bushido_man96

Great interview, @Wado Heretic. Your posts always have so much depth and history in them, and they make me think every time.

I see lots of structural similarities in movements from basic techniques of TKD and Aikido movements. Many of my Aikido movements would clean up and be sharper if I just finish them like I'm doing a basic straight punch in a front stance with hikite. I get caught up in the spinning and turning and keeping space that I forget about other aspects of the techniques that are already there for me if I just finish right. I also see areas in one-steps that I can integrate Aikido techniques, and I see "spaces" in Aikido techniques and movements where I could easily insert striking and kicking. I often discuss it with the sensei and we nerd out quite a bit. 5/26/2026 Strength Training Leg Press: 245x10, 265x10, 285x10, 285x10. Press: 45x5x2, 85x5, 95x5, 95x5, 95x5. Lat Pull-downs: 122.5x10, 122.5x10, 122.5x10. I tried leg press instead of squat, as it wouldn't load the back as much. On liftoff I still got a little hitch in my back, but once settling into the reps it seemed ok. I tried to liftoff with just the right foot for the most part after that. We'll see how it feels as the day progresses. Heavy Bag Work: 4 rounds, 1 min/45 sec rest. Rounds 1 and 3 were orthodox, rounds 2 and 4 were southpaw. Straight punches only. Stretch after.

That's one book I've never picked up. You'll have to let me know what you think.

These aren't terms I use in my teaching, but I've been a TKD practitioner for so long, it's not a surprise. But, I do attend to some similar concepts when I'm teaching. I don't refer to this area much, but instead focus on the students making sure they have proper upper body alignment when doing techniques like punches, knife hand strikes, etc. I do talk a lot about using the hips to generate power into techniques, while keeping the structure of the stance by being rooted through the floor to drive power up through the body. Many years ago, one of the big, strong guys I was starting my TKD journey with started tying his belt a lot tighter around his waist. He said it forced him to push his stomach muscles against it and work his abdominal muscles more while training. I started doing it, too. It's not unlike the brace you get with your muscles against a weight belt, just not with the same intensity. I've never specifically told students to do this when tying their belts, but I may start. Not brought up much in our TKD classes, but probably should be. In Aikido, we reference "the center" all the time, and this is what I'd link it to. We usually talk more about the placement of the hips as opposed to referring to the Tanden. Hip movement in power generation in techniques in basics, and hips placement when in close and working to throw or sweep someone. I discuss the use of the hips a lot in generating power in techniques. Rotational twists to generate power in forward stances for things like punches, but also forward thrusting of the hips at times, especially in Aikido. I don't use this term, but discuss proper alignment of the fist, arm, and shoulders in strikes, and link that to the alignment of the feet, legs, knees and hips for driving power up from the floor. I'll often tell students that power comes from the floor, and that is why the stances are so important.

My favorite "style" is just sparring in class, continuously, not breaking for points and just keeping track between the two of us. I like to just go and do stuff. My favorite technique to throw is the spin heel kick. My other favorite is just rolling at BJJ class, especially in warmups. When doing warmup rounds, I just focus on positional improvement and transitions. I don't worry about submissions.

What's up, KF?

You've had quite the journey, @Wastelander, and it's been a joy and a privilege to have you share it with us here on KF. I have especially enjoyed your Waza Wednesday clips.

Thank you so much, @Patrick. That means a lot!

I think this is really cool. To think that finding some helpful comments here helped to get you through a testing is awesome. I think it's cool that you still contribute even though you don't train right now. I hope you get back into it!

I'll echo @sensei8's sentiments! Congrats to all! It's been a blast and a privilege to watch your advancement during your time here at KF!

Thank you, @DarthPenguin! I'll have a reflections post up sooner or later; I'm waiting for sensei to type up my review.

I love the effort here!

I've competed in TKD events that scored like this as well. No, it's not terribly realistic. But neither is the continuous style of sparring that Olympic TKD is. However, I think the benefit is that the setting of competition is very much different than the setting of a self-defense scenario, and so are the feeling one experiences in each of those settings. I don't know if just doing bouts of continuous sparring is the answer or not. I think it can be helpful in teaching one to put together combinations and to have a plan if your technique isn't scored a point. I think you also have to consider that they stop because there is a referee that stops them. If the referee isn't there to stop them, then they shouldn't have a problem with continuing the action. Just about every major style of martial arts or combat sports has this issue. Kyokushin does hard, continuous fighting, and they can win by knockout, but they don't punch to the head. Olympic TKD is continuous, and one can even win by knockout, but they don't allow punching to the head, either. There are three major styles of wrestling out there in the forms of Folk Style, Freestyle, and Greco-Roman. Each has their differences, but none of them really work from their back. BJJ works all the areas of grappling, but like wrestling, doesn't allow strikes. MMA competition seems to be the middle ground. However, I'd refer to @Wastelander's information on Kakedameshi, as it might interest you. As long as people are working to get Karate into the Olympics, or grow other outlets like Combat Karate, it will have a place in lots of Karate dojos. As long as competition is a thing, even your run-of-the-mill weekend tournaments, it will have a place in dojos. But I think you'll end up seeing dojos that specialize in that kind of training for those specific high-level athletes that are looking to get to those venues to compete. Here's the biggest issue I see that could happen, but not necessarily will happen. If instructors start to look for tournament success as the identifier they want to hang their hat on, they will design their training curriculum to reflect that; they'll specialize in the sport sparring aspect of the training in an attempt to 1) develop good tournament fighters to grow their brand recognition, and 2) use it as a medium to identify the more talented athletes, single them out, and advance their training in order to accumulate tournament success and thus recognition for the school. When this happens, and sparring becomes the focus, then the applications take a back seat, and become forgotten. Forms become material for rank advancement. Now, that's a rather dystopian view of things, and I don't necessarily see that as how things end up, because not everyone is going to be interested in the competition aspects of things. In my opinion, I don't think the Olympic inclusion of TKD has been all that much of a benefit to the art, nor do I think it will benefit sport Karate.

Although not traditional Karate kata, the ATA forms were designed to flow from one to the next, like one large form. So however many one had learned, they could all be done in succession without stopping or returning to ready stance.

I think it would depend on whether you are doing a snapping front kick, using mostly the knee, or a thrusting front kick, which tends to get more hip and possibly some lean back involved.