bushido_man96

I used to do the 5x5 method for lifting, and really liked it. I liked the idea of squatting especially, and building up power and strength. Right now, time is an issue for me, but maybe someday I'll get back to it. I have also looked into the Starting Strength method of training, and really like the idea of adding the power clean and power snatch to a workout. If I get the time, I will add it back in.

8/13/2014 Wednesday Forms Workout: 2:00 - 2:30 pm. Tension side kicks: repeating lo, mid, hi, 10 reps each side. Side kicks: fast, repeating, lo, mid, hi, 10 reps each side. Chon Ji x2, white belt one-steps 1-7, Choong Jang x2, stretch. 8/14/2014 Thursday Forms Workout: 1:30 - 2:10 pm. Tension side kicks: repeating, hi, mid, lo, 10 reps each side. Side kicks: fast, repeating, hi, mid, lo, 10 reps each side. Chon Ji x2, white belt one-steps 1-7, Choong Jang x2, stretch. 8/25/2014 Defensive Tactics Club: 1:00 - 2:45 pm. Hooray! DT club is back! Thank goodness, too. Today was pretty much an admin day, where instructors and coaches were introduced to the new members, and the ground rules were laid out for them. There is a really good group, around 18-20 total, but we'll see how many taper off by October. There is always some drop off, but if a majority of them stick around, then it should be a good semester of training! I did get one round of rolling in, so that was great. I really have to figure out positional stuff with BJJ, and figure out how to get into better positions for more subs. I did finish with an Americana.

Whatever your reason for training alone, make sure you can get some feedback somehow. Find some good sources online (youtube can be your friend) to use as references for technical work. Video yourself, then watch a video of someone with credibitliy and experience, and correct yourself accordingly. It'll be tougher to do it that way, but not impossible.

If you have one style as a priority, there is nothing wrong with that. However, its important to respect what both instructors want and expect out of you in class, in regards to time committment and rank expectations. Just make sure you are on the same page with both of them as to your goals.

And those actions, in turn, create loyal customers. Good practices.

Great article, and I agree with most of your points. I think its important as an instructor to not stifle a student's curiousity about all things Martial Arts. I have noticed and written about the same kind of Martial Arts monogomy, and it is a real thing out there, and I can't stand it, either. You've got a great grasp of it here, and you do a great job of broaching the subject with your students. Keep up the good work!

Thanks for sharing your experience with us, Heidi. Very cool, and congratulations on this accomplishment! I imagine the real winners end up being your students. And it sounds like you've got Bob on board, so please keep us posted as to how you implement these things! It should be exciting!

For the practitioner, that's true. However, for the instructor, his/her obligations are to teach effective applied knowledge about said style of the MA in which they are teaching. Outside of what your post intents, that's quite true; it's a personal journey, even for the instructor. Instructors are obligated to teach!! Imho. I agree, Bob. An instructor has to realize that his or her journey also becomes entwined with other journeys, and although it shouldn't be an instructor's job to "convert," they do need to guide, which is very important.An instructor doesn't have the privlege to be selfish in his or her journey.

Some styles cling to the hierarchy more than others do. If you know that going into it, then you should respect what they do, and follow along. If its something that comes along as time goes by, then I could see taking issues with it.

I'd recommend going in with an open mind and an empty cup. Try not to think things like "we do it this way in Karate," and try really hard not to mention that in class. Just take the time to learn something new, and see where it leads you.

If things are already planned out, then I'd have to decline. If I have the time, I'd stop in for a watch a bit, but other than that, I'd have to hold my vacation plans. If I did have the time, then I would really consider it.

sure I don't understand why some think its a very big deal to learn online!! You have to keep in mind that there are a lot of old-school practitioners around that didn't have this kind of technology available when they began training. Therefore, its different, and its a change, and we some are more open to change than others. Like sense8 mentioned, there's the lack of feedback from a qualified, or at least experienced, teacher, and the secondary problem is that of rank, should it be sought out. If you choose not to try to attain rank, then that won't be an issue. But if you start doing on-line or video submitted testings for rank, that can be a different issue, as well. Credibility tends to come under question more in situations like that.

Great article, Bob! You've done a great job of laying this out for anyone wanting to start a pro shop. This one really stood out, and you are spot on with that. Customers can see this, and it says volumes about what you want to do.

Welcome to KF! Glad to have you!

I won't say that you can't learn a Martial Art online, but I will say it will definitely be the tougher road to hoe. You won't have any immediate feedback on what your doing, which, without any experience, is going to make it tough to figure out what changes you need to make on technique. Again, I won't say its impossible, but I will say it will be very tough, and you likely won't get great results out of it until you can work with someone that has some experience and can give you some feedback. Another issue is that Martial Arts is very much an interactive thing, and you really benefit by having partners to work with on technique and application. Without a partner to work with, progression is tough to judge, as well. I wish you luck on your endeavor, and strongly encourage you to look for some kind of school to train at. Just out of curiosity, why have you chose the style you have mentioned here?

Lots of good information offered here so far, so I won't rehash it. What I will suggest is that you start visiting these schools yourself. I'd do two visits, one with and one without the kids (go without first). Since your two kids are a consideration, then you want to check and see how each school approaches training for kids. See if they offer kids only classes, or mixed classes. See if they offer different curriculum for kids and adults. Check into all those kinds of things, and see which one is going to fit the needs of both you and your children the best. It would be easy for us to single out each of the styles you listed above, do a Google search, and then paste links next to each style talking about the theory of the style, technique, etc. But, what you will only get by visiting each school, is a feel for how the instructors teach, what their teaching philosophy is, and how they approach the classes. That's what you need to see when you visit schools.

Vacation for me is vacation. Its time with the family, doing family stuff. I don't worry too much about working out or anything like that. Its a good time to let the body rest and recharge.

You're welcome, ps1. That sounds like a heck of a task there.

Kudos to you, man! That's a tough run there. 8/11/2014 Monday While Belt Forms Workout: 1:20 - 2:00 pm. Front kicks: #1,2,3,4 from sparring stance and from front stance. Blocks and strikes: From sitting stance, a) high blocks; b) middle blocks; c) knifehand strikes; d) down blocks; e) middle punches, alternating 30 of each. Chon Ji hyung x2 Choong Jang hyung x2 Stretch

I'm confused as to how testing early saves you money? Aside from that, I don't think an instructor should be calling you out in front of a class in that kind of way, but that's just me. As for which school to choose, go to the one that you feel offers you the best training experience. Part of this decision is going to depend on what your goals are, and which provides you with the best way of attaining those goals. It may be a hard decsion, but I think you will make the right one. Best of luck, and let us know what you decide.

Thank you, Luther. Best of luck to you on your upcoming test! When I was in the ATA, the high chamber was how we chambered our side kicks. But my body doesn't like doing the kick that way, and the other chamber is the one I currently use, and I prefer it now to the other. Thanks for the elaboration here. I've also heard the C-step called a "half-moon" step. I like how you train your hip movement, especially to keep the power of the body in the strikes and blocks. The only thing I don't like is the stepping and landing, then pivoting into the strike or block in a separated movement. I think that takes away the point of the step. I think over time, its most helpful to time the step with the block or strike, which brings the body into play, and still using the hips, but the hip movement becomes much more subtle, in order to avoid the telegraph. Much like Harkon72 lays out in his post. I like the Wing Chun explanation and demo there. Very useful, I think. Reference the TKD video, I think its also important to take into account that he is demonstrating a board break, and when students do board breaks, they tend to focus and commit to the technique more than they would otherwise, even compared to the performance in a form. Great shares, by the way. Loving this thread!

Thank you, Bob. One of the nice things that the ATA does is they are always thinking of ways to improve and add to the student experience. When I was in the ATA, for instance, the World Championships only involved sparring at the finals at the end of the tournament year. Now, they've branched it so that an individual can win a world championship in forms, weapons, or sparring. That's one change I've seen, of many. Sometimes, I think they change or add things that they don't need to, but, on the other hand, they have lots of people constantly coming up with ideas, which at times will lead to some that not everyone likes. But they don't stagnate, that's for sure.

Thanks for this article, Alex. Its good to have some idea of what one could expect transitioning to an art like BJJ after spending time in Eastern styles. I'm in favor of the laid back type of atmosphere, and would like to see more of it, myself. Your explanation of what to expect while training in regards to the intensity levels, and the goal of rolling is very insightful, as well.

Great article, ps1. Very nicely laid out, explained, and I like the video demonstrations, too.

Interesting fact. I think that wearing the headgear, although perhaps preventing a knockout, probably leads to concussions just because they get hit in the head more over a longer period of time.