bushido_man96

I heard about this individual on a radio show I was listening to, and thought it had a place here. Her name is Jessica Cox, and she is a 1st degree black belt in the ATA. She is also a licensed pilot. She was a tap dancer in her youth. And, she was born without arms. She travels and gives motivational talks. Here I her Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Cox I thought it was a great story of perseverance and determination.

I think this tends to be a common reaction to those who train in MMA. There are plenty of bad eggs who have trained in traditional arts, as well. They just don't get to go into a cage and fight, and then talk to the press about it afterwards. I don't think that MMA is just about the fighting, either. Its a big point of it, because its a competition in which one fighter faces another in a proving ground of the same rules. Not unlike Wrestling, Boxing, Sumo, etc. If you talk to the fighters, and talk really in-depth with them, I think far and away we'd learn that they are just fighters looking to fight. They have so much more to them than that. Its important to not be fooled by the few minutes of air time they get pre and post fight.

Great post, Patrick. Sometimes, being MAists ourselves, we are too close to the subject to step back and look at it like this. Thanks for your analysis here.

We live in a town of about 15,000 to 20,000, depending on when college is in session. Our town is about 4 miles across in each direction. In this small area, we have our TKD school, a Karate school, an Aikido school that also has a BJJ club sponsored by the college and a fellow that teaches what he calls 3-in-1, a blend of TKD and BJJ and Hapkido. That school is around the corner from ours. The college also has a Defensive Tactics club, which I am a part of. All are within a few minutes drive of each other.

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Word of mouth is great, as it speaks to the school's reputation. So, its important that the instructor makes sure that the students are carrying out good news when they spread the word. This keeps the instructors accountable.

Sounds like an awesome vacation, Alex! And I hear you on getting in to update...been a touch stretch. 9/4/2015 Strength Training Squats: warm-ups: 45x5x2, 135x5, 185x5, 205x5, 225x3, 275x1; work sets: 312x5, 312x5, 312x5. Push Press: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 95x5, 115x5; work sets: 137x5, 137x5, 137x5. Jump Chins: 6, 6, 6 (supersetted with push press). Lat Pull-downs: 120x10x3 (supersetted with push press). 45 degree Back Ext: BW+10x10x3 (supersetted with push press). 9/7/2015 Strength Training Squats: warm-ups: 45x5x2, 135x5, 185x5, 205x5, 225x3, 275x1; work sets: 314x5, 314x5, 314x5. Press: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 75x5, 95x5; work sets: 123x5, 123x5, 123x5. Lat Pull-downs: 120x10x5 (supersetted with press). Power Cleans: 108x3, 108x3, 108x3, 108x3, 108x3.

In my opinion, I think an intermediate level or dan level student should have correct technique, and should be working more on application at those levels, but that is my thought on the matter. Perfecting things is a nice thought, but one shouldn't let perfect become the enemy of the good.

Nice descriptions. Thanks for sharing the video, Noah! In our form, Hwa Rang, we have a similar starting position. Its nice to see this application of the move. I've also seen some other two-handed applications, as well.

You may just have to be very forward with them. Tell them you are fine, in good health, and they have nothing to worry about. It may be a bit forward, but hopefully it stops the concerns.

I agree with DWx, speed is going to be paramount (that's why I always hated that style of sparring). Another issue to consider is that the technique may not have to be "clean" to get a point. If you parry a punch or backfist well enough to lighten the blow, but it still grazes you, it may still count as a point. So be sure your blocks and movements are good enough to keep you from getting grazed.

8/24/2015 Strength Training Squats: warm-ups: 45x5x2, 135x5, 185x5, 205x5, 225x3, 275x1; work sets: 304x5, 304x5, 304x5. Press: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 75x5, 95x5; work sets: 120x5, 120x5, 120x5. Jump Pull-ups: 5, 5, 5 (supersetted with press). Barbell Curls: 47x10x3 (supersetted with press). Deadlifts: warm-ups: 135x5, 225x5; work set: 315x5. Had to back it off. Lying Triceps Ext: 30x10x3 Defensive Tactics Club: 1:30 - 3:00 8/26/2015 Strength Training Squats: warm-ups: 45x5x2, 135x5, 185x5, 205x5, 225x3, 275x1; work sets: 306x5, 306x5, 306x5. Push Press: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 95x5, 115x5; work sets: 135x5, 135x5, 135x5 Jump Chins: 5, 5, 5 (supersetted with push press). 45 degree Back Ext: BW 3x11 (supersetted with push press). 8/28/2015 Strength Training Squats: warm-ups: 45x5x2, 135x5, 185x5, 205x5, 225x3, 275x1; work sets: 308x5, 308x5, 308x5. Press: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 75x5, 95x5; work sets: 121x5, 121x5, 121x5. Power Snatch: 80x2, 80x2, 80x2, 80x2, 80x2. 8/31/2015 Strength Training Squats: 45x5x2, 135x5, 185x5, 205x5, 225x3, 275x1; work sets: 310x5, 310x5, 310x5. Push Press: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 95x5, 115x5; work sets: 136x5, 136x5, 136x5. Jump Chins: 6, 6, 6 (supersetted with push press). 45 degree Back Ext: BW+10x3x10 (supersetted with press). 9/2/2015 Strength Training Squats: 45x5x2, 135x5, 185x5, 205x5, 225x3, 275x1; work sets: 263.5x5, 263.5x5, 263.5x5. I have been really excited about the progress I've bee making, especially squatting, but I fealt like I needed some more recovery. I took some advise from a book titled Practical Programming for Strength Training, and decided to make the middle day of the week a light day for squats, working off 80% of Monday's work weight, and then doing another heavy day on Friday. Press: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 75x5, 95x5; work sets: 122x5, 122x5, 122x5. Lat Pull-downs: 110x10x5 (supersetted with press). Deadlifts: warm-ups: 135x5, 225x5; work set: 320x5. Defensive Tactics Club: 1:30 - 3:00 pm. Worked on the self-defense curriculum. 9/3/2015 Defensive Tactics Club: 1:30 - 3:00 pm. Choke defenses.

I like to do the power versions of the clean and snatch. I've learned to do them pretty well without a strength coach. I really favor the snatch over the clean, though, but I do both, along with some of the "slow lifts," squat, press, and deadlift.

I don't see anything wrong with really breaking down techniques and working on the details. Its a great way to fine tune technique. Where I'm at now, though, I'd much rather be doing some form of partner training to fine tune those same basic techniques in an application setting. For me, that's where its at. Pretty technique is nice, but applicable technique is better.

There is lots of good advice here. To help focus your training a bit, pick a move that tends to be popular in the tournaments you attend, and focus on defending it with a partner. Let's say a popular technique is the lead hand backfist. Have a partner throw just that technique, and focus on recognizing it, blocking it or avoiding it (or both), and setting up a set of counter techniques.

I think it all comes down to priorities. If you don't have family to tend to, and have the ability to schedule training around work, then by all means, have at it. But if there are other priorities that should take precedent, and those start to get ignored, then I think it becomes an issue.

Welcome to KF!

Thank you to those who nominated, and good luck to everyone!

I'd have to say mine is the round kick, to anywhere. My second favorite is the spin heel kick. When we grapple at DT, my go to technique seems to have been the Americana.

Good eye for spotting the double hop! I confess to this bring deliberate as I was trying it out; not sure whether it's working for me or not, though I guess not by your comment! I recently went on a seminar with a multi ITF and WAKO World Champ Katya Solovey and it was something specific she was teaching as a way of controlling distance and giving yourself time to do the kick. Rather than switching the legs with the kick out and away with the back kick when being rushed, she was advocating creating the distance with the feet and then taking the kick in. A bit like this; I see what she did there. I think the main difference was that she was retreating, and used the footwork to "plant," in effect, and then using the plant as a platform to drive the kick from.

Welcome aboard!

Man, that's crazy! Glad you are ok, and glad you came back! I hope you continue to get healthy. I will keep you in my prayers!

Welcome to KF!

These rule changes were necessary to help legitimize the sport and keep it around. Its really a lot more about disciplined training now, too. I don't think the rule changes affected the development of how the fighters trained as much as the fighters wishing to become better trained to win did.

I agree with Bob. In the first video, your standing and spinning counters were very nice, especially that spin hook kick that opened the round. I also noticed that your opponent had a habit hunkering down when you pressed, and you took advantage of that by barraging her with attacks. I did notice that when you throw the jump reverse side kick (that's what I call it, anyway), you kind of did a double hop before executing the kick, which killed your timing on it. Just food for thought. Nice job!