Ray, whom did you train Isshinryu under? And at what ages?
I know Nick Adler taught on LI, but if I recall, you said you lived in Long Beach, and Adler was out east.
[QUOTE=sanjuro_ronin;896107]But we also have to be honest that, some systems have more ass kickers than others.[/QUOTE] You shouldn’t even measure it by system…some camps have more ass kickers than others. You can take three sister schools from any style and they will all differ dramactically from one another.
School > Style.
Go to any boxing gym, like Gleason’s, etc. Youwill find many people training, only a few fighters.
Go to any MMA school. How many will go to the cage?
I know a girl who does Muay Thai. Not a cardio class. She has no desire to fight. She just loves the workout.
In every school, in every discipline there are the students who come in to train, work out, enjoy themselves, whatever, and the handfull of those who will become fighters. It has always been that way, and will always be that way.
The Pit is now a franchise, and any McDojo can become an affiliation. They make Tapout t-shirts for babies. Isn’t that cute?
Oh, btw- there is a new trend making its way into mainstream.
More and more people are talking about how MMA is developing into a poor role model for kids.
Emphasis on the wrong attitudes,unsuitable techniques, lack of conflict resolution, role models, language,injury rates,etc.
Parents are pulling their kids out of classes, adults are dropping out due to injuries.
MMA is a young man’s game. 18-25.
From that number, what percentage will fight?
Everybody likes WWE wrestling. How many are on TV?
[QUOTE=MasterKiller;896125]You shouldn’t even measure it by system…some camps have more ass kickers than others. You can take three sister schools from any style and they will all differ dramactically from one another.
School > Style.[/QUOTE]
Very true indeed.
[QUOTE=David Jamieson;896117]I think that while ray is into the arts and that’s cool, his pain is in his own mind and he exacerbates it and even creates it himself by not simply moving on. [/QUOTE]
I’m in no pain. Not even physically today, thank God. Though I didn’t train yesterday.
I love the arts. Look at it like this: if you have a bunch of folks from the mid west show up to the beach talking all this surf lingo, with the flashy gear, the sun screen, the umbrella, the cooler, the chairs… and they don’t even know which side the suf wax goes on. You call them kooks.
When you hear the ridiculous bull$hit here (not all of it. I do find some value at this site) you have to feel the same way… a bunch of freaking kooks. So kooky they don’t even know they’re kooks.
Sorry.
No pain involved in calling them how I see them. And of course I could be wrong. Though I have a very sensitive and well tuned Kook-O-Meter. I know. I was a surf kook for a long time. Still a fight kook… though I don’t own a single MMA t-shirt, bag, nothing.
[QUOTE=TenTigers;896123]Ray, whom did you train Isshinryu under? And at what ages?
I know Nick Adler taught on LI, but if I recall, you said you lived in Long Beach, and Adler was out east.[/QUOTE]
It was on Adams St in Newark, NJ. I started when I was four and never new my teacher by anything other than Sensei. Same for his son. And when I became a black belt that was my title to the juniors.
I think the school is still here. It was like 7 years ago. I hope it is.
[QUOTE=sanjuro_ronin;896107]I can feel Ray’s pain, I know where he is coming from.[/QUOTE]
Man, everyone says I’m in pain… I just came off the best 48 hours of my life. truly.
What pains me is one guy saying I only think MMA is relevant, when I find lots wrong with MMA. Another guy making it look like I give a $hit what happens to Kung Fu. I’d honestly rather it go away except for the fact when I start winning pro fights I might be able to charge a buck or two for teaching. And people will still talk $hit.
[QUOTE=sanjuro_ronin;896107]
We all know guys that can make ANY MA work, every system in the world has at least 1 guy that can kick ass.
But we also have to be honest that, some systems have more ass kickers than others.[/QUOTE]
Both true.
What did you think of the Lesner/Coutur fight? I was impressed Couture could stay on his feet. He looked good the first round. First thought it was a fix when I saw him buckle from a top-hat graze… but those aint no normal arms and fists… so far impressed with Lesner’s size and athleticism but he had 45 lbs and what, two decades on Couture and couldn’t throw them.
Couture is a master and a champion. He is what, a grecco roman wrestler? His Kung Fu is far better than any Lee, Li, Wu, Chu, chin, lau, Hung, Chan, Wang I’ve ever seen. A real warrior and class act.
What did you think of the Lesner/Coutur fight? I was impressed Couture could stay on his feet. He looked good the first round. First thought it was a fix when I saw him buckle from a top-hat graze… but those aint no normal arms and fists… so far impressed with Lesner’s size and athleticism but he had 45 lbs and what, two decades on Couture and couldn’t throw them.
Couture is a master and a champion. He is what, a grecco roman wrestler? His Kung Fu is far better than any Lee, Li, Wu, Chu, chin, lau, Hung, Chan, Wang I’ve ever seen. A real warrior and class act.
Couture is the best, he takes on all comers.
Size matters and Brock had too much of it.
The old adage " experience must fear the strength of youth", is very true.
I don’t think that Brock will hold the title for too long though.
Ray-
your pain is that you vent to us here about your problems from old training, old wounds etc and instead, you will only find closure by expressing that to the source.
Of course, it is a lot easier to see from the outside looking in.
expressing some of the strong emotional surges such as you tend to do is cool and all, but we are all strangers and therefore, logically speaking, it’s easy for you to vent to us.
The problem is, that will not get you closure, you may get validation. But validation from a complete stranger instead of working it out at the source is meaningless and this is why you go back to the same subject again to the point where you are now inflating it to “ALL kungfu” in your eyes is crappy because YOU had a poor experience.
so from one stranger to another, You gotta own that sh1t man. Own it, see it, put it in your pocket and keep it because it’s part of you as a human being, then move on.
peace man
Ray, I gotta second that.
You had some bad experiences with former Sifus. You were chastised, burned your bridges behind you, and now you seem to have this vendetta against ALL TCMA. You didn’t spend that much time in CMA, and only trained under two instructors. You recieved a smattering of training in Gung-Fu, left under bad circumstances, and are making judgements based upon your limited experience.
Now, what you are doing-your training, your blogs, sharing your victories as well as your defeats are all well and good.
But-this rant only insults your teachers, and shows emotional immaturity.
Going back to retirement
Fu(k you if you think there’s better. And put your sniper rifle down and I’d be down to play with you.
I’ve probably been exposed to as much good kung fu as anyone on this board and more than most.
It makes me feel like a super hero. I jumped off a deck like it was no thing last night because it was just easier than going down stairs.
Bro, the difference between me and most of the guys on this board is that I KNOW I’M A KOOK.
I’ve already kicked so much karate a$$, kung fu a$$, wrestling a$$… I’m trying to push through to that next level: elite fighters.
You guys can blow smoke up your a$$.
Wow Ray, I think I need more ammunition and a better scope, because YOU ARE a KOOK (Read:MENTAL:eek:)
Ray you should stop fighting and check yourself in. Running away to P.R. has’nt helped but if your ever UPTOWN maybe I’ll get you some therapy.
Now Its time to sit still in the corner and drink your milk!
Ah, you must be part of the urban, internal internet crew. Have ANY of you guys done di(k yet?
As far as Puerto Rico, I’ll think about how bad I have it tomorrow when I roll out of bed (no alarm clock), throw on my shorts, and paddle out into a surf lineup adorned with bikini clad chicks in 87 degree water. Then I’ll come home and buy a few shares of Apple at $88 and go see my hot, ripper, blond girlfriend. It is rough. But somebody got to do it.
While in Retirement
Sorry Ray, I DONT DO Di(k , but Im glad you got a new fantasy- with girls this time.
Maybe you can get focused on those bikini hotties and do Internal with them!
Instead of being bitter, on this board, for all your own failures, let it go and submit to that blondE .
Now go on with your bad self, SUPERMAN!
Bro, I don’t know who $hit in your Cheerios or why you have such a hard on for me but I aint going to go back and forth over the internet like a child.
I have not won a single sanctioned match. It’s true and it bothers me… I’m used to winning. In karate. In football. In basketball… this competitive level fighting is a whole other thing. It requires tremendous focus and discipline and I’m working on it. But you know what, winners aren’t afraid to lose. I have improved leaps and bounds from each fight. If I didn’t get tapped out in the cage by one of coach Ross’ guys I wouldn’t have sought out BJJ. What a shame that would have been. I’m in the best shape of my life now. healthy. flexible. And counter to what’s being posted here, quite happy.
As for the hot blond… I’m tapping already. She got me. I’m praying I get her.
As for you and your crew, if its the crew I think it is, honestly, you should all take a step back and reflect on your conduct as men and martial artists. The impression I get is of bigger, heavier, urban black men calling out smaller, chinese or white, older men already past their prime. Where is the honor in that? You know they’re not going to show up. You think you look tough, but rational people can see through it. If a Novell Bell type wants to make a name for himself, he’s a heavyweight or Super heavyweight. He’s got to fight someone who looks more like Kimbo Slice then Gumby. A Brock Lester. But that hasn’t happened. And I bet it won’t happen.
Think about it. Am I off about this? And if not, what does all the posturing, online and on video (not fights. In class drilling) do for the state of Kung Fu?
Let’s say you are the best Ba Gua has to offer… what does that say for Ba Gua?
More Revalations from Ray
As for you and your crew, if its the crew I think it is, honestly, you should all take a step back and reflect on your conduct as men and martial artists. The impression I get is of bigger, heavier, urban black men calling out smaller, chinese or white, older men already past their prime.
Holy Sh!t, Ray Im not in any crew! and what the hell was that “black men” thing are you prejudice?
Is that why a “white” Cuban runs to P.R.? I do believe they have people of all colors in P.R. but now I understand why you studied under certain Kung Fu teachers- they did not have “Black” students. Did they Ray?
Ray, were you abused by a black man when you were young? It now makes some sense, Surfing, Blondes (not too many real ones in P.R.) and certain instructors. Ray you are HISPANIC not White, just ask the KKK and take your meds, superboy.
I dont resemble anything in your quote above but I have been picking on you and your not small, chinese, old or WHITE!
I am going to be the bigger man now and let you be, but I am only human and as such cant tolerate Hypocrisy or bull ****ers who one day praise something, the next day crucify it and then return looking for it again. If you hate CMA then dont participate on this forum. Its a Kung Fu forum, not a Kung fu haters forum.
[QUOTE=Mr. C;896644] I am only human and as such cant tolerate Hypocrisy or bull ****ers.[/QUOTE]
Then instead of taking an air of superiority, get off your a$$ and put your training on the line and go out and do something. Who’s the bull$hitter? I know I’m not that good but I’m improving, going out, banging. Mixing it up with BJJ, Tai Boxing, Boxing… fighting all these types of guys with various results.
That’s different than running websites with all this lineage, hoping on planes to China and wearing kooky Chinese hats and clothes and taking pictures in front of shrines and posting videos of throwing cooperating students around and claiming excellence… but avoiding the opportunity to truly test one’s skill. That’s hypocrisy.
Speaking of what you don’t know is ignorance. I have a black girlfriend. There are green eyed, blond Puerto Ricans. Though the one I’m vibing on is a beautiful mainland gringa.
Something to think about that your teacher has never got: What happens when you promote yourself so highly but allow yourself to age without hardening yourself with real experience? You can get your a$$ beat real bad by men you push too far who have and the whole house of paper-thin cards comes tumbling down.
Here is the thing Ray, you are not gonna find many fighters in Kung fu, or in most TMA for that matter.
Oh you will find some, just not lots, certainly not comparable to sport combat systems.
Why you ask?
Simple, the majority of people don’t take up TMA to fight.
Sure they MAY take it up for self defense, but that is not the same thing.
If someone wants to be a fighter, perhaps even pro, do they walk into a Tai chi Kwoon or a Bagua kwoon or a WC Kwoon?
Or do they go to a boxing or MT or MMA gym?
[QUOTE=sanjuro_ronin;896727]Here is the thing Ray, you are not gonna find many fighters in Kung fu, or in most TMA for that matter.[/QUOTE]
That’s why they should voice this opinion, for sure. I love dialogue. That’s how one learns and expands. At the same time they need to CLEARLY understand that their knowledge of real hand-to-hand combatives is severely restricted, being that they have very little, or no experience with it… and should thus adjust their attitude and comments accordingly.
[QUOTE=sanjuro_ronin;896727]
If someone wants to be a fighter, perhaps even pro, do they walk into a Tai chi Kwoon or a Bagua kwoon or a WC Kwoon? [/QUOTE]
I have. And I have learned and have grown form it.
[QUOTE=sanjuro_ronin;896727]Or do they go to a boxing or MT or MMA gym?[/QUOTE]
That’s where I roam these days, to learn new things, but also to work on the things that I like and have retained from the other realisticly.
This guy got me so fired up I was about to ask for his hight and weight and consider hoping on a plane to deliver a beating and eat some turkey with my family. I got to be nuts. That’s remnants from my not-too-distant past. I seriously have my eye on the prize: training five days a week, running three to four days a week… long runs. With hills and sprints… surfing. No way an uncompetitive fighter of relative size is going to hang with me. No, no, no, no way.
I seriously have my eye on the prize: training five days a week, running three to four days a week… long runs. With hills and sprints… surfing. No way an uncompetitive fighter of relative size is going to hang with me. No, no, no, no way.
Blanket statements Ray…they don’t do anyone any favours.
True. You’re right.