jason ainley

Kettle bells are a good method of conditioning , functional exercises that increase strength and flexibility while increasing stamina.

Hi I always used a protien shake and a spoon of glucose powder straight after training mixed with water as milk can slow down the absorption into the body. The protein shake straight after training will help with the recovery process . I worked with a advanced nutritionist some years ago and the only other thing he recommended to speed up weight loss was green tea capsules taken just before training. I did try creatine some years ago and did feel strong on it , but beware it can increase bodyweight which is no good for a competitor keeping in a weight division. Hope this helps a bit.

I prefer the front leg in combat sport. Like a boxer uses the jab to find range an break his opponent down i use the front leg to do the same. From a side on stance both lead leg side/ turning kicks can be used as range finders and combined with punches make way for the techniques off the rear leg. Jason

I crosstrained boxing when i was a 2nd degree in Taekwondo. Definately helped increase my footwork , hand speed and punching power. Now as a 4th degree black belt i still use boxing techniques and training methods in my own training. Jason

Before giving up try looking at the elastic steel by paul ziack { i think thats his name } or stretching scientifically by tom Kurtz. Both these programmes show good dynamic and static flexibility training together with balance an strength training.

Check out Ian abernethys work . Ian has written books and produced many dvds on this subject, Karates grappling methods and bunkai jitsu are two of them.

The purpose of the pulling hand in traditional martial arts is often misunderstood. The pulling hand [ reaction hand in TKD } enables you to control your opponent at close range. { grappling} EG pre emptive strike has failed or you are reacting to an attack and the situation has collasped in to a grapple. The reaction arm holds your opponent close in enabling you to deliver close range strikes , or extends a limb so locking techniques can be applied or enables a release from a grab. When using hip rotation and pulling the hand to the chin or the hip to develop power is questionable check out this link.

Shadow sparring allows you to train unpressured and allows you concentrate on developing techniques and putting combos together as well as other things. I wrote an article for totally TKD issue 21 page 41 about benefits of shadow sparring very basic but it may help you. Jason

Depends on the Instructor really and how they approach self defence. As said in the previous post SD courses teach basics but the attendes are not really pressure tested so many students are given a false sense of security where training in the traditional arts 2 -3 times a week under an Instructor who bases his teaching around self defence would be more beneficial. Traditional martial arts training contain all the basic requirements for self protection, basic striking and grappling techniques that target vulnerable areas of a attackers anatomy ,the study of ITF TKD Hosinsul and Karate bunkai show an abundance of practical self defence techniques that can applied at all ranges and are all taught in the early stage of a syllabus. Regular training will also enable an individual to develop their strength and find the methods that would suit them and realise thier own limitations.

Hi im with most here Best way to go is basic compound exercises to strengthen the body as a unit. I wrote an article for totally tkd the free online magazine last year issue 11 called strength training for tkd but it is basic and can be used for anything really. Hope this helps a little. Jason

Personally i would keep the arms positioned at midsection keeping your elbows on your ribs ,from this position you can either raise an arm up to protect the head from a kick or pull one across the body to absorb a mid section kick. Keeping the arms high can obscure vision and leave the body far to exposed. Avoiding punches is best done by moving the head because of the mobility and speed of the hands blocking really dosnt work , kicks can be blocked/ obsorbed leaving the opponent on one leg and vulnerable to a counter attack especially if they are predicable in their approach eg using the same technique/ combination all the time. Boxing training can help with head movement but the key to avoid in getting hit is good footwork if your feet move then your head moves. Jason

Hi Yes the technique does rely on strength using the powerful muscles of the glutes and quads as well as the arm strength, Yes its on the same principle as the upward palm to knee and the downward palm to the shoulder, though when i teach the application i take all parts of the movment into consideration thats why i include a initial strike to the throat with the outer forearm or a palm to the face before executing the downward pressing motion of the technique. What i will do is i will post some photos later in the week to show the application step by step. I dont have any other applications for this if i find any i will post them, Jason

with the rising kick balance is not really effected as much as other kicks, as the kick would not have to travel far to reach the intended target just rises up between the opponents legs to the groin. Also a natural kick to throw if being forced backwards towards the ground by a stronger attacker, But the kick like the upward knee kick would only be effective if applied within grappling range. Kicking in self defence { in my view } is better as a finishing technique { exit technique} as kicking distance is easily cut down by the opponent moving forward, plus we lose our balance when we stand on one leg, not good if we have a large aggressive opponent moving towards us . Jason

Front rising kick { apcha oligi } generally used as a stretching exercise to warm up the hamstrings, but is also a very effective kick for self defense when used within grappling range targeting the groin with the shin bone. A basic technique that does not need a high level of skill to execute.

I know im responding to an old post, but my prefered application for the palm pressing blocks is a defence from a side head lock. Eg. from headlocked position, turn face into attackers body to prevent punches into your face, reverse hand strikes up hitting with the outer forearm into opponents neck, or palm of hand into the face while the lead hand / forearm goes behind opponents knee { closest one to you}. Then with a push down with the reverse hand and a lift up with the lead arm { same motion as twin palm pressing block ] the movement when done with speed can result in a takedown technique. Any body have any other applications to this. Jason