Everybody Was Kung-Fu Fighting!

Maybe, but it can be quite hard on the knees if you go with the more competitive clubs. Some clubs are more relaxed and gentle, though.

I'm an "avoid it if at all possible" guy. However, there is always the chance that it isn't possible.

 

I didn't say being good at fighting made you a sociopath, I said the people are are genuinely good at winning fights in the real world tend to be sociopaths. Think about what the average person is more likely to run into on the street: Joe Gangbanger that glasses people in the face for looking at his girl, or an honest to god expert in actual martial arts and not easy-sparring-land Bullshido.

 

He'll yeah, it would. But just FYI, judo doesn't have a belt system to denote rank/proficiency within the discipline. Rather, judo uses an elaborate system of outerwear that becomes progressively gayer as you advance.

Beginner


Intermediate


Master

 

3rd Degree = 3rd Chin.

 

When a friend of mine got the Muay Thai Aussie eastcoast title a while ago, it served as a great catalyst for me to shed the excess fat I put on by stopping my workouts, doing work and going out only for the past 2-3 years.

For now I'm doing two to three 45-minute sessions per day, whenever I manage to squeeze them inbetween work. I've cut down my social life a fair bit and have drastically changed my diet, and am keeping it that way until my fitness is in a position again where I feel like it's worthwhile to join a Muay Thai place and go back into sparring without having to worry whether I can last the entire 90- or 120-minute session.

Knowing all the MT techniques simplifies things a lot, so I only practice the techniques again and again, and look to improve my combos. I also look to regain a lot of accuracy my arms and legs used to have.

I found that having the right beat in the background really helps the pacing of solo training sessions. There's nothing to replace the mutual pushing you get from training with others, but it's a workable substitute.

Very nice to see you're already into clinches. The only thing I hated about clinch practice was the dumbass wide stance instructors seem to love for it, making you lift your leg and do a wide sideways knee from the outside. Looks like two retarded kangaroos dancing with each other.

If you're allowed to use double-clinch in sparring, really experiment with any angle you can find. Going for inside legs and destroying the thigh muscles is usually preferable over the midsection or even aiming towards the head.

Also: Generally it's a good idea to work hard on leg-lifting speeds. Most places focus on technique and stamina, but don't go into improving the speed of singular movements. If you can up the ante and get your legs to lift very quickly (the training for that will hurt ) you can quickly outshine your opponent by throwing single kicks/knees into sparring exchanges where otherwise it would not be feasible.

The mob, bro.

Godfather-style.

 

Funny, but that dipstick is an Aikido master, not judo... A judo expert once made old Seegull crap his pants once. ( gene lebell )

 

I see. Seems odd to go straight to incorporating the knee with standard combos and bypassing some, for beginners, much-needed double-clinch practice so that the students would first learn how to hold and move their body to give the knees better momentum. It should always be about building the physical foundations first and then developing the mental aspect, but I digress.

Knees may seem pretty straighforward in their applications, but they are one of the most versatile tools you have available. Even grapplers are fond of using them on the ground where kicks are impossible. Let's see what your continued progress brings.

By the way, is it possible to join your gym for a single day? I'd like to have a look around.

That's a new one to me. Issues with retracting the leg are usually about people taking it easy or not thinking of the next exchange. Do you actually feel physically impeded from retracting the leg quickly, or is it more an issue with your stance as you initiate the kick in the first place? Do you have the same issue with more straight kicks such as front kick or side kick? Is it height-related, i.e. any difference between low, mid or high roundhouse kicks?

If your speed issues persist after you have built your thigh muscles some and your mind is focused on completing each movement quickly and efficiently, I would have a proper talk with your instructor and have him/her look at your problem.

MT movements need to be seamless. Other than your obvious slower speed, retracting the leg slowly will give you both balance and defense issues, leaving you open to a quick counter.

 

I practiced judo from the age of 9 until 20 something. I was reasonably adept and took 2nd in the state with some reliability as a junior. The guy that could always beat me, later qualified for the olympics. I actually met my wife in judo class.

I gave up judo because of my knees. Ground work just tore them up. Well, that and an increasing interest in women and alcohol. I can ski with a knee brace; but once I got to a fairly competitive level in judo, there was nothing I could do to protect my knees.

News to me. I was Ikkyu working on Shodan when I gave it up. My wife has the same ranking.

 

why is everyone jizzing themselves over krav maga these days

 

^^^ Just the latest fad "reality based" MA. Nothing really new, just sales pitch.