joesteph

This is a different spin from kata-based curriculum, but at the web site of Iain Abernethy, if you go to Articles at the top menu and select "What They Should Know" by Dave Nielsen (as "Guest 12"), you'll find a section that says: White Belt Requirements for 10th Kyu . . . 3 - Demonstrate at least 3 self-defense techniques first through explanation and then through physical performance alone and with a partner. 4 - Utilizing the self defense techniques that you know, show how you can defend against more than one of the common acts of human violence that you have learned. . . . 6 - Perform basics as described by your instructor. . . . After the beginner student has shown the knowledge required for the requirements then it is time to introduce them to their first kata. The reason that I personally introduce a student's first kata at the second level is that they are now trained in a manner of study from the first set of requirements. They will find it easier to attempt the pattern of the given kata and realize that each technique works for a purpose and that it is not just a performance. Both the Black Belt article by Steven Pearlman and the Abernethy guest article by Dave Nielsen seem very interested in the beginning stages, to lay the right foundation. There's a different approach presented by each author, but each one does exhibit good reasoning.

When Toptomcat mentioned that he caught a video on this, I found an instruction one on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO9DVA7JQ3M Toptomcat already analyzed this technique, but your question is "[H]ow do I explain . . . that there is actually more than one concept of this technique?" You don't, Dobbersky, you just don't. I believe that your instructor, who may or may not have been exposed to Wado Ryu only, knows perfectly well that there's another concept--but it's not the art he teaches. When I took self-defense JuJitsu, we used the vertical fist and the Muay Thai shin kick. My Soo Bahk Do teacher mentioned she was taking lessons on-and-off with my sensei, and told our class it was a good supplement to what we did in class. I found out that she'd studied the art as Vee Arnis JuJitsu for two years in the past, while studying SBD as her main art. When it comes to Soo Bahk Do, the horizontal fist, not the vertical, and the instep or ball of the foot (letting us know the latter is preferred) instead of the shin is the way of the art. It may be true that your instructor really knows only one art, and since it's his life, he's firmly entrenched in it. It may be that it appears that he knows only one art (my teacher is twenty-six, and has studied Soo Bahk Do for sixteen years--I'd never have expected another art), but in actuality his knowledge is deeper, but he's wedded to teaching the "correct"/approved way of his art. Whether or not there's another way is actually immaterial. When I study Jeet Kune Do, I'm to use the vertical fist or, if it feels more natural, the three-quarters is accepted (such as when you do a cross punch). No horizontal fist, though, which is the "correct"/approved way in Soo Bahk Do. You referred to "a conflict of styles," and I believe you're on target with that interpretation.

I saw a post by Tony under "Why did you choose to study" ( http://www.karateforums.com/post429381.html#429381 ), and thought this portion relevant to a question I had thought about but never did ask in the forums. There can be a bully in the training hall, and he can be an adult or not. In fact, I remember when I took Tae Kwon Do some years ago that one of the women said to me that she disliked one of the female black belts because she felt that that (adult) person didn't exercise restraint--bullying? I understand that there may be a number of reasons why a student who is a child may need to be reined in, from immaturity to a bellicose personality. What about teenagers? They aren't "children," they're young adults. I especially wonder about adults themselves, supposedly mature and understanding restraint, but there are those who know the techniques and don't give two cents for the virtues the martial art supposedly stands for. I've considered that there are people who do not return because of these individuals, but just don't say it. Another reason (excuse?) is given, one that's more palatable--or just plain face-saving. How do you, or the instructor(s) in your school, handle these different disruptors? Have you seen someone given too wide a berth because his/her martial abilities override the virtues in the instructor's eyes?

There have been robotic mechanisms already at work in industry for a number of years, examples in the auto industry being in spray painting and even welding. The following video (if it doesn't work right away, hit Refresh) demonstrates a robot dancing with a human being: http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-us&vid=f5e77f93-bb95-46b1-913a-4e5b823f474d but the idea is that if the technology to have this robot is here today, then within a decade we can see a type of robot that can help the elderly or infirm. The first robot was unveiled at the 1939 World's Fair. "Robot" came from a creation in R.U.R. (Rosum's Universal Robots), a play by Karel Capek, from the Czech word robota, meaning forced labor.

I wonder if it's a good one for going really low--like the opponent's knee as the target. Then you follow-up, but I think a follow-up is expected whatever you do.

Congratulations!

Sure enough, we did the first move, an escape from a rear bear hug, and flowed into the second move, a takedown, which is what you do when you do escape. (I remember a sensei who said that it's common for a student to perform an action, but then not know what to do afterwards.)

Hi Bob! Welcome to the forums! Age 50? You'll be outpacing those "kids" in no time. If you're interested in how "mature" students are successful, go to: http://www.tangsoodoworld.com and click on the Articles tab. There are two short articles that you might be interested in, "Age Is Just a Number" (by me) and "Black Belt at 64 Years Old" (by a woman who's a heart patient).

You refer to yourself as a "Beginner, Matayoshi kobudo & Goju Ryu," Harlan, but your perception doesn't sound like it. I can understand children performing forms, not really following why they do something other than the obvious punch and kick, but also not questioning the application. The same can be said, I believe, of many adults. Sometimes a not-so-obvious application from a form is needed to "jump start" the adult. For me, in Soo Bahk Do, once the Pyung Ahn (pinan/heian) series got underway, I really wanted to tear even the basic/intro forms apart. An interesting way of looking at it. For myself, I've found in Soo Bahk Do not only the Pyung Ahn series as one form broken into five parts (which it has been interpreted to be), but also the Chil Sung (meaning "Seven Stars") series. The latter is actually easier for me to work at deconstructing, because I can see Tai Chi moves within it, Tai Chi having been studied by the Founding Father, GM Hwang Kee. Case in point: In the present Chil Sung form I'm working on, I spoke with my teacher about the first move as I interpreted it, but I was seeing an application from the Pyung Ahn series there, so I was off the mark. However, she did tell me it that it was linked to the second move, which I'd thought of as an elbow break from Tai Chi (and can be). When she linked the two together, I understood the application of one into the other. I wonder if any other adult asked her about the first move, let alone the tie-in of the first with the second. (She did tell us all that the second move was a takedown, but I wish we'd have had time to practice the application of the first two moves.) Very true. Edit: Needed to reword to clarify.

I thought of thrust and strike like Cathal, DWx. We can call all hits a strike, but when we say techniques, to me, there's something about the impact: for the thrust it's strong and pushing; for the strike it's strong and "snapping." In both impact cases, how does the energy travel? I think that with the thrust technique, the energy keeps on going, "carrying" the target that's been hit, while with the strike technique, the energy is released within the target.

I was re-reading Iain Abernethy's August 2009 Newsletter, and section 6 had the title "Extreme Impact with Steve Williams and Iain Abernethy." There was a statement from Steve Williams that I thought would go well with this topic: I fall to the floor. I’m breathing so hard that my lungs feel like they are about to burst. I look down at my broken body. I can hear nothing but the sound of my pounding heart. I have a splitting headache as my brain screams for oxygen. My muscles are so exhausted that my body can no longer move. So it doesn’t. Mentally and physically I have nothing left. This is hell. And then it starts; like it always does: “Get up! Get a grip of yourself and get on your feet!” The inner voice. My will. My spirit. It’s the one thing that will never lie down and die. So I get to my feet and I do it all again. This is how I train. This is INTENSITY.

My Soo Bahk Do teacher has an arrangement with the Vee Arnis JuJitsu sensei that he can hold his classes after hers on Mondays and Wednesdays, as well as on Saturday mornings. It works out well.

I read both the katana v. rapier and katana v. broadsword articles, Brian, and I have to say that the writers were as scientific about the structures of the swords as they were historically knowledgeable about their uses. The article on the katana v. rapier sounded almost like unarmed martial artists of different height/tallness, one who perseveres at infighting, the other at longer range. When thinking of the katana v. longsword, I'm trying to keep in mind that the longsword and the broadsword are not the same. Actually, the latter article made it a point to refer to a variety in both katanas and longswords, that the variety was because of what was needed in battle. I have a replica of a Roman short sword, sharpened, and I know that the Romans worked as a tight-knit unit, especially when they were in the tortoise formation. The sword proved superior against the Celts in the Gallic Wars, Caesar at some point referring to the longer Celtic sword getting in the way of other Celtic warriors, while the Roman short sword allowed unimpeded thrusting as well as slashing so long as the men remained in formation--which they were trained to do. I understand that the Scottish Claymore, which is a replica that I have, was developed by the Scots to break through ever-tougher English armor. You didn't have to cut the man; you could strike his armor and break his bones. It has that "half-sword" feature so that the hilt can be reached across and a short spear be in the bearer's hands. Clever. I do have a katana, sharpened, and the first sword I ever bought. I tell people who think of a weapon in the home for self-defense, but question having a gun, that they could easily purchase a sharp "samurai sword" online. You can't accidentally shoot a family member; the very sight of you with that thing in your hands, screaming to the intruder to get out of your house, will likely make him think you're crazy and take off; you don't have to "run him through" but poke away at him to get him moving on his way; if he tries to get to you by rashly grabbing the blade, his fingers will be so sliced that he'll be found by the police in the emergency room of the nearest hospital. Two really good articles.

I saw whess's post in the General Martial Arts section, "Anachronistic Activities." I viewed it as a tongue-in-cheek examination of what we do in the martial arts. If we're good fighters, does that make us good at self-defense? Is there a difference between a fighter and someone proficient in self-defense? I thought of the self-defense JuJitsu classes I'd taken earlier this year, and I remembered there's a YouTube video in which my sensei's teacher is explaining "self-defense" as separate from and superior to "fighting." In the video itself, my sensei (who is a police officer in "real life") is the assailant that has to be dealt with in an RBSD manner. The video is at: There's a checklist and explanation of the following: State of Readiness State of Explosion State of Control Interrupt the Vision Interrupt the Breathing Interrupt the Balance The above are not treated as fighting but as self-defense, and there are "ten commandments" that are to be followed: 1. Evaluate the situation 2. Three-foot rule 3. Start in a non-threatening manner 4. Control the focus 5. Motion causes motion 6. Element of surprise 7. Strike from the closest point 8. Change the focus 9. High and low concept 0. Faster forward/Slower backward It's actually an excellent video regarding self-defense capability as opposed to fighting ability. The demonstrations of each of the commandments get you to realize that there really is a difference between fighting and self-defense, and that there are straightforward ways of preparing for the latter.

Just yesterday, a boy of ten who was "watching" his sister (kindergarten age) was more interested in his skateboard than her running up and down the sidestreet we live on. It's a good thing I look around like mad before backing my car out of the driveway; I just saw that bit of blonde hair behind my car and hit the brake. I spoke with the boy without raising my voice, and he was politely nodding his head, but, then again, he's just ten. The law in NJ is that, to make a right turn on red, you put on your directional and have to bring your car to a full stop, then make the turn. There are so many, too many, who pause at that red light instead of stopping, but will swear that they made a legal turn. A lot of close calls occur. I mentioned using the directional in the above paragraph. I'm surprised at how many drivers switch back and forth, lane to lane, even turns on city streets, without using that blinking light. I also mentioned coming to a full stop in that paragraph. When coming to a stop sign, it's surprising how many drivers just pause, and the danger of having an accident (such as that the stop sign is at an intersection the driver wants to cross) goes way up. A friend of mine had his car struck while he was on the main road and a woman ran the stop sign. When she got out of her car, she was annoyed that she'd had an accident at that same place in the same way the year before. Anybody else with any observations or stories?

I'll second Patrick's good luck to your daughter, Brian. I don't know if she's your "princess" (a lot of fathers are like that with their daughters ), but I know you're proud of her. Right now, at age seven, karate is my boys' "sport"; in the future, I'd like them to try wrestling.

Hi beagstkd! Welcome to the forums! I started after my sons took karate for a few months. You wind up getting bitten by the martial arts bug. If you'd like to post a picture of yourself with your child, at the top of the page there's a red bar with what looks like baseballs on it. One of them is Photo Album. Give it a click and take a look. I've posted with my boys.

There's a fitness center in my town that has all the gym equipment you'd expect, but also has a section for cardio kickboxing. I realize that the question isn't about cardio kickboxing, but my thought when I checked on it was that, if you have the room, why not consider an actual martial art? I like what Brian referred to: a successful real-world example. You're fortunate to have experience in both, Rayjag. It may simply come down to a matter of space available. Good luck with the new enterprise!

I wouldn't know a really special break you can do, DWx, although, oddly enough, I did think of ice. I remember reading your article on breaking, and how you consider it important. It was well-written. The best of luck to you on this test for 3rd dan, and if you have photos taken, please post them on the Photo Album. I'm sure we'd all love to see them.

Not everyone uses a signature on their posts, but perhaps most of us do. Why did you choose the signature you're using? I found mine as a saying in a post on another martial arts web board, one of a number of sayings that were of merit to consider. I teach social studies on the high school level, one of my courses being philosophy. I thought that saying was especially insightful, even though it's anonymous. How did you arrive at the signature you're using in KarateForums?

I think it all comes down to dollars and cents. I remember when women's bodybuilding was growing, right to the point of having a Ms. Olympia to complement the already-established Mr. Olympia. (Many times, Arnold Schwarzenegger has been referred to as a former Mr. Universe, which is a title he did win, but the top bodybuilding contest has been the Mr. Olympia, which he kept on winning.) The Mr. Olympia drew big crowds, high prices for admission, and whatever media deals could be arranged. The Ms. Olympia just couldn't get the gate receipts, etc., and was nearly canceled in 1999, being rescued by having it held in Secaucus, NJ. To keep it going, it's been included with the Mr. Olympia, with a Ms. Fitness Olympia and Ms. Figure Olympia being added. You'll probably always find top-notch female martial artists who would do MMA, but they are likely more limited in number than male mixed martial artists. I think women can be on the card, but the economics of drawing a crowd on a regular basis as the men's MMA by having an all-female card is a chance that promoters likely shy away from as financially risky. It would be interesting, and possibly draw a good-sized crowd at first, but I don't know that it coutd be sustained, which organizations like UFC look for. Personally, I think it's worth a try, but backers have to be found, and that's the snag.

Welcome to KarateForums, Eisho! Enjoy!

This was done a long time ago, Red Hawk. . . . I went to a carpet store and purchased a roll of the soft material that goes under the carpet. I used duct tape to keep it rolled, and put a uniform jacket on it. I can't remember what I did regarding the arms, but whatever stuck out the bottom was, to me, the legs. It was suspended from the ceiling with a hook that went into one of the beams, not really being heavy because it was mostly composed of that soft undercarpet material. I gave it a lot of wallops with my hands, was easier on it with kicks (basic ones), and remembered never to pull on it, or else I'd be undoing its connection to the ceiling. So long as it was struck horizontally, that homemade "opponent" could do its job. I think something like that can take a good beating with a stick/cane.

I don't know if you've seen this video by Tim Tackett, Jay: but he explains from :43 to 1:48 the three JKD phases of Bruce Lee working out Jeet Kune Do, in Seattle, Oakland, and Los Angeles. The video as a whole is a good one. I've started a small collection myself. I've kept the Teri Tom articles in recent Black Belt magazines, read the Chinatown Jeet Kune Do book by Tim Tackett and Bob Bremer, and have the Championship Fighting book (in .pdf form) by Jack Dempsey that Lee really examined for the "falling step." I'm lucky that I can attend a seminar/workshop on JKD in October, with one of the participating instructors being Tim Tackett. Jeet Kune Do is rather addictive, I've got to admit that.

Finding the name Kazuo Kuriyama, I put his name into a search engine with Shotokan. At this site: http://www.usainternationals.net/Files/bios/Stans_Sensei/Master_Fleeman.htm it mentions that the "Bernie" born in 1952, studied under him, and Bernie became an instructor at age 14--meaning 1966. Kuriyama isn't an unusual Japanese name, but if he's the same as you're searching for, his death could have been in 1972. At: http://www.myspace.com/kenkojukushotokan if you scroll down, on the left-hand side is a photo of Sensei Kazuo Kuriyama. Tim Shiomi: http://www.aikidooffresno.com/school/Shiomi.html studied under Kazuo Kuriyama in 1965. At this site: http://www.completemartialarts.net/hgreen.html there's a list of the Genealogical History of Shotokan Karate, with James Arwood & Kazuo Kuriyama together for the 1950s on the right-hand side, and 1960s on the left. Why end with the Sixties if both were still alive? At this site of the Kenkojuku Encyclopedia: http://www.reference.com/browse/Kenkojuku you can find that Sensei Tomosaburo Okano, founder of the Kenkojuku Shotokan Federation, taught Kazuo Kuriyama. You can always visit a site and send in an email requesting information. Good luck with your reseach!