Uechi-Ryu.com

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Van

LC

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Van

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Van

Van Sensei,

Great footage of Mike Stone... and what you said in quotes makes me think I should train more... which means its probably true. I see that when you are in a competitive battle with loosely enforced rules its pretty dire. I guess what we can get from this is that, apart from specialized training, good old-fashioned dojo free fighting, if you let it get somewhat hard, can be scary if you're facing a superior opponent, but invaluable.

A story...
I was training at a local Goju school just to get some experience in their fighting and kata, my regular style being (pretty much) Pangainoon. Having almost no free fighting experience, as a result of training privately, I was surprised at how well I could hold my own in free fighting. I attribute this to having a teacher who came from that 60's environment, and knows how to teach defense, striking etc.

I had numerous sparring sessions with a senior student, who was big and fast, and strong, and would easily out-fight me. We went at it hard. I knew I could trust him (we sparred with no pads or gloves, pulled strikes to the head, and controlled bodily contact), we each got bruised a bit, a little blood here and there, but nothing except good training, respect and fun for us both. We even got comments from other students, telling us to take it down a bit...

Then I met a visiting student, a shodan at the time (same as me) who I could do nothing with. This guy came from Australia, and trained at a dojo that sparred much harder than we did. I got hit easily, out tricked by a guy with a lot of experience. Made me wish I was training at his dojo, or had some of my sensei's other students to spar with (who are spread out over the country).

Anyway, I value the perspective I get from this forum, always great conversations, even when I just read them.

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"Well, let's get to the rat killing..."

Good points Neb and thanks for the good words about our forum.

I agree that the best way to develop 'engaging' capabilities_ if you will, since there will always be a question that tough dojo or tournament matches are not real street fights, which is true_ is in fact long exposure to 'ring work' in particular, because there will be subliminal fears to overcome, whether this ring exposure comes in tournament format [usually best] or dojo matches against invited guests from other schools/styles…as we did at the Mattson Academy years back where we had an open door policy.

GM can tell you some stories hard to believe but true.

Again, a street fight involves the 'engaging' of body and mind in a violent maelstrom of emotions and presupposed skills…

The attributes developed in the above 'self testing' in the ring…too various to even mention, but you know what I mean…certainly help when the 'real thing' arrives at your door step.

One very demanding and useful sparring practice, not for the faint of heart, is the Mas Oyama system as seen here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mP65_CiHzz0

At the Mattson Academy, we were once treated to a similar way of 'engagement' by visiting Japanese collegiate champions_ Moto Yamakura and Taro Tanaka [street fighter extraordinaire]

They were so good that they ended up fighting Joe Lewis and Chuck Norris in the quarter finals at Chow's 'All American' tournament in New York.

As learning to overcome your fears…you must also imagine dealing with the trepidation of signing your name on the application to fight…after you see fighters in the group such as Lewis, Norris, Urquidez, Daniels etc. who would take your head off in an instant.

Many ways of looking at this.

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Van

"Sadly, bunny taps and sloppy techniques are awarded points, thus leaving the fighter with the false belief that his skill is effective."

Billy Blanks tried those 'bunny taps' in East Lyme , Ct . once .........funny how a toe kick to the bladder levels these 'posers...

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FEARS Ltd
"Art meets Reality"
www.fearsltd.com

I'd love to see that.

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Life begins & ends cold, naked & covered in crap.

...........had a video of the 'Schooling of Billy Blanks' but mom cleaned out the attic and............ {Bob Dus was there that day, so was Ed Parker, Tokey Hill, Steve 'Nasty' Anderson, Chuck Merriman ect. sooooo I guess it's just a legend now...Thanks Mom..}

"....learning to overcome your fears…you must also imagine dealing with the trepidation of signing your name on the application to fight…after you see fighters in the group such as Lewis, Norris, Urquidez, Daniels etc. who would take your head off in an instant."

Our first line of defense as always is psychological....with these fighters though it is not an example of False Evidence Appearing Real !!!

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FEARS Ltd
"Art meets Reality"
www.fearsltd.com