SaiFightsMS

Poetry calligraphy and other fine arts were a part of what the "old masters" left behind. Should we ignore them?

I think in many ways more familiarity with the weakness and well befriending it turns it slowly into a strenght. When we know it intimately we know how to work with it and around it. If I don't do a spinning kick well I should analize the setting where it is appropriate. Then I should devise another method of handling the situation with another weapon. Not ignoring it but going around the wall or building a door through it instead of battering myself senseless trying to go through it. Sai Yes Jack it is fine to call me Sai.

:spitlaugh:Thai

Backfist. Very effective after a press block. Or even a head block.

As properly presented I think cardio kick is and excellant aerobic workout. And as for martial arts applications hmmmm. There are many aspects to the martial arts. This is a good introduction to some of the techniques used in the arts. But without the applications. A way to have fun and a good work out without having to face an opponent other than your own self. I have a feeling I am making no sense. Cardio kick fullfills a niche. A fitness niche with a unique introduction to what further involvement in the martial arts might offer.

The sound made during knuckle cracking is the release of air bubbles in the synovial fluid around the joints.

Traditional work for spinal erecteres includes: back extensions, deadlifts, good mornings and there are weight machines in the gym that are designed for spinal erecters. I currently do my back extensions face down on a thera-ball.

Pain closer to the elbows is usually from over use. It might help to stretch and warmup the forearm tool. Use simple things like extend your arm in front and keeping it still just rotate the hand from palm up to palm down. Also are you doing things to help strenghten the grip?

Jack I like your phrasing of the inner opponent. I think much of the time our greatest enemy comes from within.

There is an idea in weapons tradition about the weapon having a spirit. What do you think? Do your weapons have any spirit?

Yes Ronryu I think that is how many of us become. The more we learn about the tradition and how the use of the weapon evolved the more respect we have for the traditional.

It is easy to loose proper respect for the weapon. All too easy to become complacent. Too much familiarity breeds danger? Right?

We do use iron on stripes on our belts to denote kobudo rank with the stripe color matching the kyu rank color. Multiple stripes being for multiple weapons wearing only one stripe for each weapon. Bo rank, being our primary weapon, on top. With the other stripes in order of rank with no rank higher than bo rank.

Then too it depends on whether or not the school is part of an associatian or an independent. Associations have requirement. Independents make their own.

There is a thread elsewhere dealing with the idea that Karate builds character. The opposing thought is Karate can reveal lack of character and bring out the bad and the good qualities one possesses. I really see what you are describing Joanne. And I have seen similar versions. Size is sometimes a strength sometimes a weakness depending on how it is used. Helping someone learn to use it more effectively must be a great challange as is helping any student break bad habits. Somewhere in that situation is potential for anyone around to learn.

Ad over time and with more experience your skills will improve and this problem will lessen. In the meantime protecting our head is one of the hardest things for some of us to learn when it comes to sparring. Actually walking into my opponents handpads was one of my worst weaknesses in my sparring. I have a blind spot. What I learned and was working on was holding the hand on that side much higher than in the normal sparring stance.

Interesting idea Karetaka. More flash. There are traditionalists out there who would be in a fighting frenzy over that idea. It is a good point though. And it is very true that the average person cannot appreciate much of what the marial arts entail. I think in a speicalty channel of martial arts there should be both: flash for the un-enlightened and tradion mixed in together.

BAS I appreciate the way you stated that. I very definately believe it was in kata where I began to regain control of myself.

How do you take the weaknesses that you have and turn them into strengths? How to you go about the process of remolding yourself into a stronger person?

Another interesting question Jiggy. I think I have multiple loci of control. For many years the locus of control in my life was a physical thing. How the disease was progressing. As time went on my focus changed to match the method I was using at the time to fight back. I think now my locus is more of a mental nature than just the physical actions and the various types of training I have done over the year. I no longer see images of myself sitting in the wheelchair. When I close my eyes the most common thing I see are bits and pieces of kata. Different huh? I think now that maybe my loci are more evenly spread out among my mind, my body and my spirit.

That happens to all of us Jack. I think aspirations are importand. If we have no image of where we want to go how do we know where to start. One example that is probably a common one in here is when we were white belts did we not dream of being a black belt?

Niel I think that is a pretty cool idea.

Good luck Karateka.

Well my favorite method is to sit in the floor in front of the tv and hold my position. I make sure i lean forward for part of the time. I alternate that with hamstring stretches and also stretch the front of my legs lying on my side in the rotation. The last couple of inches is the hardest to attain. Just kind of lean forward and let your hips roll forward so you are on the sides of your feet. Your body weight will do the rest. But if it feels really awfull stop right away. You are not ready to go that far.