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Dueling Society => Dueling with your Lightsaber => Topic started by: Arkos on April 01, 2010, 10:13:43 AM
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First all my apologies if, despite my search I missed an analogue topic, moderator will fix it :)
all my apologies again if this topic dont fit in the proper section, I hope "iamdoitrite" ::)
hello there!
As a French I eared a bit of one of our martial art, "la canne de combat", French stick fighting, created a loooong time ago
for the history you can look here
http://www.batoncanne.com/-English-.html
To me it look very close to what a real fight with ligthsaber could look like, I wish that you, readers and trained saber users could say about it
for a better view of this, I collected some video
first, a competition
then a funny video where someone add some FX
&NR=1
then, some funny tricks by a club, "les apaches" (argot word in 1930 for bad guys lol)
same group
at last some draws
(https://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.savate-canne.com%2FPhotothequeCanne%2FHisto4-picture2.gif&hash=57bc8052304a19bc1b36a14bb63ffa5faf3967e2) (https://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.savate-canne.com%2FPhotothequeCanne%2FHisto2-picture2.gif&hash=9aa211f0e371134ee156796d2436cde4fd815457)
(picture from this website http://www.savate-canne.com/historique.html )
well lightsaber is.. French hahaha
as a gentlemen sport, it is the link between steampunk style and star wars?
no, seriously... what do you think about it?
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As a quasi-sport, fine. Probably a good way to burn off excess fat and energy.
To me, it just looks like a bunch of people wailing on each other with sticks.
While there might be some sort of technique to it, I will tell you that just looking at the video,
I personally think there is a lot of wasted movement - i.e. twirling, jumping, spinning that
looks cool, but in real combat will leave you exposed.
You don't see fencers or kendo practitioners doing those sorts of arm waving movements, right?
There's a reason for that.
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You don't see fencers or kendo practitioners doing those sorts of arm waving movements, right?
There's a reason for that.
yes I 100% agree with you, but are'nt the movie's fight this way?
Remember this sport is practiced with stick that was walking ones, no as efficient as a cutting saber or a single real sword would do.
In real life, this sport would be used with "savate" another old french martial art ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savate )
at last lightsaber is a combined weapon style (including tennis as said Nick Gillard) used by people that can "feel", foresee the immediate future, not ordinary people (to me that just mean that only learned choreography could make it right) , so I assume we could use some part of this martial art, not the whole thing like any martial arts... but to me a lot of movement match the movies styles :o
(edited, sorry for the poor english!)
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Here are some good reference links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stick_fighting (mentions La Canne)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartitsu (where La Canne is based from)
It is important to note that many stick based arts are practiced on a sports-like aspect, very similar to other styles of martial arts (ex. sport taekwondo and traditional tae kwon do have much different emphasis). This explains the jumps. twirls,. flashiness (to thrill the crowd)
For REAL combat....NO WAY. I would never react to a real attack the same way I would spar someone. As long as you are able to understand the difference between the two, the better off you will be. ;)
Also keep in mind that in real combat, you aren't going to always look as good with your finesse as if you would in a controlled environment. Hence the wild swings, etc. I have pretty decent technique with my Eskrima training, but when I did some full contact stickfighting, well...the technique was there yes, but not the finesse....and that is OK.
Thanks for sharing the links.
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For REAL combat....NO WAY. I would never react to a real attack the same way I would spar someone. As long as you are able to understand the difference between the two, the better off you will be. ;)
Ho my! I tried it some years ago with a friend doing viet vo dao as a black belt and... well I learned extremely fast as polycarbonate blade was'nt used yet, but aluminum ones (10 years ago) ;D
I took the reality on the hard side HAHAHA. I would prefer discovering it with "chambara" foam sabers LOL
( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_Chanbara )
Thanks for you answers everyones!!
Caine, your links are very instructive!!!
ps: I know wikipedia is not very trustable lol
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You know, I'm reminded of a scene in the movie Foot Fist Way, where a 4th degree black belt and a 5th degree blatck belt in Tae Kwon Do are discussing Kendo: "What's up with that Kendo (poodoo) just a bunch of stick waving is what that is. Totally useless."
What I would love to see on the boards here is more respect for other styles than the 'popular' styles that everyone is familiar with. Eache style has its own merits and drawbacks, and unless you've actually STUDIED the style, you really can't say how effective or realistic it is.
honestly, does it matter what is used as long as it's used efficiently? are you really going to tell me that if someone came at you with a cane you'd stand there and laugh?
Cane-based fighting, sword-based fighting, knife-based fighting....
I'd be wary of scoffing at martial art styles and saying they're good for 'losing weight' before finding out the proficiency of the person you're talking to.
Something else I'm finding troubling is the way that 'fighting' and 'sparring' are used interchangeably. For instance, when you spar with someone, you're not doing your best to make sure the person doesn't get up off the floor. If that's not your goal, then it's not fighting.
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You know, I'm reminded of a scene in the movie Foot Fist Way, where a 4th degree black belt and a 5th degree blatck belt in Tae Kwon Do are discussing Kendo: "What's up with that Kendo (poodoo) just a bunch of stick waving is what that is. Totally useless."
What I would love to see on the boards here is more respect for other styles than the 'popular' styles that everyone is familiar with. Eache style has its own merits and drawbacks, and unless you've actually STUDIED the style, you really can't say how effective or realistic it is.
honestly, does it matter what is used as long as it's used efficiently? are you really going to tell me that if someone came at you with a cane you'd stand there and laugh?
Cane-based fighting, sword-based fighting, knife-based fighting....
I'd be wary of scoffing at martial art styles and saying they're good for 'losing weight' before finding out the proficiency of the person you're talking to.
Something else I'm finding troubling is the way that 'fighting' and 'sparring' are used interchangeably. For instance, when you spar with someone, you're not doing your best to make sure the person doesn't get up off the floor. If that's not your goal, then it's not fighting.
What makes you think I *haven't* formally studied and competed in a weapon based martial art for years??
LOL...
I agree that the forms and movements are similar to those seen in the movies.
And I also agree that in true life or death combat, flailing arms are likely going to happen regardless of how much training you have.
I have plenty of respect for other styles of fighting, all I'm pointing out is that there seems to be a large amount of unnecessary "showing off" in this particular sport. Now if they award points based on this type of move - i.e. you got hit with a more difficult / flashy move, therefore you get two points instead of one, then I can see why people would do it. But if the object is to hit your opponent and avoid getting hit...there are more...uh economical ways of doing it.
Now if someone were to come at me with one of those things like in the video, all I can say is that I would view each of those open body positions as a potential kill opportunity and would take full advantage of it.
{edit} One last note - I think I'm guilty of what Caine was talking about - as a sport, it's perfectly fine and actually looks kinda like fun. The speed of the hits is fairly impressive. Yes, it would have real life correlation with lightsaber dueling. As a form of fighting, I think it's excessively elaborate.
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I for one have seen this Art in practice and I can assure you that it is an effective martial art... It like some many others have been turned into sport... this reminds me of how others view Capoeira... that is also a very effective martial art.
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Folks, it's not the art....it's the PERSON practicing it. ;)
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Direct attacks -- are seen in 100% of martial arts... sport or "real"
Feint attacks -- are seen in 100% of martial arts... boxing, fencing, 2-handed swordplay, and stickfighting alike
Beat attacks -- are seen in (almost?) 100% of martial arts... ( " " " " -- quoting both above)
Invitations -- are seen in 100% of martial arts... ( " " " " -- quoting both above)
Measure/Distance -- is key and of PARAMOUNT importance in 100% of all martial arts (anyone who says differently is just simply WRONG, and that is something that--I'm sorry--it's not up for argument)
Quickly executed "flourishes" that lead into a final attack... are seen ALL THE TIME in fencing. Note that I said "quickly"... so that wouldn't include spinning your saber for 3 seconds and attempting to hit... it'd be more like 0.75 seconds to 1.5 seconds... something like that.
If you *DO* spin/twirl/flourish your weapon... by DEFAULT, you are no longer making a direct attack. You're probably attempting to deceive/confuse your opponent into defending:
A) at the wrong time
B) in the wrong place
C) with the wrong blade/weapon relationship
D) all or mixture of the above
Otherwise... maybe you're offering a brief "invitation". I do that all the time. :) I love invitations, and I love feinted attacks. Heck... I love *MANY* different attacks.
Ultimately, I always find these stupid posts about "what works and what doesn't" pointless and useless... but not to forsake healthy discussion--oh no. None of the such. It's only because people will "dumb down" or disparage things that they do not understand, do not practice in REAL LIFE... or simply would prefer to put their own martial art of choice up on a pedestal. A false one at that.
All martial art FOUNDATIONALLY... are the same.
If you spar with someone in "real time" (non-choreographed actions)... you will automatically begin to learn the foundations of ALL martial arts.
Now whether you realize that or accept it... well... that's up to you.
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Folks, it's not the art....it's the PERSON practicing it. ;)
Word. 8)
Thanks for the cool vids Arkos. But if you, me, we and or us do barrow from this activity, might I highly recomend thin walled blades. ;) I would imagine quite a few fingers could be spared. ...Just my 2cents.
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My Uncle used to say "it's easy to criticize someone else when you are standing around doing nothing."
To put it another way... Back in the day when people were killing and maiming each other with these arts, I don't think they were sitting around the campfire getting into a "My style is (insert adjective here) than yours... debate.
Why?
Because they were busy killing and maiming each other.
Keep in mind that when a Samurai seeking to make a name for himself requested a "Comparison of Techniques". He was basically saying ..."let's go off into the forest and see who comes back."
The whole "If they did that I'd just do (blank) argument is just well ...... boring. For a couple of reasons:
1. How many people are using these arts in life and death struggles.... *be honest now*. I've been in my share of fights, but working in the Security Industry for over 16 years found me resolving conflict with my wits far more often than with my fists.
2. It's easy to say what you would do tucked safely behind a keyboard, but fact is ... You don't know what will happen until it happens.... I can watch a MMA fight and pick it apart all day long. Being in there for the fun adds quite a different POV.
3. Say you're feeling all Conan (the Barbarian, not O'Brien) and you wanna go challenge some other stylist to exert your dominance in some Nat Geo primate mating ritual.... and let's also say you KICK THE GUYS BUTT! HOORAY!... ....
Oh wait.... you beat the man.... not the art.
These reasons alone make judging another martial art based on your style's methodology ridiculous. Every art has a reason for what they do and why they do it that way. If you do not agree with it... then do not practice that art.
I started training martial arts at age 7... and have been ever since. This June will put that at 30 years. ::) And I think they are all wonderful in their way.
Whatever art we study, ultimately we do it because we enjoy it..... It's fun to train a martial art!
So to the people who would bash/judge other styles I'll offer this suggestion...
If someone wants to share their style with you... shut up and learn something. Even if it's what not to do.
Take it or leave it ..... your choice.
Just my two creds. :)
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Your two creds are ALWAYS worth way more than that, JKL. You are one of the people on here with true teaching and training credentials and the many years of martial arts knowledge and experience.
This is why I usually don't post in threads like these...because people start to dog other arts...when in fact it's not about the art per se (like I said a few posts back). I am not about dogging any art or anyone...all I want to do is spread the word on how wonderful ALL martial arts are....and the incorporation of sabers just an enhancement.
I posted her because I was politely asked to...and I don't really plan on posting on any other related threads. :P
So as I always say...saberplay hard, saberplay safe and HAVE FUN!
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Of course not Master Drathul.... I'm a bit rare to come out of my cave and post as well. ;) But when I saw a new member offer something in the interest of what we are all here for... The luv of sabers... It distressed me to see that some members were quick to criticize.
That is not the environment that drew me to FX-SABERS... and I don't want to see that atmosphere disappear. :)
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Don't sweat it, Logan. Just like anything else in life... it's easy for others to "minimize" the aspects of any field/hobby/skill/trade/physical art/etc. ... ... if they don't actually practice it/them... and/or if they have not thoroughly studied them.
It's like when people (with no/limited martial experience) watch high-level boxing on TV and start to "conclude" that it is basically "trading punches" and also probably believe it's solely who is faster.
They miss things like the SUBTLE feints (both body & hand alike)... or they ignore it as "fluff"...
They miss things like the NATURAL footwork... something that the boxer had to train intensely for... so that it "looks easy".
They miss things like strategy... as in a boxer allowing the opponent to jab and hit/contact so that he can follow/counter with something more devastating in retaliation. As one example of course.
They will miss slips/dodges... and probably NEVER understand when a boxer APPEARS to be getting handed their butt (because they are covering up and not punching much)... ... but in actuality, the boxer MAY very well be conserving energy and "trying to rest". (A good example was actually during the famous Ali vs. Frazier... I don't remember the round, but Ali stayed 'docile' for quite a bit--all on the ropes--and then unleashed a FURIOUS chain of uninterrupted punching. We all know what the result of the fight was, too... despite it being a challenge for Ali!)
Anyhow. Yeah. "Typing" about martial arts is a little like writing down how to do a b-twist round... or how to hit a baseball... or how to shoot a basket with a jump shot. Physical arts are meant to be DONE and SEEN... although yes, writing it down helps chronicle things for the future (as we see with Arkos' posts... it's been preserved to some extent!!)
Music is meant to be heard...
Lyrics are meant to be sung... :)
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Don't sweat it, Logan.
Never do Nova, ;) but thanks man. :) I just happened to be in the neighborhood. (Had to pick up some milk on my way back to the Outer Rim).
But man you hit the nail on the head with the ability of folks to "minimize" and not see the forest through the trees.
Now I do not necessarily see this as a negative... it seems a quite natural occurrence within fighting arts that the longer they go with out having to (be in the poodoo) as it where... that they generally start to develop more and more well... "detailed" movements. This can add richness to the art, so again, I don't see anything wrong with it.
There is a reason we do the fight club at the school behind a screen...it can be unsettling to some people. But what I tell the students is usually something along the lines of..."Fighting is a Big Bloody Mess... learning to fight is FUN!"
It's unfortunate that some people only see the benefit in training if it means they can kill their enemy instantly! Police officers love to talk with these dudes...LOL.
What they don't seem to realize is people will do MA for different reasons... not all of them are seeking to avenge their family's deaths at the hands of the local suburban Ninja Clan.
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ho wow! what an interesting discussion there! thanks for you point of view, I learned many many thing there!
About me you have to know I never practiced any martial art, I wish to, but never had the chance (not the time for that, I was yet praticing a sport, I am a free diver instructor).
I did practice a very light form of escrime with lightsabers learning some things from place to place with each other knowledge, and learned to playing those spinning thing with the blade "for movement beauty"
I mean I cant judge anything on martial arts.
I just think that trying to "act" a "fight" like seen in movies is just impossible since "real lightsabers" dont exist and "real force adepts" with supernatural sense dont exist too.
beside this, taking real martial art techniques, gymnastics tricks and some stunt fx would do it well, but nothing to see with a "martial" art, I just tried it
1) for the fun (and acting a jedi on a stage for 1 min is great, i did it in front of 1200 peoples that was quite... scaring too)
2) for the show ( seeing people enjoying a show, making them smile and having fun becose of your work is a great satisfaction to me )
on martial art my POV is that human body is the same everywhere
physics law are the same everywhere
so all the martial art have a common base, different cultures, different time, make different choices but most of these arts are linked.
after that like I often say: since black powder exist, there is no more strong men lol
martial arts are to me, a school of self control, respect and humility, I wish I learn more of them but here and now I just would meet some of you to learn some awesome movement to "play" around with my Crystal Focus powered saber Gnehehehehe 8)
thanks for having took (sp?) the time to answer me Ladies and Gentlemens!
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Since I have not had the pleasure, welcome Arkos!
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Thank you very much !
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I just wich to post a last message, from a member, Onli-Won Kanomi, that described far better than me what I would to point
A couple of points:
1. Lightsabers are not [or rather, if they were real, would not be] swords. A lot of things sword users think about sword use WOULD NOT APPLY to lightsabers if they were real. For example "strike with the edge, parry with the flat" doesnt apply because lightsaber blades are omnidirectional cutting surfaces that have no flats, lightsabers blades don't have weight like sword blades, lightsabers do have a 'gyroscopic effect' that swords don't, lightsaber blades do 'lock' [rather their electromagnetic containment fields do] which sword blades do not [which is why lightsabers don't have nor need crossguards and swords do], lightsaber blades are essentially 'unbreakable' [rather self-renewing] which swords are not, lightsabers are essentially frictionless cutters in most materials even HARD material which swords are not [meaning that lightsaber cuts are almost always more damaging than 'giving point' many sword authorities incl R.F. Burton consider superior] etc etc etc
So when we see lightsaber use in the movies it should be remembered they are not swords nor because of that are they used like swords.
2. Lightsaber users are not [or rather, if they were real Jedi or Sith as seen in SW fiction, would not be] sword users. Even when they are nominally or near 'human' they are functionally SUPERHUMAN; specifically they are tactically-precognitive telekinetics. This explains WHY lightsabers would exist in the SW Universe in the first place; telekinetics can deflect the mass of matter weapons [or projectiles] so an energy or practically near-massless particle beam blade or projectile is necessary to hit them at all. It also explains why a lot of sword techniques would be useless when both combatants can 'foresee' simple direct strikes...'fancy' extended sequences of complex moves thus complicate the challenge of defending against them in the present while simultaneously foreseeing others in the future when both combatants have tactical precognition. Anyone who has experienced the more limited precognition that exists in our world and knows how CONFUSING seeing "two times at once" is can well imagine how confusing it would be to FIGHT in an advanced future form of such a prescient state, even with advanced perceptual/conceptual integration mental disciplines...Jedi/Sith TACTICS would be designed to exploit that potential for temporal-dynamics confusion of enemies anachronological or bichronological thought processing and thus be very different from human[oid, mostly] sword tactics in significant ways.
So when we see lightsaber USERS in the movies it should be remembered they are not [mere human] sword users nor that they would use sword technique like we would.
Combining these two factors accounts for why lightsaber use in the movies cannot be assumed to follow sword use 'rules' or principles.
IRL "no spins for the win" makes good sense...in SW lightsaber combat where one is trying to confuse a tactically-precognitive TK foe with many complex changes motion/orientation of an easily redirected weightless frictionless 360 degree cutting blade fancy spins may not be so useless eh?
from that topic
http://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/index.php?topic=23280.0
To finish my post, I would point that in the movie, only force users use a lightsaber in battle, so trying to fence as a "Jedi" with an amazing prop, ok, but not a real lightsaber is just... impossible
Ok that dont stop us to have fun with thems haha!!
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Welcome, Arkos! *takes notes* :)
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Hello Arkos (I'm french too, living near Paris).
I already thought of putting some links about "canne de combat" (fighting stick ?).
A friend of mine is an experienced practitioner (he's been training in this for over 5 years) and he showed me some moves with my lightsaber... oh boy, I think we all agree that it might NOT be the most efficient martial art, but then again, we are talking about "hypothetically" practicing this with a lightsaber (like a real one).
And THERE, we have something closer to what we can have seen in movies (prequels), and, to my opinion, more efficient in a REAL lightsaber fight (spinning around and moving your saber really fast can cover a lot more surface, and as a lightsaber is deadly just by touching it, it makes it even more dangerous).
When my finances get better (currently looking for a job but can't find anything yet), I'll probably go to the same course as my friend and start to really get into "canne de combat" (with the goal of using it for lightsabers)
EDIT : what I mostly meant was that to me it is more appealling to use a lightsaber with "canne de combat" approach as it is more aesthetic : let's be honest, I will NEVER fight in a lightsaber duel, or even use my lightsaber to defend myself, so I'm more interested in "performing", rather than be really efficient (if I want to be efficient in our era, I bring a gun, not a polcarb glowing stick)
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well I lived 31 in the Paris suburb ^^
as I said before, all depends of the goal: acting a fence like jedi or doing a fence for the sport, for the fun...
in the first case it seems very difficult to know what is effective or not! in the second, having some try and discuss could be fun :)
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You can never say one style of fighting is more effective then another. Just as people defer in their abilities to perform other tasks, such as singing/dancing, certain individual's are just going to be better at fighting.
The level of ability to the practitioner is going to be the difference in most fights. Some styles are more effective for one individual over another. Like Cain said, its the person that makes the difference.
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Thanks for sharing, my opinion is not very different from what a lot of other people here have already said =p but again thanks
For REAL combat....NO WAY. I would never react to a real attack the same way I would spar someone. As long as you are able to understand the difference between the two, the better off you will be. ;)
Also keep in mind that in real combat, you aren't going to always look as good with your finesse as if you would in a controlled environment. Hence the wild swings, etc. I have pretty decent technique with my Eskrima training, but when I did some full contact stickfighting, well...the technique was there yes, but not the finesse....and that is OK.
I don't quite agree with that, Sparing is another form of training. Of course your not going to kill your opponent but you must strike as if you are going to, like in training. Training in reactions you don't intend to do increases the chance to become accustomed to bad habits. I agree holding back counts towards being in a "controlled environment" but the ability to control your own power and to control your swings which would seriously hurt someone but being able to make it not, Would make you that much more skilled.
Unless to you "Sparing" is just play fighting... in which case ignore me =p
2. It's easy to say what you would do tucked safely behind a keyboard, but fact is ... You don't know what will happen until it happens.... I can watch a MMA fight and pick it apart all day long. Being in there for the fun adds quite a different POV.
No one Plans what they are going to do when they get into combat it doesn't work like that like you said earlier in your post. However this is why basics are key in any art, you learn them so its instinctive of course your not going to do whatever Kata you practiced over and over again, but your body will instinctively move the way it should...
combined 2 quotes summary: This is why we spar, we train how our bodies should react... Like you said JKL we use our wit, but our bodies, and us as a person do the rest naturally.
just from personal experience, I may not reflect every Tech/Kata/style I've learned flawlessly because it dose not sit in every situation... but you adapt what you know to the situation so it fits... but at the same time you don't plan from the start what to do. Because you NEVER know 100% what they are going to do.
Modify: I Hope I didn't sound like a troll or anything I intended this as an energetic/explanatory kind of post... I didn't think it did, but I hope no one takes my words as if they are... harsh? I worry because its easy to miss interpenetrate what other people intend on forums.
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No one Plans what they are going to do when they get into combat it doesn't work like that like you said earlier in your post. However this is why basics are key in any art, you learn them so its instinctive of course your not going to do whatever Kata you practiced over and over again, but your body will instinctively move the way it should...
combined 2 quotes summary: This is why we spar, we train how our bodies should react... Like you said JKL we use our wit, but our bodies, and us as a person do the rest naturally.
just from personal experience, I may not reflect every Tech/Kata/style I've learned flawlessly because it dose not sit in every situation... but you adapt what you know to the situation so it fits... but at the same time you don't plan from the start what to do. Because you NEVER know 100% what they are going to do.
Hey Daishi, yes you never know what is going down in a fight until you are in a fight...LOL.
Just to clarify, when I spoke of using my wits, I was speaking of what went down before violence ensued, (as in diffusing the situation). Once the line is crossed from pre-fight if you will... to fight then intellect takes a back seat to body intelligence.
That being said, you are correct in basics being one of the essentials in martial arts training... they are the foundation upon which all else is built. But basics are only one piece of the puzzle. It is a combination of several elements that make up a good fighter. Sparring can be another key element... However, "sparring" is a very subjective term. To some it is play fighting, sometimes it is an athletic competition. Many acts of sparring I have seen involve a "back and forth" play similar to tennis... this is not the way a fight plays out.
Ultimately, fight training is a simulation.... and can never EXACTLY reproduce the actual encounter. The only event that completely mimics a fight is well... a fight. Now an actual fist fight can result in serious injury or death. Consider how this likelihood multiplies when dealing with a weapons based encounter.
That's another thing, the word FIGHT is also highly subjective... do you mean a combat sport match?... self defense?... mortal combat in a time of war? All of them are considerably different from one another. Specialization is needed here.
In my training... the emphasis on fighting is for the street/bar/etc.. So... protective gear goes on, whistle blows... you hit each other really hard and a lot until one is left standing. It's usually over very quickly... next. I prefer the mentality of a fight club. But that is a specialization, if one is training to fight for extended periods in a ring for example... then another fight training method is required.
Actually, martial training itself is only one tool in the tool box of being a fighter. Many people get hung up on the more skilled fighter having the decisive advantage... but this only applies if all other factors are equal.
Unfortunately, all other factors are almost never equal. Genetics, desire, and experience to name a few... should never be overlooked.
In my experience, the expression of "winning a fight is 90% WILL and 10% SKILL rings very true. This is not to say in any way that training is unimportant. But one of the main things I wanted to convey in my 1st. post was that training a MA is about more than fighting. Most everyday people are NOT getting into fights regularly...
ONE of the many benefits martial arts gives an individual is a knowledge of self defense. But when I hear martial arts students harp on self defense this... combat that... I think it's a shame that they may spend their entire life training for some grand battle which more than likely will never happen. With experience and training, you realize that if attacked... you will respond. After that, you can settle in and enjoy just how much FUN training is.
Maybe it is the fighting you enjoy... maybe the tradition... the exercise.... all are worth the effort. :)
LOL... this thread seems to have drifted from the topic a bit. Perhaps a new topic is in order if folks are interested in continuing this line of discussion?