CloudDragon

I agree with usatkdwtf, it is the instructors resopnsiblility to engage their students on a personal level and interact with them in a way that will facilitate optimal learning by the student. That being said, the student (and their parents) must be fully aware of what is required of them for each testing (preferably in writing and just after the awarding of the previous belt.) Since all parties mentioned will agree that this is the correct way to train, they will have no issues with arranging the testing as suitable for both the student and instructor. O.K. Now for reality, if you give the test requirements to the student as soon as possible, like the night of the belt ceremony. You have placed some of the responsiblility on them. Stay in contact with the parents and remind them that if they have an issue with why their child is not progressing they need to talk to you ASAP. Tell the parents that when they practice at home, to try and identify areas that need attention, if you offer private lessons, now would be a time to bring this up. If you don't offer private lessons, take their issues and address them with the student in class, correct them and send the student home to practice them. Hope this helps.

I think the XXL is worth the $$, I like the ability to practice a wide range of techniques without adjusting the bag. If I had to choose, I would get a 6 ft. freestanding bag with a tiedown on the bottom, but I can't do that where I live, so the XXL is a great alternative.

You can hardly walk because you have injured your legs. If you have an injury you need to address it. It may be very likely that you need to stop the particular thing that is causing the pain until it is healed. Some may think you are weak by doing this, that is fine. When they are 50 and can't hardly walk because of their injuries, you can kick the crap out of them for making fun of you!

1. Because by creating a style I was better able to understand other styles and why they do what they do. 2. Yes, it was an eclectic style, drawing from karate, jujitsu, TKD, kempo, kenpo, and military techniques. 3. Nothing really, it was done in an effort to find the most efficient way to teach members of the protection career fields effective techinques that could be learned in the shortest time. I don't teach this style, but I did teach it at one time to several friends, some that actually use the techniques with positive results. It was an interesting experience for me, I learned alot about training methods and how different people learn differently.

Yikes, kickboxing is already on the decline in my area, as XMA is flaring up like a boil of the butt of good martial arts... I would try to contact your organization and see about starting your own dojo. That way you should have an instructor over you that will have time (though will probably be harder to meet with) to train with.

Medical science would equate it to a "Runners high", it is when you have used all of the immediate energy stores in your body and the brain releases endorphins to help you carry on. Is this a bad thing, no. As long as you don't do it every day. I see it as a type of reward for pushing yourself. As far as it being Mushin, sure, it could be that. I personally feel that it shouldn't take extended training to achieve Mushin, but for many people it is their first experience with it. So either way, it was a good thing.

I don't really care for the non tradtional uniforms myself, but the stars and stripes and the black and white checkered uniforms of the 60's and 70's did look cool, I just can't see me wearing one. As far as patches go, 2 or 3 is plenty. You don't need to wear your MA resume on yourself. It shows lack of humility IMHO.

Absolutely, it is practice of a known martial weapon that has been modified for training, like the kendo shinai.

I carry a gun and am glad I do. Last week while driving into my apartment complex, ( I live on a dead end street) I saw a car that "didn't belong" driving in the middle of the street toward me. I was able to go around them and get to my parking spot. At this time I saw the car stop, (I counted about 5 people in the car.) I was about 20 feet from the passenger door, and had time to grab my ASP baton in the door and watch as one of the passengers got out of the car. He was covered in jailhouse tats and looked like he hadn't showered in a week. He took about 3 steps toward me and stopped when he saw the baton (collapsed) and asked for directions to some place on the other side of town. I gave him directions out of the complex and he politely thanked me and left. The point is: I don't think that he would have stopped if I was: A) a woman, or B) unarmed. It is the predatory mentality. Attack the weak in packs. If they all jumped out of the car, I would have drawn, (not pointed) my gun. Call me paranoid if you will, I just feel I am motivated to live. I think that one on one, at close to mid range, I could disarm an attacker with relative ease. But, life isn't just one on one. People need to realize this, predators dont fight fair. Protect yourself.

Pick the worst one, bring him to the middle of the floor and beat him until he cries. The others will understand your strength and power and follow your every command. Seriously though, like my instructor says: "catch them doing something good." Whenever one of the kids does something right, praise them. "Bobby! What a good front kick! You do great when you focus on raising your knee! Keep it up!" "Jane! You paid close attention when I was giving directions, you did that last technique wonderfully!" The point is, you tell them what is right in a positive way, not: "If you don't listen and pay attention you will do pushups." Not that pushups and sitting out are not effective. They definintley have their place, but this approach is effective for kids who don't respond to negative reinforcement.

I learned volumes with just a few Krav lessons, check the web site and make sure the instructor is certified, and then learn with confidence! https://www.kravmaga.com

Slydermv has brought up an important point. It is more of a mental addiction than physical. Patches, gum and other aids can help with the physical symptoms, but the real key to success is to change your thinking. Start by avoiding situations and places where you want to smoke, replace them with healthy alternatives. When I was in my car I replaced cigs with Dum-Dums (the little lollipops) it helped keep me busy and worked on the oral fix. Hang out at places where you can't smoke. I chose the Dojang, my instructor would absoulutely lose his mind if he saw someone smoking on the proprety. Go to your doctor or health clinic and get information on how to quit. I would strongly suggest looking into a support group. It could help you with different strategies and give you another place where smoking is not allowed. Finally, remember, you are a non-smoker now, you used to smoke, but you really don't want to start again. Good luck, and remember, should you go back, immediately get back on your quitting program. Keep trying, it will work.

One thing I have noticed with younger practicioners is that they don't seem to have the respect for balance, and a firm base, that the more experienced of us do. I use strong blocks and agressive advances to disrupt the balance, this usually results in stumbling back or falling. Either way they learn to be more controlled in their attacks.

Think about this: "Breathe in, breathe out; anything more than that is a bonus."

$70 per month classes 5X per week, up to 4 per night, plus cardio 6X per week, plus I have a key to the school!

Hehehe, maybe you do need a date bro! lol! Sometimes, especially when learning new stuff, the movements that cross the body with the weapon can hit protruding areas because the center point of the bo can rotate close to the chest. The nunchaku can have the hand holding it rotated a bit too far inward causing it to strike the outer aspect of the breast. Just joking 'bout the date thing!

I think she might be talking about some of the blocks and strikes that cause the middle portion of the staff to come into close proximity to the chest. Unfortunately, I can't remember the correct names as it has been more than a day since I have done them! The underarm stop used with the nunchaku and the high to low downward strikes that stop at the underarm are the first two that come to mind.

Unless there are some major obstacles in the way, it should be a matter of adjusting the angle of the weapon or hold on the weapon. Most females I know wear a high quality sports bra, (it must be high quality by the way they gripe about the cost!) and that usually takes care of the problem.

"Another one bites the dust"- Queen

I like the parry/grab, but as usual, I gotta agree with SS on this one and say that the hook kick is suicidal. As far as one-steps being useful, they are, if only for the fact that it is another application of techniques learned. Unlike kata, there is another person involved so timing and distance come into the equation. My current style stops teaching them at green belt and turns the focus on sparring and self-defense. For junior belts, it is a good way to explore new techniques and applications without killing someone!

OMG!!! Hey, where do I get my "lime green and cerise belt"?

Great post, reminds me of why kata are important, and reminds me of the real depth they have. Great post.

I would read the: "Tao of Jeet Kune Do" by Bruce Lee, he does a great job of explaining it.

As the belts have embroidery showing the current Dan, our black belts get a new one every promotion. To quote my instructor, quoting our grandmaster:"In Korea if you had an old worn out black belt it meant you were poor!"

I think BB really "jumped the shark" when they had the last third of their mag devoted to MMA. It just seemed that the focus turned onto MMA and left many other things behind.