wanderingbudoka

Gichin Funakoshi Bruce Lee Gozo Shioda Jigoro Kano Aldo Nadi Wally Jay Mas Oyama William Fairbairn Col. Rex Applegate

I have Teri Tom's book, The Straight Lead. I liked it quite a bit. There are parts of the book that sound like regurgitated Tao or Jeet Kun Do vol.3, but I guess that couldn't be helped. All in all in was a good book full of valuble information.

My dad taught me reatty young on the basics of most MA, punching, kicking, moving, open hand techniques, some throws, and gave me a good idea what sticky hands was before i knew anything about MA. He never really had a whole lot of formal training later in life, but he was pretty into kung fu as an adolescent. Good times.

Since you're reading Total Aikido now, I reccomend you read Aikido - The Complete Basic Techniques next or maybe get ahold of it before you're done with total Aikido. I've never taken an Aikido class before, but I feel if you have a good understanding of how your body moves and applying leverage and such then you can get a lot of out both books. The Complete Basic Techniques is a good companion to Total Aikido because there are some different explanations and pictures to get a little different point of view. I've been a big fan of Gozo Shioda since I read Dynamic Aikido some years ago. His "harder" approach to Aikido than many others, really make you feel that Aikido really is a viable method of self defense as well as a stunning martial art.

Luckily, I get an hour to work out 3 times a week in the basement of my station after lunch. I really only run or lift weights though. I wish I had a place more to myself to practice kihon and such. I don't like to advertise especially since I'm so much out of practice. Only one way to get better though. Best be gettin' over my insecurities.

As a military officer, don't you consider some of what you do Martial Arts oriented? It may not be all hand-to-hand, but it is something.As an Electronics Technician in the Coast Guard I don't very much consider 99.9% of what I do MA oriented. I can't even get approval from my command to qualify for my pistol or rifle ribbon since it isn't really pertinent to my position. Why let the physical dojo be the only dojo you go to? Everywhere should be your dojo.Great point, that's kinda why I registered here. I needed to surround myself with more like minded people again to get me out of my "lonely budoka" funk so I can start looking at things outside of the box again.

I haven't set foot in a dojo since early 2006! I find it it a bit ironic that joining the military has been my biggest stumbling block in furthering my martial education.

I used to feel the "poundage" when I was first starting out, but as I got older and smart I adjusted.