tallgeese

Agreed, get into that mindset of training. Get used to sparring to be productive, not just to have fun. Really work on different componants to your game. Spar heavy at least once a week. Scale other stuff in the rest of the time at differnt levels. Lots of mit work that's dynamic and moving is helpful as well. I'd also stop with whatever other types of training that you're doing a couple of months out. When I'd be getting ready for a shoot or mma fight, I'd quit the weapons training and other sd stuff and focus solely on training for the specific parameters of the fight. Plenty of time to do all that other stuff later. Make sure you're getting the exact rule set that you'll be competing under as well. Last thing you want to do is train under a wrong assumption for 2 months. Hope those suggestions were helpful.

It will make you stronger, and bigger. If those are your sole goals it'd probibly work well. However, for ring training I prefer some sort of weight routine that will stress the muscles for a longer duration than 4-6 reps. Generally speaking, higher rep workouts are more efficient for training for the types of t hings we do. I'd still periodize for heavy lifting of course, but as a rule, you'd want more reps per exercise to adapt the body to a constant state of work.

One thing I found helpful in the "learning to flow" catagory was randori type exercises out of aikido. You can utilize the same kind of thing for training other things as well. For instance, even at a lower expertise level, you can get one guy in the center and set up two or three responses to a attack type. Then, everyone kind of randomly jumps in and attacks him with that attack. Now, the guy in the middle, who has command of these to to three sets of counters reandomly allplies the ones that fit the best. Or even parts of them. If he gets hit, so be it, it's time to adapt and continue to move thru them. This will get you used to flowing between responses based on those tiny detail that change with each attack. Even if a student only uses part of the response, that's fine, as long as it's an appropriate choice. Just and idea that we use for developing this kind of flow. With a limited amount of options, you can even start this kind of spontaneous training early during a fighters development.

The block time concept is pretty progressive, bushido man. Have you considered approaching your instructors/oweners with the idea. Maybe for a select class of advanced/senior students?

Another thread got me thinking about this subject recently as to the role of mushin in combative arts. Traditionally, this is the "mind of no mind" concept that allows more instant response do to ingraned motion patterns. That's great as far as it goes. But how has it been translated today. Here's my observations, thoughts and such. I'm interested tohear what others have to say on the subject. It seems that the concept of mushin hasn't gone very far beyond the first sentence of this post in most cases. It seem everyone drills until they can flow thru a sequence of movements without preconeption. I think we can all agree that this is useful. However, all too often I see the process stop there. In fights, the circumstance change dramatically quickly and no one instance is exactly like the next. Because of this, one single sting of movements will work most effectively for all attacks, even similar ones. So rather than just developing mushin in drills, we should also be stressing development of that flowing mind during spontanous training componants as well. I would even argue that this level of mushin is more important that the first since this is the ability that will allow you to move from tool to tool without thought- this seems to be the end result of training for a mushin response. This way, you're not training to just effectilve regurgitate moves, your dynamically adapting to the fight and dealing with what it presents you. Perhaps, my history on such matters is always rusty, this is what older schools of thought ment by it. It's just now what I'm seeing today as a whole in regard to the concept. What does everyone else think?

today- 1 mile run legs

Wow, lot's o posts Should have checked back sooner. Fist off, way back to John's question to my last post in regards to external discipline being need in a less combative school due to a change in the commitment level of being involved. I kicked this one around overnight since I hadn't thought about it. I'd say yes. This is probibly one of those cases where more external control by an insturctor or shcool structure will probibly help develop internal changes in diclipline. As to what constitutes a McD....I'll steer clear. I'd agree however that a lack of sparring, or zero contact sparring is PART of what goes into that formula. It's not the only factor. I've seen plenty of ma schools with less sparring and contact than I'd like, but they had good core movements for sd. Compare that to a real McD where there is no sparring beyond what amounts to aerobics and lousy sd movments as well as well as the fluffy health club atmospehere. Big difference in my mind. As for me, self-development and improvement beyond combat arts has always been a secondary factor for running a training facility. I think it naturally outgrows from combative study. There is something about the develpment of highly dangerous skills that make people act more responsibily. However, I get to work with a pretty tight group now less than the general public so it's not so much a concern for me. There might very well be a need for some sort of education like this to be part of the framework for a school. I just dont have to worry about it much. Well, I guess I dove into that issue anyway .

There are loads, and they will be dictated as much by situation as by your preference. Also remember that there is alot that goes into an effective combination; timing, distance, movement, lots of stuff. Noting happens in a vacuum. That disclaimer out there some that I tend to rely on quite a bit include: -jab, cross, lead hook -jab, cross, jab, uppercut -jab, cross, lead hook, uppercut, cross -jab, cross, lead uppercut, rear hook -jabs, lead hook, uppercut (cross or rear hook also) -off slip, cross to body, lead hook to body, cross high -jab, cross, lead elbow -jab, cross, lead hook, rear elbow Those are some basics. Now, add kicks to the front and back while moving in and out and circling. Grab at the end and knee, start some from defending a kick. Get halfway thru a series and have your mit guy pop you with a mitt and gon on the defensive. Add tie ups. You get the idea. You can build all kinds of combos if you set up a good set of strikes that flow with power and get creative. There are some good mma books and boxing titles out there I've see with some good combo work built into them. Unfortunatly, I can't recall the titles right now. It might be worth checking into.

Happy holidays and thanks for having us!

I think you have to look at the whole, intrensic and extrinsic disciplie model. Externsic disciplie is that which is forced upon you, you will be diciplined in your training as long as you have a larger authority overseeing your actions. Intrensic diclipline on the otherhand comes from within. It will occur regardless of who is watching or what the punishement may or may not be. Obviously, the second is most desireable. And it's also a given that the first can lead to the second. However, alot of studies (I can't quote them right no w, grad school's been awhile) show that this is largely based on how valuable those being externally forced feel that what they are doing is. Additionally, external disclipline seems to work on a large level, where sheer numbers mandate a less personalized approach (ex. military service). But, if a student is willing to stay with a class for x years, he or she probibly already sees a high level of value in the class and are going to develop internsic disclipline on their own in reagards to ma training. Extrensic work may have a place in some circles, but I feel the development intrinsically is more important. To do this, I think the best way is to let the student get their on their own. Disclipine, in regards to the ma, is (in my opinion only) based on one's ability to get up off the matt time and time again. To keep coming back week after week despite the digs and injureis incurred along the way. To put up with the constant mental stress of fight training and come out the other side a more seasoned combatant. That's the kind of thing that will develop the kind of discilipline that we're looking for to carry on the ma's. Not forced repetition of "sirs" and "mams". Just my view.

Agreed, but I think that you can't underestimate the importance of good conditioning on the outcome of a fight. Hypothetically, if you have two equally skilled fighters with radically different levels of conditioning, I'll take the more conditioned one every time.

Today- modified crossfit: 3 rounds of- 50 squats 21 pullups 21 dips 10 hanging power cleans, 95 lbs back/bi's/shoulders (gotta stop tacking them on as a chest afterthought) As to bushido man's question, I like doing resistive training out of all sorts of stuff. There are all sorts of level you can take this to. The first is probibly just stress innoculation. After a takedown say, just have the uke attempt to defend or punch you back, however he wants. That will get you used to some one actually trying to fight back. Just do a few rounds of this to get warm. Now move onto giving the uke two or three defenses to work against you. In your example, we'll say -clearing the foot from a possible lock just by yanking it back or kicking upward with the fee foot. Keep it simple to start. Now, you practice a counter to each of those a few times. Let's say he pulls the foot in and you swing it to the side to take side. If he kicks you elbow parry to the side and take side mount. Same end result (making it easier) but different entries (focus on one thing). Once you rep those a bit. Let him do which ever he wants. Then you respond accordingly. Start picking up speed and eventually, put some gear on and start working up the "live" ladder with just those skills. As your comfort with those movements increase, start adding other optioins. Spontanaity is the key once you start training this way and response to attack and end result will be much more important than which movements you use to get there. That's kind of the progression that I use. Also, don't discount striking from this range. Personally, I'd rather keep my feet under me and put strikes donw than wrestling some guy on the street. Practice this to, you can put to gether the same type of progression for that as the above example. I hope that helps give an outline. Let me know if I muddled it up too much. But you're on to a really good training method there.

Good source info. I've got a little expansion going on of my basement space and I'm planning to cover the bag area with the stuff. Half the price is always a good deal.

Change, yes. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad, sometimes it's really indifferent and a matter of personal taste. The trick seems to be weeding out which is which. I've certinly seen a trend to the more informal in alot of circles. This is fine with me, but that's just me. I've also seen a lack of commited mindset training takeing over. This is unacceptable to me. It depends on what you're willing to (and what's worth) fighting to keep. Lot of people these days tend to see it as just some for of exercise they do. That drives me insane, you're training to fight. Maybe in a life or death conflict, you'd better darn well get your head into the game and realize it and train as such. I think that's part of the reason I've gravitated to trianing at mma places over the past few years. They get what they are doing and do it to max effort. I think that you can take that training atmosphere and really apply it to a sd class. So yes (back on topic) there have been changes. Warm and fuzzy is everywhere. People like denial over the reality that they may have to someday deploy thier skills in an enviornment where they could die.

That's not a bad idea. Very interesting in the least. I'd think that in some way you'd have to keep some "core time" to continue in keeping up with the skills that was your skills bread and butter so to speak. You could also use this time to review what'd you'd done in other blocks from time to time. That way you're skills aren't getting rusty from on bout of training them to the next. Still, it's an idea that bears looking into. And it would help create a very good enviornemt to cross train in.

A well rounded conditioning program is pretty key to any competivite endevor. Pushin weights and running will always have a place and should be incoroportaed. You'll need to do longer runs for general endurance, but don't for get sprint and interval training for your short term energy systems. You'll probibly want to periodize your weight training and tapier towards competition. There are pleny of sites and books that can help you with this (NSCA comes to mind). That being said, there are some good programs out there designed to utilize functional exercises for overall fitness. These can then be tailored to fit into any trainng regimine or used in addition to other training. I'm a big fan of, and use extensively, the stuff on crossfit.com Check the site out and I think you'll be impressed. Espically if you go thru a few weeks of the workouts, some look really easy but end up smoking you. I think there is some research on there as well to support their theory.

One thing I've seen used to some success, and I've used for certain applications are the thinner foam mats used as flooring for home workout rooms. You can get them at Sports Authority or even Wal mart from time to time. You can snap them together and then use mat tape to hold them together. They won't take heavy impact, that 's for sure. But they should help in case of an accidental fall. You can even grapple on them provided you start from a down position. It's a viable alternative to buying heavy mats. If you're going to be throwing though, it's a good idea to suck it up and get some form of wrestling mat.

I'll throw out an example of some stuff at yellow belt. For adult- basic stikes jab, cross, eye gouge, elbows, knees front kick (targets to include groin), round kick, shin kick (MT), side kick, side stomping kick hooking parry, coverage blocking, sensu parry angle drills with strikes, agaist opponant, targets, spontaneous reaction to one of four predetemined attacks. break falls rolls basic joint escapes basic small joint manipulation (locks) stances movement, and such. Now, the junior level of the same- basic strikes jab, cross, elbows front kick, round kick, side kick (no groin targets) hooking block, coverage block angle drills, against opponant only. Mitt drills seperate, not spontaneous componants break falls rolls basic joint escapes stances movements and such (there are a set of katas that some of our school uses at the junior level, I can't say that I do) That a basic list of stuff. The differences will get more pronounced as the ranks get higher. Some things and targets are left out entirely, some are held off until later. A big componant that is left out is the heavy stress on mindset that is a focus during the adult ranks. Weapons defenses are started much later in training and offensive weaponry is not taught. Hope that helps.

today crossfit (modified slightly)- 50, 40, 30, 20, 10 reps as fast as possible of: box jumps sit ups chest/tris

Glad you like the concept. Part of the strength of it is that it can be applied across the board, no matter what kind of free fighting you're doing. I use it often for sd focused things as well as mma. It could just as easily be used in a setting specific to TKD sparring. I use the same concept while rolling with newer people or when I'm working a new skill on the ground. The other half can feed you submission openings to see if you're seeing the entry. Again, he can point it out if you miss it and move on. You can also use an "out" man for this. We have guys not rolling coach a lot of times, even during a free roll or spar without the limiting factors, just to help people see there openings. The trick is, unless you're training exclusively to fight in a ring, don't make yourself dependant on it. Probilbly won't have that extra set of eyes on the street. Even so, it's a fantastic training tool and very versitlie.

That's why our syllibus is diffferent for both. There actually is a very clear difference between what is learned at a "junior" level and an adult level. Otherwise it is hard to explain the difference, other than age (which might not be invald at all in my mind). Still, it's much easier to justify if there are different requirements. Once a junior bb is achieved, the student can begin training in the more combative aspects that he missed (if he's deemed mature enough). Then he can test for bb again at an adult level. Yes, it's two tests, but it's also two sets of cirriculum.

I don't think it's intedned to be a matter of "rely" as much as just giving the kid some confidence. Let's face it, you're fighters aren't going to be in the same group as the rest of your population. In all likelyhood, your hardcore sd guys won't either. Who's to care past that who warms what up? Those are the guys training hard enough and seriously enough to be irked by this. I doubt anyone else, given the context of the situation would care. Heck, alot of t hose guys would probibily grin and let the kid build some experience and have a story to tell. Get him out in 10 and go about business. That's all.

That's great! I even bookmarked it so I can check it out more completely. Thanks. Very cool.

On a slight aside here, bushido man. Are either of those Aikido text worth reading for someone not actively persuing aikido? I know the Dynamic Sphere was written by Ratti and Westbrook and I've like their other work as very informative. So, should I pick either or both of them up?

I like to say, anything worth hitting is worth hitting hard. That being said, the reality of actually disabling an attacker with a single shot might be fairly unlikley. I'd never count on it nor would I train to persume that any single movement stopped them. If it happens, great, you've over trained- good for you. But I'd never mentally prepare myself to every stop after a single strike of any kind. Even firearms traininig is conducted, in large part, under the idea of shooting until the threat is eliminated. I think the same concept translates well to unarmed defense. You hit till the bad guy goes down. At that point, you need to stop. It's that key that keeps you from switching form being the defender in an altercation to being just another guy arrested for battery. So in concept, as Jone said, training for that kind of power is great. Howeever, mentally training for such an occurance (as to expect it) invites disatster and an state of under preparedness.