sensei8

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.

Never forget what's useful, not even at the insistence of ones instructor(s)!! Muscle memory is hard to retrain, but not impossible because we humans are very adaptable given any time to do so. I can only suggest that you still maintain what's useful as well as what's new and useful. Time can change but to do so it will take some time. Good luck!!

For many, many years I've come to one undeniable fact concerning those who are NOT well versed in any of the grappling arts, directly or indirectly, and that is this... Don't go to the ground!! Easier said!! If a Karateka, for example, doesn't want to be thrown to the ground and/or be dominated on the ground, they better learn effective counters for the following: The Three Tips 1> Stop the grappler from effectively closing the distance 2> Stop the grappler from effectively applying a clinch 3> Stop the grappler from effectively applying a takedown/throw If one panics while on the floor because that person is keenly aware that their ground skills are grossly lacking, i.e., they just don't exist...then I'd suggest that that person develop the three aforementioned tips to thwart a grappler. However, NO technique(s) can be guaranteed!! In the many, many years that I've been in Shindokan, I've observed/studied that most grapplers have an unbelievable advantage over a stand-up practitioner once both combatants are on the ground, providing that the stand-up practitioner has no/limited experience in the grappling arts. **Note: When I say "stand-up fighter", I'm referring to a practitioner who's not skilled in any grappling art. Grapplers are merciless in closing the distance. Again, a stand-up fighter will RECEIVE the technique(s) of the grappler because the stand-up fighter has no idea what to do once the distance is breached. Grapplers are unforgiving in applying the clinch. Again, a stand-up fighter will try to separate themselves from the grapplers grasp, but to no avail. The grappler has quite a lot of tools at their disposal once the clinch is applied. All an unskilled stand-up fighter can do at this point is vainly try to free themselves, but once the struggle begins, the grappler moves in for the kill. Grapplers are unsympathetic in applying the takedown/throw. Again, a stand-up fighter can only do one thing at this point...enjoy the ride to the ground because that's exactly where the stand-up fighter is going. That's the worst position a stand-up fighter can be. All of the movements of the stand-up fighter at this point is only going to temporarily delay the final outcome; defeat. It might not happen right away, but it will. Strange for me, a proponent of Karate, to speak in negative terms. No, it's speaking truths and it's speaking honestly. However, my brand of Karate, Shindokan, is heavily involved in the grappling arts/Tuite. Shindokan is primarily stand-up, however, we're very comfortable on the ground because our Soke KNEW that most, if not all fights, end up on the ground. We do an unbelievable amount of live resistant drills because no attacker/opponent just stands still subjective to any technique(s) to its conclusion. Get on the ground and be one with the ground OR stay up right and learn how to stop the grappler from closing the distance, initiating the clinch, and applying the takedown/throw. Oh yeah, speaking about the throw. For you pure stand-up fighters, I'd suggest that you learn/study the grapplers most easily applied and fun throw...the polish throw. There's not much one can do against it except prostrating on ones back.

One defines the overwhelming force, not anyone else. What's overwhelming for me, is not overwhelming for another, and in that, overwhelming force parameters change within oneself for many reason(s). For me, overwhelming force is an attack who's advancements are quicker and more powerful than I had hoped for, and in that, my defenses, for the immediate moment, are lacking until adjustments are made to effectively counter. A loud Kiai, can be an overwhelming force, for the immediate moment because one can be startled just enough by a Kiai for an attack to succeed.

Solid post!! Question for all... Can techniques from YOUR style, whichever the style might be, be used, by yourself, to defend yourself from the beginning of ones training?

Solid post!!