tallgeese

If it's to the leg, check with the shin and immediately throw the cross as I set the foot back down. If it's body, check with forarms, elbows and go with an overhand with whatever hand is loaded for power. Most people tend to drop the hands when picking the kicks up. To the head, I just try to distance out and crash before they regain balance.

Hmm... interesting. I think that the shorter testing period early should be due largely to a limited amount of information required for learining. For instance, how much do you really require for the white to yellow move? A stance or two, movement that's basic from it. A handful of punches, a kick or two. Maybe a basic joit position or two. Falls/rolls? Now, compare that with a purple to brown. All your hands, feet, knees elbows (in increments of course). Serious joint work and the ability to move freely between them. Ground work, weapons (defense/use). It starts to get big just on the information side. More importantly, I think that it's the ability to use them fluidly when called for that is most key at your high kyu ranks. That can take lots of reps and time to get a basic handle on. Now, once you hit bb I think you've got a couple of reasons for the slow down. First up, there is the "paying your dues" thing. More importantly, you've got to expect the student to really start developing his own intrensic approach to his art at this point. That can take some time, and it should for trail and error to really start to set in. Now, all of that being said I think a longer testing time for the white/yellow grade isn't a bad idea. Again, this is where I come back to just not testing anyone until you're sure that they are ready to pass. That might mean they go longer. But this is much easier for me being in a small group than other instructors.

Congrats, JusticeZero!

Nice. I still carry chained cuffs for the versatility with bigger guys and all, but you certainly have more controlling options with the rigid ones as they hurt way more when cranking with them. I think you'll find that you'll like the kimura for DT purposes. It allows you to protect your gun very well while executing. Same with scisor style sweeps, I'lll ususally instigate these with gun side down to help in retention. This also gives you the option of a fast switch and push to gain distance and access your weapon to engage. today- 2, 3 min rounds of boxing, minimal gear 2, 3 min rounds of boxing, full gear, heavy go 4, 2 min rounds of sd sims vs. armored attacker all weapons on. 3, 3 min rounds of free roll from knees 3, 3 min rounds free roll from standing 10 min breakdown and drill of armbar from unusual positions on bottom. 10 min of knife work, testing and fleshing out entry componants of a knife usage defensive auto response I've been working on. At this stage of the experiment it's showing excellent potential.

Very nice breakdown...spoken like one who's been in Training for quite awhile .

Hello and welcome!

Ahh, knees. We work them from various locations to various locations. The outside of the quad is great from tie up or clinch. Groin from the same. Working destabilizing and head control to produce opportunities to the body, kidneys and the head are all excellet options. It really comes into it's own, on a regualr basis for us mere mortals, from a tight postion with the bad guy so most of our practice takes place there. They shouldn't be overlooked when striking during grappling and pracitced on a ground and pound bag as well, again, close proximity weapons. As for blocking, it depends on where the target is. For the body from a clinch, it's usually one arm horizontal to the strike, trying to catch the soft of the quad with an elbow or forarm bone. To the head, cover boxing or kb style with forarms and elbows. To the leg, it's tough if they are set up propery due to weight diestribution over your feet. Still, given the chance I'll try to check with a shin, but most of the time your stuck trying to jamb the range. For shots to the groin, it time allows, I'll raise a leg slightly to close off the opeining. Or turn a hip to take it more off center or in the thigh. Above all, train your mindset to keep going. That's almost more important than mechanical means. So occassioanlly when you get hit there sparring, keep working, despite you dimished capacity. Train the mind to accept soft tissue damage and keep working to keep you alive. I think it's exteremly important to spar with them as well. Control is key, more important is proper gear. Something with a cage face portection or enclosed frontal face is needed. Even in ligher sparring they should be thrown, just to work on mechanics and application. The best knees are deleivered when you get good at positioning the opponants weight to capitalize on the power t hey can bring. To do this, live interaction is needed. Occassionally, you'll need to allow them to the groin as well. Get a good heavy duty wrap under cup and keep someone out to watch the contact. To work targets we use shields, MT pats, even mitts. A good body guard is nice so you can push, pull and knee with less fear. This is a good way to start to work live with them and still not run them to full go in sparring right away. All of it's needed.

Some forms of GoJu might give you what you need. I've seen some pretty joint work intensive schools. Conversly, RyuKyu Kempo would probibly fit the billyou describe perfectly. However, they're relitively hard to find.

Congrats!

Conograts!

Most any tool can be useful. It's about application and location of applying that tool within a good contexual framework that makes it dangerous. Kicking can indeed be useful under conditions that allow for it to be used by your physiology well. Personally, I find low kicks most useful (MT rounds, groin, stomps). There are situations where these kicks are increadaly useful, there are also times they can be worthless (ie. someone tieing up with you making it dangerous to raise a leg, poor enviornmental conditions, improper ranging just to name a few) Likewise, grappling arts can be highly useful. Slamming someone to the pavement can be a fight ender in and of itself. Lot's of wrestling takesowns can leave you in a superior position to not only grapple a bad guy, but to take position and strike him, access a weapon, or escape. To go even a step further, even grappling from a ground game can have signifigant sd aspects if you accept that someone might indeed take you down. Again, training with a broader sd interpertation is important. But you'll never get that unless you train to grapple. Training realistically with both (or any depending on the discussion) is key. You need to practice against resistance with what ever you elect to do to get as realistic simulation. It's also good to keep an openmind about learning tools, getting on the floor with other fighters and keeping an eye toward intergrating new ideas that work agaisnt resistacne into your framework. Kicking and grappling arts included.

As it's commonly understood or defined...no, I don't.

So, short form perhaps?

I can certainly see situations in a club or bar that would be sd. It's entirly possible to go out, want to have a drink, and be assulted. Notice that doesn't mean that you're out looking for one, or spilling drinks on people to get them riled, or stepping up just because someone stares at you, ect.... It's you're right to go out to where you want without being assulted. It's also you're right to protect yourself should that occur. Now, what you really need to ask is the establishment known for that sort of thing and is it worth it to even be there. Avoidance can be a very useful thing. But that dosn't mean that you'll never have to legitimately defend yourself in a drinking establishment. Besides, as someone mentioned, you're job might mandate that a story occassionally start with "when I was in a bar..."

Welcome to KF!

Nice, I used to watch it a ton. Not so much lately. For what it's worth, I can still sit and watch Gunsmoke too.

I'm curious, ryu, what are timing patterns? I'm unfamiliar with the term. today- 1 mile run legs

today (well, technically yeasterday by now)- 3, 2 min rounds- combwork to body with defense, add finish high, add counter to take down 15 min takedown drills 2, 3 min rounds free take down drills with striking. 20 min instructional block, sweep series from guard. 4, 3 min rounds free roll

Regardless of proper terms, most people would probibly on;y be aware of the "tonfa" designation. Including ma-ists. It's just easier to use it in common use. It's the same as people thinking that I "do karate" or I "do mma". Neither is completely true. But it's easier to just accept the common useage and move on.

today- 3, 2 min rounds with body guard and mitt gloves. Low/high and cover work. Progress to more advanced combos integrating low shots/high coverage. Finish going back high with strikes to capatilaze on dropping of guard. 3, 2 min rounds of takedown work. Punches from tie up only to facilitate takedowns and counters. Rolled in from the low work nicely. 20 min instructional block on attacks from full mount and counters to these 3,3 min rounds free roll from standing

Everything you mention can be problematic. That's why you really have top break your sparring down as a training implement, not just "sparring" , you have to be gaining something from it's execution. As to the space issues ect. Everything will artifical in a certain sense until you're actually in the street in a conflict. That is unavoidable. We can mimic fight conditions, but can't fully appreciate them until we're there and have to deal with that moment of "wow, this guy could REALLY hurt me- bad". So in that sense, you almost have to train around what you're enviornementally given. Also, there's nothing saying that your fight won't happen in the wide open spaces of a parking lot, giving you the ability to hit, run, hit again if the attacker persues. This is worlds different than if you're jump at your car door and end up fighting while stuck between cars or in your front seat. Now you have to deal with a small area in wwhich to conduct business. If a training method is ever disreagarding either, then it's not complete. Well though out sparring regimines can deal with helping studets metally prep for either of these. Also, this means taking some time to go outside and work this stuff in the enviornment that you're expecting to put it into practice in. For example, work some stuff at you're front door to prevent access. This kind of thing can build from technical movement work to limited engagment sparring (him wanting in, you trying to keep him out) to sim training. It all works together as parts of a whole in my book. You just have to accept that occassionally you or your door frame will suffer from intese training of this type .

Yes, of those options, the batons would be the best choice. I'd also remind you to check with you're state and local laws on weapons use. In some areas, carrying these concieled could be problematic. Certainly carrying them openly is a problem all in itself. Bear in mind as well that there are still issues with they're deployment under street conditions. Accessig and presenting anything that's hidden is never as easy as you'd think and requires practice all on it's own. And that's before we talk about it being positionally inaccessable due to enviornment or consider a developing fight where it will actually detract from your cabability to defend yourself if you're trying to present it. Also, two batons, even collapsable, are going to be cumbersome and bulky to carry. And the likleyhood of actually conceiling a pair is pretty slim. Remember, you don't just have to hide them, you have to be able to get at them too. Part of the reason I don't use an ankle holser as routine carry. I'd throw out the suggestion of a knife. Either a small fixed blade or combat folder, preferably one of the auto-open models (check your local laws). They hide easy in plain sight (who dosen't keep one on a pocket) and no one will grief you for carrying one. Plus their size makes them easy to access from just about anywhere. Just some thoughts. On the light issue. For using a light as an impact weapon, there is still no better item than the longer shafted mag-type lights. Almost everything is rechargable battires now but 12 in models or so are not uncommon. There are longer ones as well. The shift to smaller lights was largely a factor of using light aided shooting techniques. All of these are almost infinatly easier with a smaller light. With the advent of rails on handguns for tac lights, you're starting to see a shift back to bigger lights for general patrol usage. More light, impact weapon usage if needed, won't get lost in car, ect. They all play in. You'll never see, I don't think, the big light come back like it was. The newer crop of recruits are raised to like tech stuff small and portable. But they are more popular now than they have been in a while. Personally, I like a light on my gun with a large light carried for general use. If push comes to shove, I can blip someone good with the bigger lights. No way can I actually use one of those little lights like a kobaton. Most people that carry them can't either (not all).

Look for a local SCA group as well. I used to play with these guys and it was a ton of fun.

Quick update on this set of armor. I've now had the opportunity to use th is stuff of swat training and a couple of day long session of dpt. DT training. Bear in mind, we're talking hours each day in and out of the thing on both ends. This gave me a good long look at the product and it's capabilites over time. My impression is even higher than it was before. I was taking kicks, knees, takedowns, bracheal stuns, baton strikes...the works for two solid days now. The stuff is good. With some pretty good contact, I'm just now sore to where I don't want to crawl into it tomorrow. The headgear and body armor continue to impress the most. For ourprevious swat training, we were spearing the daylights out of it on entry and it gave a great feel in the aggressor end and a solid set of protection for the assigned crash dummy. The arms are a bit more finicky than I had initally thought. For mulitple reps, time after time, they do start to move a bit. Espically when getting scraped along the ground. Still, they are easy to recover and protect well. The shin gear however, stepped it up and stayed in place without adjustment for however long someone was in the armor. I'd also add that using a full set is best with long pants and long sleeves if you're going to be in it for protracted periods, otherwise, the attachments can start to wear a bit on your bicep area and forarms (calf as well I'd assume). That said, I still stand by my inital eval, that it's a great tool. And, I like it even better the more I get to use it. I've also decided that this will have to be on a purchase list for me personally, regardless of what I've accumulated to date. Despite the outrageous price tag, if you're doing sd work and any kind of simulation training it's invaluable. Anyway, just an addendum.

Yes, yes indeed