bushido_man96

That could be the case. I've been working more with it, trying to figure things out.

Says who? Globally; karate is still one of the most popular martial arts studied and Shotokan is probably the biggest style. K. I agree. The JKA is a large organization, with tons of practitioners. Probably the most popular style of Karate.

I agree, this is a huge consideration, one that isn't in play when experienced practitioners are conducting a demo with a cooperative uke who isn't actively trying to fight their instructor. I really like this approach, and in my time with Combat Hapkido and what I do with my defensive tactics training, is taking the opportunity to soften someone up with more reliable targets in order to facilitate our control tactics.

First off, congrats on the long run! That is great to see. I haven't been part of any anniversary celebration like this, but I do think its a great idea.

I actually haven't had much opportunity to teach forms applications to students yet. I have taken some opportunities in basics to point out some applications of basic techniques, like the knife hand strike, or the middle block, here and there, but never with a form.

Well, I'm not the CI of our school, but I'm honestly not sure what draws the students in. I think a big draw is our kids program, and we get a few kids out of each group to stay involved as they get older. Some adults like the aspect of pushing themselves, and not having to compete or fight all the time with others.

6/17/2015 Strength Training Squats: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 140x5, 175x5, 205x3; work sets: 250x5, 250x5, 250x5. I deloaded after the last session. Push Press: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 65x5, 90x5; work sets: 116x5, 116x5, 116x5. Power Cleans: 97x3, 97x3, 97x3, 97x3, 97x3. Power Snatches: 68x2, 68x2, 68x2, 68x2, 68x2. Now, a brief note on my current training partner's progress. I've mentioned it in passing, but I wanted to note that I started my 9 year old son, Kendall, lifting weights to build strength, using the same program I am using, the Starting Strength program that is promoted by Mark Rippetoe. I'm sure I might get some ridicule about starting my young son in strength training, and I'll gladly take on that conversation. But for now, here is a look at his progress so far: We are at about 10 and half weeks into the program. Kendall started all his lifts using a 17 lb. bar that isn't as long as an Olympic bar, but is long enough that it fit on the pins of the squat rack. We started out with an empty bar, learned technique, and then started progressively loading. Here are where he's at to date: Body weight: between 95 and 100 lbs, 4'6" tall. Squats: 93.5 lbs for sets of 5. Press: 30.5 lbs for sets of 5. Deadlift: 122 lbs for 1 set of 5. Bench Press: 45 lbs for sets of 5. Power Cleans: 32 lbs for sets of 3. For squats, deadlifts, and just now on bench press, Kendall is using a 45 lb Olympic bar for all sets, except bench press, which we use the 17 lb bar for warm-ups, and he is using an empty Olympic bar for his work sets. The fractional plate set that I got has been a huge benefit for the both of us, and has really helped me in keeping him adding weight progressively. We focus on technique a lot, and he's doing a good job so far, I think.

Welcome back!

In the schools I've been in, testing has always been a pretty public thing, so I haven't really ever tested without students knowing.

Sure, some schools do. With so many out there now, there are going to be some that the quality isn't as good as others.

6/12/2015 Strength Training Squats: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 140x5, 175x5, 205x3; work sets: 265x5, 265x5, 265x5. Push Press: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 65x5, 90x5; work sets: 115x5, 115x5, 115x5. Power Cleans: 95x3, 95x3, 95x3, 95x3, 95x3 Power Snatches: 67x2, 67x2, 67x2, 67x2, 67x2 6/15/2015 Defensive Tactics Club: 1:00 - 2:00 pm. Worked lots of reps on pistol disarms. Strength Training Squats: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 140x5, 175x5, 205x3; work sets: 270x5, 270x5, 267x5. These were really tough. It felt like I hit a brick wall. At one point, I wasn't sure I'd get out of the bottom of the squat. Press: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 65x5, 85x5; work sets: 107x5, 107x5, 107x5. Deadlifts: warm-ups: 135x5, 165x5, 195x5, 225x3; work set: 320x5. 6/16/2015 Defensive Tactics Club: 2:00 - 4:00 pm. Warmed up with some bag work, and then did about a 5 minute round of stand-up sparring, kicks included. I get my legs kicked a lot, and am working on defending that better. I did a few brief bouts of rolling, and some stick work. I had two of the students in there that have worked technique on the ground, but haven't done a lot of free rolling, so I had them start in different situations and roll a few rounds. We also had a brief discussion about articulation in self-defense reporting, should that need ever arise. Taught TKD Classes: Little Lions: 5:10 - 5:40 pm. Focused on Control; used punching in sitting stances to work technique control, and taught a jump front snap kick to work control. Some target work on pads, punching with control to a target (accuracy). Mixed Class: Basics, added in a lo/mid/hi punching drill, outer crescent to spin outer crescent kick, jump round kick after the jump front snap kick, and added hop side kicks and step behind side kicks. Forms, then skipped to sparring, doing 30 second round robins, kids with the kids and adults with the adults.

I haven't had any experience with small circle JJ, but have done some Hapkido and Aikido, which are similar, focused on small joint manipulation. With good training, it can be beneficial. Training methods should get to a point where it includes some levels of resistance, so that one can see what its like to apply these techniques to a resisting opponent.

6/11/2015 Defensive Tactics Club: 2:00 - 3:00 pm. Worked GRACIE weapon retention again, adding in a retention done when the officer is mounted and the bad guy reaches for the gun. So we did standing and ground retention, and also added in cuffing procedures for each.

I do the block with the blocking arm going to the outside. I think we did it to the inside in the ATA. I think it comes down to searching what the application is (if there is one), and asking why, if there is a why.

Definitely not a mutual agreement. He sent his 2 week notice via a text message which I find immature and cowardly (just my opinion). Our instructor feels blind sided and betrayed. The person that left wanted to take our school in a different direction, more MMA and kickboxing, and less kata and point fighting. Multiple times the head instructor allowed this person to try to get an MMA program going at the school and each time the interest just wasn't there to continue. Also, the head instructor and his family often times helped this individual with bills when he couldn't afford something and provided him with the school's van when he couldn't afford car repairs. This plus the recruiting of students are the main pain points. I knew he wasn't happy, but I feel the whole way he handled things was unprofessional. I've wished him well and thanked him for his work with my sons. So many things like this happen via text or social media anymore. Its the way this younger generation is becoming. They won't confront and speak to someone face to face. But I don't know how old this instructor that left is. It will be interesting to see if his program gains traction away from your school that he couldn't gain while there. There definitely is a niche out there for that approach, and I can understand the desire for someone to move from a more traditional teaching mode and curriculum to the MMA platform. As for the other aspects, its too bad that he couldn't have at least been more up front with someone that helped him out so much. But, perhaps he couldn't do it face-to-face because of that, but still felt he needed to go his own way.

Welcome to KF!

I don't think its dead. They put out season 3, and I imagine they are working on season 4. Just be patient.

It could be this, or another possibility is shoulder impingement. I had that, and had to have an operation done. I don't bench press right now because of that. Get it looked at, and see what the docs think. If the pain ranges from one area to another, to could be nerve related, as well.

6/8/2015 Defensive Tactics Club: 1:00 - 2:45 pm. Some bag work to warm up, then two rounds of stand-up sparring with kicks, MMA rules. Three rounds of being against the wall, covering and dodging shots, then clinching or circling out. That's a really good drill, making one get used to stand in under pressure. Strength Training Squats: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 140x5, 175x5, 205x3; work sets: 260x5, 260x5, 260x5. Push Press: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 65x5, 90x5; work sets: 114x5, 114x5, 114x5. Power Cleans: 90x3, 90x3, 90x3, 90x3, 90x3. Power Snatches: 65x2, 65x2, 65x2. 6/9/2015 Defensive Tactics Club: 2:00 - 2:45 pm. Worked on weapon retention, from the GRACIE and Krav curriculum. Did the standing strong side (arm bar takedown/break with the body) and weak side in-holster retention (standing Kimura, ends on the ground) from GRACIE, which end up controlling the subject on the ground. Also did some GRACIE retention on the ground, with a mounted opponent who grabs the gun (UMPA swim and trap), and from the guard (Kimura). With Krav, I did mounted gunman pistol disarm, which is done as the UMPA while controlling the gun. 6/10/2015 Strength Training Squats: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 140x5, 175x5, 205x3; work sets: 262x5, 262x5, 262x5. Press: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 65x5, 85x5; work sets: 106x5, 106x5, 106x5. Deadlifts: warm-ups: 135x5, 165x5, 195x5, 225x3; work set: 315x5. The last deadlift session was a killer, so this one, I put on the belt for the first time, and it really made a difference. It was still tough pulling, but everything stayed much tighter. What a difference. It'll probably be work sets with the belt on from here on out.

Looks like fun!

In all my TKD experience, I've used hip twist, and no sine wave. I do ITF forms in my current style, but no sine wave. I've watched it a lot, but I don't think I could ever force myself to do it. At least, no the exaggerated motions seen in many ITF styles. But, that's just my preference. I think initially, the idea of sine wave was supposed to be a subtle use of up and down motion, like what is natural when walking at a normal gait. But over the years, it has taken on different forms, and when General Choi went to North Korea, he reportedly brought them the "true" sine wave, which changed from what the ITF styles prior to his arrival in North Korea were using. I think its natural to have a little, little, rise and fall when moving forward and backward to do techniques. But I think when it becomes overly exaggerated, the technique is done for the sake of the sine wave, as opposed to making sure its adding anything power-wise to the technique.

This is an interesting situation. What are your instructor's thoughts on all this? Was there a bad break, or a mutual agreement?

6/5/2015 Strength Training Squats: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 140x5, 175x5, 205x3; work sets: 255x5, 255x5, 255x5. Press: warm-ups: 45x5x3, 65x5, 85x5; work sets: 105x5, 105x5, 105x5. Deadlifts: warm-ups: 135x5, 165x5, 195x5, 225x3; work set: 310x5.

Whilst that is certainly something the various founders like to claim, do we have any hard evidence for this? I would say that inspiration was taken from how Taekkyon looked but is there any direct lineage? No, there really isn't any. I'm not sure that the Taekkyon that is around today would resemble what was done in the past. I think it mostly falls under revisionist TKD history.

Well, in an interview in 2012, he said he started training with the Machados "28 years ago," which would be 31 years ago, now. That means that, at the very least, he's been training since 1984, and he would have been 44 at the time. I believe he also holds a black belt rank in Judo.