bushido_man96

I like board breaking, and for the reasons that Bob and DWx talk about, that expresses what breaking is about. I don't think breaking has to be done to the extreme, but if it is, it can be fun, too. Board breaking is one of the ultimate definitions of technique. I recommend taking one, and making it yours.

I think we all have biases, based on what we do and what we see. I think we also suffer from the grass being greener on the other side from time to time, too. We see how someone else does something, and we wonder why we aren't doing it that way. Then we switch, and and thing we have found the golden fleece, and then years later, we realize that we had was just fine. As for the ultimate style question, I do think there are some styles out there that are more conducive to some things than to others. In the end, many could argue this till the end of time, and many won't be convinced otherwise, so there really isn't a point to it. What matters is if you enjoy what you study, and if it meets the goals you are looking for.

Thanks Wastelander, it's definitely conflicting opinions I've been getting from folk at work and in class too, i suppose I won't know for sure unless I try for myself. I think the squat jumps and high knees should be good for explosive power as they are fast exercises. I want to get more running or walking in too, so I'll work them all in to some kind of rota. Thanks for your input. M. The "bulk" misconception is a big one. Look at all the Olympic sprinters. They have big legs. When muscles get stronger, they get bigger. Whether its running or lifting, if they get stronger, they get bigger. There has always been that belief in the MA community that big legs slow you down, or make you less flexible. Not stretching makes you less flexible. I always hear recommendations for plyometrics or other explosive types exercises when it comes to this, too. I'm not sure if there is a standard now, but in years past, I had read that it is recommended that an athlete be able to squat 1.5 times their body weight before taking on plyometric exercise routines. When it comes to that hill, hill sprints will probably do you better than just walking up it. Hill sprints and squats a couple times a week will do you wonders, I think.

Kudos to you, man. That's more than I can put out. But I am going to be doing 300s weekly with the Aikido club for this month, so that will be killing me, I'm sure.

5/29/2014 Testing: 5:10 - 6:00 for Little Lions, 6:30 - 8:00 for regular TKD students. 6/2/2014 TKD class: Taught from 6:00 - 7:00. There were only 2 kids in class, so I did form with them. Chon Ji through Hwa Rang, 9 forms in all. For the forms that each of them struggled with, I had them do twice more, once at my count, and then at their count. After forms, I paired them up to do one-steps, and they got through white and lo-orange. Hit some technical aspects that I want them to be focused on when they help lower ranks with one-steps. 6/3/2014 TKD class: 6:00 - 7:20. Warmed up with some spot work on my form, Choong Jang. Class was forms review, doing Chon Ji, Dan Gun, Do San, Won Hyo, Yul Gok, Hwa Rang, and Choong Jang. After that, we did kicking on the target paddles. FL front kicks, FL round kicks, BL round kicks, FL round/switch foot round, BL drop kicks, and some spinning hook kicks. A good stretch afterwards. 6/9/2014 Kids workout: 12:30 - 1:30. Worked with Kendall on Wrestling: double leg takedown and single leg sweep, stand-ups and switches from both sides, Iowa from snaps and sprawls, and then some stance work. After that, I worked on some TKD with Kendall, doing our basic orientation. We did punches from sitting stance, our front stance down block, stepping and punching in front stance, and also down block/face punch in front stance. Finished with knife hand strike in back stance. We'll get it down, I have faith.

Congrats!

I enjoy it, and have had more opportunites to do so since becoming a 4th dan, and since our last high ranking student had to leave the school. Before that, I was always calling the testing on the floor. I haven't been the lead judge on a panel for quite some time. It was a nice experience.

I love the sound of sticks clacking together. I envy you, Alex. Looks like fun!

With my instructor having to miss this testing due to the death of his friend, I was honored with being the head instructor at the testing table this last week. A 3rd dan from the school also sat on the testing panel with me. Other than the chief instructor, we are the active instructors amongst the black belts in our school. He is more involved with the Little Lions classes we have, whereas I teach either a mixed class, or a kids class most of the time. This was his first time sitting on a testing panel. First off, we had the Little Lions testing, starting at 5:10 pm and going through about 6:00 pm. Since he has more experience with teaching these guys, he took the lead, and he had me chime in and take one of the drills, as well. The little guys were fun, and they all had great enthusiasm. After the Little Lions testing, we had the regular Promotional Testing from 6:30 - 8:00 pm. We mostly had younger kids testing, and a handful of teenager/adults testing. We had some good forms put on display, and one not so good. One that I really probably wouldn't have allowed to test, but that wasn't my call to make. However, I did make the call on the testing score sheet, so we shall see where that goes. All in all, a rather small summer testing, which tends to happen to our school anyways. It was fun, and I enjoy sitting on the testing panels. Afterwards, I discussed the importance of basics with the testers, and why we harp on them so much in class. The other instructor and I discussed testing a bit, and we seem to agree on most things. He has some different views on some things than I do, but for the most part, we agreed on most things. Up next will be the results from the TTA tournament held this weekend.

Way to go, armanox!

Congratulations!

Congrats!

Didn't notice that. What were the rules here?

I like this one, too. Well done.

Pretty cool! I liked it a lot. Cool to see him in there like that.

This is the problem when it comes to teaching combat systems to an LEO. We have so many rules put to us, and the bad guy has none. I can't just punch a guy in the face because he is pulling his hands away from me as I affect an arrest. Actions like that are what start the media firestorms that Alex mentions we want to avoid. What I do like about BJJ applications in the LEO setting is that once you get a lock set in, you get to decide how much damage is done, based off the actions/reactions of the person you are trying to take into custody. Now, Alex, I think I can help you answer your question here a bit: I can kind of relate to you here, but I am the opposite of you in experience in BJJ: very little; in fact, one could say, next to none. The only real BJJ training I have had has been with the GRACIE course, twice now. Aside from that, a bit of no-gi DT related rolling we do in the Defensive Tactics club. But what I have seen is what I've been able to teach in my sessions with the department has been picked up pretty well by those that have come to the training. Thankfully, there hasn't been a lot of chances available for it to be applied in the work environment, but I trust that I more reps are put in, they will be able to apply it when necessary. I think the key to avoiding "your own press," to use Bob's wordage, is to remember that we can't teach them everything we know and use on a daily basis. We have to stick to the simpler stuff so they don't start getting confused about what they should do. I hope our officers never have to grapple a BJJ black belt taking them into custody for some reason. But, I tell them times like that are why we have other force options, too. Now, to add to the discussion here, I've got lots of years in TKD, and some ample years in Combat Hapkido. During my time in TKD, very little joint manipulation has been focused on; certainly not enough to become proficient in it. So, other than my leg kicks, and using some of my knowledge for apply leverage and adding some power in using my hips, all my punching and kicking really doesn't get applied in the work environment, unless the level of force goes way high, to the bodily harm or great bodily harm stages. If I restrain a guy with a knife in one hand, and have another free, I'm pretty sure I can justify punching the face multiple times if I need to. But until it reaches a point like that or similar, I really can't dig into my TKD tool bag. My Combat Hapkido has more options available to me, with the joint manipulation and locking. However, I've found by and large, that once you get someone by the wrist, and they start resisting, you've got a tiger by the tail. It doesn't look like an Aikido demo from there. I'd prefer to get control of the whole arm instead of the wrist, or move into a body lock instead of holding onto a flailing wrist. Its here, I think, when someone gets really good at joint locking a non-resisting partner, who doesn't follow up a technique, that one can begin to buy their own hype. On the other end of the spectrum, I know a TKD instructor who I had a discussion with about BJJ being used in the LEO environment, and how foolish it is to be rolling around on the ground with a suspect (which isn't the point of BJJ in the LEO environment, but I'm not sure I got my point across). He believed in the merits of what he taught, but not in those of the BJJ, which he has little experience in. In the end, some people will fall victim to this. Others, who choose to look into other methods and systems, will probably have a more open mind to different methods, and consider and review them for the use of their own training. I hope that helps out, and wasn't just a ramble.... ShoriKid, you've got a pretty good grasp there, too. Good post.

It seems more and more difficult to get adults into an MA class anymore. Adults are always very busy, especially if they have kids. Most of the adults in our TKD class are there because they have kids in class. That's one reason why we have combined classes a lot of the time. And if the kids are doing other sports alot, then it cuts in on MA time. I think the adult market is just getting harder to get filled into the Martial Arts.

Yes, congratulations!

Sounds nice. Are you able to flex and form your feet pretty well for whatever kicking tool you use? Years ago, I had a pair of TKD kicking shoes, but I had the same experience with the narrow sole, and I was more wobbly in them than I was barefoot.

Thank you, everyone.

I agree with your sentiments here. Not everyone trains for the same reasons.

Good points, Bob.

I like your points, ShoriKid, except with "the goal of competing." I don't think MMA has to be strictly sport related, although that seems to be the driving force behind it.

Not every instructor has the time to devote to what I would consider a "full-time" school. Many MA instructors do it on the side, and have a separate full time job, and possibly a family. So they may not have the time to make more classes available to you. The class room time you get should be supplemented with some solo training time. If you like your school, stick with it, train some at home, and keep working from there. If you really feel like you need more time, then you may have to find a different school.

Break the form into segments, and focus on each one, hitting the tough techniques and getting the timing down. Then move onto the next segment. Once you feel comfortable, put it all together.