To pe or not to pe, that is my question

[AstuteShift]

Ninjas are cool, Divine also is a good one.

The knight is interesting, I love medieval times. Kings, castles and armies

[stefk]

The intermediate is not the best place, and not the worst, its in the middle. The intermediates deal with modesty and humility, we are not specialists, but we are generalists.
sometimes, its good to be a generalist, we can see the big picture, we are firm on our legs, but we dont lose all our marks when we are on the ground. We can deal with all the situations, its normal, we are not specialists.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYiWbKdJeHA

A very good specialised black belt can lose all his marks on the ground. In his spirit, the ground fight is not noble, its for animals and they can lose a fight against a more modest ground fighter.

[Yodean]

A very good specialised black belt can lose all his marks on the ground.

Yes, it is estimated that over 80% of all real street fights will end up on the ground at some point.

Decent Greco-Roman or American Folkstyle wrestling, BJJ, etc. can effectively neutralize some of the best striking from the traditional martial arts like Shotokan karate, Wing Chun, Muay Thai, Tai Kwon Do, etc.

[Budge]

A very good specialised black belt can lose all his marks on the ground.

Yes, it is estimated that over 80% of all real street fights will end up on the ground at some point.

Decent Greco-Roman or American Folkstyle wrestling, BJJ, etc. can effectively neutralize some of the best striking from the traditional martial arts like Shotokan karate, Wing Chun, Muay Thai, Tai Kwon Do, etc.

Mas Oyama's philosophy was you'd better kill me on the way in because I'll kill you when I get there.

Too many martial arts are like politics, too much style not enough substance. Focus on the nitty gritty not the fancy.

Too many myths.

[Yodean]

I've noticed a lot of Ninjas walking around for the last couple of years, they look a lot like the guy on the left!

What you saw weren't true ninjas ... what you noticed was a Horde of SINCs (Sheep In Ninja's Clothing)!

Be a Pureblooded WISC (Wolf In Sheep's Clothing), not a Jabbed SINC ...

Even Sheep can trample a Wolf, if there's enough of them ...

[bpcw]

I've noticed a lot of Ninjas walking around for the last couple of years, they look a lot like the guy on the left!

What you saw weren't true ninjas ... what you noticed was a Horde of SINCs (Sheep In Ninja's Clothing)!

Be a Pureblooded WISC (Wolf In Sheep's Clothing), not a Jabbed SINC ...

Even Sheep can trample a Wolf, if there's enough of them ...

I used to box when I was a lot younger actually, what I learnt helped me get out of a few scrapes when I started going out drinking and getting into trouble. We used to go full out at times when sparring and people regularly got knocked down or black eyes, you soon learnt how to duck and dive! Not like some of these poxy martial art classes where you get a higher belt for doing a set of moves in slow motion!

You'll laugh Sol, I used to serve on the altar at a catholic church on a Sunday morning then turn up to boxing training a bit late afterwards and everyone knew why and they'd take the mickey for it, 6 of us from the club were picked out for special training as we were the best in the club.

Them were the days!!!

[stefk]

You can get to know the ground with an original method derived from brazilian jiu jitsu. Ginastica natural, ideal to practice it in summer on the beach or in your garden. Less annoying than long series of push ups.

Its good to begin with little sessions of 3 minutes of a continuous flow, rest during 1 min and then again a flow of 3 min, etc.... when you begin to practice it with grace, you begin to practice a meditation in movement.

https://youtu.be/6NgfTxLuAP8

https://youtu.be/HDG8HacqGx4

[SOL]

I used to box when I was a lot younger actually, what I learnt helped me get out of a few scrapes when I started going out drinking and getting into trouble. We used to go full out at times when sparring and people regularly got knocked down or black eyes, you soon learnt how to duck and dive! Not like some of these poxy martial art classes where you get a higher belt for doing a set of moves in slow motion!

You'll laugh Sol, I used to serve on the altar at a catholic church on a Sunday morning then turn up to boxing training a bit late afterwards and everyone knew why and they'd take the mickey for it, 6 of us from the club were picked out for special training as we were the best in the club.

Them were the days!!!

Those were the days. Now in the west, if you punch someone even in Self defence you could get arrested for assault.

As for the alter boy thing, that's pretty funny. I also used to serve in the alter, at one point I was the head alter boy. When the priests were gone and I was left in charge, we would get semi-smashed on the church wine

[SOL]

Sol, tell us all the possibilities for Vietnamm, when you are there. The visas , the jab mandates, all the possinilities to stay there. Is not only for me, but for one of my daughters

STEFK Vietnam is one of the safer places in Asia. In fact, it is far safer than Thailand which prior to covid was nothing but a tourist trap, The mafia in Thailand is active and the biggest mafia there are the cops.

I have been to Vietnam several times, the last time was just before COVID started. it is very safe for women. I saw many female backpackers travelling alone and they all stated they ran into no problems

It is a true melting point. I don't eat Wheat that much. I make an exception once in a while. At most i will make 12 exceptions per year, but it's been years since I even used all those 12 days. However, the croissants in Vietnam are the best in Asia and on Par with the European version. The pastries and cakes are excellent. The local food is easy on the palate as it's not spicy and the variety is huge.

There are also parts that are very cold like DALAT, so when you want to get a taste of Europe you can go there, It's called the Switzerland of Asia as it is very picturesque
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXRxyZsg4Bo

I am making a stop in Turkey before I head to Vietnam. The food is great there, and for Westerners, Turkey is almost free due to the huge plunge in the currency.

Your daughter will love it as will you. It's a very interesting country. And they love Europeans. There is a town called Nha Trang that the Russians have adopted. It is always windy, the beaches are fantastic and the sea food is to die for. The Vietnamese are very enterprising and hard-working individuals. Almost every restaurant in this city has a Russian menu and a lot of them can speak the language fluently.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDQlR0QlgcU

DA Nang is another beautiful place to visit. And Ha Lang bay is something out of the story books.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBXPmt-EdZM

SAPA is another place that is cold in Vietnam it is beautiful form the traditional sense of view

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DHpo-Doz2Q

I have been to all those places and the Videos more or less accurately reflect reality, especially the video on DALAT

[scott]

A very good specialised black belt can lose all his marks on the ground.

Yes, it is estimated that over 80% of all real street fights will end up on the ground at some point.

Decent Greco-Roman or American Folkstyle wrestling, BJJ, etc. can effectively neutralize some of the best striking from the traditional martial arts like Shotokan karate, Wing Chun, Muay Thai, Tai Kwon Do, etc.

I was a folkstyle wrestler (about 20 YO) and got in a "let's go outside" altercation with a "black belt", thought we could cool down, but...
He snapped a kick between my legs just short of my eggs, I guess to try and scare me into backing off, I was not scared nor deterred, started to talk. He then made the mistake of trying a kick at my head (thanks!). I remember being surprised how long he hop around (maybe 10 sec) before I grounded him and broke his nose. Later he was talking about bad karma and listening to his Sensei.
Since then I've just said "I'm too old to fight, I"ll just kill you", works every time

[Yodean]

I was a folkstyle wrestler (about 20 YO) and got in a "let's go outside" altercation with a "black belt", thought we could cool down, but...
He snapped a kick between my legs just short of my eggs ...

Yeh, I don't mess around too much with wrestlers, lol. In Krav Maga there is some basic hybrid grappling/wrestling/groundwork training - more for self-defense purposes, really - and one of the best ways to deal with a superior striker (assuming you can't run away) is to clinch - takedown - top control.

During various types of sparring in Krav Maga, I would use grappling vs. the superior strikers, and boxing vs. the ones with deep wrestling backgrounds. In general, I had the most trouble with the wrestlers-BJJ dudes. I almost never used kicks against the latter as when you kick against a decent grappler, you're asking to be taken down and smashed - like your former opponent.

But yeh, guns work best, lol.

[Budge]

A very good specialised black belt can lose all his marks on the ground.

Yes, it is estimated that over 80% of all real street fights will end up on the ground at some point.

Decent Greco-Roman or American Folkstyle wrestling, BJJ, etc. can effectively neutralize some of the best striking from the traditional martial arts like Shotokan karate, Wing Chun, Muay Thai, Tai Kwon Do, etc.

I was a folkstyle wrestler (about 20 YO) and got in a "let's go outside" altercation with a "black belt", thought we could cool down, but...
He snapped a kick between my legs just short of my eggs, I guess to try and scare me into backing off, I was not scared nor deterred, started to talk. He then made the mistake of trying a kick at my head (thanks!). I remember being surprised how long he hop around (maybe 10 sec) before I grounded him and broke his nose. Later he was talking about bad karma and listening to his Sensei.
Since then I've just said "I'm too old to fight, I"ll just kill you", works every time

I don't know about the rest you but the more proficient one becomes in any fighting style the more in tune with your environment and surroundings you become such that you know what and when to avoid situations and places.

[Yodean]

I don't know about the rest you but the more proficient one becomes in any fighting style the more in tune with your environment and surroundings you become such that you know what and when to avoid situations and places.

Absolutely. The first maxim in Krav Maga is to "walk home safely." Run, buy your would-be opponent a drink, etc., do almost anything to avoid a significant physical confrontation. But if all else fails, get in first with overwhelming ferocity.

Cobra Kai: Strike first, strike hard, no mercy.

Or, a corny martial arts saying: "You learn to be great at fighting so you never have to."

[harryg]

I don't know about the rest you but the more proficient one becomes in any fighting style the more in tune with your environment and surroundings you become such that you know what and when to avoid situations and places.

Absolutely. The first maxim in Krav Maga is to "walk home safely." Run, buy your would-be opponent a drink, etc., do almost anything to avoid a significant physical confrontation. But if all else fails, get in first with overwhelming ferocity.

Cobra Kai: Strike first, strike hard, no mercy.

Or, a corny martial arts saying: "You learn to be great at fighting so you never have to."

Reminds me of a chap I knew at Uni. He was highly trained at Jiu Jitsu, but also did other stuff like punching a piece of wood on the wall. Not ideal to share a house with.

Some of us asked him once what the best 'move' was in a confrontation. He said 'Run for it'.

He was often challenged to fights in pubs because of the way he looked and because people knew about the Jiu Jitsu. I never once saw him in a fight, although I have no doubt that he would have easily prevailed in nearly all instances.

[Budge]

I don't know about the rest you but the more proficient one becomes in any fighting style the more in tune with your environment and surroundings you become such that you know what and when to avoid situations and places.

Absolutely. The first maxim in Krav Maga is to "walk home safely." Run, buy your would-be opponent a drink, etc., do almost anything to avoid a significant physical confrontation. But if all else fails, get in first with overwhelming ferocity.

Cobra Kai: Strike first, strike hard, no mercy.

Or, a corny martial arts saying: "You learn to be great at fighting so you never have to."

Interestingly there is the karate saying: "karate ni sente nashi" (there is no first strike in karate). But, if you happen to get into a confrontation, there is always an involuntary "tell" or a tic that indicates intent. It can be eyes, jaw, foot movement or twitch. To me, that's the first strike then game on.