ninjanurse

Thanks for th replies. It is combat oriented so I guess I have my work cut out for me!!!

Bowing to a senior should be an obligation whether they have earned the respect of the rank or not. Humility aside, I think that it sets the wrong example to allow disrespect and such matters should be addressed regradless of your motives. Senior students should correct lower belts for lapses in ettiquette to the Master Instructor (or any higher ranking belt)...a failure to do so may be a sign that they have not been given a proper example to follow and reflects highly on their instructor. Of course, this all depends on the traditions at your school as some are not as formal as others.

Welcome aboard!

to me (unless im not understanding what your saying) is close to saying the best way to avoid getting taken down is to imediatly jump to the floor No all that off the mark. Using the attackers momentum against him (and thus redirecting him) will set him up for you to counter effectively from the ground or return to standing depending on the circumstances and your skills.

In my younger days, we pounded sand and lead shot in addition to makiwara's bound with rope. These days I have arthritis in my wrists so I don't pound much of anything!

Just make sure you are getting enough carbs for energy so that your body doesn't resort to metabolizing muscle tissue. You must be buring calories like crazy!!!

I took my 3rd Dan test with a cracked rib! Got in trouble for not revealing it ahead of time too. Quite painful, especially during groundfighting and sparring! It definitely made for a fullfilling experience though !!

Sparring is designed to be a exercise to help you develop and practice tactics that enable you to utilize your fighting strategies BEFORE you need them on the street. No, it is not a substitute for the real thing but it was never meant to be anyway...it's just another training tool and when combined with other training tools can prepare you well. However, your success in a street fight is not necessarily dependant on your physical prowess as the will to survive factors greatly into who will be the winner. Developing the "warrior spirit" takes place through your training not outside of your training hence the more training tools available to you the better.

I suppose it depends on the venue.

The only "butterfly kick" I know is a spinning kick thrown as you do what amounts to an aerial. When combined with the right footwork it can cover a lot of ground but I am not sure about using it to spar as it takes too much time to execute. Looks nice though!

During my convalescence I am taking up Taiji as I will be unable to run, kick, or jump for 6 months. My master instructor teaches it in addition to his main system and since I am a certified instructor it is only a matter of time before I have to take it up anyway. All of the arts I have studied have built upon and complimented each other quite well, and I am sure that Tai Ji will be no different, however I was thinking (ouch!) that it is going to be difficult for me to switch gears. A challenge indeed!

http://www.natkd.com/tkd_forms.htm Hope this helps for the TKD part!

There is only one form that I have ever learned that I do not like...Taeguek Ee Jang! Can't tell you why just don't like it! As far as a favorite goes....I think Kung Li Chuen has been the most enjoyable to learn and I favor it in practice. Among my other favs: Koryo & Palgwe 8

Etiquette happens to be one of the precepts of my system, therefore, I place it in high regard. Even if it wasn't a precept I feel that I am bound by the traditions and spirit in which I was taught. Call me "old Skool" !

All systems are different Neddo. My shotokan school never had an orange belt or a purple belt but the school across town had a purple belt just before blue. To each his own I guess!

Maybe the sensei had a crooked finger and couldn't put it together with the rest so all the sheep..I mean students..did it that way too!

I don't think you can learn any art in 2-3 years nor master one in 10. You could become proficient in basic skills in a few years but the sublties of the art may allude you. A kyu/gup is a measure by which you compare yourself to a physical standard, a dan grade should signify that you have acheived a level where you are ready to begin learning your art. The -do(way) is part of that readiness to learn. Many practiioners today are not looking for the "way"-that is their perogative, likewise many instructors today are not teaching the "way"-that is a shame. Whatever one is looking for remains a truly personal goal, hence it means something different to each of us therefore we each have our own expectation of what a BB should be and how long it should take to get one. I received my first dan grading in a relatively short period of time-comparitively. It was difficult but worthwhile and gave me a good foundation by which I have practiced other arts but....the dan grading that I worked many more years for was by far the most satisfying and has given me a foundation by which I live my life.

I don't beleive kali is meant to be a "complete" fighting system in the sense you are asking. Defense/offense against sticks, knives, spears, swords, etc., do not necessarily need kicks to be effective. And those that study kali find they can adapt many techniques to counter kicks thrown at them.Kali also blends with other styles very well to give you quite an arsenal of skills. I am by no means an expert but I have experience and can't recall ever thinking about kicking while training.

Sometimes you just have to take it one day at a time....make yourself go for that run because you now you'll feel better after....but it does sound like you have overtrained a bit. Maybe you should sit yourself down and have a talk with yourself about your goals for this fight and maybe you can come up with a 2 week plan to motivate yourself. I would be tapering my physical activity by now anyway to allow my body to rest and grow and heal.Focus on cardio because that's what goes first when you stop training and give yourself a menal break before the big fight. Good luck!

Awesome!

I beleive the system I am currently studying is based on Chung do Kwan.

Sounds like a good job and a great experience!

Thanks! Good read!

I second this!