bushido_man96

Turns, lifted feet, stances, etc. could all imply potential kicks. The most obvious example is in the kata Naihanchi--I think it's called Chulgi in TKD, if that helps? There are sections where you do sweeping motions with the feet that, in addition to legitimately working as foot sweeps, can be the chamber position for shovel kicks. My style also makes liberal use of cat stances throughout our other forms, which take your weight off the lead leg, which frees it up to kick or sweep. Absolutely... Also, I don't know if Kobayashi still includes Rohai in its curriculum, but that's another kata that has some implied kicks. Chulgi isn't a pattern that we do. I do have a form that has the foot sweep motions in it, though, and I have been taught Naifanchi Shodan by sensei8. I'm interested in what the "shovel kick" is. I'm not familiar with that term.

You too Danielle, are worthy of your 4th Dan when you test!! Good luck in Feb!! Yes, good luck! And please do let us know what you did for the testing. I'm interested in knowing what we do differently. Thank you!

That's great! I say go for it. If nothing else, it will gear you towards that preparation.

It would be nice if it worked like this all the time, but it doesn't always. Sometimes, the parents will come and ask, as is their right, when things concern their children. If a parent would have questions for me, I wouldn't have a problem with answering them. After all, if their children are in the class, then the parent really is the consumer. So, its important that they be informed if and when they ask. I won't allow them to sway my decision, but I wouldn't have an issue with explaining my decisions with them. I agree...Asking is one thing, but questioning my final decision isn't!! If I'm trusted to teach them, then I should be trusted to grade them as well!! Private counsels are to help them, both parents as well as students, and I will help them so that they know what has to be worked/improved on, but new parents and the like seem to think that they can judge my judgement and this isn't going to happen; not in my dojo/Hombu!! I agree. Hopefully, parents will realize that they really aren't within their domain when they come to us as teachers, but at times, they are blinded, because of their natural bias for their children. Its just another opportunity for us to share our knowledge, and let them know that we made our decision because we really do care. I think we are seeing eye-to-eye on this one, Bob.

You've done some reading you say, so that's good. Now, do some legwork, and get out there and take a look at the different schools available to you. Each instructor has a different teaching style and focus, so you need to watch their classes and talk to them and ask them questions in regards to what you are seeking out. That will be much easier than the rest of us trying to guide you towards your goals through our own experiences. Best of luck to you, and let us know what you decide. And welcome to KarateForums.com!

Absolutely! As for "operators" and "warriors", I most certainly am both: I'm a computer Operating Keyboard Warrior! Clickety clack! In other words... CredoTe <=== Nerd!!!

I could definitely see the WTF in that guy. Hands down low, the kihaps, and pretty good footwork. However, that might have been different with ropes around him. A nice spin back kick, right to the chin.

His kicks did look kind of snappy, instead of being for power, but overall, I thought he used them well. The TKD stylist used his front leg for kicks really well, and his footwork kept him out of a lot of trouble. I could tell that his hands weren't nearly on par with the Thai fighter's, and I could also tell he didn't want to be standing anywhere close to the Thai stylist. His second fall down was more a result of the kick being off, as opposed to the strike by the Thai stylist, but that happens when you start jumping around and people jam you. On a side note, this was the first full contact fight that I had seen a TKDer use consecutive kicks with some degree of success. But, perhaps a few well placed single kicks with more power would have served him better. My two cents. Thanks for sharing it.

Haha, yes, I think that throws people off, sometimes. In our kata, the only kicks that are explicitly used (performed the way you would in application) are front snap kicks, back kicks, and one inside crescent kick. All other kicks--side kicks, shovel/oblique kicks, roundhouse kicks, etc.--are implied, meaning the forms tell you that you could do them there, but do not have you perform them completely. Its interesting to me that you say they are "implied." How so? Is it by the use of chamber motions that are not extended when doing the form? Or is it through some other subtle motions?

Good point. Training with the gloves on all the time, and hitting at the head, when it comes time for self-defense, this will probably be a natural reaction. That's when the broken hands can happen, because they don't adjust to hitting differently with the hand. Just a thought.

I'm not sure punching a candle really develops power, though. Punching bags will develop power, because of the resistance you get. I think that may have a lot to do with the power a Boxer is able to generate. They are constantly punching bags, punching focus mitts, and are moving while doing it. The makiwara is a great tool, but it doesn't move, so it only teaches how to transition power while you are stationary. I think that could be part of how Boxer's develop their power, as well.

I agree with you here. I think there tends to be a perception that training in the East is far superior to training in the West, and I just don't think that's the case. Instructors have to be evaluated in order for the student to see if they will provide what they want out of instruction.

I liked them. Some different movements from what we do, but I liked them. One thing I do differently is that I try to time the extension of the technique with the landing of the foot. I think it helps with power, but that's just something I've done since my ATA days.

This is really the only best advice. Move forward, and try to make things better. Sad to here, but hopefully, its just another obstacle to overcome in this style's history.

Here's a video of Chuck talking about his first experiences training with the Gracies' in Rio. I think this may have made the rounds before, but pretty cool.

Huh, I don't know why. It just loaded up for me.

ShoriKid, those are great points. I only wrestled my 8th grade year, and wasn't very good. But looking back now, I wish I would have stuck with it. Now, I live vicariously, and train vicariously, through my son. That's the thing with Wrestling, though, Bob. Its a competition with yourself. When I Wrestled, I wasn't very good, and I wasn't a varsity Wrestler, but they have meets that non-varsity Wresltlers can compete at. The most valuable lesson that it teaches, in my opinion, is the one learned out there on the mat, just two people, each responsible for their own training, and how much they put into it. Each match, something is learned. Is winning important? Yes, it is. But, its not the only thing in Wrestling.

Thanks for the clarification here, ps1!

Great responses, everyone, thank you. Another term that tends to get used when it shouldn't, especially in the Martial Arts world, is the term "warrior." I think there tends to be too many that consider themselves warriors, just because they study a Martial Art, and its just not the case. The term "operator" is beginning to get tossed around more and more now, in kind of the same sense. Its ok to be passionate about what you do, and its ok to be an advocate about what you do. But its also important to keep in perspective what it is you actually do.

In Gen. Choi's Encyclopedia, he talks about a round kick with the ball of the foot being used from the opponent's "flank." I think this is due to the way the ball of the foot is exposed when the toes are pulled back. By flank, I think he means being at an angle to the attacker, so that the ball of the foot contacts, and the toes do not. Just a thought. That is an important point. For ball of the foot, Gen Choi taught that you should never ever target something in front of you. Your target is off your centre line and more on the 45 degree angle to ensure a proper contact angle and save your toes! If your target is in front, you have to move or step first before kicking (as in Ge Baek move #33). What's more interesting for us is that we don't do an adjustment movement for our round kicks in any of our forms. I also note that in the Encylopedia that I have by Gen. Choi and by Anslow that the kick is done at a 45 degree angle, the body only turning probably 135 degrees, then kicking. Our forms, and the ones I did in the ATA, don't do that.

When you do your forms, is there a method that is preferred? In all of our forms, the round kicks are done with the toes pulled back, ball of the foot used as the striking tool. Same in one-steps. But when we spar, its pretty much our choice. Is there a right or wrong considered for your forms? Edit here: scratch that last thought; I just read your last post. I guess I'm just used to the idea of round kicks being in forms.

Thank you, Bob!

Looks like this was a fun one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv4OaByw2bU

Pretty cool achievement: http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/news/440159/Rousey-makes-Times-30-Under-30-list/

I'd try to step in and stop it, but that's kind of my job, too. Its tough for us to know exactly what the people who saw this going on were thinking; if they viewed it as serious or not. However, I do think the video drives home a point. Our society is more likely to watch than to stand up and act. As the saying goes, evil thrives when good men do nothing to stop it.