tallgeese

It could be any number of things, from injured arches to plantar facities. Most problems I've seen fall into the facities catagory. It's a condition where a segment of connetive tissue under the arch of the foot gets inflamed thru overuse (most often, although trauma can induce it as well). Regualr stretching of the under side of the foot by working the toes and ball back will help. As will typicaly stretches done to the calf. Consider useing an ice massage post workout as well with a daily dose of anti-inflammatory. If it's this, you should see results in 3-6 weeks of a signifigant imporovement. If it's still not going away, as always, consult a sports med doc.

I don't use one at all really in the traditional sense. If it's pressure point striking that kyusho refers to then I've seen downward hammerfist type motions with the forearms to various nerve clusters but I'm not sure I'd call it a block. Then again, that's not my area of expertise.

I've had good luck with mine training. She is 5 as well and pretty rough and tumble; of course, she's been wrestling with dad since she could crawl. One of her favorite games with me is "escape the guard". It's actually been benifical for her and she's taken it to heart a bit. So far, no problems with her hittting other kids at school. At that age, it's important to stress restraint and place restrictions on when they can be hitting things. It's really more like a game to them at that level anyway. You canalways give it a go and see how he handles it and go from there. It's worth a try.

Off topic- Wear elbow pads, good ones and a decent set of headgear if you don't want stuff split open. Control is great, but no padding equals an opened lip at best.

I agree. Very well done on both sides of this. However, to me, a tree is the thing in my back yard. Pretty much end of story for me.

I too botched a bo kata way back in the day. Yes, I know, everyone's jaw just hit the floor....I did do kata at one point, well kind of- a few. I started it, finsihed it, and did nothing inbetween the two extended portions thereof. Luckily, even back before we pretty much did away with kata all together (I think some of our guys might still teach some) they were not weighed very heavily and I passed anyway. Still, I have yet to live that moment down entirely. On a serious note though, you're handling it very well. Good job and I'm sure you'll pass next time thru.

Pretty much like the first really. More empahsis on teaching skills. You now had to set up several drills and series of mitt combinations and/or kicking drills. After a short period of demoing basics, most of the test was spontaneous attack/defend type of things. Unarmed, knife, club, grabs, attackers choice and so on. Sparring, grappling, sd sims w the armor on. Discussion of prinicple was conducted throughout as were quizes on use of force. Multiple attacker sparring, weapons were thrown in during grappling. Things like that. Movements were expected to be better than your 1st black test. You were also expected to demonstrate and explain some new things you were either working on independantly to develop your own unique skill set or show something else that you were formally studying and how you were integrating those movments into you fighting scheme. I remember that I did alot of boxing stuff for this portion, another guy was studying aikido at the time and utlized it, one of our guys was doing pressure points stuff, you get the idea. Always, the final product of combative efficiency was expected.

Always broken up into sets on the pull ups, bushido man. On my best day out (and even those area few and far between) I can't max more than 20- 25 usually. My best ever was 29, that was a few years ago. If you're refering to some of the 100 pull up slogs, figure I hit the first set at 20 or so, then drop to 15, then I'm on to 10's until about 50. Then sets of 5 until 75-80. Then, it's 2 to 3 pulls, rest, repeat, suffer. I'm usually resting a minute or so between sets. So, it's not nearly as impressive as the final number would indicate. As for the back strenght, I train it alot. It helps worlds while grappling. I also climb recreationally, so I think that goes along way. Although I don't get out now nearly like I used to in the pre-kid years. As for buliding the back up, that crossfit workout you referenced is a great way to start building the numbers up on the pull up. As for today- 9, 3 min rounds of mitts. Combos w/ kick coverage to knees to takedown defense. 40 min of 3 min rounds of either boxing only or naga rules grappling, rotaating between the two and an "out" position.

I've also seen people use models to get started up. Rendting space from someone elses floor is a good place ot get a core amount of students up and running who could go a long way to contribuing to your early cash flow when you open your own doors. This could be other clubs, dance places, even churches or the like. Y's also occassiaonly rent out space, or sometimes even need insturctors on their payroll. Again, a good way to build a student base prior to financing everything yourself.

Good point bushido man.

Hands up at the head, elbows cover the body, legs cover legs and groin. Each weapon stays primarily on it's own side of the center line. Now all of your major avanues of attack are covered. There's no reaching for incoming attacks. The lead shoulder is slightly elevated and the chin dipped slightly into it. That's the core posture. Now, we add distancing and body/head movement. Slipping, added with parrying and trapping. This, working off the core posture from above, gives you a strong defensive base to work from. Movemnt should endevor to work off of the angles rather than straight back and forth, t his again will make you harder to hit.

Glad that system has worked out well for you joe. It's the best thing I've found to date. Side kicking can be a bit harder when squared off. Stomping with them to the knees and groin works a bit better from this posture than raising them up. To get height, it's usuallyeaiser from a more frontal posture to chain them with another kick to get the hips set more favorably.

Nice..the sequal was priceless as well.

Good way to go, sometimes you can't push thru the shield of denial that some people throw up as a defense mechanism. The only way to really prepare is to start accepting that it can happen to you, or in this case, you're friend.

on the mat- 15 min of drilling sweep series from guard 3, 5 min rounds naga rules grappling crossfit- 3 rounds of: 1/2 mile run 50 back extensions 50 sit ups

Use the elbows. When your hands are up at your face your elbows fall into a naturally defensive posture at the midsection. It will only take a small rotation of the upper body and/or shoft in the forearm to stop incoming shorts to the midsection either from kicks or punches. For the most part: hands cover the head, elbows cover body, legs cover legs. There are always exceptions but that's the primary scheme.

today- crossfit: start running clock, 1 pull up in min 1, 2 pull ups in min 2, 3 pullups in min...ect until you can no longer get the requeste pull ups done. After yesterdays pull up marathon, I manged 10. Ususlly I do a bit better. lifted legs

Ah, the .38 snubbie, a favorite of mine to this day. Perfect back up, and great for fromal engagments where untucked just won't do. As to what to do when you can't carry Mark, I agree, you start work with what you've got. And yeah, antyhing with the abilty to smash a knife out of someone's hand is a good idea. It's just that staff weapons aren't my ideal go to, just stating a preference, that's all. harley, I have to agree with what was said above, respectfully, kata and combat share little in common these days, regardless of the attitude which displayed during practicing them. Methodology had progressed to other, in my opinion only, better ways of training people in how to fight. It' s only my opinion and certainly, I'm in the minority on that around here. As to the classifications, you're right. That still dosen't change the fact that it's much easier to carry a knife than a set of 'chucks. I agree on the usefulness of training with sticks of some sort, either escrima or the japaneese hanbo. The primary reson is because with the advent of collapseabel batons, it's easy to carry them. As for the sai, if you're actually training to use a weapon agaist another human being where the stakes are high enough to warrant the use of any weapon, why not train with the closest possible thing to that weapon you can? Forget the traditional design and completiy of a sai, just start working with a straght club. This will cut down on the training time needed to become proficient and up keep your skills. Now, this is all from the viewpoint of training to use these weapons for practicality's sake. That dosn't mean that any other reason to practice them is faulty in some way. There is something to be said in training in something that you find to be a beautiful art, or for keeping old ways alive. It is not the reason I study, but it is still a vaild reason to spend time on the mat.

Oh man, I left out the classic: Bruce Lee beating down everyone in Han's lair with 'chucks.

Work at home can be really benificial for you. As always with these threads, I'll refer you to crossfit.com It's a great site built around total body fitness and integration. It focuses on practical fitness and uses lots of core training and gymnasitc type exercises. It should fit the bill very nicly for what you're looking for. in thers mof strenght and cardio. I haven't found a better training suppliment for ma out there. Take the people posting over there with a grain of salt. Some of them are pretty rabid.

Check the fairtex equipment site. They are usually my fist stop for anything. After that, check on combat sports int. They actaullly have a pretty good selection of equipment that is very reasonaly priced. After that, you might have to start looking at custom stuff. But keep looking, there are so many outlets out there now someone must have something.

I agree with bushido man, these types of tactics do telegraph more and are difficult to land "straight up". They really are best when you find yourself in an "oops" posture and need to turn out of it.

Now that I'm reading this list, I sure wish more of that talent had rubbed off .

A few over the course of the years. Way back when, I was on the floor a few times with Bart Vale, who was the heavyweight champ in shootfighting at the time and the guy running the ISFA. Later, I got the chance to train under Keith Hackney of the early UFC's and worked with one of his fighters Gideon Ray, who would go on to be on the Ultimate Fighter series. Well before his UFC fame, I had the opportunity to train on the same floor with Matt Hughes as well. We had been introduced by a mutual friend while attending school. I've spent alot of time when our schedules allow it training with Jim Theobald, who during his career was one of the best known mma fighters in the state.

Yes, lots of stuff looks like a bo. But it's long, slower than many other weapons and prone to becoming usless in tight spaces or grabbed and fought over. All that considered, it's still something and it moves you up the escalation ladder. Still, you have to hope something is nearby that can mimic it. That's why I'd go with something you can conceil on your person in some fashion. That way there's no hoping, you have it. For stick type weapons, that pretty much leaves you with a collapasable baton. Now you've got a quick weapon that's relitivly fast to deploy that gives you a modicum of range over edged weapons. Knives fall into this catagory as well. Again, train to use them and be aware of the legalities of it. Depending on you're state or profession, firearms might be an option. Once more, training and proficiency is key.