parkerlineage

Oh, yeah! I totally did that one time, only, unfortunately, I do remember.

I concur completely, Jiffy.

MINE! Possibly some swordhand strikes...I wasn't too thrilled with the program, honestly.

You and your wife's cousin are in the right. Any instructor who insists that a martial artist shape their path around what that instructor wishes is unfit to lead, in my opinion, or at least make decisions in that aspect. Of course, I could be wrong, but that's my opinion.

You can't do that, yet? I'd heard that.

Wow. I saw this show for the first time last night, and it made me want to cry a little. At first, I was very impressed with the speed of the two guys' kicks. Then I realized that it was because they were just tapping each other. Then, somebody got called for hitting in the groin, and then the other guy got called for hitting in the face, and I just started laughing. It's like tag... And what are they using for scoring? The random number generator?

I'm glad it sounds like it's going to work out for you. Your head instructor sounds like a good man. I like people that stick by their principles and friends, even if it's not necessarily the easiest choice.

Wow! That's a regemented tournament! All the ones I've been to, I could get up there and flail my hands around, and nobody would care. I would lose, but they wouldn't know it wasn't a Kenpo form. Is everybody the same style there?

No problem. What style do you do, now?

My extensive (NOT!!) TKD knowledge says that yes, those two styles are very similar, if the TKD is traditional. I base that on this conversation I had with a guy at a tournament who beat me for grand champion: Me: That was a good form! Is it Tang Soo Do? Him: It's traditional Tae Kwon Do, but they're very simliar. So, there's my entire argument.

Please tell me that this movie hasn't come out in the US, at least West Coast, yet. If it has, we don't have it in my stupid small town, and I'm going to be mad!!

Gutsy... I really hate the amount of politics that one can find in the martial arrts. Frankly, I'd much rather people just be open to new ideas, rather than so adamantly sticking with stuff because that's what they do. But, I guess one can't really escape that, huh?

That's why I always carry a pair of footlong sticks and a length of cord in my pocket. Never know when they'll come in useful. (Just kidding, by the way)

Tom Kelly helped my instructor get his dojo started 20 years ago, when my instructor was only 16 or 17. I've never met the man, but he sounds like a good man, and a good martial artist.

That's an interesting approach - I like it. It encompasses all the necessary aspects, or at least most of them.

Okay, let me clarify something on my opinion, here. If you're learning fancy moves like crazy spinning and the like, then no. If you're learning to figure eight, block, and strike effectively, without flash, then yes. I think it would take a lot of work, but one hit to the hand with a nunchaku and you're going to drop whatever weapon you're holding.

I would just flying knife edge straight into his chest.

That's actually something that I believe my style doesn't emphasize enough - our kata are designed to be done on a body, but nobody ever seems to have the time or desire to do it. So in my dojo, you better believe we will. I'm going to use my mother (3rd kyu (brown)) or my cousin (7th kyu (orange)) as the dummy for the video, hopefully.

We've never had that problem, but I can see that it's a valid problem, and should be addressed. That's a major health and safety hazard! Talk to your instructor, definetely.

Any weapon in the hands of an inexperienced person is equally as dangerous to the user. That's why when people are stabbed to death, frequently, the killer cuts themself. That said, I am of the opinion that there is a weapon for everyone; though anyone can put in the time and effort to become proficient in any weapon, there's got to be one that you just take to. For example, I've done nunchaku forever, and my mind just doesn't work that way - I picked up a dao two years ago, and I'm doing advanced forms very well, from what I hear from the occasional practicioner I run into. So, maybe the nunchaku just isn't for you, either.

Okay, I actually sat down and watched an entire two UFC matches, and I rescind most of my derogatory comments that I've made. I still think people put too much stock in it, but those guys are pretty hardcore - I saw some suggestions I would have to some of them, but I don't think I'd want to fight them, anyway!

Yeah, there are some crane influences in our style. We call it (get set for a creative name) low-clipping-loading-back-kick-into-low-slicing-knife-edge. Gotta love Kenpo naming system, eh? It's kind of supposed to be that way, and it's also because of my stupid ankle, but good catch! Yep. We AK guys tend to be moderately ambidexterous after a while because of it - especially if we start in early childhood - too. Helps us fight on either side, or deal with injuries. Kata: Short Form 1-3 Long Form 1-6 Sets: Finger Blocking 1/2 Kicking 1/2 Isometric (I MADE THAT ONE UP!!! ) No crazy names, sorry. Nothing called or like that, but I like the name! Thanks for your questions and comments!

Nunchaku - Hit my hand, groin, head. Bo - Hit my head, foot Dao - Cut my hand, finger, toe Sai - Cut my foot (in a tournament!) So, yeah. I have.

Yeah, I guess it would be bunkai-ish applications (we don't use that term, but if I understand it correctly, then yes). Nope. No other name. I kinda wish we had a cool name for it in Chinese, but Long Form 3 is it. I will work on the video this weekend, perhaps...I'll even steal my sister's video camera so we can have sound and I can explain stuff verbally, too. Thanks for your posts!

^That's just wrong.