Dijita

To me, I think the drills are there for you to practice combos... so this should be your focus. I believe we do these drills so that we can make a lot of the combos being taught an innate action when you are in a tournement. It'll take years and years before you master them I am sure. For example, we've been doing lots of combo drills for about 2 months. At my tournement on Saturday, I didn't do ANY of them even though I had planned too, because it's not innate yet. We also do seperate drills for footwork as well. Combo drills are also excellent for teaching you to always be "on balance". For example one of our combos we practice: -left punch -right punch -shuffle (that is switch your stance from left foot in front to right foot in front) -roundhouse kick from the back leg. (this would be your left leg) -fall back (that is your back leg now becomes your front leg) -roundhouse kick from the back leg. (this would be your right leg). Now, it's actually preety difficult to do this combo and with each strike always landing on balance in a perfect fighting position. The whole idea is after each kick, or each foot movement your weight is always centred and you're ready to attack or block if you have too without having to shift your weight. I'm only a beginner, but this is what I gather so far the advantages of combo drills. So they are very useful... try not to dwell no the bad things about it and learn what you can from them. Good luck!

So here's the situation: In a tournement I often go up against fighters who as soon as the hand drops get in real close to you and start punching you like crazy and try to move you around. No problem, I'll just punch back and try to build some space to throw some kicks. But my problem is, what do I do when my opponent is a lot bigger than me? I was in a tournement yesterday and I'm 130 lbs, and the other girls are between 160-190lbs I figure. I could not fight toe to toe with these girls. I won my first fight because I managed to connect a head hit. However I was being moved around a lot of the match. My second fight, I got killed. The girl moved me all over the mat, and the judges called in her favor of course. So my dilemna is that I'm thinking if I move around the mat and attack when I see an opening it might be better than trying to go toe to toe. However I'm kinda of wondering if I move around too much would the judges call in the other persons favor? Anyways, after all that verbage, does anyone have any suggestions on how to fight someone who is a lot bigger than you and tries to fight you toe to toe? Just for your info, these are Kyokushin full contact tournements; full contact to the body and legs, excluding the knees, light contact to the head.

Yeah, I was talking about using this technique for strictly tournement fighting, hehe so the knife is not gonna happen . Anyways, in our tournements we're not allowed to wear gloves, it's full contact. Helmets are generally mandatory in color belt division, same with mouth guards. Shin guards are sometimes optional. Open division, the only thing you can and have to use is mouth guard. So in my opinion, if you can master a strike the bicep, it would be very useful. However, yes, I can see how if you have to wear gloves in a tournement this wouldn't be effective at all.

I suppose by now, reading this, you've probably already competed. So post here on your experiences, I'd like to know! I really hope you had fun and that you will be doing more tournements in the future. I did my second tournement yesterday. Hehe, I did ok, but my losing match was painful. The girl was 60 lbs heavier than I, and god her low kicks were brutal. I was a deer caught in the headlights and I didn't even attempt to move or block her kicks after that for some reason. Anyways, I leanred not to fight toe to toe with people who are way bigger than you

I agree, if you are going to do pushups, do them on your knuckles. One of the biggest advantages is that it will strengthen your wrist, so that way when you go to a tournement and you punch someone hard, it's less likely that you will injure your wrist, and your punches will be that much stronger. 4 months ago I could hardly do 10 of them, now I do 3 sets of 20... I'm excited! Martial Arts rules that way, always improving.

I say go for it, it's an experience. You might hate it, but more than likely you will get the competetion bug and want to go to a lot more. After only 4 months of doing kyokushin, I did my first knockdown tournement (it wasn't that long ago). I had a blast. I got a bit hurt, but I still had a lot of fun, and to my suprise I finished 3rd. Now I want to go to the Canadians in May. Our classes are now training 3 times a week, and it's 90% fight training. One good way to get yourself in good shape for the tournements (that's if you're fighting), is to do wind sprints. Go to a track, and sprint for 100 meters as fast as you can, then walk back to the start line again, and as soon as you reach the start line burst into another sprint to the finish. Keep doing this and you'll be well trained anaroebicly. Anyways, if you go, good luck, have fun, and KEEP YOUR HANDS UP (assuming you fight full contact especially).

I don't think it will completely disable your opponent... however it is very effective if you hit the right part of the bicep. Even a weak strike can make your arm kind of numb. All I'm saying is that if you do this a couple of times, theres a better chance of the person lowering their guard allowing you to kick the head. We do A LOT of roundhouse kicks to this area in class, hard sometimes too. You can take quiet a bit of strikes to the leg before it starts to feel "deaden". It's one of our more common kicks used in class and tourneys. I'll admit though, the inside of your leg is quiet a lot more sensitive to kicks than the outside. So what I'm saying is that it seems that the centre of your bicep is a very sensitive area on most people.

That sucks, I did not know that. Are you sure? I have never read anything of that sort. I knew that he was very strict about teaching his students in the full contact way though because he felt it made them stronger... I never knew anything of him starting fights for no reason however. If he did, that is kind of lame... and I agree is not the way of the arts. I am glad that our school seems to be a very tight community where we are strongly taught to respect our fellow students and to avoid confrontation in the streets at all costs. Our sempai always does great things for us, and brings us together for dinners and stuff. I think that just helps strengthen the bond between everyone in our club. Anyways, I kind of strayed away from the point...

Is that a bad thing?

Yesterday, we were using a knife hand... though Sempai said that we could also use a fist and it would also be effective.

At class yesterday, we did this self defense technique where you striked the middle of the bicep of the person punching you. I could not believe how much pain came from even a weak shot to the bicep! I want to learn to master this move to use in tournements. I think it could be very effective if you practice at getting good at quickly side stepping the punch and striking the bicep. Think about it. One good shot, maybe two to the bicep would probably deaden your opponents arm preety quick, which would result in weak strikes coming from them. On top of it, I bet you they would start lowering their hands because of the fatique and pain in their arm. Once the hand is lowered, you can kick the head and score a point. Thoughts?

I have sooo much respect for Mas Oyama. I think he is a great man, powerful, and smart. I wish I would have had the oppurtunity to meet him before he passed away. Anyways, here are some links to some interesting articles about Mas Oyama regarding the 100 man Kumite. http://japan.cfw2.com/article.asp?s=japan&mimid=JSKXEVH0B32U8N8MJWK88JNC14A791QA&content_id=545 and http://www.kokorowebdesign.com.au/iko/100mankumite.htm

My boyfriend and I both do Kyokushin. I really enjoy it. It's great because we can both practice at home and help each other to learn things.

The best exorcise in my opinion is either cycling or running. I think it's more important to develop the cardiovascular system than to build up muscle. However with cycling and running you would be building muscle, as well as toning down, as well as increasing your endurance, and stamina.

What style were you fighting in? Did you guys get kicked in the face? Because I don't know any tournements that allow for hand strikes to the face. I haven't fought a club fighter myself.

I'm often known for my independence and hasty decisions.... and I know that when I wasn't happy with my situation, I moved to a different city. I practically closed my eyes and put my finger on a map and said, "ok lets move here!" I didn't know anyone and I didn't know much about the city. However that was 4 years ago that I moved, and it's been the best decision I've ever made. I've met some of the best people in my life, I've gotten into a lot of new activities, and I just love my life. I still don't have the job of my dreams, but I'm real happy right now because the other things in my life balanced it all out. I'll be going to school for animation very soon, so I'm starting to work towards that job of my dream. Anyways, good luck in your future endeavors and I hope you find happiness soon

I'm a girl... and if I'm interested in a guy, I'm preety good at making it clear. Confidence is important, but cockiness sucks. Some examples, is the guy who puts himself down, thats a huge turn off for me. I dunno.. just be yourself, try new things, keep an open mind and good things will happen. Are you a really picky person with high expectations? This could be your problem too.

I'm a big fan of downbeat (a lil' easier listenin), and I also like some trance, though I'm real picky with this genre. I guess the kind of trance I really like is called progressive trance. I love DJ Tiesto; his shows are amazing. I also love house music cause I like to dance!

A high heel in the "junk", I can imagine feels anything but pleasurable.

Becka, I'm sorry to hear that you were a victim of such a crime. I don't think anyone should ever have to go through that, and it's unfortunate that so many people do. Thank you everyone for participating in this discussion. I have found it to be informative, and I hope that it has been an eye opener to many of you. Rich_2k3, thanks for the link to that book, I will definately check it out. Thanks to everyone else for their advice and words of wisdom.

Hrmm.. those are some interesting points. I'd love to find the stats regarding the women who attempt to defend themselves don't get injured for the most part. I don't think this is always true though, there is always a very high risk when attempting to defend yourself, because the assaulter could stab you out of fear or aggrivation. Now is being sexually assaulted worst than being killed? This is definately what I think. If you can run, go for it. As for a weapon... this is what I usually do and perhaps it is paranoia, but often times if I am walking home by myself especially at night, I'll hold my keys in my fist with one key sticking out between my fingers. Therefore if I get attacked it is a very handy weapon that you can use to stab the attacker and give you that oppurtunity to run. I'd like to think that I would attempt to defend myself, and I run the situation through my head many times so that way I am prepared if it happens. However sometimes when the situation arises it is always hard to do what you think you would.

That's awesome!! Congratulations! I did my first tournement last 2 weekands ago... so yeah, I understand being all nervous and stuff. Are you hooked now? Do you want to do more? I know I am... I have tournement fever now But glad you had a great time! Bonus that you came in first.

Hi I just wanted to open up a discussion about using martial arts as a way to defend yourself. To begin, I just wanted to share that today I read in the newspaper that a serial rapist is in my neighbourhood. After reading this, it got me thinking... what would I do if this person approached me violently? Many people join martial arts as a way to defend themselves, but when it comes down to it.. if you were faced with a situation where you had too, would you? Another question is should you? Take for example, if someone attacks you and wants your money. The attacker has a knife. Is it really wise to try and defend yourself? In my opinion it is probably best to just give up your money and spare yourself possible harm. Now it gets a bit more trickier when this person that is attacking you, wants to rape you. This is something that is obviously going to cause personal harm, as well as quiet a bit of psychological implications. No longer is it just a loss of material possession in the case of someone wanting your money. If the person has a knife, should you try and take the risk of being stabbed and fight the person off? I understand that this is probably more of a question directed at women, however, if you are a guy reading this... try and put yourself in the shoes of a women... and think about what would you do?

Bleh, I can't stand shoes... hehe even when I'm not doing martial arts I use shoes as little as I can. This past summer I spent most of it without footwear... I went camping and didn't wear shoes. You end up getting Flinstone feet though

Her fighting in my division isn't the issue. Our tournements have two categories for knockdown division. Open, and Color Belt. Color belt consists of everyone but brown and black I believe. Then of course you seperate the weights and the genders. Open is just as it states, though you'd be crazy to enter if you were anything less than a brown belt for the most part.