gunner

I been a student at a school that belonged to a federation and one that is not. As a student, I really can't tell the difference. I think the instructor makes all the difference.

Try again

This is the snap side kick I was referring to: https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q5AfU7yLv-0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>

Thanks for the explanation. The kick just seams useless to me because it has little effect. I guess in point sparring it would get you a point if it connected. Most of the time I'm able to jam their kick or just knock it down with my hand. Sometimes I'll just catch it and push them off balance. I rarely get kicked in the groin on the side kick because I usually don't kick higher than the mid section. I've been kicked in the groin using high rounder house kicks but even those are limited. I consider most high kicks to be for show.

Sorry, I don't have a video but maybe I can make one this weekend. I'm an old guy and have lots of sparring experience. When I see this snap kick, I just step in and jam it or slap it down. That's why these younger fighters ask me how I do it. I see the same thing in their defense. If you're going to put a block, put some muscle behind it or I'm going to knock it down and hit my target. They ask me if that's legal. My response is, "I don't care, you're dead just the same."

Generally from a right or left back fighting stance.

I'm asking for opinions on this. I was taught many years ago in my TKD days that a side kick is loaded with a knee lift and delivered by aligning the heel, butt and shoulder for maximum power. I usually forego the complete knee cock when I'm sparring to speed up the kick but will sometimes lift the knee high in a defensive posture that I can quickly convert into an offensive kick. When I was sparring with another fighter the other day, I told him when sliding in for a jab, lift your knee to block a defensive kick and snap it out if he gets the opportunity for a side kick to connect. He said it feels awkward because he is used to the snap kick. I see a lot of people using what is referred to as a snap side kick which is quicker but doesn't have the power because the hip isn't aligned and the glute isn't fully engaged. I sometimes wonder if I should tell them they're doing it wrong. Or, am I wrong and the kick they are using is a legitimate kick just less powerful and easy to jam?

I believe everyone is different as Sensei8 said before. I know all about the research and our dojo follows the modern theory of Dynamic stretching at the beginning of class and static stretching at the end. Personally, I didn't find the dynamic stretching to be enough. I began to do a light warming up and moderate static stretching before the class which made the dynamic stretching more effective. After class when I'm really sweating, I do deeper static stretching to the limit of my ROM. I've been able to increase my static ROM since I started this a couple of months ago. I also do yoga stretches and they have helped immensely. Two days a week I don't stretch at all so my muscles can recover.

The best self defense weapon I've learned this far is the Staff, but the funnest one to manipulate in Kata is the Sai. I won't get to learn sword until next year.

Thank you everyone!

When an opponent attacks, they must open up and expose their defense. I will often fake an attack to see how my opponent responds. Then I'll try to draw their attack and counter. I score more on counter attacks than when my opponent is covered up defensively. Develop a "fight plan" and execute what you want to do. I see so many spar without any plan. Thar's a fail. Also the best way to block a kick or punch is to get out of the way. After awhile you'll develop a sense for timing and reach. It's okay to be nervous, that just means your brain is working.

Then again there's excessive Kiaing. If this woman were in my dojo, I'd have to find another.

You are probably right Nidan. I'm relatively new to competition Karate kata. Karate kata seems to be much more expressive than the TKD kata I learned in the 80's. Could also be that the kata world has changed a lot since then. My karate instructors are NBL State, National and World champions. I'm just starting to understand competition kata. I've been told that the judges all have different backgrounds and it's not uncommon to have to make adjustments for different regions. I know here in Texas the kias are loud and expressive.

I have at least three sounds. Sometimes sounds like HITE, KIA or ICE. Tournament judges like a variation in KIA intensity and sound at different points of the kata. but I mix it up because a kick is different from a block or spear hand.

A long time ago, my Buddhist TKD/Kung FU Master explained the Kia to us this way. Your life energy flows through your body and that is your Chi. With practice, you can learn to focus your Chi to a strike point. The Kia is how you release this energy and will dramatically increase your power and protect you from injury. I must say, I've never seen anyone his size hit with so much force. I saw him fold a 80 lbs heavy bag in half with a spinning back kick.

Martial arts is widely regarded as a combat sport. Many people, including students, think just because people practice martial arts, they are good fighters. That is a misconception. The only way to know is to test yourself against other opponents. That is the truth. My first instructor was a Buddhist and his brother a Buddhist monk. To them martial arts was a religion. They taught us the artful expression of kata and the spiritual aspect meditation. That's the Art. Coincidentally, it was also the best fighting school around at the time.

I like HIIT. I do several variations from bag work to cycling. I also do an endurance drill that my sensei has us do when belt testing. It sucks to high heaven but tests and improves your capacity. You need a clock or timer. Here it is: Run in place for one minute (high knees) Jumping Jack's for one minute. (Hands clapping at top) Push ups - 30 Jumping front snap kick one minute. Repeat until you feel like your going to pass out. Ha ha

A sharp pain when doing an exercise is an indication of an injury. You should stop doing that exercise until you heal. A torn muscle or tendon would take anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months to heal. I have strained, torn, broken and bruised many ligaments and bones. Nothing will slow down your progress faster than injuring yourself. Consider your hip injured and take it easy until the pain goes away. I've never known a MA practitioner that didn't get injured from time to time. If the pain persists you may need to go to an orthopedist and get an x-ray.

Sparring is honesty the rest is art.

I was super excited because I had wanted to take formal martial arts for many years. I spent the first class walking on duct tape strips. Humbling

I agree ballistic stretching is absolutely the worst. I think I have used every method of stretching. I tore my adductor on one of those $30 martial arts stretching apparatuses. Now, I use a combination of dynamic and static stretches. On my really stiff days, I try not to push it too much anymore. Why on some days I'm limber and others I'm rigid, is a still a mystery to me. Seems the less I stretch the more limber I get. Go figure.

It depends on how good you are with your rounder. I'd use it if the opportunity became my best option. I've kicked many trained opponents in the gut with a medium power rounder and watched them drop to the mat gasping for air. I accidentally broke the rib of one of my classmates when I countered his attack. It works if you can do it fast enough. I don't use it as much as front, side and back kicks though.

I always thought it was easier to defend against a hook for the same reasons stated above. Also, a hook requires the opponent to be much closer because it has a shorter reach. If your opponent is that close, you should be backing out fast or going elbows and knees Muey Thai style.

Thank you!!

We learn the 3 basic katas as white belt. We begin the pinans at yellow belt. At 3rd kyu Empi, 2nd Kyu Naihanchi Sho, and 1st Kyu Kanku Dai. I think we share a lot with Shotokan but I'm not an expert so I can't say for certain. I do know our pinans are almost exactly like the pinans taught by Gechin Funikoshi. In fact, his book "Karate Jutsu" is one of our reference books.