bushido_man96

I've had doubts, but more often than not it has been in regards to my abilities more than anything else. There are things I see from time to time that I wonder, "why that way?" Now, though, I feel I have the tools to go digging and finding out "why?"

Actually, TKD was all that was offered in my area. So....I guess neither?

So, here we are, 2013 season is 4 games in. How do you feel about your team? I expected KC to be better, and am pleasantly surprised at their improvement. Their defense was good last year, and now, with a steady offense able to control the clock, the defense can really shine. I just hope the Chiefs can keep that talent together for a while. Now, I'm not such a homer that I am going to say they will win the division this year and head to the playoffs; there is still a lot of season left. But, I like their chances against the Raiders and Chargers, and I think KC can split with the Broncos, if they can get their tight ends healthy and get Charles really running earlier in the games. San Diego is looking better, too, and if KC split with SD, I could understand why. Rivers looks really good, and they are moving that ball. And Denver is just a juggernaut. So how is your team doing? Are you excited about your season prospects? Where do you see them finishing? Let's hear it, because Football Season is Here!

Here in Phoenix, ATA regional tournament this last weekend. John Very cool. My former instructor is Tony Collett, and he is out of Colorado. Are you familiar with him?

Good choice. I was weaned on the likes of Lone Wolf McQuade and The Octagon, Hero and The Terror, and Breaker, Breaker. Can't beat the classics!

In a way, it can, in the eye of the public. One bad police officer/deputy can put a black eye on an entire department. I do a good job, but I have to take the slack for an officer with no integrity. I think there needs to be a happy medium struck here. The public are the ones that come to buy your service, so I think consistent standards are important. As for the question of "How does one person's rank affect your own?" comes down to a statement I've made before in regards to the argument of whether or not children should be allowed to attain black belt ranks: "Rank doesn't matter, until it does."

I've been at if for 20 years now, and have never been disciplined like that.

Sometimes, I think I need to create my own personal volumes of the forms, because we do so many things so differently from what I've seen. There is currently some disagreement in our school as to whether we step forward or back to ready position at the end of Choong Moo (I swear by my right leg I was taught to step back!)....

That's great that you've made it back into the ring! Its good to see you back here at KarateForums, as well, John. Where was the competition at? I still talk to my old instructor periodically by phone, and he has tested for 5th degree just a while back, and is doing pretty well. I could never beat him sparring, either.

You both bring out very solid points. Its a hard one for me. I started out in the ATA, was a 2nd degree black belt, certified instuctor of a full-time school. I know that I had some great ATA instructors, and I also know the rap that the ATA gets from the rest of the MA community. I think that, from KyungYet's perspective, I understand the point of how it appears that the rank of black belt can become diluted. But, I also see the point Aodhan makes in rewarding the hard work of those that don't have the same abilities as others. There are so many ways to look into this. I like the idea of black belts having a good standard, being able to teach the finer points of a system to colored belt ranks, and being a good example of what the technique should look like, how it should be done, and how to apply things. Now, one doesn't have to be a super athlete to be able to do these things, heaven knows I'm not one. I also think there should be some reward system for those that show the indomitable spirit to overcome something like being overweight or autistic and becoming better within. It just might not be a black belt reward.

I agree with you, Justice. It gets old seeing the same old "bulk slows you down" points being made. We know so much more about training now, we know what we need to do in order to get the most benefit out of strength training.

9/25/2013 TKD Testing: 6:30 - 8:00. This was kind of a smaller testing, but we've got quite a few new white belts that didn't test yet this time around, so things will be picking up the next few testings, I think. For this testing, we did have some higher colored belt ranks testing, and we had 3 high brown belts testing for their recommended black belts, and they all did pretty well. 10/1/2013 Defensive Tactics: 10:45 - 11:30. I got to teach a few things in this class today, working on standing headlock defenses, one of them with the bad guy braced up against the wall. Finished the defenses with an armbar.

Congrats on your performance. I just have one question for you....could you please translate the technique names you've used? Not all of us are Karateka, so it gets tough to decipher at times what techniques you are using. I know jodan is head, but that's all I can pick out of your post up there. Otherwise, work in class on not turning your back. You need to put some combinations together, like a follow-up technique to your scoring technique, that way, when it doesn't score, you have a plan, and can do something that will either set up a score, or get you out of range to reset, if you want to. Personally, I wouldn't want to give up that space once I've taken it, so I'd stay close, punch away at them, and make them start moving back. Then, try to score with a kick.

That's a lot of hardware. Can he take some to his dojo and display them there? Otherwise, I'd suggest renting a storage unit.

I thought I would share this link: http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/news/439099/Weight-cutting-No-fight-is-worth-dying-over/ RIP. This is a very tragic event. The epidemic of weight cutting has been in the news for years in regards to Wrestling, and even though steps have been taken to reduce its occurrence, it still happens, and probably always will. I have never heard if it is an issue of concern with national and international TKD competitions, but I can't imagine there isn't some weight cutting that goes on. I don't know if there was some pre-existing condition that led to this incident or not, and I don't know when the last documented incident of death related to weight cutting happened. However, I do think it is a concern that deserves to be addressed. Thoughts from those who have fought and worked to cut weight? What's the most you ever cut? How did you do it, and over what span of time?

This. If you truly feel the Sensei caused/contributed, the time to confront him was a year ago, not now. I would address the injury, but not add the recrimination part of it, and let him know that she may need to bow out of class occasionally. If he's not ok with that, it may be time to find a different studio. John Totally agree. Everyone has limitations and the sensei should allow students to bow out if they cannot continue. I agree as well. Its not wise to train while injured, and if the instructor will not let a student bow out during a class due to an injury, then the only recourse is to not show up for class. If the instructor can't understand this, then its time to find a different training venue.

9/19/2013 Range Training: 1:00 - 3:00 pm. Practiced shooting from different, odd-ball positions, like lying on our back, and on our sides. We had to draw, shoot, and reload from these positions. We also did some fun shooting with one hand, both strong and weak. We also had to do reloads and clear malfunctions with one hand, on both strong and weak sides. Doing the reloads and clearing malfunctions with one hand went pretty well one-handed, but my accuracy wasn't great. Nor was it while lying down. Something to work on. 9/24/2013 Taught TKD: 6:00 - 7:30 pm. This was the last class before testing, so we did a review, pre-test type of class. Basics, moved through at a good clip. Forms, everyone did well and looked sharp. One-steps, did them testing-style, and got plenty of reps in. Sparring, did testing-sparring, without pads, making sure to use control and good footwork. After sparring, I had the students work on side kicks for breaking. I had the students kick the kicking shields for power, and then we switched to using the target pads, so they could work more on focus and accuracy.

Welcome to KF! Its pretty cool that you have that link to Chuck Norris. What an opportunity!

I love Lone Wolf McQuade. One of my all-time favorites. I'd go with that one.

I experience this phenomenon all the time. Our school uses the ITF forms, but just about every form we do has some differences to how they were originally done. I have quite a few books on the ITF forms that I use for references, and the changes are usually pretty easy to spot (especially since we don't use sine wave; watching videos on youtube is so much different than how we peform in our classes and testings). For me, a change is good if it has solid reasoning. "Because I can kick higher, so I do," probably isn't the best reason. But then again, if we want to practice high kicks, and we want to use our forms as a primary method of practice, then doing the kicks in the forms higher makes sense, if that is your goal. Now, we don't do really any kind of forms applications, so any changes I've seen seem to be more stylistic in nature than anything else. I have also seen changes in techniques a few times since I've been with my current organization, and I don't have the slightest idea why they change. Sometimes, I think its forgetfulness...

I think you've made some valid points here. As an instructor, I try to keep an open mind when a student approaches me about something, and if I don't have the answer for them, I try to find the answer and get back to them. I love to talk Martial Arts with anyone, no matter what rank they hold, and you never know when a point might be made that makes you think.

That doesn't sound like discipline to me. It sounds to me like this instructor abused his authority. Accidents will happen in the dojo from time to time. That's the nature of a contact sport/activity. But to tell a child to basically assume a position in order to inflict pain on him, is over the top.

Enjoy your weapons training. That was one of the things I enjoyed about the Aikido training I did, working with bokken and jo. Have fun!

9/18/2013 I spent some extra time in class hitting on side kicks, specifically working on the technique at the point of chambering and pivoting. I don't want our student's side kicks to be confused with round kicks, and side kicks seem to be the kick that gets shortcut the most. So, I take every chance I can to work some extra side kicks in.

9/17/2013 Defensive Tactics: 1:30 - 3:00 pm. Wrist grab escapes, choke defense review, punch defenses on ground 1-4, Kimura from guard, passing to guard when under side control along with elevator sweep, shrimping defense. 9/18/2013 Taught TKD: 6:00 - 7:30 pm. Basics, added some extra side kick work. I had the students stand in natural ready stance, and a 1/2 count of chambering, and then turning the hip and pivoting the base foot to get the leg into the thrusting position; then I changed the 1/2 count to chamber, then kick with the pivot and rotation; so it was balance and chamber 1st, then pivot/push the next. Got through forms and one-steps, then did some sparring, then had time to do a jump front kick drill that gets the blood pumping.