bushido_man96

Is there a copy of what this curriculum looks like floating around? Perhaps it would give some ideas for classes.

I think the main thing to consider behind a tradition is "why?" Why do we do it? Why do we keep it around? If the answer is "just because," then it probably should be under consideration as to whether it should be kept or not.

We may have discussed this, Bob, but I have forgotten if we did... What form do you teach at white belt? And is there a set amount of time you wait, to let them learn the moves of the form, before you start teaching bunkai?

Here's a video of some exercises like what Danielle is mentioning here: Don't worry about doing the exercises as high as this guy does. He is very good at them, and it takes time to build up to working at that level. Instead, do them a belt level if you can, or lower if need be. If you feel the muscles burning, then its working.

Here are a few more videos on the same idea. This one is an interesting take; tall vs short, from the tall guy's perspective: I like the tall guy's idea of not switching the feet, using his full reach to his advantage. In our TKD class, we tend to use a lot of switching feet to gain power, but to kick in close. I like the advice on stance, and kicking so they don't move their arms away to attack. I like the explanation on the tiip, too.Here's one on short vs tall, from short guy perspective: He talks about countering punches with kicks. I like the motions with the hands intercepting as he kicks, but I don't know if its the gloves that make that work or what. Its all very fluid, too, which I'm sure comes from practice time in the ring. Some of his angles seem very subtle, too.For a taller kicking, he gets into catching kicks. I like that, but we can't catch kicks in our TKD sparring. We can get away with hooking them and swinging them out of the way, though. Thoughts on these? Anything else to offer?

I think it would work better in a grappling setting, for sure. I've noticed this the more I work through BJJ techniques in our DT club. It seems like you can observe and pepper in wrinkles based off the student's performance as you go around checking things out. With TKD, its a bit tougher. We do basics every class, the same ones all the time. This isn't rotating, but it is all-inclusive, and the basics correspond to much of how the techniques are done in the forms, which kind of doubles the amount of work, and helps speed forms along. But for advanced kicking techniques, its tougher to rotate the curriculum, and the forms are pretty well rank-based. The forms part of the class slows things down the most for us.

Tournament #4 for this season. This was the first tournament that Kendall was able to do an 8 man, double elimination bracket. There were 7 wrestlers (one scratched), leaving one bye (which Kendall did not get, which is ok...I pay for matches, not byes!). There was one other kid from our club in this bracket, but Kendall and he were on opposite ends of the bracket, which made it nicer for them to not wrestle right away. Match 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjdX5vF6prY The dreaded headlock makes its return! But, he was controlled, and stayed in good position, and made a good takedown out of it. Have to work on the transition to the head scoop after getting them on their back. Match 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUstulLgmhE After his first match, I had Kendall stay down and watch the next one, to see who he would be wrestling next, and kind of scout them out. This kid is taller than Kendall, and appeared to be older, and he looked to really be in control in his first match. I have to admit, I was a bit worried about this kid. I thought he would give Kendall some fits, especially if he tried to tangle up with him standing. I preached takedown to him. But, he ended up getting into headlocks.. But, he had some very good headlock takedowns, really getting some good throws in. This kid was pretty strong, though. Kendall is doing a better job of controlling when on top in referee's position, grabbing the ankle and riding them down. His opponent was able to stand up pretty much at will, but Kendall did a good job of controlling him and pulling him back down from behind. Kendall ended up winning this match by technical fall, and didn't give up a point. I think I need to work on his swivelling a bit more, to get into better positions based off which way the opponent is leaning. Match 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_X2-oNgrxE Championship match, with his teammate! They both went through the bracket to this match, which was another great showing for our club. Kendall is on the right. They start out with more dancing, which they like to do for some reason. He didn't win so many of these headlock battles as he got lucky falling on top. That's why I don't care for the headlock so much. One of these times, its not going to work for him, and he'll end up on his back. But, learning the hard way is still learning.... He has gotten into the habit of hacking at an arm in an attempt to break down, and I feel he is doing it in the wrong spots, instead of focusing on controlling more with the hand. But, this was another great match between these two, and they are both improving. 1st and 2nd for our club in that bracket! Now, on to a big tourney in Salina for this weekend, where I think Kendall will get to see some great competition, and we should be able to really see how to guage Kendall for some state level competition.

Agreed, Brian. I don't think it would have much benefit to roll the opponent up. I still feel the force of the strikes will cause you to break your own grip, however. There are better positions for performing this type of technique. Yeah, that's what I was thinking, too, like the standard Thai clinch while standing. I think once on the ground, one is probably better off focusing on gaining a submission, or working to a more dominant position to strike from, like the mount or side control. I think knees from side control would be more applicable.

Here's another kwonkicker video, this one on fighting taller and heavier opponents: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inejFZb00uk&feature=c4-overview&list=UU-zLs41xSm1SNU_OMPruGTA Thoughts on this? He talks about staying outside and out of reach, evading and using speed to advantage to strike. Makes good sense, skill level being equal. I do think things change a bit when we talk about different levels of skill, and also fighting outside the ring.

1/29/2014 DT Club: 1:30 - 3:00 pm. Warmed up with some ground pummelling, and then worked on punch block defenses 1-4, progressing from guard to the opponent standing, swinging the foot out of the way, and defending with the knee across to get out of side control. Spent a lot of time on #1 from guard. From #2 and #3, we started in guard, the bad guy postures up, and after waiting three punches, we sucked the bad guy back down into guard. For #4, the bad guy gets to side control. We brought the knee across for the first variation, and worked to elevator sweep. Second variation went from full side control, getting back to guard, and elevator. 1/30/2014 TKD Class: 7:00 - 8:00 pm. Basics went quick, and wore me out. Had a stretch afterwards, and went through my form, trying to get through the sticking points. Did one-steps afterwards, working with a low-orange belt, trying to get some of the finer points of hand-foot timing down. At the end of class, there was a high orange belt and a low green belt that the instructor did an informal testing for. They both did decently. After class, I spent about 10 solid minutes going over the 2nd half of my form, trying to get it down. I'm pretty close to having it memorized, and then can start really breaking it down.

Sounds good! In time, I may have them all!

I agree. There are some adults not mature enough for weapons work, as well. Of course, there are also the newer safety type of training weapons available too. They can be a bit lighter than the real thing, and maybe off balance and ackward, but do provide an alternative.

Unfortunately, the imbelished lineage was a staple for Korean styles that sprung up, in an attempt to shake off the shackles of the Japanese occupation. There probably was a decent Korea sword tradition at one time, but its probably not much different than any other style of swordsmanship.When I was still in the ATA, they were putting together their weapons curriculum, and sword was one of the higher-ranked black belt requirements; I'm thinking 5th degree, but am unsure. I have done some bokken work when I was in Aikido, which was a good time, and it wasn't a lot of stylized stuff, either. Weapon on weapon work, which I like.

RIP

Great comments so far! Rateh, I do see the value in keeping groups of ranks together to work on similar techniques and curricula; its good to see the ranks working together, and realizing that they are doing a lot of the same stuff. And repititions like that beget success.

From The Way of Traditional Taekwondo, volume A (Philosophy and Tradition), provides a Webster definition... tradition: the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, etc, from generation to generation especially by word of mouth or by practice. I think what tends to get lost in the fold is that traditions get added and taken away over time. I think there is a sense that all the "traditions" of "traditional" Martial Arts have always been there, when this could not have been the case. Some were added over time, and its likely that some went away. There is an ebb and flow to it, and I think this is just as important to keep in mind.

I've learned forms that have no bunkai. But, its still a form, and has training value. As for me, I think applications should start being learned in the first class. Its never to early to start learning self-defense!

Try to look up that Pro TKD, Bob. I think you will like and appreciate what you see. Its essentially Olympic TKD without the chest protectors and pads, like IcemanSK mentioned. Really was good stuff; lots of contact, not so much of the tip-tap look. It was a full-contact venue that allowed the counter-kicking and jump-spinning kicking to be showcased, along with the power they really put forth.

A very broad answer to the question "how different are the two?" is TSD is more like Shotokan Karate (deeper stances, more hand techniques) and TKD emphasizes kicking more. If it's ITF (Chang Hon style) TKD, there will be a bit less emphasis on kicking than Kukkiwon (WTF style) TKD would be. I'm speaking in broad terms, but this is usually the case. Whether the instructor is Korean or American does not matter as to the quality of instruction. Naturally, you want to choose a good instructor; ethnicity does not matter. My best in your search. This pretty well sums it up. Good post, Iceman! Personally, I would look into the school that has 6 days a week open as on option, because you will likely be able to work it into your schedule more flexibly, all other things being equal (school quality, course offerings, etc). Let us know what you decide, and keep us posted.

Here is a Kwonkicker video I watched, in which he gave advice on how to fight aggressive, non-stop opponents: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv4IXyhxtHs What are your thoughts? Did he sum it up well, or does anyone here have different advice based off your experiences? The point he gave on not turning away was solid. I think that is what someone is trying to accomplish by overwhelming another; get them moving backwards, turn away, and then really drill them. I like his insight on offensive and defensive counter-attacking, too. The deliniation he presents makes sense. I like going offensive better, as it would help to not allow the fighter to establish control. However, the defensive option, using a block or parry and evade, might give one an opportunity to "stop" the opponent, break up their momentum, and open them up for counter. I would probably use more of the "cover-up" option in class. Mainly because I'm not terribly mobile, and I don't mind taking a shot if it brings the others in close where I can start punching away on them. Of course, that is with our limited TKD rules, too. What do you think? Good advice? Anything different from others here? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

I don't know if I can do 5, as I haven't seen a lot of Boxer's over the years, but here's a few: Ali's footwork and brashness. I'm not an Ali fan, nor of his attitude, but if you are going to step into the ring and beat up on and get beat up on by heavyweights, then you got to have some brash. Tyson's power. In his prime, he was scary. Holyfield's reach. That guy had some long arms, and was in awesome condition. Foreman's toughness and chin.

Good stuff! I'll bet that's a fun gym to train at! Those guys are serious!

Perhaps someday I'll be able to drop some dough on these titles. After all, I don't have any books on Kyokushin...must fix that issue!

This is the only one of the group I have read, so its really the only one I can recommend. But, I'm sure any one of them would be worth while reading.

Great work! It sucks having to fight through injuries and setbacks, like your appendix (yikes!), but time heals all wounds, and after all, that is one commodity we have, right? Keep up the good work, and keep us posted as you progress!