Bretty101

I'm not hijacking the Sinewave thread but going off on a tangent!... I have had a bit of a revelation this evening! Bright flashing lights everything I kinda get it now (I'm not a sinewavey person). I was talking to a sinewavey friend and asking him to explain it. Basically We both do the up/down thing similar, the hip twist and everything, but here is the major difference!!... When he completes a move he does the block solidly then instantaneously relaxes. This gives the sloppy bouncey look i hate. Basically he says if you remain tense after landing the block you are wasting/using unnecessary energy. Whereas I do the block and hold it solidly for a fraction of a second before moving onto my next block. Now heres the question.. Which is 'right'? 1. To land the block solidly (solid stance and blocking arm) and hold until you move into your next stance/block. or 2. Land the block solidly then instantaneously relax your stance and blocking arm saving energy? Bretty

celtic bhoy!!, (the guy that started this thread) Are you following this? I just noticed your from near where i used to train! Bretty

Milk and eggs are always gonna be cheap and an excellent source of protein. Might be high in fat, not sure if thats a problem for you? When i was a student cash was a bit tight and i lived on milk and eggs. also, I don't know if it's the same where you are but big bags of frozen meat are quite cheap in supermarkets (in the UK anyway). Cheaper then the fresh stuff. Nuts are another good source of protein. I can't think of anything else. Though it usually seems expensive, protein supplements when you divide it up isn't that expensive. You pay a lot for 10Kg but that is a lot of 20g measures! worth considering! Good luck! Bretty

?? We usually just get 10x10x1 pine when we do demos. We just ask for pine? don't know what we get. The man that works at the depot always laughs when we tell him what we're using it for. He says, "I bet you don't try and break it across the grain!! now that would be impressive!" One year we had a stack of wood, where it was left in the rain the top board got really wet. It must have been 3 times harder to break then all the others! Bretty

I don't know why your post was deleted Akima? I thought you raised some good points! Maybe it was the excessive use of the asteriks ***!!!! You don't wanna upset the mods!! Speaking of which, i'd better make a topical comment... How can you bastardize TKD when TKD is a bastardization of Shotokan Karate? as for the arguement that the colour of the suit reflects the person... I came from a very traditional TKD club, before going to university and training at a really relaxed club. I can see both sides of the coin. When i go back home to my original club I wear a white suit because it's the 'done thing' there. That is what the instructor asks and what everyone else wears. Admittedly it's a nice polycotton mix which isn't that traditional (neither are the colour belts people wear) but hey, it's the norm! When at my uni club I wear a coloured suit because thats the norm there (people come and train with us from all over the world, you won't see 2 suits the same!!). We still do exactly the same taekwondo! The tenents are there, the respect is there, the TKD history is there! Bretty Transuitual

Martial arts are meant to be boring and manotonous, else it's a Mcdojo! Just kidding! I've been to clubs where things start getting boring because you've been training there to long and the lessons no longer advance with you. You need to either work towards something new and challanging (like your bb) or find a new club. Maybe try speaking with your instructor they may either suggest something to help you or change the lessons for you. Bretty

After seeing this I ordered some too. I usually wear neoprene ones but they are wearing out. I ordered the most expensive Black ones. They are really well made, look hard wearing and the delivery was super quick next day! They give really good support, a little tight at the minute but i think they'll give. Not tried the others, but i recommend the ones i've got. Bretty

That is taekwondo in a nutshell!! Politics! Who needs it? Some guy (He claimed to be one of only 5 international WTF referees?!) was looking to argue with me last week that ITF taekwondo was over political and not gonna last long. I wasn't gonna rise to it and told quite honestly i really was not interested. Money leads to politics Politics leads to the dark side! Bretty

Hyperextension is taking a joint beyond its usual range of motion, often resulting in damaged cartilege or ligaments. This occurs when 'throwing' techniques and using the joint to stop the technique rather then the antagonistic (opposing) muscle. With additional weight added to the limbs it is harder for the opposing muscle to stop the technique resulting in the joint violently locking out. This is most common in the knee and elbow joints. I use punching weights for all my hooking, body punches and uppercuts. It's a great shoulder work out and strengthens my back. Its really good for quickly recovering after throwing techniques, as you try to quickly return your fist to cover your face (carefull not to hit yourself in the face! ). I'm very carefull not to practice my jab or backfist with weights. I find this just trains me to pull my techniques as I started decelerating the technique way to soon. I'd rather hit a pad or bag and use that to stop my techniques. Bretty

Surely traditionally there were no grades or colour belts in taekwondo. These were all gimmicks bought in for us westerners!! So we can have coloured belts but not coloured suits? Do you judge a book by it's cover? Out of respect i'll wear any suit an instructor/master asks me to, white or otherwise. Bretty

Granted spookey, you do raise up and drop down into your stance. But isn't the theory of the sinewave (when doing front/walking stance for example) to drop down first then come up before dropping into the final stance? There is a definate down up down motion, i think it looks sloppy and promotes a weak stance. I think as you say spookey you raise up out of your stance and drop into your next stance, solid and strong. People don't spar sinewave or break bricks with it!! Back to the roots, Shotokan strong stance, out and out power! Bretty

Pick up any of the UK martial arts magazines (combat, MAI). they generally list all the major open tournaments in the uk! Bretty

Sorry to quote you AC!! I was just looking at that Legacy CDROM. I'm at work and everythings going a bit slow so though i would brush up on Choong Jang. I've just realised that I do not get the sinewave at all!!! It looks so sloppy. I must admit i'm a hip twister not a bouncer. Bretty

I only ever wear black and/or white. (I'm a black belt) I've got about 8 suits, They are all combinations of black and white, some with stripes some with patterns some just plain. My favourite combo are my black pants with white top with black trim. For gradings, tournaments and seminars I always wear plain white. Bretty

AES, Why don't you try throwing a spinning kick back at him or at other members of your club and see how they react?! Learnt from them what defences work. If someones got a really good move, ask yourself: Why don't i do that? Bretty

Meaning that spin kicks are poor fighting technique (in general)... so perhaps we should kick them in the back to get them to stop throwing them when they won't actually work? Uh-oh i'm being quoted! I put a lot of winks in that statement meaning yes give them a good kick in the kidneys but i knew everyone would say thats was dangerous and unsporting. I do it! I also drop my elbos onto peoples kicks, they soon stop kicking you in the body then. All unsporting! I think spinning kicks are very effective btu they need great timing and speed...

"You don't know the power of dark side" Hi all, I hang my head in shame as i consider turning to the dark side. I've been training ITF style for years and am considering turning to WTF. I was fortunate enough this weekend to be invited to a WTF training camp. We did a total of 14hours WTF sparring and pad work which was a huge insight for me. My intentions as always were to be completely open minded and steal all the best bits from their style and incorporate them in mine. This has given me a few new angles on my kicks, several footwork tricks to play with and an appreciation of what WTF is all about. I thoroughly enjoyed playing WTF and if only they let you punch to the face i'd sign up tomorrow. The reason I've posted this is not only did I learn a great deal from doing WTF, but there was an opportunity for the WTF guys to have a go at ITF. I think it was an eye opener for everyone involved. and we all appreciated why we did things the way we do. There was no right or wrong just different. I recommend everyone ITF or WTF has a (proper) go at the other style. Maybe with a shared appreciation we'll all learn something. Bretty ITF Taekwondo with a blend of spices!

two things i can think of... I tend to step in towards them but off to one side, so i move behind them as they spin. ie if the kick is coming from the right side step to the left. This puts you right outside of the kicks power and right inside your opponent. Now light up their kidneys and floating ribs with some good body shots that'll slow them down. Another thing which you must not do is kick them in the back as they spin thats dangerous and can really hurt them and stop them doing it especially not with a good step through side kick. Bretty

Yeah we do all our patterns with hip twist but without the sinewave. Realistically that is the method i'd use to break a brick, spar and really hit someone. I really struggle to generate any real devastating power using sinewave! I've been fortunate enough to train with Grandmaster Hee Il Cho. I have a massive respect for him as a martial artist. and believe he does the forms the way they were intended!! Bretty

Ewww nasty! I've broken my nose pretty badly a few times. Give it a couple of weeks for the swelling to go down and if its restricting your breathing through your nose at all, go an see a doctor! also if it is really out of shap i'd go to a doctor to get it 'set' sooner rather then later. I don't know about getting it to heal quicker but i'd definately avoid sparring or sparring with head strikes for a while. Maybe try anti-inflamatories. I had two black eyes for weeks when i broke mine, aparently you know it's broken when they have to drill out your nostrils so you can breath! (not so wise words from my old rugby teacher) Bretty

This happens quite a lot with beginners. I always wear groin protection when fighting anyone. The reason this happens most with beginners is because they tend to kick up from the floor. Rather then bringing the knee up nice and high first then kicking out. This comes with strength and flexibility. As long as you(r friend) didn't do it on purpose and you(r friend) said sorry and make every effort not to do it again, i can't see theres a problem! Nothing ruins your day like a kick in the groin!! Bretty

I'm pretty sure you can't 'build' on your solar plexus, no matter what you do. You can condition yourself to getting used to the pain, but as a nerve centre you can't stop people knocking you out by hitting you here! just keep your elbows in not just when blocking but also when attacking! Bretty

I'm 23! I am still developing at the same rate i did when i first started age 13. The only difference is at 23 I do not have the time, energy or enthusiasm I had then, such is working life. 23 is no way old!! I know hundreds of students who started martial arts in their early twenties (my university taekwondo club has over 450 students!). the ones who take it seriously are very good! Just make sure you know what you want to get out of it. For me... Q. Who is the best martial artist? A. The one having the most fun!! All the best! Bretty

That reminds me of the way we used to train at my old Thai boxing club, ALL exercises were done for 3minutes intensively with 1 minute break between 'rounds'. Great for helping you judge 3 minutes in the ring and the perfect balance of anaerobic and aerobic exercise! I can never do that exercise when i'm out jogging on the street/park because people see you stop running and think your a quitter!!!

If you'd torn it i think you'd know about it!! it would swell up very big and hurt a lot. I managed to damage mine quite badly when i fell off my bike. I dislocated my shoulder and broke my collar bone!!! I pull mine quite often, just a little strain can leave me quite uncomfortable for a week or more. It feels like my shoulder is slightly out of joint and doesn't feel to great but with rest it goes away. The rotator cuff is one of those minor muscle groups that is important to stabilise the joint but very difficult to strengthen. You rarely conciously use it, as its range of motion is to twist the arm at the shoulder. its the muscle you'd use arm wressling or reverse arm wressling. I tend to use cables (resistance machines) to strengthen mine which i find helps a lot. Bretty