- Martial grandmother still passing on the tradition.
This kickboxing grandma is co-owner of West Coast Martial Arts, a school blending traditional disciplines such as tae kwon do and jiujitsu with modern-day defense techniques.
- One person thinks martial arts and ballroom dancing are very similar.
Fred teaches ballroom dance, as well as Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido.
We used to practice in a ballet studio and I’ve often thought that of some of the dancers I saw.
- Harlen kids learn old school karate.
His project is committed to the community and has underlying motives to help combat involvement in crime, prevent drug abuse, and reduce what they see as feelings of hopelessness and despair in New York’s urban youth.
- Mother and teen get arrested for running their own fight club!
A teen’s wish for an after-school activity has led to charges against the boy and his mother for allegedly staging illegal backyard fights refereed by the mother.
- Dundee comes out of retirement at 87.
But given one more chance to help a big fighter win a big fight – and lend his own star power to boxing at the same time – he couldn’t resist.
- Arkansas black belts earn their rank.
Talon Hobbs, 13, and Bailey Clemons, 12, of Fairbanks Taekwon-Do were promoted to first degree Black Belt earlier this month.
- Indianapolis studio being sued!
The owner of martial arts studios that operated in Hamilton and Boone counties is facing a civil lawsuit over customers’ claims that they failed to get refunds after the business closed.
- Karate master cut down in terrorist attack.
The terrorist attack at the Oberoi hotel here claimed the life of internationally acclaimed karate exponent and instructor Farokh Dinshaw.
- Fire kills an Ohio martial arts instructor.
Wintersville Fire and Rescue Chief Rob Herrington says a witness saw West enter the burning building, disappear into the smoke and not come out.
- Here’s a video that shows four essential self-defense tactics for women.
Core Tactix showed NBC 4’s Mike Jackson effective ways to fight off an attack — moves that can be performed by anyone.
Notably absent is the no-touch knockout! 
- The Bleacher Report has an article that argues Bruce Lee was an MMA pioneer.
Lee Jun Fan, Bruce Lee as he is better known, was the pinnacle of what Martial Arts is all about. He broke down centuries of theory, approach, and discipline. He turned the world of martial arts upside down to both develop, achieve, and display his theories.
From the blogs:
- Taekwondo Network has an interesting post about meditation.
Meditation can help you achieve peace of mind. With all the problems we face daily at work, at home, and the world in general, it’s important that you regularly experience a few minutes of peace.
- There’s nothing like a good hook kick…
- Self-Defense 101 has discovered one way to stop someone with a sword.
I’m no fan of Scientology, but it certainly sounds as if the security guards did the right thing when it came to self-defense.
- One blogger lets Frank Shamrock choke him out.
Yesterday Frank Shamrock showed me exactly what it feels like to be choked unconscious.
- I don’t agree will all 10 but I do agree with this notion.
I subscribe to the philosophy that if someone can’t manage to find the time to train 8 hrs a day, the next best thing he can do is focus on 1 thing a day to make himself better than he was the day before.
That’s a very good sentiment. If I don’t have time at home to devote a full hour to martial arts I always try to do at least one martial arts-related thing during a workout. If I can’t do that at the very least I can stretch. I’ve also taken to practicing Chin na as mini-katas. It’s not the same as with a partner but it still helps to get the movement, footwork, muscle memory, etc. down!
- Since I’m on a no-touch knockout rant lets close with a video that I saw over at Mokuren Dojo.
Chi-tards indeed! Compare it to the second video that Patrick posts in his comment thread! Some people ARE suggestible!
~BCP
————————
Want to discuss the news? Then take it to the Convocation of Combat Arts!
Got blog? If so consider joining the Martial Arts Toplist!
Penn & Teller Weigh In (sorta)
November 29, 2008 · 2 Comments
The poster known as “Chuck Norris” sent me the link to this video clip. In fact, he referred me to the entire Penn & Teller “BS” episode on ESP. Since I have cheap cable I never got to watch this series but I suspect I’d enjoy it. Anyhow, I’m posting part three. Just start at 5:00 and watch it until the end. (all my no-touch posts are available via this link)
(If profanity offends you don’t watch this video.)
At about 5:22 you can see something that’s tangentially related to the no-touch knockout: Bending spoons with your mind. Both are examples of people affecting matter over a distance without physically touching the matter.
Very recent history is littered with hundreds of examples of some very smart people believing utter nonsense. The Heaven’s Gate Cult, pet psychics, and most of reality television are but a few examples. So it does not surprise me at all that Penn & Teller could find numerous people who sincerely believe in ESP. Nor does it surprise me that students are willing to pay martial arts experts to teach them this so-called “no-touch” skill.
Interesting. A Karate instructor at a seminar who volunteers to be “knocked-out” and he drops as if on cue. Yet when a reporter investigates this on camera it fails. The excuse? Only 40% of people are susceptible. However that would seem to contradict Dillman’s excuse when the same test fails in this video.
I guess if I’m ever mugged I had better ask my attacker to keep his tongue in the correct position so I can knock him out!
What I find ironic is that some people in the world of martial arts are quick to criticize the street effectiveness of certain martial arts. I’ve seen Kung Fu being criticized as too traditional with unrealistic stances. I’ve seen Aikido taken to task for an alleged over reliance on a willing partner. Heck, I’ve even seen Taekwondo ripped on for not enough hand techniques and on over reliance on high kicks.
Funny thing but all three arts are vastly better than this no-touch nonsense. In the former you are paying to learn something that may work if you are attacked. In the latter you are paying lots of money to learn a fantasy that could get you hurt.
This, of course, is why I’m relentless when in comes to any variation of this non-touch nonsense.
~BCP
Categories: Announcements · E-Mail · Martial Arts · Opinion · Rants · Science · Social Commentary · Television · Video
Tagged: bullshit, fertilizer, George Dillman, Martial Arts, no-touch knock-out knockout, Opinion, Penn and Teller, pseudoscience, Science, skepticism