time, but i think it'd be an interesting mix to have. Besides I've been taught a little Thai by my main sensei, he must be a big fan of it because at the end of a lesson he approached me and started teaching me these knees (ones you'd never use in karate) and i thought the knees would be rather useful close up on and off the street.

[Nit]

Ryanhall,

I do agree with you in many ways, a large problem is that the focus of karate is not so much self defense as self empowerment... which is dangerous as it leads to vanity.

Unfortunately I have no other options to train where I am, theres only the weak and watered down to study. So I am making the best I can by recognising my weaknesses (That took 4 years!!) and the weakness in my art and so improve it. Now I am trying to essentially create a S.O.M.A so that all the weak artists can come together and develop a proficient and acceptable self defence system (if we are able to spot our failings), I think this is really leading down the shinto ryu path. Modern day self defense doesnt seem to be just about combat anymore (not that it always was!).

I'd love to learn a more effective martial art, but I'm stuck with what I got.

Oh and the comments about blocking, I agree again, its all about what is right at the time and using an effective training technique. We train boxing defense as well as 'karate' defense.

I wish I hadn't had to waste all those years to get to 'moderate' but if I hadn't then I wouldn't realise how much better other arts are.