Pacificshore

Do you have a local martial arts supply store near you? If so, they usually carry all the flyers of local tourneys and the surrounding areas. Also if you pick up any MA magazines they're listings of tourneys and seminars.

Ok,

 

You've heard both the pros and cons of dating within the dojo. Student dating student tends to be okay with most places, but instructor/student isn't. Kinda like the military. Your young so take your time. Get to know as much as possible before taking that step towards a possible relationship. As you said he's pretty new to the dojo. Everything that he does in the dojo may or may not translate outside of the building. Remember he's gotta a business to run. Also, make sure your grounded in your training so no matter what happens, you don't forget why you were there in the first place.

The choice of weapons is a personal thing to me. I've learned the bo, chucks, sai, balisong knife, and eskrima sticks. And although I like them all, if it came down to practicality, I'd choose the eskrima sticks, bo, or even a blade just because they are more available.

Learning how to punch takes time like anything else. You need to learn the proper mechanics of a basic punch. Plus you need to build up to it. You can develop your punching power by understand body mechanics and alignment. There's hip rotation/torso rotation, extending/but not locking out your punch, making sure your head, shoulders, and torso are aligned with your hips. You can work your punch on a heavy bag or makiwara board. These are just a few ways to develop a good punch. Be patient, the more you practice, the quicker and stronger you'll become.

I'm for recovery. Don't think the instructor would appreciate the type of "example" you may set for the younger ranks. Plus if you decide to puke, that wouldn't be a good thing.

Welcome aboard

Welcome aboard

Heidi:

 

Nice to read your posts. Welcome aboard, and hope you get use to the Cold weather the East Coast have to offer!!!

Well there's Krav Maga as you have stated. There is also Jeet Kune Do, and many other self defense systems out there like Defendo, American Combato, SCARS, etc. You'd just have to do your research in regards to many of these reality based self defense systems. Oh, and Krav Maga does have a belt system from what I've been told down at the national HQ in Los Angeles.

In my opinion, the higher you choke up on the chuck, the more control you have, and the lower the less control you have when trying to twirl them around.

Welcome

Hi and welcome aboard. Not sure of Shudokan as this is the first I've heard of it, but somehow I see it as a mix of Shotokan and something else.

From what you've posted so far it sounds like your on track for your journey into the martial life. I say this because to me martial arts is about a way of life, and not just about learning how to fight and defend yourself. That's just one small part of it. The rest is based developing a strong mental, physical, and spiritual well being.

 

Since your in SoCal, you definitely have many places to choose from. Check into them, watch a few classes and talk to the instuctor(s), parents, students and get a feel for the place. All the arts you've mentioned all have something to offer, but it's the overall environment you have to be comfortable in. How are the classes, instructor(s), training facility? After all in the end you do have to pay at most places to lean your chosen style.

 

Do be aware of signing into any long-term contracts. There have been many posts regarding "McDojos" and their contracts. I'm not a big fan of contracts unless if you decide that it isn't for you, you get to get out of it and have your hard earned $$ refunded. However, that is never the case in many of these places that have you sign into a long term contract.

 

Good luck on your search and your martial journey

Oh I remember those nights when my instructor would yell out "ranger night". That meant nothing but excercise for the entire night. No Kenpo training whatsoever. We would excercise until the large glass windows fogged up in the place we were working out of. Having flashbacks of him saying down, half way up, half way down, down, up,...........etc. while doing push-ups. Then there was the dreaded squatting excercises.....slowly down until your thighs are parallel the ground, halfway up, halfway down.....keep your back straight , half way down from half way mark, and so on.............oh such painful memories

Studied Shotokan for about 2-3yrs. and enjoyed my time and learned all about the power in their style. But, alas had to return to my roots of Kenpo/Kempo. Now I work on combining the power of Shotokan with the speed of Kenpo/Kempo when I train and teach.

Did anyone hear, attend, participate in the Long Beach International tournament held this past weekend? It was hosted by Frank Trejo and John Ramsey. Frank Trejo is one of SGM Parker's long time black belts.

Like you, I've only read a few articles about it and know that it's Russian in origin. Anything past that I have no idea.

G95 is correct in stating that it depends on where you are located. Since I teach privately, I set the amount I get paid per hour. Now here where I'm at, I'd say the average hourly rate for private instruction from a commercial dojo would range from $50-$80 range. I'm nowhere near those amounts .

 

My students also get a break on the hourly price if they buy multiple lesson plans. But this is not a contract in any form of the word. There is no expiration date on the lesson plans, and they come when their schedule allows.

 

As far as a discount for multiple months constituting a "contract", I guess it comes down to what is said or written and how you preceive it to mean to you. If it's unclear, then ask for clarification.

Welcome Aboard

Welcome Aboard

Hi Sai:

 

In regards to your question, I reviewed some of my old training day tapes, and saw that in the beginning of Pinan 5/Heian 5, after the outside block from our cat stance, we did a leg check with our lead foot just prior to stepping out with a reverse punch. The leg check, I think was more for avoiding an attempted leg sweep.

 

Then after the reverse punch we pulled into a full chamber position with our hands versus the Heian 5 version. Everything after that is pretty much the same.

I've studied Shotokan and the Heian katas, and in my original style of Kenpo, we did the Pinan katas. They were both the same katas with the difference in the stances as Sai mentioned. In the Pinan katas, we also executed the knife hand blocks differently. Instead of having the blocking hand chambered at the ear and the other hand straight out as in the Heian series, we brought both hands back and executed a longer version of the knife hand block.

Well, since there have been many documentaries on the martial arts and their roots traced back to China, I say they should have one that focuses on the one that was developed in the US. That would be KENPO/KEMPO as it was developed in Hawaii. Sure it's roots came from China, but talk about the pioneers in Hawaii. James Mitose, William Chow, the 5 founders of Kajukenbo, etc. That's my 2 cents on the subject.

I say it isn't waste until you make it waste I suggest that you stay the last 2 months and work on perfecting your basics. That way when you move on, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing your basics which will help you greatly with your new art

Well if looking for other forms of striking styles, there's the Kenpo/Kempo systems that use their strikes to specific parts of the body to cause a certain autonomic response. For example in American Kenpo, they have what they call their "minor" and "major" strikes. A finger poke to the eye to cause the head to go back and the hands up to the face, thus exposing numerous larger targets, ie. throat, sternum, etc.

 

Same principles will apply to other forms of Kenpo/Kempo. They also work on defenses against kives, guns, and clubs, just like many other systems. Do they have joint locks and throws, I'd say yes, but not to the extent as some of the other styles. Do they have a ground game, generally not since they focus on standing defense. But I'm sure with all the cross training going on these days it isn't difficult to make yourself a "well rounded" martial artist. It'll just depend on you and how much time you have to dedicate to your training.