Any martial artists want to meet up at BM?

girl Mark · Post by **girl Mark** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 9:21 am

Hello,
I'm a martial arts student and am training for a test this fall, and I don't want to completely lose my stride while at Burning Man. Is there anyone else who's a martial artist who may want to meet up, talk shop, do a little training (I know the environment is harsh for super physical activity), teach each other some forms, or anything like that?

Drop me a line:
[email protected]

Thanks!

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 9:29 am

If you want to be brutalized by The Way of the Double-Bitted Axe, just say so.

Which is your way, O grasshopper?

skygnome777 · Post by **skygnome777** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 10:09 am

What style(s)?
I studied martial arts for four years in a college club that went from a three days a week very organized Tae-Kwon-Doh club, then in the next two years to a once a week whatever the new president felt like teaching club. (SCAT training from different styles, and weapons.)
So my training is a bit tenuous. But I'd gladly practice some with you if I'm not too far below what you're looking for.
I probably wouldn't be much to spar with but I do review the techniques semi-regularly.

girl Mark · Post by **girl Mark** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 12:18 pm

I practice kajukenbo, which is one of the several hybrid styles that evolved out of kenpo in the 50's when a number of post-WWII asian refugee martial artists got together to re-evaluate their traditional arts when they ended up in Hawaii and elsewhere in the US after the war (all these styles, such as Ed Parker's Kenpo, Chinese-Hawaiian Kenpo, kajukenbo, danzan ryu jujitsu, and whatever became bruce lee's style, added bits of karate, bits of kung fu, bits of jujitsu and judo, and a bit of boxing training for good measure). I've also done a little bit of brazilian jujitsu training and would really like to get more practice grappling, which is hard to arrange without a mat.

I'm a beginner but have been one for ages (I'm disabled periodically so I don't advance very fast but I'm a bit more than just a beginner). I'm really interested in 'learning somethin'' at this event so I don't feel guilty for missing over a week of class right before the belt test we're having at home.

Anyway, the style I'm part of is sort of a more modern mixed martial arts style- we do TONS of grappling as part of it, which is one of my favorite aspects, and we do a lot of MMA-style sparring which differs from 'points' sparring in some other styles. Usually sparring goes to the ground sooner or later and becomes a wrestling match with both grappling and strikes allowed.

However, we also do kung fu forms and some knife fighting and stick fighting from escrima (I"m a VERY early beginner on this) and a lot of general conditioning. I'd love to, at the playa, learn someone else's forms, whether Tai Chi, or kung fu, or other shorter combinations that you use to train in your style. Or just to do some general stretching/punching some focus pads/practicing kicks or combos, and some minimal stand-up sparring.

I could bring focus (handheld target) pads. There's a VERY small chance that I might be able to bring a wrestling mat if I can borrow it from the owner AND I find a vehicle with space for it coming from the Bay Area. You should bring a mouthguard and cup if you want to spar, and whatever shoes would be appropriate for moving around this way on the playa. Or we could just work on non-contact stuff and trade training techniques.

I'm camping at American Steal, and leaving my info at Playa Info. you can also reach me at [email protected]

swampdog · Post by **swampdog** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 2:57 pm

I'll be there as a ninja, but you'll never see me.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 3:25 pm

Come run through the Barbarian Challenge Obstacle Course, then we can duel with boffers. It'll be good for your advancement. And fun.

girl Mark · Post by **girl Mark** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 5:55 pm

Ha!

yes, I"m sure there'll be lots of stuff like that. I'm not sure how much of it I can safely bring back to the other world afterwards, though.

I'm dreaming about a wrestling mat being somehow available.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 12:07 pm

"Somehow available" = you must bring it yourself.
Be the radical self-reliance.

skygnome777 · Post by **skygnome777** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 3:12 pm

In a military hand to hand combat training manual i have, they use bags of sand instead of a mat. Too bad you can't dig deep up the sand there and just bring the bags!

girl Mark · Post by **girl Mark** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 4:35 pm

I've grappled on hardwood floor too, but not everyone wants to tear themselves up like that.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 7:25 pm

Try a barbarian on for size.

I am accustomed to doing shoulder rolls on concrete.

The playa will probably be softer than concrete this year.

Igneouss · Post by **Igneouss** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:21 am

My default GF will likely be at BM next year. Shes' got quite the martial arts pedigree. Military hand to hand instructor. Competitive JuJitsu. Not sure what degree blackbelt TKD but she was an instructor and an expert with edged weapons (nationally recognized expert with Cama). Then there's the kick boxing. Oh and she's really pissed that women's mixed martial arts got popular after she had kids and got a job. And in her free time she does Yoga... sheesh

Anyway...I am sure she'd absolutely love to get involved with other martial artists at BM!

I hope you all keep this idea alive for 2010.

Cheers,
The couch potato boy friend

Igneouss · Post by **Igneouss** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:22 am

My default GF will likely be at BM next year. Shes' got quite the martial arts pedigree. Military hand to hand instructor. Competitive JuJitsu. Not sure what degree blackbelt TKD but she was an instructor and an expert with edged weapons (nationally recognized expert with Cama). Then there's the kick boxing. Oh and she's really pissed that women's mixed martial arts got popular after she had kids and got a job. And in her free time she does Yoga... sheesh

Anyway...I am sure she'd absolutely love to get involved with other martial artists at BM!

I hope you all keep this idea alive for 2010.

Cheers,
The couch potato boy friend

skygnome777 · Post by **skygnome777** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 1:38 pm

Yeah?
Well I'm an experienced practice dummy!
For the later half of my martial arts training(at our college club) I was the guy the instructor would sweep down to the ground and punch in the face to show everyone the "right" way.