delta1

With the spinning backfist, watch your angle and position relative to your opponent (in addition to all the other good advice you've been given here). A common mistake on spinning backfists is to take too wide an angle, which positions you too far away. Your opponant also has time to see what you are trying to do and is in perfect position to attack from your rear/oblique. If you are using it in sparing, remember to set it up. Spining backfists work best off of something that turns him a little or momentarily checks his arm across his body. Other than sweeps I don't use spinning roundhouses, so I can't help you there. Have fun! Edit: I forgot to tell you, practice changing the strike to a spinning elbow. They are extremely devastating, and useful if he tries to jam you

What you are calling grappling is correct, and so is ground fighting. In Kenpo, we specify grabs and pulls and such while on your feet as stand up grappling. We use the general term grappling for rolling on the ground and grunting a lot with another fighter. Pretty much, whenever you are locked up or tied up with another fighter, you are grappling.

No. But if you want more information on the days when Bruce Lee trained regularly with Mr. Parker, go to http://www.kenponet.com/ and ask about it. There are quite a few senior Kenpoists there who would remember. They are pretty good at answering questions. I've heard that Bruce trained with several of Mr. Parkers students. Sometimes he won, sometimes they did. One thing he was good at exploiting was when Kenpo violates Ving Tsun centerline theory, they say Bruce was so fast you were traped and hit before you knew what happened. I've also heard that Mr. Parker, and the Kenpoists he trained with, had a lot of respect for Bruce Lee. At one time Mr Parker said something to the effect that if Bruce continued to train hard he'd be one of the best ever. Comeing from Ed Parker, that says a lot.

Thaanks. I'll go back and look at it again with this in mind when I have more time. I want to look at some of their other forms as well, just out of curiosity. If we all keep finding similarities here, we're liable to nullify the whole Style vs. Style part of this forum, at least as it's primarily used. Wouldn't that be just awful?!

Sadly, I have to agree. Agree again. We've exchanged our opinions, and when it's all said and done, what is important is that we train hard the best way for each to learn. Different people learn differently, so please don't think I'm being disrespectful here. Just presenting a different viewpoint. And yes, the martial arts are about fighting. And Taiji is a serious martial art. Have a good one!!!

Thanks. That's sort of what I thought. We also teach to keep the head level, smothly transition to the next stance, with acompanying hip rotation,and the strike lands at the same time as the stance solidifies. The analogy most often used is that this way you hit him with the whole truck, not just the bumper. That's how I understood the TKD sine wave to work. Still be good to hear from others on this (hint, hint ).

Well, I'm a guy, and I've noticed that womens are a little different! I,ve spared with, worked with, and been paired with female MA's from different styles & schools. I generally let them set the tone. If they want to go at it hard, we do. If they want to go easy then I don't push it. But I've never felt slighted being paired with a 'guurl'. I've also noticed that women sometimes have a different approach to things, which can challenge you. Men have a tendency to rely on size and strength. Women are sometimes far better than men at technique. Not being large or powerful, I tend to aproach fighting with technique and adhering to the principles of power we are taught. When I watch sparing, I often focus on some small gal who has good technique and try to emulate her when it's my turn. I also like to spar a woman who is a good fighter. They are fast- sometimes faster than the men. Speed comes primarily from relaxation, not from physical strength. Men that rely on muscle to do the job for them tend to be more tense, and therefore slower. I'm not saying women are better fighters, or that the average female MA could whip the average guy if it was for real. But some of them could hold their own in most situations, and they do present some interesting challenges from time to time. So, hang with it, girls! Most of us like having you around. In fact, I've heard very, very few disparaging comments about female MA's, in private or in public. And I think the jerks exist so the rest of us can practice our Zen/Tao/Christianity/whatever.

Agreed. I hate politics. I especially hate it when it interfiers with my 'liesure' time. But it seeems to be rampant in the martial arts. Most styles I've come across have some bitter internal fights going on all the time. Then there's the style vs. style thing. Personally, I look at other Kenpo organizations and other styles as just another way to accomplish the same things. I work out and train with them, and allways have a good time; even with those *#@! Arnis guys, who take a little too much pleasure in beating me with sticks ! But when the political talk starts, I just go work on a form or something. I just refuse to get involved, and the martial arts seem to go on anyway.

kk75, you may be on to something with the sine wave theory. But it was my understanding that this is an advanced principle in TKD and is not seen externaly. It equates more to our (Kenpos') settling into a stance and locking everything simultaneously, if I have it correctly. It can't be readily seen, you feel the wave, he feels the power. Course, I could be wrong as I'm looking at this from an outsiders perspective here. Be interesting if some of the experienced TKDers in various systems respond.

Hard styles tend to be more linear and meet force with force. Soft styles tend to be more circular and divert, redirect or yield to force. Soft styles flow better from move to move also. A lot of your moves in Shotokan are hard because that's how they are practiced, but you have some of the basics of soft moves in your style. For example, do an inward block, then from point of origin (don't chamber, just go from where you are) do a downward block. Again, from point of origin, do a verticle outward block (block outward with the radius side of your arm). Now do that again, only smoothly and with no tension, and no interruption of movement- all one smooth move. What you've done is to start with a hard move, the inward block, and convert it to a soft serries of moves. The inward block to the outside of a punching arm would redirect it. As you continue to move through the downward block an up to the radius block you carry his arm and trap it, lock it, or even break it. You'll have to add some footwork to get the angles right to make it work, and don't forget that you have another hand. If it was a left punch, and you are blocking with the right arm , step inside with your left foot as the downward block sweeps his arm outward and hit him with your left as the radius block pins his arm and your body rotation pulls him in. Soft styles may incorporate passive strikes also. An example would be dealing with a left jab. Step inside, moving the target (your face) and place your left hand on his left wrist, pushing it past your face. Point your elbow at his face. Now relax (actually, you are relaxed throughout this move until the strike contacts his face). A jab is returned faster than it is deployed, and you are going to let him pull your elbow into his own face (it's ok to help him out a litle, though). As you do this, your right hand should check low and you should step in so that your left knee checks his lead (probably left) knee. The path of your left arm/elbow will check any high strikes. This is a tough move to time right, but even if you blow it you can easily convert the strike, another advantage to the soft, or relaxed styles. Edit: I should add that that second move especially requires another attribute of soft styles, and that is some degree of sensitivity. That move was shown to me (actually the *#@! did it to me first) by a Ving Tsun practitioner. They spend a lot of time developing sensitivity with chi sao drills, similar to Taiji push hands and Kenpo rolling. You don't plan a move like that, you sort of fall into it. It just happens.

Yeah, but you Kiwis are crazy! Actually, I love it too. But it's starting to tell on me some. I don't seem to recover as quick as I used to. I've been limping aroud all week from a hard leg clash (no pads). You'd think I'd learn!

I train my base style, American Kenpo, and add to it by working out with othr martial artists in different styles. It's important to have a base, a point of reference. But there's nothing wrong with personalising it, making it your own, so to speak. Be a good Ishinryuka first, and you'll be a better 108 Fighter, which will also probably make you a better Ishinryuka. My opinion... Good journey!

TSDmom, 5 is a funny age. Kids aren't too sure of themselves. It's a tough call whether to make him compete or let him pass. I'd try to talk with the instructor and gently persuade him to compete. It would be good for him. You might try talking to a school counselor or teacher, or someone else who knows children, and get their take on it. You list karateconnection at the bottom of your post. Are you studying from the IKCA tape serries?

KK75, that's an interesting site. The Hapkido forms looked a lot like what I do (American Kenpo). But the TKD I've seen looks a lot more like the TSD (I only looked at the first two forms). Question- why was the TKD guy bouncing in the middle of every stance change on Tan Gun? I've never seen anyone do that. I can only think he's trying to emphasize something there. But since he's not transitioning through a Cat, or any other recognizable stance, I can't think what. Doesn't TKD teach you to keep your head level as you move, and transition from one solid base to another? Just curious, but that bounce seems to violate some of the basics of TKD as I've seen it.

I was talking about fighting standing up, with the ground as an option. And the last three sessions I've spared, i've been dumped hard at least once. I'm on a real roll . All fights don't go to the ground, but enough do. I think we agree here. Yes and no. How you fight is one test of skills. But I know some good fighters who don't have a clue about the principles or concepts they are using. Pure instinct honed in real fighting (not the ring) makes the best fighter. But it makes a lousy teacher, unless you too want to learn in the school of hard knocks. Katas, or forms, have a lot to do with understanding and learning to apply technique. A good form has more layers than an onion. It is one place where you have to think about and sort out all the possibilities of the moves you are doing. With minor variations, any move can do an infinate number of things. If you are just going through the motions for a test, I'd agree that they afre worthless. But that isn't "learning" a form. Take out the word "only" and I'd agree. To really make a technique work, you have to practice and be able to do it on a resisting opponent. But there are other ways to help learn technique. Doing it in the air, early on working with a compliant opponent, and going full force on a heavy bag or dummy. That brings us to... ... which makes me think we are in some agreement. I just think you shouldn't limmit your training options. Agreed. But you can't do that all the time. Most people have other things to do besides recover from last night's training rumble. Things like jobs, family activities, chasing women... . And some people are older or not that healthy. Learning how to hit and take a hit are important. But everyone has to find their own level of comfort and ability with this one. Not by itself. But it is part of the overall equation. Remember too that the martial arts teach respect, perserverance, and a lot of other character traits. It isn't just about turning out a bunch of tough fighters, even in the reality based schools. And a lot of people take martial arts for a lot of other reasons. I think they short themselves if they overlook the fighting part of their art, but I'm not here to judge them. If they find what they are looking for without steping on the mat, then that's fine by me. I agree that "the ring", or contact fighting, is important. But it isn't the only thing that's important. Good journey!

Another poll I'm not voting in. You only give the two extreme points of view. There has to be a well rounded approach to testing that includes basic skills, knowlege and understanding, and fighting skills. I have to agree with Sevenstar-"Bottom line: self defense drilling, full contact fighting, competition, kata, etc. are all smaller parts of a bigger picture. All of them complement, but are not whole on their own." There is a lot that goes into making a well rounded martial artist. I personally think that fighting with contact, and the option to take it to the ground, is important at higher levels. But it isn't the only thing that's important.

Well, I've never heard of anything like that. But I'd certainly be wary of anyone giving themselves shuch grandois titles. Yes, I'd be wary of some who've radically changed the system. But I'd be more wary of someone who teaches the system without understanding it. That goes for any system. But some of Mr Parkers students made radical changes to the system, or went to other arts or styles and combined them with AK, with Mr Parkers' blessings. Also, Mr Parker taught some people different things or versions of Kenpo. Huk Plannas, Chuck Sullivan, and Dr. Chapel are some examples. Other early students, like the Tracy's, left the system before it was complete. So while they have all the 'original' moves, hey don't have some of the later refinements.

As I said earlier, it was changed in many ways. AK incorporates moves and principals from a lot of different arts. AK has a lot of similarities to other styles of Kenpo/Kempo. But it is distinctly different, its own style. As for the 'American ' part, think of a person born in the US but whose whose parents are Chinese immigrants to America. That person could be said to be Chinese, but he is an American.

Good call. Multiple opponents are fun and, unfortunately, a realistic thing to train for. Come on, guys. We can't be the only two here that like to try different methods of sparing. How about you Ninjas? You've got to have some good sparing methods- night sparing, sparing in unusual situations? How about this one for developing footwork and awareness of your feet. Turn a bunch of cinder blocks (or wooden blocks) on end, spaced about a step apart. Some a little closer. Then spar on top of the blocks. If you want to get a little carried away you can bury a bunch of short posts. But the blocks are better, I think, because they also develope ballance better.

Thanks. I was hoping that someone would write a little about TSD, as I don't know much about it. Other styles interest me, and I work out with other practitioners any chance I get. But I havn't ran across this one yet.

OK. What's her number?

Critiqued Rounds- spar 2 one minute rounds with senior students and instructors as critiquers. Theobject is not to determine who won, but to watch the fighters and see what they are diong right, wrong, and what could be done better. After the first round the fight is critiqued. Then round two goes and both fighters concentrate on correcting or improving as was suggested.Bennifits are obvious. The fighters get to practice and correct their sparing while the critique is fresh in their mind. They then have a little time to think about it untill their next match, where they can continue improvement as well as get another critique. I don't see any drawbacks to this at all.

I'll start out: Slow sparing- you spar at a slow speed. Agree to move at, say, half or 3/4 speed, and that is how you fight. Bennifits- lets you really work on technique. You also clearly see openings, attacks and moves as they develope. These are locked in to memory so you better recognize them at full speed. You can also work on correcting bad habbits, like telegraphing or flagging strikes. It lets you take the dangerous shots you normally can't take in sparing, like kicks to the knees. Oh yeah, you can also spar a lot longer this way than at full speed ! Drawbacks- no matter how slow you start, you allways seem to end up going full speed. And you won't land many strikes. It's human nature to want to 'win', and the 'hitee' will usually speed up his block just fast enough to beat the 'hitor'. But it doesn't matter because one got the practice seeing the opening, the other should be able to figure it out that if the same tech keeps comeing at him, he's probably leaving an opening.

There have been a few questions here that relate to sparing. So I thought it might be fun to list some of the different types of sparing we/you do and the bennifits you get. Also list any limmitations or drawbacks. Feel free to restate or expand on a type already listed. And let's try not to disrespect what someone else does, though it's ok to question, or to point out unsafe or dangerous practices. Go for it...

Yup!