Posts by Rebecca Smith4

np.

Enjoy 🙂

Jessica Chavez85 said:I started Muay Thai classes this year and I think I’m hooked after the very first session. Since my gym is wrapping up the season on Saturday, June 30th 🙂, I decided it was time to get a heavy bag. I don't really know much about them, other than the fact that I need one that reaches the floor. What should I look for? Any specific advice? Maybe regarding the filling or something else? 😕

I suppose this is the third "help me buy a bag" thread in the last month.
😬

Did they actually tell you there wouldn't be training over the summer?
I know a friend of mine had BJJ sessions running all through last summer.
They weren't official sanctioned classes, but they still happened.

As for the bag... I guess you should first consider where and how you plan to install it, then choose based on that. You have the freestanding ones (decent for an apartment, though I suspect hitting them might cause more damage to your place than actual training benefits) or the hanging ones.
You can find those freestanding models at Dick's Sporting Goods. They also carry hanging versions. You might want to check out sites like ProFightGear as well.

And you could always just ask your coach for their opinion.
🙂

Zachary Kern69 said:He’s actually stronger than gravity. He doesn't even need to breathe if he doesn't feel like it—just because he can. I suppose he might even let Jackson eat him, only to violently shift his internal organs from the Alpha to the Delta quadrant and back again. Jackson doesn't stand a chance.

Finally, someone who gets it...

Jack Torres3 said:They told us something along the lines of "no instructor—no training." Though, I suppose it’s possible I might have misunderstood them.

...
If you feel uncertain about something somewhere, I guess it might be better not to practice at all, just so you don't accidentally program yourself with bad habits.
And if you happen to have any specific questions, just ask.
Anyway, it seems like there isn't much left to talk about on this forum these days...

That is actually what I am a bit worried about—practicing something incorrectly—because my experience suggests that once those habits set in, they can be incredibly difficult to fix. But if I run into anything I'm unsure of, I'll probably reach out and ask. I do have my initial form recorded in several different video formats, so I suppose that shouldn't be much of an issue.

edit: I guess the only real downside would be getting bored from drilling the exact same movements all summer since nothing new is happening, but I imagine you'll be more than happy once you get back to regular classes. It might be a good idea to occasionally find someone who knows a bit more than you do and maybe run a four or five-hour session together, just to break up the monotony. Monotony can really wear a person down.

I will try to find someone from the local academy who does wrestling so we can train together, assuming anyone happens to be interested. And in the worst-case scenario, I suppose it wouldn't be too much trouble to drive out to Chicago or Indianapolis a few times over the summer.

I'm not sure. Maybe if it isn't mandatory over the summer—for the sign-in sheet, I mean—they might not be strictly enforcing it.

Jack Torres3 said:They told us something along the lines of "no instructor—no training." Though, I suppose it’s possible I might have misunderstood them.

...
If you feel uncertain about something somewhere, I guess it might be better not to practice at all, just so you don't accidentally program yourself with bad habits.
And if you happen to have any specific questions, just ask.
Anyway, it seems like there isn't much left to talk about on this forum these days...

That is actually what I am a bit worried about—practicing something incorrectly—because my experience suggests that once those habits set in, they can be incredibly difficult to fix. But if I run into anything I'm unsure of, I'll probably reach out and ask. I do have my initial form recorded in several different video formats, so I suppose that shouldn't be much of an issue.

edit: I guess the only real downside would be getting bored from drilling the exact same movements all summer since nothing new is happening, but I imagine you'll be more than happy once you get back to regular classes. It might be a good idea to occasionally find someone who knows a bit more than you do and maybe run a four or five-hour session together, just to break up the monotony. Monotony can really wear a person down.

I will try to find someone from the local academy who does wrestling so we can train together, assuming anyone happens to be interested. And in the worst-case scenario, I suppose it wouldn't be too much trouble to drive out to Chicago or Indianapolis a few times over the summer.

The most important thing is that you don't let the basic movements slip from your routine.
The drills you're doing—blocks, strikes, rotations, footwork—you probably know them well enough to practice them solo. Just make sure to pause occasionally to check if everything is technically sound.

Jack Torres3 said:They told us something along the lines of "no instructor—no training." Though, I suppose it’s possible I might have misunderstood them.

...
If you feel uncertain about something somewhere, I guess it might be better not to practice at all, just so you don't accidentally program yourself with bad habits.
And if you happen to have any specific questions, just ask.
Anyway, it seems like there isn't much left to talk about on this forum these days...

That is actually what I am a bit worried about—practicing something incorrectly—because my experience suggests that once those habits set in, they can be incredibly difficult to fix. But if I run into anything I'm unsure of, I'll probably reach out and ask. I do have my initial form recorded in several different video formats, so I suppose that shouldn't be much of an issue.

edit: I guess the only real downside would be getting bored from drilling the exact same movements all summer since nothing new is happening, but I imagine you'll be more than happy once you get back to regular classes. It might be a good idea to occasionally find someone who knows a bit more than you do and maybe run a four or five-hour session together, just to break up the monotony. Monotony can really wear a person down.

I will try to find someone from the local academy who does wrestling so we can train together, assuming anyone happens to be interested. And in the worst-case scenario, I suppose it wouldn't be too much trouble to drive out to Chicago or Indianapolis a few times over the summer.

Anyway.
If you don't find anyone and they aren't operating on Saturdays, just let us know.

Jack Torres3 said:Thanks for the helpful tip. I suppose I’m not too worried about falling behind since I’ve been training over in Naperville (on Saturdays)—as far as I know, they don't really hold sessions there when the university lectures are out of session. I guess I'm more concerned about potentially forgetting what I've picked up or just losing my rhythm. Hopefully, I can find someone to train with, but if not, I’ll probably just follow your suggestion 🙂.

I don't know much about those WC types, but I guess even Subos holds training sessions during the summer.
At least one friend from Dijon says he’s heading out before the summer hits.
It seems like there aren't many people around there, I guess.

Once fall rolls around, a new crop of first-years will show up, so you'll probably have to start everything from scratch for them. I'm not entirely sure how they'll structure it—maybe splitting things into two groups or something similar. It seems unlikely that you'll forget the ropes, but if you do find you need to brush up, I suppose it might take about a month to get back into the rhythm. That said, you should be able to work solo without much trouble.

I assume you're familiar with the first format.
Or at least part of it, I suppose. It hardly matters.
You could probably just design your own conditioning circuit. Go at your own pace, I suppose, though there’s no need to hold back. If Coach Anderson is still leading the conditioning portion, you likely already have a decent enough repertoire of exercises and drills in your toolkit. It shouldn't get boring, since you won't necessarily have to repeat the same routine every single time.
I suppose I could put a form together. Maybe a few times, if necessary. Reminiscent.)
Then you begin working through the elements in the exact order they appear in the form, I suppose.
You know I won't skip anything.
Maybe you should just go back and review all those drills you ran with them, along with some practical application and things like that.
Even when I'm working, I tend to be thorough. I guess you could say I do things properly.
Pay close attention to your elbow angle, your posture, and your speed.
If you aren't entirely certain about something—well, maybe it's better not to practice that specific part. You wouldn't want to accidentally program yourself incorrectly, I suppose.
If you happen to have any piranhas, just say the word.
It seems like there’s less and less left to say on this forum... I guess.

The only downside you might face is the boredom of drilling the same repetitive drills all summer long. There isn't much new to work with, I suppose. However, I imagine you'll be more than happy once you finally get back to your regular training sessions. It might be a good idea to occasionally link up with someone who has a bit more experience than you and perhaps throw in a four or five-hour session. It would help break things up. Monotony can be quite draining, really.

Anonymous said:Thanks, I've actually looked into Subos before and even saw their flyer over at the engineering building, but I wasn't sure if the sessions in the West End were just a substitute for PE class or an actual club you could join to supplement your gym time (since I am a student at MIT, true, and almost finished with my degree).

It's a club. And maybe, as a bonus, they waive your PE requirements.
Besides, it isn't far if you're already in the area.
Less drama, more discipline, I suppose.
😬

Anonymous said:Hey everyone.

I saw the title of this thread and figured I’d drop my question here.
I’m 24, standing at 5'6" and weighing about 158 lbs, and I want to get into some kind of martial art. I know some people might say starting at 24 is a bit late, but I’m looking to do this recreationally at first—we'll see how much drive I actually have once I get moving.
Right now, I’ve been hitting the gym for about three years, though I've had a few breaks along the way.

To be clear, I'm not looking for anything high-impact or aggressive. I don't want a sport where the main goal is to strike, smash, or injure someone. I'm more interested in competitive sports focused on control—where the idea is to neutralize an opponent or transition them into a specific position.

There are two paths I'm currently weighing: Judo or some form of wrestling (like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or one of the other grappling disciplines).

I would really value your thoughts and any advice you can give me.

Cheers,

It isn't too late. I don't see why it would be.
I suppose people get the impression—the same one I had before I started training—that they're too old because they constantly see fifteen-year-olds winning medals in Karate or Taekwondo. It creates this idea that everyone trains from childhood, so you won't fit in. That isn't quite the case for more serious combat sports.
For the more intense disciplines, that's just not true.

For BJJ, I could recommend www.subos.hr (you don't need to be a college student to train there). I know the crew is solid, and they have great results, which I guess means they're doing something right.
Low dues, good people, and they have sessions almost every day...
Most beginners are usually students, so I imagine you'll fit right in.
👍

Someone else will probably weigh in on the rest.

Sean Price6 said:When he mentioned the Ultimate Fight, I assume he was talking about going pro, 🙂

Personally, I’d argue that 17 is actually the sweet spot if you want to take things seriously but haven't picked up a martial art yet.

Just a heads-up: if you’re looking at this from a professional standpoint, you’re going to need an insane amount of willpower. You’ll start out all hyped up and ready to go, but after a few months of grueling, soul-crushing training, most people just quit—unless, of course, you can survive that initial hump, because once you get past that, it actually gets a lot easier.

Instead of jumping straight into the deep end with something like the Ultimate Fight, I’d suggest picking one specific discipline first—maybe boxing, kickboxing, Judo, or Jiu-Jitsu—and really trying to master it. Then, if you still find yourself craving that Ultimate Fight chaos after that, you can try adding another discipline into the mix.

I tend to agree. There is some sort of threshold—maybe a bit earlier for some, much later for others 😬—where a person begins to take things more seriously and approaches life differently.

Sean Price6 said:When he mentioned the Ultimate Fight, I assume he was talking about going pro, 🙂

Personally, I’d argue that 17 is actually the sweet spot if you want to take things seriously but haven't picked up a martial art yet.

Just a heads-up: if you’re looking at this from a professional standpoint, you’re going to need an insane amount of willpower. You’ll start out all hyped up and ready to go, but after a few months of grueling, soul-crushing training, most people just quit—unless, of course, you can survive that initial hump, because once you get past that, it actually gets a lot easier.

Instead of jumping straight into the deep end with something like the Ultimate Fight, I’d suggest picking one specific discipline first—maybe boxing, kickboxing, Judo, or Jiu-Jitsu—and really trying to master it. Then, if you still find yourself craving that Ultimate Fight chaos after that, you can try adding another discipline into the mix.

It probably depends on the individual.
It takes a certain amount of time for both the mind and body to reach a state where they can absorb new techniques relatively quickly, endure several hours of intense training, and not feel completely overwhelmed by it all.

MMA is quite complex. There is a lot to consider...
Perhaps it is wise to start with a single component so you don't get discouraged before you've even truly begun.
Everything ultimately rests on the person and the specific gym they choose to join.

Someone actually involved in the sport will likely be able to give you better advice once you connect with them.

brisktiger30 said:Greetings!

To put it quite plainly, I find myself wondering whether being seventeen years of age constitutes far too late a start to begin training
for ultimate fighting...

It isn't, of course. 🙂

Maybe if you had started earlier, it actually would have been too soon...

If you're just doing this for yourself, rather than chasing a pro career, I suppose it isn't even too late at 50. 😬

Sean Price6 said:The real headache here is that the space I’m looking to convert isn't actually floored with hardwood or anything decent; it’s just raw concrete. And honestly, does anyone really want to deal with some thin little tatami mat or a flimsy foam pad that won't do a damn thing to absorb a fall? Not exactly ideal for training, is it? I’m weighing the option of laying down some actual flooring first, though I haven't quite made up my mind yet.

Honestly, I’m starting to get a real kick out of this whole project—trying to piece together my own personal home gym. It’s become a bit of a passion project, really, though I can't help but wonder if I'm just chasing a pipe dream at this point. If I keep going at this rate, the final bill is going to hit me like a ton of bricks; we’re easily looking at several thousand dollars, maybe even more, once everything is actually installed. Is it worth it? Who knows, but watching the budget evaporate is half the fun, right?

If you're outfitting everything from scratch, you're lucky if it doesn't cost you a fortune.
😢

Kwon Inace isn't exactly known for being budget-friendly... but take a look anyway. Maybe you'll get lucky.
You can always pad the impact with those old mattresses, if you really want to. I guess they absorb the fall quite well.
Perhaps that was a bit much. I suppose.

I suppose I wouldn't go with mats to set up the space; maybe tatami would be better.
I suppose it might be better to practice on harder surfaces more consistently. Not that I’m suggesting overdoing it—you wouldn't want to spend all your time face-planting on the court. At least not constantly, anyway.

rustyangler02 said:Tatami isn't even that pricey. Plus, it does a great job at softening those hits.

Kwon has some about 1x1 meter pieces.
I can't recall the exact price, but I guess they're much cheaper than this.

You’ve always got Wikipedia and Google at your fingertips.
If you have a specific question, or if you're looking for actual impressions on something, then by all means, ask.
This is just a bit... unnecessary, I suppose.

😘

Robin Palmer3 said:...aside from hair pulling, biting, and eye gouging (though I suppose the Spartans allowed that too)...

I had to...🤣

Robin Palmer3 said:The referees carried whips and sticks to ensure fighters didn't break the rules regarding biting or hair pulling.

THE LAW! 🤣 🤣 🤣
Maybe we should bring that back.
Just for kicks.

Robin Palmer3 said:If there was no winner by sunset, the judges would declare a climax. The fighters would stand face-to-face and trade blows without being allowed to block; the last one standing would be declared the victor.

😲 Brutal. 😲
For some reason, I just thought of THIS FIGHT...

Interesting article.
I didn't know much about this before, and I suppose one can never have enough general knowledge...

hollowbear65 said:You can find Lok Yiu Wing Chun in the Youngstown vicinity

Darko Bek 234-567-8901 (Youngstown)

Krunoslav Tišlarić 234-567-8901 (Boardman)

Damir Vuk 234-567-8901 (Canfield)

Well, that's it. That guy completely overwhelmed me.
I wasn't aware of those details.

Hey, take a look. If you're actually serious about this, and if it's something you're into... go for it, I guess. 👍

slybadger25 said:Hey everyone, I’ve been thinking about picking up some recreational Jiu-Jitsu over in Zadru. If anyone here has actually rolled there or knows the scene, hit me up and let me know how it is!

Club Name: Zadar Jiu-Jitsu Club
Martial Art: Jiu Jitsu
Address and City: 32 Ivana Mažuranića Street,
Zadar
Phone: 098 449 068
Email: vedran-ikic@net.hr
Website:
Contact Person: Vedran Ikić

Maybe someone on this forum has some insight into this club. I don't personally. Though, I suppose most clubs are mostly recreational anyway, aside from a few fanatics keeping the lights on.
👍

It looks like they offer jiu-jitsu, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and submission wrestling. Something in there will probably suit you.
Give it a shot and let us know how it goes. 😎

Google is your friend, people. 👍

placiddrifter47 said:Hey, first question, anyone here from Cleveland or maybe someone who knows the area and its surroundings?
I’m looking for some kind of self-defense sport—one-on-one, or even more than one against me (assuming I'm the one outnumbered)
I haven't taken any beatings yet, but there's always a chance. If that happens, I'd like to know how to defend myself and maybe land a few good hits too :P... Cheers and thanks.

Alright, I took a quick look at what's available in Allentown via the ProFightStore directory.

There's Lok Yiu Wing Chun (www.wingchun.com).
Wing Chun is, in my opinion, a phenomenal thing, though I wouldn't recommend it to just anyone. At least not in this part of the country.
But go take a look. It's a complete self-defense system, designed with a lot of perfectionism. It covers everything you asked for, and then some. The catch is that such completeness comes at a price—the training duration. You have to train for a very long time and sweat quite a bit to achieve anything meaningful.
Watch how the advanced students move.
If it looks solid and convincing, give it a shot.
If it doesn't look like much, find something else.
The quality of instruction really varies from club to club.

Then you have boxing:

Club Name: ALLENTOWN
Martial Art: Boxing
Address: 168 Main St,
Allentown, PA
Phone: 610-382-002

I think we all know what boxing is. It isn't a "complete" system, but if you're interested in the sport...
At least you'll learn something specific quite well. That seems better than trying to learn everything and mastering nothing.

There's also Judo:

Club Name: Mihovil
Martial Art: Judo
Address: 7 Jakova Gotovca St,
Allentown
Phone: 610-373-111
Contact Person: Milan Kolac

To put it bluntly: these are the people in kimonos throwing each other around. 😬
Again, it isn't a total system, but what you learn, you learn properly. Mostly.

There are a few Karate clubs as well.
http://www.profightstore.com/content...sar&aID=Karate

I'm not sure how current this data is, but... have a look.
And, more importantly, actually try it out.
🙂

Maybe you'll find something you like.

There might be more out there, I suppose... I don't feel like searching further.
You have Google.
😘

" Shorinji Kempo is a somewhat niche Japanese adaptation of the Shaolin Yu Ch'i Chu'an style of kung fu. It has gained significant traction across Europe and the States, and maintains a solid reputation back in Japan. At the Iceberg ‘Dan-Gun’ Taekwondo club, this discipline is taught by Master Miran Škerl, an 8th Dan in Shorinji Kempo. He instructs using traditional methods, essentially following the same lineage used at the art's original source.
Shaolin Yu Ch'ia Ch'uan—often referred to as the hard-soft Shaolin school, or Shorinji Kempo in Japanese—is a comprehensive martial arts system. It encompasses a full spectrum of techniques, including striking, blocking, evasion, throwing, grappling, joint locks, choking, traditional weaponry, and meditation.

The entire system is built upon duality, specifically the principle of Yin-Yang, or hard-soft and internal-external (Goho and Yuho). In practice, this means training "softly" to react "hard," and vice versa. It also implies responding to "hard" movements with "softness," where a "soft" action produces a "hard" result, and movement and stillness are essentially two sides of the same coin.
The philosophical foundation may be rooted in Shingan (Zen) Buddhism. If one interprets the school through a Shingan lens, there is a notable esoteric approach to interpreting the world and motion within the meditative aspects, which brings certain inherent rituals along with it. However, a Zen approach might be more intuitive, focusing on finding truth through instinct and applying the natural way of movement and reaction (*wu wei*). In its original external (hard, *wei ch'ia*) form, the school didn't focus on rigid forms, but rather on the practical application of technique (*embu*).

The necessity for structured forms was traditionally met through the practice of internal school patterns (such as Wei Chia-Hsin I, Pa Kua, or Tai Chi Chuan in the Chinese tradition, and Taikyoku Ken in the Japanese). These were believed to benefit overall health and the development of a practitioner's energy. Our organization adheres to these traditional principles and follows this specific training methodology. Sessions include basic and advanced drills, partner work, and focuses on both meditative and *genki* (energetic) psycho-physical development. I suppose this type of training isn't really recommended for anyone under the age of 16.

I caught a glimpse of a few training sessions over someone's shoulder in downtown Chicago.
If I caught it correctly, they were alternating between Kempo and Kenjutsu sessions.
The techniques seem decent enough.
There doesn't appear to be any pointless or illogical flailing.

You make some valid points...
It’s difficult to damage (for illustrative purposes) a water balloon (or whatever else we're using in Jack's example).
However, I think everyone is forgetting that Chuck could probably knock the Earth out of orbit with a roundhouse kick if he really wanted to. That would mean he could likely handle Jack if he actually put in the effort.

God: "Let there be light"
Chuck: "If you ask nicely enough..."

I suppose it’s pretty obvious who gets my vote...