• Archive through May 28, 2003 May 28 - 01:36 pm [20]

Meynard,

So what you are saying is that I must have Kata and systemized series of movements? We do.
Or are you saying that I must invent totally new methods? Maybe I have.
I realize that I am far from being a master of anything. I am merely a student of life and martial arts. The late Jigoro Kano blended the techniques of different styles of Jujitsu along with his own interpretations to create Kodokan Judo. Bruce Lee brought together the fundamentals of several styles of martial arts to create Jeet Kune Do. I am sure many styles could be listed that are a blend of other styles “stitched” together. There is nothing new under the sun. The principles of martial arts are the same. Our focus and adaptability are what make them differing styles.

Meynerd, actually, I prefer to think of myself as Don Quixote.

Mr. Keith,

You don't seem to understand. What matters is how it's stitched. Think about it.

Wow, I just have decloak to say that, Meynard, you come off as such a punk on this board. Now, take a deep breath and listen. I'm not saying you are one, but in this text based medium you come across as one. Larry stepped out and told a little bit about himself and you made these gross assumptions about the how's, why's and what for's of his system. Look at your own teacher. Tim's teaching you a bunch of different stuff and at first glance, someone who doesn't know him could make the same criticisms of Shen Wu. But you know that he's a quality teacher with a lot of experience and his methods are not haphazard. Don't assume he's the only teacher with the credentials or the intellect to do this. And if you won't put a safety on the "send" button of your posts for your own sake, do it because it reflects badly on your teacher, Tim, who seems to abide by the "if you don't have something nice or constructive to say, abstain" rule.

Awaiting you id's predictable reply.

Meynard,

I have thought about it. I do think about it...every day.
I appreciate your view and the stimulus for conversation.

This is why I hardly say anything anymore. Someone always get upset.

I didn't say anything in particular about Mr. Keith's system. I'm talking about the idea of a martial art system in general. Mr. Keith's post just reminded me of something that I've noticed in the martial arts world in general, people mixing different arts together and calling it a system.

Pay attention Scott, I'm not here to please anyone. You don't seem to get what I posted. It is constructive if you bothered to understand it instead of jumping on my back.

Um, I hate to state the obvious, Meynard, but maybe the reason someone always "gets upset" is that you tend to jump on their back.

Your reply to Larry was: "Do you people know what a system means? A mish mash is not a system. Ryu means style. Kan means school. Bugei usually means the style is a system."

How about if you said this: "Hey, Larry why do you call what you do a 'system'? One of my pet peeves is when people who learn half a dozen techniques in a half a dozen arts suddenly teach that stew as a brand new system. So what do you do that makes your art a true system?"

It's a tone and manner thing. You're obviously dedicated and passionate, but the way in which those things manifest themselves shows your youth and inexperience or a punk. I say this as a reformed punk myself. You're learning a lot from Tim, so just read through his posts next to yours and see the difference in form.

And I did "get" your post (it's a poor rhetorical defense to just claim that someone doesn't "get" what you're saying.) In fact, I share your pet peeve with these patch-work arts that are called "systems". I've seen people who do it badly and people who do it well. But I've also noticed people with tried and true systems that just suck. It goes both ways.

One thing I noticed with those who make patch-work arts is they usually had one art that formed their foundation before they moved onto other arts. The ones who execute badly with their homemade systems usually have forgotten the value of that foundation and say things like, "In my system, we don't spend time on forms, we just fight a lot." They have no fundamental skill developement for their students and their students tend to be really uneven (the better ones usually have some foundation or fundamental training of their own from someplace else).

Oh, and just to get back on topic, I'm a writer at an advertising agency.

Pizza pugilism.

I'm a trying poet.

;)

I don't piece together different systems myself. My 3 hours a day has only permitted me to learn one sytem so far (and not even all it has to offer).

But didn't Bruce Lee say this is what one should do? And was he not like THE ONE, or something to that effect?

Ross,

As some already know I work with the criminally insane. I was just thinking about how my job is not unlike that of the Shen Wu sysop at times. What a BUNCH OF MENTAL PATIENTS!!!

Now that I've gotten that off my chest let me say that with some experience it seems to get easier to work one's training around one's schedule. There are a number of reasons this works out I suppose.

An example from my personal experience - here at the nut h.., I mean psychiatric center, a group of coworkers were taking their lunch break & attempting to learn Tai Chi from a video. I told them I knew a little something & I started showing them. This became some more training time for me.

A similar thing happened at the college I teach at part time. Not only do I get a work out, but helping others motivates me to train & analyze my own form, etc. Plus on the practical side I have free access to a very decent training area.

Make it work for you.

Mark Hatfield, my PC can't locate my Email server for some reason. Eta ochen troodna pisat porusski s angliskam bookvam. Kakaya rabota est vashevo brat?

Kenneth

I replied to your email for error conformation as requested. That was the limit of my Russan. Han Guk mal ul e hae summ ne ka?

Dragon prawn..

Great... now not only are the people you work with crazy - they are hunched over in a c posture and will be jacked-up physically as well as mentally.

PS... What is the neoteny theory on mental disorders/retardation?

Just my point. Not everything is adaptive. That said, I was more than happy to get away from the great tucking debate if only for a week.

Meynard

I have expected someone to challenge the fact I have chosen to call my dojo Keith Ryu Judo/Jujitsu. I am sorry that I misrepresented myself to you.
Let me take some time to explain myself. What I teach is not really a mish mash of styles. Instead, each of the styles I have studied, form a type of foundation for what is needed.
Kodokan Judo is my primary foundation. Not YMCA Judo or Idaho Potato Judo, but Kodokan Judo. My sensei is Yuzo Kato. His sensei was Kazuzo Kudo. Kazuzo Kudo was the last surviving direct student of Jigoro Kano. Jigoro Kano, as I am sure you should know, was the founder of Kodokan Judo. Yuzo Kato has only seen two people fit to carry on this lineage. I am one of those people.
What I teach is Kodokan Judo. Some of my students have interest in MMA competition and therefore a need to learn strikes. The original Kodokan Judo included Atemi Waza (strikes). To supplement the Judo techniques, I use my knowledge of linear striking and blocking from Shotokan, powerful kicking from Moo Duk Kwon, and joint locks from Sambo to help my students learn more powerful, accurate and purposeful attacks and defense.
When I teach these eclectic skills to my students I separate them from my foundation of Kodokan Judo and instead call it Keith Ryu Jujitsu. I do this because I would rather offend others, than offend my sensei.
You will find that each instructor has their own way of interpreting and teaching to their students. Each time this happens, a new system is developing. I am not some chump from a “belt factory type dojo.” I have worked very hard to be where I am and with my 22 years of experience, I have earned respect.
I understand and appreciate your attitude toward those people out there hoping to make a buck off of creating some “new and improved” system of fighting. Try to understand that what I am doing is out of respect for tradition, and not of disrespect.

Well put, Keith. Bear in mind that the founders of most current styles of Wing Chun all studied under the same instructor.

very interesting, Keith.

I have a question: a number of grappling specialists evolved to striking when the MMA started in the Usa. Most of them (99%or so) figured out that what best fitted to implement their grappling was the striking arsenal of the ring fighting arts (thai-kick-boxing).

What had you go for the long punches of shotokan and snap kicks made in Korea? Do their logic suit better?

european,

Very good questions. I will attempt to keep my answers brief.
I think that many people forget the roots of these arts. The augmented movements of Shotokan are designed to teach accurate and powerful reflex movements from the furthest distance utilizing rotation of the hips. The strikes, blocks, and kicks utilize the rotation of the hips. Using the principle of hip rotation we are able to deliver accurate, powerful blows from close up as well. (We use elbows and vertical fist while infighting.)
As for the kicks of Korea. In the Moo Duk Kwon style I was taught, we deliver kicks in a manner much like Muay Thai, kicking through instead of snapping. Modern point sparring has caused many to forget the real reasons for kicking high. We train with high kicks to make our lower (realistic) kicks more powerful and more accurate. At our dojo we don’t train for point sparring.
We are trying to teach our students to act with purpose, whether it be a strike, a kick, a throw, or a joint locking technique. In all of our techniques our primary focus is hip control.
In our regular classes, we strictly teach the throwing, grappling, and submission skills of Kodokan Judo. Only those students that have formed a solid foundation are allowed to participate in any of the secondary instruction.

Unless there is a better reason for the high kicks, might I suggest you are wasting your time with them if you expect them to help with your low kicks? I grew up doing TKD, I could stand in front of someone and sidekick to their chin almost as fast as a jab, but when in my early 20s I started training Isshinryu, though I could do the groin kicks ok, I was next to useless with sidekicks at knee-level. I think most people train high kicks just to look flowery, and justify it with "gotta learn to defend against...etc." Now, after doing Uechiryu, I can't pivot to do the slower, more powerful TKD sidekick. You are right about TKD's kicks being like Muay Thai-style follow through kicks, but I understand Muay Thai does not utilize the classic karate-style sidekick. Is this true?