bushido_man96

Squats and lunges will probably help out that leg strength.

Nice suggestions, Hawkmoon. I think I will try to do more "eyes closed" training.

10/15/2013 Defensive Tactics Day! DT Class: 10:30 - 11:45 am. I taught this one today, so I used the time to review the GRACIE material. I started with the interview stance, blocking haymaker and disengaging. Moved to the shadowboxing drill to get into the clinch, and then went back to the punch defense, duck under, and get to clinch from behind. Disengaged, then added the sit-down takedown from behind, rolling up into the mount position, and then working to cuffing. Did defense with bad guy mounted, UMPA with bad guy choking, and UMPA with swim and trap if the bad guy is striking. After the reversal, throw headbutts and disengage with gun side back. DT Club: 1:30 - 3:00 pm. This was a fun one today. I was showed a series of submissions to transition to from the guard. First, we did an armbar. From there, if they pulled their arm out, we transitioned to a triangle by switching our hips back, pulling the arm over, and grabbing our ankle, then we would pedal back to stretch it out, and lock the triangle in. The last transition was from trying to land the armbar, if they pulled their arm and head out, we would transition to an omo plata. That one was kind of tricky, but I started to get the hang of it. Its just some funny movements for my body to make at this point. Also demonstrated was an armbar from the triangle, and also a gogo plata, but we didn't try that one, just saw it. Overall, a very fun class, and I really liked working in a series like that.

I highlighted the above section because that is exactly one of the reasons I wanted to approach this topic in an article. The vast majority of instructors and students out there feel that an instructor is the most necessary element in learning a Martial Art. It is, for sure. However, with the exposure of information on the internet, to insist that it isn't possible to learn from that kind of source is really an absolute that, in my mind, doesn't exist anymore. Like learning anything, you have to have the proper approach to make learning effective. Agreed. It should be noted that just looking for something and then trying it out isn't a smart way to go about this kind of training. Preparation is the key.

Well, KC holds on to beat the Raiders in KC for the first time in 6 years, and to go to 6-0. Now, I am extremely excited about how well KC is doing. However, I know they still have a lot of work to do, especially on offensive side of the ball. They have also caught some breaks at times when they needed them. But, KC is on the right track, and I think they can be good for several years to come now. The fans at Arrowhead Stadium also set a new world record for decible level, at 137.something. Guiness was there to record it, and the noise also contributed to several false start and delay of game penalties for Oakland. Keep rolling, Chiefs!

Looks like it has a chance, with LA being down 2 games to none. Tigers/Red Sox should be fantastic, as well.

Welcome to the Forums!

Welcome aboard!

Welcome to KF!

Darn it, I needed Bob to teach me a Pinan kata!

That's alright. You've got plenty of time to train after that. Here's to a full recovery!

100% yes, and as that is so (Which to me it is) as I mentioned 5 or 505 demonstrations should all finish after about the same time a master takes to complete the same kata. To me to finish faster than the master, or a long time after the master is to show a lack of commitment and understanding of the kata and what is teaching 'you'. That, I'm not as sure about. I think everyone will have their own pace in a forms performance. I don't punch as fast others, and my steps tend to be slower than some. In basics, I always feel like I am finishing my stepping last, even though I am the highest rank in the class. I'm not a very quick person, and tend to be rather heavy footed. I think that some good students can figure out each others pace, and stay together for a good demonstration, but, I don't think they should have to at all times.

I've never really done a block in sparring like I've done in forms before. However, with that said, I do think there are applications there. Its just a matter of finding them. Sometimes a block will stop a movement (like a cirucluar type of move, like a round kick or a haymaker), or it will deflect a movement (like slipping a jab). Both need to have accompanying footwork to allow the defender to get into an advantageous position to counter. Continued attacks after defense is what I preach, as well.

There were some movement things in Aikido that I did like, and I could see places where I could mingle in kicks or punches or other strikes to augment the Aikido techniques.

It's the stubborn within you that drives your MA vehicle, so to speak. You won't succumb because it's not within you to do so. In that, it's that light at the end of said tunnel that drives you to break through the darkest MA days into the bright MA days in your MA horizon. Thanks for the kind words, Bob. Now, I just need to get the train moving a bit faster through the tunnel...

I've never had any kind of test like that put on me before. I've been pushed physically from time to time, though. Its exhausting, but quite rewarding in the end.

I've had questions in the past, and even some now, in regards to how I apply the art and its methods. The main issue I have through TKD is that we don't work on applying anything all too much. We spar, but we can only apply so much through sparring, especially with the limited rule set we use. One-steps can only take one so far. When I was consistently training DT and Combat Hapkido, we did quite a bit of talking and training about how well something would work, or what it would take to make it work for us. In DT training now, we work towards it, as well.

This post was originally published as an article in a dedicated KarateForums.com Articles section, which is no longer online. After the section was closed, this article was most to the most appropriate forum in our community. There is no doubt that our society is exposed to a vast amount of media today. It is possible to find information about anything through media outlets, ranging from books and magazines, to DVDs and VHS tapes, to internet downloads and websites such as YouTube. This wide variety of resources ranges from the informational to the instructional. Of all mediums, the most widely used of these tends to be the internet. While the internet provides access to vast amounts of information on the subject of the martial arts, the accessibility that affords its convenience also allows for any Tom, Dick and Harry to deposit information on the subject, legitimate or otherwise. You could be looking at a legitimate instructor's advice, or the ramblings of a total quack. The purpose of this article is not to argue the validity of learning the martial arts through supplemental media sources as a replacement to qualified face-to-face instruction in the class setting. That debate will rage on for years, and the pros and cons of each will not be discussed here, either. Rather, my goal in writing this article is to provide some points to help those who already have martial arts experience and want to take advantage of the information that is out there, and maximize the use of these training supplements. In order to maximize training with media supplements, I think there are four main points to consider: Know your subject matter.Know your source. Have a good training partner. Don't overload.Know Your Subject Matter The best way to supplement your training with media is to already have a grasp of how to do what you are looking for. If you are looking for kicking workouts, make sure you already know how to kick to some degree. Now, I'm not saying you can't try to learn how to kick from scratch without an instructor, but it is definitely a longer road to hoe. The same goes with searching for joint locking or grappling. Learning how to joint lock or grapple without a basic knowledge of the body mechanics or control involved is a good way to make your first media supplement workout your only one for a while. Likewise with kicking; basic knowledge of how to kick can keep you from hurting yourself. Having a basic grasp on your subject matter will help you maximize what you can glean with the help of a media supplement. Know Your Source Along with being familiar with your subject matter, knowing who or where the information is coming from will help you determine the quality of what you're getting. With that said, you don't have to relegate your search to authors published by big companies, or the most recent YouTube video uploaded by a mixed martial arts legend. Although these could be great sources of information, it may not fit what you're looking for. If you are a kicker looking for more advanced challenges, check into kicking specialists or style-specific kicking. Perhaps an instructor you know of in your current school affiliation or someone you met at a seminar. A taekwondo stylist with a competition focus may search for something with a Steven Lopez connection. If you are looking to focus you're joint manipulation skills for law enforcement purposes, you might look to information put out by Hock Hochheim or Tony Blauer, or a specialist from an agency in your state who had uploaded video or been locally published. Remember that just because someone isn't popular to the majority of the martial arts world doesn't mean they won't provide quality information. If you don't recognize a source, but seem to like what you see from them, try to do some research on them through websites or by asking others you know if they know anything about them or know someone who does. You will want to try to find out how credible and experienced your source is before using their information or buying their products. Have a Good Training Partner Once you have finally decided on some material to delve into, you will find that having a good training partner can help maximize your media supplement training sessions. Your good partner should be competent enough that the two of you can collaborate on the intricacies of the techniques you are doing. If your partner is good, he won't just lie down for a technique to work. You both will have to make the techniques work, and if they don't, you and your partner should be able to discuss why, make adjustments, try variations and decide whether you can keep the technique or discard it. Your partner will also be able to help you spot and correct subtleties in technique. Don't Overload The final bit of advice I would offer to anyone seeking supplemental training information through the media is to not overload yourself with information. Today's technology makes it possible to have internet access almost anywhere, including local gyms and martial arts schools. You could go to your local gym, toting your laptop with you, do a YouTube search for Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and bang, you've got probably thousands of videos to choose from. Then, you can just start with the first video and work your way down, but I would not recommend this. This overload can quickly diminish the focus of a training session. When you plan a session, have a training focus in mind, your intended source in mind and your subject matter. Keeping an outline of these things will help you streamline your search for information, and maximize your training session. Well, there you have it. This is my take on martial arts training through media supplements. I know this way of training is frowned upon in some circles, and it will be a highly debated topic for years to come. However, with more good information becoming more readily available, using the points I outlined can help practitioners looking for additional training information to maximize the use of the vast martial arts media available.

Well, the NLCS is set, with the Cardinals facing the Dodgers. Who wins it?

We usually just do all forms, all one-steps, sparring, and board breaking. We don't usually do any basics in testing.

10/9/2013 Worked on some sparring blocking and moving in regards to blocking round kicks. I see our students reaching across the body to block the kicks with their strong hand, because they aren't comfortable with their weak hand doing anything. So, I started some controlled, arranged sparring work so they can see the technique and react to it, with the proper blocking arm, and some footwork.

All good advise so far. Have a "bring a friend" day, where each of the students gets a friend to come to class. That might help to get noticed, as well. Welcome to the Forums, as well!

I don't agree with punishing a whole class for one person's actions. Nor do I think that exercise punishment is necessarily the way to, either. I think sitting the person out for a time may be the better way to go. Or, as Bob mentioned, a suspension may be warranted.

I agree that keeping the talk of fee payment confidential between instructor and student/parent paying the fees. That way, these issues can be avoided.

First of all, since everyone is wired differently, its important to understand your students well enough to know how to effectively motivate them. Some are more intense than others, and like to be motivated and "pumped up" through yelling and the like. Some are more timid, and can be motivated by a bit of constructive critisim in a soft tone, not necessarily heard by everyone else in the room. From there, its a matter of tailoring your approach to each of the students, or groups of students.