MA Checklist

[Szczepankiewicz]

Please add items that someone should keep in mind when seeking martial training.

1) Full Contact Randori
2) Striking, upper and lower body
3) Grappling
4) Adrenalin Management
5) Instructor who can teach well
6) Minimal Kata
7) Clear distinction between Self Defense vs. Sport.

[yenhoi]

Clear distinction between fighting and self defense.

[Einherjar]

1) Full Contact Randori
2) Striking, upper and lower body
3) Grappling
4) Adrenalin Management
5) Instructor who can teach well
6) Minimal Kata
7) Clear distinction between Self Defense vs. Sport

Great compilation! But I would also add:

- Instructor who has had a little more than his share of street brawls.

- Knike and stick fighting (you have to learn how to use them in order to defend against them. It also teaches you a lot about angles, footwork and deflecting).

- At least some kinda body conditioning work once in a while.

[Szczepankiewicz]

Updated List

1) Full Contact Randori
2) Striking, upper and lower body
3) Grappling
4) Adrenalin Management
5) Instructor who can teach well
6) Minimal Kata
7) Clear distinction between Self Defense vs. Sport vs. Fighting
8) Instructor who has real world experience (How do you prove this?)
9) Practical Weapons Training (Sticks, knives, found objects)
10) Physical Fitness Training (Strength, Flexibility, Endurance)

[RishDog]

How about an evolving system.

Many MA still keep their traditional moves. A system that is involving (for example BJJ) means they are creating a higer standard and futher improving their system.


In simple terms, a system that keeps improving their techniques etc..

[Szczepankiewicz]

In my opinion, most systems, when you reach higher levels, become open systems. Either the system flexes or the artist seeks crosstrianing. At some point, the responsibility has to rest on the practicioner to keep improving.

SZ

[terry]

I like the list as it is evolving. How about adding the following:

- Instructor works out and trains with the students
- The students work hard enough to sweat every class

T

[Guest]

I'm not sure I like an Instructor who works out and trains wit the students, unless he/she only does it briefly.

I mean, you are paying for someone to go round the class and offer much needed help and advice. How can they do that when the session becomes a training session for them also?

[ryanhall]

how about some scenario training? i.e. multiple attacker drills--alive drills w/ no consent--where they actually are allowed to hit and tackle you etc. to create the most realistic scenario possible. hidden weapon drills--an unarmed encounter turns to armed without one person knowing ahead of time.

i agree with bri thai--you are paying for the instructor to teach. he's got to show you that he's can practice what he preaches every now and then, but you're not paying for him to kick your a$$ all the time. no one can evaluate a situation completely from inside it. in order to improve, you need outside views.

ryan

[Scott Kano]

Originally posted by Bri Thai
I'm not sure I like an Instructor who works out and trains wit the students, unless he/she only does it briefly.

I mean, you are paying for someone to go round the class and offer much needed help and advice. How can they do that when the session becomes a training session for them also?

Yeah good point, My sensei participates in the warmup exercises and demonstrates certain throws and then comes round to each individual and helps them out for further tutoring.
Yeah my club also totally seperates competition and combat very well, as competition strats at a later time and you can really see the difference, as I have trained in both competition and combat Judo.

Very good list, very good resource for people wanting to try the martial arts, and for people that already study them it is what you should be expecting from your dojo and your sensei.

Thankyou
Scott

[H@pkid0ist]

A school that focuses on character and morals. Just as important as anything else.

[Einherjar]

Instructor who has real world experience (How do you prove this?)

If you haven't been involved in streetfights, I suppose it may be kinda hard to tell if the instructor knows his stuff. Anyway, here go a few hints:

- Suspect from anyone whose advice is to fight against armed assailants. If his first choice is not to run like hell, he hasn't been in many real fights (or he were really lucky).

- Don't you ever trust any technique that is taught to you. Go practice it and see for yourself if it would work under stress conditions.

- No matter how good you are, when fighting against weapons you are going to get cut or severely bruised (depending on which weapon is involved), so don't believe a word about Dim Mak, deadly techniques and the like.

- Static blocks (like Gedan Barai, Uchi Uke...) never work against a weapon. You have to parry, deflect and use angles not to get hit. Don't trust anyone who uses rigid stances and no footwork at all.

[jonhutton]

street brawls as credibility?

I am not sure that I would want my instructor to have had a lot or even a few street brawls as a precursor to choosing him. I am fairly sure that staying out of them is a better path and shows more intelligence than not. I am really not into this fight to save face concept, I may be in the minority here. It just seems the antithesis of the wise or advanced instructor who gets tangled up in this kind of thing alot.

just my opinion

Jon

[Einherjar]

I am not sure that I would want my instructor to have had a lot or even a few street brawls as a precursor to choosing him. I am fairly sure that staying out of them is a better path and shows more intelligence than not. I am really not into this fight to save face concept, I may be in the minority here. It just seems the antithesis of the wise or advanced instructor who gets tangled up in this kind of thing alot.

Sensible advice and a good point too. But if your goal is to defend yourself in a serious situation, I would recommend to look for an instructor who knows his stuff.

I mean, the instructor who stays out of fights is a better example to follow, but due to his lack of real fighting knowledge (you have to walk the walk in order to talk the talk), I'd say that learning a thing or two from the ex-brawler instructor is mandatory.

[terry]

Originally posted by Bri Thai
I'm not sure I like an Instructor who works out and trains wit the students, unless he/she only does it briefly.

I mean, you are paying for someone to go round the class and offer much needed help and advice. How can they do that when the session becomes a training session for them also?

You are saying that you want an instructor who teaches. Fine. No argument. I'm saying I also want airtime with my instructor under conditions of stress and see them try to use their stuff along with the rest of us. This IMO does two things:

1. Keeps the instructor honest
2. If they're for real gives you a great opportunity to experience the reactions and energy of a very experienced guy

Some of the best experiences I have had come from sparring and/or extended Thai pad sessions with guys like Ajarns Chai, Bonkerd, Suripuk, Nan Fa, Apideh, etc. I think if you're NOT getting a chance work with your instructor directly for an extended period that you're missing out.

T