Posts by rustyangler02

Since I started back when I was just ten years old, I honestly can't even remember what sparked it. But today? Sports are just part of who I am. It’s probably the one real passion I’ve held onto that hasn't faded away over the years.

Rest in peace, little dragon...

wanderingridge said:1. WTF, I think they're champions in forms. In sparring at the academy? Maybe. 😬
2. I’ve been training for about ten years, so I guess I can claim some competence here. As a sport, it’s great—killer conditioning, flexibility, all that good stuff. But as something effective for real life? Not so much. Sure, it *can* be effective, but it's a bit hit-or-miss.
It's fine for kids or girls, though.
3. No clue, since I haven't been involved for 5 or 6 years now.

1. Ka-te-do.🤣
2. I spar against TKD fighters quite often (but ITF style), and I have to admit they can be pretty "effective." I mean, sure, the gear helps and all, but on the street? Hmm... only a smart, careful, trained, and calm fighter stands a chance at closing the distance and getting into a clinch where those guys are actually weak. Everyone else who just acts aggressive or tries to swing wildly is going straight to sleep.👍 And don't even get me started on the tall ones (the long-legged types)! Total nightmares. They're dangerous as hell!
3. This was the answer I expected. Honestly, the question wasn't even really directed at you, it was just there in case someone happened to know something.

wanderingridge said:What's on your mind? Feel free to ask anything—I'm a former American national champion, after all. 🙂 😛

Which version of the champion are we talking about?
Why the negative vibe toward USA Taekwondo? Honestly, I think you're missing the mark on that one.
So, what’s the deal with the merger between the World Taekwondo Federation and the International Tennis Federation? Honestly, you probably haven't heard a single thing about this.😁 )

silentgardener32 said:Just get it out there! I’ve got a kid training at Metallurgy right now who is absolutely obsessed with the skill. He keeps hitting me with a million questions, and honestly, I'm stumped. I did some karate back in the day, so I know my katas, but don't ask me about forms. I'm clueless.

By the way, Tony Ivas took 3rd place at the World Championships in Canada last week. He's the one coaching the kid.

Tony is a fantastic fighter. I actually know him from the kickboxing circuit...
Big congrats to Anthony, and send my best to everyone back home in Water.
And yeah, we're definitely talking about ITF here...

Sean Price6 said:I'm thinking about carving out some space at home for a dedicated sparring area, and I’m trying to figure out where I can pick up some mats without completely draining my bank account. If you guys know of any cheap alternatives—something that won't break the bank but can actually handle a decent amount of heavy use? I really need a surface that’s going to cushion those inevitable falls.

I’ve been doing a bit of window shopping online, and the absolute cheapest mats I could find were 150x100x5cm pieces for $200. Since I’m aiming for a space that’s at least 3x3m, I’d need about six of them, which brings the total to $1200. Honestly, that's pushing my budget a little too far for comfort.

If anyone has recommendations for a shop in the greater metropolitan area or somewhere nearby in the suburbs, please let me know.

Thanks!

Tatami isn't even that pricey. Plus, it does a great job at softening those hits.

Chloe Torres said:Sergei is a WTF official. 😉

Check out this clip of Sergei. He’s a total powerhouse on the mat. Seriously, his technique is next level. It’s wild to watch him move like that. You can tell he’s been putting in the work. Just pure skill. Definitely worth a look if you want to see some high-level fighting.

Exactly. My bad. At the end of the day, it all comes down to the fighter, not just the skill level.👍

nimbleranger4 said:Look, I don't really know the guy personally, but I trust him. 👍

You can find his clips all over YouTube!

nimbleranger4 said:Zelg and Serkan are top-tier fighters 👍

And Thomas Barada too... take my word for it. Honestly, fighters who train under ITF rules transition into pretty much any kickboxing style—from semi-contact all the way up to K1—without breaking a sweat. They are incredibly tough opponents to deal with. Their footwork is solid, their movement is lightning fast, and they have these explosive entries. Plus, those rotational strikes? Super dangerous. They can end a fight with a nasty knockout at any second. They might be a bit weaker on hand techniques (they aren't as big on crosses or uppercuts), clinching, or low kicks...

Chloe Torres said:I feel like I'm being called out here. 😳 Basically, TKD splits into two worlds: ITF and WTF (the Olympic style). ITF is a bit more rugged. You can throw punches to the head and below the belt. Honestly, the rules are pretty close to kickboxing. In WTF, you can't do that, so the fights are full contact, just without the punches to the face. Also, the gear is different—ITF fighters don't wear the heavy chest protectors or headgear that WTF practitioners do. Now, even though it might sound like ITF practitioners are better fighters than WTF practitioners, that's just not true. WTF practitioners actually win more often in sparring because their kicking technique is way more advanced. If anyone wants me to dive deeper, I'm happy to write more. 😳 😁

What kind of rules are they using to win? WTF practitioners have this nonsensical guard and can just soak up hits, whereas ITF fighters can go toe-to-toe with actual kickboxers. Just look at some of the legends who started with an ITF base and crushed it in other sports: Zelg Galešić, Thomas Barada, the King of taekwondo " Barada, and Serkan "Turkish Samurai" Yilmaz. I've honestly never seen a WTF practitioner reach that level of greatness...

Robin Palmer3 said:Mixed Martial Arts is an ancient combat sport. It first showed up at the 33rd Olympic Games back in 648 B.C. and basically paved the way for modern UFC. The name itself comes from two Greek words: "pan," meaning all, and "kratos," meaning strength or power.
Legend has it that the hero Theseus invented Mixed Martial Arts. He was the son of King Aegeus and famously took down the Minotaur—that half-bull, half-man monster—by combining boxing and wrestling. People used to have massive debates about whether this style was actually worth practicing, much like the arguments you see in the fight world today. Some saw it as the absolute peak of combat, while others just thought it was bad wrestling mixed with weak boxing. Even the philosopher Socrates was a two-time winner in this discipline at the Olympics. There were actually two versions: kato pankration, where fighters could go to the ground, and ano pankration, where they had to stay on their feet. Almost everything was legal—strikes, chokes, joint locks—as long as you didn't bite, pull hair, or gouge eyes. Though, if you ask me, the Spartans probably allowed that too. Knockouts happened, sure, but most fights ended on the ground. That’s what fighters feared most because chokes caused a lot of deaths. Sometimes, even after someone died, they’d be declared the winner if they fought hard enough or refused to tap out. These guys were elite grapplers. They knew how to use takedowns, chokes, and submissions perfectly. No gloves, no pads. Sometimes they even wrapped leather straps around their hands to deal more damage. Referees carried whips and sticks to make sure nobody started biting or pulling hair. But even then, things got out of hand. A fight didn't end until someone tapped, passed out, or died.
If there wasn't a clear winner by sunset, the judges called for a climax. The fighters stood face-to-face and traded blows without being allowed to block. Whoever was still standing at the end won.
The styles varied just as much as Eastern martial arts do today. Different schools had different ways, and techniques were often passed down through families. They even worked on internal energy, similar to how you hear about Chi in Chinese martial arts or Ki in Japanese styles. For the Greeks, they called it Spirit. They proved their toughness by breaking stones with their bare hands and smashing through shields. They hardened their limbs by hitting heavy bags and wooden posts.
Mixed Martial Arts was the foundation of military training in the ancient world. The Spartans were famous for fighting even when they lost their weapons, and soldiers in the army of Alexander the Great definitely practiced these skills. Most likely, the Theban Band used it for training too.
There's a popular theory in the US that Alexander and his troops brought these combat styles to India, which eventually spread to China and Japan. This theory suggests that styles like Kung Fu, Karate, Jiu-Jitsu, and Muay Thai all evolved from these original roots.
P.S.
I transcribed this from a forum; the original author was Sintagma.

👍...honestly..that whole idea about Alexander the Great bringing martial arts skills from Greece over to the East feels a bit sketchy to me.

Robin Palmer3 said:Look, the guy was a world champion in Muay Thai—some version of it, anyway—about 15 years back. He actually clinched that title in Atlantic City... just go ask some of the local guys in New Jersey who used to train in MT.

Oh, wait, it just clicked... back in the late 80s, there was some kind of world kickboxing championship held in San Diego. It’s possible they had Muay Thai running too. I don't think it was WAKO, maybe ISKA or IAKSA? I don't have the exact details and I can't seem to track them down online. I'm pretty sure it was an amateur tournament. My coach took second place in either full contact or kickboxing... he also competed in semi and light contact. It's a shame there's no record of it anywhere.

I'll ask the coach; they'll definitely know... actually, I think I recognize that name. I believe he organizes some events over in San Diego... but honestly, my focus is more on the kickboxing scene than MMA. As far as kickboxing goes, everything in San Diego basically kicked off at one single spot and revolved around a few key people (like Ilić or Žaljardić)...

Nah. Haven't even heard of him...

At this small gym in a city like Columbus... I doubt you’d recognize it. Most of these guys aren't exactly elite fighters lately. We see an occasional win here and there, but we all know how things work in the States. It’s tough to balance heavy training sessions with a real job. You have to work. Very few people can actually make a living just by fighting. You might know my coach, though. He had some solid runs back in the day—think along the lines of the legends from the old school era.

I’ve got the perfect proof right here at my gym that anyone can start training kickboxing. About 6 or 7 years ago, this guy joined us. He was 30 at the time, a combat veteran dealing with PTSD, epilepsy attacks, and about a million other diagnoses that would make most people think sports aren't an option. Fast forward to today: his health is incredible. He’s strong, he’s fit, and he trains consistently—even when he’s traveling. He’s earned his brown belt, which is a huge deal around here, and he even stepped up to compete in a tournament once. When he first walked into the club, he could barely finish a few laps around the mats without collapsing. Honestly, he's a total inspiration to everyone at the gym.

Jerry Thompson said:It really depends on the discipline. Tiger who is a kickboxer gives a pretty foolish answer by saying age doesn't matter. For his specific sport, it absolutely does. (granted, the guy asked about martial arts generally and I'm talking about sports... 😛). But kickboxing isn't exactly built for older people—not because of their age per se, but because they lack the stamina, the raw power, or the lightning-fast reflexes required. 😁

You've got it wrong. I was just explaining why my post got deleted... the real sweet spot to start kickboxing and actually see results is around age 50!!!
I know exactly what I'm talking about, and I know more than some Aikido guy who has zero connection to kickboxing... which makes total sense.

She isn't the obstacle. The real limit is just a lack of will and grit.

I think you could probably pick some up through Everlast. Maybe try looking for one of their retail spots around here.

http://store.everlastboxing.com/ever...t-weights.html

I didn't say anything, really, but you can tell they're more like, I don't know, casual hobbyists... but honestly, props to them—it's definitely better than seeing people fight in the streets. And hey, if any of those sarcastic comments were aimed at me (which I'm sure they weren't)😠 my gym and my name aren't exactly some big secret anyway...