Martial arts

[Blood_Debt]

There is always use for martial arts, whether in the anime world or in the real one. When writing a fic, it is helpful to know what the moves are etc.

So feel free to add anything you know, gradings, moves, patterns, uniforms etc etc.

Personally, I only know Tae-Kwon-Doe, *shame*

[Me-Nuriko]

What exactly do you want to know? I've got an instructor license (lowest grade) in karate, and can give you the Japanese names for a lot of kicks and punches, and also describe them. But unless you describe them yourself in your story, not many will understand what they mean. And I'm not sure that is a very good idea.

Patterns (kata), and gradings differ from different styles.
I've trained two different karate styles for about six years. In those were included weapon training with 'bou'. (Other weapons, too, like sai, tonfa, kama, but I never started with anything other than bou.)

I have also been on several martial art camps, where we have tried other styles like Kung Fu, Tae-Kwon-Do, Aikido, Naginata, and Jiu-jutsu.

I can't possibly tell you everything about these, but if you have any special questions I'll be happy to help you.

[Blood_Debt]

Excatly what are the belts? I only know that white comes first and black last in most arts. I also don't know how many numbers in each belt (Yellow 1, 2, 3, etc)

I'd be extremely grateful if you'd tell me... and you're right, I won't include it in my fiction *sigh, I wanted to appear so knowledgeable too!*

[Me-Nuriko]

Belts. As I said, they are different in different styles. Here is one possibility:

• white (beginner)
  
• yellow
  
• orange
  
• green
  
• blue
  
• brown
  
• black
  

But there are other ways, too. Some styles skip some colors, some have 'stripes' on their colors, like you can have 'orange with one stripe'. Some styles have also a red belt. But in some styles the red belt is a 'low' grade, in others it's a 'high' grade. There can also be a violet belt in some styles. I also know of one style that only use white, brown, and black.
Originally the belts were white, but after years of training they gradually darkened to brown and ultimately black.
Black belts also are different grades. There are ten different black belt grades. The are called 'dan'. (The colored belts grades are called 'kyu'.)

[Blood_Debt]

What style of martial art was the one in bullet points? Karate?

More questions: For uniforms, for some reason (Tae-Kwon-Doe), I'm not allowed to use the wraparound for exams, does anyone know why?

And out of the 51 members (right now, anyway) how come only Me-Nuriko and I say anything?

Finally, if attacked, would some people go into auto-pilot mode and defend? Or would it be everyone's natural instinct to flee? Would it depend on how surprised the person is, or the attacker?

Thanks. ;D

[Me-Nuriko]

My suggestion in the belts coloring is from karate. But there is not only one karate style either. The one I took the belts coloring from is from a karate style called Yui Shin Kai, but there are differences even between different countries, so other countries can use other variants.

Sorry, know (almost) nothing about Tae Kwon Do.

When attacked. First rule: RUN AWAY! That's the best self defence you can do.
If that's not possible, fight. Don't just stand there and be a victim, and that is regardless you know anything about Martial Arts or not. You may stand a better chance if you have some kind of MA training, but do whatever you can. You have the right to defend yourself. If someone is trying to kill you, or rape you, you are allowed to whatever you can to prevent that. You are also allowed to defend another person who is attacked. These are the rules in Sweden anyway.

[Blood_Debt]

Ah. But if someone was attacked, would they go into 'auto' mode? Say at first they were frozen, but then the attacker swung a punch, would it still be the 'run away' thing, or would they try and defend?

[Me-Nuriko]

In real life you should always run if it's possible, that's what are taught in Martial Art class.
But if it's not possible to run, or you for some reason get very angry, for example if you see one of your friends/family get attacked, then it's very possible for people to go into that 'auto' mode you're talking about.
I heard about a boy who was walking with his girlfriend, when they were stopped by three other young men. Those other started to push him away and trying to have their way with his girlfriend. He got so angry that the next thing he knew was that the three other guys lay on the ground (knocked out) and he and his girlfriend could run. next day the boy was ashamed, he apologized to his sensei in Martial Art class, because he thought he had done something wrong, knocking down people like that. But of course, as I said, you have the right to defend yourself and others. In RL, if one has knocked down somone, one must always call for help. The one you knocked down, might need medical aid. One should also always tell the police what has happened.

In a story it would be kind of boring if the characters always ran away when attacked. ;D So, yes, I think it's very possible that they would go into 'auto' mode and defended themselves without even thinking about it.

[Blood_Debt]

This has nothing to do with martial arts, but do people faint when slashed across the face? Almost bone deep. I have no experience with wounds whatsoever - except scabs, which I enjoy studying if on my knee. @_@

[GlobalMod3]

Blood_debt: When youhave questions on new topics like this feel free to start a new thread in Fanfics - Helpdesk 1: Techniques and Help.

I've started one on wounds for you.

[Blood_Debt]

Thanks ;D

[narrizan]

just to add my two cents worth, i am a wushu pupil, (i am purple/violet belt at present). our belts run the following way

white(beginner)
orange
green
blue
purple
red
brown
black(then there are 6 grades of black , denoted by the no.of gold stripes on the end of your black belt.)

and our sifu's advice to a RL attack situation is exactly what Me-Nuriko has said:-

nuriko said:

When attacked. First rule: RUN AWAY! That's the best self defence you can do.
If that's not possible, fight. Don't just stand there and be a victim, and that is regardless you know anything about Martial Arts or not. You may stand a better chance if you have some kind of MA training, but do whatever you can. You have the right to defend yourself. If someone is trying to kill you, or rape you, you are allowed to whatever you can to prevent that. You are also allowed to defend another person who is attacked. .

another thing is if you can (not alwys possible in a flight or fight situation) is to be observant and use anything you can to hinder an attack, whether its a bag/stick or whatever you can get your mitts on. and then run and get help.

usually you would notice before hand if something is 'off', gut instinct or whatever. listen to it.

once when walking home from the uni, library late, i got the feeling of being followed. at first i thought i was being paranoid, knowing several routes home i took a couple of turns and i was still followed so i just stopped momentarily saw a lit up house walked straight up to the front door jangling my keys and yelled out "hey everybody i'm home!" the followers walked past the house. and they didn't look back. meanwhile, i just waited till they'd disappeared. then ran all the way home. i wished i had the presence of mind to do more at the time but still i think i did ok.

so yes be observant at all times. whether its location, or lookout for something that you can use as a weapon, or if you can something you can id the person with later.

going back to the original question, sorry for going off tangent there;

yes there are different names for all the various kicks, punches and blocks.

[narrizan]

Well I was not sure where to insert this but I found this a useful read. It is about writing a fight scene. Not the definitive guide I'm sure, but still a good place to start. I myself have never written a fight scene. I think I am afraid to go there at the moment. (Considering fandoms I write for, Saiyuki and Samurai7, that I have managed to avoid it is quite amazing!) However before I ramble on for much longer:

hazelator.livejournal.com/42009.html

Hope it is useful anyway!

This just happened to me, and is here for reference.

Practicing with a sansekkon (literally 'three sticks'). I had just recovered from cold flu, and was tired from chasing around after RL all day. So my centring and focus was off I guess. I swung it the wrong way and not fast enough or far enough and forgot to duck, whatever, got hit just above right eyebrow.

initial reaction : Whoa! Stars. Well the lights sort of rush at you. The effect of 'Seeing stars' is further enhanced by the tears which just come unbidden, and sting your eyes, just of course when you need to see.

A minute or so later you gotta sit down because your legs are kind of unsteady. Especially true if you don't expect it. You may actually feel like sitting out the practice class entirely.

remedy : Cold compress first and then a warm one after. Gentle pressure. If you can get a Dr. to take a look at you just to allay any fears of any lasting damage.

Result: Not a bruise as I would have expected by the way. The area involved was actually just a shade and a half paler than the rest of my complexion but there was a 'bump'. More of a raising of the sking and very tender. It is now a week later and though the bump isn't as pronounced as it was the first three days after it happened, it still hurts when touched. For example you wash your face and forget it is there. You wince a little cos' it is a reminder how important focus is when doing martial arts!

Silly silly zan! Well anything else happen to me that I may think is of interest I will let you know. Hopefully it won't happen too often!

;D

[Ganheim]

blooddebt said:

Personally, I only know Tae-Kwon-Doe, *shame*

Don't feel bad. I never had either the time or money to personally learn a martial art at all so far (I don't count UAC, which I'm not very highly rated in anyway).

Still, some clever online research can yield a lot of interesting facts (and it's usually pretty easy to cross-check things online). Judo, which I've been trying to get into a class of for years. The kyu-dan system (developed by Jigoro Kano) has six standard grades (though in many countries, there are more) for student and then for master.

In the six kyu grades set up by Kano are:
rokyu, gokyu, yonkyu, sankyu, nikyu, and ikkyu.
(If you want those in English, it goes roughly from "level 6" to "level 1"). There's also a 10 degree system for dan (black belt) ranks:
shodan, nidan, sandan, yodan, godan, rokudan, shichidan, hachidan, kudan, and judan.
Judan, the 10th and final degree, has no formal regulations; however, only the president can promote people to this rank and only 15 people have attained this rank.