delta1

With regulating bodies comes politics, and nothing is more destructive. Also, regulations do not insure quality. They set limmits, instead of allowing you to strive for excellence. They bring everything to the midle, thus insureing that mediocrity is the highest attainable standard. I train with or under good people. I join organizations that can offer me something extra. But the minute someone tries to regulate me, I'm gone. See my byline...

That is one good reason that the more seriouse schools have junior black belts.

Good point. They're not unbeatable, but they do have an impressive record against larger opponents. However, they are grapplers and so fight primarily in the two phases that White Warlock pointed out that accuracy was less important- takedowns and ground fighting. Was he wrong? (:stirs pot:)

Welcome, Jin. And TKD is a good place to start- get everything you can from it now. You can allways add to your skills later when you find something that interests you more. Heck, at 15, you've got lots of time!

White Warlock, I hate to hear that. Hope she comes through ok. :turning green here: I envy you- sounds like this is going to be a good one! I'd thought of trying to make that and the IKCA bash (about a week later, I think). But I'm working straight through right now, and it looks like I may end up in surgery about that time, or just before. Age and idiocy are catching up with me, so there's no way I can make plans or reservations to go. Have fun!

Welcome! Allways good to have another Kenpoist! What is your school affiliation? I do American Kenpo. I've mostly trained under AKTS (and earlier under Mr. Speakmans organization, before they split). Recently, I've been looking at the IKCA system, and they have some good stuff. Good points in your pet pieves- except I'm only 5'8", over 50 and slowing down a little. This (the martial arts) is what keeps th' juices flowin'. I enjoy contact sparing, but most of my 'street' fights were the result of stupidity or alcohol- I never went looking for them. On the other hand, I didn't allways have the good sense to avoid bad places or situations (stupidity). Any how, good to have you aboard!

One of the toughest TKDers I've fought was about 5'5". He could sneak in a high kick every once in a while, but mostly kept them low, quick, and powerful! He had decent speed, but this guy was a hay farmer- bucked bails most days- and had more power than anyone else I can think of right now. Still hurts to think about it! I once made the mistake of showing him how to relax and properly torque his elbow strikes. I was holding a kicking pad for him, and he about slammed me through the wall with those elbows. NEVER give a short, stout TKDer a break- they can be deadly. As for long legs being an advantage in kicking- pblt'''! I agree with the statement that once inside those long legs, he's toast! Especially if he depends on them and hasn't developed his hands, the in close and stand up grappling applications of TKD (and they are there, in spades!). So no, I don't think you need to be tall to do TKD.

My understanding of the term Bunkai is that it means understanding and application(s). Is this correct? Next, you often hear this term applied to kata, but can it also be applied to basics, moves, one steps, techniques, etc.? I would think it could, but I'm the only one I've ever heard use it that way. Just wondering if I'm useing the term correctly.

Welcome!

Welcome!

RaidenTB, welcome!

Good to have you here! Welcome!

Welcome, Shai! Good to have you. By the way, what does the IDF teach for hand to hand combat? We hear so much *, it might be good to hear the truth from someone that is there!

When talking about forces generated by biological units, you are not just talking physics- you are talking Kinesiology. And when talking about the effects of force on those same entities, you are talking Kinematics. So, here you are: http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~pe/exs190web/190kines2.htm

The artical made some good points. Unfortunately, it made two critical errors. First, it took the common idea, or public perception, that a black belt is a trained bad ***, and transferred it to the martial artist, who should know better. And it made this jump without establishing a logical connection. Second, after making the above assumption, the artical goes on to tell how the black belt will in all probability get his *** handed to him on the street because he can't fight. In actuality, it is not his ability to fight that got him in trouble, but his arrogance and false pride. Anyone with this attitude, no matter how hard or realistic they train, will eventually get in over their head. One of the things that hard contact sparing teaches you best is that there are no certainties, no guarantees, nothing that works 100%, and no one that is invincable. Besides that, 'on the street' you don't spar. You end it suddenly, violently and decisively. The longer it goes, the greater your chances of getting seriously hurt. But the best fight in that scenario is no fight, the one that is won with avoidance or deescalation skills. If there are no guarantees on the mat, there are sure not any outside the school doors!

I agree with most of what is written here, except that WW is not a stud! For the record: You aren't going to drive his nose into his brain. Reliable one strike kills are highly improbable, even for advanced martial artists. You should train to instinctively go for the vulnerable targets with the correct weapon, and then hit what's open. Pretty simple, even for a Kenpoka!

Actually, point sparing sucks for distance training- what I'd call point of reference. And 'full contact' (a misnomer in a training situation) does not "have it all." Nothing will fully prepare you for reality, especially when you talk of sudden, violent assault. You only can train to better your chances in a real fight. From that perspective, point sparing is not totally worthless, but not nearly as good as contact fighting. And there are different degrees of contact. But there are no guarantees, even for the street kid with 100's of real fights under his belt. We all train for the level of preparedness that's important to us. For some, that's zero, but they enjoy the martial arts and find point sparing fun. What's the problem with that? For others, maybe every training session is an all out brawl. It's their health, they can ruin it any way they see fit. I find hard contact to be fun, in moderation- but the older I get the more I tend to 'moderate ' things. To each his own. I see no point in disrespecting the pianist, electronics repairman, surgeon, or janitor who needs his hands in good working order to do his job, and chooses no contact sparing only. And some people just don't like contact. At my age, those people tend to have healthier joints than me, so who was right? We both were! We both did, and do, what is important to us and what we enjoy.

Yep! Give yourself an honest critique, then work on the deficiencies and maintain and develope your strengths. But don't beat yourself up over your 'failures'. Just identify them as needing work, then get to it.

Hey, good to have some experience on the board here! I agree about useing steel toes on someones head being a good way to run afoul of the law. That is deadly force, and you'd better be able to justify useing it if you do. I train in them because I wear steel toed boots and shoes regularly. I don't look for trouble, but if it were to find me there's a good chance I'd be shod heavy. And I'm not a high kicker, but they'll get your attention with the low shots! Sounds like fun, and carrying the mouth piece is a good idea. I once had an impromptu sparing session- no protection of any kind- after spending the better part of the morning in the dentists chair. I spent the better part of the late afternoon back in the chair with my mouth proped open, listening to a lecture from my dentist about my lack of judgement and common sense! I used to do full contact stick fighting, ground option, with a bunch of crazy Kali guys. That is another experience that can humble you quick. If you havn't tried it, you should. Puts a whole new perspective on your weapons training! And for pure fun, I'd have to give the FMA's top marks. Any way, welcome aboard! Hope to hear more from your perspective as an officer.

Congrats, Devil! Patrick, you should tell us a little about why you chose him, what he contributed, or whatever. You can't just give out something like this without a little praise. But, careful- don't overdo it! If he gets a big head, we may just have to smack him around a bit 'till he's humbled!

Man! Just did a quick check around KF, and this seems to be the new hot topic everywhere else! Do I have bad breath or something? Guess I'll just sit here and talk to myselves. 'drunkensevenwarlock1'

It's like France beating England in the World Cup! I'm just kidding. Good job, and congrats to both the competitor and to Canada!

LMAO Whitey, heres the problem- applied physics is good to use to get a general understanding of what is going on. But in a conflict between two biological life forms, there are simply too many variables involved, many of which are difficult/impossible to quantify, or to repeat with any degree of consistency, to make an exact mathematical model. Put another way, don't make this more complicated than it is! (And just you wait 'till Jerry Love sees this- th' doodoo is gonna hit the whirlies...!) (And they say us American Kenpoists overcomplicate things!)

All the above, and more. Everything should work together to enhance each individual component as well as the summ effect.

Yes, and no. Speed is a component of power, but not the only one. Speed without technique or form is just a fast noodle.