A short but good read

[TC204]

Those were the days, Arthur Rabesa who's mentioned in the article was my instructor in the late 70's, and it was almost as brutal as this guy makes it out to be. Rabesa also has written a couple great books on Uechi-Ryu and how to do well at the Kumite.

http://www.uechi-ryu.com/jsal1.htm

[EvilCouch]

I totally agree with his essay.

I walked into RIP with a black belt in Shoinryu karate, a green in Kenpo, a few months of Tiger kung fu and a year of Judo.

SFC Larsen trashed me. Trashed me less thoroughly than anyone else in my class, but there was absolutely no doubt which of us was the better fighter.

Huge difference between knowing how to punch and kick focus mitts and bags and knowing how to fight someone.

[TC204]

Huge difference between knowing how to punch and kick focus mitts and bags and knowing how to fight someone.

Indeed, Arthur taught all his students how to destroy your opponent as quickly as possible, red and brown belts knew more about taking someone out than black belts that belonged to other local Dojo's.

I got my ass kicked before actually joining the Dojo, I was observing one night when a buddy invited me down. Arthur called me out to the middle of the floor and said, No one observes, everyone learns. He told me to attack him, I did, and before I knew what happened I was on my back checking out the lighting configuration on the ceiling while trying to get by breath back.

The only thing he said after that was, See you thursday!