FightingArts.com "Feedback"
"Feedback" is a cyber rendition
of a letters-to-the-editor
section found in the print media. Here are selected
comments from our readers:
Just wanted to say how much I love your Fighting Arts website. I've learned so much on your incredible and invaluable site and have referred many of my martial arts friends to it.
I know this word is over-used but it's an AWESOME resource for anyone who wants to broaden their knowledge of martial arts. Truly enlightening — this website is a truly impressive accomplishment!
Thanks,
Kyoshi RB
I truly wanted to jot down a note so as to say thanks to you for all of the unique ideas you are sharing here. My time-consuming internet research has now been honored with excellent insight to write about with my neighbours. I 'd tell you that many of us visitors actually are very blessed to be in a magnificent network with so many wonderful professionals with good principles. I feel rather lucky to have encountered your entire web pages and look forward to many more entertaining times reading here. Thanks again for everything.
I think other site proprietors should take this site as an model, very clean and magnificent user genial style and design, as well as the content. You are an expert in this topic!
W. J.
Dear Mr. Caile:
Your web page is fantastic! I love the esoteric approach and the emphasis on the spiritual and cultural aspects of the fighting arts.
Great information on the founders and legends of the Martial Arts. I have just begun my journey in the martial way in Shito-ryu karate, and I appreciate the wealth of information you make available here.
You dedication and love of the martial arts are evident, I salute you!
C. J.
this site is just awesome
T.O.
Great work - extremely impressive Web site. Your explanation (in great detail) of all katas, and what form or animal they emanated from is brilliant. In fact, yours is the best Kata site that I have ever seen on the Web.
Yours in Goju Ryu,
T. H.(Godan)
As a Japanese from Tokyo, an alumni of our Imperial school, Gakushuin, a worshipper of Shinto, visitor of Yasukuni, who conducts my Tamagoryo Sanpai regularly, I am simply astonished by the quality of work and zeal in making this site.
S.
Love the content on your site. It's just great.
C. M.
Great Martial Arts reading! Every practitioner of Karate
/ MMA / Judo / Ju-Jitsu should book mark this site!
P.
This site is a virtual library of information. I am impressed
!J.R.
Good morning. I would like to start off by telling you
how much I enjoyed FightingArts.com. I've been training
Muay Thai and BJJ for fitness and self defense for the past
7 years. This website has been a great resource of information
for me, and a joy to read. I love discussing MMA, and your
forum is fantastic!
J M
Your articles are some of the best I’ve seen—better
than publications like BLACK BELT, which seems not to cater
to serious martial artists.
J.V.
I bumped to your site through Google, and want to tell
you what a wonderful resource it is. It's a shame we don't
have sites like yours anymore... I literally spent a hour
reading everything in your site.. so much information..
lol.
W.S.
Two things appealed to me about your publication: 1) The
statement that it is a "labor of love". I relate
to this, personally, and I admire it. 2) The absence of
the sort of lunacy that pervades so many of the "writings"
and "peridiodicals" on the subject of the fighting
arts.
PJS
I am greatly impressed with your magazine's professional
appearance and content. It is reflective of your many years
of dedicated practice and love of the martial arts.
Please keep up this magnificent effort because it is truly
important that current and future generations have access
to authentic traditional martial arts information.
W.B.
Aloha to you, from Hawaii! Thank you all for offering
such excellent resources, both free and for purchase. I
am really enjoying your site, and will be back!
S. T.
Fantastic. I have just discovered FightingArts.com this
morning and so far I am very impressed. I am a student
of Shotokan karate I have also studied a little Aikido
and Ju-Jitsu. Once again, I am thoroughly impressed by
this website. Brilliant. Thank you.
N. H.
Your site is a truly a fantastic way of delivering great
martial arts history and information around the World.
Keep up the great work.
C.G.
I really enjoy this
site. I learn and I am entertained. I am also made to think.
It's good.
Sensei D.A.R.
Thank you, your web site is brilliant. I just found you
and it's very interesting.
nellie1
Keep up the good work,
I found the quality of your articles to
be extraordinary, well documented and researched.
E. B.
I have been coming to Fightingarts.com for a couple of
months.... It is truly amazing one-stop shopping. I have
learned more about the differences in martial arts and
which may be more appropriate for me. I find the people
on your forums, and especially the moderators, to be intelligent
and well-spoken (written?). This place is not dominated
by meatheads and jerks, but rather a community of people
who can answer your questions and who really know their
stuff.
Your articles on the front page, specifically the arm lock
and Christopher Caile's article about being pushed from
behind, are incredibly valuable.
Thank you for the site that has provided valuable, clear
guidance to all who need it! You folks are great!
Angie
I visited your and was very impressed by the vast amount
of information on different styles and the lack of segregation
as to any one system. I am very impressed. Keep up the
good work
G. S.
9th Dan
During my research
I stummbled across your site and, I have to say, which
ever direction I take there doesnt seem to be a site that
matches Fightingarts.com in terms of academic content.
P. M. (U.K.)
As a martial artist
that frequents the net I found your site a few years ago.
I have poked my head in from time to time (love the articles)
and of course bounced around on your forum from time to
time. I love the new forum setup and feel it will foster
more participation in the future.
Thank you for producing a fantastic web site and I wish
you continued success in the future.
Regards,
W. R.
Best Martial Arts
site I've seen (and I've seen a lot). A colleague recommended
this site and said you can spend hours on it with the links.
Correct that. You can spend weeks.
DAA, Watford, England
Thank you for this site. I've been studying Karate for
just a few months, and in all the enthusiasm of discovery,
I've been looking everything up. Most of the time, my Googles
lead me here, to these nice, meaty, thorough articles.
I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.
MM
I am constantly on the net looking to further my knowledge
of the martial arts. And so I can safely say with the utmost
confidence that this is one of the best sites I have visited.
I am going to add it to my favorites. I thank the creators
of this page as well as the people mentioned in the articles
for making this possible.
EJM
Please continue the
amazing work you do on FightingArts.com -- it is a contribution
to our way of life -- a way that seems increasingly challenged
by the times and those who are so worried about commercialism
that they have lost sight of what the study of these arts
mean....they could learn a lot from your website and the
example of many like Mr. Draeger.
Domo Arigato.
--GR
Dear Mr. Caile,
While I have been keenly interested in many martial arts
articles, been inspired by tales of great teachers and
been entertained by fighters' spinning yarns of their exploits
I cannot recall ever having been moved emotionally by reading
anything in the genre in the way that I was while reading "Story
About Kevin". Here we have an example of uncommon
courage and perseverance not in unusual circumstance or
in time of need or in emergency but in daily life, every
day. Every doggone day. That's real budo. I wonder how
I would stack up given similar challenges? A question worth
asking, I think.
You seem to be able to identify the things which are truly
important. Your recognizing of Kevin's right to partake
in the pursuit of a martial way and helping him to cultivate
his skills re-enforce the truth of these perceptions.
I really enjoyed that article and I'm sure that others
will rate it highly as well.
Sincerely,
Matthew R.
I absolutely love
this website. Its my guru...and can only continue to praise
you for the amazing work that you must have put in to create
this website. I have informed many of my friends about
it who have become members and I hope that they find it
as good as I do. Thanks for everything. Continue the brilliant
work.
e.m.b
I think that the website is great.
It is the best one that I have come across. Every thing
is described in great
detail. I am now on here regularly and it is great for
imformation about different martial arts. Keep up the
good work people. This is the best.
E.Brown
I cannot help but think of the printed form of Fighting
Arts International published by Terry O'Neill. Seeing names
and Patrick McArthy and Dave Lowry just reminds me more.
I don't know how long its been in existance but its the
1st time I see it - great site and very informative. I
thought that FAI was an excellent publication and I think
your site is as good if not better.
CS
This is the best site
I have seen out of a week of looking. I find that the infermation
is good and the pics aid the text very well, unlike other
sites with just text or just pics.
K. G.
Just wanted to voice my appreciation of the best Martial
Arts site on the net!
I have studied the Martial Arts for 35 years (Wado Ryu
Karate 7th Dan, Yang Family Tai Chi Instructor, Iaido 3rd
Dan Jodo 1st Dan), have written for the Martial Arts Magazines
in England for 20 years and have trawled the internet for
interesting information from it's inception - and I have
to say that your site is the best!
Again, well done on an excellent site!
Regards
Steve Rowe
RE= The Bottom Line Of Training
I think this article is a good reminder to everyone who
practices martial arts, it's not having techniques, it's
having skills. In my opinion skills are the ability to apply
a techniques under severe emotional pressure. Many people
train thinking that what they practice will protect them
if the time comes, but do so in a very safe & controlled
environment.
Having worked as a door steward in various rough parts
of Scotland, I find dealing with the emotions harder than
learning any technique. The more you become comfortable
with these emotions, the easier it is to deal with them.
You need to expose yourself to these emotions to learn how
to cope with them.
I'm not advocating everyone become a door steward but,
realistic training should be part of every martial art.
Those who don't include it are risking their lives &
those instructors who profess to teach self defense but
don't include realistic environments, are risking other
peoples lives!
If we look at the past masters, they placed themselves
under extreme physical hardships knowing that not only were
they building their bodies but also their minds. They were
making sure that when the time came to defend themselves
they could count on body and mind working together as one.
Train hard & train smart.
Monty Sneddon
RE: Treasure Of '70's Film Footage Recovered: Includes
Elvis Sponsored Karate Film
I'm no martial artist -- I found this article purely by
accident, and was blown away by it, given that George Waite
is a very good friend of mine and damn fine human being.
.... the story is a great one and I've been sharing it with
friends for years.
r.l.s.
RE: Treasure Of '70's Film Footage Recovered: Includes
Elvis Sponsored Karate Film
Keepup the fine work. Excellent and facinating detail on
the origin of this martial arts masterpeice.
T Mann
RE: Examining Yasutsune Itosu - Part 1: The Man And His
Lineage
Excellent just excellent
Barry Archer
RE: The Straight Arm Double Lapel Grab, Part 2
Love your site. Special thanks for your (Christopher Caile)
for your article, "The Straight Arm Double Lapel Grab,
Part 2" and all the others in the self-defense series.
These articles are not only logical and well written, but
they also provide something else that is important: practical,
straightforward and useful self-defense applications taken
from karate kata. They have made me appreciate the kata
I have practiced for so long. Now I understand what my teachers
have been telling me for so long -- that kata is the basis
of all karate. Thank you. You do a real service to karate
and martial arts through FightingArts.com.
Ronald S.
RE: Omori Ryu: The Foundation of Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido
Interesting indeed. As a Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu student
and instructor I did learn some new things, and I'm looking
forwards to the follow ups.
Boaz E.S
RE: Bodhisattva Action and Martial Arts
I think Jeff Brooks article is brilliant, it addresses something
I have thought about for a long time but which I also believe
many martial artists have also thought of. Even if you don't
know the term "samadhi" or what it entails , it
still encompasses most peoples aspiration of attainement
or expertise in the martial arts whether you call it 'unificaton
of body & mind ' or what have you . I'd just like to
say thanks to Jeff for supplying the information and standing
up for the spiritual side of the arts.
John Lee
RE: Seiza: The Kneeling Posture
I am attempting to write an article on kneeling (not martial
arts related), and this article was extremely helpful. The
history, origin and meaning were exactly the type of information
I was seeking, and the specifics on actual physical aspects
was refreshing. Thank you so much!
Seonaidh
RE: Unraveling The Mysteries Of The Nafadi Tradition: Its
Kata
Expertly researched article. Rare insight into a roots
of naha te and Goju karate. Keep upthe goodwork.
Firdosh Variava
RE: Redesigning FightingArts.com
I love the new look. I'm happy that you guys did such a
great job with the site "make over." Keep up the
great work, and good luck with the new format.
George Rego
Florida Jukido Jujitsu Academy
RE: Too Much Ado About Pressure Points
The points raised in this article are very pertinent to
my current thinking. Personally I have been to two separate
seminars and neither one seemed to me to provide effective
in a street or life saving techniques. I would never dream
of trying to take a guy out with a pressure point or dim
mak hit in a street situation.
Terry Ronin
RE: Japanese Woodblock Prints
It was a site which gave me all the information I was seeking
since ages. As we hardly get to know any thing like this
in India.
With Thanks and regards.
Subeer
RE: Omori Ryu: The Foundation of Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido
Interesting indeed. As a Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu student
and instructor I did learn some new things, and I'm looking
forwards to the follow ups.
Boaz E.S.
RE: Memories of Richard Kim
A great piece of journalism! In Guelph, Canada, we just
finished the 23rd (and best) camp with Zen Bei Butokukai
members from around the world. The camp this year was a
memorial to O'Sensei Kim and the energy was unbelievable
Thank you for your article. It brought back many good memories.
Paul Grant, Mount Forest, Ontario, Canada
RE: Memories of Richard Kim
I met MR. Kim many years ago at a seminar in Vancouver
BC. I beleive it was approximatly 1983. I remember him talking
about the bo kata of japan and okinawa, he must have listed
50 kata, eventually i researched many of these and was amazed
to find that all the history and information that Mr. Kim
had given us was totally accurate. It wasn't that I doubted
his accuracy, I just couldnt beleive that as he talked and
told us a massive amount of information, without the aid
of notes or books, that he knew his subject so well. He
was absolutly amazing to listen to.
RE: Editorial The Disservice Of Bad Technique
I am only commenting on the "disservice" piece.
Well said and it unfortunately needs to be said over and
over in all martial arts schools. I also have been involved
in martial arts for over 30 years (God has it been that
long?) and I am totally unimpressed by the self defense
experience or skills of many martial arts practitioners.
Most can and do well in tournaments and other situations
where there are rules but on the street or wherever, you
just have to do it! My sister is a public defender in D.C.
and some of her clients are impressive in their abilities
to just plain hurt people and do it well. It makes me wonder
how we train to deal with someone who just wants to kill
your ass if they want. So ask yourself this the next time
someone is teaching you self defense; can this person help
me if I got in a jam with a really bad ass or are they dojo
good? Nothing wrong with being good at a sport but don't
confuse it with fighting ability. But they real key to good
self defense technique that works is to be aware, don't
walk into trouble if you don't need to, develop your instincts!
Enough preaching, I enjoy the articles!
Carlos
RE: The O-Soto-Gari Judo Throw In Jujutsu & Karate
A very interesting article. It's good to see someone talk
about differences and simularities in various arts and not
bring them down criticising the particular way each art
handles a technique. Very constructive!
Paul Jones
RE:Vital Points or Vital Principles?
Im happy to see there are people that understand that traditional
martial arts does not mean stagnant. Where would we be if
the great masters and foundersof Goju ryu, Chito ryu, Shotokan
and other style had not seen the need for changes or additions.
I'm sure that for every success there were a hundred failures.
But what the hell that's tradition for you. Even today the
great houses of Shotokan and Kyokushinkai and Goju are being
restructured fractured, and rebuilt. "If it don't kill
you, it will make you stronger ." - Traditional saying
C.L. Brooks
RE: Escaping The Wrist Grab: Part 2 - From The Opposite
Side
I am a black belt in karate and also am studying Jujitsu.
Being a woman, interested in self defense for women, I was
particulary impressed by the overall simplicity, but effectiveness
of the techniques you presented in your two articles. I
liked the information you presented on using body movement
to compensate for being physically "weaker" than
your attacker.
I look forward to reading the third article on double wrist
grabs. Will you be presenting techniques on one and two-handed
grabs from behind, as well as clothing grabs? I would be
interested in reading about your recommended techniques
in these areas? Do you have any recommendations for "bar
room" grabs such as around the waist and around the
shoulder? I would read and re-read any articles you might
write on these subjects.
Thanks
GA
I am very impressed with the overall layout of this site.
Informative for both beginner and long term practitioner.
I have found the forums particularly useful and a source
of constant interest. It is so refreshing to exchange ideas
in such a way.
I cannot cease my praise for this site.
Martin Henson
Sir,
Congratulations on the anniversary of Fighting Arts.com.
It is a truly great site for Martial Artists of all styles
and descriptions. Your site is definitely one of my favourites
and I visit it everyday to check out the forums and new
articles. Please keep up the good work.
Cheers,
Nick
Ontario, Canada.
Osu, to you all at fighting arts I would like to congratulate
you on fine setup I enjoy all the letters and readings-keep
up the great job.
Yours Very sincerely.
John Richards 5th Dan Retired (Karate)
I must congratulate you and your staff for such informative
articles. Our school has benefitted so much from your hard
work and dedication to the martial arts. Keep up the hard
work and may you be richly blessed for your efforts.
Vilisi Nadaku
President,
Japan Karate Association of Fiji
RE: Azato Ankoh: A Short Story About My Teacher Part 2
Outstanding! Again, I am very impressed by the quality
of your articles. However, I am not surprised, considering
the quality of your contributors.
Eric Madis
Great work, as usual. Keep it coming.
Wonderfully refreshing that someone with class is continuing
to publish historical and authentic articles about Karatedo.
Thomas Cauley
I've looked at your site, and find it quite informative
and well-presented.
Good job!
Philip Tom
RE:website
Your site is great. The internet is becoming congested
with martial arts websites that are poorly written and full
of ridiculous claims. Fightingarts.com is well written and
informative. I highly recommend this site to anyone who
is serious about traditional martial arts!
Marty Kropp
To whom it may concern,
I have just finished exploring your wonderful site. Firstly
my congratulations to your team for an outstanding effort!
The site has the potential to be the most comprehensive
site available on the fighting arts.
B. K.
RE: Website
I am really enjoying this outstanding website. The site
address was posted on the Uechi forums. I have added it
to our Hotlist section .
Scott
Greetings:
As I quickly read through today's Cyberdojo Digest, I came
upon a link to
your "Presidential Judo" article. I was quite
impressed with the content and quality of the article; but
particularly excited about the professionalism of your entire
on-line magazine. The appearance is really user-friendly
and the content is all valid- a combination that is far
too rare in martial arts publications from any media.
Dan Cohen
RE:Excellent Site
Wonderful! I have searched long and hard for a well done
, professional , and most of all DIGNIFIED Martial Arts
site, and FightingArts.com is it! Please keep up the quality.
As a police officer and student , I appreciate the well
written and practical articles. My heart felt thanks!
Gafai Cheng
RE: Multiple Attacks
First of all your site is great ... I'm going to spread
the word to my students and to the Zujitsu system.
Dealing with multiple opponents is one of the primary areas
of instruction in our system and I feel it should be a major
ingredient in all systems.
Kyoshi Bob Martin
RE: Bone Bruising
Have just read the article about bone bruising and have
to say it is a godsend! In January this year I went to kick
someone and caught my shin on their knee. After much pain,
physio and x-rays still no one could tell me what was wrong.
I found this so distressing as I had a noticeable lump on
my shin (and still do) and everyone was saying there's nothing
wrong, it will go away! Well it hasn't and I have been searching
to try and find some answers and a friend gave me this address
and the first thing I saw and read was this article which
I got so much from. Do you have anymore articles for chronic
conditions and their care? As my leg is shin is still marked
and painful upon contact (which by the way is on pads and
only recently commenced) I am concerned that it will never
go away and that I may have done permanent injury, this
is probably in the wrong place (forums?) but anyway if you
can further help I would be and am grateful.
Sincerely, VMUP
RE: Fightin Arts Website
Although due to age and an amputation I no longer practice
martial arts, I
nevertheless like to keep in touch with the martial arts
world. There is no
better place than this web site.
Articles are interesting and well researched.
Arthur A. Tansley
RE:Funakoshi and the Beginning
Outstanding article. Well-researched and well constructed,
with good footnotes and references. Your magazine continues
to rate with the best in its related field.
Eric Madis
I usually don't post messages, but I wanted to say you
guys and gals have put together a great site. I'm typically
dissapointed by the content and design of martial arts sites,
which are usually simply a commercial for a school or art
or a rant about how tough they are. Fightarts.com provides
information and articles on a wide range of martial arts.
Keep up the good work!
Patrick Carney
Well founded on very interesting martial art web site.
It looks like you have a little bit, or a lot of everything
from business to art. I looked for word to visiting this
side often. Your hard work is payin off. As a school owner
and martial arts for over 20 years I have found this very
valuable. It seems like I found a new instructor. Looking
forward to visiting this web site. I read your site with
an empty cup. I see that commercialism has not hit you yet.
Chicago Jim
I just wanted to drop a brief note saying that Deborah
Klens Bingman's comments on the International Martial Arts
Conference in France really hit home. In the early part
of the 20th century, another organization based in France,
the Federation International d'Escrime, became the internationally
recognized governing body for the "sport" of fencing.
Many feel that as a result of this, a lot of the diversity
formerly found in the fencing world, such as the traditions
of the Italian schools of fence and the practice of such
unique forms as sword and dagger, were steamrolled by a
paradigm geared towards sportive competition--specifically,
Olympic competition. Fencing today, as many who study the
art of "classical" fencing maintain, is a far
cry from the practice of the 19th century that observed
the dictum "hit without being hit." In fact, in
this country, it seems to consist of many well-off and not-so-well-off
teenagers taking up an unusual sport in the hopes of getting
into the college of their choice, and, occasionally, going
to the Olympics.
I would be alarmed by any attempt to organize a "scientific"
system for coaching and competing in any more sectors of
the unique and diverse world of Asian martial arts. Already,
it seems that tae kwon do and judo have been afflicted with
the same disease that fencing has almost succumbed to. It
would be a shame if this trend continued, and what was once
a beautiful way for many unique individuals to carry on
a tradition of great art, while at the same time learning
to improve themselves, became reduced to the level of mere
sport. (I don't mean to to insult tae kwon do or judo, of
course, but all the same, I would be interested in an article
detailing how each has changed as a result of being included
in international competition--weight classes in judo, for
instance.)
As I am still young, I do not have any children yet. However,
if in two decades' time, my daughter came home in tears
because she had been cut from her school's kendo team for
not winning enough bouts, I would be appalled indeed.
Ken Mondschein
Osu
Congratulations on a superb web resource. I am a student
of Seido Karate in England and I remember one night in New
York (prob 1994 or so) when Shihan Chris Caile applied Reiki/Chi
Gung to a student's knuckle injury with resounding success.
We talked briefly about kata applications and about healing
etc. All my studies so far have brought me towards the same
topics time and time again and I am convinced that a good
understanding of the shared roots of the martial arts is
a key part of personal development. However there are few
resources which are addressing this area. I am very pleased
to see that so many senior practitioners from many disciplines
are working together to provide such a resource. This will
help me continue the journey. Thank you for your work, it
is much appreciated. I hope in time I can contribute some
of my own experiences.
An awesome e-mag! I'm glad to see this level of quality
information!!! Keep up the good work.
Bill Lucas
Thank you for letting the world read about an instructor
who truly understands and lives up to the spirit of being
a teacher..Christopher Caile
Barry Dallman
Your site is very well done, easy to navigate.
I would invite all, in Karate-do, to visit our site: http://www.karateshorinkan.com
David
This site is very important, if a beginer
of Martial Arts wasn't sure on something, they could get
to this site and work out thier problem I worked out mine
anyway, OK welldone.
Sarah E.Yates
I enjoyed the article on strength training
for martial artists, however I am especially interested
in a more detailed disscussion on polymetric training: concepts,
benifits, drawbacks, etc.
Branko Jambrosic
This is beautiful!!! The site comes together
nicely. It is really professional without being too STAID
or boring. Great job. It is very full, too. I look forward
to reading the articles. wow.
L. H. S.
Congratulations FightingArts. You offer both
high quality and depth of material. I'm glad that you are
taking a more serious educational approach rather than what
is often seen in most martial arts magazines on the newsstand.
I'm sure you will have a bright future. And it's free.
Steve Steele
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