Aodhan

Yeah, it's due to the anatomy around the knee. The quads (Front of the leg) and the hamstrings (Back) either straighten or bend the knee respectively. The tendons for these muscles cross the knee joint and insert on the bones of the lower leg. (One of these tendons encapsulates the kneecap as well.) The stronger the muscle/tendon complex, the more stabilization. If the pain is a "surface" type pain, then it is probably muscular or tendon in origin. If it is interior, it could be one of the 4 ligaments in the interior of the knee, or possibly the meniscus (Cartilage pad between the femur and tibia/fibula.) Do the RICE regimen someone else recommended, wrap/brace the knee, and if it keeps hurting, go see a sports doc/orthopod. Aodhan

Depends on what boards you use. For some demos with the rebreakables, I'll break up to 11. 3 white, three orange, two yellow, two green and a brown or 3 green. Stack them on cinderblocks, and it makes a fairly impressive palm heel break, since the boards just "explode" and spring up in the air. Aodhan

Ours has the camo belt (ATA). Our belt ranks progress White, orange, yellow, camo (First point at which they can free spar with pads), green, purple, blue, brown, red, red/black (Which is 1st degree recommended), and black (1st degree decided.) Aodhan

Would you have a problem if sensei was getting richer? If he's good, shouldn't he receive some compensation for his work? -- My sensei is a woman. There is a bit different culture in Finland than in other countries when talking about MA. Here is not many teachers that can teach martial arts and earn some money to live. But I would not have a problem if sensei would earn some money. But my sensei is generous, she does this purely cause she loves karate, and she want to teach it to others too. Surely very admirable. When I first time watched what all you guys pay for training MA I couldnt believe my eyes, now I realise how lucky I am when getting good teaching almoust competely free. Of course Im also helping my club, teaching young kids for free and helping when asked. That`s how it works here, everyone does their part and gets no payment. This is one of the holdovers from ancient ways, that the master would teach the students, and in return, they would till the field, provide food, etc. Now whenever a MA instructor actually makes money from the art, he is accused of "selling out", or charging too much, etc etc. There is nothing noble about starving, and likewise, there is nothing shameful in getting a reasonable salary to provide for your family. I will have spent 11 years getting ready to open my own school, and I am lucky enough to be in an organization that will help me with business classes, marketing programs, etc etc. Aodhan

That baffles me. Why do you think you need Kukkiwon certification in order to coach AAU? I'm in my 2nd year of coaching and refereeing AAU Tae Kwon Do and I'm not Kukkiwon certified. Kukkiwon certification is very expensive. Since you are a 2nd dan are you applying for a skip-dan (not having to get a 1st dan Kukkiwon first then waiting to get a 2nd dan certification)? Did you know that you can get certified by the AAU? go to http://www.aautaekwondo.org/ and click on the "Dan Certification" link in the frame on the left. Also, AAU Junior Olympics are in New Orleans this year. If you plan to go let me know. My daughter is competing. We also live in the New Orleans area. The kukkiwon certificate is for possibly coaching along the Olympic path someday, although I also thought it was required for AAU. I'm going to go check out your link now. Thanks! Oh, and I'm only applying for first dan at this time. A former master in the ATA is now a...4th? degree in the WTF, and he's going to process my 1st dan application. Probably won't make Junior Oly's this year, possibly next. Aodhan

Yeah, two side kicks. I think the guy's name is Chip something, if you catch a repeat of the XMA special they show on discovery (Science of the martial arts or something like that), they show a segment that has the break. Occasionally ESPN2 will show the breaking championships from a couple years ago where he originally did it. Basically, take a cinderblock, stand it on end, stand a patio edging brick up on it. Balance a cinderblock on top of that, then another patio brick. Break the lower one then the upper one with side kicks, both basically speed breaks. I racked my ankle quite a few times with the middle cinderblock getting the timing right. Aodhan

Currently I am in the 30-39, 2-3rd degree men in the ATA. I live in the southwest, so between Phoenix, California and Vegas, there are lots of tournaments I can go to. Currently the ATA does point sparring. One point for kick or punch to body, two points for kick to head or jump kick to body, three points for jump kick to head, match to 5 points. State championship is done by straight point accumulation over the course of a year, world rankings are top 10 point leaders in the division. I've never done the USTU circuit, although I have sparred in the WTF/Oly style. I am currently in the process of getting a Kukkiwon certificate so I can start coaching AAU. I have a love of the Olympics, but I had fundamental differences at the time with the way that the WTF did things. I'm also considering going to a few open tournaments this year just to see how I stack up in forms, if nothing else. ATA is also adding olympic sparring certification courses, and adding olympic style sparring classes (The current US coach has helped teach the last couple seminars I've seen), and there are rumors that in the future, ATA competitions may be opened up. (Although most think this will be limited to XMA competitions, which the ATA added just a little under a year ago.) I was ranked top 10 in 2001 as a 1st degree (Mens 30-34), but couldn't afford to go to Worlds. I made state champ in 2004 in forms and sparring, and took most of this year off since I am a brand new (~1 year) 2nd degree. Next year I plan on hitting the tournaments hard, and trying to qualify for the top 10 again. Aodhan P.S. I hear you on the thinning out as well, a lot of times we find ourselves being combined with the 1st degrees to make 6-8 in a ring. Nationals always has full rings of 15 people, however.

One of the things that I did for my kinesiology work was a very small study on body kinesthetics and proprioception (Learning how to tell where your body or a part of it is in space without looking at it). I found that people who had more sports in their background had higher scores on the exams. (Duh.) I often see some people who just "get it", and others who struggle, and since MA is very much about being able to control your body, get feedback from it and use that information to improve, I always wanted to redo that study using martial artists and their backgrounds and see how they scored. For me personally, doing swimming was probably the biggest advantage I had in sports for the rest of my life. I learned how to control my body in the water (Where I didn't have to worry about gravity), and how different movements of my body created different actions and reactions in the water. If I could, I'd arrange with a local school or gym to rent their pool and go do forms work and other workouts in the pool and see if that would improve peoples perceptions and motions. Aodhan

First break - upset ridge hand, 1 board. Best break - speed break of two patio bricks I copied off a guy in the US Open breaking championships - Patio brick stood up on a cinderblock, another cinderblock and then another patio brick, break the lower patio brick then the upper as it falls. Most fun - 9 boards at a demo that had Superfoot Wallace as a guest. Still have a piece signed by him. Aodhan

One of the things I do when I am learning/touching up a form is to go through it move by move. After each move, I look down and fix my foot position, hand position, etc. until I look like the "manual". Once everything is corrected in that position, I will tense all my muscles as if I'm trying to "freeze" myself in one spot. This helps imprint muscle memory. I also do forms facing in different directions (Try it facing a corner to start sometime!), I'll have other students whack me with foam noodles while I'm doing my form, and do my form with as much power or fluidity as I can depending on what I think I need work on. Aodhan

I don't get it because the joke was edited out. However... An Irishman walks out of a bar....hey, it could happen! What's the difference between an Irish wedding and an Irish wake? One less drunk! Aodhan

This year I took some time off and only competed in 5 tournaments. This year I want to take state again (I am the 2004 Az state sparring/forms champion for the ATA in my age group), as well as qualify for ATA Worlds, so I will probably go to about 12-14 tournaments. Aodhan

That's my thoughts exactly. After so long as a competing athlete, I know how to listen to a coach, and/or tell my body to do something. Additionally, there is a fluidity in movement that I see in long time athletes that I don't see in people that haven't participated before. And I agree, no prior experience does not mean you can't be a martial artist. It's all in what you put into it. Aodhan

Hey all- First, an introduction. I've been working with fitness and fitness related topics since I was about 16, and did my degree work in exercise kinesiology. This is part of a monograph I wrote a while back as part of my major work on creatine, or more properly, creatine monohydrate. In the muscles, there exists a compound called ATP (Adenosine TriPhosphate). It is basically a molecule in the cells that has three phosphate bonds "trailing" along behind it. When instructed by an enzyme, the last phosphate bond "breaks" off, releasing energy that can be used by muscles to rebuild, contract, whatever. Then you have a molecule of ADP (Adenosine DiPhosphate) floating around that will need to have a phosphate reattached before it can be used again. This is where creatine comes in. Creatine is stored in the muscles in a form called creatine phosphate. When ATP is converted to ADP, creatine phosphate can donate a phosphate to convert it back quicker, thus providing more energy faster. It is generally beneficial in short term, high intensity type workouts (Sparring, weightlifting, sprinting, etc.) It also helps by "bloating" the muscle with creatine rich fluid. Creatine occurs naturally in food, at approximately the rate of 4 grams per kilogram of protein. (A kilogram is 2.2 pounds, a gram is about a paper clip in weight.), and the body makes another gram up on it's own. The IOC and other governing bodies classify creatine as a food, so it is not an illegal substance under any classification. The basic usage of creatine is to "load" the muscles by consuming 10-20 grams a day for the first 4 days (Depending on bodyweight, do a google search and you can find a lot of charts), and then maintenance of 5-15 grams per day. The best way to take it is to mix the powder with water. Citrus juices will actually break the creatine down before you can drink it, so you'll be drinking waste product, not creatine. Creatine has been shown in numerous studies to be effective, although trainers are split on their opinions. Many dismiss the effects and will not allow their athletes/clients to use it. If you do decide to try it, make SURE that you drink extra water while you do. Creatine pulls water from elsewhere in the body to help "swell" the muscle. Also, creatine waste is broken down in the kidneys. Many of the early users of creatine that had problems massively overused it (If some is good, more is better, right?), and didn't drink enough fluids, leading to renal (kidney) overload and failure. As with anything, consult a doctor before using, and use in moderation and accordance with the instructions. Anything can be abused. I don't know how many of you use creatine, but it is immensely popular in junior and high school athletics, and I'd be willing to bet a year's salary that you have at least one or two people in your dojang that are using it currently. Aodhan

Heh, no worries. I spent way too much time on Usenet arguing top vs bottom posting, quoting, etc. in my somewhat misspent youth. (Which begs the question, if you misspend your youth, can you ask for a refund?) Aodhan

Sorry, but you have some facts in error. Your triceps cause your lower arm to straighten (Extend). The stronger and faster that is, the stronger and faster your arm will extend, and the stronger and faster a punch/backfist/knifehand will be. The lats draw your arm in close to your body, so any strikes such as vertical hammerfists, downward elbows, etc. will use the lats. People are under the misconception that the chest provides all the power in a punch, which just isn't so. The function of the chest is to bring the arms towards the chest in a hugging type motion. (This is why a flat bench fly exercise works the chest much more than a bench press). Competitive bodybuilders are also in excellent shape in all respects as has been pointed out already. To answer the OP's question, you can do most exercises with a flat bench. I would recommend getting a sturdy model that can also incline and decline. Add an olympic straight bar and an ez curl bar, and you can do most exercises. I would recommend multiple muscle movements such as the bench press, squat, lunges, and add biceps curls, tricep presses, bent over rows and military presses for general muscle development. If you get really interested and want more specifics, I can outline different programs designed for different goals. Aodhan

Exactly. High weight/low reps will build strength, the lower the weight and higher the reps, the more you build size. Every muscle is comprised of two different types of fibers, slow twitch and fast twitch, and your ratio of same is fixed at birth. Fast twitch fibers are generally recruited first, and tire faster, before recruiting the slow fibers. If you really want to build strength, work out a routine where you do multiple muscle exercises with middle weights to tire out the fast twitch fibers, followed by isolation exercises with heavier weights to hammer the individual muscles. If you do a google search on fast twitch training or slow twitch training, you'll find some really good articles. Aodhan

Just wondering how many people had athletic backgrounds before they started in martial arts, and how it affected their learning process? I've been a competitive athlete since I was 4 (Starting in swimming, did that for 17 years, along with cycling, cross country, water polo, triathlons, track, soccer, golf and wrestling, various others), and as such, I have a really good ability to learn physical elements quickly, and excellent body control (Balance, etc.) I've tended to find that people that started athletics early in life (Even if they quit for a long time) will pick up the physical aspects a lot more readily than someone that hasn't really been an athlete. Anyone else have similar backgrounds, or observations on same? Aodhan

Well, I take classes on Tue, Wed, Thu and Fri nights, assist teaching in two classes a week, teach private lessons on Saturdays as well as by appointment. When I train at home, it's mostly weapons. I'm lucky enough that I learn physical elements extremely easily and quickly, so most of my forms practice is done at the dojangh. Aodhan

Right now, I pay $100 a month, and I have an 18 month contract. That entitles me to unlimited classes (Including cardio kickboxing if I so choose), and extra training sessions in various weapons, as well as the instructor certification path. My fiance just signed up as a brand new white belt, and her fees are $75 for unlimited classes and cardio kickbox, no extra sessions/instructor certs. In our area (Phoenix, Az) it's about average, I've seen as low as $60/month, and as high as $190/month. Aodhan

This is very true. I am in a system that is often slammed for being a "McDojo" system (ATA TaeKwonDo). As with everything, there are elemnts of truth and fiction interwoven. As with any large system, there are the high sides and the low sides. I know of some schools that are belt mills, and I know of others that are really tough to get to 1st Dan in. I switched schools to be at my current one, which falls a little past the middle towards the harder side. My current instructors really emphasize the meaning side of being a black belt. I've been offered the chief instructor position at their new school opening next year, and I will add in some more requirements (Such as essays, etc) for any student I am considering promoting to 1st Dan, as well as emphasizing the non-physical aspects as well. Aodhan

Unfortunately, they may be suffering from what I tend to call "latent BB syndrome." I see a lot of black belts that are new that still have the respect and honor that they were taught as color belts. Then, they get a few tournaments where they place/win, a few friends that are black belts, and they start reinforcing with each other how "bad" they are. Then, they start to feel that anyone that doesn't have a black belt isn't worth their time, so they start asking everyone "What belt are you?" to see if you measure up to their perceived level of worthiness. I see it a lot in late teen/early 20's black belts. Women as much as men, surprisingly. Aodhan

I'll agree that most only use 20% of what they learn in college, and that they don't remember much of that. However, it's the difference between mental learning and physical learning. When you learn something mentally, your brain actually wires neurons together in specific patterns to "imprint" the memory. If you use that memory constantly, it stays "wired" in the brain. If you don't use it, it eventually disappears. I scored excellently in math on my SAT and ACT's, but I doubt I could pass college trig if I were to take it now. Muscle memory is similar in that it is pattern memory, but muscle memory does not really fade like mental memories do. You may lose the fine motor skills, but the gross motor movements will still be there. And, if you want to continue the college analogy further, how much of your time is actually spent on learning your major? Most schools only require half of your time be spent in major courses, the rest is on general ed and electives. When you train in a martial art, 90% of your time is spent in your "major" (so to speak). This is going to greatly reinforce the training, especially since there is so much repetition even from form to form. And as far as life/death? You can get a paramedic certification in about 6 months, and in an emergency I'd trust a paramedic over any doctor (Other than ER) in a street situation any day. (Can you tell I was an ER medic in the Air Force? ) Aodhan

Actually, I disputed the 5200 hours. Aodhan

If I was to be in a real street fight, I don't want to be close enough to have to do joint locks. However, if I am forced, I will use a joint lock with enough force to disable the joint. My goal is the minimum application of force that will allow me to retreat from the situation. We train joint locks with progressive techniques, starting with single wrist grab releases, going up to 6 and 7 move release/counter/lock type sequences. Referring the inebriated person in the other post, my favorite saying to people that hear I'm a BB and say "Boy, bet you think you're tough" is to respond "Well, it really doesn't matter how tough I think I am, what matters is how tough YOU think I am." Aodhan