General Discussions

**smarty** · 11-17-2006, 03:15 AM

Karate is one of those very few Martial Arts that has a deep rooted philosophy behind its practice and application. The goal of karate is to kill one's ego and bring peace to the society. The concept of this art is to use every means available to the practitioners, and to overcome by technique, conditioning and training and assailant or assailants in a fight for life. The skills and techniques are lethal and training is hard of a Karate Student even in early training. Karate is based on the blows delivered with the hand, foot, head or knee. When a Karate-ka (one who learns karate is called karate - ka) has mastered all these effective techniques, he is than awarded his BLACK BELT.

Being a Black Belter is itself a great achievement, it is believed and truth that if 100 peoples join together for Karate training,
out of those 100 hardly 1 or 2 people achieves Black Blet degree.

It is because of several reasons.
The training for a Black Belt syllabus continues upto minimum of 3years. But this is not the end, rather its a Beginning....

Some say Martial Arts are different than karate, kungfu, judo, tae-kwang-do, etc...!

WHICH IS WRONG

Let me make it clear that:

Any form of sport which include sparring (fighting) either bare (empty) hands or legs, or with a weaponry is a Martial art..

Hence, karate, kung-fu, tae-kwang-do, choi-kwang-do, Boxing, wrestling, judo are forms of martial art.

Now a days most of them is practised as a sport.

hence sports karate, or karate it means the same martial arts. The only difference is of practising it

{ in Sports Karate kicks and punches are performed with light contact with the target opponent, on the other hand it is Full contact karate, in which proper force is applied behind punch and kicks or any other attack. }

(the information provided above is general)
you can find more detail on internet search engines
see eg here

Code:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial_art

or do ask me any time

**DaveMo~** · 11-17-2006, 09:53 PM

From past experience and our classes:

Approximately 7 out of 10 people will make the first belt (which is yellow in our system).

Out of those 7 people, only 2 will make the next belt (green).

Out of those 2 people, maybe 1 will continue on to higher ranks.

I must agree that very few, maybe 3 to 5 people out of 100, will ever make a black belt status.

Just a little side note, and a little brag (from a proud father), both my sons have achieved their black belts in Tang Soo Do Mu Duk Kwan (similar to Tae Kwon Do). The oldest got promoted to 2nd degree last month. They are both now studying a different system, Sanuces Ryu Ju-Jitsu.

Dave

**smarty** · 11-20-2006, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveMo~

From past experience and our classes:

Approximately 7 out of 10 people will make the first belt (which is yellow in our system).

Out of those 7 people, only 2 will make the next belt (green).

Out of those 2 people, maybe 1 will continue on to higher ranks.

I must agree that very few, maybe 3 to 5 people out of 100, will ever make a black belt status.

Just a little side note, and a little brag (from a proud father), both my sons have achieved their black belts in Tang Soo Do Mu Duk Kwan (similar to Tae Kwon Do). The oldest got promoted to 2nd degree last month. They are both now studying a different system, Sanuces Ryu Ju-Jitsu.

Dave

thats gr8 to hear from u dave about ur two sons..
congrats.

**hereyago** · 11-20-2006, 09:57 AM

i have a blackbelt in tae kwon do...

**Talk2Me** · 11-20-2006, 05:18 PM

Kung-Fu is still the best martial arts for me.

**Mohab** · 11-21-2006, 03:31 PM

It's interesting to hear someone talking about the philosophical/mental side of the martial arts, here they just teach the moves, even the black belt trainer/coach just dos the moves without any mental process going on.

**webspace** · 11-21-2006, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mohab

It's interesting to hear someone talking about the philosophical/mental side of the martial arts, here they just teach the moves, even the black belt trainer/coach just dos the moves without any mental process going on.

If you are not someone who does philosphy you will not really understand how martial arts really relates to your life or other facets of your conciessness.

I think the average person is smart enough and open minded enough to uerstand those concepts but doesn't have the time or in involved in other processes.

**ultra** · 02:26 PM

i am white belt in krate ... wink ....

i learned gatka .... our relegious martial arts .... non of u would be having clue what is it .... hmmm let me post a link to some video ...

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/121335/sikh_martial_arts/

**Mooofasa** · 11-23-2006, 02:34 PM

I find it hilarious that all of the gyms around where I live, the martial artists all walk like they are made out of steel. I love laughing at them. Not one has tried it on with me, maybe it's my psychotic eyes >_>

I've always found the mental aspect of Martial Arts the most intriguing and better standard to follow. I'm not too sure about the fighting side as I can put two of my mates on their ***** with ease, and they're somet-or-other in Karate.

Great to hear that your children are doing well in the arts though Dave. And congrats to everyone else.

**Talk2Me** · 11-23-2006, 05:08 PM

Anyway, nice read Smarty!

**webspace** · 02-21-2007, 08:44 PM

I went to visit the BJJ gym I used to go to and realized that it just isn't my thing. Had a good vale tudo session and some kickboxing last night but there is just something missing. Nothing seems to put me into that heightened state anymore.

It used to be sex, driving wrecklessly, a good fight, now I just want to look at my bank statement and see some zeros for a change. I still like to spar, grapple, whatever once in a while but

I'm like a 28 year old burn out or something.

For a few years it was chess and chi sua, now it is work and more work. I just like to be macho these days.

I still like to run though.

**smarty** · 02-27-2007, 04:35 AM

nice to read everybody(s) comments.

thanks talk2me

martial arts are really gr8. if u practice regularly you'll definately gain something out of it. you never loose.

**webspace** · 03-16-2007, 08:53 PM

Here's a bit of martial arts trivia.

The Kung Fu the Legend Continues intro with the destruction of the Shoulin Temple is based on actual events.

Little Bit you might not know about Kung Fu here.

**awt22** · 03-18-2007, 03:55 PM

Wing chun is regionsied as the best martial art

Based around the prinical 'small idea'

Its the only martial arts created by a woman and usefull for small poeple to fight big poeple

one blow from a experianced wing chun man can overpower just about anyone, brue lee himself based his own kung fu system on wing chun

check out i site i set up for a friend

http://www.waleswingchun.com

theres lots of links to martial arts sites in the links page

**DaveMo~** · 03-19-2007, 02:12 PM

Just some observations for thought:

Most of the time that I see Karate mentioned, the term is so generic that it involes just about any and all Martial Arts.
Most of the time that I see Karate mentioned, there will be someone that mentions a person(s) that they know that has taken it and thinks they are the meanest person on earth.
Most of the time that I see Karate mentioned, there will be someone that mentions that they can beat up a practitioner of Karate.
Most of the time that I see Karate mentioned, there will be someone that claims that a certain style is the best.
Most of the time that I see Karate mentioned, everyone has an opinion, just like I do, but they don't talk about the philosophical parts. It's only thought of as power and conflict, not peace and discipline.

Here's only a few of my opinions from some years of learning, and still learning, Martial Arts.

I won't try to define Martial Arts since I think smarty did a good job there. However, there is a philosophical side to every Martial Art that sometimes is forgotten by the students and teachers of a Martial Art, most of which teach the practitioner to walk in peace, but to do what they need to do to survive. To me, it's a shame when that side is not taught and some are learning JUST so they can be the toughest, most testosterone-filled person around. Then they meet someone that is "tougher" and they lose, when truely both have lost since they have only learned to bully.

I don't use Karate as the generic term for Martial Arts, since most won't agree that Karate includes other arts, such as Kung Fu, or Tai Chi Chuan, or Ju-Jitsu (even the spelling of that one is different from style to style).

To claim that one style is better than any other is impossible to prove. To claim that one style is best for yourself is something that is entirely plausible. This "war" has been going on ever since the pride of one Martial Artist has tried to prove that he/she is the best. Even Bruce Lee, that was originally taught Wing Chun, went through this fighting time. But as he grew in his fighting and philosophy, he tried to transcend styles and help people to enlighten themselves with what worked best for them. Hence, his system was not based on Wing Chun, nor was it a composite, modification, or differences of sets of a style, as written in an article called "Liberate Yoursef From Classical Karate". Another great read is the "Tao of Jeet Kune Do".

There are probably millions of Martial Arts practitioners that can be "beat" by somebody, and vice versa. And there are all kinds of skill levels when it comes to the Martial Arts.

A true master of any Martial Arts, a Black Belt if you will, is one that has taken the first step of true learning when it comes to the Martial Arts, including the physical and philosophical.

No offense is meant to anyone, and none will be taken by anyone that disagrees. These are my opinions about the Martial Arts, and everyone is entitled to their own opinions.

Please discuss further.

Dave

**webspace** · 04-14-2007, 05:44 PM

You guys will like this one. Ever think of going to ninja camp?

Click the "action videos" link. They are kinda cool in early 90s action movie kind of way. There is actually some good taijitsu and Jiujitsu action in there to go with the theatrics. Makes me want to go to ninja camp and enter the glamorous world of the ninja.

There is also some good results for keyword "ninpo"

**DaveMo~** · 04-14-2007, 08:37 PM

Depending on what aspect of the Martial Arts that you would like, there are actually all kinds of camps to go to and learn more about that particular style. I think it's kinda' like basketball camps, it's just that most people don't hear about the camps unless they are a Martial Arts practitioner.

I have met Stephen Hayes (the highest ranking non-Japanese practitioner of tokakure-ryu), which was once considered the Father of American Ninjitsu. So I Googled that phrase and had forgotten that there were a couple of others that were also called that, like Ronald Duncan.

There's lots of videos out there, some serious and some of the "kung fu theater" type. Our Tai Chi Chuan class meets for a Cheesy Kung Fu movie night, and we watch the old Kung Fu theater type movies. Though alot of people make fun of the strange things done in Kung Fu Theater type movies, you gotta' admire those guys with their choreography and knowing their styles (though I doubt that many stand on the walls while fighting someone on the floor).

An old film to check out is "The Warrior Within" which was first aired a very long time ago. But it's a classic featuring such people as Chuck Norris, Dan Inosanto, Fumio Demura, Mike Stone, Doctor Moses Powell, Chaka Zulu, Doctor Florenco Visitacion, Master Lueng Shum, Master Poi Chen, and a host of others. It's a classic that I think all Martial Artists should see!

Dave

**webspace** · 04-15-2007, 03:26 PM

Dave you are truely a scholar. I haven't seen The Warrior Within that I can remember. I may have watched it, I was a huge Chuck Norris in my younger years. Having actual martial arts training made me pretty critical of martial arts movies. I haven't seen many action movies in the last decade I haven't thought were absolutely fake.

I might have to check it out just the same.

**DaveMo~** · 04-15-2007, 09:48 PM

The Warrior Within was more of a documentary (maybe shot in the '70s).

I've had some extensive training in the Martial Arts and it made me a cynic for awhile about movies. First of all, movies are movies and they do whatever draws a crowd. But then after really discriminatingly watcing, I've noticed that there are lots of "reality" moves and techniques that really work, but they just don't work like in the movies. I don't know if I said that clearly.

For example, Chuck Norris' spinning wheel kick (or whatever you would like to term it) is a great feat and really works, though I preferably would not use that to kick a pistol out of someone's hand. So, a good move, but it does more in the movies than it may do in reality.

Another example is that I had a 3rd degree Black Belt in Sanuces Ryu Ju-Jitsu do a move on me when I punched at this face full speed. I landed, sat up, and then noticed that I was about 8' from him. (We were on a padded, spring floor or I wouldn't have been able to even get up!) It worked in reality, but in a movie, I would have went through a cinderblock wall, knocked over 2 tables, cut my face and arms, then got back up to fight.

So, for the movies, I watch for the content and plot if any. If not, then I watch for the athletisim and the techniques, not the outcome of what they just did. Usually, I watch the Martial Arts movies a couple of times to see if I like them because of the movie action, or because of the actual Martial Arts that is done in them.

That's why I can watch the cheesy kung fu movies and still enjoy them. And that's why I can still watch the make a million Steven Segal movies and enjoy them, too (though the last ones were so-so)!

And if you can't tell, I love the Martial Arts. One of my first true loves.

Dave