Bretty101

What next?... Soon they'll have to make extra long blackbelts for pregnant women. Bretty

We use it in our squad and circuit training sessions. In squad training it helps you build adrenaline and timing, circuit training again it helps with timing and takes your mind off the pain. I also listen to some up beat angry music when i'm in the gym. It helps me squeeze out the extra reps. We don't have msic in our traditional classes tho. Bretty

Must say I prefer my Taekwondo Polyester/Cotton suits to my Karate 100% cotton one. I don't know why they don't put a little more polyester into TKD suits anyway. I've got a pair of TKD trousers which are 60% poly and they are really comfy. Now I can't find them anywhere. Aren't Gi's the most comfortable things to wear when you have sunburn. Ouch! Bretty

Have to agree with XpOiSoN FrEeX anything heavy or Hardcore!!! Pennywise, Slipknot, Lost Prophets and System of a Down. Hardcore, Techno and Trance- all good for jogging. Bretty

Heres one thats really dangerous (though great fun!! ) It's like tag, but instead of tagging them, you have to strike them on their target zone. Of course there are loads of variations, Heard of bulldogs? BULLDOGS: 2 (safe) zones. Players have to run from one zone to the next with out getting tagged n between by the tagger. We also play this where the tagger has stricking paddles. If your all very controlled and maybe dissallow running and make people have to walk there aren't that many injuries. Bretty

Probably not what you want to hear. But if you keep doing it the pain will go away. I used to do a lot of drills with my karate friends. You gotta block hard and quick else you get hit. This used to give me monster bruises and hurt a lot. But you get used to it and now my forearms are like metal bars. I wouldn't be suprised if conditioning your forearms carried the same dangers as shin conditioning!! Bretty

I know a few. It's good to get variety. 1: One partner does hands only the other does legs only. Then switch around. 2: tie students belts together so they are stuck in boxing range, then get them to do light hands only sparring. (Great exercise!!!) 3: (THIS IS GREAT FUN) Last man standing tournament. 2 teams (of 5 for example) tag team style. Each team has a captain who nominates a fighter. Each fighter has 3 lives, they lose a life if struck above the belt with hand or foot, or if they go off the mat. They can tag and swap with team members at anytime. When a player has lost all 3 lives they sit out. The losing team is the first with all members to lose all 3 lives. This is a great game though needs a referee. 4: Splodging, (for students new to sparring) all they have is gloves which they don't wear, but hold in their hands. Only allowed to stick to opponents shoulders. Striking to face or swinging not allowed. (great fun if done piggy-back style) 5: KILLER- Circuit training/ Sparring. 3x2minute rounds hands only with 20 press ups between each round. Then 3x2minute rounds feet only with 20 Sit ups between each round. Then finish off with 3x2minute rounds hands and feet with 20 squat thrust between each round. Bretty [ This Message was edited by: Bretty101 on 2002-08-03 06:00 ]

I just don't tell people i do martial arts anymore. You tell someone and they either want you to protect them or fight them. Then you get all the ridicule, it's really not worth the trouble. Bretty It's suprising how far you can get on Ignorance and Confidence

Uh-oh! I'm confused. Knife hand peirce is that like a fingertip strike or knife hand strike? I was thinking of a downward knife hand strike to tile. Kinda like a 'karate chop' :lol: Bretty

How much have I gained? Not much, I like to think I'm still in the toning phase. I've lost loadsa fat and I'm definately getting bigger. As for changing TKD schools. My trouble is I'm 210lbs and kick and throw myself about like someone half my weight. I've got ligament hyperlaxity syndrome which basically means my joints are prone to stress. Hence trouble with my knees and arms. The problem with my knees is not the locking out, but more the pivoting leg, torsion through the knee (after 10 years it kinda adds up and loosens the joint). Arm/wrist locks and press ups seem to be bad for my arms. Basically I'm just taking care of myself for a while but TKD hasn't seen the back of me!!! Bretty

SSL Every body in you class should be SWEATING, SMILING and LEARNING. (some people argue about the smiling bit ) Bretty

I've been in the gym intensively for the last 3 months and feel great!! I've layed off the training (TKD). Suddenly my knees don't hurt anymore, my shoulders stay in their sockets and my wrists don't click any more. I'm pushing myself harder then i would at TKD and not having any of the injury trouble. It's great!!! Before i felt like my body was getting worn out, always injured and clicking joints, but weight training has really sorted me out. No impact and the increase muscle seems to align and support my joints and back. I think i might stick at this a bit longer and come back to the TKD in a couple more months. Bretty [ This Message was edited by: Bretty101 on 2002-08-02 09:48 ]

Like it!! In myopinion this is the best and most practical self defence you can teach to some one with no formal training. Simple and effective is what you need when it hits the fan!!

Kife hand strike, the most important thing with this technique is to force all your fingers together so your hand is nice and solid. Then grit your teeth, shut your eyes, hope for the best and WHACK!! I've seen people knifehand with splayed fingers and seen some amusing dislocations!! Hitting bags of rice probably seem like a good idea now but i think you may end up regretting it. I used to strike a maize bag quite often, and now my knuckles are in a really bad way, they seize up and swell when they are cold and click and pop when i move them. Bretty

a lot of people say in WTF there is no encouragement to use the hands and it is not very self defence orientated or realistic QUESTIONS: Does WTF have high section punchs in it's forms? Is self defence taught in the syllabus separately to sparring? (it is in ITF) Surelyl these areas (punching/Self defence) are covered in WTF but not when sparring!? Bretty [ This Message was edited by: Bretty101 on 2002-08-02 04:47 ]

ITF is great and WTF is pathetic. Just kidding!! I'm ITF though would really like to train WTF styleee. To be fair everyone dis's every other martial art. All styles have disadvantages. Bretty

Taekwondo: Impressive kicks and open minded; the Syllabus allows you to steal bits from other styles and incorporate them. Muay Thai: Simple and Effective

The ex-chairman of my last Taekwondo organisation ( thats quite funny :lol:) He had the best Twist kick I have ever seen. Frank Murphy some of you may have heard of him. He could do this kick over his shoulder with his foot in a rediculous twist, breaking tiles and bricks. Cool! I can just about kick groin height with my foot slightly past horizontal. (Cant be good for your knees!!) but any higher then that and it feels like my hip is gonna pop out. Bretty

Couldn't see the first clip (not got winzip), tho seen the tkd/mt fight before. Very funny and an obvious result!! Why did the WTF guy bother putting boxing gloves on?!?!?! Bretty

I was asking about twist kick a few months ago. I know how to do a low twist kick but can't get the height. The problem is I don't know what stretches to do to achieve it. I can do the side and front to back splits but can't get the twist. Help!!! Bretty

I'm 6'2" and can do vertical roundhouse kicks and even vertical lead leg turning kicks. So they must be about 8' high. and can jump front kick about another 6inches again. I believe!! Bretty

Give me a brick to break (the best way to test any technique) or get me to do a pattern and you'll see me punch from the hip. Any other time i don't. I think it's a bit silly. Go and ask this question in the karate forum, karate students don't seem happy unless they have one fist stuck to their waist leaving chin sticking out mouth wide open with a shout. Interesting concept. Punching from the hip definately builds power and cooordination and i find strengthens my back, but i wouldn't use it in a fight. Bretty

I fink in the evenings when your relaxing. Stretching is all about training your muscles to relax (rather then contract) when extended . Therefore stretch when your relaxing, most often in front of the TV in the evenings. Bretty

Focus as in look at or concentrate on? Look at... eyes, rear shoulder (always first to move before any technique), mid section (true indication of distance, centre of gravity) or concentrate on opponents breathing people act very differently at various states of breath, breathing in or out or at either peak. Concentrate on... Where do you start, I'd say good footwork, if you get that sorted without thinking about it your balance and drilled techniques will flow nicely. Bretty

I know what you mean about feeling like a white belt doing Chon-gi. I spent 5 years as a first dan before i took my 2nd dan (been instructing and changing clubs). Learning new moves feels sooo difficult, I guess I've got complacent doing patterns where I don't need to think what the next move is, it just comes natural. Bretty