baronbvp

When the adrenaline is pumping for real, a key is to stay within yourself and actively calm yourself down while you think clearly. Many people turn wild with their motions or let their voice crack or act erratic - so don't. Develop your gameplan, look to deescalate the situation, and watch for the right opportunity to execute it if you are going to need it. Don't lose sight of your exit strategy. If someone drives the situation to a fight and it comes time to "tho down," you will likely get only one chance to do it right. When it comes time, act decisively and fiercely and leave as soon as you can safely do so.

I am not a big fan of belts, though they are good for motivation. I got tired of paying for new belts for my kids. Our dojo wasn't a McDojo, but they did use the testing process to motivate people, particularly the kids. Every time they got a belt, I had to write a check. Belts hold up pants. Only you know where you are on your journey.

I see you're from Corvallis/Eugene. Beaver or Duck? My wife's a Duck, her sister's a Beaver. They're from Albany.

Talk about your credibility. Smokin' Joe might know a thing or too.

Sohan, GREAT post. A couple of thoughts: 1. You may not be bodybuilding, but if this is your workout regimen I'd bet you've built a very fit body. This is varsity stuff. 2. I haven't seen the term "fartlek" since I ran cross-country in junior high. Nice! And a great workout, whether you fartlek running or on the elliptical machine. 3. Chopping wood or digging holes in the yard with a digging bar are great, too. Or try shoveling a pile of river rock. As people are rediscovering the benefit of core training, surprise! They are finding manual labor to be a great workout. Last summer I scraped all the paint off the concrete in my 2200 sq ft basement and thought I was going to die. 4. I have a gym in my home with a Parabody 2000 multi-station, benches, dumbbells, elliptical trainer, and a heavy bag. But I don't use it as often as I should. You are right on target about that. Keep up the great posts. You are wise in the ways of science.

There are some great articles on the web about them; just Google "russian kettlebells" and you'll find plenty. The main website is http://www.russiankettlebells.com/ and is where they originated here. Although they've been around forever, the new focus on core strength building has led to their resurgence. Even women like them. One main note I've seen is that they are heavier than you think, so if you order some, start light. I'd love to try them, but I too would try them before buying. I already have a lot of dumbbells that work just fine.

Coco (original author), there are great comment sin here from a lot of experienced people. One thing not mentioned: you're 16, buddy. You are still growing. Keep up the good work.

I'm 45. You guys are making me tired. I'm going to Starbucks.

I have this same problem. I have tried to point my foot away from the kick but don't do it at 180 degree angle. For me, my low side kicks are a hip flexibility issue. My body just doesn't move that way, and no matter how much/often/varied I stretch, it won't limber up. In fact, even stretching can cause me pain and my hips will be sore when I sleep. Do the best you can and find a better kick if you can, like the tiip.

Wow. I can't afford for that to happen. Note to self...shin block good.

You might look into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). As long as those in your dojo know to stay away from ankle locks or throwing you onto that ankle, it is an art that has less risk of injury. A grappling versus striking art might be the place to start. I saw the place you mentioned had judo - that works. Just watch being thrown so that your heels or feet strike the mat wrong.

Pushups are good for overall upper body development and toning, but if you're looking for a gun show, you need to lift weights - period. For triceps: Close-grip bench press Close-grip triceps pushdowns (straight and reverse grip) Standing and lying dumbbell triceps extensions Bent-over dumbbell row For biceps: Curl ups (pullups with underhand grip) Reverse grip lateral pulldowns (curl up position) Standing curls with curling bar Preacher curls Dumbbell curls Hammer curls Concentration curls Straight and reverse wrist curls I like hammer curls (dumbbell up and down vertically instead of horizontally as in a standard curl) to prevent excess strain on the tendons in my elbows. Proper form is more important than lifting heavy weight, so only lift as heavy as you can do proper sets of 10-8-6-10 reps. Alternate triceps and biceps sets - supersetting - to work one while the other rests. Don't forget your shoulders and traps as well, before you get to arms.

EAS (https://www.eas.com) makes some good stuff that doesn't taste bad, with most of those ingredients you listed. I use their Muscle Drive protein powder because it's not loaded with carbs. They also have a product whose name I forget. It has creatine and taurine in a fizzy orange powder that tastes like carbonated Tang. Wow, am I dating myself...

Drink water and more water. Creatine volumizes your muscle cells with good old dihydrogen oxide, so you need to drink more of it. There is a lot of research on the web about this. Personally, I don't think creatine is worth it.

Two great books: The Genius of Flexibility, 2005, by Robert Donald Cooley at https://www.meridianstretching.com. His key tip: resistance stretching, where you use muscles to resist the stretch, is safer and more effective. Go slowly at first. Ultimate Flexibility: A Complete Guide to Stretching for Martial Arts, 2004, by Sang H. Kim at http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Flexibility-Complete-Stretching-Martial/dp/1880336839 is very well respected. I just noticed he also has one called Martial Arts after 40 that I will look into.

If you have the ceiling space, skipping rope rocks. Keep the floor clean and smooth to make your rope last. One trick is to ensure you bounce up off the balls of your feet and your toes, instead of jumping all the way off the ground from a flat foot. That way, the rope goes under a small space and you can go faster and more smoothly. It's a smaller motion: rope skipping vice rope jumping. I like to go side to side on each evolution like slalom skiing for a variation. And it's actually not too difficult to cross the rope with your wrists once you get the hang of it. Then you'll feel like Rocky.

These are killer and will bump your heart rate right up. Thighs will burn with the jump, but you can do them without the jump if your ceiling is low. They can be hard on the knees, though. Another good, similar exercise is bullfrogs: 1. Start standing with feet shoulder width apart 2. Squat down 3. Jump up off the ground and throw your head back so you look almost straight up (but don't fall down) 4. Repeat 10-20 times No pushups, but your heart will beat as fast as it can. Be ready.

I like EAS products like Myoplex. See them at https://www.eas.com for product descriptions and ordering. This is one of the few brands with scientific research behind it and the only one endorsed for use by the NFL. I also buy the Premium protein bars at Costco. I used to use creatine but it pretty much just volumizes your cells for bulk and mass. As a result, you have to ensure you drink a lot of water. I finally got tired of feeling puffy and quit using it. I miss ephedrine. That was great stuff when used properly.

Since I am 45 with relatively good knees, I purposely don't do those things that cause knee stress - huge pivots for high side kicks, horse stance, and the like. I am also cautious not to take side hits to my knees. I would rather use limited lower body involvement and preserve my joints, or even submit in training, than go full out and pay for life with pain. My hips work okay but I can't lift my thighs high to the sides for good side kicks, so I just don't. My neck gets stiff and creaky from 20 years of pulling G's in jets, so I am careful with that as well. Last, I have sprained/torn ligaments in my left ankle four times: skateboarding, ultimate Frisbee, jumping off a cliff into the ocean, and last year tripping over my damn cat on the stairs. So, I am very careful with my ankles and plan to wear dual ankle supports when I start sparring in KB. Good luck with that knee stuff. Like has been said, it's never the same once you hurt yourself that severely.

Bushido Man, have you tried swimming? It's great exercise and take the pressure off your joints. You might be able to lose some weight, stay in shape, and not hurt. You could even be first on your block to start underwater karate. I am 45 and my knees are good, except for going down steep stairs or steel ladders. I take glucosamine and chondroitin and it's great. I saw before you said those don't work, nor did vitamin M (Motrin). Maybe I shouldn't be taking up full contact KB now. I don't want to sustain an injury after making it this far with good knees on my skinny bird legs.

Yep, and I'm going to need those two matchsticks for awhile. Also, trying to block an ax kick or hammer blow from above could potentially dislocate both your shoulders.

Yep, that's the thing. To go from natural fighting stance or two chambered fists to a down X-block, in order to block a kick, would be awkward to me even if it is a good choice for someone else. I prefer to block kicks using a down block with one hand on the leg or foot, sort of a quick flick slap down and to the side. I also wouldn't naturally choose an upward X-block to prevent an axe kick or hammer blow coming down on top of my head. I would instinctively use one hand and a sidestep instead. It would be uncomfortable to commit both hands to cross, blocking with my forearms, and leaving both shoulders exposed. It might be a great move, but I would have to practice it and premeditate such a block. Now that I think about it, I can't recall anyone ever using an X-block against me while sparring.

Whatever you do, do it intentionally. Some here advocate moving vice bouncing; they are not the same thing. My personal opinion is that bouncing is unnecessary and wastes energy as well as making you unstable on your feet. Moving is a better choice if you can't stand still. Let the fight dictate; you may not have a lot of room in which to move around. If you are looking for a psychological advantage, try going all psycho-Mel-Gibson-in-Lethal-Weapon on a guy. Personally, I've always been more impressed with the less bouncy fighter who waits patiently for Mr. Bouncy to get all tired and then punches him right in the face. I won't argue with exceptionally well-trained artists who bounce, though, as long as it's intentional. Just like the quarterback who learns to eliminate happy feet under pressure in the pocket, you want to be aware of and control what you are doing with your body motion.

One thing boxing is great for is teaching you to stick in there and duel it out. I've seen quite a few bouncy martial artists. I'm not a fan of bouncing, I think it makes you unstable on your feet and uses up precious energy. Boxing is about footwork and ducking as much as it is about punching. I learned to duck more when I can, instead of blocking everything or physically moving out of the way. I'm sure there are some good books out there about martial artists taking up boxing. I found a little book I like that offers a fresh perspective: Boxer's Start-Up: A Beginner's Guide to Boxing, by Doug Werner (1998). He goes around trying things he's never done before. Interesting take on the sport by someone who has no experience with it or any other martial art - kind of fun. Karate K, you might take a look also.

I will, thank you! Right now there are only three of us signed up for a class of 25, so I hope it isn't canceled. There's only one person signed up for BJJ, which is my other option. If I were single, I'd be inclined to take both. Honestly, though, I don't think my body could take both right now. I'll let you know what happens.