Posts by Ryan Fowler6

In ten years, I suppose America will be so saturated with Chinese immigrants that perhaps nobody will even feel the need to leave home anymore...

Eric Cox73 said:.. and now, switching over to something closer to my area of expertise, what on earth is a ten-year-old doing in China http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS0QYq26V2g

That guy really puts some serious power behind those heavy bag strikes... though I suppose I have to admit that this kid's performance was actually quite moving...

Hello. Could someone perhaps give me a brief breakdown of what this X-ray report actually means?

L/S spine X-ray results:

Standard views of the lumbar spine show a mild left-sided scoliosis along with some signs of vertebral torsion.
The vertebral bodies themselves seem to have maintained their height, and the mineralization looks normal. However, the disc spaces at L4/5 and L5/S1 appear narrowed, with subchondral sclerosis on the endplates, which I assume is just an indication of degenerative disc disease.
Some overlying bowel gas is partially obscuring the clarity of the structural analysis.

Thanks in advance.

Rebecca Doyle2 said:So, you're saying it's possible to hold the sword so that the blade actually peeks out behind your back while the handle stays in front?

Sure, I suppose it is technically possible... and maybe you could even manage it without using your hands at all, if you really had to.

Susan Campbell5 said:I’ve been wondering about something, and I’m hoping someone here can give me a professional opinion. I have a five-and-a-half-year-old son, and I'm trying to get him interested in some kind of sport. The problem is, he isn't interested in anything except playing around and being a little terror with me at bedtime. So, my question is: is it actually a good idea to enroll a kid that age in martial arts, like karate or judo? Which one would be the best fit for a child his age?
If anyone happens to know of a good club like that in the Los Angeles area that accepts preschool-aged kids, that would be great.

There was a similar discussion once, quite interesting, so maybe you'll find it worth a look...

Eric Cox73 said:Look, maybe we should all just meet up somewhere and beat the hell out of each other. Just kidding... mostly. But seriously though, let's try to actually organize some kind of meetup for all us enthusiasts of hitting people. Let's actually get to know each other for once.

If you look slightly lower, there's already a thread dedicated to "training"...

Eric Cox73 said:It’s not just that people have stopped doing the actual drills; it’s that nobody even knows what real Karate applications look like anymore, especially here in the West. Look, the guys training Kyokushin are tough, I get it—they’re legit strong—but that’s not what true Karate was designed for. Old-school Karate had a massive esoteric side to it. Just look at Gogen Yamaguchi. Most of the real peak happened right after WWII, and honestly, I highly doubt the Japanese would just hand over the full arsenal and all the deep secrets to Americans on a silver platter. What we’ve been fed is just tiny scraps of the real thing. It’s exactly like Tai Chi. Basically, you have to dig incredibly deep and pray you actually stumble upon some genuine knowledge.

So, we’re supposed to believe there is such a thing as "real" karate versus "fake" karate? If you ask me, there was no esotericism in the original art. It seems to me that figures like Yamaguchi or Egami were the ones who introduced those mystical elements, blending in various Eastern philosophical or religious teachings that they personally found interesting. They essentially rebranded the practice to reflect their own specific visions. On the other hand, I suppose all that mysticism serves as a sort of magnet for people like you—those who are drawn to the idea of secrets, miracles, or the supernatural. It offers a convenient way to feel like you're achieving something profound without actually putting in the grueling, repetitive work required by honest training...

placidbison20, it might be best if you moved this entire discussion to a new thread.

Eric Cox73 said:Anyone know if there are any San Shou or Choy Lee Fut schools around the States or maybe in Canada?

I suppose they might have known how to organize sandbagging competitions over in places like Mexico or Canada... though whether actual San Shou clubs exist over there, I guess I really don't know.

Zachary Mendoza17 said:Just give it a shot; there's no harm in trying. Follow the advice you've been given, and eventually, you'll figure out what fits you best. Age isn't an issue—many people start around 25 or 27. Being strong is a major advantage; once you master the technique, you'll know how to use that power. Don't sweat the flexibility part either; everything clicks in time. Just work as hard as you can, pushing a little further each session. Don't get caught up in fancy names for skills. Kyokushin is just karate—specifically, the most intense style of it. It essentially means "the ultimate truth." There are no shortcuts or secret teachings here; it all comes down to grueling, disciplined training. Best regards.

Moving slightly off-topic here...

Kyokushinkai is typically translated as the "society of ultimate truth," which I suppose sounds just as cryptic to an American as it does to anyone else in the West... But, it really is exactly what you described: there aren't any shortcuts or hidden mysteries, just endless, punishing work. To my mind, that might be the actual "secret" behind martial arts—that final truth—which probably applies to pretty much any discipline, if you think about it...

Samuel Morales said:Hey guys, got a quick question. I'm 22 and I've basically lived in the gym my whole life—I'm pretty strong and coordinated, but honestly, my flexibility is kind of non-existent. 😁 Basically, because of some dumb decisions I made, I stopped doing sports seriously, so now I just hit the weight room to keep my cardio and muscle definition somewhat decent. 😢 I'm slammed with stuff right now, but starting next February, things clear up for me, so I want to start training some kind of combat sport recreationally. So, what would you recommend, and is this even doable? I really want the training to be hardcore—like, the more intense, the better—around 3 to 5 times a week, and I’d prefer something where strength plays a big role alongside technique. 😁 Obviously, I don't have any competitive ambitions or anything, and I've zero experience with martial arts. Also, two big questions: where and how should I go about this?

btw I'm from Chicago 😉

Kyokushin karate. The sessions are grueling and heavy; it demands significant strength and endurance in addition to technical skill.

Zachary Mendoza17 trains it. You could probably reach out via PM if you wanted...

Rebecca Allen49 said:So... I have maybe two questions...

Is there perhaps a karate club located in the western part of the city where someone my age—I'm 26 now—could sign up, especially since I don't really have much fitness at the moment?

Also, I was wondering if it’s actually possible to practice karate while wearing glasses?... I mean, would it be okay to wear them during training, or is that generally not recommended?

To give you some context... I used to train karate back when I was 12 and 13 years old over in a suburb near the outskirts, and I actually made it to a green belt, but I ended up quitting because that was right around the time I had to start wearing glasses, and if I remember correctly, I wasn't allowed to wear them during class due to sparring and how intense the sessions could get.

I'm interested in getting back into it because I still vividly remember the basic strikes and movements, and even the counting... though I've completely forgotten all the katas.

I'm not really looking to learn karate for self-defense purposes, but more just to engage in a sport, and I've always held onto such wonderful memories of karate because the training sessions were just so great.

As for a specific club, I suppose I wouldn't know. Regarding the age... well, I don't think all these martial arts clubs focus exclusively on kids and teenagers just to scout talent for future championships, though I guess I am noticing that trend becoming more common lately.

Glasses? I worked alongside plenty of people who wore them. My own instructor used to wear them too. They shouldn't really be an issue during regular training, though I suppose it isn't particularly wise or advisable to wear them during sparring. You can probably guess why. An accidental hit to the head with glasses could cause some damage, I guess. But then again, you probably aren't so blind that you can't see an opponent standing two feet in front of you, right?

Well, there you have it—I've laid out just about every skill and sport available to you. Now, I suppose it's up to you to make a choice.

Kill the old lady!

ruggedrider81 said:I try to squeeze in a few push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups every day, though lately I haven't been doing much due to a shoulder injury. Since I don't really have the luxury of time for long conditioning sessions, I make sure to have at least one "death march" per week—that's what we call them, anyway. I tend to mix running with occasional sprints, hill climbs, stair runs, jumping over benches, and walking in a squat just to ensure I'm hitting as many muscle groups as possible. I attempt to change at least one variable in every session, whether it's the order of exercises, the route I take, or the tempo. I've always had a particular fondness for the stair climbs—very 🙂 Rocky-esque—but they are incredibly grueling, especially once you start feeling a bit lightheaded...🙂

👍
I suppose there are plenty of opportunities in daily life to supplement a workout, and I tend to take advantage of them whenever I can. Taking stairs two or three at a time, power walking, swimming, or even just carrying heavy groceries; I basically view any physical chore as part of my training, which I guess makes the work feel a bit more purposeful and perhaps even tolerable.

Walking in a squat is actually a solid movement; it doesn't just build strength, but I find it helps quite a bit with hip mobility. And those stair runs are top-tier.

My approach is somewhat different from yours, as my conditioning routines aren't nearly as varied. For instance, I usually run the exact same loop, and I set aside specific time for stretching and warming up using a fairly set sequence at the start. I have maybe two or three strength protocols, and they are almost always composed of the same exercises performed in a predictable order.
I imagine that variety in training breaks up the monotony and keeps things interesting by allowing for constant experimentation, but I personally find this structured way more manageable.
The technical aspects of my training are quite a different story, though. That side of things remains varied, and I am always trying to tweak my technique or introduce something new.
Beyond that, I utilize several different types of training, so I suppose I’m also quite diverse in my own way.

Zachary Mendoza17 said:I suppose I spend about half an hour every day working on my core stability, and then maybe every other day I’ll go for a run along the riverbank. 3.7 milesI don't bother with gyms. I train every single day, and on the days when I’m not out running, I just stick to push-ups and sit-ups. I usually knock out about 200 of each, broken up into sets, of course. My schedule stays pretty packed with training most days, though I do take Sundays off. On top of that, I head to my regular martial arts sessions three times a week. As far as diet goes, I eat normally—plenty of meat and standard fare—and I don't mess around with any supplements, aside from perhaps some basic multivitamins a few times a week. I’ve spent a long time searching for a rhythm like this, eventually carving out a routine that actually suits me. I suppose I've become quite durable and strong, though I have to admit, I'm probably a bit too slow for my own liking.

I suppose I’m glad to see this thread finally starting to head in a more productive direction. 👍
I suppose I’m getting up there in years—hitting forty—but I still make it a point to stick to my daily training routine. My practice mostly revolves around old-school Taekwondo, the kind that used to be taught with that unknown, sharp, explosive intensity, along with some Kickboxing. I don't push myself quite as hard as I used to, though that might just be a combination of age and dealing with some health issues, but I still manage to put in an hour or an hour and a half, sometimes even two, most days.
I know you train in Karate, which is a style I’ve always held in high regard, and I suppose that's where the true strength lies.
Endurance is really what it comes down to. I suppose one effective way to actually increase your speed—since you’re already hitting the heavy bag every single day—might be to dial back the power a bit and focus on staying more relaxed during the strikes.
If you focus on maintaining relaxation during your training, prioritizing technique and speed above all else, I suspect you'll find your striking power returning quite rapidly. In fact, you might even see an increase in strength through that approach, since you won't be forcing it through sheer physical exertion anymore; instead, the power will likely emerge more naturally from a relaxed body, fluid movement, and pure explosiveness.
I suppose I could go on with a lengthy explanation if I really wanted to, but honestly, I am just too exhausted to bother right now. 🙂🙂🙂
Well, I suppose it's time to turn in. Goodnight, everyone.

Aside from those martial arts enthusiasts who spend all their time bickering over whose instructor is legitimate or which lineage holds the real truth—constantly demanding proof for their specific convictions and fighting over whose technique is superior,
I wonder if anyone else on this forum might actually be interested in having a conversation about their actual training sessions, perhaps exchanging perspectives on different methodologies or discussing how they approach skill development and their own personal philosophies regarding practice. It might be worthwhile if we could just share

Amanda Morris28; I suppose I’m wondering where one might find a place to train Japanese Jiu-Jitsu in Tampa, specifically looking for the traditional styles from the Far East😁. I’m not particularly interested in BJJ; I’m looking for the actual Japanese discipline.

(I have been scouring this forum, but it seems there hasn't been a single response)

There was a club operating out of some local combat sports gyms a while back that used to teach that style, and they probably still do. It might be worth taking a walk around town to see if they're still active