Dog Brothers Public Forum

Woof All:

I would like to put out there the fact that Pretty Kitty and I were rather irked at last year's Open Gathering by the number of people who were trying to sneak video of the fights.

In the old days cameras and video cameras were readily distinguishable.  Now they are not.  We always were fine with people taking fotos, but now we find we must give serious consideration to a no private camera policy, perhaps with a pro photographer there taking pictures for sale later.

Crafty Dog

Thank you for that.

Very glad to see that young man get the support he deserves!

This is what happens when you try to start fights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF8uSPwLKp8&feature=player_embedded#at=27

Some other things that may open him up a bit for footwork and moving his stick are trying

two on one scenarios/sparring or three on one scenrarios
the prison riot drill
target his hand while sparring or just spar only using the hand(s) as a target
you spar with a stick and knife which will discourage him from closing, force him to work something other than the close

i can try to think of some other things, i'm sure several people may have ideas. I think the above can help him recognize his gaps, and then return to combining stick and footwork. Or show him some of the fight footage from the DVDs and see if he can emulate one of the fighters.

woof!
porn*

Hit him harder with meaner sticks until he becomes motivated to evolve.

It is through Boo Dog's relation with Gokor that we get to use Gokor's gym.

Boo Dog writes:

The shoe wearing things goes like this...

1)  Only wrestling shoes or bare feet on the mat.  This is due to the skin diseases that grapplers contract due to bacteria, viruses, and germs brought onto the mat from regular floor surfaces.  These mats are highly used, so a lot of care is taken in keeping them clean.

2)  If you are wearing wrestling shoes, don't wear them off the mat.  Many people wear wrestling shoes on the way to the gym, walking around the parking lot, walking around the gym, into the bathroom, and in the waiting areas.  You wouldn't believe the surprise then when we tell them they can't use those shoes on the mat.  Without thinking, they have essentially turned them into street shoes.  So after a fight, take them off when leaving the mat area.

3)  For the same reason, if you are fighting in bare feet, when you leave the mat put some flip flops, sandels, or even your street shoes on so the bottom of your feet don't become as bad as street shoes.  Then when reentering the mat area, take off those shoes.  This also means don't walk around in bare feet before you enter the mat to fight as well.

4)  There is a cage and boxing ring that guys can use for warmups.  This same rule applies for these areas.  You can use street shoes around them but before entering them, treat them as you would the mat area.

All of this is for your, and the other people using this gym's protection.  It has nothing to do with formality or ritual let me assure you.  This is a hard core MMA gym.  This procedure is about not having anyone loose precious workout time before a fight due to a skin disease.  Outdoors, this wouldn't matter.  Nature has a way of taking care of this kind of thing on its own.  But inside a heavily used, closed environment like this one, the germs just sit there and fester on the mats until you rub your face on it in the middle of a grappling session or fight.  They clean them every day, but there is no way to undue the damage wearing contaminated shoes on the mat has done.

Hope this helps clear up the shoe policy for this gathering.  The venue is amazing.  We just need to leave it in the condition that we found it so we can continue to have the gatherings there.

Fencing mask and rattan sticks not necessary; padded sticks optional.  Mouth piece, not absolutely necessary but probably a good idea.  Shin guards not necessary, but if you have them you may as well bring them.

Would people rather an earlier start on Sunday to facilitate evening flights home?

Hi all,

Marc/Crafty suggested I hit the forum, so I thought I'd make a quick intro with perhaps a few questions.

First off, I'm planning to attend the Gathering in September -- which is both exciting and daunting.  This will be uncharted territory for me, and I really appreciate that a venue like this exists.  I imagine it will be a challenge getting things dialed in at first, but hopefully I'll find appropriate matches.  If anyone fancies a fight with someone fairly green (maybe another newb -- or someone who just likes easy pickin's) I'll probably be a bit dazed and disoriented, so I'll extend my willingness to give it a shot here -- while I'm not quite so shy.

I probably have a number of tedious questions, but the only one that's leaping to mind now relates to footwear.  Are sneakers about the right caliber for this sort of thing?

I've met up with Marc a few times -- and watched some videos -- so I've got a general picture of what to expect; but I don't have a great sense for some of the tedious pragmatics like those.  So, if anyone can think back on their first time and wants to offer any advice -- of whatever kind, I'd be happy to hear it.  I'm looking forward to this -- not only for the 'realism' of it, but for the inspiring notion that this can be accomplished in a way that still leads to being 'friends at the end of the day'.  It will be good to make some new friends soon.

Thanks,
Chhi'mèd