joesteph

I'd thought it meant kicking changing to punching. Your guess sounds more "transitional" than mine, Mizu. And even kicking not with the feet but with the knees. Good point.

Past and present, it's been a problem for me to find the right size gi/dobak. By clicking on the links Fu Man provided, size charts come up. Sure enough, as my height is 5'6", size four is what I get (for 5'6" to 5'11"). But when it comes to the reference of Medium and Large for size four, frankly, all my shirts are large, and T-shirts & sweatshirts are XL. So should I get a size five? Then there's the bodyweight. I'm on the edge, usually 170 lbs, but I can't always stay there (e.g., my present weight is 180 lbs). (BTW, it's all muscle. ) These sizes really seem to go by height, and then you go to the tailor for sleeve and leg lengths. I've wondered if I shouldn't go for size five, and see if the tailor can make it look decent on me (that I'm not wearing a tent). What do others do who might also have a husky (I'm avoiding saying "stocky") build like me?

I've returned to martial arts through its beneficial effect on my autistic twin sons, age seven, deciding to give it a go myself, first to help them, and then to consider what help it gave me. It's also been a wake-up call that, since I don't do weights any longer, I need (now that I'm in my fifties) an edge in case I need to defend myself.

I don't really see this as an issue at all. Case-in-point; Wrestling is already a sport option in most school systems. Other Martial Arts can be taught in a similar premise without any concern. I agree with bushido_man96 on this one. Its not that much different than kids learning outside of school in any case. The same thing could still happen. As a side note, I have a friend from Hong Kong who was taught MA as part of sports classes from junior school upwards. The paragraph you quoted was my "this is what would be said by the community", my true feelings were expressed below. Truestar speaks the truth! His actual feelings were: Truestar, this is the danger of first playing Devil's Advocate, and then coming across with the "Right Stuff." I remember when I first read it, I was shocked--then relieved when right reason prevailed in the end!

Since those who've posted have done "defense against the blade" training, let me ask a question, simplified to overhand and underhand grips by the assailant. Do you believe that the larger the blade (think of a "commando" knife), the greater the chance it'll be an overhand attack, and that the smaller the blade (think of a switchblade), the greater the chance of an underhand one?

My sons, David and Patrick, started Soo Bahk Do in late 2007, and their enjoyment carried over into 2008. It was a good year for me just to see them earn stripes on their white belts, and eventually earn their orange belts. Special needs or not, they do their best and have so far earned two stripes on their orange belts. If anything, karate in 2008 has been a "sports year" for my seven-year-olds, and has aided in their growth and development. For me other than being a proud father, I began to take Soo Bahk Do in order to be more helpful to my sons when not in the dojang, and eventually I earned my orange belt and permission to be on the floor during the special needs classes of my sons and other children. Karate is a "father-sons" thing, and I'm happy to share this activity with my boys. But it's also become important to me as an individual; the dojang has become a place of friendship as well as activity. My mental and physical health has definitely improved, especially since I no longer do my old standard, weight-training. I've no regrets about investing in a WaveMaster, BOB, gloves, and even a bag paddle. I published an article "Age Is Just a Number" online at Tang Soo Do World, where there are a number of articles on different martial arts, about my entry into the martial arts, and I've been very fortunate to have found martial arts sites, especially KarateForums.com. The year isn't quite over, yet, but I'm looking back at a good one due to the martial arts.

It's Soo Bahk Do, and its web site is: http://www.soobahkdo.org At one time, Grandmaster Hwang Kee called it Tang Soo Do, but then in pressing for a more "Korean-rooted" origin, he renamed it Soo Bahk Do. Not all the organization went along, so it's no surprise to see both Tang Soo Do and Soo Bahk Do with similar hyungs, particularly the Pyung Ahn series, which the Soo Bahk Do organization refers to as being from "Mr. Idos," but other organizations say refers to "Master Itosu." Interestingly, Grandmaster Son has a Pyung Ahn series, based on his own interpretation of Itosu, although in his 1968 book, "Korean Karate," he doesn't refer to him.

Class tonight with my sons, David and Patrick. Since receiving more individual attention with the new schedule, have come along with new self-defense techniques, and can do Pyung Ahn Cho Dan with their instructor or with me. They received a second orange stripe on their orange belts.

When I think of tactics, John, I think of a battle plan, strategy, something along that line. It always depends on the situation, but let's say it's a problem that I had had several years ago with a drunk walking down my side street. I got out of my car, which had a burglar device that made a sound when armed, and I heard someone call to me from across the street. I didn't know him, asked if I could help him, and he started cursing at me about having to hear the sound my car made when armed. He was older that I was, but a fairly big guy. I told him I didn't want to know, walked over to my front steps with one eye on him, and started to climb the stairs. He came over to my steps, but I had stopped several up and turned around. While he cursed at me, I gave him the "Uh-huh. Yeah. Okay, get lost." response, and waited to see if he were going to climb up after me. If he did, then I was all set to give him a swift kick. He then went right by, still cursing at me. I'd never seen him before; I've never seen him since. (Poor little lost waif . . . ) I imagine the tactic was to separate from him, but as he followed me, a change in tactics was then to be in a position where I could defend myself (facing him, taking the "high ground"). The technique would have been a front kick, striking with my heel (to shove, which I still practice), and sending him flying backwards. Part of the tactic was also that, after knocking him down the stairs (technique), I'd call the police (another technique?) and point out that he attacked me on my property. I'm not sorry I didn't have a fight with him; it's better this way. But I didn't respond with fear, carried out a quickly-made plan, and had a response in place.

I usually angle in and then hook down. So, it starts as a spear and then turns into a hook or a claw. Tiger claw type attacks are more for hooking and gripping "meat". A bicept, a tricept or the neck. Something like that where your getting a handle on things. In chinese martial arts the dragon was used more to seize hook and control . . . So would the strike I've been practicing be more of a dragon's claw than what I'd thought, a Tiger's claw, Fujau?

From reading/research, I'd have to say Jack Dempsey. If it's who I saw on TV, etc., Muhammed Ali. If I have pick one, I'll go with Ali. Dempsey has "helped" me with his insights in "Championship Fighting." As for Ali, I remember him battling Frazier, and couldn't help but admire his unique skill. In the animation "Cars," Lighting McQueen claims to "float like a Cadillac and sting like a Beamer."

Ki Cho Hyungs (Il, E, Sam Bu) Pyung Ahn Cho Dan Chil Sung E Ro Hyung

Is this wall made of plaster, stone, beams covered with sheetrock, GhostFighter? I'm asking because I used to have a long (combined two of them) makiwara board into a beam in the wall, with sheetrock all around. It was for various hand and forearm strikes, and the sheetrock cracked like mad from the vibrations. I don't know that anyone will say to just go ahead; I injured a small bone in my palm heel, then learned how to hit w/o causing myself harm, but I didn't wear gloves. I saw a video on the "true" makiwara boards, and they all have some "give" to them, so the shock doesn't go into your bones. I believe striking such a thing is for hand-toughening techniques, but not for power and technique in that the object has to give to punch "through" the target. You're smart in wanting a padding; if not on the wall, then gloves on your hands. But if it's a non-give surface, will the gloves simply become damaged from repeated use and afford you less--and eventually no--protection? I'd advise against it, if only to protect your hands from being injured, damaged, and then you'll be unable to do martial arts for months.

Welcome to KarateForums!

In my hometown, Bayonne NJ, the way Tae Kwon Do is taught on school property is through the Community Education Program. Residents throughout the city receive a booklet of many courses offered, including TKD, and it's available for kids right after school, and also teens and adults at other times. The limitation is that it's non-contact, the same now as it was twenty years ago, and it's obviously a legal concern. But since people attend private non-contact schools, it's not an anomaly.

My instructor does this every so often with the younger ones, including someone lifting them and wearing head protection while they box his ears. She teaches them how to push (two hands) and yell No! Stop! (it's also against bullies), and gives scenarios such as a stranger who has a "lost puppy." I just received a book in the mail, "The Mind of a Child: Thoughts of a Predator, Prevention for a Parent" by Stephen McDonald and Po Chu McDonald. Looking at it briefly, I see photos of children practicing the push and distancing from a stranger; there's advice on yelling ("I don't know you!"), etc. This is mainly for under age thirteen, but I see nothing wrong with workshops on the high school level as well. It can be offered with parents signing a permission slip. I signed for my first grade boys to watch a film in school about dealing with strangers, and they'll need reinforcement on doing this year-after-year. Teenagers can find themselves in bad situations and need to get away--or know how to avoid being in that situation in the first place as much as possible. Self-defense covers a wide field.

Well, this shows his promotion to Shihan is one recognition of how sharp he is. He recognized the size of the tested group (100+) and the fact that everyone's talents couldn't be recognized as individually special as they would likely have been with a regular-sized one. He knows his students, that's for sure. You've got a gem, here, Ozpunker.

Soo Bahk Do For age twelve through to adult: 10th gup--white belt 9th gup--white belt w/ stripe 8th gup--orange belt 7th gup--orange belt w/ stripe 6th gup--green belt 5th gup--green belt w/ stripe 4th gup--green belt w/ two stripes 3rd gup--red belt 2nd gup--red belt w/ stripe 1st gup--red belt w/ two stripes Then dan member, using midnight blue instead of black for the belt color; at fourth dan, a red stripe encircling the belt from end-to-end is added in the middle of the midnight blue. Highest dan rank is ninth (Grandmaster). For children: White belt, then up to eight stripes earned individually on the white belt: two orange, two green, two red, two blue; then to orange belt, and continue with two of each color; then green belt, etc. Bonuses for children: Stickers (Awesome! Good job! etc.), cookies, and chocolates appear every so often between all these stripes.

Good luck on your BB test, Norbert!

Class with my sons tonight. Concentration on Pyung Ahn Cho Dan again, with the boys slowly improving in knife hand blocks, and grappling done as well. (With grappling, after they push back at me, the "stranger," and yell No! and Stop!, they work on the takedown, jump on me, and squash me as best they can. Beaten up by two seven-year-olds!) Invitation to observe a special JiuJitsu class on Saturday right at my dojang. During the week, some days (after karate) are for Judo, the others for JiuJitsu. The JJ classes on Saturdays lean more towards "street-fighting" techniques, so my instructor thought I'd be interested--and she's right.

In the US, which has laws based on British law, it's whether or not negligence played a role, meaning that if there's no negligence, there's no liability; but if the instructor, who is the person considered responsible for the goings-on in the dojo/dojang, has been negligent (which is where the sparring abilities difference comes in), then there are grounds for a lawsuit, no matter what was signed. This is why there are many non-contact dojos/dojangs in the US; the chance of injury goes way down, the chance of claiming negligence does as well, and lawsuits are avoided. In the dojang I studied at years ago, although it was Tae Kwon Do, no jump kicks (TKD w/o jump kicks!) were taught or permitted--for a legal reason. It affects the student in terms of MA knowledge, yes, but many people go to non-contact schools, and owners worry less about lawsuits.

I'm trying it out by starting in a right stance, looking over my left shoulder, doing a fast hop of the right leg to about where the left was, and shooting the left straight back. I've also tried it in the left stance. I can see it's for closer quarters when you want to back kick but there isn't the room for a regular one.

Good for you, Michi! You earned the distinction!

Brian, let's say I'm facing my opponent in a front stance, right leg forward. Do I turn to my left to turn around, then switch legs, and kick with the "farther" leg from my opponent in this position, which would be my right leg? If I picture it right, I'm sure I can do it. One more surprise in the arsenal.

This had an excellent video. I liked seeing the "true" makiwara being used, instead of what I'd bought and battered my hands and forearms against in the past. I'd bought two makiwara boards, cut the backboard of one so the two would join together against a beam in the wall, and did strong hand and forearm strikes against it. The sheetrock all around cracked like mad from the vibrations, and the repeated impact even injured a small bone in the palm heel, at the base of the thumb. There was simply no "give" to what I had, and they're still sold in the catalogs today as they were yesterday. I learned to strike palm heels with the base of the knife hand side of my hand, so I never injured that small bone again, and I still hit BOB in the sternum with that hybrid knife hand-palm heel strike, but I'd love to be able to use the makiwara shown in the video.