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The boxing thing might have a little bland. But the idea was merely to express a point. We will never know how or why the idea's came to be. As you say, perhaps it was different bits of movements and actions from many different people and one man was smart enough to put it all together. I don't know. Maybe I'm trying to look at it from a different standpoint. I understand the necessity to defend and attack, that much is a given. But the idea of looking at say, the Crane or Dragon forms and think, " You know, maybe if I stand like this and move this way to strike at this point to hurt my opponent or stand here and move this way etc." To I'd like to know. Maybe I'm trying to look to far in to something I'll never know. But any way thanks for your input.

I have been weightlifting for the better part 25 years. Standing 5'4" at a weight of 160, I pack a pretty good punch. Being the age of 40, I hold my own pretty well against the the younger generation in my class. I do have many aches and pains to deal with from years of heavy lifting, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Overall, I feel good and move very well for my age.

Lately I kind of started pondering this question. When we look back on history, boxing was the sport from our ancestors. For years, that's all anyone knew before MAs was introduced. It is mind boggling to me how MAs came about. The different art forms. The different movements, strikes, defenses. The styles and how they all came to pass. How it was even thought up. Why? I know it was a means to an end in harsh times, but it truly amazes me. I'd love to have lived back in that time and watched the development and how it came to be. Just to maybe understand the thought process behind just one style such as Kung Fu or any other style. Boxing was just, lets stand face to face and beat the snot out of each other. Where as, MAs was all different angles and circles and redirecting attacks and so many other aspects, not to mention pressure points and weaponry and so on and so on. WOW? The history is in books. I want to know the thoughts behind the development and how it came to be.

Made 40 this year. Started training about 2 years ago in Tang Soo Do. I was always athletic from weightlifting and bodybuilding. Since my worn body no longer allows me to lift like I used to, martial arts has given me a new focus I had once lost sight of. But aches and pains abound.

Have gotten better with spinning heel kick. What you describe '96 sounds like just what I need to help me bring my side kick higher. I can kick about mid chest with not much problem. Any higher and it gets harder to kick and sloppy. Thanks for the help.

I know the technique just isn't right for what I'm trying to accomplish. Any spinning kick is difficult at best for me to master. But for not being on to long, I think I'm doing pretty well. Thank you for your in put. I will try to put it to use. Thanks

Anybody out there have trouble with spinning heel kicks? I usually end up either with the strike to one side or I strike with the side of my foot instead of the heel. I KNOW, practice makes perfect, but any suggestions as to execution might be useful. Jump spinning heel kicks are quite annoying to. the rotation, I have. But the kick usually throws me off or strike with the side of the foot.

Leg presses will increase the raw power needed for jumping by developing the slow twitch muscle fibers. The box jumping will develop the fast twitch fibers for explosiveness. You need both in order to get a better jump.

We spar at second stripe purple on up. Sparring is light contact with pads. No leg shots and very light contact to the head. Blackbelt spars with three. All other belts spar with one. Only 2-3 minutes total with intervals.

I would do the training in hopes that I would never have to use it. I would imagine that most of us here, and those that don't post here, have about the same imagination. You might have heard of a confrontational situation from a friend that went to a local bar or overhear how someone got mugged. Then think or fantasize how you might have dealt with the situation. Very few of us will ever be in that situation. My own instructor has only used his skills twice in the time he has been practicing.(He is a seventh degree BB in TSD) For me, it is only that I am prepared physically and hopefully mentally for what ever situation might arise. And in the instance it does, have the self-control necessary to do just enough to dis-arm, dis-able, and get away from danger, and not go berserk and rip his throat out. You have to possess a certain value for human life, even though your attacker may not care whether you live or die. I would expect that most of us here would have a serious problem sleeping at night if we would happen to gouge an eye of an attacker, even though it might have been warranted. Knowing that this person just lost an eye from my hand would be kind of a nasty thought to run through my mind.

So far the worst is the foot injury from a roundhouse break. I hit the board really hard--hit the wrong spot. Board didn't break on first two hits 'cause my aim was off. Still dealing with the pain. Also hyper-extended my knee when I first stared from kicking a bag. I didn't execute the move right, bag folded and caught foot, and I fell. Foot stayed up long enough to do the job. That's the worst of it so far. Sounds like some of you have had a lot worse.

I kind of know what you mean. I started having the same issues with my feet before I started training. It got worse. After resting for a period of time, whether sleeping or a long trip, that first step is always the most painful. It always got better after walking a while. I ended up using arch support inserts in my shoes and stretching my feet really well. It seems to be getting better. I also wear a neoprene foot brace in class to help support the arch of the foot that has the worst problem. That also seems to help me. Just remeber that it will take longer for that area to heal because the tissue is more dense.

Yeah, I think I'm there. I know I do quite a few of these plus a few extras. I'll move a chair out of the way with a kick, or do a wrist lock on one of my kids when their picking on me. I even spar with them when I think they need a good lesson in "Don't ever mess with DAD". Please know that I'm not out to hurt my kids and they did take karate for a while with me. Can't say I've ever gone to bed with a weapon but I have had trouble sleeping when I've just watched a good butt kickin' Jet Li movie or some other martial arts flick.

Getting sore is related to over-exertion. However you try to explain it. Your body wants to work to a nice comfy state. If you vary the intesity in a workout or change your workout in any way, your going to get sore. If you stay with the same workout day after day, your body gets used to it, no more soreness. But, for me, to improve, some soreness is necessary. One thing to remember though, there is a difference between soreness and pain. I've been a muscle-head for a long time, and I've had both.

You need to remember that Van Damme was a dancer and his moves in his movies are over pronounced for the show of it. It takes both strength and flexibility to be able to extend your leg straight out from a standing position without the snap of a kick to help it along. I have been an avid weightlfter for the better part of 20 years with pretty good flexibility (as it is necessary to have a full range of motion for good muscle structure) and still found it very hard to simply extend my leg straight out from a standing position.

My school does breaking, but not a lot of preparation goes in to it. The only one we kind of prep. for is breaking with a punch. For that, we do knuckle push-ups to strengthen the hand and wrist. Other than that you are just kind of expected to be able to do it. To me, both technique and power go hand in hand when it comes to breaking. And don't forget to concentrate on what your doing. Any half-hearted attempt will simply hurt more. I just got finished with a roundhouse break on my last belt test. I hit it twice, one low and one high. The third time was the charm. I hit it hard all three times (the first one was low and on an instructors fingers) but my aim was off. This is where technique and accuracy come in.To hit a big target is easy. To hit a smaller one with the same power takes skill. AND YES, MY FOOT STILL HURTS!

Work 7 and 7 on land. Days on, have gym workout in the morning then work on forms, blocks and attacks, and one-steps when I can. Run through newest forms multiple times. On days off, try to get workout at home. Have classes in the afternoons twice a week. Therefore I work mostly on strength one week and cardio the next at class.

I have done the whole bodybuilding /powerlifting thing for years. So I am pretty fit. Only recently started on the whole skill end of it. Although I have a very long way to go, I think I could hold my own if it came down to it. But there is one thought that always comes to mind, especially when you hear someone bragging what they can do----No matter how big and bad you think you are, there is always someone bigger and badder than you. Being unfit with a lot of skill, you can fight hard, but not for long. Being fit with little skill means you fight long but you may not do to well in the outcome. But as you guys have said, to be fit and skilled will give the advantage in just about any situation. My dad always told me, "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog".

Spar left or right. I am right handed so tend to be more comfortable on right. But I swap back and forth so as not to get used to one or the other.

One thing you might remember is that, in a confrontational situation, adrenaline is flowing on both sides. The attackers juices are flowing as he is going through a range of emotions. This can make him/her trigger happy and waiting for you to twitch an eyebrow to attack. On the other side, emotions such as fear and anxiety can trigger your adrenal glands to go in to over-drive. That in itself can cause a short-circuit and throw off your training. Then, try to hit a moving target (cause he ain't gonna stand still and let you beat on him) when your jugdement and targeting system are on the fritz. For me, avoid if possible. If not, do only what is necessary to disable my opponent, stop the attack, and get to safety. And in the confrontation, with emotions running wild, chances of that one hit doing the job are pretty low. Remember, the one trying to rob you is probably some punk wanting your wallet. He's not some trained martial artist your can spar with. This is a street fight. No holds barred, street fight. The rules for your dojo don't apply and all is fair.