joesteph

Friday, January 2 Leg stretches Ki Cho Hyungs (Il, E, Sam Bu) Pyung Ahn Cho Dan Chil Sung E Ro Hyung

A photo series by Master Constantino Terrigno of Tang Soo Do World may be found at: http://www.tangsoodoworld.com/reference/reference_tie_belt_2.htm The belt does not cross in the back, and the ends are even. This is what I use, myself. Personally, I think that students of both sexes should be wearing their belts--including how the knot is tied--the same way for uniformity of appearance.

The posting is listed as March 4, 2007, and Soo Min hasn't checked in since Fri Mar 23, 2007 5:12 am. She spoke of an abusive atmosphere in a school she attended for nine years. I sent her an email just now, that her posting has been brought up and been commented on, and asked her to get back to us through a posting.

A WaveMaster is a great thing to have at home, Dragonwarrior. I first used it for both hand and foot strikes, although I now I use BOB as well. It's all still "bag work," so I'll list what I do with both for hand strikes. I always start off in a boxer's "guard up" stance and punch from there. Whatever I do with one side, I then switch to the other ("southpaw"). I only need to do five reps per each, so that I can get it all in within a reasonable amount of time; some, like jabs, wind up being repeated during the workout anyway. - I do a number of left jabs, then a number of right crosses, all to where the face is; then I combine the two. When I combine them, I also add in a jab to the face and a cross to the solar plexus. - I place my lead hand against the bag, as though I smothered the opponent's lead arm against his chest, then do a right cross to the face. I do it again, but the cross is to the solar plexus. - I'll do a number of uppercuts, not only to the solar plexus, but also at an angle to the ribs (the old term was "shovel hook" even though it's an uppercut). Then I combine these with jabs. - Next come left hooks, then right hooks. I'll then do left jabs with right hooks. - My backfists aren't only to the nose, but also the temple, and I've added in the ribs b/c my instructor includes them. I only use the lead hand. - I've heard them called "leopard" fist strikes, but I just think of them as finger knuckle joint strikes to the throat. - Hammerfists are to the nose. If you use the WaveMaster as a guide, you can figure where the collar bone is on each side, whether or not you hit the WaveMaster ("striking" in front of the bag). - Knife hands are first palm down, straight ahead to the throat. Then I do to the side of the neck, palm down on one side, palm up on the other. If it's awkward, just figure where they'd be hitting the neck by doing the movements in front of the WaveMaster, using it as a guide. - Palm heels are to the nose and straight up to the jaw, the latter using the WaveMaster as a guide. I also do palm heels to the sternum, thinking of the heart as the true target. - Ridge hands are swung to the temples, then the side of the neck (and keep a crook in your elbow to avoid hyperextending). I do with the palm down; if you stand to one side of the WaveMaster, you can envision striking to the throat with a palm up ridge hand. There's also a "straight like a punch" ridge hand, where the throat would be, but it'd have to stop in front of the WaveMaster, using the bag as a point of throat reference. - Fingers (rather than one finger) strikes are to the jugular notch at the base of the throat; I throw four fingers together at that spot. If you can envision where the eyes are, you can do the same, one "eye" at a time; you might also use both hands at the same time, digging the thumbs into the eyes. (I used to have two pennies taped on the wall for the fingers [but not thumbs] strikes.) - Elbow strikes are first swung with the front of the forearm/elbow to the face, then strikes are the back of the upper arm/elbow to the face. I also do the same forearm/elbow shot to the chest. Facing forward, but at an angle, elbow strikes with the back of the elbow to the ribs (as though you lifted his arm and are striking underneath), and with your back to the WaveMaster to do the same strike to the solar plexus, can be done. - Forearm "smashes" are to the throat, as well as the chest. Instead of doing a ridge hand to the side of the neck, do the same movement with the fist clenched and the inner forearm striking (again, a crook in the elbow so as not to lock it). - You can always stand in a horse stance (or feet closer) and do either a set number or as many punches as possible as rapidly as you can to one spot. I've also done back-of-the-knuckles "speedbag" punches, but if you're using gloves that you think will mar the WaveMaster by the friction it causes, you can do them in front of where the face. (Cloth gloves won't mar; bareknuckled can give your knuckles friction burns.) I hope some part of this is helpful, Dragonwarrior.

From that Wikipedia entry: "Nobody thought it was a very hard blow," said Jeanne DePriest, manager of Zerlentes' team. "We've been talking to people all day trying to find out what happened." Zerlentes was wearing her required protective headgear at the time of the accident. She was wearing "required protective headgear"; this is a factor that can't be overlooked. It also says in the entry: She expired . . . due to blunt-force trauma injuries received to the head, resulting in a blood clot on the brain. Within the article, it locates the point of impact as the left temple. If you put Becky Zerlentes's name into a search engine, and even into the New York Times, all you get is news at the time. There are no follow-up entries. There's nothing more in the Times about the death. This leaves it as a guess regarding a buildup of head/brain trauma. I don't think she really died as a result of a single blow to the head, but as a result of a number of blows from previous fights and this one. It shows, though, that even "protective" gear has a limit to its protective abilities.

I suggest it isn't the lock, Ryukasagi, it's the training. In training, it's working with a willing, stationary opponent/partner, and you're going at a much slower speed than the wrist lock would be applied. Safety is the issue, and understandably so; when I've used speed, I've been reminded about the speed limit. When I was learning my first one, my instructor explained that I wasn't holding on tight enough; she slipped her hand right out of it to show me. I then gave it a tight grasp, and that worked well, but other students don't grasp my hand tight enough, relying on my willingness to allow the wrist grab. They're afraid of hurting me/their partner, by a tight grip, and I've had to tell them to please grip tighter. I do it to them and don't cause injury. When applying the wrist lock, I learned that bending the hand is not enough; there has to be a twist of the hand, that of the little finger side twisting "in," to really give control and pain--or discomfort when working with a partner. I apply it better with the teenagers than with the adults, the latter tapping almost immediately. There's one wrist lock that I have to know but which I first learned from a DVD before being taught formally in class. Without realizing it, I had "customized" it from my DVD watching, and it's more effective than the version taught at my belt level. What's taught at my level is a "control" application, i.e., without the twist, and I can immediately see how it can be countered. When I put that twist into the joint lock and so prevented the countermove opening, I've both established control and can break the joint if needed. I find myself doing that lock two ways, official and customized; it depends on whether I'm being observed or not, and who my partner is. The reason for the limitation? I believe it's to teach us down the road (or up the belt level) how to counter a joint lock, and even how to counter the counter. The wrist locks are sound, Ryukasagi, but in the dojo/dojang we're working with one-another, and there's the danger of injury. As a training complement, I've practiced these without a human partner, having BOB as my reference, and, using my imagination, that's when I use speed and a heavy twist--against an armless opponent. It works for me.

Since you did say "on the street," GhostFighter, I'm going to assume that you didn't expect the attack, but he's got the old "one-two" coming at you. I think the first thing people do, instinctively, is move straight back; that probably means he's going to connect; he'll probably keep moving forward and continue to connect. I really think it's better to move to the side, and toss up your hands into "on guard" immediately. However, there is a sparring exercises that's required for me to know that I think is best in this situation, and that's to move to the side while one hand "waves" a knife hand block at what's incoming. In theory, the move should be your block ("the best block is not to be there"), but that hand could be essential. Then you have to start countering, as no one can keep blocking, blocking, blocking w/o getting hit at some point. There is another sparring exercise that I do in which you put up your hands ("on guard"), but shoot out a front kick to the midsection. You've remained stationary/grounded, so his forward movement may have magnified the impact of the kick. Again, you'd have to start countering. The weakness I see in this one is that, whenever we practice it, there's more room between my opponent and me than there is in the block described above. The only straight back that I can see working is raising your hands to "on guard" as you do step back, and shooting out a front kick. My instructor is fast, can keep her balance in moving back yet shifting to kicking forward, and is taller than I am by four inches, so when she demonstrated this against me, it was viable. Incidentally, when you have your hands up, you're not blocking his punches with your hands. I may have misunderstood, GhostFighter, and you were simply making a comparison with boxing in the ring, but if your fists are both at your cheek level, and a punch is coming in, it's the raising of your forearm and a slight turn of the upper body that's the block for the face.

Because of my height (5'6"), the other students often kick higher up the shield than is best for me to hold, and the worst is when that top flaps back against me. I thought of how, with mitts, someone might put one behind the other to better absorb impact. What I started doing was getting one of the small square targets and holding it behind the top of the kick shield. That extra padding helps me control higher kicks better by reducing that flapping.

At first, I thought it was what he considered for control, but then we had a guest at the dojang who was an unusually strong kicker, and I held the kick shield. Where he hit would press my fist into my body. It's a concentration of force on a smaller area. When I opened my hand, the force was spread out. The first kicks, with me using a fist, had greater impact on my solar plexus; the following kicks, with me using an open hand, had a noticeably lesser impact. I've been using it since.

Leg stretches Front swing kicks Kicking exercises lying on floor: - roundhouse and side kicks WaveMaster, different types: - front kicks - crescent kicks (w/ bag paddle) - roundhouses - side kicks - back kicks Sparring exercises; self-defense techniques Ki Cho Hyungs (Il, E, Sam Bu) Pyung Ahn Cho Dan Chil Sung E Ro Hyung

Congratulations, Beast! A great way to start off 2009!

The video is an instructional one among a number made on kicking combos. This is the video where the instructor includes how to hold the kick shield. He's making note of open hand instead of fist when you see the video. The other videos in his series just show him with that open hand--no explanation. The URL is: http://www.expertvillage.com/video....und.htm I've changed from using a fist to open hand myself, especially against a strong kicker. What do you think?

Welcome to KarateForums, Kruczek!

Happy New Year from the Garden State!

If dealing with a mugger, a drunk, even a rapist, Adonis, that attacker is likely stronger, but faithful training in martial arts techniques does give a person the greater likelihood of escaping from the situation. Your early impression wasn't exactly off the mark, at least in my book. And "easy" is a misconception that practically everyone who starts a martial art leans towards; I know I did. But though we can react from startled to afraid when meeting up with an actual attacker, at least we have something to go by. Realization is a sobering experience. It wasn't that your technique was "wrong," it was the unsettling discovery that it wasn't "easy," but you didn't give up; instead, you worked harder. Here, Adonis, are you speaking of the criminal, or against a fellow martial artist, such as in a full-contact bout? There are different goals in mind when dealing with these opponents. When we think about what Kruczek said: I personally think of the criminal element. Although what Tallgeese noted: Is a completely different set of circumstances.

Reviewed w/ the boys: Ki Cho Hyung Sam Bu Pyung Ahn Cho Dan

He's 8. I know from reading the forums that there is some disagreement over kids this young earning a black belt, but I am amazed at how he has grown in maturity, work ethic, and confidence over the last 4 years. We're not discussing that one anymore, SkullSplitter. We're starting a new topic, about how old/young to be a Grandmaster. You son's profited from starting karate to deal with muscle issues, according to your OP, and look how far he's come. It's great!

Hi guys & gals...I don't think we really answered the question here...or at least one of the questions. . . . One-hit kills DO exist...a basic one is the temple or the middle of the forehead or the base of the skull...however, as someone so avidly recognized, you must be willing to suffer the consequences of utilizing such a technique - both in your own mind and any legal implications of applying deadly force if such force isn't deemed a necessity for self-defense situations. (emphasis added) Since you returned to the OP, Bushido-Ruach, I think it's important that we re-examine the words I put into bold in both the OP and your posting. That OP bold can be seen as "who wants to hurt/kill and be jailed for it" or "who wants to hurt/kill" and "who in his right mind wants to go to jail." I think it's the latter, that there are two questions here, and, looking back at your posting, I think you've treated it as two, referring to "in your own mind" separate from "legal implications." You've also got that very important caveat, "if such force isn't deemed a necessity." Personally, I expand "kill" to "harm" and "maim." They can also weigh on the mind and/or have legal implications. Let's limit the setting to one attacker, not multiple, to simplify. It isn't open season if someone accosts me. I have to size up the situation and determine the appropriate course of action. I may have to strike first, as his very accosting me can be considered an assault; it might be that he put a hand on me. Examining just what I've been exposed to as an orange belt, I can see that much of it is overkill. I suggest that if my opening counter to the hand on me (a joint lock that's supposed to break the wrist) doesn't do more than surprise and remove his hand from me, then I move into the next move(s) (e.g., the kick, then, if need be, the elbow strike I can perform according to the technique I used). If I break his wrist and he falls to the sidewalk in pain, I feel I'm obligated to stop right there. (I didn't say not to remain vigilant; I can remain so while I pull out my cell phone and call in the cavalry.) If he gets up and runs, I remember that I'm not a police officer, so I don't chase after him; instead, I report it. I'm aware that I said, "I feel I'm obligated to stop right there," which is something that I'm commenting on regarding my own peace of mind, not legal ramifications. If my attacker is a larger man, reacting as I've described above, I say it holds true for me, for my mind. If he's larger (and I'm in middle age, so it's likely he's younger), I could likely legally "get away with" the additional kick and elbow strike, causing a lot of harm, but ought I? If I break his joint and he's still fighting, then that's another story; I'm fighting for my life and will have to continue with the technique. When the police show up, they do not know what the situation was. It will be examined, and if I decided to maim or kill, the situation had better warrant it from both a moral and legal point of view.

I'm with Ed. With the holidays time from Thanksgiving to New Year's drawing to a close, I want to bring more regularity back into my training during 2009.

Reviewed w/ the boys: Ki Cho Hyungs Il and E Bu Sparring exercises 1 & 2 ______________ Leg stretches Front Swing Kicks Kicking exercises lying on floor: - roundhouse and side kicks (done slowly) Ki Cho Hyungs (Il, E, Sam Bu) Pyung Ahn Cho Dan Chil Sung E Ro Hyung

Really cool, from the physics involved to the high-speed photography.

I understand, Michi. Sorry, didn't mean to put you on the spot. Scanning the thread so far, this looks like a subject that may have as many perspectives as there are people participating.

Would you say that forms lend themselves the best to "meditation through movement"? You mentioned sparring in your posting, but I think someone who practices sitting or standing meditation could transition to movement more smoothly through something more focused.

The first Home Alone movie was just supposed to be a holiday-time one, and no one expected it to be such a hit that it would go on for months. Home Alone 2: Lost In New York was a great Christmastime sequel.

You could put up poll questions, Michi. It's best if this poll has several to choose from, as this isn't really a Yes-No question. You're knowledgeable in the subject area, so you're a logical choice to think of what those questions would be.