bushido_man96

Solid post!! Agreed. Its easy to teach the techniques. Not so easy to convince a sheep to become a sheepdog in a moment.

1/24/2014 Spent about 45 minutes working through Choong Jang with my instructor. I got through it several times, but still get stuck in parts, so just need to get through the memorization, that way I can really get cracking on it.

Saw an ad for this book recently: http://www.amazon.com/Taekwondo-Black-Belt-Poomsae-Original/dp/1594392641/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390597326&sr=1-9&keywords=richard+chun+tae+kwon+do I have some of Richard Chun's other books, and really liked them, even though I'm not a WTF practitioner. Are there any WTF stylists here that are familiar with both Koryo and Old Koryo, and any applications involved? I look forward to reading up on the history of these two forms, and seeing what kind of applications break down they prepare.

ITF TKD has always placed a value on special techniques or "fancy" techniques. It's the Do for us. Striving to obtain complete mastery over ones body and pushing to do what everyone else can't. It's pushing yourself beyond what you thought you could do and training to be better. For those who find kicking easy, this can mean jumping and spinning kicks. Is it really much different than that jumping maneuver that is done in the kata Unsu (I think)? I don't know that I could complete that jump the way they do it, and at the age of 50, I really don't think I would want to try.

NBC and its affliates has the rights to the Olympics as far as I know right now. I think they would show it. I believe NBC last ran the StrikeForce fights.

The instructor should welcome you back, but whether he keeps you at your previous rank or not would be up to him. If you feel ready to go back, do so, and if you need to find a school that better works with your schedule, then that will only help your training out.

It might be a worthwhile course to attend. Please let us know how you liked it, and what you learned.

You would probably like any of Funakoshi's books: Karate-Do, My Way of Life; Karate-Do Kyohan; Karate-Do Nyuman; and there are plenty of others. Here is a list of them on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Gichin-Funakoshi/e/B000APBQQW/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1390596311&sr=1-2-ent Hope that helps!

Bob (sensei8) had a line in a post in the Jeet Kune Do vs Karate thread that pointed out some differences between Kata training and partner based concept training that I thought could make for some interesting discussion: I feel that what I am referring to for a lack of better terminology as "conceptual partner training" sees more value in getting into partner training concepts in regards to attack and defense as opposed to learning the set moves of Kata first, then acheiving technical perfection, then working applications. I do feel that both systems have some merit, and I look forward to hearing from practitioners who do one, the other, or have done both training concepts.

Thank you for elaborating, CredoTe. I'm sure that over time, with the way styles like Karate and TKD have developed, some of those concepts have gone by the wayside, and its really too bad. It has always seemed to me, in my TKD training, that the more traditional styles seem to be concerned with technique, how it is performed, and how to do it properly, a la basic techniques. It has always seemed like technique was drilled, then the concepts for application, if the instructor even does that, whereas styles like JKD have seemed to be more concept based first, learning the concepts and bringing the techniques along at the same time. But, that is just an observation I have made over time and research, and I don't claim it to be a hard and fast rule.

The training regimen might be a lot like Wrestling's, with lots of drilling and conditioning. So if you don't like that approach to training, then you may not like MMA training. But, as the others have mentioned, you will never know until you try!

But what is this core? How do we define it? I think different styles will have a different core; core beliefs, core techniques, core concepts and tactics. Which is it?

Is it integrity? So let's say a youngster starts a Martial Art, passes his first testing, and then his instructor dies. Should he stay an orange belt for the rest of his life because "that's the last rank his instructor promoted him to do before he died..."??? To me, that just sounds kind of crazy. Now, does this instructor still seek out knowledge from other instructors, and simply choose not to take on new rank? If that is the case, then what is the difference, other than the number behind the dan?

Actually, MMA could be considered a modern version of Pankration, which goes back to the ancient Olympic games. As far as "traditions" go, there really is no set rule on how long ago one started to consider it a tradition. One can even start a tradition, like Monday Pizza Night. All it takes is consistency over time to maintain it. And I do remember Tank Abbot.

Don't you just love politics? Everyone is so sensitive.... At any rate, I hope your instructor doesn't raise a stink about you being there to support your friends. I think its unfortunate that your club associate was kicked out for attending in uniform. I guess, though, if he does find out and decides to kick you out, you could go to your friends' club. Personally, I think people get to wound up over these sorts of things. Why let something like this trouble you in life? But, perhpaps its insecurity?

Our etiquette is very similar to what DWx listed. We bow on and off the floor, to the flags and instuctors at the beginning, and then to high rank student at the end of basics after forms and at at the end of class. If we are late, we stand in the back and wait for the instructor to have us approach, bow in, ask permission to join class, and then usually filter into line in rank order.

I will have to do my best to be the first!

Whoa, that seems a bit extreme. Hopefully, that won't be the case.

Is breaking boards something you normally have to do to get a rank? White belt here, just beginning! In some styles, breaking is a requirement that may start at the higher colored belt ranks, and continue into the dan ranks.

Hopefully we can all chime in on some Hapkido topics!

Yes, everything starts somewhere. But its not a "tradition" when it starts. It takes time to become a tradition. Then, as time goes on, its important to determine if things should keep being done the way they started or not.

Everything! Imho, the entire rank system has a tester, therefore an awarder, and in that, the entire rank system has a testing candidate, therefore, a receiver of said award. Self-promotion, imho, that's what we're talking about, is the bane of the rank systems existence. Imagine, for example, the green belt promoting himself/herself to brown belt on their own! If the higher belts can, then why not everyone, no matter the rank. The rank system would be of absolute no-value; it barely is now for many reasons. Thank God, there's always a floor!! I believe the testing system is a good system, but it really only works well for the colored belt ranks and the lower dan ranks. Once one gets to a certain level, the peers that are available to make the judgements that we all have become inundated to accept as necessary for promotion become fewer and farer between. I bring these statements back up to focus on them. Green belts self-promoting, we don't really have to worry about. We have a system in place that deals with that. Why not everyone? Because of discernment. If most people can be honest with themselves, and use some discernment to really evaluate where they are physically and mentally in their training, then there can be some sound decisions made in regards to rank involving self-evaluation and self-promotion. I think a big issue here is that many traditionalists that have been attached to the way the system of rank has been run for so long remain rigid in regards to how the system works, and don't want to see it change. That's one reason why I have always held respect for the way systems like Muay Thai, Boxing, and Wrestling work. For these styles, the proof truly is on the floor, on the mat, in the ring, etc. Where you stand on the podium at the end of the day shows how good you were that day, compared to who else showed up. This may sound like I am talking about winning only, but that's not the case. There is more to it than that. Another factor has to do with how we view humilitiy as opposed to self-aggrandizement, which is really how we view self-promotion. When Muhammed Ali said, "I'm the Greatest!" I don't recall him checking with anyone else first. But, they guy is loved...

You are right in that playing at striking will not work, but from my limited experience a lot of karate guys can never really strike full force as they could injure each other. The problem then is that you would never know if the strikes would work if you ever needed to use them. With my even more limited experience of BJJ, rolling with other guys is completely different. You don;t play, you really try your hardest to submit them, which is much harder than it looks and I honestly think that after a few years of training you would know that it would work as you are sparring against real resistance. That's just my opinion so karate guys cant really hit full force because they might injure? yet kickboxing, MT, sanshou and boxing do practice full force... how about the more likely answer is that most people here think they train in an effective art or manner and really don't. but nope, no one will admit it. You are making a valid point. But, its not necessarily that their training isn't effective; it has more to do with what the goals of the training is. WTF TKD fighters aren't likely going to be top flight strikers with their hands, but their kicking will be good. Muay Thai fighters and Kyokushin fighters are going to be a bit more rounded with both hands and feet, and knees, etc. It really depends on the goal of the training. Wrestlers have some great positional control moves, but they don't do well from their backs, where BJJers will excel. There are holes in a lot of what we do. Seeking ways to fix them is the key.

I think that JKD could really enhance what he does through Karate. JKD really has a lot of concepts to it, as opposed to rote technique. Taking those concepts and applying them along with the Karate training would be pretty beneficial, I think.

I'm surprised this was allowed to go on, and even more surprised that the dojo was made to split because of it. The head of that dojo really needed to take charge of that situation, but it appears he didn't. As for the passing of pamphlets, I agree with you as well. There really is no reason for it. There are other times and places for things like that. Not at the MA school.