bushido_man96

Great responses, Zaine and Bob. Lot's to think about there....or to unthink about??? I'm going to dwell on these posts a while, and see if I come up with anything.

I can't stop picturing it in my head...as I'm getting submitted over and over again....

Those are great thoughts. DP, I hear you on the visualization. I've tried it in the past, but I really have a hard time with it. It's hard to see myself doing things in that way, although I do try. Bob, you are right about the floor revealing the truth. It does so every time! Your comment about proper reflection and mastery is spot-on. Artless Art...strange paradox. Art that isn't artful? Or the art that has yet to be released? The expression not yet expressed? Or perhaps not adhering to the "rules" of art, and expressing oneself the only way one knows how? All the steps of all the tools...when I hear "tools," I think of striking tools...the foot, the fist, the heel, the middle knuckle, the forehead, etc. In grappling, the "tools" become the guards, the counters, the various plays...these are the tools we use as Martial Artists to express that which is inside us.

This little rant stems from what I was seeing happening at the Traditional Class I was helping with earlier this week. A little background.... We have to kid orange belts that are likely going to be testing this weekend. They have to do one-steps. In the orange belt one-steps (rant on one-steps to be discussed at a later date) there is one that involves stepping in to take the attacker down. My understanding was that years ago, this was taught as a reap. When I learned it coming up, it was taught as a step behind the lead foot, and then taking another step while coming to the shoulder with the free hand, facilitating the takedown. More of a trip, but still effective, and you could feel how you get the attacker off balance and make it work. It finishes with a follow-up strike. I had always seen it with the two steps into the takedown, until at my 3rd dan testing (I think) I had a guy do a full blown reap on me. I'm pretty good at breakfalling, so even though it caught me by surprise, I wasn't hurt by it or anything. I then learned that was the older way of doing it. Back to present day, our current CI is brining the reap back, having the students learn it. I don't have too much of an issue with this, as far as adults go. I think it's fairly easy to get adults to understand the distance involved, and the mechanics involved in reaping the leg, and controlling themselves in a breakfall that is a bit more aggressive. But the problem I was seeing in class was with these two kids, who don't have a great understanding of setting up the distance, or creating the necessary momentum to do a good reap and takedown, botching this thing over and over. I personally think they would benefit more by doing the two steps into the takedown, and be able to finish the one-step properly, and not get anyone hurt. This is where my thought on a teaching progression for certain techniques or applications comes in. I think it would be better for these kids, especially at this age AND rank, to learn the stepping version first, and get it down, and do that in a fluent manner. That way, they can do the entire one-step in a fluent manner, and not spend time looking down and fishing around with where their foot is supposed to go. As the kids go up in rank and get better at moving in general, progressing to the more advanced reaping motion would be more advisable. I expressed my concerns about this to the CI, but he didn't seem interested. He said they were messing up the step/step motion, too. In my experience, teaching this was never difficult. I explained my thoughts on progressing to the more advanced version a few ranks later, but I don't believe it's going to change. I guess some of the schools, or maybe all of them, have gone back to this way of doing the technique, but I'm unsure as to why. Perhaps we have the only students that struggle, I don't know. I do think they can learn how to do it, but the key is, they haven't yet. And testing is this Saturday. I don't see much of an improvement coming, but I have been surprised at testings before. Anyhow, rant over. That's my thought on a teaching progression. My analogy was that we don't teach a kid that does a crappy side kick to do a jump side kick, and expect it not to be crappy, too. Same as this; if they can't get the step behind and trip right, why are we expecting them to reap properly?

That makes a lot of sense. Right now I'm working my way through the dagger section. It also helps me to remember that even though I'm looking at pictures, nothing is happening statically. I try to visualize it as moving back and forth and trading moves, with one gaining an advantage eventually. This is when having a partner to play it back and forth with is advantageous.

It's great that you were able to get a large draw like that. Our school advertised for women's self-defense course not long ago...we had 2 students show up...which didn't surprise me at all. It was disappointing, but not unexpected. Hopefully, you're able to have more good showings.

Congratulations, Zaine! That's awesome! 1/30/2023 Strength Training Squats: 45x5x2, 135x5, 185x3, 225x1, 255x5, 255x5, 255x5. Press: 45x5x2, 65x5, 95x3, 130x5, 130x5, 130x5. Lat Pull-downs: 122.5x10, 122.5x10, 122.5x10. Still had the bar rolling issues on squats. It's frustrating. But I feel like I'm maintaining back angle, and driving my hips out of the hole. Almost back to a plate on each side for pressing. Once I hit that, I may drop the increments to 1.5 lbs per session. TKD Class: 5:30 - 6:30 pm. Traditional Class. Assisted with this class again (although I was a little late getting there). Most of the stuff I emphasized to the kids last week has faded away this week. Oh, well, par for the course with kids. There were a few new faces that haven't been there the past few times, a green belt and a brown belt. The green belt had quite a few things he needed to spruce up on, for sure, especially with testing coming this Saturday. Honestly, I don't think the green belt or the two orange belts are ready to test. I'm going to rant about some technique issues in the Instructor Forum. I was going to do it here, but I think it'll be better discussion over there. 6:30 - 7:30 pm. Black Belt Class. Did walk-throughs/quick reviews of Kwang Gae and Se Jong. Tried to do Yoo Sin, but it's been a while...and honestly, I hate that form anyways. Class started with warmups of Do-Kangs 1-3, and then we broke out and the CI and I watched the three black belts that will be testing this Saturday. We basically did a pre-test with them, calling out forms for them to do, and finishing with them going through their one-steps. I sat in a stretch while they did one-steps. We were able to offer advice and pointers throughout. Choong Jang hyung count: 29 Total hyung count: 65. That's a wrap for January. No where near 1000!

This just seems weird!

I had just finished the grappling section in the book today (I didn't get through the short staff section). Most of it was pretty easy to follow, but I tend to get a little lost when he starts getting into the Remedy Masters, the Counter-Remedies, etc. But, I think I was able to figure it out along the way for the most part.

DarthPenguin, the last warmup set is at approximately 90% of the work set. I don't find that it hurts the work set at all, because I only do a single. What I should probably be doing, but I'm not, is squatting this day, too. If I were squatting at the beginning of the workout (which is what the program intends), I would finish with deadlift, and only do something like two warmup sets, due to already being warmed up from the squat. Since I don't squat in deadlift day, I do a few extra warmup sets to good an prepped for the work set. My warmups typically go like this: 2x5 of the empty bar; set of 5 at approximately 50%, set of 3 at 70%, single or double at 90%, then into the work sets. Right now, with my squat and press being fairly light compared to what they were at, I'm just kind of feeling it out. As I get heavier, I'll adhere to this more strictly. 1/27/2023 Strength Training Squats: 45x5x2, 135x5, 195x3, 250x5, 250x5, 250x5. Press: 45x5x2, 65x5, 95x3, 127.5x5, 127.5x5, 127.5x5. Snatch Grip Deadlifts: 165x3, 225x2, 265x5, 265x5. Overall, a good session today. Snatch-deads stayed pretty well on the shins; a slight drift in the second set, but I fixed it in the following reps. No irritation in the adductor from squat sets, but still have the bar shifting problem. 30 minutes on the elliptical later on with my wife.

Thanks to the both of you! I'll be looking into it, for sure.

Only thing i would say to that is that sometimes the calling out can be better done privately / in person with the individual. Some people respond very negatively to being called out in public - though the CI obviously knows Zach so i assume that this was factored in. I do totally agree though that it is good for the CI to bring it up and let him know he needs to sort it! Reminds me of the other thread on here about the planned failure. This is a much much more productive way of dealing with things - don't put them out there to fail them, let them know they won't even get out there until they reach the standard expected I agree that there are times when handling something like this in private is a more comfortable approach, especially for the person being called out. But at times, doing in class is necessary, as well. It becomes a lesson for everyone in the room, and not just the person being called out. Now, I'm not saying it should be an act of degradation towards the student; that would be very wrong. But simply stating the facts out loud, and the consequences for missing classes, is fairly appropriate. And anyone looking to venture off the beaten path learns from another's mistakes.

You're killing it, Zaine! Way to go man! 1/25/2023 Strength Training Deadlifts: 135x5, 185x5, 255x3, 325x1, 360x5. Press: 45x5x2, 65x5, 95x3, 125x5, 125x5, 125x5. Triceps Push-downs: 65x14, 65x14, 65x8. Loaded the weight for deadlift that I should have done last week, and nailed it. Rep three was the only one I really had any issues with. Reps 1 and 2 went smooth, 3 floated away, and 4 and 5 were the typical grind. While deadlifting, I kind of had a realization; even though it felt heavy, I knew that I was going to get it done. So on that last rep, it was kind of relief, knowing that even though I knew it was going to feel like garbage, I was still going to complete the rep. I tend to get squat and deadlift anxiety when they get heavy, so hopefully this will help me with that. I had to leave the gym earlier than expected, so I didn't get to finish my sets of triceps push-downs. I got the two main lifts done, though, so no real loss. TKD Class: 6:30 - 7:30 pm. T-Shirt Class. This class has kind of turned into my solo workout class. I did forms in sets of two: Choong Jang-Chon Ji, Choong Jang-Dan Gun. Next did review of Do-Kang 6; getting closer to getting it down. Lastly, went through all colored belt one-steps, and then the first 6 three-steps. Choong Jang hyung count: 29 Total hyung count: 60

Well, I guess it'll be time to break that book out again, and do so. A question for everyone here with Sanchin experience: if I were to look up some videos on YouTube, which would be good ones to reference?

It may not seem so, but I think it's probably a good thing that the CI called out Zach. I wouldn't say it's being harsh, but it is being direct. There comes a point when the younger students need to understand that they are very much the one's responsible for their training, and how important it is to take it seriously. They need to take ownership of it. They either do so, or they eventually fall out of it. It's encouraging that he took note of the CI's words, and has been hitting those make-up classes. Good for him. Hopefully, he runs with it, understanding that he can set an good example for other students going forward.

My sensei has always said that Gradings aren't just a reflection of the student but of the instructors also. So for me, if an instructor fails a student because they haven't failed before it just looks bad on them (the instructor). I feel the same way, too. As an instructor, if I don't have a student ready, and I let them test, then that's on me as much as on them.

1/23/2023 Monday, which has become my "big day" of training. Strength Training Squats: 45x5x2, 135x5, 195x3, 245x5, 245x5, 245x5. Press: 45x5x2, 65x5, 95x3, 122.5x5, 122.5x5, 122.5x5. Lat Pull-downs: 120x10, 120x10, 120x10. Squats were a bit annoying today. The bar kept rolling around on my back. 'Twas irritating. I was also having issues with my adductor flaring up, but I think I fixed that on the last set. Press is still feeling good. I'm trying to fight from adding in too much layback until it starts to get heavier. Added lat pull-downs back in without any issues. I made a point to hold each rep at the bottom of the pull for a second, and this really helped me to put emphasis on the lats. TKD Class: 5:30 - 6:30 pm. Traditional Class. Only two students again, two orange belts. I helped teach this class, and sat and did a little stretching towards the end while they were doing one-steps. They were really responding well to feedback, and making adjustments as they went. 6:30 - 7:30 pm. Black Belt Class. I did two run-throughs of Choong Jang prior to class. The first one was a more laid back run, but still with some pop and power. The second run, I really blasted out the techniques. I was winded at the end, but I really liked how it came together. In class, we warmed up with Do-Kangs 3, 5, and 6, and then spent time on three-steps 1-9. I really need to get more practice in with these, even though I don't like them very much. Choong Jang hyung count: 27 Total hyung count: 56

Hopefully you can work out the cost. That would be great training. I got the book ordered, and it has shipped. Should be here next week.

Nice numbers! The secret to pressing is keeping the stress high, and having fractional plates. Being able to increase the load by only 1.5 lbs per workout will help to sustain gains for a long time. The other secret, is lots of pressing. Good pressers are pressing at least three times a week, if not four. I can't bench press worth a darn, due to a prior shoulder surgery. But I can press without issues, and I get lots more enjoyment out of pressing overhead than I do bench pressing. Every bro at the gym benches; I want to build a press that makes their eyes wide. 1/19/2023 Half hour of treadmill...and reading a TKD book. 1/20/2023 Strength Training Squats: 45x5x2, 135x5, 195x3, 240x5, 240x5, 240x5. Press: 45x5x2, 65x5, 95x3, 120x5, 120x5, 120x5. Snatch Grip Deadlifts: 165x3, 225x2, 260x5, 260x5. Shoulders are still feeling good. Almost misloaded the press today.... Snatch deads are still going up. Grip is holding, and I like the feeling I get in my lats.

This was awesome to read. Have you read The Way of Sanchin? I bought the book some years ago, mainly because of how much I saw Sanchin popping up here in the forums. I read it and enjoyed it (I've enjoyed many titles by the author, Kris Wilder), but I've never undertaken the endeavor of trying to teach myself the kata. Perhaps I should?

Sweet, I am ordering that either tonight or tomorrow!! Thanks for the link.How costly is it per month, Zaine?

That whole not being allowed to cross train malarkey is infuriating. The idea of waiting to call a student up to test and then ban them in front of everyone, after taking the fees, is a new level of low.

Thank you! Before things went south on me, I was close to pressing 200 lbs for singles. That's where I want to get back to. I'd like to have a 225 lb press, and work it up from there.

I would highly recommend reading the book, DP. However, it doesn't necessarily explain much more! Physical mastery through internal reflection. But both physical and spiritual aspects are required.

Ooh, this is great. I've got a whole bunch of manuals here at home in my library, and I'd be happy to try to study a little alongside you, Zaine. I don't know that I'll ever get to the physical performance steps; I just don't have the resources around me to do so. Is there a certain manual that you are working through right now? Is there a version of it in print? Let me know; I'm always looking for excuses to buy more books!