hammer

I had MA background prior but just started Kyokushin earler this year, and I turned 50 in June. Plan on avoiding full knockdown stuff when I can (don't bounce back from pain/injury like I used to) but otherwise I don't see any problems...

That's what I've been finding...in general, power starts at the center and radiates out. For kicks, they start at the hips, then the knee follows, then the ankle/foot. Same thing with punches, starts with the body position (shoulder), then the elbow, then the wrist/hand. Somehow in my TKD training power was never presented in this manner, seemed like we got more wrapped up in speed/snap. Body position through the technique wasn't ignored but the concept of starting at the center wasn't emphasized as much. Guessing this was school/instructor specific and not style specific. One aspect to my training I enjoy now is pad work. Nothing like producing a resounding thud and seeing your partner move back to let you know you've generated some power on a technique.

Lots of stuff can keep me up or disrupt sleep, but MA related... Pre-test or pre-tournament jitters When I had a crisis of conscience at my old school it kept me up a few nights

Interesting comment...aren't there times where that just isn't appropriate? One example from my own training is that the Gedan Barai I learn in Karate has a completely different setup then the low block I learned in TKD. In a Kyokushin class, should I do a TKD low block in line or in kata? Of course not... I do like your overall viewpoint, though. Techniques learned (wherever they are learned) should always be evaluated to make sure they are worthwhile to use on the floor...

Just wondering what others think of this. I actually see some validity in it...if one is training at school X where a technique is done a certain way and at school Y where it is done differently, then the student needs to adapt the technique to each school. This is why I think that training at more than one school in the same style would be confusing...but if someone can handle it and wants to train at more than one school then I don't see a problem with it. I have some questions about how this would work. Are you referring to the way a technique might be done, like a round kick? If doing forms, then I can understand an instructor wanting to see the techniques done the way he taught them. But for sparring, I say adaptation is king, and if the way you do a round kick is different, but works better for you in sparring, and still falls into the rule set, then by all means, go with it. Can you elaborate a bit more on this, or am I hitting the nail on the head here? When in line or during forms, one should adopt the techniques as taught in the class IMO. During sparring, follow the dojo rules but do what works. I think I'd have a hard time in my Kyokushin class if I only did techniques the way I was taught in TKD...and it wouldn't be fair to my instructor to just do my own thing because that's what I learned previously.

Where I used to train this was one of the "commandments" (slightly reworded to protect): Just wondering what others think of this. I actually see some validity in it...if one is training at school X where a technique is done a certain way and at school Y where it is done differently, then the student needs to adapt the technique to each school. This is why I think that training at more than one school in the same style would be confusing...but if someone can handle it and wants to train at more than one school then I don't see a problem with it.

+1 Recent change from one style to another has taught me that...

No reason to be embarrassed, looked pretty good to me. What rank is a blue belt in your style? I did notice that one of the judges leaned back, did the bo get a bit close? It did look like you didn't have much space to work with... Nice job and I give you credit for sharing the video.

Nice! On to new katas, etc...

I learned some pressure point applications in TKD, the GM had a lot of knowledge on it (not sure what system). Unfortunately we didn't work with it frequently enough to make anything stick.

Very well said and a good approach to getting the basics of pressure points IMO.

jaypo, did you find that some pressure points didn't work? In my exposure to them there were times when they worked quite well and others where, for some reason, they either didn't or they only worked when demonstrated by the instructor, which meant that the margin for error was tight. Agree with what sensei8 mentioned, especially for those of us who are only casually exposed to pressure point techniques and don't study them in detail in our MA style(s).

Had to look up the Sanchin version and I've done it in class...and it's the harder of the two IMHO. Both of them are a challenge. I've done similar blocks to the Ko Kutsu Dachi version in TKD but there are a lot of differences in the details which keep tripping me up. The fight with muscle memory continues...

Kyokushin. Learned new kata, Pinan Sono Ichi. Going to take some time to get Shuto Mawashi Uke right on that...

Are you concerned that your training will suffer if you stick to your opinion on this student? If that isn't the case then I wouldn't worry...I'd just let my opinion be known to Sensei and then let Sensei decide how he wants to handle things. As long as everyone can respectfully agree to disagree and can train and be trained to the best of their ability then all is good...I think...

By what measures is he the best fighter? Is it mainly because of innate physical ability? Is he the best because he can always score points in a match? I've known of plenty of young fighters who can do a few things really well, which works until someone figures out how to counter/avoid, then their sparring performance goes downhill fast.

Hope we find out how this went, seems like a lot of us (myself included) got a little fixated on kick heights... Do have to say that the comment about the instructor tripping a lot can be concerning, although I'd also admit that demonstrating a technique as one is teaching it can be a challenge as well. Bottom line is that if the overall skills of the instructor and senior students isn't up to what you are used to, then the school may not push you enough and you should look elsewhere.

Glad I go to a school where, while jodan is defined as head level, in practice jodan means "as high as you can kick with good form". I'd like to be able to kick to head height in all cases, but even after many years in a TKD school, my kicks only go that high on a good day and I struggle to get roundhouse kicks with the right leg above waist level. Maybe being 50 YO and starting MA in my mid 30s has something to do with it... For the OP, how were the other techniques of the students in the school? If they were otherwise solid maybe the school just doesn't put emphasis on high kicks. If that isn't the type of place you want to train, just look elsewhere...

Nice! Now the real fun begins...

Agree...train so you know the kata and then when the test comes trust the training. Yes, a lot easier said than done, but it does work. Regarding the scoring, is it common practice for an MI to dictate what others would score for any portion of a test? That's not what I encountered when I used to evaluate students...if I scored someone a certain way then that's how it went.

Students are paying for classes and making the effort to show up so I'd say that they choose to train (except for kids whose parents are dragging them to class).

Just turned 50 in June, been involved with MA for over 14 years and aside from regular soreness have no issues with workouts. Have had a few injuries but nothing too serious. Maybe I'm not putting in enough effort...

Agree with this...I was in a club that I now believe didn't hold high enough standards for its BBs. Got out for other reasons but now that I'm at a dojo that does set the bar higher I really appreciate it.

I went to a 2 day Kyokushin seminar a few weeks ago...quite the workout. Missed out on the testing because I had to get home but I heard the kumite was quite spirited. Usual workouts on Monday and Wednesday. Kihon and kata on Monday (learning a new kata) and kicking and pad work on Wednesday. Running on Sunday (9 miles), Tuesday (6 miles), and Wednesday (4 miles). Planning on a 7 mile run tomorrow morning. Lots more mileage than I need for MA but it's enjoyable, especially with the cooler weather we have been getting in New England recently.

Sums up my opinion pretty well... Important part of the search process is to only go with a school that doesn't have contracts...in all honesty it will likely take time to know whether a school is a fit or not and if it isn't then you don't want to be tied down financially.