sensei8

Great article, Danielle!! Being part of a MA that utilizes 85% of its techniques with the hands, I found that this article spoke to my heart. This article delves just enough to educate as well as peak the curiosity of the many TKD hand techniques. Excellently thought out and presented for the reader to not be so overwhelmed with all of the strict technicalities of each hand technique described therein. While TKD introduces its hand techniques in a stretched out and patiently mannerism to their student body, there's the perfect balances of the who, what, where, when, why, and how that provides a non-rushed methodology that allows absorption of said hand techniques as to not muddle the exacting details so that their student body CAN see the forest, despite the trees. Thank you for it, Danielle!!

To me, that's the Million Dollar question. That answer will desperately vary from practitioner to another. And of course, I believe that any weight loss program should be supervised by a doctor so that it's done properly and won't cause any harm to oneself. Train hard, but be careful as to not harm yourself!!

In your opinion... What's more important? Practice or Confidence? I'd say...Confidence! Even if you practice a lot, if you lack confidence, all of that practice is pointless. Don't misunderstand me, practice is extremely important to any MAist who's serious about their MA training. I believe that one's confidence must be able to drive the practice effectively. Your thoughts!!??

Yes...Congrats; way to go!!

Imho, the bold type above is essential for the well being of the practitioner. Just letting someone hit you without taking the health properties into consideration is dangerous, to say the least.

A solid post!! Tegumi can be found in Shindokan, so much so, that this type of wrestling is essential to a Shindokanist because..."When the ground reaches up and drags you down, you'll wish that you learnt how to grapple", Soke Saitou was quite fond of saying to those who were hesitant with their ground training. Sad thing I've found is that when people learn that Tegumi is a form of Okinawan Sumo, is that they picture within their mind where two large men try to knock the other out of the ring. To me, Tegumi is a form of wrestling, and not the WWE type either, and that's vital to anyone's ground game. Should both end up on the ground, they had better know something once the ground drags you down, and if you've no ground work skills, then you best stay on your feet. However, some karate forefathers, like Itosu, figured that other karate aspects were much more important, and steered more towards the kihon part of karate. In that, Tegumi can be found in kata; shouldn't be overlooked. Tegumi...Karate...two aspects that compliment one another. As far as it comparing to Judo, imho, it's a minimal similarities between the two.

Hopefully, you'll enjoy these, and some, you might nod in appreciation... http://murphys-laws.com/murphy/murphy-martial-arts.html

I'm a big proponent for tossing around a Medicine Ball to build up ones core. Various stomach crunches can build up the solar plexus region; it's the core of nerves around and behind it that one wants to build up. Can't build up the nerves, it's the muscles in that region. Yoga, another method of building up the solar plexus region. For the liver region...same thing can be achieved in the liver region as you would in building up the solar plexus....crunches, yoga, and medicine ball. Then, there's the old school...spar!! Receiving blows to those areas will do two things. One, you'll build up tolerance. Two, you'll suffer from having been struck in such a way that that becomes fatal. I'd not recommend that you stand there and get hit repeatedly to build up those areas because fatal injuries HAVE occurred when that path is taken. Good luck, and please, be careful. Be mindful of what your body is telling you, and don't shrug off to see a doctor is something isn't quite right.

Solid post!! Rushing students to add to the senior grade numbers seems to me that quality will suffer for the sake of quantity!!

MA camps and the like are wonderful ways to learn in every shape, way, and/or form...aren't they just GREAT!! Borrowed ideas...that's the core of the MA!!

Only YOU can say when your MA training is over!! Yes, from what you've described, it's a nasty injury, but, in time, it'll heal. As others have already suggested, don't rush it. It's hard to not to want to rush the healing process to get back on the floor, but resist it, if at all possible. I've had a similar injury when I was 19 years old, I'm 57 this October, and I was incapacitated for some time, but just as soon as I was able to put some bearing weight on my right foot, sheesh, I was banging the heavy-bag with roundhouses, and increased the intensity as my ankle got better. No, it wasn't the smartest thing, it was foolish of me, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone; I could've done some permanent damage to myself. I didn't listen to my doctor's advice and R.I.C.E.[Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation], well I did at first, and then I went dumb. Good luck on your recovery...the floor will not be going anywhere!!

Both, Soke and Dai-Soke were born and raised in Okinawa...therefore, I'd say Shindokan is very Okinawan.

Well, it is said that the shortest path from one point to another point, is a straight line. However, that rule isn't always applied to the MA. No. Oftentimes it's more of the opposite that dictates with certain techniques as well as with the practitioner. Two elements that should be noticed when considering any MA technique in the complete totality of the goal. If you're able to use the hip in its fullest component, there will be power! Yes, its important to understand that the more the hip is utilized in its fullest range is optimal for reaching ones apex of their power curve. Speed does generate its own power through its own inertia. The law of motion says... "A body at rest remains at rest and a body in motion remains in uniform motion in a straight line unless acted upon by an external force. The acceleration of a body is directly proportional to the applied force and is in the direction of the straight line in which the force acts. For every force there is an equal and opposite force or reaction." These laws, imho, can't be disputed because these given laws are laws of nature, and therefore laws of physics that are proven laws. Concerning between having one or the other, speed or power, I must admit, I prefer power. Does a MAist HAVE to have them both? Imho, no! Both have their limits, but those limits are solely the responsibility of the practitioner; either one can or one can't! In that, things must be present to generate either...speed...power. Nonetheless, power generated through the hips properly is far greater than speed alone can produce. Yes, both together is something that we all strive for, but if you can generate power and not sufficient speed, there will still be something for your opponent to be worried about. Your limitations are not debilitating, imho, when it comes to the MA. Why? You learn to adapt your MA into your limitations, and not vice versa. If there are techniques that you're not able to execute because of any physical limitation, then don't attempt them. If you can make necessary changes in any given techniques in order for them to be effective, then that course can't be ignored; nothing ventured, nothing gained. Hang in there, train hard, and don't let the training train you; you're the master of your journey, make your decisions that benefit YOU!!

Solid post...a quite moving solid post!!

An awesome article, thank you for it...solid points all throughout!!

Starting the day with kata is like starting the day with a good breakfast; got to have it!! Stretching first, then hope on a stationary bike, then kata, ending up on the Wing Chun dummy.

Does anyone here think that it's done on purpose with malicious intent, more often or not?

Cocobolo Hardwood...Imho!!

First of all, good luck with your testing cycle!! Don't worry about bassai dai...let it take care of itself. Just execute it to the best of your ability, and that will be seen by the testing panel. Relax, breath, and don't sweat the small things!! You'll be fine!! You don't have to get a 100% grade to pass! So, if you mess up, dust it off, and forget about it...it happened...it's over...just let it go, and rock the house with your next technique and so on and so forth. As I've already stated, let it take care of itself. Let the testing cycle take care of itself, let the three K's take care of itself...just relax, breath, and perform to the best of your abilities. Let your Kime shine; it'll be seen by those who need to see it. Don't worry about the other testing candidates...worry about yourself, and in that, just don't worry. VISUALIZE...then execute!! You'll be excellent!

Solid post!! That should help FangPwnsAll7 out quite a lot!!

Failure, in anything, for the Samurai, wasn't an option. The results of a failure were fatal! In everything that they did, including training, there wasn't an equal, to them at least. Their loyalty to their master/lord was undeniable. Could I train Shindokan in the manner of which the Samurai trained? I believe that I have that within me to do so, but until I try, I might never know. Something for me to think about.

When the light finally turns on inside a student head that says..."Wow...I figured it out...yes" and you can see that in their face, and they can't wait to share it with you...a moment that can't ever be replaced! Btw, excellent thread, thank you for it!! I love those moments. I had it the other day with Suparenpei (the Goju version) with the spin kick (crescent Kick with a spin). And I high fived my instructor cause that one step has really annoyed me. Yes!! The magic thing about the aha moment is that, students don't own the rights to those moments. No. Us instructors STILL have our aha moments from time to time. Some instructors seem to be more guarded to let students see that, but, for me, I don't care who see's my aha moments. Funny thing, not all of my aha moments are MA related. For example, I put little stick-on signs on each and every door in my dojo...AND...at the Hombu the following... "PUSH" And... "PULL" On both sides of the door, including double doors. Before I did that, I'd incorrectly open any given door...that can be embarrassing! When I'd get lucky with a given door, you could see it on my face...aha!! But when I put the "push/pull" signs on...well...I went from aha, to, AHA, and I'm sure students could see that written all over my face...and not just at first, but I'm still like that. I know...Bob the dork!!

It's that which is within us that refuses to surrender; fight until the very end!!

All in all, I'm of the opinion that the lack of effectiveness of a style isn't the fault of the style, but of the practitioner!! Imho.

Great post!! If the USA was to say..."Sport Karate ONLY!!"...and if it became law...then I suppose I'd be doing sport karate, just so that I can do Karate. When in China....it's China's way or nothing at all. I feel for them!!