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Who is the most well known, respected, or just all around kick a**, martial artist you have trained under? I know some of you guys must have met some pretty high ranking masters. For me, the highest ranking master I've trained under was okazaki. I forget his first name, sadly. He's a 9th degree brown belt in Shotokan, and I think he's the head of the JKA? I don't know. But what about everyone else here?

The only real big names i've trained under is Roger Gracie who is now 5 times world BJJ champion the others aren't huge on the world scene.

Hmm... what do we mean when we say famous?!?! And what really constiutes "training" under them? I've been to alot of workshops and seminars... but I don't really consider that training.


At any rate, I train with Guro Dan Inosanto, Kru Vut, and Eric Paulson continually.

Pretty much the highest ranking person you've trained under, or the most well known and respected in the martial arts community. And by trained under, it could be anything. Even if you've attended just one class, or seminar. Any interaction you've had, basically.



I don't know as much as I probably should about the Gracie family, but I do know they've done a lot for jujitsu, specifically, BJJ, right? When you trained with Roger Gracie, was it a big class? Or more one on one?

I would love to be able to do BJJ. I'm not aware of the MA situation in Fredericton, which is were I'll hopefully be next september, if everything works out the way I plan. If it doesn't work out, I'll be on my way to brazil. Thats where my girlfriend lives. If I do go there, I'll definately look into some of their fighting styles, particularly BJJ and capoeira.

But, if I don't go to brazil, and I end up in Frederiction, NB, then I'll have to look into what they have in the way of martial arts classes. I'd like to continue shotokan until my black belt, but thats unreasonable, due to the fact that I'll be moving somewhere. But, if I get the chance I'll certainly take up BJJ, just because I would love to be able to work on my grappling. I've had no work on that in my whole martial arts carrer. A while ago, my intsructors assistant, who no longer is there because he moved, would spar with me for fun before the class started. He was a pretty cool guy, a lot of fun to be around. Anyway, he would try and take me down sometimes, but had a lot of trouble, even though he had about 50, or more pounds on me, and was a lot taller. When he did I was usually the first one back up. He always used to say I'd be a really good grappler if we ever did any work on it in class. I guess thats a pointless story, but the point is, I'd like to work on my grappling, and from what I've read of your guys' posts, it seems as though BJJ is the cream of the crop in that department. Anyway, I'll stop the rambling.

Most respected...I've trained under alot of the high masters of manseikan aikido. The sensei's had made a special trip out here once and there was about 4 8th dan black belts teaching in rotation. Though I did not understand a single word of what they were saying, it was pretty awesome.

I have to say though, the head and founder of our dojo, Fujiyama sensei, is one of the ones I respect the most. He was one of Sunamari's sensei's live in students and Sunamri sensei was one Ueshiba sensei's live in students. I am told that everyone training under my sensei has a certain signiture in our breakfalls because we do it in a certain way that resembles a cat. When I was watching all the sensei's teach, I did notice that there was a difference.

Well, I have trained with Mr Sergew and Attkins, both founding members of the TAGB and seventh dans, but not exactly huge names outside the TKD community.

My instructor, Mr Penn, is very inspirational. He is only a third dan, but that is amazing when you consider.

Now, this may lose your respect for a moment, but he is an actor. A stuntman to be exact. Now, this may sound like he is a weak artist, just another trickster, but if you check his bio out, you will notice the real important thing about him.

Stuart Penn.

Like that from birth. He has managed to work his way up like that. Let me tell you, a metal leg and hard plasic arm can be advantages in a hard fight. They hurt, even when you block them.