bushido_man96

Something to keep in mind is that if a case you are involved in goes to court, and the defense attorney finds out you have Martial Arts training (and any attorney worth his salt will find this out), then you can almost guarantee that the idea that you are "held to a higher standard" than the layperson in self-defense will come out. So be prepared to deal with this.

Great question, Bob. At our academy, we have a "survival week" towards the end of the academy. It entails a lot of simunitions drills, which means everyone is getting shot at, essentially. You wear protective gear, and you get right down into the thick of things. Active shooter scenarios, traffic stops that go bad, etc. Our department does this kind of training regularly, as well. Its very valuable training. Loads of fun, too.

To the bold type above...Solid post!! I wholeheartedly concur!! The sooner, the better, imho. I agree as well. Get the authorities involved. You should be able to go to your district courthouse and see what you can do about setting up a no-contact order or some kind of protection from abuse/stalking order. You will have to substantiate your claims when you apply, so be ready to write down reasons for your application. Now, as for the self-defense steps. Not all of us do Tang Soo Do, so we don't know what they include. You need to ask yourself, or tell us, how you practice these. Do you practice in a realistic way, or like a one-step format? Have you tried to apply them against a resisting opponent? This will go a long way in answering your questions. Keep up posted, and let us know how it goes and what you choose to do. Stay safe.

it is always a good feeling to have that white belt around your waist once more. I found when i started doing BJJ (after i already attained my black belt in karate) and got my white belt it reminded me that everyone is still learning and to be humble in what i know and not to be cocky about being a black belt I agree. Its always fun to be a beginner again. No expectations as to what you should know, and having a clean slate. Enjoy your new beginning!

I like the sound of this idea, but I would love to be able to see it in action. I think it would have some real value in applying footwork and leverage.

Everyone knows I'm not a huge form guy (altough my new exposure to FMA might be changing this a bit) that said, this makes the most sense to me as a method of successfully utilizing kata as a learning tool. One of the big factors of current adult learning theory is that adults like to know the "why" of an action and this helps in retention. They also want to see how skill work relates to performance. This is the common failure of kata as it's often taught (and the way forms ARE NOT done in FMA, hence by slow modification of stance on this issue.) By teaching bunkai in this manner, you're satesfying those learning objectives that adults perform best with and utilizing the kata to sharpen those once learned. We don't do forms applications in my school. But, I have spent time reading and looking into possible forms applications for my form set, and on how to apply them. If I were to begin doing this, this is the approach I would take a serious look into. I feel that self-defense should begin on day one, and this approach satisfies that ideal for me. Learning these applications first would also help to form an association with the moves in the forms, thus enhancing the learning experience of the forms.

Offer different types of privates. Perhaps a forms private, to help shore up little areas to trim things out. Offer self-defense or bunkai privates to those looking for that. Offer sparring privates for those wishing to get to that next level in competition. What you might consider is setting up some Privates Time Slots on the schedule, and make some for each of the subjects I listed above. I don't know how you price it, but do whatever you do for them, and then see who signs up for them. It will give you a pulse as to what the students want to do, and you can tailor it from there.

I agree with you here, Bob. Children at that age learn through play, and that's what the approach to the classes at that age should be. A strict, regimented type of class won't have many kids left in it. There should still be some discipline, for sure, but its going to be a different atmosphere than that typical MA class.

It is Shotokan (JKA) with a very traditional approach in the lower grades, and more sport oriented in the higher. Serious when it should be, relaxed when it can be. Great group of instructors ranging from shodan to godan, and the adult classes has a great variation in the age of the students (I am 37 and far from the youngest beginner). The dojo has lots of social activities besides training , so it is really easy to feel welcome and a part of the dojo right away (very motivating those days when dragging oneself to the dojo seems like a heavy task). In few words it is serious, traditional, competitive and very social. Sounds like you did find a great place to train. Keep us posted as to your progress, and we look forward to reading about your journey!

Very well put. I agree. I would say that "conditioning" is the exercise process used to build stamina/endurance. Conditioning is a big part of what wrestlers do in training to sustain energy in a match. Body conditioning has more to do with "toughening" than anything else. Its a good question, Safroot. There are lots of different terms for different types of activities out there in the exercise world, and we as Martial Artists, are part of that world. Its important to understand the pedagogy of what we do, so its good to ask!

3/31/2014 Defensive Tactics club: 2:00 - 3:00 pm. Instructed today, so I worked with the students on some striking focus pads. Worked the jab, then the cross, and then a combination. Added in a low round kick to the leg after the cross, too. Spent some time working the heavy bags with the kick. TKD class: 6:00 - 7:00 pm. Taught class. We have switched to our summer schedule already, so I lose the extra half hour of class time, which really sucks. Did do the regular basics, reviewed all low rank forms, then did some slow sparring, so everyone could get more in tune with making contact to target areas and blocking. 4/2/2014 Defensive Tactics club: 2:00 - 3:00 pm. Taught from the GRACIE curriculum. Two of the jailers were at the club, plus me and one other Aikido/BJJ/DT guy was there, so I just started from the top and worked through the curriculum. We got through standing punch defenses and disengagement, into the takedown from behind, did UMPA and UMPA with swim and trap, and Americana from mount. It was also a bit less teaching, and a bit more just repping here, so it was nice. One of the female jailers is also making it to the DT club every Wednesday, which is great to see. I'm wearing off on someone at least!

Congrats, and well deserved!

Thanks for the support, Bob and Patrick! Here are the highlights from Kendall's Kids State Folkstyle Championships matches, 3/29 and 3/30/2014. Match 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5Czxr7PnO0 One of the coaches said he was really tight before this match. I think the parade of athletes that started it off really kind of overwhelmed him, with all the kids that were out on the floor, and everyone in the stands. It was a lot of people in one place, and he was looking to get off the floor and up to sit with us pretty quick. But, next year he'll know what to expect. In this match, the other kid ties up his hands, then shoots and gets a leg. Kendall didn't get a sprawl off, and he didn't crossface or circle well enough to keep the kid to working to his back. After that, it was a matter of the other kid setting up a cradle and pinning him. He was pretty upset after the match, too, and we are trying to work with him on that matter. So, match one down, with a loss. After a while, he cooled off and recovered, settled down. On to match two. Match 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp1YVyuqo20 They tied up early, and the kid tried to take him down with a headlock, but Kendall kept a good base, and landed on top of him for some points. Kendall got high up on the kids shoulder, still trying to work the head I think, and the kid got close to rolling him over. They go out of bounds and reset, with Kendall back on top. He gets him broke down, eventually rolls him onto his back, and gets the pin, for his first state win! I was really proud of him, coming back after being so upset about the loss, and really working it hard. I did see where had the ring been bigger, the other kid could have gotten a reversal and started to work on pinning Kendall, so that's something we need to try to address in the offseason. He has a third match, be we have to get it uploaded, and will post it up as soon as I can. EDIT: Ok, here we go, Kendall's third match at the state tourney: Match 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=616Dww-7ET8 This kid was a bit taller than Kendall, and I'm not sure he isn't at the top of the age bracket either, but that's ok. Kendall did a pretty good job against him. And from what I was told, this kid goes to the "big" tourneys for the most part, so he's a solid wrestler. Kendall is aggressive and goes after the kid, but he isn't able to secure a leg for a takedown, and the other kid circles around to get two points. I don't recall if its in the first or the second period, but Kendall is down 0-4. He starts period two on bottom, and switches out and keeps working to get into a better position. He thought he really had the kid, but he had him out of bounds. He was upset about that, but that's ok. They got reset in neutral, and finally worked himself to a takedown. He did tie the points up, bringing it back 4-4. He starts the third period on top, and almost gets the kid broken down and tries to get to some back points, but he gets the head wrapped up, and is too high on him, and gets rolled over, and almost gets pinned. He doesn't get pinned, but ends up losing the match, 7-4 if I recall correctly. He was very, very upset after that match, and I guess I can't blame him for that. He is very competitive, which is good and bad. After he finally got his emotions back in check, we talked about the weekend he had. I told him he did a great job, and had a great season. Another year in, he'll be stronger, he'll put things together more tightly, and he will improve. He just has to be willing to put the work in to get better, and hopefully, we will be doing that.

Well, no, not really. We aren't all equal. If that was the case, we'd all be the same rank all the time. But we're not. We all have the same opportunities, but that's not the same as being equal. All men (and women) may be created equal, but some work harder, some have more natural talent, and some are born into better situations than others. But not all are the same.

I think it depends on your rank and time in the organization. A new white belt coming in wouldn't really have a right to tell me which direction he thinks my school or organization should be headed. Those kinds of opinions should only come to the fore after some time in, and seeing how things are done and why. I think this is why we have seen the splits that we have in the Martial Arts world. After spending years training, we all start to see some of ideas as to how we would do things differently, and what our own approach would be to training and philosophy. Therefore, when one gets to the point that we ask for something to change, or go our own way, we tend to go our own way. I don't think this is a bad thing, either. We all have our opinions and thoughts on how things should be done, and as we mature to the point to put ourselves into a position to accomplish our goals, these things will naturally happen.

I'm with you here. My knees scream at me, and that's just when I drop into a stance while teaching, let alone actually being in line in a class, going up and down the floor. Its hell getting old.

Sparring has always been tough for me. I've just never been a really talented athlete. I can grasp some concepts and teach some of them fairly well, but putting them to work in a match has never really panned out well for me. One-steps are tough, as well. We have some that do some challenging kicking stuff, but as far as practicality goes, only the early ones are decent, and then later on, not so much.

Would you say that it's politically correct to do so? I think its really up to each individual school to decide. The instructor needs to decide what route he goes, and why he chooses to go that way. It would also depend on the curriculum. Ours doesn't differ between adult and child. Our Little Lions don't do the same curriculum as the children and adults, so they are separate. Otherwise, the kids can move at the same pace as the adults.

This isn't always the case. Some things can be done in the same classes. Our school's attendance is down, so its not always feesable for us to have separate adult and childrens classes. We do this when we can, but right now we have gone to a mixed class setup due to the lack of bodies in the classes. The key to dealing with this is pairing. Kids can learn things from seeing adults in the classes, setting examples for them and the like. When it comes to sparring and one-steps, its about proper pairings. We are not an MMA school, so we don't have a lot of ground fighting and choking that we teach, either. It just depends on what the jist of the class is. We currently have a father/son duo in our class, both white belts, and the dad just tested. My instructor and two of his children are both active, and all have dan rank. When I was younger, my whole family was involved in TKD for a time.

Sent my first submission already. "Yes sir, the check is in the mail!"

3/22/2014 Wrestling: I worked with Kendall 3 separate times to warm him up for matches during the district tournament, probably totaling about 20 total minutes of warmups. We did a few stand-ups, a few switches, shots/takedowns to cover, sprawls to cover, sprawls into the Iowa, and head snaps to the Iowa. We focused on moving quickly, and really warming up. He wears me out! 3/24/2014 Taught TKD: 6:00 - 7:30 pm. Basics, forms, one-steps. We have a testing this Friday, and the head instructor wanted me to really focus in on one-steps. So, basics were nothing special added, and forms were just each rank individually, for testing review; no additional forms work. Hit a lot of one-steps, so everyone got lots of practice in with a high rank.

District 4 Championships, 3/22/2014, Goodland, KS. Kendall was supposed to a full 8 man bracket, but there were a few scratches, so he got a bye the first round. Match 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acgkYVzBkP4 Against a familiar face, a kid he beat in a close match by 1 point the week before at subs. Kendall starts with an attempted takedown, but he has trouble taking this kid down. He sprawls out, and is able to secure one of Kendall's legs, which allows him to foil Kendall's takedown, and from there, he circles better, and gets around to the back for 2 points. Kendall fought to keep ahold of his leg, but just couldn't keep it secured. The other kid just gets around behind him. Period 1 ends without any more points being scored. Period 2 starts with Kendall on top. The kids spreads his legs, and really makes it tough for Kendall to break him down. Kendall kind of stays on top behind him, instead of moving to the side, but, Kendall does get something done from there. He uses the kids position to put him into a cradle, and rolls him over. Briefly, I thought Kendall might end up pinning himself, because he rolled onto his own back, but was able to bridge it over to get the kid on his shoulders, and locked it in tight for a pin. It was the first time he set a cradle, and he had been wanting to do that for some time now. Match 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiNO_CUlnIQ Well, just watch this one. He shoots off the line like a shot from a gun, and covers to pin! I was almost sure he went before the whistle, but it looks like he didn't. If we could just get him to scoop the head a bit sooner in the process, he would probably lock his pins up faster. With that win, Kendall qualified for the state tournament for the first time! We leave this Friday, and wrestle on Saturday and Sunday. He has a tough 16 man bracket waiting for him, with some of those kids from the Salina tournament in the bracket. Kendall was excited about qualifiying for state, and we've told him that we just want him to go out and give it his best effort out there. So long as he gives his best, we can't ask for anything more. I am convinced he is a much better wrestler now than he was at the Salina tournament. I feel confident that he will be able to go out and compete.

Martial Arts students are still human beings, and these emotions will still appear from time to time. I see how some people move and kick often, and I wish I could move and kick like them. This is normal, and it can help to push others to new levels. Some people can thrive on the idea of competing against themselves. Others like the drive of competition against others. There are a lot of aspects of the Martial Arts that is competition against others. Tournaments, sparring, even self-defense. Some MAs were originally combative, military arts; you can bet that being better than the guy in front of you is a goal there. So, to say vehemently that these emotions have no place in a Martial Artist, I tend to disagree. Being a Martial Artist is about being human, and dealing with and using all your emotions to help you get better.

The Maria thing sounds very odd. I'm not really sure what to make of that. It sounds to me like some kind of joke or something, but I can't be sure. Something's not adding up. At any rate, hopefully your new school works out well for you. Keep us posted as to the progress of your classes.

Welcome to KF!