Funny incident working out yesterday.
It was a nice day yesterday and I had a rough one at work, so I decided to put on the weighted gloves and work the heavybag out in the park. There is a basketball court near my house and I hung the 40 pound bag on the hoop and started working it.
I live near a college campus and we have the college kids around all the time. Anyway, one of them spotted me working the bag and asked if I wanted to spar. He had the whole Tapout tee shirt and bumped baseball cap on, so I guessed he probably had a couple classes in him. I make it a point not to spar with folks I don't know and trust though, so I told him I'd feel a lot more confortable if we had a chance to work pads first.
He didn't seem to know how to properly hold a set of thai pads, but after a little instruction, he managed to hold them such that I wasn't going to pound him to death. After a couple dozen kicks though, his demeanor changed entirely. Next thing I know, he's all like "okay man, I don't want to spar anymore.".
It feels good quashing youth and exuberance.
There is only an up or down--up to a man's age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order--or down to the ant heap totalitarianism,... those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.
I picture you stripping off the bag gloves yelling "Do ya feel lucky, punk? Well? Do ya?!"
If wishes were trees the trees would be falling, Listen to reason, Reason is calling
Your feet are going to be on the ground, Your head is there to move you around -- REM
Nah. I was nice. I didn't even hit the pads full power.
There is only an up or down--up to a man's age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order--or down to the ant heap totalitarianism,... those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.
It would have felt better picking youth and exuberance off the floor, saying "I thought you wanted to spar. If you're going to lay around and sleep all day, I'm going back to the bag."
A Torrent of Verbal Abuse, Cynicism, and Staggeringly Insightful Commentary.
http://unlikelylife.wordpress.com
In the immortal words of "Terrible" Terry Tate:
There is only an up or down--up to a man's age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order--or down to the ant heap totalitarianism,... those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.
Paleo, what is it with you and bullying kids?
http://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/39023
XBox Live: DSGamer GWJ | PSN: DSGamerGWJ
Hey! The jury spoke on that incident. There was no bullying. I was fully exonerated.
There is only an up or down--up to a man's age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order--or down to the ant heap totalitarianism,... those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.
"I'm absolutely retarded. Not 100% sure why." - atom
"Dhelor + intarwebs = Great ideas." - wordsmythe
"Do I what I do: hate everyone." - Quintin_Stone
I mentioned this incident to folks at my boxing gym last night and we all got a good chuckle out of it. After exchanging a few stories, we all agreed that wannabe backyard fight kings should just shut the hell up and get their asses to class. If I have to endure another amateur extoll the "skills" of Kimbo Slice, I'll have to completely write them off.
There is only an up or down--up to a man's age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order--or down to the ant heap totalitarianism,... those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.
Having done Muay Thai and Bazillion Jujitsu for years now I can not tell you how many times I have seen the same thing.
The guy who watches a few UFC fights checks takes 1 class and now can take on the world, because he wrestled in High school.
1 time I was able to get a talker to come to a class and pair up for sparing. It was not a good experience for him. But he did start coming to class a few times a week after that so it worked out in the end.
Mixed Martial Arts: Converting fans to participants 1 ass beating a time.
lancejt wrote:
What gym do you work out at? Ajarn Chai is circling back around this area near the end of the year (once to Philly and once to DC). If you're in the area, we should meet at a seminar.
Oh, and Guru Dan Inosanto is coming this way next month.
There is only an up or down--up to a man's age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order--or down to the ant heap totalitarianism,... those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.
Geez, WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG!!
Seriously, though, pads/shield practice with a partner is for developing focus and precision. For all-out whomping, there are bags. Going full power on a partner -- or maybe even not full power but more than he can handle -- borders, in my view, on arrogance. Even if your partner is a wanna-be poser.
Xbox Live tag Gorilla800lbs
*Legion* wrote:
That may be the case with focus mitts or karate pads, but Thai pads like the ones below are meant for full-on blasting. This is as much a benefit to the pad holder as it is for the kicker. It is meant to train the pad holder to take and get used to impact in a manner that will not injure them.
There is only an up or down--up to a man's age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order--or down to the ant heap totalitarianism,... those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.
I guess they throw you around a LOT?
If I could only bring three things to a desert island, all three would be you. And I'd make you all kiss. -a softer world
Damn it.
My gym that I work out in is in Berwyn IL, a small MMA place, Progressive Marital Arts. Not the best school but it is a comfortable clean place with good sparing partners. Sadly after June I will need a new school as Progressive will be closing its doors for good.
I took a few "one off" classes at the Gracie School at Fitness Formal in Chicago but that was just to experience the Gracie way of BJJ.
I would love to see him but that is a bit far for me to travel right now.
I would agree with this statement.
lancejt wrote:
Looks like Streamwood is only about a half hour away from your old school. Tom Tokarz over at the Midwest Training Center is out that way. They're an actual TBA school and have some folks on staff for Brazillian JJ. You might want to check them out.
It took me a while to find the school I was most comfortable with. It helped that the school owner (Kru Scott Anderson) was college buddies with my original coach in college (Pat Finley). It also helped that the school is super close to where my fiancee lives.
Before I joined, I seriously considered a number of hard core BJJ schools in the area. Ground Control and Maguilla were in the final three schools I was considering. Yamasaki Academy came highly recommended, but I found them to be far too testosterone laden for me to deal with. When you're going to practice something this potentially dangerous, leave your ego at the door.
Part of the blessing and curse of being in this area is that there is an embarrassment of riches when it comes to great martial arts instruction.
There is only an up or down--up to a man's age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order--or down to the ant heap totalitarianism,... those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.
BJJ is tight. Its a very close cousin to Olympic wrestling and fun to practice and learn.
*Legion* wrote:
Is that code for domestic abuse training?
Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.
Quintin_Stone wrote:
Hey, everyone knows staying married is an art... and 50% of married couples are white belt noobs.
Shelter 1-minute atmospheric teaser.
You should meet my wife, mean.
Yeah the control mindset yes.
lancejt wrote:
I've had more injuries from BJJ than any of my other studies because of people refusing to do this.
Gamer Tag: Rantyr
That's a fantastic reason to change schools. The maestro should spot this sort of stuff and correct it.
I am extremely happy that I have found a kru that makes it clear that that sort of behavior is not at all acceptable.
There is only an up or down--up to a man's age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order--or down to the ant heap totalitarianism,... those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.
Oh it was dealt with promptly. My teachers were always keeping an eye out for us. Peoples first experience with BJJ is more about learning to unlearn what they think they need to do. Especially when they're only experience is watching some of it on TV.
Gamer Tag: Rantyr
Yup.
I find that the vast majority of really mediocre martial arts classes emphasize full contact sparring way too early when half speed or even slower exercises would be far more effective. The net effect of that is that their students progress very quickly (from zero) just out of pure aggression alone. After that, they plateau as their bad habits catch up with them. When things happen too fast for you to process, the habits you pick up are there, but you have no idea why.
We tend to spend a lot of time doing drills, combination drills, catch and respond, focus mitt and thai pad work, and slow sparring. The instructors tend to roam the room to point out corrections. Over time, you develop the sorts of habits that help rather than hurt your ability to protect yourself. As my kru puts it "practice makes habit. Make your habits count.".
I'm going to concentrate on the Muay Thai for a while, but will probably try to work in some of the CSW stuff as well. I have to work my matwork.
There is only an up or down--up to a man's age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order--or down to the ant heap totalitarianism,... those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.
What's the gender ratio in your classes? I've always steered clear of mixed martial arts because I really hate the macho bs that seems to surround it, but I have to admit I'm curious.
dejanzie- "Let's say Stephen Hawking is after your new pc, and your porn is backed up- would you find it wrong to shoot him?"
LiquidMantis- "Hell no. I'd push over his wheelchair then teabag him while shouting, 'Here's your universe in a nutshell!'"
It's hard to find a MMA class with a high percentage of women. When you do, it is usually accompanied by seriously differential treatment (ie: the women not really getting the quality instruction because of fear that the physical demands would scare them off).
We have four women in our class. Two are corrections officers.
There is only an up or down--up to a man's age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order--or down to the ant heap totalitarianism,... those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.
15-20% has been the sweet spot for me, for just those reasons. How large are your classes?
dejanzie- "Let's say Stephen Hawking is after your new pc, and your porn is backed up- would you find it wrong to shoot him?"
LiquidMantis- "Hell no. I'd push over his wheelchair then teabag him while shouting, 'Here's your universe in a nutshell!'"
We usually have between 20-25 students in each class.
There is only an up or down--up to a man's age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order--or down to the ant heap totalitarianism,... those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.
Half speed is how you should drill. Thats just basic wrestling. I'm not going to punish you especially bad for making mistakes, I'll point them out. that being said, don't slam me into the mat to prove how manly you are. People who don't know how to drill, need to learn that before they learn moves.
*Legion* wrote:
Absolutely. That was especially illustrated in last night's session.
We have been having rolling blackouts since the big storm two days ago and at about minute 15 of the first one hour session, the lights and air conditioner went out in our gym. We did open the huge garage doors though and were able to get some light and air into the room.
Kru Scott had us do drills in the dark at a lot less than half speed to get us used to what it would be like in such conditions. I was actually pleasantly suprised how well I reacted to gross movements. I wasn't slipping punches or intercepting kicks, but my blocks were solid and I was able to respond logically.
After the first hour was up, we started working clinch for a solid hour. I have a bruised rib from a clinch session last week where a noob didn't know how to slow things down, so in this session I set the rule to go slow and only toss curved knees (no straights. They are the ones that can really hurt you).
The vets didn't seem to have a problem with that. They get the idea that it is mostly a flow drill and practicing the escapes from the plumb and side positions is as or more important than getting a couple quick shots in. However, the noobs seemed freaked out by it being dark and not knowing how to flow. I think I must have gotten tagged full on in the bruised rib 4 times -- all by scared noobs.
Learn the techniques, internalize them, and relax. I had to repeat that to them constantly.
There is only an up or down--up to a man's age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order--or down to the ant heap totalitarianism,... those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.