bushido_man96

It sounds like your sensei is a pretty good man. I am not necessarily condoning the behavior of the dojo he is visiting. It sounds to me that the guy has a bit of an ego problem. But, in the long run of things, if going and learning is the goal, then the belt worn shouldn't prove to be an issue. Was the other sensei disrespectful? It sounds that way. Maybe that is his rule for everyone that comes in. Who knows? And everyone will make their own decision based on the situation at hand. After all, he did ask for opinions, and he got them. You've made yours, and others have made theirs. The discussion wouldn't be as rich if we all agreed.

I agree that perhaps finding an MMA gym may help expedite your goals, if MMA competition is your goal. If you find a good gym, you will have coaches at your disposal to teach all aspects of MMA competition, accelerating your learning curve. Doing Karate and then BJJ will be taking the long way around, and the younger you are when you get into MMA competition, then the longer your career can be. With that said, if Karate and BJJ are your desires, then go with them, and best of luck in whatever path you take. Welcome to KF, as well.

RIP.

Yeah, but it would be nice to see some rationale.

I agree, inasmuch, Karate WILL be treated as a sport in the Olympics because of its venue. Are you trying to say its not a sport, because it is an art?

I read your description, then looked a bit on youtube. The youtube videos are basically a cartwheel, but yours sounds different, but I have trouble seeing it.

My first time, I was pretty clunky and slow, and couldn't do too much. Not much has changed....

6/28/2013 Warmed up on elliptical for 10 minutes. Then did TKD workout: Blue belt review, doing Yul Gok and Jung Gun, along with the one-steps. I needed to repeat the one-steps, cause my brain went foggy. Also did Do-Kang 3, and Yoo Sin. Then a stretch.

Sure, it can happen. Happens to lots of people who drink alcohol, but that doesn't usually deter them from drinking more alcohol.Of course, some people don't tolerate milk as well as others. If you know this, then don't drink so much milk. There are other options.

Ah, ok. Thanks, Bob.

What would this technique be in English? Some kind of round kick, I'm guessing.

The thing with any style using forms, in my opinion, is keeping it all in perspective. I don't think that forms are the heart of Karate, or of TKD for that matter. The self-defense applications are. One can only learn so much from kata. What is more important than kata in any Martial Art, is having training partners to work on the applications with, to bounce ideas back and forth, and to make each other better.

The only Shotokan kata I would know is Naifanchi, or Tekki, Shodan.

It would be a great way to get comfortable with ground fighting, which is likely lacking in your Karate training. Learning how to improve position so that you can get up and use your striking skills is valuable information. I think it would be a great idea for you.

Thanks, Bob.

Thank you for the explanation. I will look into it and see how it works for me.

Welcome to KF!

Welcome to KF! I think you'll find the site quite informative and helpful.

I think the pressure of the test if one of the important things that students learn to overcome. We do most of our black belt testings at our HQ school in Topeka, in front of the GM. For those that test every month at the headquarter school, its probably no big deal. But for those that only come in once every few years, it tends to be a bit more unnerving. Its good to feel those butterflies, and overcome them.

6/27/2013 During basics, I noticed one of the kids having trouble getting a good pivot when doing a hopping side kick in a combination. So, I broke it down for the whole class. We started in a sitting stance, and I had them just step the back leg up to the kicking leg, making and L with their feet. The back foot (base foot) pointed towards the back of the room, making the pivot. From there, I increased the speed which they stepped together, concentrating on making the L. From there, I had them skip together and shuffle the other foot forward (basically what I would refer to as a "replacement step"). This would essentially land them in a back stance, but the idea of the front and back leg would be reversed. This helped link the idea of the pivot for the hop. After some shuffling down the floor and back, I had them add in the kick. Made a difference, for sure. One thing I've tried to work with the class on is when they do jumping kicks, its still important that there is a "pivot," even in the air. Otherwise, the body doesn't get positioned correctly for the kicks. Then we spent time reviewing forms, which some of the higher rank kids are doing a much better job with. The new white belts got plenty of reps in on their form, and the high ranks got some good review. One-step review was next, and while doing one-steps, I noticed some spacing issues, so I chatted with the class about spacing when it comes to self-defense. If you are doing some joint manipulation or joint locking, I explained that these things have to happen at pretty close range. I also demonstrated how by being in close, its easier to apply leverage with body weight, and such things like that.

Great post, ps1. I look for effort when I am teaching. I want my students to push themselves, and take an initiative in their learning. I want them to work hard for themselves, not for me. I'd also like for them to have pride in the school, and what we are teaching. I want them to think of themselves as ambassadors of the school, and set good examples. I'm big on integrity, too.

It sounds like too much of the old fashioned approach. If the instructor isn't willing to listen to you, then he doesn't value you as a student enough for you to stay. It sounds to me like the two were a bit stubborn, and if you can't come forward and be comfortable enough to talk to you instructor, then that isn't any place to be. I say move on, and find another good school to train at.

In the past, when it comes to doing plyometrics, I've seen recommendations that an individual be able to squat 1.5 times their own body weight before doing plyos. Also, I've seen that plyos should only be done about twice a week, allowing somewhere around 72 hours for the body to recover.

Technique and good training will go a long ways. But, if you want to be strong, too, then there is nothing wrong with that. And you don't have to "bulk up" if you don't want to. You have some options. Mark Rippetoe has a program called Starting Strength, and in it, he includes what is known in the weight training world as GOMAD; the Gallon Of Milk A Day diet. I don't recall how long he runs it for, but if you want to get stronger and add some weight, then that would work for you. That said, you don't have to bulk up to get stronger. Good weight programs like Starting Strength, Stronglifts 5x5, and Wendler 5/3/1, are all focused on gaining strength, and will put size on you regardless. Its up to you if you want to do the milk and really gain some weight. Looking into Rippetoe's method will give you an idea as to whether it is for you or not. Read his stuff, then make a decision on it.

6/27/2013 Taught TKD: 6-7pm. Basics, forms review, and one-steps. During basics, I broke down the footwork to make sure everyone was pivoting properly for a hop side kick. I also discussed spacing as it regards self-defense techniques, and how self-defense tends to happen in close range a lot of times. 6/28/2013 DT/BJJ: noon-1:15 pm. Worked on an elevator sweep, and shrimping along with that, trying to get more comfortable with moving my hips while someone is smothering me. I also kind of put together how I can make that work in with the umpa/elbow escape strings. I was also showed an arm bar from the guard, that was pretty slick. Also learned a different guard pass to get to side control; we would elbow into the nerve on the inside of the legs, and either apply pressure or just strike them, forcing the legs apart, then either pass an arm under the leg and move it up and over and make the pass, or flatten out the leg with the forearm, and crawl over it to side control. Then was shown how I can get to an Americana or to a arm and neck triangle (I think that's what it was called).