sensei8

I agree Brian. It's all about the positive muscle memory..."I do not hit, 'it' hits all by itself!" Everyday things that we do, we do them without premeditated thoughts, like getting dressed or eating or walking/running, we just do 'it'.

Imho... For the most and in part, sport sparring is deficient because those karateka's interested in the MMA venue do not have experience of real karate, and therefore little control. In the world of sport karate practitioners execute unneccessary and illogical movements with each other to bring new extremes to the competition floor to win that, to them, all important trophy/medal. Most "experienced" karateka's are only beginners, and in the venue of MMA, they're outclassed right from out of the gate. Harsh statement? No...an honest statement. Most karateka's have absolute NO GROUND ABILITIES, and the little they do have, they quickly discover that it's not enough to counter the most basic ground attack. As karateka's learn more and more ground skills and become well tenured in that venue, maybe. and I feel it's a big maybe, more and more karateka's will enter the octagon more willingly. Those karateka's who truly want to enter the MMA world, and whom are sincere in their quest/desire, then they will achieve the needed experience before crossing the MMA threshold with any confidence...but that will take many, many years of training. Yes, there are few karateka's within the MMA world, but few isn't enough to make a noticeable dent.

Harkon72, Do you and/or did you find the instep to strike with difficult to learn and/or mold? Thank you in advance.

Is it the conscious through analysis? Or... Is it the sub-conscious through knowledge? Or...Is it through the desire of surviving the immediate moment? While the parameters do change, of the three, which one dominates? I believe that it's through the sub-conscious through knowledge more often than not that dominates. The conscious through knowledge, as well as the desire of surviving the immediate moment DOES happen during the attack. "Take things as they are. Punch when you have to punch. Kick when you have to kick."~Bruce Lee Whatever begets any said technique, be sure of one thing, IT will happen, allow yours to be there first before your opponents.

I love it as well!! Juniors/Seniors alike, I love it when they're there for themselves and not for their parents/spouse. More efforts are put in their own training by them take responsibility themselves. Every MAist, imho, must be accountable for their own training and in that, heart must be in the training because a student can be quite easily swayed away from the floor by family peer pressure.

Its a good article, and written by a very knowledgeable Karateka, but I don't think it totally discounts the ability to use high kicks. I concur!!

Some great advice has been given already. I'd just want to reiterate that time in any technique will be needed to overcome and/or adjust to be effective. You'll, in time, overcome this temporary setback/frustration by being diligent with your efforts. Learn to kick both ways and don't disregard either of them unless YOU decide!! Hang in there...good luck!!

Tameshiwara [board breaking] is a very important part of our style. It's a measuring tool of some type that we value, and whether a practitioner likes or dislikes it, imho, isn't that important. Brain's topic title is quite accurate across the board...pun intended. Technique is a must in all aspects of Tameshiwara, and as technique will serve one very well against an opponent(s), that same said technique will serve one very well against any chosen material. Hit any given material improperly and one will be provided vital and important feedback instantly via your unsuccessful break attempt; your body will scream out..."OUCH...that hurt!" It drives me crazy when I see a practitioner going through a lot of preparation before any said break. One doesn't have that luxury against ones opponent/attacker when everything counts. Have the faith and confidence on your proven techniques and let them fly to the target.

Imho... While your style may or may not have high kicks, one should do whatever works for "you" no matter the census might be on the subject. My style is Okinawan, and our kicks are waist down, in that, I'm well versed in high kicks, part because of my very limited TKD background. Yet, over the many years, I've developed my high kicks as part of my arsenal because I can and that's also because I've been trained to do them, and do them effectively. Having said that, in discovering that my opponent is a high kicker, I'll stay very close and personal, albeit, I'll jam him/her constantly, and in that, I'll throw a high kick whenever it suits ME pertaining to the parameters before me.

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Before Dai-Soke passed away...I was trained by him...for over 40 years!!

RUSH!!

Congrats...well deserved!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Welcome back!!!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Soke Fuyuhiko Saitou>Dai-Soke Yoshinobu Takahashi>Me

Allow the test to take care of itself. Relax...believe it or not, one can over-practice before any said test. Good luck!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

I've included some of my past posts about the terrible thing(s) he's done.

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii31/sensei8_2008/089.jpg I'm the one on the left. Please don't judge me by what's on the outside, instead, allow the floor to judge me. Since 2000, I've lost just over 55 pounds, and this picture was taken about 2 years ago. The floor has no mercy, let the floor speak for itself on my behalf, and as well as those who've shared the floor with me.