joesteph

I remember being shown this by a friend in the past, used for infighting, but he had no name for it other than the reference to Taiji's "Single Whip." This is what I was shown as what you referred to as "ox jaw," ShoriKid, but on the opposite side--fingers as weapons. The practice we did with it was to poke at one eye, which was practiced by aiming for pennies taped to the wall. When held a certain way, it looks like a bird's head, and a flexibility in the wrist can rapidly "peck" at the target--the eye. I have to learn this as a strike against the solar plexus, the hand held vertically, but I don't care for it. I'd rather use it at a 30-45 degrees angle against an eye or the jugular notch. I do remember using it some years ago for non-contact sparring as a vertical hand that passed between the hands guarding the face, but presently I found out that spear hands aren't permitted, the chance of poking someone in the eye being too high. You make a good point. Would "behind the collar bone" be called a Tiger's Claw, ShoriKid? I practice hooking my fingers into BOB's collar bone, one side, then the other, and pulling down hard.

Is yours a larger school, Rock Dan? Mid-sized? I wondered because of the availability of upper belts assisting on a regular basis with newcomers, and having enough newcomers to start a special class. BTW, from what I read in your posting, whoever's in charge has good business sense, especially dealing with today's economy.

Good and sore from yesterday! Pyung Ahn Cho Dan--Orange belt form that my boys have to learn. Spent time with them doing the moves, especially the hardest part, at the end, when they have to use knife hands after using only fists in the basic forms and most of this one. They're only seven, and I'm very happy with how they try.

Another response option was added to the poll, suggested by Wa-No-Michi: My art is traditional, and with correct practice engenders good form that can be applied in the modern world. We have a good variety of selections to vote on.

I brought this up because I did slap downs years ago, and when I took up MA again, I tested it out during sparring against a teenager. A quick kid, he was darting in, punching, and darting back--one of the few besides me to use punches in the dojang, I might add. I began slapping down his punches, but was admonished for it that it wasn't correct. It was shown to me that, especially since I use a high guard position like a boxer, I should be using my forearms (I'd say elbows, too, but his shots were all to my face). Because it's non-contact, none of his punches came close enough to my face for me to block that way unless I moved forward, chancing walking into a punch. It struck me, though, that if someone is doing this darting in-and-out, then he may be punching from a "safe" distance as he sees it, and that I could use the slap downs. It also struck me that if I could slap his punches down, then (but it's not permitted in non-contact) I could do what I used to do with a friend in the past--go for a sieze. (BTW, I learned siezing from my friend who did it to me first. ) In considering trapping, I only did smothering in the past regarding the arms, but when I've done open hand against kicks, I've surprised some sparring partners by hooking the kick--which isn't allowed, and I think I've done it on reflex. I think that if I could go to the next step, I could "trap" (I believe that's what it'd be) by looping my forearm under the leg and take it from there. What I like about the slap downs is that I think of them as the first step in what can come next.

It's possible that a number of (younger) people are unaware that Tyson was himself convicted of rape--of a seventeen-year-old girl.

I was wondering, Jim, if where you've said "MMA" in the first paragraph quoted could also have "RBSD" in there, instead, and still be what you're saying. Would they be interchangeable and still communicate your message?

When we do defense against the wrist grab techniques, it's often responding with a wrist joint lock. I've been concentrating on being quick with the "opening," but slower and therefore more controlled with carrying out the lock. It feels more realistic to be in the set-up position as fast as possible, and it's safer to take care with my "uke" to avoid unnecessary pain--or injury.

Before my last testing, while making out the necessary form, I was also able to see the testing form the examining judge uses. It's fairly comprehensive. There was nothing I was told to work on afterwards by my instructor that I didn't know already was weak and needed more emphasis. Yours is more of a gray area, Ozpunker, that, despite promotion, the results are unclear to you. If there's a question about the testing, it's really asking "Where do I need improvement?" and/or "Where am I strong? Where am I weak?" Presenting your concerns in a diplomatic way like this might give you answers without any semblance of inappropriateness.

Awards ceremonies like these are enjoyable in themselves, but you attended an exceptional one. Shihan/Master Instructor is an honor. Fifteenth anniversary of your style, Kaizen Ryu? I did a quick Internet search and found that it has kata and training from Goju and Shotokan. It sounds interesting. Congratulations to Renshi Peter. Will he now be addressed as Shihan Peter, Ozpunker?

Tallgeese, Prostar . . . Do you ever utilize "slapping down" your opponent's punches? I don't mean to the side, as when near your face, but slapping down to intercept the punch's motion, say about two-thirds of the way to you?

Somehow, when I first looked at the AWMA "Special Issue" catalog, I missed that "TOD" has been added to the equipment offerings. TOD stands for "Torso Opponent Dummy" and is made by ProForce. I already have a BOB, "Body Opponent Bag," from Century, but I wanted to compare them. I couldn't bring up TOD on the AWMA web site, not even searching with the catalog number. When I hit "New Items," it brought up other things in the catalog, but no TOD. Anyway, TOD's a special dude. He comes in only one "variety"; he looks a lot like the BOB XL, is $60 cheaper, but has a special extra $35 shipping charge added in--so I get a $25 difference. TOD can be raised to 5'8"; BOB and BOB XL can go up to 6'. I decided to give good old BOB a look-see at the Century site, and the "new" BOB, who's head to belt, has replaced the "old" BOB who had the same parameters. But this new BOB is $300, meaning that when they were promoting it and I bought it at $100 off, they weren't kidding; they're charging top dollar for this guy. BOB XL is still a $400 item, but that's the cost if you want the full torso to slam away at. Xmas is coming!

The democratic process in action! With speed goes impact, so the right gear allows the technique to be carried out much more aggressively against the "attacker." KarateEd wore something like a "red suit" for a women's self-defense workshop. Agreed.

Leg stretches Too long since I used the WaveMaster: WaveMaster: - variety of front kicks - crescent kicks (bag paddle) - side kicks, w/ and w/o step - roundhouses, w/ and w/o step - roundhouses, MT style - back kicks (donkey style and "quick step"*) *"Hop" or "quick step" experiment by taking the back leg, hop/quick step it forward, and still kick donkey style with the lead leg. Sometimes okay as donkey kick, but sometimes looked like a "reverse side kick" as the foot struck. Quick Step donkey kick style needs more coordination than reverse side kick style; both called "back kicks" according to Revolution of Kicking DVD. Will settle for "in between" if can do with speed and control. One-step sparring; self-defense techniques Ki Cho Hyungs (Il, E, Sam Bu) Pyung Ahn Cho Dan Chil Sung E Ro Hyung Have practiced hyungs so much lately that my form is better, but still have to watch not starting with one hyung and going into another!

IT'S UNDER INSTRUCTOR CENTRAL INSTEAD, DUE TO INSTRUCTOR/INSTRUCTION CONTENT Direct link: http://www.karateforums.com/should-instructors-teach-what-the-student-wants-to-learn-vt35266.html Please vote in the Poll

I've already asked the favor of adding what I accidentally left out, Michi, but the second response: My art is rather traditional but has made satisfactory updating changes. would likely cover what you're referring to, and in your posting you can explain your vote. A posting would be something to share your thoughts with us all.

Teenage years are tough ones, Truestar. On the one hand, you're looked upon as "young," and therefore someone older might not be on the same wavelength. On the other hand, you're looked upon as a "young adult," and more is expected of you, especially when you commit to a goal. Just re-reading the quote I took, I see you referring to college. I'm sure that all forums members respect that whatever belt level anyone is aiming for is important to that person, and that those who work hard deserve respect for their efforts. I believe there are times when every martial artist has asked him/herself "Why am I doing this?" and concluded that it's definitely not out of vanity. There's a fire burning inside . . . I see you reaching that next goal, 2nd dan.

Actually, Tallgeese, you can vote, as the fourth choice that didn't originally appear is now there: "My art is not traditional and is right up-to-date" I had made an error when posting with the poll; Patrick corrected it. Thank you, Patrick!

I see that you did! It now reads: "1st Dan Black Belt Traditional Shotokan Karate"

I think this is a good general rule, Prostar. An exception I can see is with someone like me, who's usually at a height and therefore reach disadvantage, in that I may have to move in with a block in order to infight. And it usually refers to kicks, with Tae Kwon Do in the past and Soo Bahk Do today, that my sparring partner forgets s/he has hands to punch with. I think the best block against a roundhouse is if you can block at the opponent's knee. I'm not as fast as in the past, but I can think of a few times sparring with a particular higher belt who relies perhaps too comfortably on his kicks, expecting no one to get past them. It's non-contact, so I can't strike him should I move in, but I have opened my hands right in front of him, as though I were going to push him over.

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

"Pain" is something whose degree we can interpret as acceptable or unacceptable. When I weight-trained, if I felt sore the next day, maybe sore all over, if I felt a dull ache, these were signs that I hadn't injured myself; a sharp pain, especially while doing the exercise, meant stop immediately. Pain can be a warning sign that injury can come, or that there is an injury. When it comes to joint locks, and it seems that often we use wrist ones, I can let the person go to a point that perhaps someone else would be too uncomfortable with. It just means that that's how my body is, just as someone else might have a tighter midsection and take a harder shot to the solar plexus than I can. I've even learned with whom I can "go further" in a wrist lock (and receive the same in kind), and with whom I have to be more careful. With one fellow adult, he feels it very soon. With another fellow adult, he's very concerned as soon as he feels something because he's been injured before (although not in our dojang). There was a teenager who left to join the Marine Corps; he was someone you could do the technique with and know that when he tapped, it was because he really felt it but was not injured. There's another teenager who's the same way, and if I can partner up with him, we can really work the joint locks without improper discomfort--or harm.

John, I started a new topic with exactly the question you raised, under General Chat.

A thread under JiuJitsu and Grappling Arts got off on a tangent, and a question was raised as to whether or not this should be a separate topic. If JohnC doesn't mind, I'd like to quote from his posting to answer it and not get the original thread out of whack. I'm glad you raised these questions, John. In my art, Soo Bahk Do, I've found that changes occurred from what was traditionally taught, not that what was taught was removed, but that the order in which it was taught was changed. I'm specifically referring to five hyungs from the Pinan series called Pyung Ahn. The change was made to start with, for a stripe (small promotion) on the orange belt, the first of the Pyung Ahn forms, and then to move to green belt, leave the Pyung Ahn series and perform Chil Sung E Ro Hyung--the second of the seven Chil Sung hyungs. Soo Bahk Do is usually referred to as a traditional martial art, but "the powers that be" examined the Pyung Ahn (and likely the Chil Sung) series, and determined that the concepts were far better understood by dan members. What I've found a problem with (my personal problem or do others have it, too?) is blocking a kick with that small wrist bone. The theory may be, despite its "stiffer" use in the hyungs, that you'll be redirecting while you're moving, but I'm still concerned that I'm going to break my wrist bone against a strong kick. I learned the Isshinryu block two decades ago, and from Taiji the use of the open hand, which I prefer; when I also took TKD during that time period (too many snippets of MA in my past), I was introduced to that small wrist bone block and didn't like it. One of my instructors warned me that I'd break my fingers; I never did. When we spar in Soo Bahk Do, I've been admonished for open hands, but I've used them whenever I can. And raising a leg to block a kick is not in my art, but I've used it anyway; I learned that one twenty years ago, from my Isshinryu tutor, before everyone called it a Muay Thai block. I'm very glad that my instructor has modifications (hopping!) for jumping front and crescent kicks, accepted for Soo Bahk Do testing, although she started me (and another adult) working on jumping side kicks. The younger students love to do the jump kicks, and the 180s are fun for them, but that's something I see my art adjusting to regarding ability and even knee injuries. What do others think about the question: Should instructors teach what the student wants to learn or what the instructor wants to teach? Poll above

I don't know that I'd call it my favorite kata, but there's a hyung that I found out from my instructor, who's aces when it comes to forms competition, that's the tiebreaker in my art, Soo Bahk Do, if the judges get stuck. Of all hyungs, instead of it being an advanced one, it's actually a basic. The name is Ki Cho Hyung Sam Bu, meaning Basic Form Three. As a lower belt, I have to review it regularly. It consists of only twenty-two moves, was developed in 1947 by Grandmaster Hwang Kee, and incorporates parts of the basic forms before it, as well as some moves of its own. I wonder . . . Is it that this form is so very special because of its component parts, or is it that it's a way for the judges to test dan members that they haven't strayed too far from their roots?