bushido_man96

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).

I don't know if any drawbacks to stretching daily. I should do it more often, but I don't.

If de-escalation doesn't work, Law Enforcement People should use either "Judo" like restraining techniques, or stop a conflict with superior numbers/weapons. There is no reason at all for them to engage in a fist fight, break someones knee or stomp a head (which would be Karate)... ...respect for the car-less lifestyle! I guess it keeps you fit! Normally, cops won't be stomping heads. Cops have to adhere to a use of force continuum. Sometimes, strikes need to be used. Often, they will be kicks to the legs, or knee strikes to the legs, if need be. Now, if the force level escalates beyond that, like with a knife, then higher levels of force are necessary. If someone grabs my gun, higher levels of force are warranted. That guy might get an elbow to the face as I try to wedge him away from me. If he continues to hold on, he'll probably get a few more. But, its justifiable because of the level of force he is willing to commit to. So, in the end, it all just depends.

This excercise will explain it better than any written explanation from any of us. Yes, very nice. I like this idea.

I think it presents an interesting dynamic. Avoidance is the best option, always, by far. Meeting it should only happen when it has to. Thanks for sharing this with us.

Yes, as a matter of fact, the goal for me is to train my department now. It was an instructor level course, so I am certified to teach the material. Absolutely! I hope I get to train again in a year.

I think what it boils down to is what they will allow to be done in "Scouting Related Events." So, no TKD demos at scouting events, I'm guessing.

Going back seems to be the hardest thing for lots of MAists to do. I've talked to some who have been and quit, and when I mention coming back, they either want to have things memorized again before they come back, or want to get into better shape, or some other excuse. I think most of the time, its pride that gets in the way. People know when they go back, they won't be as good as they were when they left, and those that were below them that stuck around will be better. I think most often, its ego that doesn't let some people come back. I'm not saying ego is your problem here. Don't let the little things that pop into your mind bother you. GO BACK! You will thank yourself for it.

You'll have to elaborate a bit more on what au is. If I can pull it off, I'd give it a warmup shot.

Welcome aboard!

6/19/2013 Taught some of the GRACIE course to a new DT club member today. The head DT instructor there at our college is so cool. Very open-minded, very helpful, and really respectful. He wants to see what I've come back from the GRACiE course with, and let me do the run-through, and I got through the first page of the manual, for the most part. It all flowed pretty well together, too. I taught the basics of the punch blocking, and working that into the disengage, or to the rear clinch. After getting to the rear clinch, we worked the disengage from there, and then went into the rear takedown. The DT instructor showed a few variations from the top position after the takedown, which was helpful for me. Then I showed some mounted escapes; the umpa, and the umpa with the swim and trap, and also a variation on it they showed me that I really like, too. I got a good workout in, but it also allowed me to work on my teaching technique, as well as my grappling technique.

6/19/2013 GRACIE DT: 12:30-2:00 pm. I got to be the teacher today. The college DT instructor had me teaching technique to a new guy, with another experience guy as the partner, and got some good work in myself. We did the punch blocks and shadowboxing drill and worked into the clinch work. From the clinches, we worked disengaging or the rear takedown. From the rear takedown, the instructors there worked with me on a few things to do from that position, depending on how the other guy lands when finished. We also did umpa escape, and umpa escape with swim and trap. Also worked on a few variations here, some that I like and will recall for when I teach at the department. 6/20/2013 Range: 8:00 am-Noon. We did a lot of fun stuff today. Worked with the shotguns and rifles, working on malfunction drills. I am getting a lot more comfortable with these two weapons as we go along here. We also did some long-gun to pistol transitions with both. With the shotgun, we did a fun drill where we were behind cover, with something like 7 different targets set up down range. The caller would yell out the color of the target to shoot, from what position and strong or weak hand. It was a lot of fun, and the stress listening and loading and moving made it even more fun. For the rifles at the end, we divided into teams, and had to shoot out 3 bowing pins, and then shoot at a watermelon with a small explosive pack in it from 100 yards. Each team had 3 pins it had to knock down before getting to take a shot at the melon. I managed to knock down one of the pins, and my team won.

What about the schools of the MA that don't utilize either the net and/or the phone book? Many great schools are overlooked because they don't use either to attract students. Then its time to use the old shoe-leather express!

"...tantamount to murder.".....that's a little extreme don't you think? The 'kick' is called 'Kansetsu geri' its function is just that a stamp to your would be attacker! I can't speak to the laws on mainland Europe, or the US here in the UK the law says: "A person may use such force as is reasonable in the circumstances in the prevention of crime, or in effecting or assisting in the lawful arrest of offenders or suspected offenders or of persons unlawfully at large." That particular use of the work 'reasonable' has been a sticky point and under new changes to said law the 'victim' is now allowed to use the force they have to, to defend them selves. To place its 'protection' of a person into context, and to take into account other provisions made in law as an example the following has been sited: (in aid of the victim) "..son shot dead his father to protect his mother from a serious assault, believing that this was the only practical way of defending her given his small physical size." The key in the main is not the act or the action but the reference to size and options open to the 'son' If such a kick was used in a 'street fight' would it not be more accurate to say 'excessive force' rather than murder, when all you are doing is protecting yourself or your mum of..... I'm not picking an argument here rather trying to set better understanding and not give rise to panic of others as well as none Martial arts in that we are not bullies nor are we to considered unstable. We are not vigilantes, we are not soon to be murderers, we have control we can be trusted we understand respect, humility and law. Our skill should be understood to mean that as such we will apply what 'is reasonable in the circumstances in the prevention of crime', if we have to be in that mind set at all. What it really boils down to is that if you do end up stamping (or stomping) someone's head, you had better be able to justify why you did it. Just because one gets into a fight doesn't automatically justify all of one's action in said fight. There is a lot more to it, for sure. I would agree with Kusotare here, and just advise to be careful.

That's awesome.