bushido_man96

Competitions aren't supposed to mimic self-defense scenarios. They are competition, and the goal is for there to be a clear winner. Self-defense is different. Self-defense can include running away. So, where in SD, a 110 lb woman can defend and then run from a 160 lb man, that option isn't available in the ring. If a 110 lb man ad 110 lb woman fight it out in the ring, it would be probably be very unpleasant to watch.

Well said.

Our school tries to really hone in on being technically sound students. We take a lot of pride in that, and really try to hammer it home with the way we focus on basics and forms.

Most of mine are in clear page sleeves in a three-ring binder. A copy of my current black belt rank certificate is hanging up in my current school, and my mom has my ATA 2nd dan certificate framed at home.

Because it would be FUN!

Yeah, its hard for me to land an MA related item for under $20. There might be a book or two out there I could get. Perhaps a magazine subscription?

Looks promising. I've added it to my wish list.

Congrats!

I don't carry one. I think it would be fun to attend that seminar and learn what can be done with them.

Just to double check you here, you plan on opening a school and having 10 different styles available to gain rank in? When will you schedule all these time slots for these students, just out of curiosity?

The words "quick" and "recovery" rarely go together, in my experience. Don't rush it. Take your time and let it heal up properly. Look into some physical therapy, as well.

I thought that's what it was. Its a decent program, to be sure, and I enjoyed it. If I ever get back to lifting, I'm going to go with the Starting Strength program put out by Mark Rippetoe. Its more 3x5 than 5x5, includes the power clean/snatch, but leaves barbell rows as an assistance exercise. It also includes chin-up work, and calf/glute/ham raises if you have access to something like that. Incidentally, what did you have done to your shoulder? I had an impingement operation done on my right, and its still sore, and the other day when I pulled my son off my shoulders, it popped quite a bit. It is also pretty sore after a class, too. Not sure what to do with it. 3/6/2013 TKD class: 6:00 - 7:00. A forms review class, which I liked, but there were lots of lower ranks that weren't up on their material, so it made class a bit slow going at times. One-steps, as well, white belt only. This class is supposed to turn into a bit of a kicking class, too, if everyone can get up to snuff on their material.

Congrats! Nice job!

Aikidoka will use "body shifting" (can't think of the Japanese) along with their intercepting techniques. Aikido is mostly stand-up grappling, with nothing near any kind of ground fighting. The closest to any kind of ground fighting are the pinning techniques. I think Japanese Jiujitsu would be more strike oriented, with some circular movements, but not near as much as Aikido. Aikido is concerned a lot with energy direction, and I don't think JJ is as much.

When starting a new business, its typically a good practice to have enough funds on hand to be able to run the business for 3 months, not relying on anything the school may take in. Another important factor is to have a focus and a goal. It sounds like you're experienced in lots of MAs. So what's your plan? Are you teaching a mixed curriuclum? Teaching one main style with some extras from the others thrown in? Will students attain rank in your school, and if so, in what style(s)? Do you have a curriculum? Those need to be answered before you open, as well. Good luck in your venture.

How is Karate "quicker" to learn than any of the others mentioned?

I think everyone has a different way of focusing. Some focus well with music, some don't, and some don't care either way.

Are you saying that people who skip belts will not learn the skills they need for the belt that they are skipping? I can see that if each belt has specific skills that you have to show for each level. Have you seen any examples of that? I know that not all schools divide belts by specific skills.For someone just beginning training, I do believe the belt system can be a motivational aspect of training. It was for me when I was young. However, if someone has 20 years of experience in a style and then goes to train in another, it could be that the belt isn't the motivator, and the knowledge is. I also view the idea of skipping rank to how it relates to the rest of the student body. If you have a 2nd dan black belt of a TKD style come into another style of TKD school, and has great technique, picks up all the forms fast and does really well, is it right that they should move up through all the ranks one at a time when they are clearly head and shoulders above their peers? Now, if you really crossing up your styles, like TKD black belt moving to Judo, then you will see the noticeable difference between knowledge base. The kicking and punching won't translate as well to throwing. No need to bump ranks there. Now, lets look at if from a different aspect; competition. If your TKD guy transferred from another TKD school, holds a 2nd dan, and you keep him at white belt, and he wants to go compete in your style, is it fair to allow him to compete with other lower ranked students? So, when it comes to the skipping rank issue, I think its important to evaluate the totality of the circumstances involved with the transfer of these students, and the instructor should make an informed decision.

Patrick, thanks for the heads up. I thought I had all those changes made. I will get to them, for sure. He is kind of sad the season is ending. He wanted to work to go to sub-districts, districts, and state, but he would be competing against 8 year olds, as they don't have a 6 and under age group. That's why we made the effort to get to the 6 and under state for him, so he wouldn't have to go in against guys with 2 more years of experience and growth on him right now. Next year, though, we will give it a shot. He understood that, and is looking forward to practice in the off season. Bob, our local tourney went really well. Kendall lost one match on the front end, then worked all the way through the back end to take 3rd, which was really great. I'll have those matches up and running soon, I hope. The kid he lost to was the same kid that won the 6 and under state title. Kendall got to talking with the kid, and he was a really nice kid, too. Full updates and videos of the last two meets of the year coming soon!

I don't think the perfect MA can be reached. There is always something to tweak or adjust, and there are always different scenarios that create different conditions for what we have to apply. Combat is chaos; hence, I don't think combat perfectness can be achieved. We search for combat effectiveness.

To be honest, we in the more "traditional" schools probably don't train enough using scenarios where the aggressor is shouting obscene, nasty things at someone and really getting the juices and emotions flowing. Learning to deal with trash talking, yelling and swearing in a confrontation are big part of the confrontation itself.

Hey, tallgeese, just out of curiosity, are you doing a Stronglifts 5x5 routine, or something similar? I see some familiarity. 2/20/2013 Floor kicks round kicks: 3x10, each side Side kicks: 3x10, each side hook kicks: 3x10, each side light stretch. 2/21/2013 Dynamic stretching Front leg raise, then to side, then to back. First set is knee height at 1/4 speed. Second set is waist high at 1/2 speed. Third set is shoulder height at 2/3 speed. Fourth set is head high at full speed. 12 reps for each direction. I found this setup in an issue of Totally Taekwondo Magazine. Followed with static stretch. 2/23/2013 Dynamic stretch, static stretch. Shoveled a ton of snow. 10 minutes of Wrestling with Kendall. 2/25/2013 Floor kicks Round kicks: 3x10, each side. Side kicks: 3x10, each side. 2/27/2013 Dynamic stretch: 5 sets of 12, knee, waist, chest, shoulder, head. Static stretch. Gae Baek walk through. 3/1/2013 Worked on balance, doing slow repeat round kicks without setting my foot down, and trying hard not to hold onto something. 10 minutes Wrestling with Kendall. Worked on takedowns, snap and spin, and switch. 3/4/2013 Taught TKD: 6:00 - 7:00. Back in the teaching rotation again. I'm supposed to be teaching an adult class, but the class was split half kids. I don't think they really understood the schedule change, but it should shake out in a few weeks. Covered a lot in basics, and forms took some time, so didn't get to sparring.

I've heard the book The Gift of Fear is a good read for that subject matter. Something to look into.

Several of the activities you mention require one to leave home, unless you have a pool at home. Why do you recommend against going to the gym?

I think home training can be done, but really should be the last option taken if you have others available. There will be good and bad programs out there, so do good research to find out which is which. Otherwise, seek a qualified instructor as near to you as possible to at least meet with periodically for evaluation.