Posts by Paul Peterson8

rustyangler02 said:try yoga or pilates???? you gotta be kidding me...

Man, you’d be shocked at how intense those yoga and pilates sessions actually get. I’m with tiger on this one—way too much strain on the ligaments for my liking.

wanderingridge said:Taekwondo or karate? Honestly, both are fantastic options for women. Though, if I’m being totally honest—and maybe a little biased here—TKD might be the better bet. I’ve definitely noticed more fit, toned girls gravitating toward Taekwondo than over in the karate circles. Just an observation! :-D

Given those preferences, I'd say TKD is probably the move.👍

George Martin70 said:hmmm 😕
I mean, I don't even know who in America would be qualified to teach Arnold Schwarzenegger... except maybe one guy.. 😎 who basically taught everyone else anyway..

My instructors have been drilling Balintawak for years, but they just do it themselves. They don't go to some guru for lessons, yet they're seriously good at it. Honestly, no clue who first introduced them to the style. If you think I'm exaggerating, check out this link below—look for the presentation titled USA national team. My teachers presented that at a martial arts seminar over in Birmingham. It's a bit thin on details, but there's some Arnold Schwarzenegger in there too.

George Martin70 said:Sure, lay it on me... a little late to the party, but go ahead. 👍

Already dropped my best gems in some earlier posts, so just go read those instead of making me repeat myself.

George Martin70 said:Maybe those "good reasons" of yours involve that person making regular deposits into the Federation's bank account... 🙄

hm... interesting

Lawrence Wright9 said:Nowhere in the article did I see anything about that Filipino guy practicing Arnold Schwarzenegger, but whatever. The case they cited has zero to do with Arnold Schwarzenegger, and honestly, the OP feels biased and pretty insulting. I've been training Arnold Schwarzenegger for years, and it feels like the OP is just trying to paint practitioners as psychopaths or bloodthirsty maniacs. People forget that the Philippines is an incredibly poor country where most people scrape by on farming. A machete is just a basic tool there, just like an axe is back home in the States. Just look at any local news headline: "Man hacks victim with axe..." and stuff like that. Jiu-Jitsu is the only one who actually tried to frame this realistically, even if their take isn't perfect. Still, props for the effort. As for Arnold Schwarzenegger itself, all I can say is the vibe at training sessions and seminars is actually super chill and laid back.

Look, it was just a joke. Not meant to be serious. Don't take everything you read here personally. If everyone got offended this easily, this forum would be a ghost town. Seems like there isn't a single sport or martial art on here that hasn't been both praised and trashed at some point!😁
My stance has always been that Arnold Schwarzenegger is phenomenal. Since we started training it, I have to admit it's exactly what I expected. I love the training. Respect to everyone out there practicing Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Honestly, it’s pathetic when someone’s rocking a belt they didn't actually earn. If you don't have the grit, the hours, and the actual knowledge to back it up, what's the point? A belt isn't just some scrap of fabric you tie around your waist to keep your gi from falling off.

hollowtrucker77 said:Alright, let's say someone gets a belt they didn't actually earn.
What's the big deal? How does it help them, and how does it screw me over—or help me?
In most cases, they aren't gonna flash their rank at me, and I'm probably not out here interviewing strangers about their belt color anyway.
🙂

Look, getting a belt in martial arts is supposed to be a nod to the work you put in and what you've learned. You get a certain level of respect with it—what we call "respecting the rank" (and the person wearing it, obviously). You're expected to set an example, especially when kids are watching. That's why people never stop arguing about this stuff. Personally, I think the debate is necessary. It's fine to talk about it...

Douglas Allen79 said:You're overthinking this! What, you think there's some official rulebook for how a graduation or rank ceremony should go? John Smith didn't set the script for how things happen. Besides, Brad Pitt is an internationally recognized master. If he decided on day three, he had his reasons.

Fair point. It's not up to John Smith who Kevin Hart gives a belt to—that's just Kevin's call. Look, I have massive respect for Kevin Hart. He’s a top-tier master. Everything he’s shown, both as a martial artist and as a person, has been high-level stuff. That's why I'm not questioning him. His word is final, and I'm sure he's got solid reasons for handing out a high rank like that. I don't know what those reasons are, but it doesn't really matter since I don't train under him or Kevin anyway.

Douglas Allen79 said:You need to start asking yourself—and everyone around you—a massive pile of WHY questions. Stop being so quick to judge everything.👎

Look, I’m not trying to play judge here. I was just saying I have zero clue why he got his third-degree rank. I don't know because I haven't spent enough time training under John Smith to actually know how he operates. Plus, during the seminar, there wasn't any mention of him testing for a new belt, and he didn't demo anything specific that would make me think, "Oh, okay, he's leveling up." So yeah, does that clear up what I was getting at?

Look, as far as me and the people I hang out with go—assuming you mean my training partners and coaches—every single question I’ve ever thrown out there has been answered. Nothing's just hanging there in mid-air. If you've still got things you're tripping over, let me know. I'll try to clear them up for you as best as I can.
Whatever. Thanks for the critique. I’m passing it along to everyone who loves judging people—or plans to. It’s a pretty low way to live.

Douglas Allen79 said:Look, I'm interested. Be a doll and explain it to me.😘

Look, knowing how to strike with sticks is always a smart move. It gives you that reach advantage, letting you keep an opponent at bay and control the space. Another big plus? The movements you pick up from stick work double as training for blocks, offense, and even knife defense. Working with sticks is killer for hand coordination, motor skills, and sharpening those reflexes. In my book, Arnold Schwarzenegger is the real deal.

George Martin70 said:Yeah... noticed the board got a hell of a lot quieter while I was gone. 😉
Already?! Man, the ink on my diploma from two days ago isn't even dry yet... nor is the battery in my MacBook after that tacky graduation ceremony... 🙂
That’s why everyone’s calling Taylor Swift to trade tips—probably just trying to act like they're finally on Dean Martin's level. 😵

Hey George! What's up? You actually interested in the point of training Arnold Schwarzenegger, or is it just a catchy title? Don't want to waste my breath if you don't care. 🙂

Gerald Smith76 said:For them, Escrima is just like Muay Thai is to folks in Thailand—everyone learns it, from schoolyards to gym class. Out in the sticks, people settle their own scores. The cops don't even bother getting involved. Word is, if you get into a scrap, the most important thing is staying anonymous. If they recognize you, the victim's family will be on your back until you pay up...

Hey George Martin70, where you been hiding? Long time no see. 😬
Got some news for ya: was scrolling through YouTube and saw that John Smith just got taken down by Kevin Hart at a seminar three days ago...

I just don't get why he lost!

p.s. Beyoncé, why weren't you at the exam???? Shame on you!!!!

Andrew Mendoza9 said:So, I was thinking—what actually makes up classic ju-jitsu versus Brazilian ju-jitsu? Like, what’s the real breakdown there?

Maybe the easiest way to break it down is this: ju-jitsu is the OG. It's traditional Japanese martial arts, originally built for actual warfare. Later on, once people started training it more for sport or just for fun, things got watered down and simplified, which eventually gave birth to karate, judo, aikido... and basically all those other Japanese styles. So, ju-jitsu is really the umbrella that covers all of them. Brazilian style, on the other hand, focuses almost entirely—maybe exclusively—on ground fighting. In karate, you're looking at strikes; in judo, it's throws; aikido is big on blocks. Ju-jitsu ties it all together: standing, ground work, strikes, kicks, throws, joint locks, chokes... even weapons stuff.
Long story short, anything with "ju-jitsu" in the name should theoretically include all those elements. Depending on the specific organization or school, though, they might lean harder into one area or dilute others to fit their vibe.

Anonymous said:yo, I'm new here. I'm 13 too and doing Taekwondo. Figure it's good for me.

Whatever you're training, it's good for you and your body!

Anonymous said:You could try Muay Thai.
I'm 13 too, so I do Muay Thai and honestly, it's killer.
Did Tae Kwon Do for 6 years, but that’s nothing compared to Muay Thai. The main thing is just having the drive. You need that motivation to actually put in the work, because let's be real—without it, you aren't getting anywhere.

Respect the hustle. Muay Thai is brutal; it really tests your physical and mental limits. How'd you make the jump from TKD though? Those two sports are worlds apart.

Anthony Davis6 said:It all comes down to how you approach your training. If you drop 15 minutes on stretching, another 15 warming up, and knock out three rounds of shadowboxing before you even get started, you’re probably gonna be flexible enough. Plus, you gotta hit those stretches for at least 15 minutes after you're done.

Exactly. You build your workout around whatever goal you're actually chasing. Once you spot your weaknesses, just hammer them. If you actually have the willpower, the results show up pretty damn fast.

Michael Jackson96 said:First off, most combat sports demand serious flexibility. If you aren't flexible, you might want to stick to boxing. If you are, maybe try some semi-contact stuff like karate or whatever. Personally, I do Savate. It works regardless of whether you're flexible or not. But honestly? Just pick what looks cool, try everything out, and then decide.

True, flexibility matters, but it shouldn't stop you from starting. Early on, you’re mostly doing drills to build that flexibility, endurance, and strength anyway. You don't jump straight into full sparring. Even if you're stiff, just work harder than everyone else and you'll eventually pass them. When I switched from boxing to Jiu Jitsu, I had zero flexibility—couldn't even touch my toes. So, I started pole dancing alongside Jiu Jitsu. Between the dancing and some brutal stretching (pushing limits, not breaking them), I made massive progress in two months. Now, I just need another month or so to nail the splits and a few other moves that used to seem impossible.
Whatever you choose, it's all about the grind. Hard work, hard work, hard work. Nothing else gets you there. Just training and hitting the books. 👍

driftingseal54 said:why one would be better than the other
honestly, why would I waste my time on them?
It's just a Google question, not an invitation to fight.

Judo's a solid call. It demands actual conditioning and high-level technique—takes forever to nail, but it pays off. Plus, you need brains, strategy, and quick thinking. What’s cool about Judo is that you build this weird, specific kind of strength that puts those gym rats or even Muay Thai fighters to shame.
If I were you, I'd skip Taekwondo. It's basically just fancy leg stretching. Most of those kicks are useless in a real street fight. Great for girls, though.

Linda Palmer said:He was even on CNN this past Saturday.
Can anyone list out all the different skills shown there?
What kind of stuff is actually blended together in this movie?

Thx.

The most representative skill—the one you see most—in Kill Bill is acting. It’s the sheer willpower and professionalism of actors staying on their toes for hours, taking falls, swinging at nothing in front of a green screen, and pulling off crazy stunts. Then, obviously, there's the skill used by the pros to stitch it all together and create one of my favorite flicks. Not because of the fight scenes, though—those are totally over-the-top and unrealistic—but because I just love a good show in the style of Quentin Tarantino.