SabreToothMan

All of the requirements for all belts below black are available generally for everyone. But we don't make it a habbit of sharing the rank requirement sheets until they are needed. It is felt that the student will work on 'funner' stuff rather than building a good foundation with the basics. We even share higher belt knowlege with the students to interest them. But for black belt requirements you need to be training at that level to see the requirement sheet. It is possible that this is done to add mystery to the black belt ranks, but what we do at those is dangerous without all the earlier techniques firmly learned.

Thanks Kicks. That page had some good ideas. I was looking more for individual drills than a workout list. For example downward strike to the head with a stick blocking with a slanting block. Checking the strikers hand and using your blocking stick to attack downward onto the partners head. Then he must recover his stick to perform a slanting block again. This drill can go quite fast and test your blocking speed as well as your ability to check (momentarilly control the striking hand as you retaliate with your own strike) the partners strike. Thanks again though.

I train with three other Black Belts once a week. We practice drills from class and responce training on a regular basis. But we need some fresh ideas. Does anyone have any advice for online sources of drills in punching/kicking/blocking or stick/knife fighting as well as joint locking or other takedowns. I would appreciate any info provided.

The best learning in my experience it to take the basic knowlege given by the teacher and practice it. This gives you a platform to learn more about the technique and understand more of what the instructor says. Then you practice this... and so on. The teacher who impresses me it the one who knows how much to teach the student so the student can practice with out being overloaded. And the student who impresses me is the one who can say, "I understand what you've said so far, now may I practice it and come back for more information later?" Chatting about things you can't apply is fun, but impractical. And re-inventing the wheel, as stated earlier, is also impractical.

What about the option of secluded training while continuing your daily life. The basic philosophy of 'sacred space' used by yoga practicioners can be expanded to include sacred time as well. And chosing a location such as a room dedicated only to martial arts would cost much less than a year in the wilderness. I know a person who built a dojo on his property. When we train there the outside world does not enter. The training is for a set time and during that time the 'real world' does not exist. To train harder for a solid block of weeks or months would not give as efficient a result. A mind needs time to let the training and techniques 'sink in'.

It is true that you should try to remove yourself from the threatening situation as quickly and with the lowest level of force possible. In my state, however, if you are attacked in your home you have a right to stand your ground. Out of your home if you can run and don't run you are liable for any damage you do to the person. As for being treated differently by the law, the answer is yes, and no. The law will look at your ability to defend yourself with the least force needed. If you are a strong untrained man and are attacked by a weak slow person with a knife you don't need to kill the person to remove the deadly weapon. The same goes for the martial artists. If you have the ability to disarm and subdue someone attacking you with a knife, you should. If you use excessive force beyond your need to defend, the law is allowed to deal with you accordingly.