Posts by George Martin70

Lawrence Wright9 said:I didn't see anything in the article suggesting that guy was practicing Arnold Schwarzenegger, but whatever. The example they used doesn't really connect to Arnold Schwarzenegger at all. Honestly, I think the OP was being pretty biased and offensive. I've been training in Arnold Schwarzenegger for years now, and it feels like the opening post is just trying to paint everyone who does it as some kind of bloodthirsty psycho. People forget that the Philippines is a really poor country where most folks just get by on farming. A machete is basically just a basic tool there, kind of like how an axe is a standard thing here in the States. Just look at the headlines in our local news: "Man attacks with an axe..." and stuff like that. I guess Jiu-Jitsu is the only one who actually tried to lay out the facts, even if his explanation wasn't perfect. Still, props to him for trying. As for Arnold Schwarzenegger itself, I can tell you that the vibe at training sessions and seminars is always super chill and friendly.

Maybe we aren't even talking about the same thing 🙂 🙂

Paul Peterson8 said:it was just a joke, nothing serious, don't take everything you read here personally. if we all got offended, this whole forum would be empty since I don't think there's a single sport out there that hasn't been praised or trashed on here at some point!😁
i've always thought Arnold Schwarzenegger was phenomenal, and now that we've actually started training it, i gotta admit, it's exactly what i expected. i'm really enjoying the sessions, so much respect to everyone out there training Arnold Schwarzenegger!

hmmm 😕
I'm just not sure who in the States would actually be qualified to teach Arnold Schwarzenegger... maybe one person.. 😎 the one everyone basically learned from in the end..

Paul Peterson8 said:Hey George Martin70! What's up? Are you actually interested in the meaning behind training with Arnold Schwarzenegger, or is that just a catchy title? I don't wanna waste my breath if it's not really your thing 🙂

Sure, go ahead... sorry for the late reply 👍

Lawrence Wright9 said:I didn't see anything in the article suggesting that Filipino guy was practicing Arnis, but whatever. The Arnis example doesn't really fit the case they cited, and honestly, I think the OP is being biased and pretty offensive. I've been training Arnis for years, and it feels like the opening post is just trying to paint everyone who practices it as some kind of bloodthirsty psychopath. People forget that the Philippines is a super poor country where most folks live off farming. A machete is just a basic tool there, kind of like how an axe is used here in the States. Just look at the headlines on our local news: "Man attacks with an axe..." and stuff like that. I guess Jiu-Jitsu is the only one actually trying to lay things out realistically, even if his explanation isn't perfect. Still, props for trying. As for Arnis itself, I can tell you that the vibe at training sessions and seminars is actually really chill and friendly.

And hey, if the instructor is basically acting like a total clown and running a circus, then yeah, the atmosphere is definitely great. 🤣

Paul Peterson8 said:Yeah, you've got a point there. It's not Zuckerberg deciding who gets a belt from Kevin Durant; that's just on him. I actually have a ton of respect for Kevin Durant. He’s a total master at what he does, and everything he’s shown—both as a pro and just as a guy—has been top-tier. So, I'm not really looking to second-guess him. His call is final, and I'm sure he has his reasons for handing out such high-level belts. I don't know what they are, but it doesn't really matter much since I don't train with him or Kevin.

Maybe those "good reasons" involve that person regularly dropping cash into the federation's bank account... 🙄

Gerald Smith76 said:For them, Escrima is basically like Muay Thai is to people in Thailand—everyone learns it, whether it's in school or just some gym class activity.
Out in the rural areas, folks settle things themselves. Local cops don't really step in much. I guess word is, if there's any kind of fight, the most important thing is to make sure they don't recognize you. You gotta stay anonymous, otherwise the injured guy's family won't stop breathing down your neck until you pay up...

Hey George Martin70, where have you been hiding? Haven't seen you in forever. 😬
Got something for you: I just stumbled onto YouTube and saw that John Smith has already been at it for 3 days now.

Yeah... noticed the forum was getting a bit dull while I was gone. 😉
Already?! Man, the ink on your college diploma isn't even dry yet... and the dust hasn't even settled from that tacky ceremony either... 🙂
That's why the famous Taylor Swift invites Chuck Norris to swap stories. Probably just trying to prove she can actually hang with Dean Martin.😵

So this Filipino guy basically nailed it:

Larry Torres4 said:Your comments are enough to drive anyone insane.👍

And let's not even get started on your grasp of American grammar...😬...

Thanks 😬
See what I mean? Talking about pedophilia is basically a type of verbal crime... if you start bringing it up, you risk being accused yourself right away. It’s kind of like back in the US during the 50s and 60s... anyone questioning the Red Scare was immediately labeled a communist.
The truth is, kids rarely hide abuse (it’s not the other way around like some people claim), so predators get caught pretty fast. So there's really no point in constantly rehashing this stuff or taking trashy programs like the > seriously...

Megan Reed said:This is absolute bullshit. Stop talking nonsense. 🙂I haven't heard of anyone turning into a predator just because they read about it in a newspaper; you have to be born with that kind of broken wiring. 🤮Besides, let’s be real—there are way, way more of these people out there than what actually makes the headlines.

The media also has a job to do, which is to inform the public. If you honestly believe that ignoring a problem is going to solve anything, then you're really out of touch... 👎

And I guess there are more gay people now too, just because the media keeps pushing it...

Edward Green said:4
+1
+1

That’s it. That's everyone. 🙂

Seriously, this whole thing is blown way out of proportion.. 🙄

Look, where is this obsession coming from? This idea that pedophilia barely exists or that every single predator in America is already in prison? And why on earth are you bringing this up again? It's crystal clear you have absolutely no clue what you're talking about (those "incredible" stats about there being only 5 or 6 people in the whole country, and acting shocked that women can be predators too...)

Yeah, seriously though, where did you even get that bit about women being able to be pedophiles? Was it from some Oprah show?

Megan Reed said:You feeling a little threatened there? ☕

What about you? You ever deal with this too?

Amanda Thompson13 said:So you're claiming there are only five or six pedophiles in the entire United States?
This is easily the most absurd thing anyone has ever posted on this forum.
In reality, you probably have five or six of them living right on your own block.
It seems to me you lack the fundamental understanding of this subject required to even comment on it.
There are far, far more of them than your narrow worldview allows you to imagine.
Of course, that depends entirely on how you define the term.
You have the obvious ones—the predators who commit assaults in public spaces, the types you see reported in the local news.
But then there are the professionals.
They are masters of their craft. They integrate themselves into your life; they join you for a round of golf or a Saturday afternoon at a baseball game; they play with your children just like any other neighbor would. They buy your wife coffee and bring treats for the kids. They slip under your skin until you consider them close family friends.
Then, one day, you have to run an errand and you leave your child in the care of that very same "friend."
After the encounter, the child remains deathly silent because they are ashamed, terrified, or convinced they are somehow to blame.
And don't even get me started on the cowards who simply indulge through online imagery, likely never acting on their impulses because they lack the nerve.
Most of them are married, living seemingly "normal" lives, and some are even highly educated intellectuals.
These people are everywhere. I truly believe every single one of us knows someone, or is at least acquainted with one.

It's kind of like how people used to describe witches back in the day, except those were supposedly people wanting to cook children alive. And in one country, they used similar labels for members of a minority group that they claimed wanted to destroy the Aryan children...

Kimberly Gomez28 said:I was watching The Oprah Winfrey Show earlier today covering this exact topic, and honestly, I don't see the "witch hunt" connection at all. Every single one of those creeps featured on the show was an actual predator. And frankly, I found it incredibly satisfying to watch the journalist tear them apart and expose them to the world. Just look at one of the cases they showed—this guy actually arranged to meet up with what he thought was a 13-year-old boy and showed up at his house completely naked! Witch hunt, my foot. If you're a sane person who isn't flashing your junk at kids, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. But if you're a total creep, you better expect people to be breathing down your neck. To me, this is just accountability.

The Oprah show is basically trash for dumb Americans, if you ask me. He walked into the house naked? And he just walked all the way to the house completely naked and nobody noticed? Or maybe they paid those guys to confess to being pedophiles on TV just for the ratings...

TV news and newspapers are constantly flooded with stories about hunting down pedophiles. Politicians love to act all concerned about child safety, positioning themselves as the ultimate solution to this growing threat facing vulnerable kids. But if you actually sit down and read through the articles, it mostly feels like a bunch of nothing—just empty noise with hardly any substance. Every so often, this whole topic gets massive media coverage, only to be pushed aside by other things like drug legalization, prostitution laws, or marriage equality.
Pedophilia is actually a pretty rare mental disorder; I mean, in a place like the US, there are probably just a handful of these cases that aren't already locked up in prison.
Do you guys think outlets like The Oprah Winfrey Show and our politicians are intentionally blowing the pedophilia issue out of proportion, kind of like a modern-day witch hunt?

Jamie Fowler2 said:Kuzman teaches Tenjin Shinyo ryu, I think. Honestly, that’s probably the closest thing to "real" traditional ju-jutsu you’ll find unless you have connections or something... 🙂

Kuzman knows his stuff, he really does. Hao almost learned that the hard way. But honestly, there’s basically nobody doing Jiu-Jitsu around here besides maybe Majhen, and even he’s not all that great.
I'm not even counting guys like Grbavac or Zdunic—those types of patients who don't really have a clue what they're doing and just mix everything together...

Rebecca Smith4 said:Yes, I train under Master Horvat.
I do private training with him.
I actually just got back from a session... I feel pretty beaten up again, I guess.
I started back when we were holding sessions over in Martinsville, but since about a year ago, I've been coming to his garage.

We did manage to secure some space at the local community college dorms (I mentioned this in a notice a while back), but I'm not entirely sure if they're actually holding classes there because interest seems low. It’s mostly just elementary-level stuff, which isn't really what most people are looking for.

Anyway, my advice would be to look into private instruction, regardless of which club you eventually join. You tend to progress much faster that way, and you get a better sense of your own mechanics along with the instructor's expertise. Most importantly—if you ever feel like someone is selling you a bill of goods, you can always bring your own gear and test things out for yourself to see if it holds water.

I'll send you a PM shortly.

How's Coach Horvat doing? Did he put on any weight? Last time I saw him, he looked like he was wasting away from TB... 😱

Jamie Fowler2 said:In China, it’s mostly just rural folks and uneducated types, since poaching is tied to organized crime and the bottom of the barrel. Maybe a few soldiers here and there. 😁

Fits right in here, I guess. He’s basically some small-time smuggler from an Unknown town.
Jamie Fowler2 is just some crooked doctor out in the sticks... 😬

Jamie Fowler2 said:your avatar is pretty rough😬 but I hope that doesn't mean you're burying your head in the sand.

I guess Hao doesn't really lean toward any one theory, but he mostly brings up that one about "hidden" movements.

Anyway, I think I'll show up to that seminar, just for kicks 😍 (maybe Mladen will roll through too, might be fun to feel young again) If it's as good as those ninjutsu seminars (Dejan is seriously the best! 👍 ), I'll be there every single time. I would've made it to the seminar by Erleov's son too, but I was on call.

Honestly, I don't really get what the big deal is between internal and external styles. As for my Xing Yi, I'm at the Ming Jin stage—so I'm doing the "external" form, mostly focusing on the three external harmonies. I'm starting to catch onto an Jin and that first internal harmony. Every now and then, I figure out what some line in the Xing Yi quan manual was actually getting at.

Is that actually "internal"? Who knows. But I'm trying to wrap my head around it. 😬

Generating power by rotating the dantian isn't just some exclusive thing for internal arts. Chi gung does it too, and so does chansujin—practitioners of White Crane and Ziranmen are known for it, and they aren't internal styles. Tingjin? The Shuai Jiao guys are better at that than the Taiji crowd... This whole power thing is tricky. How do you even know where the force comes from? It could just be gravity and musculoskeletal action, right? Is it just about which muscles you're using? Probably not. Maybe the difference between internal and external is just a matter of emphasis (or how it feels)?

So, you gonna challenge Chen to some sparring or maybe some tui sho to see whose school is actually better, his or Hao's.
But if you aren't training with Hao anymore, then you haven't really spent that much time with him...
Though I guess Justin Watson58 would probably say that time doesn't matter when you're climbing a mountain or something along those lines...

Jamie Fowler2 said:your avatar is pretty rough 😬 but I hope that doesn't mean you're burying your head in the sand.

I guess Hao doesn't really lean toward any specific theory, but he mostly brings up that one about the "hidden" moves.

Anyway, I think I'll swing by that seminar, just for kicks 😍 (maybe Mladen will show up too and we can feel a bit younger) If it turns out to be as good as those ninjutsu seminars (Dejan is seriously the best! 👍 ), I'll be there every single time. I would've made it to the seminar by Erleov's son too, but I was on duty.

I don't really get what the big deal is between internal and external styles. As for my Xing Yi, I'm at the Ming Jin stage—so I'm doing the "external" form, mostly the three external harmonies. I'm starting to sense an Jin and that first internal harmony. Every now and then I catch what they meant with certain verses in the Xing Yi quan manuals.

Is that actually "internal"? Who knows. But I'm trying to wrap my head around it. 😬

Generating power by rotating the dantian isn't some exclusive thing for internal arts. Chi gung does it too, and so does chansujin—practitioners of White Crane and Ziranmen are known for it, and those aren't internal styles. Tingjin? The Shuai Jiao guys are better at it than the Taiji crowd... That whole power thing is tricky. How do you even know where the force comes from? It could just be gravity and musculoskeletal action, right? Is it just about which muscles you use? Probably not. Maybe the difference between internal and external is just a matter of emphasis (on the feeling)?

Maybe they're lost in the woods.
What even is a "slinovnica"? I'm just a totally uneducated kid...

Jamie Fowler2 said:(guess it's better to just start a new thread since this doesn't really fit under the Barca discussion)

So, bottom line—nobody in the world is gonna give you one single answer that satisfies everyone. 😬

Just some possible takes I've stumbled upon:

Sun Lu Tang mentioned that internal stuff is all about using natural principles of heaven and earth to develop pure, correct chi.

BKF says internal skills focus on building strength through cultivating chi, the mind, hitting total relaxation, longevity, and meditation.

Jan Diepersloot claims the hallmark of internal arts versus external ones is having little to no body movement.

Then there's a few folks saying the main difference is using "soft" qigong.

Some say it's about applying methods from Xi Sui Jing and Yi Jin Jing.

The whole "internal arts" (Neijia) term didn't even get big until the 20th century. If you'd asked an old-school master before then, he probably would've thought you were talking about Chinese vs. non-Chinese styles. The earliest confirmed use of Neijia and Waijia specifically regarding martial arts seems to go back to the 17th century.

Some people argue splitting them into internal and external is a mistake. I mean, every style has a "hard" and a "soft" side, right? You can't fight with nothing but softness—you won't hurt anyone. And you can't fight with pure hardness either—you wouldn't be able to move. Plus, all "external" styles have an internal component (even something like karate 😬 ). Concepts like power (li), intention (yi), energy (chi), and spirit (shen) aren't just for the internal stuff.

If you're thinking about nei jin ("internal" or "trained strength"), that's a different story... but external styles train nei jin too (like ting jin, which is probably the most important thing). And internal styles have wai jin because, well, it'd be pretty useless not to have it.

Some say the difference is just how you fight. External styles control the opponent's movement; internal ones control (or feel) their intention. But that's tricky, 'cause any decent fighter can sense intention (think boxers or wrestlers...).

You got a specific answer in mind? Maybe something more detailed? Like meridian theory? The five elements? The Yellow River Map? I'm definitely staying out of the I Ching stuff. 😬

What do you think of my avatar?

I don't have an answer for you. Which of those theories does Hao follow? Oh, by the way, are you, Hao, and the rest of Hao's crew heading to the Chen Xiaowang seminar in Washington, D.C.? Or maybe he shouldn't come at all, since Hao might accidentally injure him with all that deep knowledge?

The answer to your question is basically a counter-question: What makes what you're doing "internal," or what makes Hao's way "internal"?
And when it comes to generating power, isn't that where you actually see the gap between internal and external?