bushido_man96

8/26/2014 Tuesday Forms Workout: Side kicks: #1,2,3,4 side kicks, from sitting stance and sparring stance, floor drill, 8 min. Aternating front kicks: used kicking paddle, 20 kicks, alternating, 5 sets. Chon Ji x2, TTA white belt one-steps 1-7, Songham 1 x2, ATA white belt one-steps 1-3, Choon Jang x2, stretch.

I agree. Its very romanticized.

Unfortunately, that's the way dictionaries have defined it. I think this is erroneous in the extreme. I like this layout. Martial Arts is the umbrella, and the styles and types fall under their own categories. I think that descriptions like these are just an attempt by others to try to sell that they are something different than the others. That, or they are really over-philosophying about what it is they do. I've considered these very notions, as well. I think some "traditionalists" like the idea that they are training Martial Arts, while others are "just fighting." I think this is the wrong approach. This is a great topic! I find it a great opportunity to shamelessly plug an article I wrote in regards to this subject some time ago: Martial Arts: The Trouble with the Terminology I hope you enjoy it, as it is a lot of fun to talk about this subject.

So by this definition MMA would classify as a martial art as everything not forbidden for safety purposes is allowed, as opposed to say, point karate where a technique has to be done *just so* to score a point, and there are many restrictions on what may and may not be done. am I getting the idea? more broadly, does he define a martial art as any practice that is intended to prepare you for real combat, or any practice that SUCCEEDS at preparing you for real combat. From my experience the vast majority of aikido dojos train in large part with pre-determined attacks and specific aikido techniques. I am curious to see how you train. Street brawling would fall under this definition of Martial Art, as well. Not that a street brawler couldn't be a Martial Artist, though. But I see what Guird is getting at, I agree.

Good words, Bob. I was thumbing through an old Black Belt Magazine of mine, and found a quote by Richard Ryan in the Full Contact collumn. He stated, "People make systems; systems don't make fighters." He went on to write, "Systems provide the pathway to skill, but systems don't fight. People do." Those are some good points.

Welcome to KF!

There are some good books out there with plyometrics programs you should look into. Here are a few I have: High Powered Plyometrics: http://www.amazon.com/High-Powered-Plyometrics-James-Radcliffe/dp/0880117842/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409004434&sr=8-1&keywords=high+powered+plyometrics Jumping Into Plyometrics: http://www.amazon.com/Power-Systems-Jumping-Into-Plyometrics/dp/0880118466/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=8-1&keywords=Jumping+Into+Plyometrics The last one was available for around $6. Look into some of those, and see if they offer you anything you can use.

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.