Smurf

when u use evasive footwork to avoid people in busy streets or shps!

have u ever tried pilates? when my back was in pain it was due to the weakness in my core muscles. if u can get to a class it'll really help you out because u learn how to "Engage" your core muscles before doing any movements which ultimately helps to protect the smaller muscles and joints in your lower back region x

Just a little one for hand eye reflexes: (1) Shave a bouncy ball so that it is not rounded anymore and has unequal sides (2) Throw it at a wall so that it bounces before hitting the wall (3) Try and strike it with any move as it bounces back at a weird angle To progress this throw it harder or throw it straight at the wall instead of bouncing it first (This is an old Goalie trick over here in England)

Rawai was the camp just down the road from me, it looked quality! When I head to phuket again I might take the Saturday off and hed there

hey guys loved reading all your comments about thailand. I went when I finished uni and had a magic time over there. I'm saving again now to go and I can honestly say it's one of the most treasured memories I have of martial arts. I was also a kickboxer predominantly with a black belt in Karate also but the muay thai blended really well with my training. If you go to a good camp with a lot of trainers then you will get good 1-2-1 attention and will learn so much from it all. the camp I went to is on http://www.martialartsphuket.com Please have a look and I hope you enjoy it there. All the best

let's not forget one thing guys, just because they're doing XMA doesn't mean they can't fight. For all we know they could have trained 10 years full contact muay thai before wanting to adapt their bodies again for a new challenge. I think it's awesome for what it is but they sould recognise that they are doing forms and not combat orientated moves. My two pence

I remember a friend getting in a fight once in outside the train station. he was a sport karate man who fought non contact competitions where you had to restrain the technique just before you followed through. In his fight he threw a roundkick and even before thinking what he was doing he paused it infront of the guys nose and put it down again. Funny thing was although it was a mistake the guy shat himself and figured if the chap could do that then he must be amazing! SO they bottled it and off they ran. No moral here! No point. Just funny....and very very lucky

I don't think this story is soley about Taekwondo. This sort of experience could come from anywhere and any art. I do agree that he should not have been able to teach his own class, but had he been in classes they should have utilised him and had him teaching beginner techniques. If they thought he wasn't capable then they shouldnt have given him the black belt. I do think that his perception of a black belt is somewhat blinkered however. It's the beginning, not the end of your learning

Mike's right if your instructors asked that you wear one then he obviously has his reasons. First put yourself in his shoes, if you were popping students in the face you'd encourage them to wear one incase they got hurt. I agree you won't have one on the street but taking head shots too much in class is not smart. We're mostly amateurs guys and need to look presentable in our day to day lives. I'm a primary school teacher and leading up to parents evng's i will be wearing a face guard for 2 weeks before! Just have to sit and look at the big picture. Is taking 20 face shots a week worth it so you can mantain a tough man image? No right or wrong answer just opinions! Well that is in my opinion!

It does sound like he's trying to revitalise his school with the kickboxing craze as I heard someone else say. It's a very stylish thing to be into nowadays and a lot of traditional schools will now x-train with thai boxing, kickboxing, or boxing to strengthen what is already a strong art. What is definitely unacceptable is his attitude to your questions. I'd give it one last try and maybe arrange to meet him for lunch or something. If that fails then move on and keep in contact with your students making sure they understand you are still around for questions or advice. Don't ask them to follow you as that can lead to embarrasment all round. if they want to come then they will contact and ask you in their own time. Good luck with it all. I do not envy your position on this one

i think it depends on the situation. Obviously you have to "empty the cup" to learn again but it may benefit you to mix the two together. Pending on how different the styles are really. I go to 2 kickboxing schools and find going to 2 different guys allows me to stay just a fraction ahead of my peers as i always have another trick they havent seen yet. Judge it as you see it as you will know the situation best

u guys r priceless

Guys i think they can be usefull, not in the attacking sense but more in being able to ride attacks thrown at you, if you've been thrown off balance or to the ground, then maybe a nimble roll to the feet or away is better than a big weighty urrrgh as u try and get back to your feet? I know i'd rather have my gymnastic ability than not

wow what a blinkered view that fella has. Im guessing his instructor is extremely biased. There are no bad pupils, only bad teachers.

again i think its one of those areas of cross training isnt it? if u could cross boxing with taekwondo i think you would have a good range of techniques for sure