Looking for some opinions?

[Andre]

I'm sorry guys, I misunderstood "WTF" when I first read it.

Me too its much more fun reading it that way.
Makes the Wtf olympics sound even more special than the special one.

[Munkymagic]

Missed this one.

Just a comment in general. It is possible to get a black belt in 3 years if you train your arse off, are talented and athletic and eat,drink and shit the martial art for that period. McDojo's are places where they give the belt so long as the student pays tuition fee's...i have seen loads of these types of places. If the student is happy then so be it but i hope they dont think for one minute their new black belt status means they can call on their moves when the adrenaline is pumping and they get tunnel vision.

In terms of me, it took years of on and off training to get my shodan. I have always been BJA and to get belts you have to fight, simple as that..no other way around it. You have to demostrate good technique of moves to show you are proficient (theory and practical demonstration) and then you have to fight to get graded up in competitions. So no fella sitting there with a board and pen watching you complete moves on a compliant opponent or any tip tap point scoring stuff..no you have to stand opposite another person of similar grade (who is also fighting to be graded) and fight full on with blood and sweat to get graded up and thats why i love it.

When you get to 1st Kyu (brown) you then go on a points system to get your black, you need a 100 points to get black and points are earned winning fights. BUT it took me a bit longer because i wanted my black via the traditional 'lineup'

Basically 3 other 1st Kyu brown belts lineup and you have to fight and beat each one in turn one after the other with no rest. If you defeat all 3 of them by ippon then you will be awarded your black belt there and then. Remember the guys you are facing are looking to earn points toward their own black belt and are experienced brown belts the same as you. This is the toughest way to earn it but IMO the most respected. I threw up after i got ippon on the 3rd opponent i was exhausted but the feeling is great. When you get through this you truly feel like a proper fighter who could take on anyone. 5 mins rest i felt like going again!! Although think that was just the adrenaline.

With any martial art you only get out what you put in. I do other combatives type stuff too based on WW2 techniques that are very nasty. There is no belt system for this, you just become a nastier and nastier bastard! ...

Its true what some people say, don't pay attention to belts, belts are for holding up your trousers. Concentrate on your own personal goals and gains and the belts will come.

[Munkymagic]

Oh and X by the way have you ever heard of the ITA (international taekwondo alliance)?

They are a mcdojo of the highest order. They are now teaching BJJ as part of their syllabus i think (my son used to go their when he was really little..like 4 years old just to get rid of some energy..before i took him off to do Judo at 5 )

I think they go on a 3 week intesive BJJ course or something and add it in to their teaching.

[Howlin Mad Missy]

Monkey is back!

Have to agree, doing forms is nothing like someone trying to break your skull.

What are these WWII techniques? I want to know.

[Munkymagic]

Monkey is back!

Have to agree, doing forms is nothing like someone trying to break your skull.

What are these WWII techniques? I want to know.

All it is is a set of combative techniques that were used in WW2. Originally pioneered by Sykes and fairbarn...its good stuff. Real basic techniques that are quick to absorb but offer maximum impact. They are drilled and drilled some more until they become second nature under times of duress or when adrenaline is a major factor in a 'real go' (am talking about street fighting here...or defending yourself on the street from the everyday scum that walk this earth)