Pacificshore

Many schools start at around $100.00 bucks for 1st dan testing and continues on up as you move up in rank.

First make sure you are entirely warmed up and stretched out. Next pick a kick you want to work on, and slowly workout the mechanics of the kick. As you do this take note of what your hips are doing, in other words is it "turning over" is it not, is your kicking leg extended and aligned with your hip, and your hip aligned with your body. Do this with excercise with all your kicks and get a feel for proper alignment when throwing your kicks. Start slow, then medium, then fast. You can kick in the air, but be careful of the knee joints. If you have a heavy bag or free standing bag work on that as it gives. Remember to focus not only on the mechanics of the kick, but your focus through the target. Then practice, practice, practice!!!! Hope this helps

Very Nice Intro!!!

Sounds like a good time. Good Luck and looking forward to hear how your training is coming along when you get a chance. P.S. Don't forget the Saki!

Howdy and Welcome

I've seen excellent Kama katas in tournaments. I've also seen a balisong kata in action. Both had great moves that could possibly rival the Whip Chain......but then again it all comes down to the competitior and their training.

Sais are a fun weapon to learn and work with. They develop good arm and wrist strenght. One the flip side of that, they can wear you out too!!!

Welcome aboard!!!

Welcome and see ya around!

Won Hop Kuen Do is an offshoot of Kajukenbo developed by Al Dacascos. Unlike Kajukenbo, the focus is softer in nature as oppose to the hard style of the Kajukenbo system. Although I have no formal training in this style, I was fortunate to attend a seminar taught by Sifu Dacascos and found him to be very knowledgeable and energetic. This is my opinion from what I observed during the seminar. I believe if you do a search on the internet, you will find their website for more info. Hope this helps.

Try Aikido this summer and then if there's a Hapkido school nearby try that the following fall and then make a comparison to see which you prefer the most.

Did anyone get a chance to watch the final Combat Missions on USA Network? The best of the best operator was a SWATer for those that were interested in one day becoming a SWAT operator

When I find myself dropping into a stance, it'll be with my lead foot turned slightly inward(left or right foot), and my rear leg loaded-meaning heel up. Now I've always learned this as the Kenpo fighting stance, but I'm sure there are many other names for it!!

Yoda, Thanks for the information. I always knew that this knee strike would be painful if on the receiving end. I was not sure how the power was generated, as I never noticed the "hop" that you mentioned!! I will give it a try

Can someone explain the mechanics involved in the horizontal knee strike to the side of the ribs while in the clinch. I've seen this done many atimes during televised matches, and would like to know the mechanics of delivering power with the strike. Thanks! BTW I described it as a horizontal knee strike because that is how it looked to me, but if it isn't then I stand corrected!!

Sounds like the majority is for TKD. You could also look into other Korean styles like Tang Soo Do, as they too emphasis kicks. If you have any other Korean styles in your area take a look at their classes to see if that is what you are looking for!!

As I recalled during my time in Shotokan, we did not do much evading or deflecting. It was pretty much a matter of block and counter, and for the most part every movement was done pretty much in a linear fashion. I guess the angles I was referring to was more in reference to footwork. Moving more in a 45* manner and then using attacks or defenses that complimented that angle. I'm just curious to know if there are other traditional karate styles that uses or incorporates the use of angles more so than others. Since my background in Japanese/Okinawan karate is limited to Shotokan, I thought I'd ask. Many of the folks I met in the Shotokan dojo were/are very good at what they do, but even they had limited use of angles in their footwork. Thanks for the input!

I've had the opportunity to study Shotokan for about 2 years before returning to the art of Kenpo/Kempo. During my time in Shotokan I noticed a lack of emphasis on angled attacks and defense. Are there reasons for this other than the quickest point from A to B is a straight line? Are angles of attack and defense tought at the higher ranks, or is it something that eventually gets incorporated as you progress in your training? Thanks for your input.

Breaking hones in your accuracy in executing techniques, but it also teaches you how to focus through your target. Whatever it is your attempting to break you want to make sure you place your focus point 2-3" past the target itself. Yes, its fun and impressive, but is it necessary?? Not really.....but that is only my opinion BTW-Welcome!!

I would think that as a beginner in any art, you would not be thrown into a sparring situation so soon without being able to learn techiques. And if you were then I would hope that such a situation is well monitored by the instructor. As a beginner, you should also be thinking about how to and when to apply the techniques you were taught. Even to be able to spar at such an early stage in your training, should be looked upon as a learning stage, and not just a "go for it" attitude. If you were to simply try to win at sparring by just going for it and foresaking your tecniques, well.....then that'll be like fighting out in the school yard. To start out in any Martial Art is to work at getting down the basics and improving as you go forth in your training. Eventually you will develop such skill that you will be able to employ what you have learned without thinking too much about it. Training does take time, and in the beginning a learning process!!!

The horse stance definitely has it's pros and cons just as everyone has stated. However, I doubt that any well trained Martial Artist will simply drop into a horse stance while leaving themselves exposed..... The horse stance can be empolyed at just about any angle, height, width. And as any well trained Martial Artist would do, they would not stay in that position for any length of time, since it's best to be in constant motion especially if your sparring, fighting, etc.

As they say here in da U.S. "don't hate da playa, hate da game"!!!!

You can try Kenpo/Kempo style, as you can tailor it to your needs. Hope this helps

I agree RamCalgary, there is more to Martial Arts than just learning how to fight to beat someone up. I believe it is about self discipline, self control, and confidence to name a few. However, I remember the first time I started training, all I thought about was learning how to fight. I didn't care for kata training, or even learning self defense sets. That eventually changed as I continued in my training and grew older and more mature. So I think that a certain level of maturity has something to do with understanding the true purpose of Martial Arts. As I have said before in another post, if you wanna learn how to fight then take up an art that is based on fighting. But if your looking for a life long journey then study all aspects of your respective style.

Hey Iron, Thanks for the information on all the training suits that are on the market. Primarily at this point the suit will be used in a Womens Self Defense course.