Hello Everyone,

This is a very special blog post.  Why?  It's the 200th blog post.

Again, I really wish I kept the old blog, but I felt there needed to be a better title to explain the point of what I was writing.  Anyway, for the 200th blog I wanted to spend some time talking about a variety of issues.

First, about me.  It is my fault I left this blog completely silent for so long, but again, things happen in life that really took my time away from the blog (family, job, etc.).  However, I'm back and I hope to help spread the word about more effective and efficient fighting styles to study for self-defense, fighting, and fitness.  Now, my background...

Again, I studied Kung Fu San Soo for about a year and was taught lessons from ah-soo, fut-ga, toi le ho, etc.  I have to admit I drank the san soo Kool-Aid and believed that I was being taught the best fighting style (at least that's what my san soo teacher got me to believe).  Anyway, I left the school and eventually found myself back into the study of martial arts.  I was in a book store and for some reason decided to look through the martial arts section.  I came across a magazine (this was a book store that was for used and new books so they sold many cool and weird things and it wasn't the cleanest place too) that was strictly focusing on the style of Muay Thai.  I got hooked looking through it and did research on the closest Muay Thai gyms.  I found one and saw the teacher.  Let's just say the moment I saw him I knew he was a legit Muay Thai teacher.

THIS MUAY THAI TEACHER DIDN'T WEAR STUPID LOOKING UNIFORMS WITH COLORED BELTS.  HE WORE MUAY THAI SHORTS AND WAS IN GREAT SHAPE!  I STARTED OUT WITH A PRIVATE MUAY THAI LESSON AND GOT HOOKED IMMEDIATELY!  THIS MUAY THAI TEACHER IS VERY FAMOUS AND HAS A PROFESSIONAL FIGHT RECORD IN THE USA (BESIDES ANOTHER COUNTRY ;))

Years later I eventually got into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and studied under a variety of teachers wherever I found myself living.  I never had a passion for BJJ like Muay Thai, but I do respect the art of BJJ and the teachers in BJJ.  Generally, I find BJJ teachers are very honest about the strengths and limitations of BJJ.  I also, got exposed to boxing and Chinese Sanda (for a very short period of time).  I have never fought professionally, but I have done smoker fights.  These fights taught me some important lessons and I cherish them.

Being in Kung Fu San Soo and comparing it to the fighting styles recommended on this blog I have to say that there is a big difference in the teachers and students.  The teachers in kung fu san soo generally (even the 2nd and 3rd generation) try to be on the same level as the fighting styles on this blog.  Saying stupid shit like "you know this [style], well we're very similar to them, we do those same techniques too."  "you know those MMA guys are limited to what they can do, they're use to fighting with rules."  Bullshit.  There's nothing a san soo teacher or student can do that a person from a fighting style recommended on this blog can't do.  A Tomoi fighter or Dutch kickboxer can probably do a kick to the groin faster than a san soo guy since they train hard at kicking.  A BJJ can learn an arm break easier than a san soo guy since they roll against a person trying to choke them out every day in class.

What I find so hilarious is the well known kung fu san soo teachers (minus 1st generation) and schools that are left are learning and teaching the styles on this blog.  Doesn't that tell you something?  It sure as shows me that they need to make their style better, but I would never waste my time at a san soo school or anyone who knows san soo because I know or can find people who are much more qualified to teach me fighting (in the styles recommended on this blog) and who have fight records to prove it.

If your san soo style is so good then why the hell do you need other styles?  Answer.  San Soo is a joke and it's training methods will get a person killed. Period.

Do you think the striking styles recommended on this blog study other traditional martial arts like san soo?  Fuck no!  They don't need them.  They have tested their techniques against opponents in the ring, cage, and street.  They know what works and they know the training that is needed to make them better.

Striking: Muay Thai, Muay Lao, Pradal Serey, Lethwei, Tomoi, Sanda (San Shou, San Da), Shoot Boxing, Kyuk Too Ki, Yaw Yan, Dutch Kickboxing, Western Boxing, and Savate are the best and most realistic striking styles to study.  

Grappling.  Okay I admit it.  I'm not an expert at grappling, but I have trained with professional MMA fighters (more amateur fighters though) and learned from at least 3 BJJ black belts.  Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling, Sambo, Judo, Pankration, and Shuai Jiao will work and the training is realistic.

I'll never forget the Threat Management Institute (TMI) challenge with John Marsh.  I remember reading the posts about the event on the TMI website (I have to admit there were some good discussions on the TMI website) and seeing the pics of the fight (If I remember, there was a pic posted of John Marsh lifting Sean Scott's arm in the air after the fight, of course, it was the arm that was not broken).  I remember seeing a pic of Sean Scott after the fight was over with a black eye. That fight event, really let think hard about San Soo.  I certainly remember the butt hurt it caused in the San Soo community.  Remember, I posted the TMI article on this blog about the fight event when it was over and how TMI told the San Soo community that grapplers never respected San Soo.  It's true.  They don't respect a lot of martial arts (I remember one day after BJJ class these two white guys were talking shit about another martial art school).  However, they do respect the striking styles like Muay Thai, Boxing, or a similar striking style.  A BJJ black belt told me that Muay Thai or Boxing would be perfect for street fighting because they focus on simple techniques, distance, fitness, and are just hard to train in (he was the first BJJ black belt who looked me in they eye and told me that going to the ground in a street fight is very risky).

Second, I imagine there will be a time on this blog where I will just focus on REAL fighting gyms/camps and real fighters to show on this blog since there won't be that many real fighting styles left to talk about.  Most of the real fighting styles have already been mentioned on this blog.  Also, as far as I know, kung fu san soo schools are not really growing and spreading like most traditional martial arts.  Thank the LORD.  I really don't imagine kung fu san soo growing into a popular style like BJJ or Judo or Muay Thai around the world since MMA has shown what works and what doesn't.  Thank the LORD for youtube and the internet so we can see bullshit for what it is.  The San Soo community is filled with toxic people, from the 1st generation masters who won't admit certain events to the 2nd and 3rd generation who take techniques from other styles and try to sell it off as San Soo and try to be on the same level as styles used in MMA.

Third, what is the future for martial arts?  Honestly, in my opinion, it doesn't look good for many martial art styles.  Especially traditional styles!  I have written about it in past blog posts before where people don't want to spend a lot of TIME and MONEY learning something that is questionable (traditional martial arts) when they can spend time and money that is proven to work (I.E. BJJ and Muay Thai).

LET ME PUT IT ANOTHER WAY:
One person can train in BJJ and Muay Thai and become proficient in fighting and developing supreme physical fitness in less than 6 months to 2 years.  

One person can train in a bullshit art like kung fu san soo for 20 years and end up getting his/her ass kicked by that person who studied BJJ and Muay Thai for 6 months to 2 years.  A person studying kung fu san soo for 6 months to 2 years will never be on the same level in fighting and fitness as the person who studied BJJ and Muay Thai for 6 months to 2 years.  Period!

Get the point?  In this day and age, people don't have time to waste and don't want to waste time learning complex and traditional styles when they can learn styles that will develop good skills in 6 months.

Also, people have more options in entertainment.  People don't really have the attitude to do physical work when video games seem to be the craze with young kids.  Even the old san soo guys have to admit this fact.

***San Soo people shouldn't be taken what I say as offensive.  If you're a good person at heart and need help I would be gladly to help you in the time of need, especially against bad people.  I do have a spot in my heart for people that are innocent and need help against bad people.

Questions or Comments?

JimmyHWoo2016@gmail.com

Recommended Fighting Styles:

Southeast Asian Boxing

Muay Thai, Muay Lao, Pradal Serey, Lethwei, Tomoi

East Asian Boxing

Sanda (San Shou, San Da), Kyuk Too Ki, Shoot Boxing, Yaw Yan

Western Striking

Dutch Kickboxing, Savate, Western Boxing

Grappling and Other

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling, Sambo, Pankration, Judo, Shuai Jiao, Kali/Arnis/Escrima