Martial Arts Experience

[Kirk]

Okinawa-te since '91.

Dabbled with Wing Chun, but nothing serious.

Some form of kempo (which I think was bogus) for about a year.

Been researching and studying about the martial arts fairly continuously since '81. Still pi$$ed that I can't find the majority of my library after I moved.

Informal training in TKD for about a year.

Several years wishing I had a certified JKD instructor.

Cthulhu

Just curious, Cthulhu about a couple things. First .. how the heck
do you prounounce Cthulhu??

Second ... if someone asks you what art you claim, what do you
say? What do you say is YOUR art, I mean ... which one are you
complimenting with your cross over studies?

Thirdly .. whatever your reply to my 2nd question ... would that
change once you had a lengthy study in JKD? If so, how long do
you think?

 

[Cthulhu]

Originally posted by Kirk


Just curious, Cthulhu about a couple things. First .. how the heck
do you prounounce Cthulhu??

According to H.P. Lovecraft, it is supposedly unpronouncable for humans. However, I've seen "K'loo loo" and "Kuh-THOO-loo", among other 'pronunciations'. I use "Kuh-THOO-loo".

Originally posted by Kirk

Second ... if someone asks you what art you claim, what do you
say? What do you say is YOUR art, I mean ... which one are you
complimenting with your cross over studies?

Okinawa-te would have to be my 'base art', since that's what I've spent the most time actively studying. However, nowadays I am practicing FMA under two FCS (Filipino Combat System) guros. I still practice the Okinawa-te forms, however. That's about it, since there is no one else to train with in that system in Florida.

Originally posted by Kirk


Thirdly .. whatever your reply to my 2nd question ... would that
change once you had a lengthy study in JKD? If so, how long do
you think?

I honestly couldn't answer that until I've had the opportunity to study train JKD for a lengthy period. It's like somebody asking me what I'd do if they punched me...I couldn't tell them unless they actually tried it.

I may have partly answered this last question with my answer to your second question when I said I am currently training in FMA. Though I still enjoy Okinawa-te and would love to train in it more, circumstances make that fairly impossible. Since I am now regularly training the FMA and really trying to learn it, I'll say Okinawa-te is my base art, but I am currently training FMA. I may say the same if I had the opportunity to train JKD.

Then again, I may not

Cthulhu

 

[GouRonin]

Originally posted by Kirk
Just curious, Cthulhu about a couple things. First .. how the heck do you prounounce Cthulhu?

Oh you can call Chuggalug anything and he'll answer...

 

[Kirk]

I'll say Okinawa-te is my base art, but I am currently training FMA. I may say the same if I had the opportunity to train JKD.

Another question for ya ... I gotta ask, as a kenpoist. Have you
seen similarities between JKD and Parker Kenpo? Have you
ever looked into studying A.K? Isn't it GOOD enough for YOU!??!
(joking)

 

[Cthulhu]

Originally posted by Kirk



Another question for ya ... I gotta ask, as a kenpoist. Have you
seen similarities between JKD and Parker Kenpo? Have you
ever looked into studying A.K? Isn't it GOOD enough for YOU!??!
(joking)

Again, having never had the oppportunity to study JKD with a certified instructor, I can't answer that for you. Some of the best people to ask would be Dan Inosanto and the other Parker students he brought over to JKD way back when.

The closest thing to A.K. I've seen wherever I've been was kajukembo, and I almost took that. However, when I went to the base gym (USAF airbase), I found the kajukembo guy had left and met my Okinawa-te instructor instead.

Cthulhu

 

[Klondike93]

I have been in the Martial Arts since 1975.

TKD
Kickboxing
American Kenpo
Systema
Grappling

I've been doing TKD or the American Freestyle version for most of the time.
Started Kenpo in the late 80's then ran out of money and the school then closed and there weren't any near me. I just found one about 30 miles from me and have since started my American Kenpo training again (with the Systema thrown in too).
Bounced around alot but now I'm sticking with the Kenpo for good.


:asian:

Chuck

 

[Sanxiawuyi]

Sorry for joining late....

I’ve been involved since the early eighties, beginning with

Tae Kwon-do (black)
FMA/JKD (no rank given, 1 yr.)
Various Southern Chinese systems (no rank given, many years)
Shootfighting (no rank given, 3 yrs)
Tracy Kenpo (Shodan, eight yrs.)
Chen and Yang Taijiquan (no rank given, 2 yrs.)
Baguazhang (no rank given, 1 yr.)

As well as a martial historian for the past five years.

Sanxiawuyi

:asian:

 

[Klondike93]

I have to get out more.



I think I'm limiting myself to so few arts.

:asian:

Chuck

 

[TLH3rdDan]

almost 10 years

8 years in a mixed style based on shorin-ryu, jujitsu, white crane, and hung gar

8 months in a mixed praying mantis school, that included, seven star, northern and southern, and tai mantis

6 months tai chi chuan

going on 6 months in wah lum kung fu

have studied various weapons systems within each of the above styles.

 

[Turner]

16 total years experience

7 years Self Taught (Aided by a Vietnam vet Green Beret and my father who trained in Northern Shaolin Kung-Fu, Tae Kwon Do, and Judo as well as from books, magazines, watching and participating in fights.)

3 years Goju-Ryu Karate (It was an eclectic mix of Goju-ryu Karate, American Kenpo, Goshin Jiu-Jitsu, and Presas' Modern Arnis)

6 weeks arnis (Military Basic training, used spare time to train with a fellow Filipino Airman named Bell, don't know the style)

6 months Hapkido (Military Technical School - studied with the instructor for 3 months and then tested for Nidan, the instructor was shipped out before and I took over the class for the remainder of my time there.)

3 months Brazilian Jujitsu (The Hapkido assistant instructor studied under one of the Machado brothers and shared/practiced what he had learned with me... instead of teaching the Hapkido class when the head instructor was shipped out.)

2 years Shorinji Kempo

2 years Soo Bakh Do Tang Soo Do

2 months Kyokushin Karate (I was a live-in student at the Budo Karate House Program and absolutely loved the training intensity. Its a great program and I really enjoyed my time there. Unfortunately due to spiritual needs and a realization that spiritual growth, which is most important in my life, was nonexistant there I had to make a very difficult decision to leave.)

5 Years Dragon Kenpo
(I have been registered for only an hour now and I have definately not had a chance to read all of the posts in this wonderful place, however I have seen a vast number of postings by a certain, now banned, Dragon Kenpo practioner and quite a few negative opinions about this style. I would like to do my best to give you my opinion of the style and then you can judge for yourself.
Dragon Kenpo is mostly a philosophy of freedom. There are many martial arts that follow tradition that we feel slow down the progress of the student. First is the practice of Kata. As a Goju-Ryu and Tang Soo Do student, I've practiced a lot of kata and can appreciate their value in developing coordination, staying power, mind-no-mind, and alertness. However it is my belief that these things can be learned in more efficient means due to the current medical and scientific discoveries of today. Another issue is the use of a foreign language in training. I think Bob Orlando in his book "Martial Arts America" sums it up the best when he compares the teaching of Japanese Karate to teaching someone how to drive a volkswagen. It would be counter productive for your drivers ed instructor to teach you how to drive speaking in the language of the country where the car was built. Why go through that translation process? I believe that most of the "traditions" people hold so tight to were not intended to be traditions. Service men went overseas and trained with the instructor which was taught using the culture of the area. In not knowing the language or the culture of that land the serviceman thought this was time honored tradition and taught it when he brought it back to America... or perhaps when the foreign teacher came to america he taught the americans in his custom and language because he was not familar with our own and so we picked it up as part of learning the art. <I realize not all readers of this forum are americans, so please insert your country as you will> Traditions should serve us, we should not serve them. Time in grade is another issue. Experience is important. You might have all the natural ability in the world, but if you don't have practical experience <nope, I don't mean that you should go out and fight to get real-life experience... I am talking about sparring, drills, and just doing basics over and over and over> that natural ability just isn't going to get you anywhere. However, if someone has shown that their experience and ability has caused them to progress faster than the average student they shouldn't be held back due to time. My Shorinji Kempo instructor trained in Japan for a very long time. One thing he noticed was that the Japanese students were progressing twice as fast as he was. He went to his instructor and asked why, seeing that he was defeating them in sparring and was technically better than they. The instructor had no answer except that the rules required him to double the amount of time in grade for American students. The instructor encouraged him to go to Hombu and talk to the Board. Of course the board wasn't too happy to be questioned and refused to answer, but he kept pressing. Finally he was told that Foreigners couldn't comprehend the warrior mindset and principles because they weren't Japanese and that he either had to accept it or quit. I've read a similar story in one of George Dillman's book. How many of the instructors in your lineage were given a different standard due to their race and didn't know it and kept the time restrivtions because they didn't know any better? Dragon Kenpo is for judging the person based on the person. <personalizing the art to fit them instead of fitting them to the art>
Dragon Kenpo is primarily a distance program, so you ask "How can you learn via video?" TV is a great teacher, sometimes better than having a person in front of you because you can pause, rewind, and watch the technique in slow motion. One time you can watch the footwork, next time the hand placement, the next time the hip movements... so on and so forth. Its a great tool, when I teach, I tape all of my classes because it is such an invaluable training tool. I agree that you must have feedback. You can't gain ability by just watching a video. Just like everything else, you have to practice and practice and practice. While the founder of the system provides the rank with the tapes without testing because he believes that rank in many arts just means exposure to knowledge, so he offers the knowledge and certifies you. Many Dragon Kenpo students disagree and have gathered together and formed an organization that supports the testing of individuals for rank and provides feeback for free to help distant students. I had my rank approved by my Shorinji Kempo instructor and Tang Soo Do instructor before I wore it and am in the process of being approved again by a Dragon Kenpo instructor just to ensure its validity. I have no desire to get something for nothing. I have sweated, cried, and bled to get where I am today and if my rank is no approved during this testing phase I will gladly take off my belt and start scrubbing the mats with white belts all over again.
Dragon Kenpo is my style. Not because its easy to gain rank, because for me its not. I don't like to do anything the easy way. I practice it because it promotes personal growth. Its similar to American Kenpo because it believes in fitting the art to my abilities instead of trying to cram me into a smaller mold or trying to get me to fill a larger mold. I am all about trying to obtain my potential. I love to cross train, but sadly a lot of instructors discourage it. I don't see why. Its gonna be my life at risk on the street if something happens and so I want to be prepared. In teaching I have the same approach. I don't want to slow down my students progress by adding cultural things that aren't my culture. Bowing has no place in American society. Its not a useful tool for teaching respect. Shake hands in class, thats how we show respect. Call each other Sir and Ma'am. That is being polite and showing respect. Using terms like Mae Geri, Hidari, and Age Uke may only wind up getting your students killed on the street because they focused on the language instead of the actual technique.
I will not be popular for my choice in styles. I often get "hate mail" from people who think that what I study is trash. I still stand by my style. I am a Dragon Kenpo student and teacher. I don't need the style and to the best of my knowledge, it doesn't need me. I could teach Hapkido or Jujitsu. I could go back to scrubbing the mat as a white belt in Tae Kwon Do or any other style, but I've chosen Dragon Kenpo as my art and I will stand there inspite of what the rest of the Martial Arts community thinks of it. Yes, the system can be abused and undeserving people can claim rank that they don't deserve. I don't care. As someone's signature in this forum states, time will either promote you or find you out. Those that are faking it will be found out pretty easily. Those that have a passion for what they do and are real martial artists will shine through. That is how it is in any style. Judge me as you will. I stand where I stand with pride. <but, I'm gonna quit standing here and let someone take the soapbox, sorry for taking so long.>)

 

[arnisador]

Welcome to the board Turner and well said! Perhaps in a week or two after the recent controversy has died down you could start a thread in the General forum (this one) on the benefits and disadvantages of learning by video. I found your comments on this interesting.

 

[D.Cobb]

Man, I gotta say, that post was very well written and put! You stated everything you needed to say, but did it all with respect and without getting up anyones nose. Well done! And welcome to the forum, I think you'll like it here.
--Dave
:asian:

 

[Cthulhu]

I don't think training by video is such a bad thing...it is possible, depending on the quality of the video(s) and the skill of the student. However, I think something was mentioned about certificates being included in one particular set of videos. That is near unforgiveable.

A few people have mentioned how, in some TKD schools, it is possible for a person with previous martial arts experience to enroll, and after some test of skill, be awarded a rank and start their training from there. To many, this is a disagreeable procedure; however, at least the person is being tested by a qualified instructor who is judging the person's skills in person.

With a certificate being included with a training video, there is nothing stopping a person from tossing the videos and marketing themselves as some sort of expert with the certificate alone. Granted, an honest person wouldn't do such a thing, but unfortunately, there are just as many dishonest people in the martial arts as there are in any other endeavor.

Whether not forms/katas/sets are practical or not all depend on the way they are practiced and on the practitioner. My personal belief is that anyone who thinks forms are useless either hasn't done them or has never done them correctly. Again, this is my personal belief and I don't push that on anyone. If someone doesn't want to practice forms, that's fine by me. I won't teach them, as my first system relies on them, but it's their right to believe what they wish.

Okay, I strayed a bit, so I'll stop now.

Cthulhu

 

[D.Cobb]

Originally posted by Cthulhu

However, I think something was mentioned about certificates being included in one particular set of videos.

There is a site on the net, I don't remember where, where you can get a 2 cd set and a 2nd degree black belt in some form of American Kenpo for less than US$100.00.


They figure the belt doesn't mean you can do the stuff, just that you have seen it!

--Dave

 

[Toasty]

Here is my list...in no particular order

Tae Kwan Do (Chung Do Kwan) 2 yrs. (1st art - started in 1982)
Wing Chun Do 2 yrs.
Kenpo Karate (Tracy version) 3+ yrs.
Kali/Silat on & off 4 yrs.
Muay Thai on & off (currently on) 2 yrs.
Balintawak Escrima almost 2 yrs.
Small Circle JJ & traditionl Wing Chun while in Alameda, Ca. approx. 9 months.

right now i would say my main systems are Balintawak followed closely by Muay Thai.

thanks
Rob

 

[jaybacca72]

what branch of balintawak? just curious that's all
later
jay

 

[Toasty]

Hello Jay,

I train with Manong Ted Buot ( i'm lucky that he lives like 3 mile from me).
So that would be Anciong's original Balintawak.

Thanks
Rob

 

[naiz]

i trained karate for 4 months, but never "really" learned anything.
i have been training in BJJ for 3 months and, im going to stick with it.

 

[old_sempai]

:asian:

Nihon Goshin Aikido since 1976 - Shodan [Old Sempai handle comes from being an Ikyu for 10 years, because I never did get hung up on titles and belts. They only hold your jacket closed and cover 4 inches of your b...tt.]
Go Ju since 1992 - Shodan
Omori Iaido since 1994 - Kyu grade
Hasagawa Iaido since 1994
Tai chi since 1996 - no grades awarded - you just try to keep uo
Along with numerous seminars over the past 18 years in a variety of arts including Daito Ryu Aikijujitsu with Japanese instructors such as Yonozawa, Goldberg & Kiyama, Naginata & Yari , Shinkendo & Aikidjitsu under Obata and Grace Jujitsu under Royce Gracie and Relson Gracie.

Spent the past 26 years researching Oriental History and still learning.

Regards

:asian:

 

[TangSooGuy]

Tang Soo Do (World Tang Soo Do Association)- 17 yrs

Currently working towards fulfilling requirements for 4th Dan