How do YOU spar?

[Silver Dragons]

Lately our Grandmaster has made sparring a priority (we spar everyday) and the sparring in class has inevitably evolved over the past year. The sparring we do in class looks now like a MMA fight. Those who know a little something about grappling will try to throw and many times alot of sparring ends up on the ground. Before our sparring was mostly standup and was pretty much TKD like. Then we were allowed to kick low to the thigh(which is one of my favorite setups) and use our fists more so it sort of resembled kyokushin sparring and has now evolved to where we are now which looks like MMA. The more I think about it the more Im confused into what Hapkido really is. If you saw me sparring you really couldnt tell what style I was from...its starting to look amorphous.

Do any of you Hapkido instructors allow for this kind of sparring, or do you seek to maintain the integrity of the style. If not what type of sparring do you use in your Hapkido classes? I havent been able to see other Hapkido academies besides the ones I got down here. Thanks

[shadow warrior]

Get ready for the traditionalists to start in on your profile of 'sparring". It is NOT considered pure Hapkido as taught by Master Choi...particularly offensive kicking..and ground fighting..

Does your Grandmaster fight with the students???

I am asking this question because there is one specific line of Hapkido dating back to the early 1960's that engages in a similar skill set application. The Masters of this line ALWAYS fight with their students regularly, even when they age into their late 60's..

It may be possible that your instructor had some exposure to this line in Korea, or may even be a part of it.

Some proof of this particular lineage can be found in the mechanics of kicking..if it is identical to Tae Kwon Do kicking (using the quad muscle to lift the leg for front, round or side kick)..you are engaged in a MMA hybred. If the kicking involves 'release' and using other mechanics to lift and kick..it could be an offshoot of an ORIGINAL Hapkido line.

I have a number of various 'ground fighting' black belts who came to my school with non exsistent stand up skills. From the beginning I told them that if you can't get anything to end the fight on the ground in less then 10 seconds, your opponent's friends have already killed you..stand up again!!! A portion of traiining time dedicated to ground techniques helps the students to increase conditioning and develop some "military type" escape and damaging skills..not the sport applications so advertised today. (NOT PART OF HAPKIDO..which is NOT a SPORT).

Extensive freefighting skill sets can only be developed through being symbolically 'killed' one million times by fighters who have more skill than you possess. One of the main ways to learn is FIGHT!

Hapkido..the original MMA.

I move around with my students ALL the time!

[KiWarrior]

I still don't get why a RNC, arm bar or gulitine are considered "sport" techniques. All of which, if you're better than me" certainly could be done in under 10 seconds.

[shadow warrior]

Ki Warrior:

Both RNC AND gulitine can be NECK BREAKS "cemetary go", if applied with malace and a twist...that's NOT sport..arm bars (if you mean a judo or BJJ ground type) are..well..difficult to apply when the guy is chewing his way through your leg..both a painful and bio counter in one..

Where did you get the idea that experienced martial artists felt that these choking techniques were ONLY applied in a sport context?? Not military!

[Jointlock]

The sparring that we do is a little bit different, there is still a possiblity of going to the ground along with striking and kicking. We try to use a aggressor/defender type of situational sparring. Where one person is on the defensive, and the other person is on the attacker, and the defensive person trys to end the situation as quick as possible. However we don't do this every class and definately not for begginers. The techniques, and theories must be stressed and practiced before it comes to this.

[Silver Dragons]

Some proof of this particular lineage can be found in the mechanics of kicking..if it is identical to Tae Kwon Do kicking (using the quad muscle to lift the leg for front, round or side kick)..you are engaged in a MMA hybred. If the kicking involves 'release' and using other mechanics to lift and kick..it could be an offshoot of an ORIGINAL Hapkido line.


Shadow Warrior, I am a little confused by what you said about kicking. Ive never been in taekwondo but either way how do you not use the quad muscle for something like a front kick? We do put emphasis on hip rotation for power though.

For your other question about my Grandmaster. He probably hasnt fought with any of his students since the late 80's early 90's. He's about 58-60 right now but he still gives me the impression he could rip my arm off if he wanted to:D . He was one of Ji Han Jae's first students in the late 50's in Korea. However there are high ranking black belts in our academies (3rd dan up to 5th) who regularly spar with everyone.

Its usually the younger guys who like to go to the ground (too much UFC I think jaja). Not that there's anything wrong with BJJ and grappling (I actually love BJJ). Its just that I agree a little more with your point of view that if you have to go to the ground you better finish it quick or pay!

[Andrew Green]

Rules determine how you spar. Make a karate guy, a kung fu, jujitsu guy, etc. all spar under the same rules and they'll all look the same after a while....

Remove the rules and you'll start looking like MMA.

Styles don't really matter, its how you train.

[Silver Dragons]

Originally posted by Andrew Green

Styles don't really matter, its how you train. [/B]



My point exactly Andrew:)

[shadow warrior]

Silver Dragon:

If you go to our web site there is a detailed explanation of the differences in "pick up" mechanics for basic kicking (under Why is Hapkido so Different?)...If you use your quad and "cant" to kick it is called "snap kicking"..

This type of mechanic is NOT from the lineage of "release kicking".
It is a bit odd though that your instructor does not teach this way of kicking, as a FEW of Master Jae Han Ji's EARLY direct students do know this method.

This may be due to many factors including the added time it takes to learn it.

[Silver Dragons]

Shadow Warrior:

You misunderstood me, I didnt say we werent taught this way of kicking, its just that I didnt understand from your post. When I read what was on your website it became perfectly clear to me.

The stylistic qualities that differentiate Hapkido kicking from Taekwondo kicking are visually not that different so I was confused when you said that, as Ive said before I've never practiced TKD so I cant be sure. However this interested me and I just did a little research. The kicking that we use and most modern Hapkido uses is kicking with the power of the ENTIRE body (which i think was what you were trying to say right?), when doing a roundhouse for example we teach to raise the knee and point it directly at the target, lower the head back for protection, balance and body reach, pivot the balance foot 180 degrees so that the heel is pointing at the target, and rotate the hip for more reach and power. In the end the kicking foot, the hips and your lowered upper body should be completely aligned.

Another example of this would be the variations of spin kicks we learn. Straight legged spin kick(slower and easily blocked but still powerful), tucked leg spin kick(best variation with the most power I believe) this is of course where you said that the kick is "released" since as you approach the target after the spin the leg is released and explodes into the target with the heel. Then there is the spinning hook kick( many confuse this with the original spin kick)in which the knee starts to tuck the leg back as soon as the target has been hit(not much follow through)

I have practiced Shotokan before and do know that the kicking is very different there. Most of the power in Shotokan kicks comes mostly from the leg. I for example was never taught in shotokan to align my body when performing roundhouses or to "put my hip into it" when doing side kicks. We were mostly taught to just snap it out.
The front snap kick is a staple of traditional karate. In the Hapkido front kick we learn to lean back, raise the knee and thrust the ball,heel, or blade of the foot into the opponent using hip thrust for power, in fact we learn to hold it the kick in place for a second so we get the idea of follow through where the front kick should drive through the target.

[BSR]

The sparring in our class is pretty much TKD style with pads and only punches and kicks allowed, no grabs. That excludes a lot of what's fun about Hapkdio, but it also ensures that something has less of a chance of getting seriously hurt.

[blessed_samurai]

At my school that I train at it depends on what the instructor feels like. There are days when it's just kicking and punching (any part of the body is legal) and then there's days where we go from standing to ground and back to standing for a certain amount of time.

We tend to wear open fingered gloves so that we can do the joint locks and submission moves...after all, most Hapkidoists love those small joint locks.

Muscle memory and preperation or expectation without hesitation go a long way with any circumstance.

[Rice Krispies]

"Both RNC AND gulitine can be NECK BREAKS "cemetary go", if applied with malace and a twist...that's NOT sport..arm bars (if you mean a judo or BJJ ground type) are..well..difficult to apply when the guy is chewing his way through your leg..both a painful and bio counter in one.."

Who told you these things? The techniques are already deadly. Id personally take the 5 seconds it takes to put them on than struggle around for an unnecessary "neck break".

As for the armbars, I have a feeling that theyd release the bite when you snap their arm.

The reason people cant finish fights isnt due to a lack of "military" skills as opposed to sports, but a lack of skill. Most people consider bjjers sport fighters and I can assure you that a good one will use these "sport" techniques to finish you in much less than ten seconds. I fail to see how choking you unconscious or snapping you limbs is not "military".

[YODA]

Take a look at the current US Army Combatives field manual.

http://www.adtdl.army.mil/cgi-bin/atdl.dll/fm/3-25.150/toc.htm

Seems to be a lot of BJJ in there considering it's not "military" :D

[blessed_samurai]

I don't think most of the moves I saw in there are specific to bjj anymore than I've seen a lot of what they do in jjj and vale tudo and this one taijutsu school using and etc

And while bjj is good, it also fails in certain areas just as any art does. It is no better or no worse, just another way of doing things.

And when did this go from being about sparring in the school and about military techniques?

[shadow warrior]

Rice Krisp.

On how many years of "front line" experinece are your opinions based.

You have to be just plain stupid to try and get an arm bar on one guy while his three friends are using your head as a soccer ball. A stand up neck break is MUCH faster than a choke by definintion. See SAS manual!!

After you break the guys arm (maybe) you can start on a liftime of anti Aids drugs...and start speech therapy after you wake up from the kicking his buddies gave you...

[Rice Krispies]

"On how many years of "front line" experinece are your opinions based."

None. How many necks have you snapped?

"You have to be just plain stupid to try and get an arm bar on one guy while his three friends are using your head as a soccer ball."

Right...Niether your standup striking nor "military" grappling is gonna save you in this situation. If youre throwing blows and someone comes and puts a brick upside youre head from behind, youre done. Last time I fought multiples the only martial arts related skill used was the sprinting I practiced in wrestling.

A stand up neck break is MUCH faster than a choke by definintion. See SAS manual!!"

Id think the choke would be easier to get though due to the fact that less manipulation is required. Much less.

[shadow warrior]

Rice Krisp;

Your breakfast has gone soggy!

Sport applications and life and death are two different animals.

If you any actual experience then you might have something related to fact to base your misguided opinion on. A member of one of my eviction teams members got Aids from a guy who bit him when he tried to slap an arm bar on him in the late 80's. Tore a 3 inch chunk of muscle out of his calf before ANY arm breaking happened. This team member was a very good judo player with fine technique..just didn't know how crazy people can be!

Running is not generally an option if you are being paid to stand your ground in many professional circumstances. (Tenant eviction or tresspass enforcement and arrest for examples).

Neck cranks are life save..chokes are best with a referee and no perp friends!!

Neck crank less than one second (see SAS manual)..choke 3 seconds +.

I don't know what time measure you use in your universe, but on earth one second is a much shorter time duration then three.

[Rice Krispies]

I know that the actual neck break is quick, but getting it is whats hard. If someone tries a standing guillotine neck break to me, theyre screwed. If I dont toss them, Im gonna syracuse out. RNC might work if they dont get tossed from that.

"If you any actual experience then you might have something related to fact to base your misguided opinion on."

I know about streetfighting. I dont claim "front line" experience though. I do claim fight experience.

" A member of one of my eviction teams members got Aids from a guy who bit him when he tried to slap an arm bar on him in the late 80's. Tore a 3 inch chunk of muscle out of his calf before ANY arm breaking happened."

I never claimed it was the best move in that situiation. I was taught by a man with enough fight experience to use the keylock. However, the armbar is still legit as the arm should break as soon as you do the technique. As soon as you extend it, it should snap in one smooth motion.

[snake_vs_crane]

Sport applications and life and death are two different animals.

are you insinuating non-sport martial arts applications and life and death are NOT two different animals?

[Rice Krispies]

Obviously the only way to win a streetfight is to murder your opponents.

[nekogami13]

I dabble in BJJ. For street use we are shown a different grip for arm bar,instructor calls it a "japanese" arm bar, if applied arm snaps when you drop weight. Also in street I would soften up my target by repeatedly kicking them in the head before breaking arm with arm bar(sport grip). Of course this would only happen if we were one on one.

I do not advocate going to ground in reality, but prepare for it in case things go wrong.



Ps. BJJ contains stand up skills,ground game is just main focus.

[kcs]

At our school (Clemson University hapkido under Master Gedo Chang) we do sparring in two different ways. For both, we wear no pads and try for no contact or light contact. In basic sparring, you take turns with your opponent attacking and retreating in a linear fashion. Emphasis is on non-stop attack with no blocking. At a higher level, we emphasize "one step" sparring. Again, we take turns attacking, but here we aim for a "block, hand, hand, kick" repitition and allow non-linear movement as well.

[TigerAn1]

We don't have Hapkido sparring at our Dojang. Yesterday, for the first time, our Master pitted us against some TKD students in non-contact sparring. Maybe he's thinking of allowing HKD students into full contact sparring in the future. I'd have to say if he does allow HKD students to spar, it would be using TKD moves like others here posted. No hapdido moves would be allowed. In HKD class we practice takedowns, throws, etc. That's enough contact and ouches for me.

[TigerAn1]

"On how many years of "front line" experinece are your opinions based."

Last time I fought multiples the only martial arts related skill used was the sprinting I practiced in wrestling.


Sounds like the move I'd use as well.

[redbull]

Rules determine how you spar. Make a karate guy, a kung fu, jujitsu guy, etc. all spar under the same rules and they'll all look the same after a while....

Remove the rules and you'll start looking like MMA.

Styles don't really matter, its how you train.



truer words have not been spoken here for a long time. "A punch is just a punch ,a and a kick well its just a kick."

[hedgehogey]

At our school (Clemson University hapkido under Master Gedo Chang) we do sparring in two different ways. For both, we wear no pads and try for no contact or light contact. In basic sparring, you take turns with your opponent attacking and retreating in a linear fashion. Emphasis is on non-stop attack with no blocking. At a higher level, we emphasize "one step" sparring. Again, we take turns attacking, but here we aim for a "block, hand, hand, kick" repitition and allow non-linear movement as well.

I don't think that's sparring. In fact i'm quite sure that's not any kind of sparring.

[hedgehogey]

We don't have Hapkido sparring at our Dojang. Yesterday, for the first time, our Master pitted us against some TKD students in non-contact sparring. Maybe he's thinking of allowing HKD students into full contact sparring in the future. I'd have to say if he does allow HKD students to spar, it would be using TKD moves like others here posted. No hapdido moves would be allowed. In HKD class we practice takedowns, throws, etc. That's enough contact and ouches for me.
__________________

Then you're not learning anything of value. Your instructor doesn't want you to spar because he's afraid it would show his techniques are crap.

[hedgehogey]

I wonder if shadow warrior knows that both me and rice crispies are from southeast dc, the former murder capitol of the united states? What was that about "life and death" again?

Seriously, what is he thirteen years old? He sounds like some snot nosed kid who's watched too many episodes of "miami vice". Continue practicing your deadly neck breaks, "shadowarrior". Maybe someday it will stop the football players from shoving you into a locker.

[Andy Murray]

I wonder if shadow warrior knows that both me and rice crispies are from southeast dc, the former murder capitol of the united states? What was that about "life and death" again?

Seriously, what is he thirteen years old? He sounds like some snot nosed kid who's watched too many episodes of "miami vice". Continue practicing your deadly neck breaks, "shadowarrior". Maybe someday it will stop the football players from shoving you into a locker.

You're association with Rice Krispies is noted HH, as is your seemingly very personal attack on member Shadow Warrior.

Consider this a warning.

[wild_pitch]

Hey Hedgehogey;

Maybe you should take a few minutes to have a look into some info about the person you are talking to.

From shadow warriors info in the check in section.

"I have trained in Hapkido and applied the art since the mid 1970's under two primary and numerous other second generation Hapkido Masters. I am a student of second generation KOREAN Hapkido reflected in the state of Hapkido in the mid 1960's."

"I was a professional 'front line" undercover and general investigator, (specializing in international drug and theft networks), 3rd party protection team leader, security team (eviction, ejection, arrest and trespass enforcement) team selector, trainer and manager as well as a corporate, personal security profile consultant and threat assessment specialist for fifteen years. I worked for numerous respected international security- investigation firms (owned and operated by various retired members of the SAS and CID from the UK) and was involved in government sub contracts as a specialized operative and private technical consultant. Retired early 1992 after accumulating many hundreds of 'incident reports' and burning a 1000 life chances. I used to tell people I was a 'contractor'. I have taught Hapkido to selected students since that time."

I guess what I am trying to say is maybe you should pay attention to someone who has been training in martial arts longer than you have been alive.

[Trent Tiemeyer]

Aw man. Where do I start.

Why is it that your opponent always has a group of friends with him, but you are always alone? Is it your personality?;)

Why does everyone think they can bite their way out of an armbar? With proper technique, your leg is not across the face. In the street, transition from armbar to break is fast. I don't want to tap you, I want to snap you, THEN discuss the terms of surrender.

And NO ONE on this thread, OR forum, has EVER snapped a neck in real life. Period.

[wild_pitch]

Yes that is probably true..

But there ARE people on the list who HAVE used their training in actual life threatening situations and there ARE others who only run their mouths. I try to give the first group the benefit of the doubt over the latter.

[shadow warrior]

1onefighting:

The first rule of fighting is NEVER assume anything! You are full of them (assumptions). Train for the worst case senarios and you might not get yourself killed through assumptions. Today, one on one fights are rare in virtually all venue situations. Never mind tresspass enforcement or special constable arrest situations.

If you had proffessionaly put yourself in harms way routinely, the tone of your posts would reflect that fact. I think I am fairly safe in saying that you are NOT an immortal.

Your technique might be stellar but your stategy needs some experience input. In the past I have hired MANY martial arts students with good technique who ended up getting seriously damaged because they ASSUMED something. I'll break their arm and I will defeat them! Snapped his right arm. Too bad he was left handed and shot me. Lucky or what?

The only rule which can be seen in action outside controlled training is that if something can go wrong, it will!

The only sure way of knowing the fight is OVER, is if you are standing and the opponent is not capable of doing so! Then arrest them for the enditable offence you witnessed!

I left this thread alone for awhile because it had some really silling posts on it from people who have yet to learn how to shave.

Controlled sparring with your friends is not street fighting..nor is it real preparation for law enforcement..diversified neck cranks techniques can be used to save your life..when and IF you need to use them..pain compliance does NOT always work.

[hedgehogey]

So, uh, shadowarrior, how many necks have you snapped again?

[Trent Tiemeyer]

1onefighting:

The first rule of fighting is NEVER assume anything! You are full of them (assumptions). Train for the worst case senarios and you might not get yourself killed through assumptions. Today, one on one fights are rare in virtually all venue situations. Never mind tresspass enforcement or special constable arrest situations.

You train for the worst case scenario, yet most of you presume you won't face a trained martial artist?

If you had proffessionaly put yourself in harms way routinely, the tone of your posts would reflect that fact. I think I am fairly safe in saying that you are NOT an immortal.

And neither is anyone else. As for being in harm's way, I am a bouncer in some fairly lowbrow clubs, and we are not allowed to carry weapons. I use my martial arts skills more than 80% of the population. I have faced guns, knives, bottles, and more than my share of multiple attackers. I'm still here.

Your technique might be stellar but your stategy needs some experience input. In the past I have hired MANY martial arts students with good technique who ended up getting seriously damaged because they ASSUMED something. I'll break their arm and I will defeat them! Snapped his right arm. Too bad he was left handed and shot me. Lucky or what?

I have broken a few arms in my life. The reaction was ALWAYS scream, puke, then pass out. I don't stop until my opponent is immobilized and incapacitated. You are tending to make assumptions yourself.

The only rule which can be seen in action outside controlled training is that if something can go wrong, it will!

The only sure way of knowing the fight is OVER, is if you are standing and the opponent is not capable of doing so! Then arrest them for the enditable offence you witnessed!

I left this thread alone for awhile because it had some really silling posts on it from people who have yet to learn how to shave.

Controlled sparring with your friends is not street fighting..nor is it real preparation for law enforcement..diversified neck cranks techniques can be used to save your life..when and IF you need to use them..pain compliance does NOT always work.

I use neck cranks all the time. Never broken a neck yet, don't plan to. Pain compliance? Have you read my posts on this thread?

[shadow warrior]

Low brow:

I sent a private email to you because it was obvious only further experience would help you change your mind. Bouncing in a lowbrow club is just that..lowbrow work for people of minimal skill. We use to call them "Go No Go" warm bodies.I know exactly who you are.

I did decades of that type of team screening and training on all management levels..up to the largest alcohol venue in the Province.. you have the exact physicality and attitude that the head of security at an exclusive - elite club would find charming..not..

Be sure to save up lots of money for your lawyers, doctors in the future..Ask the management where you work if they cover your legal and medical costs? Good clubs DO. I know it is quite difficult when being payed minimum wage. I am familiar with your type, big MMA, wrestling, submission guys with a ting of invincible attitude.

Highlighting your posts is like screaming, as if it would really make your point clearer, better or somehow more valid...You are supposed to be a moderator..you sure do have lots of agenda..Maybe you have been "extremely" lucky, but I DID loose four of my team members and a training partner before I retired during the over twenty years I worked front line.

One kidnapped and killed by bikers while working a major drug undercover!

One from aids after being scratched and bitten during the application of an armbar! (Took him nine years to die..he was one tough human.)

One shot in the head at the door of a hip hop club! Killed instantly!

One stabbed to death by four gang bangers in a major concert venue!

One shot and killed by a lefthanded gunman who recieved a broken right arm from a standing armbar! Apparently he did scream and project vomit but he still shot the guy twice in jerk reaction! Once in the groin! Once in the foot.

The worst thing about being a big guy is that there is so much to shoot at! No matter where they hit you it REALLY hurts! Post your next personal experience with someone shooting at you and let us know how it went. Very few people I have ever come into contact with in proffessional circumstances with, over the last thirty years have escaped totally unscathed (myself included) from such incidents. This includes police, military and private security personel. You must be very fast, charmed (very good talker), or they were very poor shots!

No one should be proud of damaging another human being, as you seem to be. I have absolutely NO need to recount personal incidents of this nature. I find it sad that there is such disrespect for senior experienced martial arts people who have travelled a long way through challanges most people can not even imagine. I have been training and applying martial arts longer then you have been alive! I have seen many, many things which were NOT possible! Yet they did happen.
I am not posting anything more on this thread as it is clear that there are far too many assumptions being made by some people. For decades, I was in the legal "attitude correction" business, but I eventually concluded that Karma is the best teacher and I could retire from dealing with these people who scream and shout their wishes. As if that would make them come true!

I thought one of the reasons to train was to become a better person and develop a more universal understanding of our condition..now it seem there are just as many people in the martial arts who are lost as outside.

Chill out, do some breathing...train for at least the next twenty years..then examine your position.. I believe many things will change!

Remember I did send you a private message. You were the one that had their grizzly bear shorts in a knot!

[Silver Dragons]

Shadow Warrior...wow...if what you say is true you are a TRUE master and I greatly respect you. Furthermore, I am truly sorry for those horrific tragedies you had to experience. I have to agree with you on a point that I tell every martial artist, wanabe streetfighter, or upcoming student about self defense.

"ASSUMPTION IS THE MOTHER OF ALL F%$#UPS!!"



The way of the coordinated power.

[Trent Tiemeyer]

My box shows no Private Messages. I highlighted to delineate my text from yours. I don't see where I got my "panties in a bunch" anywhere on this thread. You want to try to insult me, go ahead. You want to tell me I'm the one bragging, do that too.

[Silver Dragons]

onefighting:

Dont take this the wrong way. Im just making an observation on a post you submitted a while ago. Do you use anabolic steroids? I have an open minded view to these things so I really dont see anything wrong with it if done responsibly. Just wanted to know.

[Trent Tiemeyer]

I believe I know the post you are referrring to, alluding to a "Too big to not be steroid enhanced Nebraska Wrestling XXXL T-shirt." I have never used OR abused anabolic steroids. That text was used in the "MMA: The Final Thread" post, and both ends of the argument were in on the gag. We were joking around.

"I sent a private email to you because it was obvious only further experience would help you change your mind. Bouncing in a lowbrow club is just that..lowbrow work for people of minimal skill. We use to call them "Go No Go" warm bodies.I know exactly who you are."

As for "lowbrow work for people of minimal skill", you may find you don't know me THAT well.

I bounce because:

A. I am very qualified to do so.

B. The economy is pretty shoddy now, and I need any work I can get.

C. It allows me the time I need to focus on my training, which allows me to be better prepared to fight in the ring, for much better money than I make bouncing.

D. It is a fun and rewarding line of work.

"I did decades of that type of team screening and training on all management levels..up to the largest alcohol venue in the Province.. you have the exact physicality and attitude that the head of security at an exclusive - elite club would find charming..not.."

I still fail to see where I denoted my "attitude."

"Be sure to save up lots of money for your lawyers, doctors in the future..Ask the management where you work if they cover your legal and medical costs? Good clubs DO. I know it is quite difficult when being payed minimum wage. I am familiar with your type, big MMA, wrestling, submission guys with a ting of invincible attitude."

You may be suprised. I train and fight MMA, but have spent considerable time in Tai Chi, Shaolin Fu, Tae Kwon Do, Judo, Kenpo and Hap Ki Do, and don't appreciate being talked down to as If I were a little brat. I am 28, and have been in the martial arts since 1986. Pro since 1997, I have fought Muay Thai, NHB, MMA, Boxing, No-Gi Sub wrestling, and have a winning record in all aspects.

"Highlighting your posts is like screaming, as if it would really make your point clearer, better or somehow more valid...You are supposed to be a moderator..you sure do have lots of agenda..Maybe you have been "extremely" lucky, but I DID loose four of my team members and a training partner before I retired during the over twenty years I worked front line."

I am genuinely sorry for your losses. The last thing I want is for another team member to be injured.

"The worst thing about being a big guy is that there is so much to shoot at! No matter where they hit you it REALLY hurts! Post your next personal experience with someone shooting at you and let us know how it went. Very few people I have ever come into contact with in proffessional circumstances with, over the last thirty years have escaped totally unscathed (myself included) from such incidents. This includes police, military and private security personel. You must be very fast, charmed (very good talker), or they were very poor shots!"

The key to being a bouncer is skill. Not fighting skill, Communications skills. Sometimes talking isn't going to cut it, and I am singularly qualified to handle these situations.

"No one should be proud of damaging another human being, as you seem to be. I have absolutely NO need to recount personal incidents of this nature. I find it sad that there is such disrespect for senior experienced martial arts people who have travelled a long way through challanges most people can not even imagine. I have been training and applying martial arts longer then you have been alive! I have seen many, many things which were NOT possible! Yet they did happen.
I am not posting anything more on this thread as it is clear that there are far too many assumptions being made by some people. For decades, I was in the legal "attitude correction" business, but I eventually concluded that Karma is the best teacher and I could retire from dealing with these people who scream and shout their wishes. As if that would make them come true!"

A broken arm heals in six to eight weeks. A broken neck does not. I have nothing but the utmost respect for a martial artist of your caliber and experience, we just seem to differ in strategy and tactics.

"Chill out, do some breathing...train for at least the next twenty years..then examine your position.. I believe many things will change!"

In 20 years, I am going to continue on my path of being a graphic artist. But you can bet your last dollar I'll still be involved in the martial arts.

"Remember I did send you a private message. You were the one that had their grizzly bear shorts in a knot!"

WHEN?

[totality]

um...i spar with...bears? or little girls. one of the two.

[Yukimushu]

How do i spar? let me demonstrate:

*me starts kicking and punching the air* *high kick* *jab jab cross* *bite followed by headbutt*