>> ^quantumushroom:

Any martial training lacking combat realism is useless OR a sport. Krav Maga teaches to never stop fighting and use any weapon. It initiates the adrenalin dump, and gets people used to being hit, even wearing protective gear.
I respect Master's dedication but the rest us won't spend decades and thousands learning how to imitate a drunken animal for a fight with an excellent chance of never taking place.
I submit: not even a martial arts "expert" can subdue more than 3 attackers at a time unless he has some kind of weapon. A guy with zero training hopped up on adrenalin and wielding a knife has an excellent to even chance of killing or severely wounding Master Squirrel.

Much as it pains me to admit it, QM is at least partially right. A very good martial artist can take down two people at once. More than that and there are just too many variables.

And yes, give some idiot a knife and the situation gets serious. It's possible to disarm them, but it's not easy and there's a very good chance of getting hurt in the process. If you come against someone who knows how to use a knife, run like hell.

That said, self defence is not the only reason to study martial arts. I have neither the desire nor the expectation of ever getting into a fight again, but it won't stop me training.

disclaimer: I am a batman fan, I have a whole shelf full of Batman graphic novels so take what I say with a grain of salt

I really enjoyed both Batman Begins and the Dark Knight. I thought both stories were well told and well shot. Ironically, I felt the best parts of both movies was when Batman wasn't on screen. Bales "bat-voice" just didn't really work, and I didn't feel they captured the detective or martial artist aspects of the character that well.

I would actually say that the Arkham Asylum/City games are the best representation of my idea of Batman in any medium. The threefold split between predator, fighting and puzzle solving is the essence of Batman to me.

As for this, I think it will be more of the same. I am expecting a good story and a technically well executed film (although I agree with Deano, I thought the football field looked rubbish as soon as I say it).

That said, it is telling that in 130 seconds of trailer, there is about 4 seconds with Batman in it.

Ah ok, well always nice to be proven wrong Keeps you alert!

It seems her videos are tailored to getting herself a job, so that does explain why this is so showy. Nothing wrong with that, people gotta eat!

>> ^ChaosEngine:

>> ^yellowc:
Not to be a downer but it is one thing to learn to use nunchucks as a performance tool, than it is to use them as a weapon. Her movements to me don't suggest martial arts training or very loose training, seems to be some dance orientated thing.

>> ^swedishfriend:
Pretty cool but does suggest stunt work reel rather than actual martial arts. I want to see her in some protective gear real time sparring with another nunchaku practitioner if she was trying to show off martial arts skills.
-Karl

I actually thought the same thing when I saw this video, but after a quick google, it does seem she's the real deal.
http://www.amy-johnston.com/Bio-Resume.html
Problem is, it turns out that teaching a good martial artist to act well is far more difficult than teaching a good actor to do some believable martial arts scenes. Not that any action movies ever feature much in the way of believable fight scenes anyway.

>> ^yellowc:

Not to be a downer but it is one thing to learn to use nunchucks as a performance tool, than it is to use them as a weapon. Her movements to me don't suggest martial arts training or very loose training, seems to be some dance orientated thing.


>> ^swedishfriend:

Pretty cool but does suggest stunt work reel rather than actual martial arts. I want to see her in some protective gear real time sparring with another nunchaku practitioner if she was trying to show off martial arts skills.
-Karl


I actually thought the same thing when I saw this video, but after a quick google, it does seem she's the real deal.

http://www.amy-johnston.com/Bio-Resume.html

Problem is, it turns out that teaching a good martial artist to act well is far more difficult than teaching a good actor to do some believable martial arts scenes. Not that any action movies ever feature much in the way of believable fight scenes anyway.

>> ^Opus_Moderandi:

There's only one way to end this once and for all.


As a martial artist, something in my stomach tells me this is wrong. But the smile on my face thinks it's fucking awesome.

>> ^westy:

>> ^LarsaruS:
>> ^highdileeho:
Had to stop after the claim that only this sport offers self confidence and discipline. Baseball, football, boxing, volleyball, cricket, poker, chess, all sports offer those elements.

Too bad you didn't listen to all of it, he has some good points in there, it is after all 9 minutes long and that comment is at around 00:45 - 1:20.
And your claim is faulty as he says that all martial arts gives self confidence and discipline to the individual. (Oh, and just FYI boxing is considered a martial art.)
There are also different kinds of self confidence and discipline. If you practice chess and are good at it then yes it will take a lot of discipline to become better and you will gain a certain kind of self confidence from it. Will that self confidence lead to you feeling secure/more secure when the shit hits the fan and a 2m & 100kg angry person wants to stomp on your skull? I would guess no. Will it help your self image when it comes to thinking strategically and with tasks that require you to plan 3 steps ahead? Yea probably.
Martial arts training will give you the self confidence to know that if you need to you can defend yourself, at least better than the average person, and the discipline to not fight unless it is absolutely necessary and not because you got angry at someone over a "Your momma!" comment or some other insignificant stuff.
Hope this doesn't come off as flaming as that is not my intent.

tell you what negates pretty much all fighting technique, is the fact that running away and avoiding conflict in the first place is 99.9% more usfull than being some sort of master at fighting.
don't have an issue with people doing it for fun weather that be in the context of a sporting event or just for themselves dont mind people doing it for self defence but again its largely redundant as a way to defend yourself
from what I have seen many people have bullshit respect for marcail arts which is stupid , just as bullshit respect for anything is stupid.


You are correct, the best self defence training you can do is 400m hurdles and 60m sprints. That along with not reacting to insults, as they are only words and can't injure you, will keep you out of harm's way for most of your life, all of it if you are lucky. Your brain is the best self defence tool you will ever have, if you use it. Thinking first and acting later might save your life. Should you take the 3 minute shortcut through the dark alley at 3 in the morning or take the brightly lit path which is a bit longer?

However, it might not be possible to run away. You might be out with your family or you might have to defend someone else who is being assaulted/raped/whatever. In those cases knowing some basic fighting techniques and dos and donts (sp?) might save you or someone else you hold dear.

>> ^LarsaruS:

>> ^highdileeho:
Had to stop after the claim that only this sport offers self confidence and discipline. Baseball, football, boxing, volleyball, cricket, poker, chess, all sports offer those elements.

Too bad you didn't listen to all of it, he has some good points in there, it is after all 9 minutes long and that comment is at around 00:45 - 1:20.
And your claim is faulty as he says that all martial arts gives self confidence and discipline to the individual. (Oh, and just FYI boxing is considered a martial art.)
There are also different kinds of self confidence and discipline. If you practice chess and are good at it then yes it will take a lot of discipline to become better and you will gain a certain kind of self confidence from it. Will that self confidence lead to you feeling secure/more secure when the shit hits the fan and a 2m & 100kg angry person wants to stomp on your skull? I would guess no. Will it help your self image when it comes to thinking strategically and with tasks that require you to plan 3 steps ahead? Yea probably.
Martial arts training will give you the self confidence to know that if you need to you can defend yourself, at least better than the average person, and the discipline to not fight unless it is absolutely necessary and not because you got angry at someone over a "Your momma!" comment or some other insignificant stuff.
Hope this doesn't come off as flaming as that is not my intent.


tell you what negates pretty much all fighting technique, is the fact that running away and avoiding conflict in the first place is 99.9% more usfull than being some sort of master at fighting.

don't have an issue with people doing it for fun weather that be in the context of a sporting event or just for themselves dont mind people doing it for self defence but again its largely redundant as a way to defend yourself

from what I have seen many people have bullshit respect for marcail arts which is stupid , just as bullshit respect for anything is stupid.

How sad. TGH is supposed to be a genius and skilled martial artist. Instead of destroying the character so that Seth Rogen can handle it, they should have found an actor that could pull it off.

Also, pulling him into modern times makes him feel way too much like a Batman knockoff.

well thats the thing in uk its the same almost noone has guns , but the times when sumone would stab you would be when your on a train or in a close space, and pritty much always the best thing to do would be to run away , or just get out the way , which is sort of thing u can do with no training , evan with training if sumone decides to stab you out the blue on a train or in an ally they will probably get you.

>> ^cbp2:

>> ^westy:
allso due to the nature of street fighting chances are annyone who actualy has intent to hurt you will have a kniffe or a gun
Whilst I somewhat agree that the likelihood that years of martial-arts practice is going to one day save your life in a street fight is pretty slim, I would point out that Bas is from the Netherlands and Pancrase is centered around Japan. In neither of these countries are you likely to encounter people carrying guns on the street, like you would in America. At worst they would have a knife... and a trained martial artist would certainly be able to fend off a junkie with a knife.

>> ^westy:

allso due to the nature of street fighting chances are annyone who actualy has intent to hurt you will have a kniffe or a gun

Whilst I somewhat agree that the likelihood that years of martial-arts practice is going to one day save your life in a street fight is pretty slim, I would point out that Bas is from the Netherlands and Pancrase is centered around Japan. In neither of these countries are you likely to encounter people carrying guns on the street, like you would in America. At worst they would have a knife... and a trained martial artist would certainly be able to fend off a junkie with a knife.

>> ^highdileeho:

Had to stop after the claim that only this sport offers self confidence and discipline. Baseball, football, boxing, volleyball, cricket, poker, chess, all sports offer those elements.


Too bad you didn't listen to all of it, he has some good points in there, it is after all 9 minutes long and that comment is at around 00:45 - 1:20.

And your claim is faulty as he says that all martial arts gives self confidence and discipline to the individual. (Oh, and just FYI boxing is considered a martial art.)

There are also different kinds of self confidence and discipline. If you practice chess and are good at it then yes it will take a lot of discipline to become better and you will gain a certain kind of self confidence from it. Will that self confidence lead to you feeling secure/more secure when the shit hits the fan and a 2m & 100kg angry person wants to stomp on your skull? I would guess no. Will it help your self image when it comes to thinking strategically and with tasks that require you to plan 3 steps ahead? Yea probably.

Martial arts training will give you the self confidence to know that if you need to you can defend yourself, at least better than the average person, and the discipline to not fight unless it is absolutely necessary and not because you got angry at someone over a "Your momma!" comment or some other insignificant stuff.

Hope this doesn't come off as flaming as that is not my intent.

So... dude in black was just there so that dude in red could beat up on him, yeah? I've got to say, I don't really trust overweight martial artists (especially hard styles). If you really practice your art hard, you're not going to get tubby unless you eat absolute garbage.

Hi,
Just wanted you to know that this clip is *dead (I know I can't call it siftbot so don't bother telling me )
It has been put into private by the user, reason unknown, so here is a link to what I hope is a similar clip but with video, not naruto but martial artists acting it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g1Z3V0QBpg

Have a good day!

Technically they are not Boxers but Mixed Martial Artists

>> ^chilaxe:
The claims that non-collusive sparring can't be done using Aikido without hurting the opponent too badly can be tested easily against a mixed martial artist willing to risk broken arms, wrists, fingers etc. (he won't think it's much of a risk). I believe this issue is only going to grow, as mixed martial arts is growing rapidly, with viewership of the monthly UFC events eclipsing boxing and sometimes even baseball viewership among the under 40 generation.

This would be ridiculous, because aikido is practiced as a defensive art. Also see my points below. As an anecdote, there was such a duel arranged between one of Osensei's student and an american judo champion for a film on aikido in the 1960's. The judo guy was told not to attack since aikido was a defensive art. So he didn't. But the aikido representative (Akira Tohei), feinted an attack to create an opening and finally got the much bigger American judo guy on the ground. Still afterwards he was scolded by Osensei who said "You should have waited for an attack no matter what!". This is to say that there is no point in fighting if it's not to defend your life (or honor, since for the old Japanese the two are equal).


Isn't it a good cause to encourage Aikido to back up its claims, or to utilize more realistic sparring? UFC champs become millionaires, so there does seem to be ample incentive to participate.

Japanese bushi (samurai) did not participate in "realistic sparring" with their jujutsu techniques, yet the best of them could have probably killed any UFC champ. Why? Because they were ready to die at anytime. At that level, an untrained and sloppy but sudden and unexpected eye poke, for example, can become a lethal tool.

In my eyes, Judo and MMA competitions are much more dance-like than aikido practice. They're "freeform" dances. In judo and MMA you both have freedom from kata, but you lose that freedom because of 1) rules and 2) the "fair duel" setup, i.e. two guys that know when they will be fighting each other and even sometimes know what techniques the other favors. Aikido on the contrary doesn't require a "fair duel" situation to be effective. In fact, many (dan level) techniques are done with two or three opponents. We also practice with 4 or more opponents to make sure our techniques can flow instinctively under pressure. Karate still has kata with many opponent situation but most student don't even know they're fighting more than one "shadow" opponent in their kata. In comparison, in aikido we practice our "kata" (techniques) with a partner. This is because jujutsu is a skin-to-skin contact art, so you have to train your somatic sensations, up to being able to execute a technique in full darkness (this is practiced in many dojo in fact).

On the other hand, what is difficult with both competition and kata practice is to understand that in a non-comptetition or non-practice situation, you do not have to conform to kata or techniques. You execute them when the occasion presents itself, otherwise you try to create, in the heat of the moment, such an occasion (with atemi or some other distraction). In the end, the best teachers are real situations: if you really want to know if you're ready, go catch some criminals or kill some terrorists.

P.S. I know true judo (as done by Kano and Mifune for example) and many of the arts practiced in MMA by themselves don't need the "fair duel" setup to be effective, but the way they train for competitions makes it so (in fact Gracie jujutsu was made for fair duels. That's how they became famous in Brazil, by dueling. Saying that BJJ is good on the street is like saying a rapier is good on a battlefield: complete nonsense).