bushido_man96

Congrats!

We don't really have a set number of lessons per rank level. We run two month testing cycles, and expect students to make at least 2 classes per week. Testing depends more on showing competence in the material than anything else.

I think some dan ranks could be a bit prideful, and not want to have others see a kyu rank scoring points on them, or good hits, etc. I expect to get tagged here and there in sparring, by no matter who I am sparring. Its all learning.

That's a big plus in the club I am a member of...we tend to keep a lot of black belts (including a number of masters) around, and we do have advanced workouts, although I wish they were weekly. Getting through black belt forms can be a challenge when you don't have the chance to work on them in class. Regarding getting either overconfident or lackadaisical, I've been a BB for over 8 years and I have yet to be anywhere near either. Even on the few occasions when I'm the highest ranking student in a workout class I usually see someone who is younger, quicker, more flexible, etc... I agree. I'm always trying to compare myself to others in the class, pushing myself so that I can try to remain one of those people that others are willing to seek out when they need help with something.

9/4/2013 Taught TKD class: 6:00-7:30 pm. Prior to the start of class, I worked a bit on some advanced kicking with a few of the guys who had some questions on them. After class, did a few more minutes of the same, kicking BOB a little bit. Class covered basics, forms, one-steps, and sparring. Our little ones need to do a better job of practicing and remembering their one-steps, so I've been trying to work them through them more and more.

That's great! Kudos to her! I agree, age is not and should not be any kind of road block to learning something new.

We don't cover any ground work for the time being. I hope to be able to start adding in some with our classes so we start to get a different flavor of things, and it would be good for our students, as we do primarily stand-up stuff.

I don't think this is the case. I've been doing forms all my training life. ATA and now TTA (Chang On) forms. The ATA forms were created to contain rank-pertitent techniques that provide physical and technical improvement as the practitioner moves up in rank. The Chang On forms were taken from Gen. Choi's own ideas, along with fragments of the Shotokan forms he had learned. The jury is still out on whether or not applications that can be taken from these forms are more reverse engineered alongside some Karate applications, or not. Whether that is the case, there fact that Chang On style forms can come with application training puts them up there with the bunkai from Karate kata. So, that said, not all forms fill the same purposes. I don't think anyone is bagging on those that do train kata for "real" purposes. What is coming into question is whether or not there is a better way to do it, and if there is, why not adapt? This really isn't kata in the sense that we are speaking of it here. Not all drill work is kata. In the argument that you are making, then your own kihon training is essentially kata training, but I think we know that isn't really the case. There is a difference between learning and drilling technique, and training kata. If we go with your argument here, then Karate doesn't have 3 K's, but only 2; kata and kumite. I think the real question is, and tallgeese alluded to it, is this: Is it really necessary to learn forms before learning self-defense applications? In my opinion, it isn't.

The key is being respectful when you go about it. Asking a question just between you and the instructor can be a better option than blurting something out in the middle of class. Every scenario is different, so make sure to approach each one accordingly.

Both good reads. Thanks for sharing them. I may have to look into that translation of the Samurai training manual. I love that stuff.

7/31/2013 At the end of the class on this night, I decided to experiment with the chamber motion of our knife hand strike as a flinch response and blocking motion. We worked from the fence instead of from the typical "downblock" position that I hate for one-steps. I thought it went pretty well, although I was "shooting from the hip" as it were. This kind of made me think a bit about teaching and learning in class. I think as instructors we are always pretty well caught up in teaching what we know, and don't experiment much with other things. Perhaps its due to looking the part of the guy or gal who is supposed to know what he/she is doing at the front of the class. But, it was fun to experiement and mess around with something with the students that I hadn't had much opportunity to play with, and just see what we could do with it. And we all learned something. 8/22/2013 This was my first ever Defensive Tactics session as an instructor for the deputies and jailers in our department. I held two 4 hour sessions, with the morning session being the one with the most takers. I worked with some of the basic escort positions that we learn in academy, and an arm bar takedown and more of a wrist lock takedown (minus the wrist lock, actually) from that position as a review. Then, I moved on to a few punch defenses working to armbars and takedowns, and then moved into the GRACIE material. We got to the punch block and clinch from behind, to the takedown and control. We also hit what I really wanted to get to, being some officer on the bottom scenarios so the officer could reverse position and get up. Most of our officers haven't really had much DT training since they were at academy, so I wanted to get something started, and hope to keep it fairly regular.

8/22/2013 Defensive Tactics Training Sessions for the Department Two sessions today, 8-noon and 1:00-5:00 pm. I reviewed some of the basic escort position arm locks and takedowns, worked on some punch defenses, and then went into the GRACIE material for the deputies and jailers in our department. I had some great help from the DT students and instructor at the college, who does a great job teaching for self-defense and LEOs, as well. I got good responses from the department, and look forward to hitting some more training times in the future! 8/24/2013 Played 3 softball games today with team mates made up of our department. We had a great time, although my calf muscles suffered from it! I managed to strain or pull them both, making me not able to run or push off at all. But, I'd do it all again. 8/26/2013 TKD Class: 6:00-7:30 pm. Our class was a big one tonight. We did get some extra kicking in during basics, doing more side kicks and front kick variations. I also hopped in to review as many forms as I could while colored belts were working on them, and sparring wasn't too bad. 8/27/2013 Defensive Tactics: 2:00-3:00 pm. The DT instructor let me teach the class today, and so I began running through the GRACIE material. I focused on stance, punch defense and timing drill to get to a clinch, and then to the takedown from behind. 9/3/2013 Defensive Tactics: 1:00-3:00 pm. I got to both teach and learn today. I taught the GRACIE material in the first half, getting into Americana from the mount, and doing some umpa escapes/reversals on the bottom. The 2nd half of the class, I learned some of their stand-up self-defense system, how they do their wrist escapes, and also a few series of movements from front and side chokes. These defenses basically included the same movements, just from different angles, and the finishes were the same, with the hands locking over the shoulder from the side with a Muay Thai grip, throwing knees to the legs while driving the bad guy foward and away, finishing with elbows as well. I'm not sure, but something made me think it might be Krav related. I liked the concepts, and felt they worked well. Open Mat Wrestling: 6:00-7:00 pm. Took my son to open mat, and I got to work with him a little bit, being a demo partner more this time than the dummy. He worked on double-leg takedowns from chops or blocks, running the half to finish, some slide-by takedowns, and also some breakdowns from the top position.

That's crazy to think about! Lots of TKD black belts out running around out there!

I don't really feel the same as other do in regards to "no kata equals no Karate." I don't think that's the case, but that's just my opinion. I look at kata and Karate as a chicken and egg argument; which came first? Has kata always been around, or were moves melded into the form of kata when training modalities changed? I think its important to look into the hows and whys of why kata came about in the first place in order to really understand why we have kata.

How you define an art as "good" depends on what you're looking for out of it. Everyone has an opinion of what is good and what isn't. You have to look into what you want out of it, and decide if that art is going to give it to you. Also, personal preference plays a huge part in what you find to be good or not. I've never been a grappler, but I'm finding some very good things in the small bit of BJJ that I've been exposed to. I have a son that is a Wrestler, so it is more his thing. I like to kick, so TKD is great for me, buy that doesn't mean I assume its the best option, or has all the answers. Expand, learn, train.

I'm not going to say a flat "no" on this. Everyone learns differently, and I'm sure there are some people out there that can probably learn pretty well from books or video media. Would be the longer road to hoe? For sure. But I'm not willing to say it can't be done. This is a very well put point. My first exposure to the Martial Arts was through an ATA school. I had some good instructors that were good technicians, and I don't regret any of the time I spent in the ATA. There are good ATA instuctors out there, and although there are some things people don't like about the ATA, that organization is willing to try to bring in new ideas and concepts to provide for their students, and the organization is willing to grow in that aspect.

But what if you hadn't trained in 15 odd years? Let's put it this way: you begin your MA training under an instructor, who let's say is a 5th degree black belt. He has to move, retire, and falls out of training, due to whatever life throws at us. Would you not respect him as your instructor throughout the rest of your life? Would you tell him that you now out rank him, and no longer respect the knowledge and experiences he passed on to you as his student? Or, do would you still look at him as that 5th degree black belt that took you under his tutelage all those years ago?

This is well put, and I agree. Experience is hard to replace, and that's what all that time in gives a practitioner. Its true that some have better experience than others, and some have different experience. But, its all pretty valuable. I think what we will run into in this discussion is some semantics issues. Some schools, organizations, or instructors will not recognize some ranks after so much time out has been lost. For example, if a first dan leaves for a period of years and then returns, that person may have to start again from white belt, depending on how well they have retained the information. But, not all schools are this way, and some would be more than willing to let the person returning get back into the flow. In such cases, its important to not worry so much about the rank that is shown on our waist, but the knowledge and experiences that we have rattling around in our heads that should help to keep us focused on where we are in our training, what we know, and what we have yet to learn.

I agree. Its important for most of the body to be involved in any technique. Otherwise, we aren't maximizing our body's potential.

Good points made here so far for both sides of the argument. So, you've been submitted to a hearing. What does this entail, Bob? Are they going to remove you from your position? Will they pull your newly awarded rank? What can they do? I'm curious as to what is within their power to do and not do. I really think that perhaps they are seeking a figurehead for the Shindokan, and they want you to be that figurehead, and therefore, this could be why they press you to wear the new rank. But, its just a guess on my part, as I dislike the politics as much as you do, and don't care to concern myself with them. But, as we tend to notice, we can't really avoid the politics as much as we would like. Its everywhere, no matter how much we avoid it. Please, let me know more about this hearing. I'm very curious.

8/20/2013 Defensive Tactics class: 2:00 - 3:00. The head DT instructor let me work with some of his students on some of the stuff I was putting together for a department DT training session. That group of college kids are so helpful, I couldn't ask for a better handful of Martial Artists to help out. Open Mat Wrestling: 6:00 - 7:00 pm. Kendall and I went to open mat at the high school my daughter goes to. The coach there told us at a camp Kendall attended that open mat times were available, so we hit this one, and hope to hit more. What is great is that I got to work out with my boy, and not just watch. After warmup, we worked on our stance, takedowns using chops and blocks, and a move called the Peterson, which is kind of a switch/reversal, and then an elbow roll. Good time! 8/21/2013 Taught TKD: 6:00 - 7:30 pm. Classes are extended a half hour now, which I think is a good thing. We got good basics work in, forms, covered more in one-steps, giving the high ranks more work, and then sparring.

I'm late here, but very cool! Thanks for sharing the photo.

There really isn't any connection, other than yoga has been found to supplement the MA's nicely due to its ability to help one increase and maintain flexibility. Since many styles stretch and require flexibility for movements, it just fits.

Keep the note, and go to local law enforcement about it. You don't have much by the way of a threat in it, but you do have a case for harrassment. Depending on where/how they are touching you, you may have a case for sexual battery, as well. The one downfall is that its going to be your word against their word, and if they have a story lined up already, it could be tough on you to get something proved. If you are under contract, try to get directly into contact with the company the contract is through. Report to them the activities that take place, and that you cannont safely remain at that location, and want to terminate the contract immediately. If they give you guff, bring up getting an attorney. That may help, it may not. As mentioned above, don't wait, don't stay. It is not worth it.

I think my main style, TKD (my TKD style, not all TKD styles), is missing a big piece of self-defense application. We don't do a lot of self-defense oriented training. We unfortunately spend a lot of time "teaching to the test." At testing, we test on forms, one-steps, sparring, and board breaking once you hit the brown belt ranks. So, classes include heavy basics, then forms, one-steps, then we get to sparring. I think we have a good vehicle for adding in some variation with our one-steps training, but the problem is we never move from the down block, punch, defend method of training them. And some of the higher ranked one-steps include a lot of high kicking and spin kicking, which develop some great physical skills, but application-wise, need to be addressed more and in different ways. The upside to the training method we use here is that we have a pretty technically proficient group of students, by and large. There are some kids that tend to slack off, but that's a different issue. When I was teaching my hour-long class these prior months, I would try to save myself some time in the class to address some different things for the students. Some self-defense ideas like working from a fence position, and working on the crossed-arms chamber position that so many hand techniques start with as an initial blocking posture. And these ideas were just as much for me to try to learn something new as it was to present something new to the students. In the past, we brought in the Combat Hapkido curriculum, and that was a very nice supplement to what we did in our regular TKD classes, and I still try to keep up with it to this day. I also actively seek out Defensive Tactics classes and courses to supplement my training, as well. I have put the bug in the chief instructor's ear about maybe adding in some of the ground defense applications I've learned through the GRACIE course I took this year, which he said we may try to do eventually as something fun at the end of classes. Perhaps. The instructor also mentioned that one of the other senior black belts in the org has started adding in some ground fighting positions, and is making certain knowledge testing requirments for the students of his own school. So, I think part of the problem lies in the Grand Master of the org, and part with our isntructor. The GM does have a set of advanced 3-step sparring segments that he shows to the black belts, and I've seen 4 of them, I think. They have some promise, and I'd love to do them in various degrees of teaching steps (if that makes sense). However, they aren't an actual requirement, and we don't currently hold any black belt classes to focus on them. I also think the testing cycle is a problem. Testing cycles in our system are 2 months long, and we are always working towards being ready for the next testing. Which means basics, forms, one-steps, and sparring are paramount. Of these, the first two take precedence. We've extended our class times, so we are getting more sparring in, which is good. But board breaking is usually only practiced on pads a week before testing, which I think could be done differently, but that's purely my own opinion. I would personally like to see the testing cycle extended to 3 months. I think this would take some of the pressure off teaching to the test, and work towards other stuff that is more inclusive of the Martial Arts. Well, there's my rant. You asked for it....