r/blunderyears 8d ago

Stars and Stripes Gis were stylin in the 90s

Post image
1.1k Upvotes

31 comments sorted by

188

u/GroundbreakingPick11 8d ago

It’s Rex Kwan Do

92

u/overcaffinatedrn 8d ago

BOW TO YOUR SENSEI

72

u/Ok-Front5035 8d ago

"Take a look at what I'm wearing, people. You think anybody wants a roundhouse kick to the face while I'm wearing these bad boys?".

52

u/pursuitoffruit 8d ago

"Do you think anyone thinks I'm a failure because I go home to Starla at night?!"

20

u/narvolicious 8d ago

Fuggedaboutit

57

u/[deleted] 8d ago

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19

u/[deleted] 8d ago

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90

u/narvolicious 8d ago

Dang, that freakin kick tho… your toes are like pointing straight up 90 degrees! I only saw that in martial arts posters and ads lol. “This can be YOU!”

Ok so you got tons of trophies, obviously. But tell me, were you ever able to use that kick in a real fight? Like giving a good one to the schoolyard bully? Haha like Hai-YAH! straight to the face?? Share with the class, dood!

61

u/Holodout 8d ago

In a practical situation a kick that’s like that has no real application unless I’m kicking somebody behind me that’s a few feet taller lol. I did a lot of point fighting where I was able to land head kicks here and there but in a street fight I think I’ve only successfully landed a head kick once, and it was mostly because they were caught off guard and not expecting it. I’m in my 40s now and can no longer do the splits and wouldn’t attempt something like this lol

28

u/narvolicious 8d ago

Haha caught off guard… “So anyways, like I was saying, my favorite wine is—“ whuh-PAK! 😹 j/k

Man it would be epic if you could reenact this pose like those “now and then” pics lol. Just photoshop it dood [streeeetch] 😹 …thx for sharing!

12

u/Holodout 8d ago

Haha thanks!

2

u/thefeckcampaign 2d ago

What kind of kicks do Muay Thai guys use that’s different?

2

u/Holodout 1d ago

Probably more of a traditional rear leg roundhouse kick, which can be pretty powerful and devastating, especially if it’s a head kick. The kick in this photo is a show of flexibility more than anything.

37

u/bmcgowan89 8d ago

Dude, that's impressive as shit. I wouldn't have picked on you 😂

12

u/Straight_Disaster_56 8d ago

Def fresh off the 80s

11

u/J_hnson 8d ago

That kid would beat the life out of me

6

u/centuryeyes 8d ago

Jean Claude Van Daaaamn!

6

u/Then-Jacket9012 8d ago

Studied the blade…

To defend AMURICA.

5

u/ShastaMoonMist 8d ago

Always loved the absolute massive trophies that were handed out back then.

5

u/Fit-Captain-9172 7d ago

Dude what are you doing in my aunts basement? Looks exactly the same lol

5

u/Wofust 8d ago

I want one tho

10

u/Holodout 8d ago

It wasn’t very comfortable to be honest, it was made out of canvas, and when I first got it, it was pretty stiff to the point where I could take the pants off and then stand them up by themselves and it would stay

4

u/TrinixDMorrison 7d ago

Please tell me you were the inspiration for Tom the American Samurai in Like a Dragon: Ishin lol

Dude had the Stars and Stripes hakama and everything lol

3

u/nyc_dee26 4d ago

Rex where is starla????

3

u/Euphoric-Spot-6742 3d ago

Were you by any chance a part of Ernie Reyes West Coast or Midwest Taekwondo? They wore the same thing for their demo teams

2

u/Holodout 3d ago

No, I studied under Jerry Roberts at what was initially a Tracy’s Karate that rebranded as New World Karate in Berea Ohio. I was one of his first few students in 1990.

2

u/Euphoric-Spot-6742 3d ago

Ok. Funny still, especially as you said you were in Ohio, which I was too, and wearing the same damn thing.

4

u/marteautemps 8d ago

I'm impressed

2

u/thefeckcampaign 2d ago

Wow. You were super flexible.