MaxMarks

Thanks for the posts! If anyone else has something to add I'd love to hear it.

I have a woman's self defense seminar to teach at the end of the month. I have a curriculum I've been working with for a while now. I don't want to influence your comments so I'll keep the content to myself. However, I'd like to hear from you guys what you think is important to include. Maybe I'll refresh my curriculum a bit. Thanks!

First, I want to refer back to the origin of this thread. I never had the privilege of studding with Michael DePasquale Sr. I work with his son though. Everyone I've meet that knew Sr. has described him as nothing less than the most incredible martial artist they've met. Further, his son carries his legacy well. Based on the company he keeps alone, it would be an honor and privilege to train with Soke Cutrell. I'm confidant all his students are in good hands. On a side (and sad) note: I was scheduled for a seminar with Sr. he was coming to our dojo in NH. It was canceled due to his death. I missed meeting him by weeks. cjd4life, I've already meet and worked with most the guys you mention. Terry Dow from The Training Station in Manchester NH has a Martial Arts Symposium every year that most of those people come to. It's a great group. As for the combat system we have one of Micheal's top guys, Shawn Flanagan, at our dojo. Maybe you've met him. Great to meet you over this thread! Hope to work with you in person some day. Take care,

I took a look at the website and video. This looks to be a traditional system rooted in TKD. The art seems fine. I would want to jump on the mat with them to form more of an opinion on the art itself. With regards to your friend's son: I firmly believe the value in the arts for young people is in how it builds their character, life skills and fitness. It is great to have self-defense knowledge for sure but it's not something that carries us through every day of our lives like the character and confidence of the martial arts does. Which, as a martial artist and dad, is what I want for my kids. Based on the website's messaging, the blog and way Soke Cutrell handled himself in the post above, It certainly seems that ChunJiDo focuses on these positive qualities. Moreover, I'm a fan of people blending there knowledge into their own system. I think it well represents the brotherhood and sharing of the martial arts well. Not to mention, many of the greats have done it. If his son is looking to become the next MMA star this may not be the style for him. However, if the dad is comfortable that what is on the site is what is going on in the dojo and is looking primarily for a good character building activity for his son, then this seems like a fine choice to me. A couple of side notes here: ChunJiDo is quite different from what I study. My kenpo would be the closest. Also, Soke Cutrell, I noticed in some of your techniques the beginnings of some good stand up style Jujitsu. I found that a lot of the striking base traditional styes have these little Jujitsu nuggets in them. It may be interesting for you to look at some of the combat styles of Jujitsu for new finishes. That also may be something you already have in you Nippon Jujitsu and I'm just not seeing it in the videos.

You're not going to gain significant weight. You're BMR (base metabolic rate) is too high. You would have to do intensive weight training with heavy weights, which included a heavy weight barring leg exercise like squats with a barbell and increasing weight to have a shot at much weight gain at all. Work out the way it makes you feel good and make sure you include both cardio and resistance. If you feel better, you're making it through you big day at karate a little easier and you're not getting hurt, you're doing the right thing. Switch up your exercises every so often so you don't get board and you give you body new challenges.

If you're studding under an instructor, I think the internet can be a fine supplement. I've definitely looked up techniques and variations on the internet and applied them without issue but that is coming from a well established base of knowledge and then tested within a great martial arts community. Learning cold from the internet is a whole other thing. It would be too easy to learn bad or wrong technique. It didn't work in Karate Kid when Danial tried to learn from a book! That movie is pretty much the final word on anything related to martial arts. So there you go.

This sounds like the beginning of a story that goes terribly wrong in the end. Valuables are only the tip of the iceberg. I would go into all out family protection mode. Keep you eyes open with this one!

Welcome! I'm not going to repeat any of the grate advice that's already been posted. Hopefully after reading through the replies to your post you've realized that your situation is more the norm. The big thing I want to point out is that the MA... your dojo is your answer. Many people start the MA for self defense but no one stays for that. They stay because of all of the other ways it enriches their lives. In your case it will be because it gets you through your self-esteem issues. You will come to realize that self-esteem comes not from never failing but from being okay with failure. You will become okay with starting at the bottom and clawing your way to the top no mater how many times you fall along the way. I did a blog post on thinking positive that may be helpful. Also look for one from a while back called "The Dojo our Quiet Little Koi Pond." It talks about the dojo being a safe place to fail and draws an analogy to a legend about the koi. Good luck and enjoy self-esteem as you will have it soon.

I was in your position years ago as a second degree in kenpo. I've pick up a few styles of jui-jitsu including BJJ. They all complemented and enhanced my kenpo. Moreover, I love the feeling a being a white belt again. Go for it! You'll be glad you did.

Good luck!!!

There is a whole string of great advice here! I've always look at Kata in terms of the various qualities you're trying to exhibit. Power, grace, speed, fluidity... the list is really endless. The things can be worked on individually then pulled together as you continue to practice. Make sure you stay in the moment. This means that your mind is where your body is. Don't think forward to future moves and don't dwell on the moves you've already done. Focus your mind on the moment and commit to it fully.

I wouldn't sweat it too much. You're ahead of most parents because your involved. Just the fact that you're on this forum asking about it tells me that you'll do fine. Many parents out there aren't involved beyond driving their kids to the dojo and writing a check (which is fine) but you will have an advantage because of your deeper involvement. Martial arts are a great for adults too. Maybe think about taking it up yourself. You will certainly have great insight into any dojo if you're a student as well and what a great thing to have in common with your child.

I have this from running. I tried a bunch of things including ice and tape. What seem to keep it at bay for me is wearing a boot at night that keeps my foot flexed. They also make a sock that pulls the foot back. Sorry, I don't have a link, I was given both the sock and boot, but I'm sure you could find it on-line or a medical supply place.

Fantastic! Thanks for sharing. Makes me wish all the good guys knew martial arts.

So, I've been in the Martial arts for about 30yrs and have trained and taught all my life in a local dojo. My 13 year old son is a black belt in that same school. He failed his black belt test the first time he took it. I just posted the story in my blog https://www.lifeskillsfromthedojo.com if you care to read it. I think you're right on about the tots program in that it's okay to give rank for attendance vs. skill level. At that age it is more about building their confidence. We will evaluate a child at 5. In our opinion some are ready and some are not. In the youth programs kids should be held to certain standards of performance to pass their test. A good dojo will handle this in a age appropriate way. "We can't give you your belt today but if you go home and work on these things and can show me in two weeks that you can do them we'll look at you again." You get the idea. The lessons learned from failure can far out weigh the ones learned by success. If you read the story of my son failing you'll see that I wouldn't have had it any other way. I would encourage you to talk to the instructors at your school. If your gut is telling you that it may not be a fit for your family then you owe it to yourself to at least explore further. I wouldn't bail on the school, however, without giving them a fair chance to explain how they work. If your gut is still telling you its not right then maybe it time to search for a dojo the fits your family better. What it boils down to is the experience your child has and the value that adds to his life. Good luck! I hope that helps.

You may also want to try working on your core strength. That kind of pain can be caused by week stabilizing muscles. You may have nice strong primary movers (the big muscle groups) that are over shooting the capability of your smaller stabilizing muscles. Add some destabilized core exercises to your routine. There are several planking exercises where you balance on one hand or foot or both. Also, try sitting on the floor and pulling your feet off the ground then tossing a medicine ball with someone. Do your best to keep your feet up. Going back to a low roundhouse on a bag or pad too may help. Do some research on core exercises you'll find plenty to keep you going for a while.

I don't think it's a martial artists job to recruit. I think you bring your friends into it like you would anything else you're passionate about. If the time is right it will all work. If not you don't want to drive them away by forcing something on them. Think of it like randorie in Judo, you don't just force a throw at will, you wait until your opponent shifts their weight in a way that allows for the throw... timing right? Also, absent of a horrible situation, self defense typically isn't a compelling enough reason to dedicate yourself to the martial arts. Making them aware of all the other ways training benefits your life will be much more compelling. (which is the premise of my blog) Two things are clear, you love the martial arts and you love your friends. The best way to lead is by example, which is exactly what you're doing. Keep it up!

Never say never but I can't imagen using a spinning kick for self-defense. I was in a situation years ago. I used a jab, front kick, wrist lock and o soto gari (a basic throw.) Long story on the situation but it involed a drunk and who knows what else guy, going up a full flight of stairs and several attempts to re-enter the building. It sucked. It was basics that got me through.

Good kicks come from good technique and balance. They are the most difficult moves mechanically and martial artist does. All of the issues you're having seem to me to be related to mechanics. Without seeing you kick it would it's impossible to be specific. For example, The work spin in spinning back kick through a lot of people off. There in no spin in the path of the foot. it actually moves in a strait line from chamber to target. Think of it like a piston and drive shaft. The drive shaft rotates (spins) but the piston move in a strait line inside the cylinder. So as you can see the mechanics can get a bit crazy. As everyone else has said, you really need an instructor to help you work through that. Relaxation is also a key. I suspect that may be and issue as well.

Hi, I'm Mark. I've been in the martial arts teaching and training for almost thirty years but I'm new to karate forums. My styles are Yoshitsune Ju-Jitsu, Kai No Kenson Ju-jitsu, Kenpo Karate, Kickboxing and BJJ. My oldest son and wife also study with me. I've recently started a blog that explores the connection between the skills learned in the dojo and life skills. https://www.lifeskillsfromthedojo.com

I figure if I entertain myself when I write them I've got a good chance of entertain one or two of the readers. My next post with be a much straighter shot... a personal story. I hope you keep coming back to read them.

GroinStrike/Master Pain, Thanks for the kindness with my first few stabs and participating in the forums!

I have mixed feeling on this. My first instinct is that if, as an instructor, you are allowing your students to scale - meaning that you're giving them options that allow them to work around limitations they may have - you should be able to get a diverse age group in any class. Then the young and old can inspire each other. Most of the adult classes in my dojo have a very wide verity with teenagers and 40 or 50 somethings in the same class. I feel the young ones keep us young and the older folks set an example for commitment and dedication. On the other hand, with many sports, pier groups work. A class tailored to the desires of you XO's just may be worth a try.

All good points. Also consider the training itself. Just the fact that you're working with and perfecting knowledge that can help you in a self-defense situation goes a long way toward preparing you for the worst. Even if you're practicing in a sanitized environment. It is a lot like practicing for a speech: you may still be nervous in front of the crowd but, because you know that speech cold, you make it through.

If you hit the ground wrong you got a problem so first you need to learn and practice your break falls. To play along with the question I think videos are going to get you the furthest. It's just like anything else, there are going to be huge gaps in your skill and knowledge with out good instruction. There are many subtleties in throwing that are hard enough to teach and, therefore, almost impossible to get from a book or video. Moreover, what really helped my throwing was being thrown by someone who knew how to throw not to mention having partners that could take the fall and objective eyes that could correct.