Who here fights ?

M

MTAA

Moderator
Sorry guys, I'm getting tired of the "_____ scenario" threads. Time to check into some good ol' hand to hand.

I have a Muay Thai match coming up in February, just started up the road work...man it sucks during wintertime :(. Oh well, gotta lose 15 lbs in the next 7 weeks. Anyone else here compete regularly ?
 
I don't compete, but I'm curious.

What's involved? Do you have classifications based on skill and/or weight, or are the fights "open"? Do you wear any protective padding? How long do the fights last? Are they usually decided by points, or by one fighter being punched/kicked into submission?
 
Hello

If you're ever out Ga way, Jose Castro's Dojo in Athens offers the most realistic training I've seen. You'll definetely know you were there. Protection is at the participants discretion. I recommend at least a mouthpiece. It's about 90% speed. Nobody's trying to kill anybody, and if you're not experienced, things slow down even more. Muay thai afficianados have actually fared pretty well in this type of training, as long as they have some experience fighting on the floor. A few things I've learned:
1.)Don't spar with a Gracie, even after he's fought seven other people.
2.)Size DOES matter, but strength and technique can prevail.
3.)Don't carry a handgun in condition 3-Cycling a slide will not be an option.
4.)Avoid a fight until you can't anymore, then POUNCE!
5.)Have good health insurance.

Good luck in your next match.
 
Matt VDW, to answer your questions :

--- "Do you have classifications based on skill and/or weight, or are the fights "open"?"

Depends on the venue. This fight is a local club fight, which is a warmup for serious competitve amateurs and a way to break in new fighters. Experience is definitely considered when matching up opponents, and we use the same weight classification of amateur boxing sans cruiserweight.

---"Do you wear any protective padding"

Yep, shin guards, gloves (16 ouncers for me), and headgear. This is more of a nuisance than it is a benefit. When a fighter steps up to semipro or sanctioned amateur fights, we ditch the head gear and shin guards.

---"How long do the fights last? Are they usually decided by points, or by one fighter being punched/kicked into submission?"


Fights last three rounds, three minutes each. Fights are decided just like in pro boxing, an opponent wins by a KO, TKO, or judges decision. Since these are only three round fights, most end up in decision.
 
I do, but only when I can't avoid it or if a friend/relative needs protected. I don't see much point to tournaments. I've watched way too many to believe that most of those people wouldn't get themselves killed on the street.
 
I've attended a few classes, Tae Kwon Do (sp), Kung Fu, some others.....never liked the look of it.

So, I've been looking into a few alternative styles.

One that interests me is SCARS. Basic principle, don't worry about what your opponent MIGHT do to you...Focus on what you ARE going to do to him!

I like that idea.
 
Fights

Hi guys,
I don't know your age, but I'm 52 now...had been in the fight game without pads since 1960 (jiu-jitsu and golden gloves), went to tournament karate for a long time...one word of advice? Use the pads...royal pain to use, but I walk a little gimpy legged now from all the kicks I blocked with my shins. No big deal when I was your age...now
...maybe, should have learned a different way to block those kicks.
Actually worse is my hip from taking all those falls in judo and jiujitsu.
Anyway, I always wondered what all those years of letting your body take the punishment from fighting would do...just finding out now.
 
Falls

Spectre,
Being originally from the old aiki jitsu, we rolled out of a throw when possible. Then I got into soCal judo which was a lot more tournament then self-defense.
Eventually I started teaching (for some 20 years) and doing basics over and over has impacted the hips a lot.
A few years back, though, I was being stupid as usual and I went on the top step of the ladder while pruning a tree. I fell, my leg got locked into the ladder and I did a complete fall with a 6 foot step ladder, I broke fall typical judo style, at the same time I reacted jiujitsu style and threw the ladder over me.
My wife fell on the ground laughing as I lay there assessing whether or not I had damaged anything.....just my pride...just my pride.
 
Don't fight but I've got a mean ASP baton, cannister of pepper spray, and if those fail an H & K USP 40, S & W Model 642, and a Remington 870 12 guage at work with me!!!!!!!
 
I use to compete and teach before I became disabled. Now I fight pain, boredom, my kids (sort of) and whatever. At the young age of 41, I envy you who compete. I think we all have taken our physical abilities for granted at times. Now for self defense I am honing my marksmanship skills. In all probability, I will never need to do this but practicing sure is a release. Sorry, I know this reply isn't exactly relative to the original question, but just had to get it out. Man, I feel better!
 
Hey MTAA...

First off, good luck in your upcoming match!

I don't compete, but do occasionally spar with some guys that do fight in cage fights out here in Az. We usually do about 75% speed striking (western boxing and Thai) but do very limited elbows/knees to the head (save them for the pads). Grappling for position and submission is usually 90%, about 70% speed on takedowns (don't want to pull a muscle in shoots and don't want to be seriously hurt in a fall)... usually no slams.


On a side note, I'm not sure if you know who Gilbert Yvel is, but I saw him on ESPN cornering for a guy that won a Thai match two nights ago. I've got a couple of NHB matches with him and man, he is a wrecking machine.


Another BTW... I have heard that California is coming close to legalizing mixed martial arts competitions... amazing. I have heard from many that the ones on the reservations down off of I-8 are very good.
 
I wrestled from 4th grade through 9th grade.
I boxed in junior high and high school, then in the navy tried kickboxing.
When I got out, I got into kung-fu very heavy.
Strictly combat, no competition.
I enjoyed it very much and ended up teaching for about 8 years after I got my 3rd degree black sash.
I later got my 4th degree.
Then came kids and that was it. All is on hold.
My boy is 6 now and is getting interested.
When he asks, and is serious, then here I go again.......
If at all posible, expose a kid to martial arts of any kind.
It is good for the mind, body, and spirit.
Have A Good Day All...........
 
Hey Handgun357 - You are absolutely right about the benefits of exposing kids to the martial arts. It has been the best thing in the world for my two sons. I have exposed my two sons to Judo, Okinawan Kempo Karate and TKD. They have excelled in both real self defense and competition - they know the difference between combat training and tournament stuff. But most importantly, it has developed them not only physically but the mind and spirit as well. They are really good teenagers who are, for the most part, disciplined, confident and mature. I started them out when they were six years old. My oldest, 15 years old, whose background in Judo brought hell to both his Middle School and High School wrestling mat. When your son is ready to study, you are in for a treat but I don't have to tell you that. Take care.
 
Fights

Well you guys know then, "Dad's got bragging rights"

My daughter is 14 now and she has been in some serious fights against either a bigger opponent or more than one four times now. So far no "marks" on her. I was worried that she could develop into a bully if she knew too much, but each time she had to defend herself, I feel it was justifiable...I have made her go back to apologize to some of the folks that picked on her, but they don't want to "mess" with her anymore. She had to apologize because of some of the "blows" she used were kind of heavy.
I haven't taught her too many "techniques" but I do wrestle with her a lot. I have thrown in elements of jiujitsu,JKD, and some real close in gung-fu stuff. Her legs are strong, and she has a good sense of balance.
Another proud moment was when I took her to the shooting range on her 12th birthday...she did good and now she is my shooting buddy.


One of my co-workers had his daughter picked on by the local "bullies" of the school. About 5 real brave ones...they wanted the new girl's lunch money in high school, so they said if she didn't pay up then she had to take a beating in the school restroom. They lead her in the restroom...she learned a few techniques of Escrima from her dad so she knew that her best chance was to take out the person in front of her, who happened to be the leader, then stand off the rest in the doorway because only one or two can come at her at one time.
The minute the ringleader went into the restroom, the daughter grabbed her by the hair and slammed her head against the sink counter top. Then she took the girl off the rebound and hip threw on to the floor. Administering several kicks to the head and body, she stood in the doorway to see that the rest of the bullies had run away.
She was called into the principal's office, the gangleader was taken to the hospital (concussion and various bruises)...the school threatened to kick her out even when they found out the real situation.
My friend threatened to sue the school and the principal when they found out this gang had been allowed to "run" their little ring for two years. His daughter has a big group of friends (read other people extorted by the gang).

Dad's get bragging rights, right?
 
yes, great story... I love hearing when martial arts helps the good guys (especially the gals) defend themselves... the way they were ment to.
 
i would tend to disagree with the statement that tournament fighters do not do well in the street. most of the guys i know that "fight" in a full contact ring and myself are tough nuts to crack in real life. how else do you propose to hone these skills? the only other way i know is to pick or finish fights in the street and that is one part butt whipping (yours) and one part butt kicking (thiers) and one good chance of meeting a real bad ass that will kill you or cripple you for fun. full speed, full contact fighting in a controlled enviroment combined with sessions of no holes barred grappling is a sure way to identify your strengths and weaknesses. as i get older i tend to rely more on weapons and tactical common sense to keep from fighting. but if the flag goes up i will strike to cripple of kill with or without weapons with practice born of decades of punishing opponents in the ring and having my own ass wipped by those with superior skills.
 
Riddleofsteel,

I partly agree and disagree with your opinion.
Some full-contact tournaments impose rules that are unrealistic in a street situation. For example, the 'no-below-the-belt' rule in Tae Kwon Do is certainly not going to apply in a real life situation. Therefore, full-contact TKD sees little use of techniques aimed below the waist - and therefore presents very limited realism. On the other hand, there is boxing and Muay Thai, where almost anything is permissible - and therefore better fits street fighting scenarios.

Semi-contact training is for technique. The idea is to use enough force to jar your training partner when they make mistakes, without seriously injuring them.

Full-contact training is for polishing up - where trainees can identify what works for them, and what doesn't work.
 
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