dracflamloc on 27/9/2005 at 14:58
sort of. the g would have to be a very soft g, and really comes out sort of like a corss between g and k :p
Ultraviolet on 28/9/2005 at 00:21
Quote Posted by dracflamloc
It's pretty amazing what that guy could do. Even after seven years I wasn't even able to stop this guy. He nearly tore off my wrist during a practice bout that lasted one punch.
If you're both learning (he learns from you and you learn from him, it's just that he knows more at that point), then it probably wouldn't matter how long you study if your aim is to beat him, because it would be him teaching you to beat him -- he'd know every advantage he gave you and how to defeat it anyway.
Quote Posted by dracflamloc
sort of. the g would have to be a very soft g, and really comes out sort of like a corss between g and k :p
I think the best method for not seeming like you don't know what you're talking about is to cough, mutter, cough, then fake like you have one of those sneezes building up that just doesn't want to come out. It has always worked well enough for me that I won't be *openly* accused of being stupid, and that's enough for me.
liquidfear on 28/9/2005 at 02:04
Quote Posted by Subjective Effect
Sounds like you actually want to learn to fight liquidfear. Why have you already chosen weapons though? You may find that you don't like them after a while, or are naturally better with others. Having said that Wing Chun (from a reputable place with a decent teacher) teaches a staff form, though it's longer than 6 foot. There are only 2 weapons ever used anyway.
The first part of that paragraph reminds me of the steryotypical highschooler teenager that gets picked on every day. He's too scared to throw a punch, so he learns martial arts and tries to go Dragon on his antagonist's ass. With utter failure. :joke:
Quote Posted by Drunken phu
Question about the weapon arts, too: you say you'd like to learn weapons, and not just the structured forms, but the gritty, real-world weapon applications... but then you say you wanna learn the katana? Man, the staff MIGHT have a little applicability in the real world (you might get lucky and be able to find and pick up a four- or five-foot piece of wood or rebar or something when you get assaulted on the street, for example), but in this age the sword is a theoretical, show-weapon only. You are never going to be carrying one or be able to just find one that was laying around on the ground when assailants come a-callin'. Unless you can talk one into breaking into your house while you're there and close enough to your sword collection to grab one and start shreddin'.
No, that isn't fully my reason for wanting to learn a martial art. I mean, look at the art of using a katana. Can't really be used in real life. I want to learn the nitty gritty (i.e. non sport way) of using a katana because... I don't even know. There is a drive to learn it, for the fullfillment I know it could provide. I'm very interested in Oriental countries and their history; this includes to a large extent ancient Japan and the Samurai.
Some form of Staff fighting is a bit more usable, but still: only a bit.
That's where the unarmed combat comes in. I want to find a martial art that agree's with me. Karate doesn't, for some reason. I just don't like the style. Same with Tae kwon doe. I respect them, but it just isn't the way I'd prefer to fight.
I understand that all of that bit is a very subjective thing. It isn't up to anyone else, it isn't possible for anyone else, to decide what agrees with me and what doesn't. What I was looking for were suggestions for martial arts, because there may be alot I have never even heard of that may be my match. Also, the information on ninjutsu helped greatly, in that, yes, maybe it is my art, but only if I find the right teacher. No bullshit, I'd need the real deal. And finding that could be very difficult indeed.
Also, besides finding an art that agree's with me, I was looking for an art that "could" be used to fight with. I could survive without it, but if I'm going to dedicate time and energy to an art, I may as well see if it can be used in a fight. I've heard that a good many arts are useless in "real fights". I'm looking for ones that are able to be used effectively, if it's required. But it isn't my main reason for learning it; I can handle my own without knowing ancient techniques.
Drunken phu, don't be sorry to have happened on the thread. It is an opinion, and what I asked for. I wouldn't call it a hijack, either.
Nethawk on 29/9/2005 at 01:34
***One more question, can anyone tell me about ninjitsu? I've done more research on it then most martial arts, but some stories from people that have trained in it, or stories that follow the "my friend was in it" type theme, would be welcome.***
I've been training in it for roughly four and a half years now with a reputable teacher who goes to Japan once a year (not to sightsee at Hatsumi's dojo, but actually trains). (
http://www.ittacanada.com/) Our SITE is here. . Like The Blackman said, especially with this art, there are many disreputable schools out there, and from the seven or eight I've visited across Canada (besides my own) I would say only one was bona fide. Being trained or certified by Hatsumi no longer really cuts it however, since Hatsumi has recently switched the name of the art from Taijutsu to Bushido - a sport - apparently he wishes to bring a more sporting aspect into the art. We're lucky since our sensei is a Military Police as well and has strived to keep the self defense and lethality within the art.
Weapons training? You bet. We handle 6 foot staff, bokken, tantos and folders and everything else you can think of. I've temporarily halted my training due to preparations for a massive walk across Canada next year starting in March, but I plan to rejoin the group once I'm done. Good luck if you do decide to join up. Remember, less than 3 percent of the practicioners out there are the real thing. Be prepared to travel long commutes to train with the right people. And for God sakes don't automatically assume just because someone states that they're part of the Bujinkan that they're for real. There are fakes everywhere.
Ultraviolet on 29/9/2005 at 01:43
Quote:
I've heard that a good many arts are useless in "real fights". I'm looking for ones that are able to be used effectively, if it's required. But it isn't my main reason for learning it; I can handle my own without knowing ancient techniques.
An art is just meant to be used to expand your understanding of how to do certain things, to present you with a few options that demonstrate that there is always more than one way, and to be used as a guide for training yourself to react precisely when presented with certain situations, and then later on for you to break free of the "art" and do with it what you need (there's that "more than one way" thing, only at that point in your training you're actually informed enough to know which way to go), not to be a checklist to refer to while in a fight. If you want to get into a fight and then refer back to the art for strict guidance, then yes, that art is totally useless in a fight, because your opponent will time you, predict you, and break you.
Lightfall on 2/10/2005 at 17:31
The most ironic thing about this thread is that it hasn't broken out into a fight yet! :cheeky:
Anyway, about household objects being used as weapons: I had a friend once who used to brag about his l33t n1nj4 training and crap. He decided to show off, so he stood in the door to my room and told me I couldn't get past him. HA! I decided to play his silly little game, but not the way he wanted it. What fun would that be? I'm a sad wannabe sneaksie thief, of course I'm going to fight dirty.
So I made like I was crouching to lunge at him. This is exactly what he was expecting. HA! I was really just reaching down to scoop up a dirty towel from the floor and throw it over his face. This is not what he was expecting at all. His immediate reaction was to fling his hands up and grab at the towel, which really only succeeded in wrapping it further around his head. Quickly while he was blind and disoriented I shoved my fingertips up into his throat and pushed him backwards through the door and out of my way. Flailing arms can't very well remove a blindfold so by the time his face was clear and he had his balance back, all his bruised little ego saw was me already in the kitchen grabbing a drink from the fridge, keeping my best bored pokerface as if nothing interesting had happened at all today. HA! Salt in the wound, mister ninja.
This all happened over the course of about 6 seconds from crouch to coke. I have no martial arts training whatsoever, I just reacted to what was available around me. Surprise and misdirection are sometimes the only fancy weapons you need, and as you can see The Guide is absolutely correct: Don't panic and always carry a towel.
Musopticon? on 2/10/2005 at 18:05
Pfffft, arts. I just took enough Muai Thay to punch a face in if running doesn't work. Running, the elite of self defence.:p
Lightfall on 4/10/2005 at 09:05
True enough, being able to run is the first best defense. As Mr. Miagi says, "Best way to block punch: Not be there when it happens," or something to that effect. I dunno, I haven't seen those movies since I was a kid.
On the same note as running ability, how many people today would die if they had to escape the monster and *gasp!* the only vehicle available is a STICK? :o That's what I always ask friends when I offer to teach them and they don't think it's worth the bother. It's all about preparedness, which is really all fighting, running, and driving a stick are about these days as none of them are necessary parts of life for 99% of us.
Matthew on 4/10/2005 at 09:08
By 'stick' I take it you mean a vehicle with manual transmission? If you live in the UK, you'd be landed. Nearly everyone here drives or has learnt how to drive a manual.
Lightfall on 4/10/2005 at 11:11
Driving in EU and UK is generally a nicer concept all around than here in US. No one really learns how to drive here unless they live in San Fransisco or Pittsburgh (hooray gross generalizations!) and for some reason automatics took hold in a big way, making everyone stupid and lazy. Hell if I know why, especially given gas prices these days since automatics cost a mile or two per gallon. But then this is the country that brought us the joys of the SUV. Die soccer mom, die. :p
