Nice Little Taiji Fighting Demonstration

Here's a nice demo of the basic Tai Chi Chuan energies; Ward-off, rollback, press and push. Of course, these techniques are done on a willing student, but the dynamics displayed are pretty good.
I like the risky but definately cool changing-hands turnaround wrist lock.
also, the alternative uses of Press, such as palm striking the opponent's hitting fist, sending power up the arm into his torso and root. Some pretty good concepts and I'm sure the un-named Master in this demonstration could mix it up pretty good in a self-defense situation. It's always nice to see the real martial side of Tai Chi Chuan!

Jab-Cross-Hook Drill

In this video, we introduce our Boxing Coach, "Mr. T".
As most of us who have done years of Karate know, Karate punching is usually a heavy, rooted, chambered power punch. This is often seen in impressive displays of board and brick breaking. It is however, sorely lacking in mobile, practical hitting skills.
When Mr. T. joined our Dojo of misfit marshalists a decade ago, he brought with him years of Boxing skills (as well as some Kajukenbo).
In short order, our practical hitting skills improved significantly. The Jab is the engine that drives the car. The Cross is pouring on the gas, and the Hook is the car running the poor bastard over.
If you are practicing Karate right now, experiment with these hitting patterns. We start with one side foward, run the pattern- Jab, Jab-cross, jab-cross-hook. Go for one minute, then switch sides and go for another minute. Finish with another minute on the side you started on. You've just fought a three minute round- it's a great conditioning blast. Work your weak side to bring it up to par with your strong side.
What these drills will do for you is to give a more mobile, active hitting posture and skill.
Next Dojo Rat video - The Jab- Hook combo, moving to flank the opponent.

Urban Combat #3 -- Jail House Rock

Ok, I'm getting it now. It takes a while for this old white dude living in the deep woods of the Pacific Northwest to understand the dynamics of Brooklyn Street Arts.
These guys call their self-defense system "52 Blocks". According to Wikipedia, "52 Blocks" is a form of "Jail House Rock", a prison fighting system with "52" refering to a deck of cards--- "let them fall where they may".
Wiki goes on to describe this as a unique martial style with origins dating back to the days of slavery and indigenous African fighting skills. From Wiki:
"A Version of Jail House Rock, referred to as "52 Hand Blocks" or "the 52s", is said to have originated in the gang neighborhoods of Brooklyn and nearby boroughs of New York City during the late 1970s and early 1980s. 52 was created from old "asiatics" boxing that was modified in the penal institutions such as Comstock, and Elmira and later used heavily on the streets as a male rite of passage."
--Obviously, I haven't reviewed the entire system, but I do have these observations:
1. A lot of their strength training involves schoolyard paralell bars and other climbing bars. According to one video, this training was prefered because it was superior overall conditioning, and that the Prison weightroom was too dangerous to train in. I like that.
2. While I have seen some of their offense training, mostly boxing and kicking, they appear to rely heavily on broken-pattern constant defensive movement. This is done without an extended bridge position, perhaps due to the influence of cutting weapons both on the street and in jail.
-The problem I have with that is that without an extended bridge (arms extended in defensive structure) the opponents punch gets much, much closer to you before you can neutralize it. This is more like "slipping" in Boxing or "shaving" in Mantis style. It's more as a secondary blocking position than a primary defense bridge.
-Additionally, even the best blocker can only block "so many", and will eventually get pasted.
-Now, the one thing I don't think I've seen them work yet is blocking and striking at the same time, clearly a superior method than a 1-block, 2-counter - which gives the opponent a split second to get their second punch in.
-We did recieve instruction on random arm movement such as this defensive pattern. It was from Wing Chun expert Ron Ogi, who suggested that we use it if you were temporarly blinded by blood in the eyes etc. Ogi's method was to "noodle" your arms in an extended position until you make contact with the opponent's arms and the sense of touch guides your response.
*** Al-in-all, I've enjoyed looking at the "52 Blocks" system and their spirited, innovative training methods.

Urban Combat #2

Back to "52 Blocks" and Lyte Burly.
I'm starting to like these guys, more for their presentation than their techniques however.
The first block he shows is valid and I have seen versions of this in Wing Chun and in Erle Montagues Taiji ("Peng-Hinge" block). I like his use of the elbows alot.
The second technique however, is extremely risky and I don't think you could use it against a good striker. Forgetaboutit! Now, that is not to say that you can't achieve that same position by taking the striking arm in a low pass and turn your shoulder into it. This does put you in a position to break the elbow and/or throw the opponent.
--We'll follow a few more examples of their techniques, coming up next...

Just A Note:

UCHI DESHI:
A little note about one of the best Martial Arts Blogs I have ever read, Uchi Deshi.
Due to Dojo politics, Richard's excellent chronicle of a live-in Aikido Dojo in California has been taken private.
I have had several requests for contacting Richard. If you contact him by E-mail, you can still follow the adventures of Richard and his band of wrist-locking-sword-fighting Aikido-ka. His Blog is still available:
Write Richard at uchideshi@gmail.com

Urban Combat #1

Ah, yes - While the financial markets melt around us, bringing an uncertain future, we realize it's even MORE important to continue our study of martial arts.
I came across these guys a while back, don't know if anybody else has followed their stuff. Much like the video's of "B.T."- (Black Taoist, also on YouTube), these guys are urban warriors with a low-key street-inspired training regime.
I'm just getting up to speed on their material, but it's fun and it looks like a few good training tips will be explored.
I'll have further comments as we review more of their video's...

The Second Republican Great Depression

I'll get back to Martial Arts very soon, I promise.
--But today is the start of the "Crash".
The other day I read a blog entry by a very nice lady, a family person with a young professional husband. She is a McCain/Palin supporter who commented that she has prospered under the eight years of the Cheney administration. Her only complaint seemed to be the rising price of gas. Everything else in her world view was just fine.
Obviously, some people remain insulated from the tremendously bad times we are approaching. Their kids are too young to fight in the Republican wars. They benifeted from a good college education. They can afford a new house when the market is overloaded with empty, available housing from the hard financial times their neighbors have experianced.
Bottom line is, the shit has hit the fan. The Republicans, specificly John McCain's economic advisor Phil Grahm have engineered the deregulation of financial markets that have now begun to collapse. They hid the scheme well, and the wealth of the country steadily poored upward into the pockets of the wealthiest people in America.
--By all indications, this is just the beginning. Alan Greenspan (who helped put many of these bad policies in motion) has said this looks like a "Once in a century event". Let's see what the ripple is when the Asian markets weigh in.
Here's a summary:
A Return to Black Monday
Published 09/15/08 Craig Harrington - Print Article
E-mail - editor@economyincisis.org
Wall Street stumbled mightily over the weekend with the simultaneous sale of Merrill Lynch to Bank of America and the bankruptcy filing of Lehman Brothers Holdings, according to The New York Times.
Another crisis looms on the horizon with American International Group (AIG) days away from bankruptcy. The last time Wall Street firms were in such dire straights was Oct. 19, 1987, Black Monday, when the Dow Jones fell 22 percent and several prominent firms collapsed under the weight of losses. Last month Harvard University professor Kenneth Rogoff predicted that the worst was yet to come in the U.S. financial sector. Many investors had hoped that the crisis was nearing its end, but the events of the last few days have proven otherwise.
***Here's a link to follow