Rateh

I believe the big las vegas tournament has continuous (I really should know the name, the guy that runs it used to be my sensei :/) I also remember there being one or two big tournaments in california that had it as well...I think one was in San Diego. They might not be advertised, but if you look at devisions you may find many tournaments that have continuous. I seem to remember about 5 years back when I competed that most of the students in my school that spared did so continuously.

I was taught that bo staffs should be measured for the student, at about eye height to head height. I believe mine is 5ft.

I personally don't believe it is necessary to spar for long periods of time. In a self defense situation one wants to get out as soon as possible, not stand there and duke it out, thus there is no need to train to spar for longer periods of time. From my understanding one of the reasons is to show perseverance and indomitable spirit, but I don't think it is applicable for self defense.

I agree with the consensus. I think that crossing leaves you more open to attack and puts you in a position where its harder for you to attack or defend.

I was taught that it doesn't matter what it sounds like, so long as it is forceful from the diagram. Mine has changed over time. I'm not going to yell out right now so I'm not sure exactly what it sounds like at this point. I think I have had "ya" "ha" "iyah" "huu" "hiy" "huay" "hiyt" "huaya" and "hut". I've noticed most kids tend to yell/say "kiah" or "iyah" without using their diaphram. I wasn't aware that some japanese schools had specific sounds for different things. That sounds interesting.

In my experience, most instructors don't have a problem with white belts learning weapons. Weapon training may or may not be required for advanced students, bust most instructors will be willing to teach lower ranked students who have the desire. Usually through private lessons (which often times costs extra). Welcome to the forum.

Very nice idea. I don't teach classes like I used to, but I do assist and often get to run whatever warm-ups I want to. Last Wednesday I kind of changed it up a bit with their warm-ups. Often we do kicking, usually stationary, as part of the warm-up. Instead I had the students do backward moving kicking. Starting with a front kick, they would lift the front leg, perform the kick, and place it behind them. After front kicks we did round kicks the same way. Then step behind side kicks where they would throw the side kick with the front foot, then step it behind and step the now front leg back into a fighting stance (so you're kicking with the same foot each time). Finally I had them do hook kicks the same way as the front and round kicks, which made it essentially the last half of a spin hook kick. I chose these kicks because it was the low ranks class (white and yellow belts). For higher ranks I would do kicks that involve more coordination and weight shifting.

Thanks so much for the replies. I think I'll combine some of them and see what happens.

After my pretesting last Saturday, my arms/shoulders were very sore, much much more sore than the rest of my body. I had a hard time putting them behind my back in a "relaxed stance" which I believe is also called parade rest. I decided to...test the pain and see what hurt most. I found that if pressed I could force them to move from the parade rest position up my back, or out from my back, but it was difficult. Mostly my arms hurt on the back, and my shoulders, and across the top of my back, and the muscle behind the clavicle. I have looked up pictures of where muscles are in the body, and I think the specific muscles are the trapeziums, the triceps, and the deltoids. (I hope that I spelled those correctly) What I am looking for is exercises that specifically target these muscles, so I will be better prepared for my next test. The thing is I have no equipment, so I'm really looking for exercises I can do with just me...or stuff that is lying around my house. Pictures or videos would be very helpful. Thanks so much for any responses.

I think the confusion comes in whether "side kick" is seen as a descriptive term, or a noun. To most people I've spoken with "side kick" is a specific NAME for a specific kick, not a description of a type of kick. As is front kick, round(house) kick, back kick, axe kick, etc. I'm sure they started out as descriptive terms, but nowadays they are used as nouns. Now I've never trained in a school that uses names other than english for techniques. But every one that I have trained in, used the term side kick to reference the same thing. Whether it be thrusting or snapping.

Thanks guys!

I must have grown up in a bubble... I still do not identify with this article....I was not raised to be feminine/masculine. Myself and my sisters and brothers had the same opportunities and were treated the same. I was never discouraged or encouraged in "masculine/feminine" behavior/activities. I understand that some people might feel the way of the article..but I can't help but think that I cannot be the only one who doesn't identify with the statements/opinions in it. The article was well written...but I wholeheartedly do not feel that it is a real picture of modern society, perhaps for a decade or more earlier, but not of today.

I also think that hitting with the blade of the foot would be good for a knee shot. It has a larger surface area, and I think it would be difficult for most people (especially in a real self defense situation) to aim with the heel at the knee.

Well today I took the second of three black belt pretestings that must be passed before the "big test" in September (a two day event) This test was over the second "half" of the color belt portion of the system (they say half, but its really more like the second two thirds) The test was 3 hours and covered 6th kup through 1st kup testing requirements This included 4 basic combinations per rank 2 kicking combinations per rank 4 sparring combinations per rank 1 form per rank a bo staff form and partner work (one steps, two steps, 25 escapes from grabs, knife defense, basic stick work, 5 judo throws, and some free style self defense) I am very sore...but I only have to pass one more pretest (over all black belt requirements up to the rank I am testing for) I'm very happy about passing the test, and am looking forward to testing in September. YAY...just had to share it with someone

I don't remember if I was nervous for my first testings. I know I've been nervous for my latest testings (one come 9am this morning). I'm generally nervous the night before the test, and then the testing morning up until I start, once I've started my nervous generally calm down. For some reason I'm not nervous about the testing this morning....even though I am still reviewing material because my brain keeps freezing. (all of the sudden I'll be doing a form and freeze wondering if there is a punch or something that I just missed)

I have trained on mats for 11 years. I have never seen anyone get caught in the cracks, nor any difficulties with turning. We didn't use jigsaw mats however. At both schools I have trained at in the last 11 years, the mats were rectangular in shape, with the same consistency of the jigsaw ones. In Las Vegas the mats were not secured to the floor, and so would slide a bit on occasion. If we saw any gaps, then the students would stop, and slide the mats back in place. At my current school the mats are quite long, running the entire length of the floor. There are 5 of them and they are secured and taped together with tape of almost the same texture as the mats, and exactly the same color. There are no gaps ever on these mats.' Personally I hate training on carpet or hardwood.

Well, I haven't actually looked at this place, but I was considering adding it to my taekwondo training, after september. http://www.arrowheadkenpo.com/why-train-here/ It's a kenpo school, that is only for adults.

Do you live in salt lake city or in a surrounding city?

I am a female, for those that might not know. I believe that groin kicks are viable both in sparring and self defense. For sparring control should be used as in any other technique used in sparring, control in my mind being that one does not cause injury or undo pain to the person one is sparring. For self defense, as with any other self defense techniques, one should not assume that it is a "killing/disabling blow". Always assume that the person will still be standing and fighting, and be ready to continue.

Currently I train for 3 hours one saturday a month (outside of my normal training). This is part of black belt "pre-testing" that lasts from january till the big test in september. Three hours does tend to drag a bit sometimes, especially the last hour, but it's not particularly difficult to make it through. The problem comes with retaining the information. We get about a 5 minute break in the middle, then back to training. There often is a lot of technical stuff covered in the classes, and by the end of the 3 hour block, I find I've forgotten half of it. I'm going to be requesting shihan that they give a longer break in the middle, so we can quickly jot down some notes before we forget. As far as fatigue physically, I know some people have difficulty going the full 3 hours. I haven't personally had a problem, but then again I usually take two classes in a row during normal week classes. Our January class was a test over the lower color belt material. Our February class we spent the whole three hours going over basics and forms. March was 3 hours of self defense. April will be a test over all high color belt material. I think it was actually easier to go over the same type of material for the whole 3 hours, rather than mixing it all up.

I never trained at a school that really used group admonishments until recently. All my previous schools had pointed out the problems to the individuals during (or maybe after) class. Recently, I was training in a class and the instructor, every class, would tell everyone that they needed to deepen their stances. I finally addressed him after class, asking why he had to keep reminding everyone, why didn't they just get it? He said that most people, during group admonishments, assume that the instructor isn't talking to them....whereas others assume that he is always talking to them. It may be the case that these students assume that THEY aren't the problem.

When I plan kids classes I usually break it down into drills. Each drill lasting for about 1 minute longer than the average age of the students....so for 4-8 year olds I'd make drills 6-7 minutes long. (6 if there are a lot of 4-5 year olds who have trouble with focus, 7 if your students mostly 6-8 ) Rather than drills that are just "stand in a horse stance and practice hand techniques" they should all have some goal in mind. Sometimes I like to intersperse more focused/boring drills with "skill drills". Drills to work on a specific skill applicable to martial arts training. Such as balance, control, teamwork, perseverance, etc. Always end with a skill drill or game that builds something involving martial arts. I tend to like to have all of the drills for the day related to the same thing. For instance all of the drills involving kicks, or sparring, or reacting quickly and appropriately, etc. Also until you get used to knowing how much time different drills will take...ALWAYS plan for more. So if you think you will do about 4 drills plus warm-ups during the class, plan 5 or 6 drills ahead of time just in case you need them. As far as warm-ups, I go back and forth between two philosophies. The first is that the kids will get bored if they do the same thing every day, so I have a large variety of warm-ups that I utilize. The second is that kids need stability and doing the same warm-ups every class will help them feel comfortable and confident at the beginning of class. Also remember that students love using equipment. So be creative in your use of it. Additionally with young students, using things they are learning about in their outside lives helps. With the youngest ones that will be animals and animal sounds, colors, basic numbers, letters, and shapes. Incorporating that into their training will help you reach them better. That's all that comes to mind at this point in time. I hope it helps someone.

I hate the pull over uniforms. The ones that tie tend to stay in place much better for me. The pull over ones tend to billow out over the top of my belt after just a few minutes, so I'm constantly adjusting them.

We used to do a different kind of push-up that we called "superman". It's kind of like doing a clapping push-up, where you start in a normal push-up position and push off the floor harder. Only instead of clapping you push all the way off the ground and hold your hands in front of you like superman and your feet off the floor. Then land back in a regular push-up position.

Hmm...most of it is unaccesable in a closet at the moment, but from what I can remember. Uniforms 1 blue with two different pairs of pants 3 black 2 or 3 lightweight white 1 white tkd 1 heavy weight white soon (waiting for it to come in) a heavy weight white with black trim Weapons 3 padded nunchuku 2 pairs of wooden nunchuku 1 pair of poly something or other nunchuku 3 or 4 pairs of kama 1 katana (unsharpened) 1 bo staff (I have another somewhere in vegas...) 2 pairs of escrima sticks 1 pair of sai 1 pair of tonfa 1 blow gun 1 rubber training knife From when I had my own club 2 kick shields 3 or 4 hand pads 1 or 2 clappers 1 or 2 blockers Sparring Equipment 1 pair of cloth gloves 1 or 2 peices of headgear 2 or 3 pairs of regular karate gloves 2 or 3 pairs of regular karate foot gear 1 pair of leather of some sort karate gloves and foot gear 1 chest protector 1 or 2 pairs of shin protectors mouthpeice goggles (tried them when sparring in place of my glasses many years ago, never use them) Other things I bring with me to the dojang that weren't listed above Bag for my crap Belt Notebook Pen Camcorder Bronze medal and white belt (didn't realize I still had those tucked in the side pockets) Also have books, magazines, old plaques/medals, old training manuals, records of student attendance and testing sheets from when I kept track of that for the school, old lesson plans, dvd's, and video tapes I think thats all