sensei8

This is your opinion and in that you have every right to question and/or doubt other styles/practitioners methodologies and the like! Hips are everything and the hips are for everything! No hips; no power! My supporting foot goes where I tell it to go, whether it's 135 degrees or 180 degrees, but, I tell my supporting foot to turn the full 180 degrees because of my styles methodologies and these methodologies of Shindokan are valid and per our Soke/Dai-Soke, these methodologies are without contestation because they work and this is all that should matter to me. I've tried for 45 years to disprove EVERYTHING/ANYTHING that my Soke/Dai-Soke have given to us who practice Shindokan the way Soke intended. But guess what? I've not disproved everything/anything YET! Again, it works for us/me that are in Shindokan. Now, when I find something that I don't like and/or I disagree with, then I don't and won't do it. This is my choice! That's not saying that I've proved anything on contrary to what my Soke/Dai-Soke have taught and instilled in us/me. No, it just means that I won't and don't want to do/teach something for whatever reason(s) I've chosen. This angered my Soke and it still angers my Dai-Soke, but, they're fine with it because I've earned the right along time ago to question everything, and I do, because it's my right as a martial artist. My last post was to just offer another viewpoint from outside of the standard TKD methodology circle and not to say that Shindokan's way is the right way and/or the only way because it's not; no style's is! If a straightened knee works for whomever, then go for it. If it doesn't matter where the supporting foot is at anytime of the side kick, then go for it. If anything that I offered in my last post is against whomevers methodology, I apologise because that wasn't my intent at all; just to point out another styles advice. Take it or leave it is the right of the practitioner and this includes me. My way isn't wrong and my way isn't right! Other styles' way isn't wrong and other styles' way isn't right! It's what we have and it works for us, therefore, we do it and we do it well! Again, forgive me because I was just offering a different viewpoint for discussional purposes only! My respect to everyone here at KF!

I've no right to say anything in this forum because I'm not a practitioner of any Korean martial art. Yes, I did take 1 year of TKD while I was in high school, while I was already a Jr. Black Belt in Shindokan, but, that still gives me no right to speak about any TKD methodology. Having said that, please allow me to comment on the side kick in general terms as I've been trained in it through Shindokan, an Okinawan Karate style, for the past 45 years. Pivot: Pivoting of the supporting foots heel should raise only as minimum as possible to avoid the appearance of any sine wave. Path from point 'A' to point 'B' should be as natural and as quick as possible, therefore, the sine wave should be practically invisible. Shindokan teaches us that excessive sine wave robs the power curve across the board. Supporting foot: The supporting foot should fully rotate away from the kick. Meaning this. At the completion of the side kick the supporting foot is pointing 180 degrees opposite of the kick. Illustrated by this... as crude as it is... kicking foot= <---- ---> =supporting foot Shindokan teaches us that this amount of 180 degrees away fully opens the hips much more than 135 degrees as practiced by many other martial art styles. If there's a physical reason that one can't fully rotate into the full 180 degrees, then of course, adjustments must be made to the side kick so that that student can develop power appreciatively. Reaching the power curve at the side kicks most extended/apex position is critical and must be achieved simultaneously; hence the full 180 degree away of the supporting foot. Knee of the Supporting Leg: The knee plays a vital role in the entire side kick. One, the knee of the supporting leg is the shock absorber. As contact is made, the knee helps to absorb the opposite and equal reaction of and as the kicking foot reaches the target. The knee of the supporting leg being slightly bent is optimum in the entire side kick whether it's for absorption and/or for relationally moving inward and outward of and to the opponent. A straightened knee of the supporting leg is dangerous to the practitioner because of the added possibility of it [knee of the supporting foot] being hyperextended and/or resulting in dameage to any knee cartilage, muscles, ligaments, and/or tendons. Also, the straightened knee of the supporting foot is at a much higher risk of bone truama [breakage] if and when the opponent decides to sweep the supporting foot. This is just as basic as I can present the Shindokan methodology on the side kick, but, these things that I've posted here are important to every martial artist in every martial art, imho, because...after all...most every martial art has a side kick in its syllabus and/or the practitioner of the martial arts has chosen the side kick as one of their weapons. Everything in the side kick should start and end at the same time! Hopefully this post might help! Hopefully, I've not caused any vexing amoungst my fellow martial artists, especially the practitoners of any Korean martial art because that's the furthest thing from my mind. My intent with this post was to bridge the differences between the different styles of the martial arts, in what I consider a very basic kick; the side kick. If I've offended, please forgive me for my carelessness!

You're killing me here, Bob! We have a family friend who was the last to get the paddle at my home town high school. He apparently got it a lot, so the principle gave it to him to keep as a momento. Man oh man, I would've respectfully declined the momento...some momento, thanks but no thanks. Just looking at the momento would've cause my backside to have flashback pain.

Here's mine.... http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=100000348765429&ref=profile Don't laugh at me, but, I had to ask my sister, "What's a URL and where is it!" Sheech, I'm beyond computer dumb!

Game #3 went to the Yankees over Phillies; 8-5, after a long rain delay! Of course and as to be expected...Mo was Mo the mower! Heheheeeee, I kill myself! Now, Game #4 is next....Yankees will win that! Game #5....Yankees will lose that one because Cliff Lee of the Phillies will make sure of that. Moving Lee from game #4 to game #5 to give Lee some added rest was smart, and the Yankees will more than likely face another in the 'L' column. That will bring the Yankees back to the Bronx for games #6 and game #7. We won't need a game #7! GO YANKEES!!!!!!!!!!! BTW, is it bad of me to want to set up a TV in the main Hombu classroom while I'm teaching so that I don't miss any of the World Series?

Congrats Joe! Surprise tests are great!

Unless you're the one on the receiving end. California USE to allow spanking, I know, I've been on the receiving end of a few when I was at Robert Fulton Jr. High in Van Nuys, California. Guess what? They [spankings] hurt and they made their perfect point, a point that I never forgot. Were my parents lacking in their discipline of me while I was growing up? NO WAY! My parents were very strict. What I hated about the whole corporal punishment by the school was that just as soon as I got home after being spanked at school; I'd get spanked again by my parents. Man, talk about overkill of a lesson and/or a point! Sheech! My name's Bob, not Everlast!

Personally I thought it was pretty cool. I can't throw a football, to my knowledge, behind my back.

tufrthanu, I see that we're not of the same methodology and this is fine. My post was to only offer an alternative/other-side-of-the-fence suggestions based on my styles methodology. It's all good!

Check this out... http://highschool.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1008614 Is this hotdogging? Is this poor sportsmanship? Enjoy...

Yes, I do agree with this with only one exception or addition. The supporting foot position is ALSO important in order for the hips to fully/completely roll over. In Shindokan, we're taught from day one to rotate the supporting foot a FULL 180 degrees away/opposite, for example, of the side/roundhouse kick for the reason that I stated above. This is just our way and in that, our way works for us but it might not work for others.

Yeah, what Patrick said! GO YANKEES!!!!!!!!!

What has surprised me about Shindokan is... *We use our hands much more than kicks; 85% hands and 15% feet. I thought Karate was kicking. I was just a kid when I started in Shindokan. *I'm surprised at just how many martial arts use the word "Shindokan"!

Usually? Ouchy!!! Hopefully I'm in with good company!...or...Am I the only one?

Imho, Mr. Blythe has never learned the 3 K's of Karate, which for him they stand for... Kreep, Krazy, and Kriminal!

My very own Sensei/Dai-Soke SCREAMED VERY LOUD at me once when I was a kid, plus, I was suspended from the Dojo. What did I do? I put his belt on! BTW, I deserved it! Funny how we're talking about what we would do and what we wouldn't do when it comes to punishment. Even though a Dojo isn't the same thing as a public schools, K-12,...or are they? Both teach students. Yet, when a public school passes out its punishment; that's ok! Look at your childs Student Handbook once. You'd be surprised what's being enforced by your child's school. Some school punishment is severe. For example, in the state of Texas, corporal punishment by the principal or the vice-principal are protected by law. What does this mean? A principal or a vice-principal DON'T need parent/guardian permission to use corporal punishment. In that, there's nothing a parent can do when their child is spanked!

Absolutely!

Sounds good to me! Our entire family LOVES the Hendrick team!

Yes, I agree, this World Series should be exciting and nerve racking for both teams as well as the fans. Onto Game #1: [Here's what I noticed!] Yankees lost game #1 in the 2009 World Series against the Phillies by the score of 6-1. Yankess will still win the World Series! Why? Enter the dragon...not Bruce Lee...but...Cliff Lee, pitcher of the Phillies is a weapon to be reckoned with, but, the Yankees couldn't slay this dragon. Solid performance by Cliff Lee! The only wins that the Phillies will get during this World Series will be on the talent and arm of Cliff Lee, IMHO! Why? Because the remaining of the Phillies pitching staff is monsteratively less across the board than Cliff Lee. Again, the Yankees will win the World Series; 4-2. Reason is this. Cliff Lee is the only Philly pitcher that can handle the Yankees. Therefore, Cliff Lee's already won game #1 for the Phillies; Cliff Lee will win game #4 for the Phillies...and that's it. Game #2 againt Pedro Martinez; Yankees will get 5 runs in the first 5 innings...just to start things! Yes, the Phillies are defending World Series Champions, but, the Phillies weren't playing against the Yankees in the World Series last year...now they are. Remember, this post is just my opinion and in that, it's also a post that's meant to be fun, poke a little at the Phillies. Please don't get me wrong. The Phillies are great and they're great enough to have made it to the World Series. No matter who wins; this will be a fun World Series! Stats don't lie, therefore, proof is on the field! GO YANKEES!!!!

We are!

Activities: God is first in my life above everything else, then my family's after that...well...then it's...Shindokan Karate-Do, Martial Arts, camping, hiking, biking, swimming, skiing (water/snow), basketball, baseball, bowling, and fishing. These are the main activities that I enjoy the most! Interests: THE NEW YORK YANKEES, Creature Bleachers, Mo' the greatest closer in baseball...EVER, Reading, Chess, modeling, Piano, Guitar (Bass more than other types of Guitar), NASCAR, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Cowboys, but, wow, I'm interested in alot of things, but, this will suffice for now. Favorite Music: Guns N' Roses, Meat Loaf, Elvis, Beatles...Country, Rock/Roll, Blues, Gospel...sheech...I like all types of music, but, if I eliminate "peeling-paint-off-the-walls" Heavy Metal and Rap with swearing words, then, I love all genre of music except those two I've just mentioned. Favorite TV Shows: This list could go on forever...Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Hells Kitchen, Black Gold, American Idol, The Amazing Race, Ice Road Truckers, Deadliest Catch, Pawn Stars, The Apprentice, Repo...well...mostly everything on the History Channel and on the Discovery Channel. I love TMC and old TV shows like Adam-12, Ironside, Dragnet, Marcus Welby M.D., The A-Team, Hawaii Five-O and on and on and on. Whew...that's enough for now! Favorite Movies: Bat-21, Enter The Dragon, Stalag 17, The Rookie, Apollo 13, any and all old Japanese movies...well...this list is very long also. There are just way to many movies to list, but, my all time favorite movie is Bat-21 because this is based on a true story about Lt. Colonel Iceal E. "Gene" Hambleton. The film stars Gene Hackman as Lt. Colonel Iceal E. "Gene" Hambleton, the downed navigator (EWO) officer, and Danny Glover as Captain Bartholomew Clark, an Air Force FAC pilot who flies a Cessna Skymaster. The film is loosely based on the real-life rescue of Lt. Col. Hambleton by U.S. Navy SEAL Thomas R. Norris and team member Nguyen Van Kiet, a South Vietnamese SEAL. Favorite Books: The Bible, any Martial Art Book!!!, Who Moved My Cheese, most business/management books, most political biographies, most history books, most Cival War books, all Chess books, factual war books based on stratagies/battles, most sports history books, and any book by: Louis L'Amour, James Clavell, Dean Koontz, Robert Frost, Ernest Hemingway, J.R.R. Tolkien, Mark Twain, William Shakespeare, J. K. Rowling, and Stephen Coonts to just name a few.

ROFLMBBO!!!! Every team must have someone cheer for the team that's not going to win, therefore, the Phillies have Brian! GO YANKEES!!!!!!!!! [bTW, this is only meant as fun Brian!]

I hear you on the loooooooooooooong season! Hang there! I've only one thing to say about LJ...BENCH HIM!!!!!!! If he gets in the face of the head coach who benches him, then BENCH HIM LONGER!

WOW! Hhhmmmm! OK! [bTW, these are good comments!] Because it's a training TOOL! Imho, valuable training tools/methodologies. Allow me to address each of the following: It's not useless. It's a training methodology. It's akin to Ikken hissatsu...To Kill With One Blow. To hit to end. You've not seen this in a bar fight because neither of the combatants understand Ikken hissatsu nor can neither of the combatants hit with that much completeness. Neither have I gotten into a fight with a piece of wood and as Bruce said to O'Hara..."Boards don't hit back!" AGAIN...it a training methodology that many hate but many more train in it because it's just a tool. Refine the steel to make it harder prevents it from becoming/remaining brittle. Another training tool/methodology and it has its merits as well as its value. Another training tool/methodology in preparing one for the street. This is how my style, Shindokan, is. Full contact at all times, including in training. BUT, as a baby must learn how to crawl and everthing in between before one starts to run, so must a Karateka/Martial Artist. All of the methodologies that you've presented are not only vital and important to the development of the Karateka/Martial Artist but their essential. I'd not take away a proven tool. Yes, it's proven because before one can swim, one must first stand in the water! Bottom line, if someone doesn't like them, then don't train in them. Instead, find someone who would allow 'you' to beat them to death for the realism.

I might seem uncaring and unfeeling with what I'm about to say, but, let my uncaring and my unfeeling preface my compassion. I've been there and in that, I understand what you're going through...and so has/does every other martial artist. Only thing I can do is to encourage a student to continue in the martial arts. By this, I'm not going to do cartwheels or beg. I'm just going to outline the pros of the martial arts. After that, if a student wants to quit, then quit. I've not much sympathy for those who just want to quit to quit. I'm not going to get many to support my feeling on this, but, that's cool. The student came to me to learn the martial arts, I didn't come to the student. I understand why students want to quit because the martial arts isn't for everybody. Now, when a student gets a bad instructor, then by all means quit and look for a good instructor. Having said that... Their black/brown belts for a reason. Don't worry about them! You're a 6th Kyu for a reason. Don't worry about that! Be content with the 6th Kyu and be excited that you're about to test for 5th Kyu. Before you became a 6th Kyu you were a 10th/9th Kyu and when you were that white belt watching the 6th Kyu's, you probably thought to yourself quitely the very same thing about those 6th/5th Kyu's, but, you made it to 6th Kyu and now you're ready to test for 5th Kyu. Stand tall and be proud of yourself. It's suppose to be hard! It's suppose to be difficult! It's suppose to be impossible! But, you made it to 6th Kyu and before you were a 6th Kyu you said the same things to yourself when you were 9th Kyu and then when you were a 8th Kyu...but...now you're 6th Kyu and darn proud of yourself and you should be. Be a 6th Kyu getting ready to test for 5th Kyu and let the brown belts and the black belts be what they are; advanced to you, but, that's cool because in the martial arts, there will always be someone better/higher rank than you. When you were/are helping a lower rank than yourself with whatever, didn't you feel good to be helping them through their difficulties at hand? Sure you were because what they were struggling through was easy for you and you remember how hard it was for you when you were where they are now. SAME THING! Whenever one sees something new, the first reaction is..."I CAN'T DO THAT!" and/or "I'll NEVER BE ABLE TO DO THAT!" But before you knew it, you were able to do exactly that and very well. Just keep driving and training and practicing HARD and with great purpose! Don't just go through the motions but experience and feel and discover those motions! When you fall down, get right up, dust yourself off, and continue with the training/practicing! Bruce Lee put it well... "Before I studied the art, a punch to me was just like a punch, a kick just like a kick. After I learned the art, a punch was no longer a punch, a kick no longer a kick. Now that I've understood the art, a punch is just like a punch, a kick just like a kick." This is you, this is me, this is every martial artist. You will understand in time, but, even then, you'll continue to seek perfection in yourself as well as your martial art. Patience is a virtue, and in this virtue, you'll find yourself in your complete totality. Now, burnout is something totally different because that happens from time to time with everybody, martial artists included. I've reached burnout many times over 4 decades of training in the martial arts, but, having a supportive student base and a supportive/driving Sensei has helped me work through the burnout to rekindle the flame within. Burnout wise, list the pros and cons about your martial arts training/experience; if after listing the pros and cons step away from the list. If your con list is longer than the pro list, well, analysis it carefully to see what might've created the cons, after that, make the list one more time. Then if the cons outweigh the pros, well, there's no use in pursuing the martial arts. Gook luck!