KickChick

Bill "Superfoot" Wallace wrote an article once in I believe BlackBelt mag about how to go about choosing a martial art. In it he explained that no one wakes up and decides what type of martial art to get into. You learn about those different systems only when you join a school and start reading books and magazines. He explains this is unfortunate because too many people end up studying an art that is not particularly well-suited to their body type and personal goals. Although they often find out whether they are gifted in the art they've selected or they should have picked a different style during their first three months of training. He suggests saving yourself some wasted time by reviewing the following guidelines for selecting a martial art. "Because judo concentrates on throwing techniques, it is a good choice if you have a short, squatty physique. You won't be punching or kicking, so you'll have to rely on maneuvering close to your opponent, getting under his center of gravity and tossing him into the air and onto the mat. Judo is also a good choice if you are tall and lanky and don't want to wrestle or get down on the ground because you've got too many limbs in the way. However, even if you are highly skilled, you will have trouble keeping a shorter opponent away from you. If you are small, you may want to study jujutsu, but you must not have an aversion to going to the ground, rolling around on your back and getting covered with sweat-both yours and your opponent's. While you struggle to get your opponent into position for an armbar or choke, you will probably have to crawl between his legs and under his arms and contort your body in all sorts of directions. Having sustained a back or neck injury could preclude you from doing that. Taekwondo is best-suited for you if you're tall, slender and flexible. Those qualities will enable you to execute fast high kicks all day long. However, if you're heavily muscled or significantly overweight, you may find that your legs get awfully heavy after a while and that your kicks become slower and slower. You may also have to contend with poor endurance and flexibility. (Note: Not all TaeKwonDo schools are "sport" and geared towards just competitions. Find a more traditional TKD school in your area .... ITF schools) If you have a strong, stocky build, consider practicing shotokan or shorin-ryu karate. Those arts will allow you to showcase your strong hand technique and stances, and you can become very successful in competition and self-defense once you master them. Wrestling is a good choice if you are compactly built, strong for your size and have a good sense of balance and movement. " Availability is key and location .... Good Luck!

There is an ancient art of club swinging develiped centuries ago by Indian warriors that enhances shoulder girdle speed, flexibility, and mobility. I found this article pretty interesting and was wondering if anyone else here ever heard of this "art"... Club swinging was rediscovered several years ago at Northern Illinois University near Chicago. Last year it was introduced into the Cho Kwang Do martial arts system based in Atlanta and the U.S. Army off-duty education fitness leadership program at Fort Benning, Georgia. CLUB SWINGING An Ancient Restorative Art for the Modern Martial Artist ... http://indianclubs.com/cstkdtarticle.html

For previous threads on plyometrics (what they are and some drills) Go to: http://www.karateforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=3014&forum=19 http://www.karateforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=1744&forum=19 Now as for your question on a high protein diet....if you engage in regular intense strength building exercice your protein intake should be 0.7-0.8 grams per lb. of bodyweight. A high protein diet would be 1 gram (or more)for each lb. of your body weight. Remember, although muscle is made of protein, consuming excess amounts won't cause muscle hypertrophy (that is growth). _________________ KarateForums Sensei 1st dan Tae Kwon Do (ITF) Cardio/Fitness Kickboxing Instr. [ This Message was edited by: KickChick on 2002-06-26 22:02 ]

Since my training went off and on throughout the 10 years I've been in TKD .... it took me a year and a half to earn my green belt (3rd belt in ITF TKD 1st adv. belt) .... and then I took a leave of absence to have a child, came back as a green and continued for 4 years to get my black. So approx. 5 years. Our belt system has degrees to somewhat slow you down. From blue to 2nd deg. blue....brown to 2nd deg. brown and then Black. (for children an extra degree for each for a 3rd deg.) _________________ KarateForums Sensei 1st dan Tae Kwon Do (ITF) Cardio/Fitness Kickboxing Instr. [ This Message was edited by: KickChick on 2002-06-26 21:45 ]

ok ... So we had a thread on washing of the belt ... I ran across something that in TKD I never heard of but it is a tradition in Karate. Does anyone else "fold their gi" a certain way? Your uniform must be properly cared for. Washing after training is essential for sanitation purposes as well as to show respect to you, fellow practitioners and the gi itself unlike the belt which per Karate tradition should never be washed because you do not wish to wash away the knowledge and hard work that you have put into your training. Also there is a certain way to fold the gi and pants (zuban) and then one must tie the belt around the gi for security and preservation of your hard work. Now I never heard of this but does anyone here have to follow this particular tradition at their school? Also I read too that a true artist never throws his/her uniform in a bag without showing the proper respect for it. (i.e. following the correct folding procedures which were demonstrated on this web site) Another thing ... it is said that a martial artist never wears their uniform out in public. This shows poor training protocol as well as ego. Your gi in the arts is for you alone to appreciate, not for the public to give value or critique. I thought this was purely stated for highly traditional schooling in the arts and was wondering if anyone here is that traditional? After washing after every class ("hmmm, what detergent to use to get it oh so white") ... and to starch or not to starch .... that is usually how I care for my gi .... _________________ KarateForums Sensei 1st dan Tae Kwon Do (ITF) Cardio/Fitness Kickboxing Instr. [ This Message was edited by: KickChick on 2002-06-26 17:20 ]

I just ran across this one today with reference to the "washing of the belt". The "obi" (in Karate) is never washed. This is because you do not wish to wash away the knowledge and hard work that you have put into your training. The obi is the symbol of that effort and it is thought that if you wash the obi, you wash away the information contained within.

Well "bouncing" up and down is not the proper terminology... Sine Wave Motion: Movement in TKD is characterized by an up and down motion of the body. This up and down movement is referred to as "sine wave motion". You ask how does the up and down motion generate power? The force delivered through blocks and strikes is increased by dropping the body into the block or strike immediately prior to and at the moment of impact. This effective use of body weight provides an increase in velocity resulting in increased power delivered to the target through the blocking or striking tool. Sine wave motion also enhances the flow and beauty of movement so characteristic of TKD tuls or forms. Bouncing for bouncing sake .... making your tul/form look "dancy" is not the objective ....

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Martial artists should weight train by doing low volume, high intensity lifting to develop the fast twitch muscle fibers that they need for quick, powerful kicks and punches. (1-5 reps at 85-100% of 1RM). Rest between sets for 3 to 5 minutes. A lower rep range will require more sets than a higher rep range. Five to 12 sets are recommended, depending on the number of reps you choose. Slow speed training with high intensity eliminates momentum and increases the tension imposed on your muscles, which in turn increases the development of strength. This type of low weight training brings about an increase in maximum strength with minimum muscle mass.

Are you familiar with the types of tuls/forms/patterns of Tae Kwon Do. I assume you are not by using the adjectives you did in describing the "movements" of those particular forms. I found the forms crisp and fluid ... and very well done by the masters on that site. The primary difference between ITF and WTF (from lookingn to the two) is that ITF uses a `stepping' movement for all hand techniques. This `stepping motion' that the ITF utilizes is referred to by ITF practioners as "knee spring" or "up/down Motion". It causes the body to move in a "sine wave" resulting in the whole body being involved at the moment of impact, blocking or attacking. This techniques us not just used for hand techniques. It is used in ITF kicking techniques as well. Forms may be performed using four different ways: traditional, quick, power, and concentration. Each has its own purpose. Traditional... It is the normal way patterns will be performed during a promotion testing or in competition. This method integrates the other three methods into a smooth, rhythmic presentation where each step flows gracefully into the next in an orderly fashion. I believe this is what you call "confusing" Hobbitbob. Quick. To perform the form using the quick method, complete it as fast as you can while still maintaining proper form and power. Each step is done in a quick, snappy fashion. Power. To perform the form using the power method, performing techniques using max power while maintaining proper form. Each step should still be performed smoothly and orderly. Concentration. To perform the form using the concentration method, perform each movement and technique slowly and deliberately with maximum concentration, while maintaining proper form. Each movement should be performed smoothly but the body is kept under maximum tension. Each movement is performed as if your body was refusing to do the movement and you must fight against it to complete the movement. This method is mentally and physically exhausting. Sting once said about music. "Great music's as much about the space between the notes as it is about the notes themselves." In TKD a great form is as much about the space between the movements as it is about the movements themselves. _________________ KarateForums Sensei 1st dan Tae Kwon Do (ITF) Cardio/Fitness Kickboxing Instr. [ This Message was edited by: KickChick on 2002-06-25 10:27 ]

Well .... if you are going to do a "complete" glossary of terms having to do with techniques, patterns, etc.(Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Okinawan, .....) you will definitely need to split up into different styles i.e. Korean, Japanese, etc..... To be more generalized yet informative would be more useful. Not every stance, block or kick needs to be used. Let's incorporate the "common" terms that many of us from different styles may not know. Like say: Ukemi: "Breakfalling." The art of using shock-dispersing action such as rolls and breakfalls to avoid injury when falling. Uechi ryu: An Okinawan style of karate founded by Kanbum Uechi. It is characterized by linear patterns and forceful breathing. Not techniques but common terms.

So glad you are still hanging in there ... (were your ears ringing .... we were talking 'bout you in thread AT AGE 36 ....) Like I posted there, work on the hip flexors (on all 4's bent leg raises to the side increasing height up to shoulder height will increase the strength in that particular area) More so at our age is the need to work both the quads and hamstrings simultaneously so as to increase strength in both areas so muscle pulls don't occur (as frequently) ... Did you get a jar of Tiger Balm to keep on hand for muscle soreness? I advise all our new students over 30 to get a jar .... you will need it !! Great to hear from you!

well, although Rodan started this thread (and he may very well have dropped out of his classes and KF --- hope not!) but keeping this thread going benefits those of us who are 30-something and over anyway!

I like seeing all this encouragement!!! I too need it now and then! I can barely get out of bed the next day after a grueling class! (like tonight's) Talk about hip pain ... have 3 kids and then let's talk about hip pain! Just work on those stretches ... increase the strength in the hip flexors, quads and hamstrings .... you'll see a difference in no time! A little work on endurance helps too! (keep that huffing and puffing down to a minimum_ Run, jump rope, cardio kickbox!!!

There is a small tag with Korean symbols on ours ... and then it simply says DO NOT HOT WASH (for colored belts that would be obvious as to why you shouldn't!) In another thread someone pointed out that I was adamant about not washing the belt. I really wasn't .... but you should clean stains individually if you can, if not, then cold water washing will do it. My belt (which the school specially orders) is embroidered with my name in Korean on one side and my "English" name on the other.... I don't wash for fear that it will unravel or turn grey. I have some major laundry issues around my house! (One way to get your teens to do their laundry!) If you want something shrunk down to size .... I can do it for ya no problem! You needn't wash a belt to relax it. To relax a new belt so it will hang freely, continuously crush it into a ball with the hands and store it this shape. A belt may be stretched by hanging it over the top of a door and pulling down on the ends of the belt. _________________ KarateForums Sensei 1st dan Tae Kwon Do (ITF) Cardio/Fitness Kickboxing Instr. [ This Message was edited by: KickChick on 2002-06-24 16:06 ]

I saw him too with the Black Crowes and The Who 2 years ago!

Funny .... when I saw this "ancient" thread resurected again .... this incident that happened just the other day came to mind. I was dropping my son off at his baseball game just before my TKD class (I had my dobok and black belt on) and sat for a while on the bleechers. One of the dad's says to me "Whoa look out!" ... are you black belt?" ...uh, no "I" am not, but I wear one! I am not a belt, I am a human being!!! As a woman I find men can be truly irritating towards me when they see my black belt or hear that I am one (I don't bring it up). "Oooh I better watch it around you" .... blah blah blah ..... It's downright condescending at times. _________________ KarateForums Sensei 1st dan Tae Kwon Do (ITF) Cardio/Fitness Kickboxing Instr. [ This Message was edited by: KickChick on 2002-06-24 15:48 ]

Yes I agree Martial_Artist ... I mentioned that very same thing in my post earlier on first page. I do believe training should be done on all terrains (outside on concrete, grass, sand) and styles of footwear or clothes (or not! ) Wow .... enrollment would sure climb wouldn't it? _________________ KarateForums Sensei 1st dan Tae Kwon Do (ITF) Cardio/Fitness Kickboxing Instr. [ This Message was edited by: KickChick on 2002-06-24 14:05 ]

Is that how you spell "encyclopedia" over there is UK I never knew that! ... Looks good! _________________ KarateForums Sensei 1st dan Tae Kwon Do (ITF) Cardio/Fitness Kickboxing Instr. [ This Message was edited by: KickChick on 2002-06-24 13:58 ]

Hey I was at The Who's last concert too .... the one at Shea Stadium in NY (that was the first last concert of theirs! threesixty --- back in college when I worked for radio station, SwanSong (Led Zep's record label) sent us some tix to a concert they were going to do in NYC. However, Bonham died weeks before that concert and I never did get to see them! ...anyway, I would love to see Robert Plant I just ordered 2 tix for Rolling Stones just now online for October here in Hartford ... not the $300 tix though! (may be getting a nose bleed in the section we are sitting but I should be able to hear them ok!) This friday is RUSH!!!!

Check out this link: http://www.lambtonhealth.on.ca/youth/teamweight.asp

May I suggest grouping your "glossary" into a Martial Arts Dictionary and have it done alphabetically. On this page have 'letters' A-Z hyperlinked to corresponding page beginning with that letter and group the whole lot together! Such as "A" : Abaniko: This Arnis striking technique uses a stick in a movement which resembles a fan motion. Acupressure: In this process, the channels through which chi, or life energy, flows are opened by putting pressure on or by massaging certain areas of the body. Acupuncture: This process opens the channels in the body through which chi, or life energy, flow by stimulating the points with a needle. Age uke: A Rising block which is also known as a high block or upper block. Upward Counter. Ai: Translates as "harmony," It is the idea of two opposites resting in harmony. Yin-Yang. Aiki: "Harmony meeting." When one combines an opponents' energy with their own for control. Aikido: A martial art developed by Uyeshiba Morihei in the 1930's. Based on aikijutsu, aikido is considered a non-aggressive art, using the opponents' energy against them. Patrick you know I love organization! (re: topics in forum) Let me know how I can help here with this also!

Welcome to KarateForums djcerk!

For ITF (traditional) forms ... a site with video/mpg's of all the forms ... very nicely done I might add! http://www.taekwondo.to/Patterns.htm

http://downloads-zdnet.com.com/3120-20-0.html?qt=Java