ANY BROWNCOATS KNOW KUNG FU?

POSTED BY: chrisisall
UPDATED: Sunday, July 10, 2005 17:15
VIEWED: 12918
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CHRISISALL

Tuesday, April 5, 2005 10:20 PM

That's right, any o' you Browncoats into the arts?
List your training or any scraps you mighta' got into for those of us interested Chinese fighting methods, as well as Chinese cursing.

Me personally,
Trained in Okinawan Kempo, Aikido, Praying Mantis, Wing Chun, Jeet Kune Do,Tai Kwon Do
Studied Tai Chi and Drunken Boxing from tapes and books.
Favorites are Wing Chun, Tai Chi and Drunken Boxing(the broken rhythm of it, anyway)
Sucessfully foiled two mugging attempts on Long Island, NY- one mugger I walloped at 14 years of age(a kiddie fight, not that interesting), took on FIVE guys at 22 who tried to take my bicycle, they hit me from behind and thought that was it, but I got right up and took aim at the nearest guys patella, and they broke off and let go of my bike. I ain't a fool, 5 on 1; they coulda taken me but my bike was brand new and I guess they weren't prepared to mug someone who was well trained- takes too much time, and they would have had to carry at least one of theirs home.

Like the guy in Enter the Dragon said: Whach yer schtyle?

Chrisisall

HARDWARE

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 2:41 AM

My training is in physical intervention, I got it at a psychiatric hospital I worked at. Strong foundation in Aikido and wrestling with an emphasis on evasion and hold breaking. The only coherent philosophy my training had was "don't be there when the blow lands."

On the plus side I have been in more scrapes, at one point on an almost daily basis, than I can count. Since I worked on a long term ward with 3 guys who were not guilty by reason of insanity for murder, including one who had killed someone in the hospital, it came in handy.

The only serious injury I received was when someone stepped on my foot as I was pulling him off a doctor. Tore my patellar tendon. Considering this guy had previously taken 5 guys to pull him off someone and I was doing it alone, not too bad.

Anyhow, that's why I work with computers. Computers listen when I say the maniac is going to try to kill you. And computers don't hit.

The more I get to know people the more I like my dogs.

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 3:05 AM

Facinating stuff, makes me feel like a lightweight! Dealing with such as you have, I bow before your skill
(no kidding).
Training is one thing, you were doing!

"Don't be there when the blow lands" is it.
"When the opponant expands, I contract..."

Thanks for the story, Hardware.

Chrisisall

RAT

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 3:52 AM

I'v seen Iron Monkey about 22 times! That count?

-Ratboy

IMEARLY

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 4:21 AM

Tai Kwon Do since I was four years old, with two state championships.

I have studied the principles of Jeet Kune Do since I was ten years old.

Pencak silat is my primary focus, Silat Harimau “Tiger style.” Is my strongest aspect.

I have training in advanced police tactics from the U.S. Army and was a member of SRT(Special Response Team) at the United Stated Disciplinary Barracks.

The SHU(Special Housing Unit “pronounced shoe”) is below ground level at the DB, one day while I was on standby there was an altercation between one of the Cadre and a death sentence inmate over his safety razors. The inmate cut off his nipples and ate them.

Yummy.

SRT was called in to move the inmate to a special holding cell at the rear of the SHU until he calmed down. He stabbed my Platoon sergeant in the abdomen with a shank made from a tooth brush and a thread cutter. I was his follow up, He stabbed me with the shank between two knuckles on my left hand, and I then broke the inmates arm at the elbow. I was then threatened with a battalion grade article fifteen, and a law suit from the inmate. The suit was dropped, and I was promoted from PFC to Corporal bypassing specialist all together.

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FREMDFIRMA

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 5:52 AM

I grew up in the inner city, didn't join a gang, didn't like the pushers, and was hostile to my neighbors as a general rule...

Being still here to talk about it, well, I suppose that qualifies as something, for lack of a better term "Ghetto-Jutsu", skilled in the arts of Krow-Barr and Two-Bye-Forr, usually from behind, in the dark.

Dunno what to call it, but if I get of hold of you and pull you in close, it's a guaranteed ER trip, and none of this grappling stuff, I'm aiming to cripple or maim you from the git.

-F

NEEDLESEYE

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 6:11 AM

Hmm, I was in a Chung Moo school for a couple years. It's several styles combined, Aikido ,Tai Chi, Jujitsu, Tae Kwon Do, Bagwa Chang, Ship Pal Gae (18 Weapons) and Samurai Sword. I was fifth section and due to test for sixth but left. (They didn't use the belt system so I really can't say what the equivalent section is.)

The only serious scrap I was ever in was with the x-ball and chain who convinced me to join the school in the first place. The details irrelevant, the important part was that I got away breathing and it was thanks to the training.
Anyway, I find now that I have to be careful how I react to things. I automatically block or deflect things like some freakish reflex. I've accidentally knocked my big dog for a loop with my forearm. I find it creepifying. I can't tell if it was the rigorous training or mental trauma from knowing it.

Keeper of Jayne's goggles. 8)

BROWNCOAT1

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 1:50 PM

I have trained for the last eighteen years in Aikido. I also have taken several years of Shodakan & Jeet Kune Do.

I have only been in two altercations since high school and my training allowed me to end both without anyone being seriously hurt.

__________________________________________

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

Richmond, VA & surrounding area Firefly Meet Up:
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HARDWARE

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 1:51 PM

IMEarly has the ball. Even after psych work I wouldn't want to do law enforcement, security or corrections. At a military prison no less! Sheesh! Plus being on a response team you know going in it has already dropped in the pot. My hat's off to Early.

Early's story did remind me of a few things. I was always in a executive review state on all my interventions. If I had to lay hands on someone my report and the report of any witnesses was going to be reviewed all the way up to the hospital executive. (In theory anyway.) If I stepped over certain limits I could have charges pressed against me. Just another occupational hazard.

Fredfirma's and Needleseye's story also bring up two other points.

1) What you call it doesn't matter as much as does it work.

2) Surviving an encounter means you have the luxury of examining your actions at a later date.

Formal schools of martial arts teach philosophy along with technique. Technique sharpens and focuses the body. Philosophy sharpens and focuses the mind. Being armed with both of them is far better than being armed with one or the other.

Right now I'm trying to get a more normal work schedule ironed out so I can start classes in Tai Chi to regain some range of motion in my bad knee and get rid of some of this chair spread I've acquired working in a computer room.

The more I get to know people the more I like my dogs.

IMEARLY

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 2:01 PM

Quote:

If I stepped over certain limits I could have charges pressed against me. Just another occupational hazard.

You're right, and I'll tell you the truth, I was scared. I could have lost everything, I know everything turned out alright, but they pulled my badge and restricted me to tower duty for almost two months before getting back to me, seven on, one off. That was nice.

You said that your experience is what led you to work with computers.

I am studying to become a Neuropsychologist at USF, I still want to help people, but I'm done with guns and irons.

Did you know the movie 'The Last Castle' was based on the USDB? It made us look like bad guys though. The inmates were not allowed to see it.

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CHRISISALL

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 2:02 PM

Iron Monkey is cute 'n all, but if you want to see real action check out the last fight in Defiance with Jan-Michael Vincent or Benny the Jet vs. Jackie Chan in Wheels On Meals, or the underground battle with the guards in Enter the Dragon.
Flipping around is pretty, but simply hitting the opponant is what counts.

Chrisisall

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 2:28 PM

Training does have a downside, Needleseye, my stepson who was at the time 22 (and bigger than me) got into a yelling thing with me (he was yellin', I was not) and started cursing in front of my 3 year old, I told him to stop the cussin' is all and he began to raise his hand toward my face. My training snapped on and I did a classic Wing Chun "press down" to the hand followed by the straight punch to his jaw. Able to pull it at the last second so as not to KO him, but I still split his lip a little. Turns out he was just gonna point at me as he yelled, guess he shouldn't have been that close. Being the sport he was, he later forgave me (he did, however, stop the cussin' real quick-like, and my 3 year old thought we were play fightin', as we sometimes did).
And ABSOLUTLY DO NOT poke me in the ribs from behind, one of my co-workers discovered that, but his arm's okay now.

Chrisisall

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 2:40 PM

Hey, Browncoat1, how was your experience with Jeet Kune Do?
I went to 2 different schools, one tried to get you to develope your skills so that you could explore yourself, your strengths, and weaknesses you needed to work on, and the other seemed determined to mold everyone into little "Bruces", with fixed ways like a gosple or something (" no, your feet are an inch too far apart", I kept hearing).
Guess which school I stayed with longer.
Bravo for the not-getting-anyone-seriously-hurt part.

Chrisisall

THESOMNAMBULIST

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 2:44 PM

Hi Chrisisall

Nice thread :)

Well two years ago I started Tai Chi, there's not much else around my way (I live in the country) However the upside is that by sheer coincidence a field very near where I live (3miles or so) hosts an annual meet-up of all Tai Chi schools and pupils for the whole of Europe!

So last year I was practicing with people from all over Europe. It was great! Basically they all stay in tents and camper vans for a week just to exchange views opinions methods etc. But because Europe is so multi cultural I was meeting people from China, Singapore, Australia Canada and the US. It was really cool.

Oh and er I've never had any scrap with anyone - even at school. For some reason school bullies always kinda like me so I never got pounded. They just left me alone.

Laters
The
Somnambulist

www.cirqus.com
For Pictures:
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CHRISISALL

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 2:47 PM

Imearly, a technical question, please. Did you break the arm with a straight or a twisting move?
-Just call it my need to know.

And thanks for the picture, really adds to your story to see where it happened.

Chrisisall

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 3:04 PM

Dude, bullies at my school were the reason
I got into martial arts! I used to get picked on 'cause I was a little tall for my age so it looked like they were beating on a bigger kid, but I didn't weigh anything...then I saw a flick called Enter the Dragon and thought "hey, that guy's skinny like me but he takes no s*@t!"
Never got into a fight I lost after that, but my best encounters were ones that ended up with no blows needing to be exchanged.
BTW the fight scenes in the tv show Kung Fu were Tai-Chi based (mainly) so you're into a good art!
My best friend is a Tai-Chi teacher and we mix it up every time we get together. He cannot be thrown or tripped (I can, however, tag him with the old Drunken Boxing back of the wrist from time to time, ha ha).
He travels all over to Tai-Chi meets like you described, he's going to the UK later this month, I believe.
Maybe you'll see 'im?

Chrisisall

THESOMNAMBULIST

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 3:24 PM

Yeah - I think had I been confronted I would have taken the initiative and made sure I could defend myself also. Thing is I'm small and I was small as a kid, usually smaller than all the other kids, so really there was/is no prize in knocking me down :)

That said I am quite agile still even at my age, and I wanted to keep that for as long as possible and I remember ringing up Martial arts schools looking for the correct discipline. Eventaully I saw a National Geographics programme about Tai Chi. They had this 76 year old Chinese monk with Pilot shades on, challenging young students to try and knock him down. Yeah they couldn't! And he moved like a squirrel - quick and nimble! Now one could even grab his arm and he moved around so speedily it just mesmerized me. Figured that was for me.

By the way I have that David Carradines DVD of Tai Chi. It's OK.

Cheers
TheSomnambulist

P.S. Hey maybe I'll bump into your friend. Is he going to Kent do you know?

www.cirqus.com
For Pictures:
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IMEARLY

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 4:12 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Imearly, a technical question, please. Did you break the arm with a straight or a twisting move?
-Just call it my need to know.

And thanks for the picture, really adds to your story to see where it happened.

Chrisisall

It was a 'desmontável parte traseira' Reverse takedown.

He attacked my chest with the shank from his right hand, I covered with my left hand 'which was cut', I then wrapped my left hand around his wrist, slid my right arm over his right arm, and hooked around. I then fell back onto his bunk and the pressure of the fall snapped his elbow.

It wasn't one of those grotesque elbow breaks, his arm looked normal, but it ballooned up later.

Hard to describe, I hope you can visualize.

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CHRISISALL

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 4:51 PM

Just talked to him, no, he won't be in Kent, was meaning to ask where it is he's going to, but he hit me with too many Galactica questions!!!
He's all like " Why is it shown in England before it's shown here?! F@*@#n' Sci-Fi Channel!" and more. No Browncoat there. He says he's sure Serenity'll be good, but blagh blagh. Dumass.
He'll pay in September. I'll use Drunken Boxing on him!
And what do you mean "at your age", sonny?
I got comic books oldern' you (not many, but I got 'em).

Avoid rather than check.
Check rather than hurt.
Hurt rather than maim.
Maim rather than kill; for all life is sacred, nor can any be replaced.

Always liked that.

Chrisisall

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 5:07 PM

Good description, I can see it.
Just thought of a good one-
While goofin' around with my stepson,
we were wrestlin' and such when he used his weight to pull me down to a crouching position, spun 'round behind me grabbing both my ankles and yankin' to slam me face down on the carpet. But as he pulled I had a notion, what if I just use his pullin' at my ankles to continue into a roll? I did just that and was he surprised to see me on my feet all immediate-like.
I said "What? you never did that on your wrestling team?". But truth was, I'd never done it or even thought about it before. Just a natural movement based on my other trainin', I guess.

There is a reason I named my son after Jackie Chan....

Chrisisall

HARDWARE

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 5:45 PM

Chisisall that reminds me of something that happened in my PIT training. The instructor was demonstrating a grapple from behind, which is where the staff person hooks the right arm with their right arm and put the left hand on the left hip of the patient. With your body on the line between the right hip and shoulder blad of the patient you can control their movements. This is a transitional move to stop a patient attacking somebody else or hold them to give other staff time to move in.

Anyway, he is using me to demonstrate this and he locks up my right arm and puts his hand on my left hip. I've got my knees bent and I am bent slightly forward at the waist. I flash back to wrestling and pin his hand on my hip. Then I go down to my left knee. Instructor sails over my shoulder and lands flat on his back. I stopped before going to the arm bar on the left hand I was still holding.

Greco-Roman wrestling is still a martial art. And it is often overlooked.

A friend of mine is a 5th dan black belt in (I believe) Karate. He is WAY faster than I am and I was showing him PIT's fencing technique. You use a forearm to fence aside a blow to your chest as you move your body the opposite direction. Your option is to hook the attackers arm and go to a hip throw, the previously mentioned standing hold or disengage. I demonstrated the move to the hip throw and he somersaulted OVER my arm. Very impressive. He finshed standing directly in front of me. I grabbed him in a bear hug and fell on him. I'm easily three times his weight. ALL of the air left his body in a great big *GOOSH*. We got up laughing, all in good fun.

Belts and trophies are all nice and such, but sometimes there's no substitute for size.

The more I get to know people the more I like my dogs.

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 6:07 PM

Size is a weighty factor allright okay, okay.
One time on my motorcycle (Suzuki Gs500e, sold years ago) I practiced Bike-Fu. I was on a parkway when 2 cars ahead of me suddenly swirved into eachother and then moved apart. The parkway was crowded (as they tend to be on Long Island 24-7)and I realized these two bozos would probably swirve back into eachother as a reaction to moving too far apart after the initial jolt. Being on a bike, I could not afford to take a hit so I dropped down a gear and hit it. 55 to 95 in a blink, I sailed right in between those two monkeys just as they, yep. In my mirror I saw them hit, skid sideways and create a pileup. And I woulda been in that mess.
Don't be there when the blow lands...

There ya go, martial arts can be applied in many ways, eh?

Chrisisall

XENOCIDE

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 6:38 PM

18 years of 25 in a TKD studio, 2 year choi kwon do (way easier on the joints, more functional than TKD but not as pretty)2 years varsity wrestling, 2 years, college boxing and two years kendo iado. Lot's of scraps as a kid, I also was the little kid, but I was also the smart mouthy kid, so bully's liked to go for me. Learned quick to be merciless on day one, not quite ender wiggin merciless, rather just short of expulsion merciless. I was a 30 lb first grader, 65 pound 7th grader and a 90 lb freshman, so I am adherent to the fight dirty and mean school. 'Favorite' fight moments concussing the 9th grade locker room bully in the locker room, and pinning (without bruising) my father who had taken it into his head that it was ok to punch me now that i'm grown.
Most Surreal result of training moment: I once threw the principal over my shoulder when she grabbed me from behind to stop an impending lunch room brawl. I realized what I'd done and managed to land her on her feet in between me and the soccer team. They got suspended, I got to write an editorial.

-Eli

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XENOCIDE

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 6:43 PM

Of course looking mean enough to not have to fight is the best. Zonshin(sp) warrior spirit, the art of looking assured of victory has been the greatest gift of martial arts.

-Eli

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 8:11 PM

Xenocide, thanks for the posts.
You reminded me of a High School event- a bully from the wrestling team started a fight with me right in the classroom after the teacher left to go do something or other, he rushed me and pinned me up against a wall (love to have a wall to work off of) and started punching me in the stomach and ribs. His head was low to avoid punches so I brought my elbow down on his spine right around c-5. It was like taking candy from a baby. He shuddered, then tried to resume punching so I did it again, Harder. He dropped onto all fours and I asked if we were done to which I got no reply. I went back to my seat calmly as the teacher came back in to ask that idiot why he wasn't in his seat, ha ha.

Chrisisall

FREMDFIRMA

Thursday, April 7, 2005 4:16 AM

Greco-Roman wrestling is damned impressive, and in the hands of someone like Hoyce Gracie, downright scary - that guy tries to shake HANDS with me, and I'd be two states away before I stopped running.

Anyhow, if I know someone knows that, imma run away, and come back with a bazooka from 300 yards.

Being hammered on, I can take.. being chain-hold locked ? oh hell no, I'll shoot you.

-F

NEEDLESEYE

Thursday, April 7, 2005 5:36 AM

OK I've been remembering some crazy stuff since this thread started.
I remember after a very rigorous practice at school, the instructor lined us all up as usual.
He walked down the line and hit a few of us with two fingers just under the collar bone area. (This was his form of affection for those who practiced hard, and don't you dare flinch!)
First, I'm standing there ,I feel completely normal except for where the instr. hit, then I kind of collapsed to my seat, I guess you could say.
Talk about lights out.
They had to carry me to the back and revive me.
I'd have been embarrassed but that the instructor was so pleased with himself.
Also, did anyone have to do Bagwa walk exercise. We weren't allowed to drink anything for a while after, wouldn't let us drive either if I remember.

Keeper of Jayne's goggles. 8)

CHRISISALL

Thursday, April 7, 2005 8:47 PM

Needleseye, you're talkin' all that nerve and chakra stuff, I only learned howta break bones, crush windpipes, tear cartilage and the like.

I ain't no vibratin' palm expert, but it seems to me he poked one o' your breathin' nerves real precise-like.

Ouch.

Chrisisall

TECHIECL

Thursday, April 7, 2005 9:19 PM

I've bounced from various styles and schools trying to find the right one for me: TKD, Southern Mantis Kung-Fu, Taido, Muay Thai. Discovered Jiu-Jitsu (Shinto Yoshin Kai style) and found my "home". Been their almost 2 years now.

Haven't been in a real-fight. Just stupid school stuff.

My favorite would have to be one that I came out victorious and unharmed by attacking the bullies "spirit". The guy lunged at me trying to get me in a grab or headlock. I slipped out and grabbed the draw strings to the hood of his Starter Jacket and pulled it closed on his face. I shoved him to the ground and knoted the draw strings tying them off behind his head.

Everyone was laughing so hard at the bus stop where we faced off. He just slinked away when he eventually wiggled outta the jacket.

__________________________________________________
Dogbert: Try not to think of yourself as an organic pain collector hurtling towards oblivion

Dilbert: Too late...

CHRISISALL

Thursday, April 7, 2005 9:40 PM

Techiecl, I'm a big fan of trying many styles as you did, I'm glad you found 'home'. That's real important. For the longest time I stuck with TKD just 'cause I was a great kicker. But it kept buggin' me that I was spending so much time trying to manuver my opponants into just the right range to score that head shot! When I took JKD I felt a lot better, but then I went deeper to find the roots of JKD, and Wing Chun became my home.

Good bus stop story, sounds almost like sumpin' Jackie Chan might do...

Chrisisall

CHRISISALL

Thursday, April 7, 2005 10:07 PM

YO, Fremdfirma, sounds like you know Gun Fu,
Did you ever see Equilibrium, sounds like your type o' flick.

" When you can take the pebble from my hand, it will b- BANG..ughh.."

Chrisisall

FREMDFIRMA

Friday, April 8, 2005 5:49 AM

Might look into it, thanks.

What most folks don't get, is there's fighting dirty, and knowing HOW to do so effectively and get away with it.

If I think the situation warrants it, and I could get away with it, someones catchin a trio of .380ACP in short order - if things require a little more restraint, someone gonna get ventilated a bit with my UC Scorpion Mark II (A rather nice blade with no realistic purpose other than that).

Or the snapwhip, for locales that seem to have outlawed every other thing you could defend yourself with - even in the hands of a complete amateur, it can quickly level the playing field.

I dun go hand to hand if I can help it, but if I do it's all about close-range maximum damage, rabbit punch to the collar bone, stomp-heel kick to side of knee, very basic, very effective and immediate damage-dealing, nothing you'd ever wanna even practice on other live human being, nor could you spar in such a fashion because the only reflex you'd learn is to pull your shots, which would cause a hestitation you could not afford in the situation where such skills would be useful.

I'll just close in as fast as possible and soak up anything coming, because letting someone bigger and stronger than you line up at range and clout on you is just stupid, if you have a hold of him, he'll be using at least one arm/leg to try to dislodge you, and thus.. you break the other one!... and if you've ever tried to restrain a very pissed off cat, you get the general idea of what'll happen if I have a blade handy.

There's technique, and experience, both of which are useful, and I give the nod to technique as superior if you stack them apples to apples and compare, but experience has it's voice too.

-F

UC 697 Scorp II
http://www.bynoon.com/united10.html

Snapwhip
(Spring-Type, bottom of page)
http://www.selfdefenseproducts.com/police/batons/expandable.php

CALHOUN

Friday, April 8, 2005 6:11 AM

I have no formal training.

I used to have an original of Bruce Lee's "Tao of Jeet Kune Do" which I would study religously.

I have several Black belt friends who for a long time used me for target practice (sparring). I have bested all of them on occasion. Not saying I am great but I think my adrenal system supplies more power and speed in a pinch than most peoples. I just lack stamina. I rely on finishing the job fast, if it goes much longer than 1 min I am doomed :)

NEEDLESEYE

Friday, April 8, 2005 7:26 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Needleseye, you're talkin' all that nerve and chakra stuff,.... but it seems to me he poked one o' your breathin' nerves real precise-like.

Ouch.

Yeah, it hurt (but not as bad as what the guy who flinched got.) If I hadn't passed out as the prescribed pressure point suggested, instructor would have done it again. :{
The harder you trained the more they favored you. Favoring meant they'd practice their "knowledge" on you,and you had to take it. At this school it was supposedly an honor to be the punching bag for the instructors demonstration.
Is it like this in anyone elses experience?

Keeper of Jayne's goggles. 8)

TECHIECL

Friday, April 8, 2005 4:50 PM

That happens a lot at my Dojo with the Head Blackbelt using a few lower level black belts for demonstration purposes. Makes sense though, more experienced students have trained longer with him so there's that sense of trust that prevents panic reactions. Also their better trained in knowing their limits and how to take advance break-falls.

__________________________________________________
Dogbert: Try not to think of yourself as an organic pain collector hurtling towards oblivion

Dilbert: Too late...

TETHYS

Friday, April 8, 2005 6:10 PM

15 yrs Kenjutsu, same with TKD, 5 yrs in Judo.

Would love to learn Aikido, but no good dojos where I live :(

"Your mouth is talking. Might wanna look to that"
I am: http://redwing.hutman.net/%7Emreed/warriorshtm/bigcat.htm

WHISPER

Friday, April 8, 2005 8:38 PM

I practiced Tae-kwon-do, Kenpo, Ninjitsu (yes the ninja stuff) all together, now called American Freestyle, for four years. I loved it. I took state champion in sparring two years in a row. I even went to a national tournament but didn't get to fight because there was no one else in my division. So i got first there by default. I was pissed. I wanted to earn it. I've been out for a while now, but sorely miss it. I would love to go back to get my black belt (only two belts to go) but i can't afford it right now.

The fight (sparring match, never been in a real fight) that i remember most fondly, i didn't even win. I was fighting this chick in a state tournament, in the advanced division. In this division you're still supposed to use control. You're sparring for points not for KO's. Well anyway this girl was hitting as hard as she could and the judges weren't paying any attention to that. (Probably because i wasn't a wimp about it. I hated the girls that would cry for judges sympathy.) So finally i got so pissed that i sidekicked her in the stomach as hard as i could. She flew a good ways before landing on her ass. Then she cried about it! I was so happy with my little revenge that i didn't mind when i was disqualified for excessive contact. Everytime I saw her at the tournaments after that she wouldn't join my division. I think i might have scared her, hee hee.

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CHRISISALL

Friday, April 8, 2005 8:41 PM

Needleseye, my Okinawan Kempo sensei was FROM Okinawa!! If he thought you were good, he'd hit you all the harder. It got to be we wanted him to hit us!
'Course, that was some years back, teachers these days, for the most part, don'e cozy up to the notion of sending thier students home all black and blue, they let the senior students handle that task, for legal reasons, I assume.

The formerly bruised Chrisisall

WHISPER

Friday, April 8, 2005 8:44 PM

At this school it was supposedly an honor to be the punching bag for the instructors demonstration.
Is it like this in anyone elses experience?

At the dojo i trained at, when you would receive your next belt, the Sensei's would all take turns punching you in the stomach. The harder they punched the more respect they had for you. Once you got your black belt, they all sidekicked you instead.

www.whispergraphics.net

CHRISISALL

Friday, April 8, 2005 8:47 PM

Fremdfirma you are so right about training hampering performance, what you train is how you'll react, so pullin' kicks and punches has never been my thing. If ya can't make contact when ya train, it's honestly better not to.

Get a wooden dummy!!!

Telephone poles are good, too.

The impact obsessed Chrisisall

CHRISISALL

Friday, April 8, 2005 8:56 PM

Whisper, I went to a tournament when I was 15 (and met Chuck Norris, I might add) and I didn't like it too much, because while I scored the first point in the match, I felt in reality it wouldn't have hurt him. The next contact I made didn't 'score' even though I felt that would've
finished a real fight! (I had a hard time remembering that it was play, a game, not fighting)

Bravo for the revenge story, musta felt sweet:)

A dish best served by Chrisisall

HARDWARE

Friday, April 8, 2005 10:01 PM

Quote:
If I think the situation warrants it, and I could get away with it, someones catchin a trio of .380ACP in short order...

There's a lot of reliable .380s out there but I think it's a little anemic. .22s are always underestimated but they can be fast movers and more people are killed every year by .22s than by all other calibers combined. My personal fave is the .45acp. The only caliber designed using cadavers. Even if it doesn't kill 'em, it'll put 'em on the ground. Doesn't hurt that I'm big enough to completely conceal a large frame auto though.

It really doesn't matter what the caliber is though. The weapon is the shooter, not the gun.

Quote:
- if things require a little more restraint, someone gonna get ventilated a bit with my UC Scorpion Mark II (A rather nice blade with no realistic purpose other than that).

Nice, I like the Gerber Applegate-Fairbairn Covert. I used to carry mine everywhere but since my life got a lot less interesting I carry a SOG powerlock multi-tool.

Quote:
Or the snapwhip, for locales that seem to have outlawed every other thing you could defend yourself with - even in the hands of a complete amateur, it can quickly level the playing field.

I like those spring batons like the Asp. Good compromise weapons for carrying around. Don't forget the mag light. I carry a 4 D cell model in my car. Held with the shaft resting on your shoulder, light foward and light on your target you can snap it overhand and forward. Your target goes from blinded to watching the little birdies orbit their head. The C cell models are good too. The D cell models are clubs but the C cell models make good batons.

The one caveat to all of these is availability. You have to have them with you to use them. Preparing yourself with training and practice in a martial form gives you an option that can't easily be taken away.

The more I get to know people the more I like my dogs.

WHISPER

Saturday, April 9, 2005 4:42 AM

I agree with your statement, chrisisall, about sparring not being true to a real fight. It's more about learning to think in a "fight" situation and bettering your reaction time if someone was to attack you. If i was ever to get into a real situation where i did have to use any of my training, it wouldn't be my sparring techniques. It would be the nastier, grittier moves i learned from the ninjitsu side of my training.

www.whispergraphics.net

CHRISISALL

Sunday, April 10, 2005 4:41 PM

I agree.
Wisper, I think we played out this thread.

Thanks all, it was fun.

The Kung Fu Fightin' Chrisisall

BLINKER

Sunday, April 10, 2005 11:02 PM

Kung Fu? Hey, I went to high school with that guy!

...hey, where'd everyone go?

_________
Sliders: Gate Haven - http://slidersweb.net/blinker

CHRISISALL

Sunday, April 10, 2005 11:29 PM

Don't seem to remember goin' to school with "Blinker". You from Long Island?

The 'got that face' Chrisisall

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, July 6, 2005 3:25 PM

We've gotten a lot of new people 'round here in the last 3 months, and a couple were on another thread askin' about fighting, so I thought it might be time to re-activate one of my favourite threads, the stories y'all told on here were facinating.

Any new martial artists here?

She can kill me with her pinky Chrisisall

GHRISKA

Wednesday, July 6, 2005 4:08 PM

Hasn't anyone lost a fight?

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, July 6, 2005 5:05 PM

Browncoats don't lose fights. They strategically withdraw when loss is eminent.

That's how I see it anyway Chrisisall

BROWNCOAT1

Wednesday, July 6, 2005 7:58 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Ghriska:
Hasn't anyone lost a fight?

Sure. Lost a couple in grade school before I began any martial arts training. Haven't lost any since.

__________________________________________

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

Richmond, VA & surrounding area Firefly Fans:

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/richmondbrowncoats/

REKA

Thursday, July 7, 2005 5:44 PM

I've been meaning to learn Wing-Chun for many years now, but I have neither the money nor the proximity nor the time right now. I have been doing kendo for five years, so I'm beginning to manage a stick pretty well. Some iaido on the side. Bits of Tai Chi interspersed throughout my upbringing because it was a cultural thing to do every morning.

I used to get picked on in junior high and high school a lot, which was weird in some ways. Since I was a little Chinese nerd girl, the school administration never came down on me if I fought back. It was a weird position to be in. The rougher crowd knew not to pick on me because for one, if they got caught, they'd be in a lot of trouble ("don't harm the school's poster brain"), and two, if we were safe from being caught, they'd most likely get pretty darn hurt and not be able to do anything about it ("you got beat up by the little nerd girl?!?" - laughed out by friends and adminstration alike).

Plus the administration was happy to talk freely about bringing in dogs to sniff lockers and things when I was around to hear them. Some critical information passed on to the right ears can buy you a lot of safety and weird respect.

Strangely enough, I have found that the thing that has helped me most in situations where it does become physical has been my gymnastics and dance training. I've got more of that than most other things. The balance and flexibility is apparently pretty key. Not too surprising after watching Summer in the Serenity trailer, I guess...

Of course, as many have said already, the best way to manage seems to be to step away from an altercation with no physical involvement. That has saved the day more times than I can count. Especially since when the scrapping was going on in my life, I was 75 pounds.

I'm really not one for violence, but I do think it is worth knowing how to protect yourself and your loved ones. And how to be confident enough to be able to avoid the fight. And to quote a character from an obscure teen flick, "Every girl should know how to throw a good punch."

CHRISISALL

Thursday, July 7, 2005 6:23 PM

Reka, thanks for the interesting story.
Nice to meet a fellow Wing Chun person.
BTW, have you ever seen 'Wing Chun' with Michelle Yeoh? Some excellent real moves amongst all the wire-fu!

Chrisisall

BLEYDDYN

Thursday, July 7, 2005 6:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Reka:
And to quote a character from an obscure teen flick, "Every girl should know how to throw a good punch."

Too obscure for me, apparently. What movie was it?

As for training, three years of Seidokan (an Okinawan karate), two years of Shitoryu (very similar style). Both of those were over 15 years ago, however.

Plus two days of Traditional American Karate a couple of years ago. Also a very similar style to Seidokan. The reason it was only two days is because after the second class my back started hurting and kept getting worse and worse. I ended up missing a weeks worth of work and haven't had the courage to try again

I really need to practice on my own until I feel more comfortable, then try again, because I very much enjoyed the two classes I went to.

--Bleyddyn

HKCAVALIER

Thursday, July 7, 2005 7:21 PM

Hey Chrisisall, never noticed this thread until now, glad you revived it. Interesting stories all around.

I studied Oom Yung Do/Chung Moo for five years. I was a couple months away from black belt when I discovered that all my instructors were in debt up to their eye-balls to the school and our self-proclaimed grandmaster and all the higher belts had been to jail in the 90's for tax evasion (The FBI was investigating them as a cult in Chicago, so when they got out of jail they moved out to Seattle where nobody knew them). I was devastated, never had I been so commited to something one day and leaving in shock the next. It wouldn't have been quite so devastating if the training were just a scam but I was learning real stuff from these folks.

I don't exactly agree with the idea that if you pull punches in practice you'll necessarily pull 'em in a scrape, though I've never had to punch anybody in ernest. At my school, if a student put too much into their punches (I'm not saying it was me) the instructors would have them practice for the next few weeks as if it were tai chi. Our school emphasised open-hand and "chi" attacks (never got to the pressure point stuff myself, but I had it demonstrated on me--fun) and that stuff is all about control and nothing to do with wailing on somebody. Without precise control you could really do some damage that you never expected. When higher belts would practice that stuff in the school they'd do it behind screens so as to keep the rest of us from getting any ideas. Once one of the higher belts palmed me in the abdomen and I was fine for about 45 seconds and then it felt like my stumach and my liver were trading places and I didn't quite faint but I had to slump down to the ground. The blow felt like the gentle caress of a mac truck. Of course it just looked like the guy shrugged in front of me.

Since being in the school I haven't had to actually hit anyone on the street; readiness and the calm of knowing I've got nothing to worry about has been enough to scare off the few drunks and others who've tried to get into it with me.

The training does give you some strange reflexes, that's for sure. One time, at the height of my training, I was crossing the street and a van was coming straight at me and rather than run out of the way like any sane creature, I reflexively turned on the thing and barked out a "HEY." (I'm laughing just thinking about it.) The driver threw on the breaks and opened the door and I suddenly thought, uh-oh, where's this heading...but when he showed his face he was just so abashed and apologetic I felt really sorry.

And to the other bagwa walker above, yes, no eating or drinking after walking and absolutely no sparring.

HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

BLUEBOMBER

Friday, July 8, 2005 10:38 AM

I've always had good reflexes, even before training. I can catch and dodge blows pretty well.

I did Tae Kwon Do off and on for eight years, but I'm so out of practice it ain't funny.

Been in my share of fights as a kid. Lost almost all of 'em. Guess I'm not all that great (I got picked on a lot). I fought mostly with my older brother. The last time, I gave him a hell of a fight. Still got whupped, but he left me alone after that.

Nowadays the extent of my fighting experience is choreography for stage and screen fighting. I'm definitely not a master, but I understand it enough to make it look realistic.

"Mwah ha ha ha...mine is an evil laugh. Now die."

CHRISISALL

Friday, July 8, 2005 12:33 PM

It does seem to make sense that so many Browncoats have had martial trainin', and quite a few in weapons also (the bang kind).
I like this thread, 'cause it humbles me a bit.

Jackie Chrisisall

ZOID

Friday, July 8, 2005 3:15 PM

Chrisisall:

To answer the thread topic: "ANY BROWNCOATS KNOW KUNG FU?"

I thought David Carradine was great in that series. Didn't care much for the spinoff movies; but the original TV series was groundbreaking entertainment.

And, yeah, I know D. Carradine was actually a practioner of Tàijíquán, not gōngfu; but I'm an Occidental, so it's all the same to me...

Glibly,

zoid
_________________________________________________

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid." -Han Solo, Star Wars
a.k.a.:
Adventures of the Starkiller: Episode 1 - The Star Wars (USA) (original script title)
Guerra de las estrellas, La (USA: Spanish title)
Star Wars IV: A New Hope (USA) (video box title)
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (USA) (reissue title (new title)

"So uncivilized..." -Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, tossing his just-used blaster pistol to the ground, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
a.k.a.:
Star Wars: Episode III (USA) (working title)
Star Wars: Episode III - Rise of the Empire (USA) (working title)

"[The Bible is] Quite specific [in its prohibition of killing]. It is, however, somewhat fuzzier on the subject of kneecaps." -Shepherd Book, "War Stories", Firefly

CHRISISALL

Saturday, July 9, 2005 12:28 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by zoid:
And, yeah, I know D. Carradine was actually a practioner of Tàijíquán, not gōngfu; but I'm an Occidental, so it's all the same to me...

Zoid, your spelling of the styles names is unusual, did you get them from Hong Kong books? That's the only place I ever see them spelled that way.
Oh, and Tai Chi Chuan (my spelling) is gung-fu (a generic term that covers not only all Chinese martial art but anything that requires persistance and dedication to achieve), you'd know this if you weren't a gwilow.

like me Chrisisall

ZOID

Saturday, July 9, 2005 6:58 AM

Chrisisall wrote:

Quote:
Zoid, your spelling of the styles names is unusual, did you get them from Hong Kong books? That's the only place I ever see them spelled that way.
Oh, and Tai Chi Chuan (my spelling) is gung-fu (a generic term that covers not only all Chinese martial art but anything that requires persistance and dedication to achieve), you'd know this if you weren't a gwilow.

Hmmm... Where to begin? Well, I saw your ALL CAPS title asking if we knew KUNG FU, and I figured you had a question about the TV show. Realizing my error upon reading your lead-in, I answered anyway, trying to slip a little humor in between the warlike tales of high school ass-whuppins. I thought my facetious treatment would be a tongue-in-cheek tip-off that I know nothing about Asian martial arts, except where to look them up on the Internet.

Specifically, the same place I look up just about everything else: Wikipedia. More specifically, here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tai_Chi_Chuan
-and-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kung_fu

Those articles include the correct Pinyin spelling, and since I'm a practioner of the tao of Windows, I can double-click, CTRL + C and CTRL + V faster than you can snatch a fly from the air...

Defenselessly,

zoid,
"The White Ghost"
_________________________________________________

"If you sit long enough by the river bank, the body of your enemy may float by." -Ancient Chinese proverb

CANTON

Saturday, July 9, 2005 7:12 AM

Pencak silat is my primary focus, Silat Harimau “Tiger style.” Is my strongest aspect.

No really it's Pukulan Pencak Silat, and since I studied in Indonesia. . .it has to be one of the best styles I've ever learned. I've also participated in Judo and Jeet Kune Do and I found it lacking (interesting tech. but hard to apply in a real world situation). But that is my opinion and anyone is welcome to say their piece. Had to speak my mind, message me if you have a valid point.

Check out the Browncoat Online Photoalbum. Thank Fray101. http://clik.to/photoverse

HKCAVALIER

Saturday, July 9, 2005 8:06 AM

Hey Zoid,

I got the joke I think we finally may have found a subject Chrisisall takes a little too seriously

HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

CHRISISALL

Saturday, July 9, 2005 2:04 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by zoid:
"The White Ghost"

Oh elusive White Ghost, I was confused by your levity concerning David Carradine, yet your book-perfect spellin' of the styles, I suspected goofieness was afoot, that's why I called you gwilow (a term for white people that is less than positive).

"Quickly as you can, snatch the pebble from my hand."
"Master, can we not try this exercise with valuable coins instead?"

Hong Kong Fooey Chrisisall

CHRISISALL

Saturday, July 9, 2005 2:16 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by HKCavalier:
I think we finally may have found a subject Chrisisall takes a little too seriously

Them's fightin' words!!!
Next time I see your butt in the RWE, it's gonna git kicked! I'll team up with Lynchaj, and it'll be clobberin' time!!
wait...Lynchaj only knows Bush-Fu, that's a made up style, and doesn't work for real...

Oh well, I guess you're safe...for now.

Seriously Chrisisall

ZOID

Saturday, July 9, 2005 5:55 PM

Chrisisall:

Yes, and the literal interpretation of 'gwilow' is 'white ghost', hence the signature. Sounds pretty good to me; but, you're right, the intent is a racial slur, similar to the true intent of 'gaijin'...

Respectfully,

zoid,
"The Lowly Mongrel Yank White Ghost" (and fiercely proud of it)
_________________________________________________

"Sure as I know anything, I know this: I aim to misbehave." -Capt. Mal Reynolds, Serenity, a.k.a. 'the BDM'

CHRISISALL

Sunday, July 10, 2005 5:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by zoid:

the literal interpretation of 'gwilow' is 'white ghost',

You got me. I didn't know the literal translation, it is known to me as 'foreign white devil'.

Learn something new everyday.

And I was Chinese in a past life! Chrisisall