bushido_man96

Actually I don't know if I agree with the statement, the part about the UFC being set up for jujitsu. The first UFC fights had pretty much know jujitsu in them, in fact they were pretty different than what you see now days. Originally you saw people with traditional background stepping in and if you came something that anybody with some blended systems who was tough could make it as a fighter, which is fine but hoyce Gracie didn't even make an impact until later on when he was running into guys twice his size that looked like they were gladiators and he was disposing of them, with his skinny physique, this is what pave the way for jujitsu to become popular the way it is today. I'm not sure which early fights you are referring to, Luther Unleashed, but the first UFCs did feature BJJ, with Royce Gracie being the man displaying his skills. He won UFC 1, 2, and 4, and that was the showcase for BJJ. I don't know that the UFC was designed "specifically" for BJJ, but the mats were padded to an extent which made grappling easier on the body. A regular boxing ring might not have been as nice to grapple on, but I'm willing to bet that a Gracie would have still done it.

Some good points here, but I would point out that in one of the early UFCs, I believe Oleg Taktarov won a bout in which he was essentially blind, because he had taken some fingers to the eyes. He was still able to win, and he won on the ground, because he was able to control from that position. Just an observation. I could be way wrong on the fighter, too. I enjoyed the early era, too, but I don't really think it was going to be sustainable. The evolution of MMA has been fun to watch, and I do believe that better fighters are produced now than then, and better athletes are fighting now. There are always the arguments in regards to groin attacks, eye gouges, and other similar attacks that many TMAists constantly throw out in regards to discussing the legitimacy of MMA, or the fact that it is a sport. Sport is a different thing to a lot of people, and so is art. I think that MMA is an art in itself, and can produce a lot of the same qualities that other MAs produce in people. I think this just depends. On each person, on their approach to training, etc. Think about the discipline that is required to uphold the training regimen of a pro fighter. Between planning the training and the diet required to make weight, it takes a lot of discipline.

8/3/2015 DT Club: 1:30 - 3:00 pm. Some review of "3 brothers," and some takedown work. 8/5/2015 Strength Training Squats: warm-up sets: 45x5x3, 155x5, 205x5, 225x3, 265x1; work sets: 288x5, 288x5, 288x5. Press: warm-up sets: 45x5x3, 75x5, 95x5; work sets: 116x5, 116x5, 116x5. Deadlifts: warm-up sets: 135x5, 225x5, 315x3; work set: 345x5. Last rep was a tough one. It felt like I had trouble locking at the top. 8/7/2015 Strength Training Squats: warm-up sets: 45x5x3, 185x5, 205x5, 225x3, 265x1; work sets: 290x5, 290x5, 290x5. Push Press: warm-up sets: 45x5x3, 95x5, 115x5; work sets: 131x5, 131x5, 131x5. 45 degree Back Extensions: BW 3x11. Assisted Pull-ups: 120x6, 120x5, 120x4.

Congrats on this great milestone, Bob! Your posts are always thoughtful, and they always have a way of making us think about various aspects of the Martial Arts in way we might not otherwise. I always see something new in your posts, even if it is about a familiar topic; you always drive us to learn and grow: the hallmark of a great instructor. I have been fortunate enough to have got to meet and train with Bob, in person, at my hometown here in Hays. We spent three days, if I remember right, trading Shindokan and TKD knowledge and ideas. I remember learning tuite from Bob, learning Naifanchi Shodan kata, and exploring applications from it. I do have to say that the visit was rather a lopsided one; Bob taught me so much more than I could ever have taught him. And I am proud to call him friend. Bob and I met a long while ago, on BlackBeltMag.com forums, which is now non-existent. I'm so glad you were able to find a home here, Bob; KarateForums.com and all its members are so much better for it! Here's to another 10,000 posts!

Thank you.

Congrats!

As a former wrestler and assistant wrestling coach, I can honestly say that I've learned some of the most valuable life lesson from wrestling. There's no sport that's got the level of accountability that wrestling does. Come to think about it, boxing probably has the same level. But I don't think there's the whole team/dual meet points. But I digress... In wrestling, there's no one to blame but yourself. YOU win, and YOU lose. You don't have the best game of your life that someone else messes up by dropping the game winning catch in the end zone. You don't have an absolutely horrible game, yet your team smacked the other team. You make or miss weight. I got robbed by a bad referee call once. The ref called me pinned about 3 seconds after the buzzer went off. Even the other team's fans booed. My coach and the other team's coach argued it, asking if I was pinned before the buzzer went off, but he slapped the mat afterward. He said "I have no idea, I didn't hear the buzzer." Seriously. I went to my bench, thinking I'd get some sort of sympathy from my coach. Know what I got? "IT WOULD NEVER HAD HAPPENED IF YOU WEREN'T ON YOUR BACK IN THE FIRST PLACE!" I had no come back. Accountability. You have nailed it here. That is one thing I've been saying about Wrestling, and how it is all about accountability. I've seen athletic kids go out, and they get smoked because they don't have the experience yet. They get discouraged, and don't stick with it. Its all about the two competitors on the mat, and rarely, rarely, does a ref decide a match. No teammates to spread the blame to. Can't blame anything on the weather. As Bob would say, the proof is found out on that floor!

This is the kind of question that some empirical data should help you answer. Do perhaps 6 months of stretching, and hold it only for a prescribed amount of time, say, the 10 second hold. Record your progress. Next set of 6 months, hold the stretches for longer, and record the progress.

7/31/2015 Strength Training Squats: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 145x5, 205x5, 225x3, 265x1; work sets: 284x5, 284x5, 284x5. Press: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 65x5, 95x5; work sets: 115x5, 115x5, 115x5. Power Cleans: 105x3, 105x3, 105x3, 105x3, 105x3. Dips: 2, 2. 8/3/2015 Strength Training Squats: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 155x5, 205x5, 225x3, 265x1; work sets: 286x5, 286x5, 286x5. Push Press: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 70x5, 95x5; work sets: 130x5, 130x5, 130x5. Back Extensions: BW 3x10 Chin-ups: assisted, 120x5, 120x5, jumping chins x5.

Nothing is quite as much fun as writing about what you love. Give it a go, and see where it takes you. Who knows, maybe as you start writing, you'll come up with several other ideas to put into writing, as well.

Century used to sell some Billy Jack Kicking Jeans. You might look into that...

Its been little tidbits like this over the years that helped me out, and now I try to pass them along to my sons as they start to do things that challenge them. My oldest boy, with Wrestling, and now with football, and the time we spend lifting weights, provide all kinds of opportunities for me to help him understand that nothing worth-while comes easy, and that awesome waits for no man.

I agree with this, especially after having taught MA for some time. I don't get as nervous when I have to get up in front and talk so much anymore. I still do a little, but my confidence level is much higher than it used to be. Cathal, its good to see you!

I always enjoy news like this, no matter what physical activity is used to facilitate it. Thank you for sharing it.

Loyalty is honoring the structure and etiquette of the class and the school, and doing what you can to help the school.

Driving across town to class and leaving my belt at home. My belt now stays at the school in my locker.

Thank you, liger!

It doesn't sound surprising, though. But, if you do anything physical for any extended period of time, you are bound to observe some kind of overuse injuries. Handstand push-ups would probably have been good for balancing out the shoulders, but they are so hard to do, and not everyone can do them.

7/23/2015 TKD Class: 6:00 - 7:20 pm. Basics, forms (Choi Yong), one-steps, sparring. Stretched after class. 7/24/2015 Strength Training Squats: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 140x5, 185x5, 205x5, 225x1; work sets: 278x5, 278x5, 278x5. Push Press: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 70x5, 95x5; work sets: 128x5, 128x5, 128x5. Back Extensions: BW 3x10 Chin-ups: 3x5 sets of jumping chin-ups. 7/27/2015 Strength Training Squats: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 145x5, 205x5, 225x3, 265x1; work sets: 280x5, 280x5, 280x5. Pretty excited about hitting these numbers! Press: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 65x5, 85x5; work sets: 114x5, 114x5, 114x5. Deadlifts: warm-ups: 135x5, 225x5, 315x3; work set: 340x5. Defensive Tactics Club: 1:30 - 3:00 pm. Did some review of the "3 brothers," and did some takedown work. 7/29/2015 Strength Training Squats: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 145x5, 205x5, 225x3, 265x1; work sets: 282x5, 282x5, 282x5. Push Press: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 70x5, 95x5; work sets: 129x5, 129x5, 129x5. Back Extensions: BW 3x10. Pull-ups: Assisted 120x6, 120x5, 120x5.

I agree, get it looked at. In the meantime, ice it and take some nsaids to help with the pain and swelling.

Welcome to KF!

I agree. Stances are transitional, and their use is in the transition from beginning to end, not just the end. Ideally, when you begin to apply techniques more in self-defense, you will start in a more natural position, do a technique or series of techniques in which you will transition through positions that are similar to your stances, and then you will likely finish in a more natural stance, as opposed to a rigid front stance or horse stance. I also think part of the issue of the long, deep, rigid stances in basics and forms has to do with the aesthetics that have developed in the performance of forms, especially due to tournament performances. They look good, and that is part of what some of the more traditional style has become, especially in line with the "personal development" aspect of the training. Hopefully, these differences will start to be explained to you as you advance in your training.

I think there is some good that can come out of this kind of time regulation, but I also think that a certain amount of forms performance is the practitioner's interpretation of it, including timing, rhythm, and technique combinations. So, some is good, but too much regulation can take away from the practitioner's expression.

I think some would struggle with the idea of why someone would do that to their hands. I also think that really big callouses would probably raise some questions, if only in their minds. But if someone were to ask, just let them know. Perhaps explain the process a bit to them; who knows, maybe they'll become more interested, and ask more about training.

Did this happen without striking anything?