Rest in Peace

Today, one of my closest friends and roommate died in a tragic accident.  He will be missed.

GRAPPLER BAKI- PART VII

Baki vs. Hanayama (continued)

We begin the 7th episode of Grappler Baki by learning a little about the history of the Hanayama family.  Hanayama's huge tattoo on his back is the image of a man holding a bell.  The story of the tattoo is of a man, who saved the last member of the Hanayama family by hiding the small boy underneath the bell hoisted upon his shoulders, while being cut down by several sword-wielding warriors.  This is the image of a real man to the Hanayama group: a man with the strength to endure even unto death in order to protect that which he loves.  Ok, they don't come out and say that, but that's what I got out of it.  If necessary, we should be ready to fight to the death to defend our loved ones.

Shortly after, we see another demonstration of Hanayama's enormous grip strength, as he manages to pop the flesh on Baki's arm just as he did on Yuri.  However, unlike Yuri, Baki is lucky enough to have the nerves and muscles still intact so that he may continue to use his arm. It is important to know how to deal with injuries that you may sustain in training and in battle.  If you sustain an injury in training, continue to train, but work around it as best you can.  If your arm is injured, try to work on leg techniques and strength and vice versa.  Don't ever let an injury keep you from advancing in some form or fashion.  In a fight, if you sustain an immediate injury and are incapable of withdrawing (or wish to continue fighting), it is important that you adhere to a few rules.  First, do not let on to your opponent that you are injured.  Don't let him see you wince or favor a limb.  Next, evaluate the degree to which you are injured.  Is something strained, fractured, or broken?  Finally, attempt to work around the injury as best you can.  For instance, if your hand is broken, try throwing an elbows with the arm instead.  

Baki quickly wraps the wound (although I'm not sure why Hanayama waited for him to do that) and continues his attack.  Baki is caught a couple more times by Hanayama's monstrous grip, but counters the grabs with what appears to be Japanese Jujitsu.  In a real fight, it is not very often that a person will grab onto your wrist or forearm with all of his might.  However, if that does happen, Japanese Jujitsu has a myriad of counters for you to utilize.  I'll post a couple videos displaying some basic wrist and arm grab counters in a couple of days.  The theory behind it is, in turning your arm certain ways you can force your opponent off balance and throw him or make him fall over just because he's off balance.  These techniques are difficult to execute in the real world if not drilled repeatedly.  Do not think that just because you have seen someone use the technique or practiced it with a compliant opponent, that you will be able to actually use it in a fight.

Hanayama then decides that he wants to finish Baki and switches to a hitting style, where he has practically no defense but swings all of his weight into each and every punch.  Baki, though, throws his own punch at Hanayama's fist.  Initially, this may seem like a bad idea, but with Baki's accuracy and speed he's able to pin point strike, and break, Hanayama's pinky knuckle, ring finger, and thumb.  Using your strongest weapons and largest weapons against your opponent's smallest and weakest weapons (like fingers and toes) is a great way to disable him.  If one or two fingers are broken he will be unable to throw a punch with any degree of power and broken toes will stop him from being able to kick well, put proper weight on his feet, and will limit his ability to punch with his whole weight.  Fight hard, but always fight smart.  Unlike Hamayama's main lackey, I do not believe that fighting is about who has the ability to give and take the most damage, but who has the ability to give the most damage without taking damage.  It is important to be physically tough, but it is plain stupidity to take an attack just to prove your toughness.

Finally, through a couple of feints, Hanayama is able to knock Baki down with a big right hook.  However, he collapses from exhaustion, believing he has won.  However, because of Baki's foresight, he was able to prepare for this situation by biting down on some glass to reduce the damage received by Hanayama's punches.  Always possess the will to win, even if you are not entirely sure how you are going to do it.  In good sportsmanship, Hanayama declares Baki the winner and both the fighters revel in the glory of an awesome fight.  Remember, fighting just for the sake of fighting is not personal.  Judo matches, boxing matches, mma bouts... none of these are personal.  Always be a good sport in whatever realm of combat you pursue.  

I'll try to get you guys a couple Japanese Jujitsu videos up and maybe some other within the next week.  

Good luck and happy training.

Thanks for Voting!!

First of all, I want to thank everyone of you that voted in our first poll and according to that poll, our readers most want to see posts about History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi and Hajime no Ippo.  So, I will begin to put up HSD Kenichi posts with about the same frequency as Grappler Baki and will put up Hajime no Ippo posts probably once every two weeks or so.  If enough people start reading (the only way I know is if you comment, vote, or click to "follow" over on the right, there), then I may start posting every day.  Until then, three or four times a week is my max.  Thanks for your input and I'll have your normal post up sometime tomorrow.

GRAPPLER BAKI- PART VI

Hanayama Smash!

Baki has just barged into Hanayama's office and issued a challenge to fight.  As Hanayama stands up, Baki immediately kicks him in the side of the head, taking the giant to a knee.  If there is an issue of self-defense or an unavoidable fight, the very moment your opponent moves toward you, you must strike.  If you wait for him to ready himself, or you wait for there to be some dramatic dialogue between the two of you, you are already at a disadvantage.  However, the fight goes no further, as the police barge in, breaking up the altercation.  Baki calmly walks out, leaving Hanayama in the midst of a freak-out.  The monster-size 15-year old goes on a Hulkian rampage, destroying a car outside with his bare hands.  In Hanayama's case, he was born with immense physical strength, so doing things such as demolishing a car bare-handed is no big deal for him.  However, in most people's cases, it is necessary for us to build ourselves up to be strong.  It's a stretch, but there is something we can take from Hanayama's tantrum.

Strongman Exercises and Odd-Angle Lifts

Tearing a tire in half with your bare hands or flipping a car over is not something that most people train to do.  But, if you think about it, tearing, lifting, and throwing are real-world applications of strength that you just don't build from push-ups, sit-ups, the bench press or what-have-you.  Things out in the real world, be it a fight or just helping your friend move his furniture, don't operate as cleanly as they do in the gym.  The amount of weight you can lift in the gym will be significantly decreased in the real world due to body-placement, the size and shape of the object being carried or lifted, and the terrain over which it is transported.  That is why it is important to train with odd things like stones, sand-bags, and ropes in different places like in sand or on hills.  Building "gym" strength, which I would say is maximal strength given ideal conditions is important, but loses its importance if not simultaneously trained with it's real-life counterparts.  

Some examples of exercise in the gym and their "strongman" counterparts or modifications:

1. Barbell Squat-------------------------------Squatting while bear-hugging a large stone or sandbag

2. Biceps Curls---------------------------------Using a towel or rope as a grip tied to the weight

3. Overhead Press-----------------------------Stone or sandbag. Try walking with it while on your shoulder or pressed above your head, maybe even uphill.

Use this as a guide to mix up your training.  Make a note that you will not be able to lift near as much weight during the modified exercise.

Baki Visits Yuri (Injury Strikes)

In the hospital, Yuri wakes up from a horrible nightmare re-enacting the injury sustained while fighting Hanayama.  Sometimes, in training, competition, or real fighting, we get injured.  It's just something that happens.  We can't always prepare for every outcome and sometimes we just get hurt.  It is important not to get down on yourself during these times, but to focus on recovering and what your next course of action will be.  If your injury, God forbid, has retired you from your sport or favorite activity, it is not the end of the world.  Find some way to stay involved with the activity that doesn't include you being in the rough-and-tumble.  It may seem hard, but it is really for the best if you accept that the past is the past and continue on with your life as best you can.  Doing any different will merely frustrate you further.

Yuri's manager comes in, furious that his prized boxer would fight and get injured just before a match.  He threatens to sell Yuri's sister into prostitution and Yuri is in no condition to fight him.  Luckily, Baki takes him by the ear, like a mother might do her child, and kindly informs him that it is easy to pull an ear off from behind if pulled to the front (hopefully nobody's mom ever told them that!).  He quickly retreats.  Pain, without injury, even, is an excellent means of persuasion.  If someone is threatening you, your family, or your property, there are ways to cause pain without necessarily causing damage.  These may include pulling hair, joint locks, or chokeholds.  The key here is one word: Submission.  We'll cover a variety of joint locks and other submissions as we progress, but that's all I'll say about it for now.

Baki informs Yuri that he will be fighting Hanayama soon, and wishes the injured boxer a quick recovery, just before leaving.

It's Goin' Down At the Club

If two people are seriously looking to fight one another, it doesn't matter if it's at school, on the street, in the grocery store, or at a nightclub: when they meet, they fight.  Baki realizes that Hanayama is following him, so he goes to a place where there will be a lot of people watching because it will be more fun that way.  This time, Hanayama deals the first blow... well, the first several blow... ok, he kicks the crap out of Baki!  And proceeds to throw him out the window.  Baki, though, knows he can take a beating and pulls himself back up through the window to continue the fight.  He lays a volley of punches and kicks into the giant teen and takes a couple in return.  It's important to note the difference in the fighters.  Hanayama is so tough and so strong, he doesn't really need to guard.  He's not going to get knocked out and his muscles make it so he can take a lot of body damage, so he lets his opponent hit him in order to be able to grab or hit him back.  Baki, on the other hand, is the epitome of well-roundedness.  Speed, strength, endurance, flexibility, skill... all of them are top-notch, but his strength is not equal with Hanayama's by any means.  Therefore, to fight the beast of a boy on his own terms is not brave, but merely stupid.

If your opponent is strong, you have to be fast.  If your opponent is fast, you have to outlast him.  If your opponent has more endurance than you, you need to end it quickly with power or technique.  That's a bit of an oversimplification, but hopefully you understand what I mean.  But, in order to be ready to beat your opponent with his weak point, it is necessary to be like Baki and improve all around.  Everything must be good.  True, you can get far just being strong or fast or whatever, but in the end, you will meet the paper to your rock--the scissors to your paper--the... ah, you get it.  The point is, in order to be ready for the maximum number of scenarios, you have to be more than a one-trick pony.  And there's something else that happens when your develop everything together:  Synergy-- but we'll talk more about that next time, when Baki and Hanayama really get to fighting.

Good luck and happy training!

GRAPPLER BAKI- PART V

A Month's Time

After Baki's extensive training and hellish battle on Yasha Crag, he returns to civilization.  In his absence Yuri has become stronger and is planning on challenging for the World Heavyweight Title.  The young Hanma pays a visit to Yuri's gym, but not to challenge him.  He explains to Yuri that there is a big difference between "sports" and "martial arts," to which Yuri asks, "You are saying boxing isn't a martial art."  Compared to martial arts, Baki touts, boxing is a joke.  Boxing is extremely limited: you may only punch, and there are restricted target areas.  When kicking, elbows, knees, throws, submissions, and a variety of commonly considered "fouls" are allowed, straight boxing falls to the wayside.  This troubles Yuri, but Baki congratulates him on attempting to take the Title and hopes that he will win.

Sports vs. Martial Arts

The differences between "sports" and "martial arts," at least in regards to this anime, are numerous.  First, sports combat is well defined-- there are rules, the fight will take place at a given time against a set opponent, and there are officials to protect each of the fighters.  However, in "martial arts," (which is to say, real fighting) there are no rules, the fights take place whenever and wherever they happen, against an often unknown opponent, and there is no one to stop you unless the police show up.  That is not to say that the skills learned in sports combat do not carry over to real fighting (most often, they do), but that they are not sufficient if one wishes to either defend one's self effectively or seeks to walk the road that Baki is walking.  

Yuri vs. Hanayama Kaoru

On the way from the warm-up room to the ring for his Heavyweight Title match, Yuri's path is cut off by Hanayama and his gang.  Hanayama initiates a fight and Yuri throws a flurry of punches to the giant's head, but to no avail.  There are some people out there that are just built differently. Hanayama is built for absolute raw power and, even though Yuri lands blow after blow, he is unable to knock out or damage the "young master."  However, the 15-year old unveils his special technique.  With his massive grip, Hanayama grabs his opponents arm, squeezing so tight that he actually forces the arm to explode due to blood being trapped.  Yuri is undeterred and continues to fight with only one arm, but is thrown back with a single punch by his larger opponent.  He gains strength through a vision, where his grandfather tells him that as long as his mind/spirit does not break, he will not lose.  To him, it's more of a matter of pride.  If he continues to stand and take the beating, even if he is broken or dies, he will not have admitted defeat.

Baki and his mother are watching the fight on television and, when they hear the news of what has happened, Baki stretches and says he's going home to go to bed.  In reality, he goes straight to Hanayama's place and lays down a challenge.

Today's Moral

The strength of mind is often far more important than strength of body.  No matter the power possessed by a person, if he is not of strong mind, he may be easily broken, either by pain or a difficult situation.  It is the strength to persevere that allows a person to accomplish things of immense difficulty.  Also, being unafraid to tackle the obstacles in front of you and determined enough to look for new challenges will help you to become stronger.  Seek new opponents to spar with, strive to learn new skills and techniques, make your body strong and fast through hard training, and be disciplined enough to conquer the massive task of mastering what you already know.  Work with what you have.  Don't say to yourself, "I'll wait until I have a place to train better," or "I need someone to teach me."   You can train anywhere there is space.  You can throw punches, kicks, knees, whatever.  You can do push-ups, sit-ups, squats, pull-ups, etc. There are so many options.  If you know absolutely nothing, use the internet (it has a wealth of knowledge), go buy some books, actively look for an instructor, or find a friend who can teach you something.  If you want it enough, you'll find a way.

There wasn't much to this episode today, but the next one will have much more to dissect. Good luck and happy training!

GRAPPLER BAKI- PART IV

Baki Goes Ape Crazy

Baki's latest endeavor has drove him to hurl himself off a cliff in order to "cross the line."  The "line" to which he is referring to is the point at which a human comes face-to-face with his own demise.  At this point, we come to see, there is a point of immense concentration that a human can draw upon.  Some who have come out of life-and-death scenarios describe scenes in which rapid events appear to be moving in slow motion.  Baki's mother says that, in order to become a true grappler, Baki will have to be able to use that concentration on command.  In throwing himself into this ravine and forcing his body into an intense state of "fight or flight," his mind sharpens to the point in which he can act to save his own life. 

 

I do not recommend putting yourself into harm's way in order to achieve some heightened awareness, because, if you fail, you will probably die.  What we can take from this however, is putting yourself into semi-danger by sparring and competing on a regular basis.  By doing this, you can become used to the endorphin and adrenaline dump associated with combat and can gradually work on bringing that focus out.  You can also build your focus by repetition of your techniques, mental imagery, and meditation.  

Repetition: Through thousands of repetitions of punches, kicks, takedowns, throws, and submissions, it is possible for these things to become second nature, meaning you don't have to think about what you are going to do when you fight, you will merely do it.

Mental imagery: By focusing on your techniques, your opponents, and situations you may end up in during combat, you are able to prepare yourself beforehand for things that have yet to occur.  You also put yourself into a constant readiness to be able to use your weapons, should the need actually arise. 

Meditation: Meditation has been shown to drastically improve focus.  One of the simplest ways of meditation is merely to focus on your breathing.  Sit quietly, breathe in and out deeply, and only focus on the rhythm of your breaths.  This is the beginning of meditation.  If you are seeking a deeper understanding, look for a good Yoga instructor or Zen master (less likely, lol). 

I heard someone say once that nobody learns as fast as someone who's being shot at. When we, as humans, are put into high-stress scenarios, those scenarios are imprinted into our memories.  Therefore, your sparring, should reflect that and should push you (although, not too much).

Yasha Ape- Round II

After this last bit of training, Baki goes off to fight the Yasha Ape.  He catches the Ape off guard with an impromptu ring made of fire and a full force attack, head on.  This first attack goes straight for the beast's eye and other vitals.  The Ape retaliates with biting, scratching, and tearing moves, with little to know regard for damage done to it.  It's a wild animal, of course.  It fights with no rules.  This first exchange imparts something very important about real combat. By real combat, I mean, life and death combat.  In real fights, there are no rules and there are no holds barred.  Biting, pinching, hair pulling, attacking the eyes, groin, throat and whatever else--it's all fair game!  Real fights aren't boxing or mma matches and they aren't pre-arranged drills where "street techniques" are practiced against a cooperative partner.  Real fights need all the intensity and athleticism of sports combat and all of the weapons available to "self-defense" schools.  It is my opinion that there are very few in either of the branches, "sport" or "street" (sorry to separate it so cleanly), that could hang in the world of real combat.  Not to say that these people aren't tough, but let me explain.

If two people are even remotely similar in skill and they enter into no-rules combat, generally someone is going to be severely injured, or perhaps killed.  On the flip side, just because a person wins such a fight, doesn't mean that he won't severely injured in the process or die afterwords.  Real combat is a road littered with pain, injury, and death.  

Moving deeper into the fight, Baki abandons combination attacks against the Ape, because the animal is nothing more than a pile of muscle.  Thus, in order to win, Baki begins throwing full power strikes to vital areas, such as the eyes, throat, and even directly to the animals brain through its open eye socket (that's just gross).  Even though both are injured in the battle, both fight until they can fight no longer and one is declared victor.  Baki lands an earth-shattering punch down the beasts throat, directly to its wind-pipe, ending the battle.

The last half of the fight can possibly be a commentary of the difference between sport combat and street combat in terms of striking.  Baki seems to be referencing some saying about combinations being a cheap trick used by foreigners.  This, I think, is more of a contrasting of martial styles, whereas one fights by hitting more often with less power (boxing mentality) and another is more concerned with finishing a fight in as few strikes as possible (kenjutsu or karate mentality- ichigeki hissatsu- one hit, certain death).  This is more of a personal choice, I think, on how one wants to fight.  However, I will say this: if met with several opponents, it is far better to incapacitate an opponent with one or two strikes and move on, than to waste time and energy trying to beat him to a pulp, while being attacked in multiple directions.  

In the end, Baki pays his respects to the Yasha Ape and returns the head of its fallen wife. He thanks the Ape for making him strong and leaves to return to humanity.

That's all for today.  I'll try to post another episode later this week and another workout for you guys.  

Good luck and happy training!

Dragonball: Evolution

It's Saturday and I have just finished watching a movie that had the potential to be one of the most epic films of all time.  Sadly, it failed to live up to its potential.  It does so for several reasons.  I was going to post more on Grappler Baki, but I now present my criticisms of DBE.

(SPOILER ALERT)

1. Not long enough.  The movie should have been at least twice as long.  It failed to spend enough time developing a plot to catch the movie-goers interest.  We don't see enough of Piccolo or of his 2000-year old rampage.  Hell, we don't even know how he got out or where he got an airship!

2. No character development.  There weren't that many characters in the movie.  The only character we really get to know is Goku.  Bulma, Yamcha, Chi-chi, and even Roshi-- the only reason we have any idea what they are, or are supposed to be, like is because we come into the movie having already been fans of the franchise.  

3. Fails to capture the essence of DB.  Dragonball was epic, funny, and full of adventure.  DBE is merely a facsimile.  The film tries to be epic-- save the world (in under an hour and a half)!  It's humor is misplaced (awkward teenage drama).  In it's attempt to be adventurous, the group of heroes meets, travels, and wins the day... all in the span of two weeks.  

4. Fails to capture the essence of the DB characters.  Goku is not an unsure, misunderstood, unhappy teenager (that is the exact opposite of Goku!).  Bulma is a selfish, boy-crazy, hothead... her movie counterpart is far too altruistic and fails to be angry enough.  Chi-chi is doesn't lead a double life, where her mild-mannered self is the tag-along for the high school jock.  Yamcha... actually, he's kinda close.  You get the general idea.

5. Taking a bunch of characters and the name of a story and giving it an entirely new dynamic with completely different character relationships does not the same story make!  Piccolo and Oozaru did not work together.  Even if we say that Oozaru is merely a metaphor for the Saiyans, it still fails.  

I could literally write for hours about the shortcomings of this movie... but I'll spare you the ongoing ranting of a disgruntled Dragonball fan.

I'll post Grappler Baki for you guys tomorrow in payment for having to deal with this little tirade.  Honestly, I would recommend you go see this movie, just so they'll have enough to make a sequel worth seeing.  The problem here is not with the franchise, but with those who fail to understand how good Dragonball really is.  If you like the movie, fine; however, if not, please write a letter to the makers of the film letting them know that DB deserves more respect than this.

Later.

Goku's Gravity Room Workout

Goku's Gravity Room Workout

1. 10 Push-ups
2. 10 Sit-ups
3. 10 Horse Stance Punches w/2lb weights
4. 1 Minute Shadowboxing

--10 Rounds

Notes:

• When you shadowbox, imagine fighting however many opponents you choose.  Throw whatever techniques you wish, but make sure you are working hard.  When this workout becomes easy, increase the repetitions of each of the exercises by 10 and add 15 seconds onto the shadowboxing rounds.
• For Example, after a while, your workout may look like this: 50 push-ups, 50 sit-ups, 50 Horse stance punches w/2lb weights, and 2 Minutes Shadowboxing. Repeat 10 times.
• Honestly, if you can get the workout to this point, you're seriously tough.  So, here's another twist for you--  Every now and again, try the workout with one-armed push-ups and hanging sit-ups.  

"9,997... 9,998... 9,999... and... 10,000!"

That's all for today! Until next time, good luck and train hard!


P.S.- If you guys are looking to make this harder, you can always try the 100Gs add-on!

Winning and Losing

I just wanted to take a few moments to talk about winning and losing.  Nobody wants to lose, but sometimes it happens.  I've been competing in amateur mixed martial arts competitions since the beginning of this year and have had, to date, three fights.  My current record is 2-1.  Here's a breakdown of the fights.

My first fight was against a wrestler, he shot in, took me down and managed to land a few quick blows that put some hurt on me, but I grabbed him around the neck and submitted him with a guillotine choke.  Fight time... about 40 seconds.

Second fight was against a guy who classified himself as a brawler.  We came out, touched gloves, and just beat on each other for a while.  I think I landed a few more shots and almost knocked him out, but he recovered and I ended up winning with yet another guillotine choke. Fight time... about 2 minutes.

This last fight, 4/4/09, was against a very good fighter out of a very good fight team in North Carolina.  Huge arena, lots of people, 32 foot cage... amazing event.  This guy was a really really nice guy.  We talked and joked before the fight.  I honestly believe he just wanted a good fight.  So did I.  In the cage, we touched gloves and felt each other out for a moment, he landed a kick to my hip and the punches started flying.  I gained the upper hand, landing several good punches, but my opponent shot in and took me down.  After fighting on the ground for a bit, he got the mount and started raining down punches.  I returned a few, but could not bridge him off me.  Eventually, I did bridge him, but left my right arm up.  I lost by submission to armbar.

Fight time 2 minutes and 45 seconds.

Everyone loses at some point.  It's what you do with the loss that counts.  Good luck and happy training. 

Later, guys.

GRAPPLER BAKI- PART III

BAKI ESCAPES... INTO THE MOUNTAINS

After a demoralizing loss to Yuri, Baki decides he needs to up his game a little.  Thus, like Masutatsu Oyama (the founder of Kyokushin Karate), Baki travels into the mountains in order to break his softness and in order to follow in his father's footsteps.  Baki packs all of his gear (into quite the large backpack) and begins to make his way, on foot, up into the mountains.  Hiking long distances through the mountains is a serious test of endurance, especially if coupled with an enormous pack, and should not be attempted without proper training or supervision.  Walking up and down steep, uneven terrain; climbing small boulders and even scaling rock faces with a pack (or without safety equipment, for that matter), Baki eventually makes his way to a small cottage inhabited by a giant of a man, named Ando.

Ando, a friend of the family, spent some time with Baki's dad training on this very mountain, chopping wood and dealing with the harsh environment.  After a display of wood-chopping power and a bit of advice about eating (which we will cover in a moment), Ando makes a promise to turn Baki into a powerhouse.

Seeking to Fight a Monster

Baki, although thankful for Ando's willingness to help, is more interested meeting another resident of Yasha Crag: the Yasha Ape.  Some time ago, Baki's dad hunted one of these monster's down by hand and the young Hanma feels it's time he did, too.  Ando warns against fighting the beast, and for good reason.  The Ape is almost seven feet tall and built like a mountain, vicious and is capable of easily killing a bear.  However, Baki wants to meet the monster, so he sets up camp deep in the woods in order to draw him out and, sure enough, during his training, he emerges.

Before we get into the details of the fight, it is important to note that the likelihood of a human being able to kill a bear or a gorilla (which this essentially is) bare handed, or even sometimes armed, is extremely low and should never ever be attempted for two reasons. 

First: You will most likely be seriously injured or killed if you fight a large and/or vicious wild animal.  

Second: Seeking out a creature in order to kill him, just to say you can do it, is mean-spirited to say the least.  

Ando comes to help Baki, but both are quickly beaten, with Ando's belly being ripped open.  In his defense, Baki throws his lantern on the Ape, who retreats into the woods.  Back at the cottage, Baki attempt to disinfect Ando's wound with vodka, to which Ando replies would do nothing against the bacteria on the Ape's claws.  Thus, using gun powder and a lighter, he disinfects the wound in a, I must imagine, very painful manner and, then proceeds to get Baki to call for help.

The lesson we draw from this is that it is important to have a working knowledge of first aid, even if very little.  Learning how to properly clean and dress wounds and even how to set a bone for the short term will be valuable knowledge in case something goes wrong in the wild, or even in a scenario where help is not immediately available.  Also, do not go into the wilderness without first letting someone know exactly where you will be, having a way to contact someone if there's an emergency, or having a way out if things get too hairy.

Ando is taken to the hospital and Baki... wants vengeance.

"In Fighting, the One Who Eats the Most is the Winner"

It's an interesting way to look at fighting, but it's a bit of an oversimplification.  Essentially, what I think our dear friend Ando meant is that in order to become stronger in training it is important to eat properly.  However, in Baki's case, with the extreme amount of training in which he is undergoing, it means to eat as much as possible.  Baki's nutritional requirements, I'm sure, are off the charts.  This would be the case for any athlete who trains all day long. Proteins would be needed to rebuild muscles, carbohydrates would be needed to fuel the training, and fat would be needed for long-term energy and body health.  It is important for you to find out just how many calories you need in order to function properly as an athlete or martial artist.  As a general rule, the number of calories needed at any given time is based on factors such as your activity level, your weight, and your metabolism.  For an athlete, the basic calorie requirements should first be set from your protein needs.  

Light to Moderate activity: ~.7 grams of protein/pound you weigh

Moderate to Heavy activity: .7-1.2 grams of protein/pound you weigh

Super Heavy activity: 1.2-1.5 grams of protein/pound you weigh

Gauging what is Light, Moderate, Heavy, and Super Heavy in terms of activity is very important.  You don't want to take in too many or too few calories.  Light activity can be classified as 0-45 minutes of low intensity exercise and 0-30 minutes of moderate to heavy intensity exercise.  Moderate activity can be classified as 45-90 minutes of low intensity exercise and 30-45 minutes of moderate to heavy intensity exercise.  Heavy activity can be classified as around 90-120 minutes of low intensity exercise and 45-60 minutes of moderate to heavy intensity exercise.  Super Heavy activity is anything that falls above the limits of Heavy.  These are merely guidelines to help you determine about how much protein you need.  The breakdown of your other macro-nutrients are 30% calories protein, 30% calories fat, and 40% carbohydrates.  I know this is a lot to take in, especially if you're new, so we'll leave at this for now, even though there are volumes to be covered.

Trying to Cross the Line

To push himself to greater heights, Baki utilizes a body chemical known as endorphins.  Wikipedia states: 

{Endorphins work as "natural pain relievers..."}

{During a release of Endorphin the person may be exposed to bodily harm from strenuous bodily functions after going past their body's physical limit. They may be able to keep running despite pain, and thus possibly come to bodily harm from endorphin release. }

 It is important to state that it is never a good a idea to push past one's limits on a continual basis.  Rest, food, and the proper amount of training make you stronger and keeps you from being injured.  However, Baki, being a super-elite level athlete (and an anime character) uses the combination of endorphins, a ridiculous amount of training, and a large amount of food to produce super results within a short amount of time.  

However, that is not this only line Baki must cross to continue his journey to meet his father's power.  So, he faces fear, and, in the ultimate "cliff-hanger" to an episode, jumps off a cliff.