joesteph

Happy Half-B-day KarateForums!

I'm glad you're able to work and that your family life is good, Kez. I believe society's become more enlightened that an illness doesn't have to be physical in order to seriously affect a person. I'm a strong believer in the buddy system. Is there someone at the dojo you're close enough to, and of course it could be your sensei, that you could visit the dojo when it isn't normally open to students? That's a major first step. You could bring your gi and feel no pressure as you work with a friend, or your best karate friend, your sensei. It takes a series of small steps to recover from the effects of emotional illness/distress, and something as simple as just entering the dojo can be the first of these. Give it a thought, Kez. After all, you deserve to return. You earned it. And your heart's in the right place.

This video was my favorite of the three. It's a clever idea to pass the offense and defense down the line, and then the board breaks as well. It looks like everybody had a good time celebrating the fourth anniversary of the school. I can see why you picked this one. I'll bet it's got a positive atmosphere when you train.

Richard, Kez . . . Do you feel the same way about honorary doctorates? They're given more frequently, such as at college graduations to honor the guest speaker. Personally, I'd equate a fourth dan/Master level with a doctorate, especially since I've learned what my teacher, who is a fourth dan, has worked so hard on for so long.

According to the article, President Obama had practiced TKD and reached green belt during that time. I'd say that since the Koreans see TKD as "culturally" nationalistic, it's a fitting honor.

They are strong, whether you think they are or not. Even though they aren't in the same class of strength that power lifters are, they are still strong people, and likely still stronger than the average person who doesn't weight train, or just the average weight trainer. I know of a few guys who competed in body building competitons around my area, and they were all pushing around a lot more weight than I was. Well, I, for one, have pushed more weight than many who had double my size in muscle. The term "paper tiger" comes to mind. Also, at a gym, some of these "bulk masters", tend to train with weight under the sme ocurse as those before them. Lots of reps and much jerking, smooth, continuous moving actions. This is an interesting focus in the thread, to me, in that I weight-trained with free weights and cables for twenty years. At 5'6", nearly age 33, I weighed what I did at age sixteen, 110lbs. During those weight-training years, my bodyweight hit 185 and I was benching 235 for six reps--at age fifty-two. I wouldn't say I was a "true" bodybuilder, since they actually "body sculpt," such as the small waistline despite bodyweight, and the focus on specific muscles, both upper and lower body, for mass and that "ripped" look. Many also take steroids, which I never did. There's a difference between bodybuilders, who use heavy weights for multiple sets and reps, as opposed to powerlifters, who work with very few (1-3) reps of very heavy weights, although I couldn't comment on their set system. The powerlifter does not train for the aesthetic sculpted look. A bodybuilder's muscles are not "fake"; they have true, skeletal, protein-based muscle that's capable of strength and the endurance of repeated use of that strength. That muscle means they can punch very hard, kick very hard, and do it repeatedly. If they have good technique with that muscular strength, the magnification will pulverize their opponents because they will hit like they're using well-focused hammers for fists and feet. It seems that different members of the forums have either encountered individuals who strike them as muscular and strong or are seen by them as surprisingly lacking in strength despite their muscularity. As for me, I wish I were able to continue weight-training as well as train in the martial arts. The power enhancement weight-trained muscle would give my strikes would be tremendous.

My biggest improvements are that I've both stayed with Soo Bahk Do, earning promotions in the green belt levels, and yet tried different things in the martial arts, such as workshops and different arts for a period of time. Speaking for my sons, David and Patrick have come along to make green belt, and I'm really proud of them, knowing they worked so hard.

I don't know how the law reads, because I'm wondering if it applies to unsharpened blades, including blades that can't be sharpened due to the material they're made of. I have a Claymore that's unsharpened, but whacking someone with that hunk of metal would break bones. Then again, so would a baseball bat, even though it doesn't replicate an ancient weapon. If unsharpened or "unsharpenable" swords are permitted under this law, then an iaido practitioner would be able to practice with an ornamental sword only. And that presumes the ornamental swords, which are metal, are legal.

Thanks for pointing this one out, Bob. I missed it in the issue, finding it on p. 18. According to the article: [T]he Irish Minister for Justice has instituted measures he hopes will reduce knife crime. I wonder if there were incidents that prompted this. (Gangs?) I mean it's not exactly something you fold up and slip into your back pocket. I noticed that DWx observed, "There are loads of things you can't own in England under the Offensive Weapons Order." The article did say it's similar to an English measure. A similar problem?

There's a female friend who's 5'9" and can't weigh more than 130. She loves judo and has been doing it since she was a young girl. I'm 5'6", but I weigh 190, and I'm certain I'm much stronger than she is. We teach together at the same high school, and O Soto Gari came up during lunch. She was fast, and her technique was smooth as Kentucky Bourbon; she had me right about the spot where, one inch more, and I'd have fallen right over. If she had used force for the full throw, I'd have flown. Obviously, if it had been an actual situation and a man of 190lbs punched her, that her MA abilities didn't help her slip the shot, it would be a different story, but if she were in an altercation and acted rapidly, with the skill level that she has, her technique would, in my eyes, have sent her assailant in one direction while she took off in the other.

I think Sokusen and George made some good points. I remember taking a course in the past called Street Survival. The first hour was how to avoid/prevent situations; the second hour was MA. I remember when we did defense against the wrist grab, just to break free from the hold by a proper twist of one's wrist. I didn't have a problem with men grabbing my wrist, but I did foolishly grab a woman partner's wrist as I did the men's. She needed to get the technique down right first against a snug grip, then worry about a strong one. We spoke with our instructor, who said that she would either have to be immediate in real life, before the grip got tight, or, if her assailant got a good hold of her, a shot to his face (like a palmheel to his nose) would weaken his grip. BTW, many find that adding just the right twist of the hips adds to the power of your break from the grip. Your sensei might help you with that.

Thanks, everyone! I can't wait for the certificate to come and for my teacher to place that second stripe on my belt!

I don't know if you've started physiotherapy, Kez, but there must be a diagnosis by the GP to perform it. Do you do a great deal of stretching, perhaps pushing the envelope? Last year, I was desperate to do something about my lack of flexibility for higher kicks. I bought a Versaflex from Century, and I have to admit that, with the stretching exercises from my teacher added to the stretching from the machine, my kicks went higher. I received a number of complements from different people at the dojang. I first developed aches in the inner upper thighs, so that certain positions caused discomfort, but the discomfort ended as soon as the position changed. I didn't stop using the machine. Then pain was definitely within that area of the thighs and crossing the insertion of the thighs to the torso/groin area. I stopped using the Versaflex and donated it to a fundraiser. Doing the simple stretches that my teacher taught me on a now-and-then basis has greatly reduced the problem. The thighs still get aches after a good karate session, but they're much better by the next day. I can't kick as high as I did, but my health comes first. Pain radiating down the leg sounds like the condition is worsening. Tough as it may be, you might have to take some time off from karate to rest the affected areas. You might also get better answers from the physiotherapist than the doctor, the former likely helping you keep flexible without straining the area. It can't hurt to ask. Good luck with this. I hope it's just a matter of having overdone and a need for therapy and rest.

That would be another striking art, Snapdragon. JuJutsu, with its takedowns and joint locks, would be a better complement. Check out some JJ schools in your area. Observe some classes. I don't know how far you've come in Isshinryu, but you might want to talk with your sensei about taking classes in another martial art. You'll be splitting time between the two.

Isshinryu is a striking art. Have you looked into JuJutsu as a complement? From the self-defense classes I took for a while, it can be brutal. A friend of mine has been studying Judo for some years now. She does it as a sport, but knows its self-defense applications. (Like "O Soto Gari," a takedown that can have your assailant crash land on a concrete sidewalk.)

Congratulations, Conrad! Way to go!

This soccer player decided that the best way to play soccer was to use some martial arts moves. Article and video at: http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/10331692/New-Mexico-suspends-hair-pulling-soccer-player

Hi Bryan! I liked where you said, "I have been involved at my studio for a few years, and really have a lot of fun." Self-defense and having fun. That's the way to do it. Welcome to the Forums!

I got the good news tonight! I passed the test! I'll be moving up from 5th Gup to 4th, meaning I'll be wearing a green belt with two stripes on it. Success!

Congratulations, Bob! Member of the Month for November and, yes, the rainbow belt!

Welcome to KarateForums, Richard!

Since the foot is the base of the supporting leg, and that leg will determine hip placement (if it's wrong, all built on it is wrong), doesn't it all trace back to the "root"? Students have to know where they want the hip to be; they're introduced how to get it into place by proper placement of that which supports and therefore permits. There has to be a beginner's approach. The idea of foot placement, even if it's as basic as to turn your foot first and then concentrate on the hip, is valid. I see the combo of everything in motion, starting correctly all at once and ending correctly (Bob's "Everything in the side kick should start and end at the same time!" comment) at the intermediate-advanced level, not the beginner's.

The video isnt working . . . Give it another try, Jim. It worked for me. Might have been a temporary glitch when you accessed. It's an interesting presentation.

It looks correct and concise to me, Bob. I'd say someone with knowledge of the side kick could envision what you've described, even the "Everything in the side kick should start and end at the same time!" comment that you made. I didn't know you were adept at illustrations using the keyboard . . . (kicking foot= <---- ---> =supporting foot).

I saw ElShaft's post and rewatched the videos again. They're very helpful, even if only to give a game plan.