Self-Defense, MMA and Tournaments

     Today I want to talk anout where the martial arts have gone and are going to. Traditional martial arts are still around and are perfectly fine, but martial arts have begun to become "modernized." In the 70's martial arts began to become more in the spotlight, it became popular and well known with personalities like Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris and others. After a second generation MMA was developed and martial arts tournaments have become commonplace. Tournaments have branched out, creating new competition divisions and ways to judge your abilities. Martial Arts has many practitioners for many reasons. Some popular reasons are Self-defense, MMA or sport fighting, and tournament performances, like XMA (extreme martial arts).
     MMA has become extremley popular in recent years, showing some of the top athletes compete. MMA, or mixed martial arts is a fighting based sport. Two fighters with little to no padding step into the ring and a tapout or knock out finishes the match usually. MMA fighters are adept at most fighting techniques and are physically tough, its about strength and stamina as well as accuracy and focus. Sport karate and other forms of competition based on fighting or sparring attract the same type of people.
     Tournament performance has ecome increasingly mor  e popular with the creation of the extreme forms division. Showing off with spinning and jumping kicks and flips extreme martial arts is about form and showmanship as well as focus and discipline.
     Self-defense is well, self- explanatory. It is the real life self-defense that you learn to defend yourself. This has changed from original martial arts because many places have started to get rid of the art side and focus solely on the defense.
     These have become really popular aspects of modern martial arts, but, a happy mixture of all three is probably best to become an all around good martial artist.

Casing a Joint

      I'm not talking about robbery. I am actually talking about sizing up attackers, how to tell if you are being mugged by someone who knows what they are doing or just random Joe who really doesn't know whats going on. There are three big encounter types when you need to size up an attacker - Weapon encounter, Pre-Brawl and Premeditated Attack.
     Whenever a weapon is involved you must carefully weigh the situation, if the assailant asks for something easily given without much consequence, i.e. your wallet or watch, it is probably best to just give it to them, material possessions can usually be replaced - your life and health or the life and health of those around you cannot be replaced. The two common weapons that could be encountered are handguns and knives. For knives, if the assailant brandishes the knife and you can see the muscles in their arm flexing as hard as they can then they don't know what they are doing, or if they are holding the knife like a Harry Potter wand, with their wrist weak then they really don't know what they should be doing. If their arm is flexing hard then their reflexes with the knife are inhibited because they have to relax the muscle before they react to what you do. If they are holding the knife like a wand then either they are too cocky and that can be taken advantage of, or, they haven't handled a knife as a weapon before, in which case they could probably be disarmed with a relatively low risk. For handguns it requires some knowledge of the weapon. First, although it may seem silly, see if you can tell if the safety is on. If it is then you can proceed forward with relative safety (that's a pun). Check the range of the opponent, firearms have a range of increased effectiveness, if they are farther away than what one step can take you quickly then they are more dangerous, if the gun is right up against you then you have more to work with. You cannot beat a bullet but you can beat the reaction of the person holding the gun.
     For a pre-brawl  size up keep in mind the state your opponent is in. A brawl is often just a fight that has no deadly consequences nor is the opponent really trying to get something from you. Your opponent may be drunk or high, in which case you must adjust your fighting style from causing pain to more of a inhibiting injury standpoint because they might not feel pain the same as they would if they were not drunk, high or whatnot. If they start in a recognizable fighting stance with their hands in the A position, then they have had some training. Hopefully they will just throw their hands up wildly, allowing you to trap and break their arms if necessary.
     For premeditated attacks the assailant is more likely to have some thought out plan of attack, so beware of being cornered or flanked. Also, its more likely that this encounter may prove deadly. Premeditated attacks may or may not include weapons of some kind, so be vigilant of your attackers clothes and body movements to see any forms that look like weapons. Guns can be tucked into the pants or have holsters. knives are hidden in coat or pants pockets, or on boots and legs. switchblades have a slight edge that is visible outside of the pocket for easy access and opening.
     To take in your opponents appearance, does he have scars etc. think about how this can help you. An old injury is just waiting to be reopened, sunglasses can be broken and used to blind your opponent, piercings should be ripped out to cause pain and disorientation, and piercings above the eyes obscure vision with blood. If the opponent has cauliflower ears, its most likely they are used to being hit, so instead of punching, use nails and teeth to the eyes, throat and other vulnerable areas
I hope that none of you ever have to be in a situation where violence is required, but if you are, remember -don't hold back, do what you must to save your life.
Thanks
Mr. Waaler

Terminology of Attack

If you have ever taken martial arts then you know that there is a name for every attack concievable. In their traditional names they describe the attack, using directions and anatomy. For my project I must use a Set of terminology that I will apply to all of the styles I study. There are many terminology banks out there, in many different languages, but I will be using Master Ed Parkers Terminology when describing martial arts maneuvers - and if there is a specific move that has no suitable name in that terminology I will use the most common name for the movement. The martial arts moves and attacks are called basics, and the basics are split into five main categories.
1. Blocks 2. Strikes 3. Stances 4. Maneuvers 5. Specialized Methods
On the most basic (no pun intended) level blocks are defensive, strikes are offensive, stances are positioning, maneuvers are movements to set up other basics and specialized moves are mostly locks and holds, but include a mish-mosh of moves that won't fit anywhere else. Each type of basic is further split into different types. Below is a list of the types.

Blocks- Striking, Parrying, Pinning, Positioned and Specialized
           Specialized - Catching, Trapping, Jamming, Lock-out, Sliding Check, and Ricocheting

Strikes - Foot & leg, Hand & arm, and Head - and for each
          -Clawing, Slicing, Whipping, Thrusting, Hooking, Roundhousing, Hammering and Specialized
* Foot and Leg strikes are usually called kicks and hand and arm strikes are called strikes in general

Stances - Attention, Bow, Kneel, Horse, Cat, Twist and Special

Maneuvers - Foot and Body
       Foot - Step Throughs, Shuffles, Crossovers, Twists, Jumps, Dives, Feints, and Special
       Body - Falling, Weaving, Bobbing, Slipping, Rolling, Riding, Turning, Feints, and Special

Specialized - Vice-like, Pulling, Pushing, and Un-balancing
       Vice-like - Biting, Pinching, Squeezing, Grabbing, Hugging, Tackling, Choking, Sandwiching, Fulcruming, and Scissoring
       Pulling - Jerking, Yanking, Ripping, and Tearing
       Pushing - Pressing, Nudging, Bumping, and Shoving
       Un-balancing - Buckling, Tripping, Throwing, Sweeping, and Special

Almost any martial arts move you can think of can be describe by using this naming system. To better describe the styles I am learning i will be using this system.
Thanks
Mr. Waaler

Scoring Styles

After visiting a couple of schools and learning about their styles of martial arts I realize that this scoring business will not be as cut and dry as I had foolishly believed. To understand a style, you must understand its mindset. The mindset of the style is that of its founder, the founder is the product of their environment. Understanding this can help realize why each style fights the way it does. Shorin Ryu is always trying to be aggressive, in control of and on top of the opponent because of the Okinawa people who founded it. They were shorter than most and so had to compensate when they would fight taller opponents. American Kenpo was created by a man who in his youth was a street fighter in Hawaii. Every style has its own favorite targets, strikes and blocking styles, the problem is that in the end all of the different styles want to come to the same conclusion - survival of the practitioner and defeat of the opponent. What had originally been the less important in scoring, practicality of maneuvers, ease of escape, and time for full impact of damage to come into effect will be more important than damage dealt or sustained. Because most styles will deal roughly the same amount of damage, a knock out or kill. Also I must realize that the scoring will be for a random practitioner – not the highest black belt or the first class white belt (or equivalents) this must be based off if the style was used by completely average person with no experience of another style. It is obvious that any style is effective if used by an exceptional martial artist, and I have yet to visit a school with anything less than exceptional martial artists. So as I keep this in mind I continue on with my project to learn and train more.
Thank You     
Mr. Waaler

Peaceful Warrior Martial Arts and Healing Center

This monday I was able to visit the Peaceful Warrior Martial Arts and Healing center. They teach Shorin Ryu, a style of Karate originating from Okinawa, that prides itself on power and follow through. It was awesome to go and visit their school. First was a sparring class where matches were 2 minutes long. I got to spar with Sensei Bowley and a couple of others.

After the sparring class I got to participate in the normal teen and adult class. In this class we began by going over some basic joint locks and throws. I was partners with Sensei Bowley, and as we practiced I learned more about Shorin Ryu. Check out these videos!

After we went over the basic throws and locks the class split to begin practicing their traditional katas. At that time I went over with Sensei Poage, one of the head instructors of Peaceful Warrior Martial Arts. We discused Shorin Ryu and used the makiwara board, a training instrument used to toughen bones and ligaments. He taught me about body rotation in shorin ryu.

The visit to peaceful warrior martial arts was wonderful and I would like to thank them so much for allowing me to come and visit.
To see the videos and pictures from Peaceful Warrior Martial Arts check out the new page!
Thanks
Mr. Waaler

Damage Sustained

After observing and taking classes in martial arts I have realised that many trained martial artists can take strikes and damage that would be unpleasant to the extreme for someone who hasn't trained to take the hits. For the purposes of my rating system I am going to have to assume an average amount of damage that can be sustained. This is a disadvantage to some styles that have emphasis on being able to take hits. The point of the rating is to show someone who wants to quickly learn a style to increase their ability to defend themselves. Many martial artists who have been training for an extended amount of time are more resistant to injury, to varying degrees. What I am going to do is simply hit counting, how willing is the "style" to take hits in return to strike their opponent. A very high ratio would not serve a beginner, simply out to learn to defend themselves, as well as a low ratio would serve them. In the long run though, being able to take a lot of damage without being affected is very important. This distinction to martial artists may seem odd, but, if I had to take into account the average practitioners time spent to gain a roughly equal ability to resist injury and how much injury is sustainable before their offensive capability is handicapped this project would take more than the allotted span of time. To put it plainly, I will score higher for the less a style gets hit, and lower if a style gets hit, even if an advanced practitioner of that style should be able to take the hit, because the chance of injury is increased. If the opponent got one lucky hit then that would be unfortunate, to limit that chance I am going to rate damage sustained as a hit count category.
Thanks
Mr. Waaler

Good Timber

The tree that never had to fight
For the sun and sky and air and light
That stood out in the open plain
And always got its share of rain,
Never became a forest king
But lived and died a scrubby thing.
The man who never had to toil,
Who never had to win his share,
Of sun and sky and light and air,
never became a man,
But lived and died as he began.
Good timber does not grow in ease;
The stronger wind, the tougher trees.
The farther sky, the greater length;
The more the storm, the more the strength;
By sun and cold, by rain and snows,
In tree or man good timber grows.
Where thickest stands the forest growth
We find the patriarchs of both
And they converse with the stars
Whose broken branches show the scars
Of many winds and much of strife
This is the common law of life.
                                              
                                                     Unknown

Linear Motion or Circular Motion

When it comes to striking an opponent you must consider whether you will use a linear strike or circular strike. An example of a linear strike would be the classic front hand jab, a circular strike would be a rear hook punch. The initial instinct might be to throw the rear hook, assuming that you could deal greater damage and increase the likelihood of injuring your opponent enough to stop the fight, but the problem with that thought is that when you strike to the outside of the body you are not generally striking as important of target areas. There is a theory in the martial arts called attacking the center line. The center line of the body has a large concentration of “fight ender” points. The nose, neck, solar plexus, and groin are just the obvious examples, the face as a whole is one giant vulnerable spot, and it’s loaded with opportunities. But some of the spots we wouldn’t normally think of, like the liver, heart, the point under the navel and the sternum can also cause an exceptional damage.

            But, on the side of the body the head and legs are really the only single shot fight ending points available. Punches to the arms really don’t do as much damage as other areas could, in fact you and your buddies have punched each other in the arms. Another downside of the circular movement of certain strikes is the telegraphic nature of the strike. While a straight jab is quick and hard to see coming, a haymaker punch can be seen before the punch has even been prepared fully, let alone thrown. The type of person who starts a fight with a haymaker shouldn’t be able to land a punch because of the they are telling the world that they are coming and they leave themselves vulnerable for too long before their strike would hit.
            The time a large circular strike would be appropriate is when the opponent has committed to a failed movement and is off balance, unable to either block your strike or counter with one of their own, then when you use the strike your circular strike will be powerful enough to end the fight, especially if you strike to the temple or mastoid.
            But, every situation is unique and should you find yourself in a situation that would merit a circular strike do not hesitate to use it.
Sincerely,
Mr. Waaler

Reality Defense

This Monday I visited Reality Defense. It was an first introductory class and so we went over some of the basics of what self-defense is. Thank you to Troy Coe who let me come in to his school, and Thank You to Jeff Barto who taught me my first class- I really appreciate it! We covered the basic myths of self-defense.
1. It won't happen to me
2. Someone Else will protect me
3. If I don't Fight back... they won't hurt me
4. I studied Martial arts already, I'll be fine
         -Most martial arts are 99% competition and exhibition, and 1% Self-Defense
5. Weapons Are the Answer
         - Having a weapon and knowing how to use it doesn't ensure your safety by any means
6. Only the Strong Win
         - The ones who win are not necesarilly the strongest
All of these myths discourage people from learning to defend themselves properly.
Also We went over the founding concepts of Reality Defense
1. Survival Concept- do anything you must to ensure your survival
2. Maximum Resistance
3. 9 second rule, you want the fight over in 9 seconds
Next we went over the position that you should assume when you get into a conflict
- strong side forward with your body squared up with your opponent and your backhand is near your chin and your front hand is about shoulder high, so now whenever you block you mirror your opponent.
But when it comes down to it everyone needs to be able to defend themselves. During this class we went over some basic parrying blocks and maneuvers.

We went over the 4 forms of defense.
-Blocks and Parries
-Evasive Footwork
-Body Evasion
-Stop Hitting
Finally we went over two versions of a straight jab, sight lined and unaligned. A sight lined jab keeps the elbow of the punch in towards the body so the opponent only sees the fist, and must rely on depth perception to see it coming, so their reflexes are slowed. When you punch an opponent you must penetrate 6 to 8 inches to make sure that you do damage. The information we went over in this class is very important for my project, providing a baseline for which i can base the self-defense capabilities of other styles on, I cannot wait to go back for more lessons from reality defense.
Thanks
Mr. Waaler

Sunday Kumite at the Park

For most people, sunday is a day of rest. But, this sunday i didn't rest, in fact i got to go and take another kyokushin class. This past Sunday I went to a small park called Northsight Park off of Thunderbird rd. to participate in another Kyokushin class. This class was very similar to the first class i took in kyokushin, with an emphasis on movements and their uses in a fight. We practiced some basic movements and defenses, building up to more complex kicks that could be used for a KO hit to win matches. At the end of the class we Fought a little. I had the honor of fighting the instructor, and i learned a lot from our fight. We talked about the defense aspects of Kyokushin Karate, this style of martial arts is a fighting style of martial arts. When we were talking about fighting, Sempi Erno said that one way that we could quickly end the fight was to strike at the opponents head and overwhelm him while we set up a kick to KO our opponent. He also mentioned that when in a real fight striking the same area, especially on the thigh, will end the fight quickly.
I want to say thank you to the instructor of the Dojo, Sempi Erno. Your expertise and respect have greatly helped my project, and I am very thankful that you let me come and learn from you. Osu!
Now Spring break has just begun, and it gives me time to take a break from everything and i hope that all of my readers enjoy it to its fullest!
Thanks, and Happy Spring Break,
Mr. Waaler
P.S. Please enjoy the new videos!

Practitioner vs. Style 2

Anyone can fight. Anyone can defend themselves. Anyone can be physically and mentally fit. Martial Arts are just one path of many to find confidence in your own abilities and to hone those abilities. Each style of martial arts shares the same aim, bettering its students. And any practitioner of any style can become an effective martial artist. The difference is the way they become effective. The individual style is what must be measured, without any bias from those who are training in the style. This distinction must be stressed, without it I am no better than those who claim they have found the only true way of martial arts. What I hope to find is what styles are most effective at what. If a style of martial arts has been around long then it obviously must have some merit or people would stop training in it. But, when it comes down to self-defense I want to know which style would deal with it most effectively, without the personal adaptation of any practitioner. I want to make sure that my intention is not misunderstood; I am not judging styles for their philosophy or anything beyond the basic merits of its self-defense, just the certain basic and average reactions of a style, combined with the basic teachings and maneuvers of the style.
Thank You for reading,
Mr. Waaler  

Kyokushin Karate

     Yesterday my journey began in earnest, visiting my first Dojo. Run out of the Aikido of Scottsdale building the Dojo in question teaches traditional Kyokushin Karate, also called Kyokushinkai. Kyokushinkai is made of three Japanese kanji,
     Kyoku meaning “Ultimate”.
     Shin meaning “Truth” or “Reality”.
     Kai meaning “Society” or “Association”.
Kyokushinkai practitioners are confident in their style, as they should be. Training in the traditional ways they show great respect and discipline while training. Kyokushin karate is a full contact traditional karate style that mainly focuses on fighting and self-defense through discipline and power.

     My visit began when I arrived at the dojo at 6:40, after the initial meet and greet we went outside the dojo and ran for 15 minutes, the first 10 minutes was just normal running and the last 5 minutes were sprints. When we finished we entered the dojo and removed our shoes, no shoes were allowed in the dojo at all. Then we began 30 minutes of stretching, all of the stretches were conducted in Japanese. The dojo itself had a high ceiling and padded floor for training on.

At the beginning of class we bowed to the front of the room (I am in the Black uniform)

We did some basics focusing on speed and power, using basic punches and kicks, in Kyokushinkai, punches are not supposed to go to the head, because that is too easy, only kicks are allowed to the head. After about an hour of basics another martial artist came in to the dojo, he was not a student of the dojo, but, he came to visit just I had.

The other martial artist is the one on the far left

 He went over some of the techniques that he learned from his dojo. The reason we did this was to get used to inter-style fighting because on March 24 there is an inter-school fighting gathering. I got thrown around a lot (check out the video) but also learned a lot.

 At the very end of class, by this time 9 o’ clock, we started Kumite, which is like sparring or fighting (also see the videos). By the end of class it was 9:30. My class in Kyokushinkai was enlightening to say the least and I quite enjoyed it.

Thanks, and keep reading

Mr. Waaler