tommarker

I maintain my belief in the man on the grassy knoll... errr, wait.

Well, in that case, I will dock myself down to 2.5

Sevenstar, While I would not suggest to anyone to make the transition to full contact kickboxing after a brief time in the martial arts... What rules did this young man agree to fight under? Muay Thai or TKD? Very different animals, IMHO and not just because of the contact thing. Different techniques, strategies, etc. If they'd fought "his way" at full contact, perhaps the outcome would have been different. I see a lot of people who go "all out" and take pride in making TKD sissies howl like little girls and scream "that's not fair" I wonder if they'd think it's fair to take a screwdriver in the kidneys during a clinch? Sometimes it boils down to rules, you know? It's the folly of all martial artists... plenty of bigheaded full contact guys who would get "out-thugged" on the streets just as quick as their "mcdojo" equivalent. On the other hand, knowing how to take a shot and deal with a truly aggressive opponent is a good skill to have, and is highly neglected in these days of "one handed, non-motivated attackers." TSG, I'm sorry I didn't make it to your seminar this weekend, but I was on the other side of the field doing tiger/crane style... sparring scares me

After training for almost 7 years, putting in hundreds of hours training at special clinics, reading dozens of books on the subject of martial arts, exploring the roots of my art, and having the honor of meeting and training with men and women who have been training longer (and even twice as long) as I've been alive... I would rate myself at 3... and perhaps 3.5 if I were to get a big head about the whole thing.

to quote my instructor... "yeah... don't do that."

Let's not forget this helpful tool: http://www.awma.com/index.cfm/action/productdetail/product_id/10127.htm

I think the bo is one of those "minute to learn, lifetime to master" type weapons, and the one I would recommend.

machete, knife, sword... these type things.

depends on the school. i've seen them anywhere from about 24" to 36" depending on what the sticks are supposed to represent.

chen, all i can tell you is that there is nothing in the traditional MDK curriculum that I would consider to be a "kicking" intensive form. it must be a local thing, which doesn't necessarily detract from its value alone.

Never heard of it. Could have been a form created by the school owner or a regional master.... There's a video of Grandmaster Pak doing a form at a tournament in 1986 that has a lot of kicks and dynamic tension type moves... i dunno if that is it though. http://www.greatwarriorpak.com/events/videolibrary.htm

I would try a google search on plyometrics. Excellent exercises for improving footwork and vertical leap.

The way we do it sounds more or less like the Shotokan method. If you don't move, you will get hurt

I have heard of peace knots before, but more in Western sword arts. It's a lot like the zip ties used to secure firearms at gun shows... The idea isn't so much to keep people from messing with your sword, but rather to keep you from drawing your own sword in a rash decision. Unless of course, you carry a sharp knife for severing said peace knot I imagine just about any decorative knot can be used. I wouldn't slap it onto your practice sword since undoing it is probably almost as much a pain as tying it. Sensei will probably grow weary of that one.. Now... a faux peace knot, that would be interesting. Imagine a knot that looks extremely elaborate, yet if pulled in the right place falls apart... THAT would be VERY cool. I've got some books lying around on the topic of decorative knots (a good google term, by the way) and I'll see what I can find.

I've seen tightly wound string, leather wrap, and even cloth sport tape. Sport tape works surprisingly well for grip retention, but it gets messy/gooey after a bit and you have to change it. I think it also tends to dry out the hands and rub them a bit raw. But the best bet is to wrap it as tight as possible. I'd try to use a vice if possible.

Spin, those are fun. thanks for sharing. I think my favorite is the YGR.WMV.. one of the Korean ones. Do you speak/read Korean? I tried going to the site, but I can only sound out a few words in Hangul. i love the french description... "le nunchaku artistique"

I've always enjoyed Chatanyara no sai

Journal of Asian Martial Arts. Quarterly. Usually found at Barnes & Noble or Borders...

I can't tell what is funnier... What TangSooGuy said, or the possibility that Mart didn't quite get it. Either way, I'm amused. I get the "are you a black belt" question a lot too. I usually just say "yep." and prepare myself for one of the following statements: 1. can you (insert bizarre physical stunt here)? 2. Yeah, my nephew has one of those in TKD. He's 10.

I'm not trying to be mean, but maybe your own biases are clouding the issue... I.E. is it really so inconcievable that a junior did a form better than you and that it just has to be the Welsh sticking up for each other?

If you believe that Bassai is "Penetrating a Fortress" doesn't it have to be then, by definition, very offensive? Not going to get very far into the fortress standing at the gate I prefer the "selection of the best" interpretation, and I tend to make my interpretations as brutish and nasty as possible.

How do you feel about Shuai Chiao? Sifu John Ervin Email mafcinc@ameritech.net 5100 St. Clair Cleveland, OH 44103 (216) 431-4991

next to wushu, kobudo would get boring quick... what with the constant repetition of basic movements. (sarcasm?)

A theft in the dojo? That really stinks.

NO BLEACH!!!! I wash in hot, but I always hang it up to dry. The dryer is what will really shrink your uniform (and make the armpit stains really shine