bushido_man96

Wow, that's a great approach, Heidi, and very cool that you were able to get the whole class involved in helping to turn him around. Thanks for sharing this approach with us!

11/14/2013 TKD Solo Workout: 9:45 - 10:10. Do-Kangs 1-4, Se Jong, and Yoo Sin. Stretch. Defensive Tactics Club: 1:00 - 2:00 pm. I graciously offered myself up to be a cuffing dummy for one of the new PD trainees.

Thanks for sharing this outcome with us. It sounds like you were working things pretty well, but just came up a bit short. And now you have some things to add in for next time. Keep it up!

Bruce Lee often referred to the coiled tension of a spring, or the snake ready to strike. Its a tough lesson to learn for some students, but it comes with time. I know I tense some things up here and there, and I have to remind myself to relax somewhat so that I can smooth things out.

I go with the chest/abdomen area.

I think Iain Abernethy would be fun to train with. It looks like his sessions are a blast, and I would like to see more of his methodology.

It sounds like you had a good time, and a great experience! Kudos for heading out for the next tourney, as well, and good luck!

I believe this. I've never been part of a school that did allow sweeps, and I always wish that I have been. I think there is a strategy that goes into it all its own, and would love to see how it would change the dynamic of the sparring we do.

This is just my interpretation, but it may have something to do with shifting weight from the front leg to the back leg, and back to front. I think this can be good or bad. If the opponent can see what leg you have weight loaded on, then they will know which leg you are going to kick with. But, if you move while fighitng, I think some of this is going to happen, anyway. The key is learning to use your footwork to disguise or set things up for you.

Yes, good advise. Hapkido and Aikido are also other derivatives. If you are having trouble finding anything online, go to the good 'ole yellow pages, and see what's listed there. Good luck!

Thank you for all the help so far, guys. I really appreciate it. Hopefully, I'll get to work on some of these again soon. Do you have any others that you would do at my level, for maybe passing guard, or a mount reversal series, or anything of that nature?

Looks good. Two things I would focus on: 1. follow through. Don't get into the habit of pulling that kick like that all the time. Its supposed to drive through. That touch kick will work for your point sparring, but that's a shawdow of what the kick is supposed to be. Keep that in mind, and practice both. He shouldn't "fall off" after that kick, because his balance will be off, and if he didn't score, he'll be in a bad spot. Have him follow through with the re-chamber, and then land forward or spin all the way through to recover. 2. If he puts more of a chamber at the beginning, he have a faster hook kick. Right now, he's got more of what we would refer to as a spinning heel kick, where the leg stays straight throughout the delivery, and follows through upon contact. He's swinging up all that momentum with his leg, then stopping it at the head, and then ends up in a poor defensive position. Here's a video that might give you some ideas of what I'm talking about: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGNBMJQVG98 I tend to chamber mine a little more than he does, but I'm not looking to knock out my classmates, either. I hope this helps you out.

I think this is just typically behavior. Especially younger students, they want to test and achieve those awards. Over time, you figure out who really wants it, and who will really put the time and effort in, and the rest will fade away. I think its the same with any athletic endeavor. As for the "realistic" MA movie you have proposed, I wouldn't go watch it. I want to be entertained at the movies. That's what made Rocky so good. If the real thing were so much fun to watch, I'd watch a lot more documentaries.

Good words, Bob. I echo your statements!

On Nov. 7, 2013, Col. Nam Tae-Hi, one of the pioneers of TKD, passed away. Col. Nam was instrumental in the development of what was to become known as ITF TKD. http://www.taekwondotimes.com/news/news_detail.php RIP

The Dolphins have had a rough go with this Incognito/Martin incident, and it can't be helping at all. And it sounds like its going to drag on for some time, continuing to be a distraction.

I agree.

Please keep us posted on his progress, and what action you decide to take.

This summer I posted a pair of fights where he blitzed five times for the five points needed and in the other he won 3-2 all off punches. That's what KILLS me about Zach. He sees he can score on something early...and holds onto that move like a dog with a bone for rest of tourney. This isn't a bad thing. If it works for him, then he should make them stop it. When I was in the ATA, I saw a lot of flexible people with good balance do repeating/sliding round kicks like Zach does side kicks. The rounds are good because they can change level more quickly. The downside to the repeat round kicks is that you don't get the stopping motion ability of the side kick. Something else to consider, but it would work better in a closed sparring position. If he misses the side kick, then spinning to a spin back or spin hook would be a good follow up. They are also good defensive kicks against round kicks. I don't recommend using a spinning kick offensively, unless its part of a combination. Generally, a spinning kick as your first kick has a lot of telegraph to it. The biggest downfall I can see as to how he spars right now is that when he comes across someone who is taller, or has a faster side kick, or both, then he is going to be shot. At this point, its who has the faster side kicks that tends to score the points. Also, if he gets someone that knows how to move off-line and work angles, that will probably throw off his side kicking strategy, as well. Having these things in mind, its important to train for these instances, and work strategies off of them. Just something to keep in mind.

Cool, thanks.

Me too, Hawkmoon. Still waiting for another Hulk movie....(think I will kept waiting, too).

I hope so, Bob. Now, they have this Dwayne Bowe incident. It doesn't sound like there will be any suspension yet, and someone else in the vehicle claimed the drugs. At any rate, its a distraction that will likley take its toll on Sunday. We'll see... Sorry about that game with the Saints, Bob....ugh, that was just a tough one to stomach.

Yep, sounds like a pretty faulty study to me. But, we did get some good discussion out of the subject here.

You have some options here. You can approach the parents, and the child, at the same time. Tell him and them that you want more committment out of him, less back talk, and you want him to work harder. This may motivate him to do so. He may be doing this against his will, too. If that is the case, then he may not ever be motivated to do it. If this is the case, then tell him and his parents that if things don't change, you will be excusing him from the dojo, and he won't be allowed to train. Tell them you don't have time for someone who won't help themselves. In my experience, you can't help someone who doesn't want to be helped. If you have committed students who will listen and pay attention to you, then you need to focus on them, and tell them that you will if he continues to not listen to the advise and instruction that you give him. Or, you could let him continue to plod along, but ignore him. Let him do things wrong. Let him mess up. Let him be lazy. Just ignore the fact that he is there. Maybe he will come around and ask for help. Maybe he won't. Maybe he'll drift out on his own. Maybe you let him test, and see what happens. Maybe he fails, and it motivates him, or he moves on. I know my last two suggestions sound kind of anti-what-the-arts-are-all-about, but in the end, what can you really do for this kid if he won't let you help him? That's my 2 cents, anyhow. Let us know what you do decide to do.

I think you've got some good ideas there. One thing to keep in mind is the time constraints that some people have, and how to ammend things for those that don't have the time to put in 20 hours of training a week. I think what many will like is to see the home/solo stuff, or minimum equipment stuff.