Hoookay, put up one vid in the Media section. Here's the link:

http://www.fmaforum.org/index.php?showtopi...amp;#entry72256

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2RV9zUbGw4

This is probably one of the few times the fight actually had some kind of empty hand action. I'm the guy in black.

Will try to upload more soon.

Yep. it seems like it'll be a regular thing. maybe once every 6 months or at least 1 a year

Aug. 28 went well. Most fights stayed technical, some were more energetic. will post vids as soon as possible

What makes a drug a good drug and what makes it a bad drug? Cough syrup is an over the counter drug that really helps people with coughs, but it is well known that such drugs/medicines can be abused.

Apparently ecstacy with counseling can help with post traumatic stress disorder: http://www.examiner.com/life-coach-in-denv...uraging-results


I read the intro of the book from Iran and they basically said that because there is no stigma to using steroids in Iran, they were able to use it in a controlled manner. They took note of effective dosages, side effects etc. So instead of substance abusers, they had substance users.

Most of the time my off arm ends up on top of his weapon arm, clipping or holding it in place. Not exactly a preference but it just ends up that way. Because of that I just learned disarms, locks and takedowns from that poisition.

Well, this is the vid that got me thinking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-8MY1Gep_A

Bigger Faster Stronger- has stuff from the supporters and condemners of steroid use. a good watch.

The scene I remember was the part with the jet pilots and their "go pills". Anybody seen the "steroids and bodybuilding" book in National bookstore? interesting publication from Iran.

Here's an interesting thought:

If FMA is all about adopting whatever it is that is effective: techniques, moves, and training methods then shouldn't we think about the use of steroids? Would one be justified in using steroids in order to become a better fighter? You want to have that extra advantage over the mugger or assailant, aren't steroids a good way to be more physically fit as to out fight the person in front of you?

This is of course not about people joining tournaments, what I am talking about are average people who want to get the most our of their current program and have no interest in competitive sports.

Wow. just. Wow. I wonder where you pulled this little gem?

I'm a bit confused, is the scoring like a 10 point must system, or is it closer to the amateur boxing judging?

I don't know why there is this huge emphasis on "flow". Maybe that's just me, because I generally fight one blow at a time. How about proper execution of technique?

Rank? Seriously? Do we put the Datu's and the Gurus and the Lakans in the same division? Or do we split them up into individual ones? If we split them up, I wanna be the Raja con Datu!

Maybe an age limit, like a 35-45 year old division or something would be more feasible.

Well, I'll be... Apparently I've been hatching up those rules for a while now! It took me 2 years to actually try to organize it but better late than never! I have to agree with shuyun that it's possible to have mulitple formats and it's up to the competitors on what kind of format they want to specialize in.

That's why I decided to give guys who are too hardcore for padded sticks an avenue for live stick fighting here: http://www.fmaforum.org/index.php?showtopi...amp;#entry71914

I plan to host other formats too.

Let me say that I've tried a lot of different formats, and not just for fun too- competitively and representing my school varsity team. I've also had some experience officiating. Here are some of my experiences:

- I've tried the "10 lives" system (actually it was just 5 when we did it) and it was kind of fun.

- Teams- team comps are fun and adds an extra dimension. The one I like best is the KOF (king of fighters) style rules. Basically a combination of the 5 point countdown and team ups- one guy stays in the ring as long as he has points left, with the next opponent starting with fresh points. Rather impressive as sometimes one guy takes out a team of 3.

- Square vs. Circle- I like a square more. For those that say a circle gives you more room to move, it has to be one big circle. On paper an 8x8 meter square has a bigger surface area (64 square meters) than a 8meter diameter circle (50 square meters) .

Plus, people move more predictably in a circle. The uniformity of the space behind you gives you less options to move while the corners of a square area actually gives you some gaps to work with.

-Different points for different body parts. Good theory, but I've yet to see this implemented well. This is not possible if the fights have continuous striking. Being a Referee and Judge myself, actually seeing the hits are hard enough, try keeping tabs on what got hit and how much you should give gets harder, and then add the continuous striking and you've got one hell of a job I wouldn't want. The only time I've seen it done passably the referees stopped the fight after every strike (ala karate)

- continuous vs point- I really don't care, but each should be applied with the understanding that the point system works best when you assume that the stick is a sword and the continuous fighting works better if you assume it's a stick.

The event will still push through this Saturday Aug 28. Anyone still interested in joining is still welcome!

well I'll be....

The world is filled with such multi-certified men!

http://www.ajjif.org/new_members

Grip strength is something I constantly try to improve.

When it comes to grip training I go the other way- big grips. I use a 2 inch bar to do single handed snatches. I do deadlifts with the regular grip. I use a 1 inch rope wrapped in cartons and string to bring the grip diameter closer to 2 inches for my pull up. I also use a block of stone to do kettle bell swings with.

I've tried using the rock climbing pull-up board and can crank out 2 maybe 3 reps on a good day.

Finger hardening is the next step. Though I'm not sure if I want to go that far.

"Practicing martial arts is like throwing around a football, eventually you'll get tired of practicing and you'd want to play the game."

I don't know who said this but this sums up the negative side of practicing martial arts, you'd eventually want to test yourself. Some are willing to prove martial superiority by being an internet master. Most people are quite happy with participating in tournaments. Others... look for fights when they shouldn't.

It is needed. The question is, are you going to let the state do it for you, or are you going to do it yourself?

From what I understand, condoms are effective in the individual level, but not so much in the macro level.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...9032702825.html

In the article above, "consistent condom use has not reached a sufficiently high level, even after many years of widespread and often aggressive promotion, to produce a measurable slowing of new infections in the generalized epidemics of Sub-Saharan Africa." (AIDS only, other STDs were not mentioned)

They did mention that it was successful in stemming AIDS in Thailand because the spread of AIDS was localized in the Sex industry.

I think sex-ed would have little effect on the AIDS situation here in the Philippines, because when I looked it up, the top 3 AIDS affected groups here are:

1) OFW's
2) Call center agents
3) Health workers

I'd like to bring special attention to top 3, health workers, these are not exactly the people who would not know about AIDS and condom use.

So without getting extra long- there's more to this AIDS thing than equation condom=problem solved.

It's only and advance if your objective is to hack or cut at something. The same argument was put forward by straight sword specialists! They proclaimed that "the straight sword was an advance over the old cut and thrust sabers". We'll they'll give a lot of reasons such as the skill necessary to forge a thin enough blade that could withstand direct hacks, the superiority of controlling the center line etc. But when you read their reasoning, what they really meant was that it was superior at trusting; and that's what they specialize in.

We think that a curve is an "advance" because we are cut and thrust fighters. Remove the need to cut, and it's really a step back

I really believe that it's the parent's job to teach their kids all about this. This is too important a subject to just say "Let the schools handle it". But there are too many parents that are all to happy to let the school system raise their kids for them. So in the interest of public safety, Sex ed should be mandatory after a certain age- I'm thinking 13 or 14, right about the time when some of them would be thinking of doing some stupid thing.

And the problem is, without sex ed in school- FHM and porno vids become the default sex ed for kids.

I was going to say something but Little bad boy more or less covered it

This sounds good. Honestly I have a superficial knowledge of FMA's that focus on empty hands. The wrestling I've seen is mostly folk wrestling stuff, more a test of mettle and physical prowess than combative stuff. What I've seen of sikaran looks like Taek with a bit of a difference. If you guys can make it work, more power.

How did you come up with your training program?

Hey, that video again! Allow me to promote my event! If anyone still wants to join something like this, we're having one on Aug 28
Live stick sparring event details here!

Well, the thread did start with "MMA competitions" so, yeah I was talking exclusively about that.

Street-MMA sounds like an interesting concept. Probably started by people who realized that MMA, as it is now, is a sport and needs a bit of tweaking if you want it to be more adapted for the street.

Allow me a bold prediction about the future of "Street-MMA"- it's going to look a lot like Arnis.

I actually don't like to have music playing when I train, be it skills or physical training because I either get distracted or I tune it out anyway.