bushido_man96

The way I see it, as much as any one of us try to imitate what an instructor teaches us for years and years, we can only become so much like that person, as we cannot become that person entirely. We're all a bit different, and so our experiences are a bit different than those we learn from. We all end up spicing the MAs in our own way.

I think this would be tough, without sacrificing power in the technique. Instead, I think making that hand work into a trap or as a feint for the next hand would be better.

Boy, I can try! Its been a while since I've done some reading, although I have some books I need to get through, for sure! Aside from what I can offer, the user called Zoodles who was here a while back could probably offer lots of good stuff, as he actually gets to practice it. One of the major things I've seen with Medieval Combat, are the misconceptions people have, compared to like, the Samurai of Japan. There are those who would be inclined to believe that the Japanese Samurai were such superior warriors that they would have been able to easily conquer Medieval Europe's fighting knights, but that's just not the case. The standard Medieval longsword was fairly light, not likely more than 4 lbs. The blades were well balanced and were sharp. Medieval Combat was made up of very concise systems, with renowned masters of the time doing the teaching and drilling. Empty hand tactics were a part of it, as well. Another thing not readily known by those who don't practice it or research it is that the systems usually transitioned very well across to other weapons. Quarterstaff work transitioned very well into sword work, as well as pole arm tactics. Grappling was always a popular system for hand-to-hand, and many techniques not unlike those found in Aiki-jujutsu can be found in Medieval manuals. There was a big thread that floated around a long time ago about Medieval Knights vs Japanese Samurai, and reading through it you can see how the romanticization of both the Samurai (which got the better) and the Knight (which got the worse, in my opinion) affect the answer people would give, based on story books and movies and not actual research and application. I'll try to find it and post the link here. I hope that helps sate your thirst for now. I would always recommend checking out https://www.thearma.org for any other questions. That site is a treasure trove. I look forward to the input of others! Thanks for asking, Bob!

I'm reading The Encyclopedia of Taekwon-do Patterns, vol 1, by Stuart Anslow, and before getting into the patterns themselves, he has a page where he lists the above mentioned "Standards." Some I agree with, and some I don't, but I think they all warrant some discussion, and I don't feel they are exclusive to TKD patterns, as many other styles likely feel the same way on some or all. Here they are: 1. All patterns start and finish on the same spot. I don't really agree with this one so much. When I was in the ATA, the patterns were designed to do that, and I usually got close, but never usually dead on. In the TTA now, with some of the modifications made in techniques and stepping in regards to the ITF forms we do, some of the forms just don't end in the same place they started. Won Hyo, for instance, in our org, ends up about a sitting stance length to the right of where we start. Although I think starting and ending on the same spot can be beneficial, I think the techniques are the most important aspect, and look to get the techniques down, along with the stances, with power and speed. Just my thought. 2. Each pattern should be performed in a rhythmic motion without stiffness. I pretty well agree with this. One should look comfortable when doing a form. Power should flow smoothly through speed and technique. Breathing should be a factor in this, as well. I also think its important to get the right combinations in the form together in the proper rhythm. 3. Each technique should be fully formed before moving onto the next. Again, agreed. Incomplete techniques running together is just sloppy. 4. Techniques should be performed with realism. Agreed. If you throw a punch, throw it like you would punch someone trying to hurt you. If its a block, block as if your life depends on it. If you have bunkai and know it, visualize the bunkai working as you perform the technique. 5. Correct breathing should be performed throughout each pattern. Agreed. Some people breath in on each chamber, and out on the execution of each technique. Some will work it between certain techniques. However its done, being consistent and rhythmic will keep the form rhythmic. 6. Correct posture and muscle tension should be utilized in all techniques. Agreed. We have a fellow in our school testing for 1st dan soon, and he had good power, but tends to keep everything to tensed up, and is holding his own performance back. Relaxed tension at the beginning, with good kime at the completion of the techniques. Correct posture lends to good balance, and better technical performance. 7. Each pattern should be perfected before moving onto the next. This one, I don't agree with as much. White belts aren't going to be perfect at their testing. They're white belts. I think there are good intentions in this standard by Mr. Anslow, and perhaps I am reading too much into it, and taking it too literally. I know no one can be perfect, so I won't get into that whole mess. But, I think that the early stages are going to be far from perfect, but improvements will be seen, and its up to the instructor to figure out what is acceptable and what is not for white belts, orange belts, and other beginner grades. So overall, I don't disagree much, and where I do disagree is probably more of a semantics issue than anything else. I do think these are good standards to live by for forms practice, though. I'd like to hear the thoughts of everyone else, and if there are standards you would add, let's hear them!

Thanks Brian You are welcome!

Yes, they are. It's all about location, facilities, and affiliation. I'm sure training at Extreme Couture in Las Vegas is much more expensive than training at the average, local MMA gym. I mean, really...look at his floor plan http://www.xtremecouturemma.com/GymTour.asp I'm willing to bet those are larger and better kept facilities than 90% of the gyms around the world. I agree with you. That place is like an MA mansion! There is some truth to the adage of "you get what you pay for." Not always, but at times.

I'd guess, and its just a guess, is an addition to "Hapkido" because its another offshoot of Hapkido. This happens alot when people branch off from their former school and take their own, slightly divergent path in the same art.

I actually agree with this perspective. My problem is when a school claims a system that it clearly does not teach (there are only a handful of certified ninjitsu experts in the U.S.) or when they make outlandish claims such as teaching "an elite tactical system" but won't disclose the system name. My biggest problem with this is that they are lies. To begin a relationship based on a lie is never a smart idea. Good points made here. It could be he's using these names to try to sensationalize what he is doing a bit, and it could be for the advertising of it. Like he tries to put out an air of mysteriousness in what he has to teach. Or, it could be the opposite, which is no good, either.I've never heard of the bus pickup. I'd be a bit leery of my kids getting on a bus like that.

I can't disagree there. If you see a straight line coming at you, a slight movement off line takes care of it. Speed, timing, and combinations like straightblast and tallgeese mentioned come into play.

Thank you both for the suggestions! I enjoy the history related topics myself.

Ch'ang Hon Taekwon-do Hae Sul, Real Applications to the ITF Patterns, vol 2, by Stuart Paul Anslow. I read the first volume, and really liked it, and volume 2 picks up with black belt patterns, going from Hwa-Rang to Juche. Although I don't practice all the patterns listed in this book, I still found the technique walk-throughs interesting, and I do like the most of them. Also of worth are the intro sections on the names of the forms; if Anslow could do expanded works on just the history of the forms themselves, I'd buy that, too! I realize there are TKD practitioners out there that probably don't agree with the route Anslow has taken on interpreting the ITF forms, and he has explained how he has extrapolated the interpretations he has made. Whether you like them or not, they do make you think, which is good for anyone. And even though my organization has variations on some of the techniques in these forms, I still find the applications useful, even when it comes to modifications for the way we do things. I impatiently await volume 3!

Spot on for the predictions, Bob! As for the commercials, they were ok. I really liked the Paul Harvey/Ram commercial. Other than that, I wasn't overly impressed, either. My kids were watching when the Go-Daddy commercial came on. That was a bit much, I thought.

Welcome!

Welcome to the Forums!

I can see both points of view from ps1 and tallgeese. The main thing for me is that the person being taught has to want to change. If they don't, then no amount of self-discipline and respect that you try to teach them is going to amount to a hill of beans to them. They have to really be feeling a connection to the style you teach them, and that connection has to be so strong to them and create such a desire that they are willing to give up what they were doing in order to replace it with what you are willing to teach them. Many times, that replacement value isn't high to kids like this; especially repeat offenders. I think it can be a noble attempt to do what is right. Could it work? Sure. I just don't think the success rate would be that high.

I think its the melting pot, really. You just get such a cross-section of differences.

I wholeheartedly concur!! Learning curves vary from student to student. Demonstrate any said technique as many times as necessary until that student has their AHA moment; understand it first before exploring its many avenues. Agreed. Keep repeating over and over.

1/30/2013 Lunges: 3x10, alternating. 10 minutes of Wrestling with Kendall: elbow block/shoot; inside cradle (had to use our 3 year old for a partner on this one...he loved it!); rolling to reverse. 1/31/2013 TKD Testing: 6:30 - 8:00. Went pretty good. We've got some young pups that got really intense on the sparring. We've got some promising students on the rise; I just hope they stick with it. Prior to testing, I spent some time working on Yoo Sin with some of the other new 3rd dans.

Those are some interesting interpretations. Thanks for sharing the video. Whether those were old or new, they still are good for getting one thinking. As for the chamber positions of blocks, we do a crossed arms chamber. It can also be a cover for a haymaker or other such shot thrown to the head.

Well, we got back on the tourney ride this weekend, 2/2/2013. Kendall competed in another open tournament, and there were 4 kids in the bracket, all faces we had seen and Wrestled with before. I signed him up at 73# this week, because he was 70# the night I weighed him for the deadline, and didn't want to take a chance of missing. It didn't really matter, because the 70/73# classes were combined again. First match was with the kid from our club. Its always a tough match, regardless of how the score looks when its over. Kendall won, 9-3 after all 3 rounds. He also earned a little battle scar on his left cheek, which made him look pretty bad. Second match was with the kid who slammed him earlier in the year, and he's always tough. This one was close, but a 7-9 loss. There was also a teaching point here. Kendall really shoots great takedowns, but for some odd reason, even though I told him 14 times to shoot in low on this kid, because he is taller and likes to charge in up high, Kendall still decided he'd play the tie-up game with this kid. He didn't try to shoot on him once. He would tie up, and then try to toss him over, or get tossed over, and then it would be a scramble for position. He was upset after this loss, so we had to take some time to discuss it, and get it out of our system. Match 3. I was afraid that the loss was still in his head, and he wasn't focusing at all. So, I tried to not talk Wrestling at all, and just let him be for a while. When the match rolled around, coach talked him up, and he was ready to go. He Wrestled a kid he competed against in his first novice tourney this year, and he ended up winning, 15-3. But still, he didn't shoot; wanted to grapple high. He was lucky, because he was able to get away with tackling this kid up high. After all the matches were done, we had 3 kids with 2-1 records, and so we had to see how the placement shook out with tie-breakers. This was interesting. The only kid that had a pin was the one who beat Kendall. Kendall lost to that kid, but that kid got beat by the other kid from our club, who Kendall did beat. So, it was confusing. I think one coach's wife told me it went head-to-head, points, pins, but I'm not sure. At any rate, Kendall ended up 3rd, the kid he got beat by ended up 2nd, but the other kid from our club, who Kendall beat but beat the kid that beat Kendall, got 1st. Overall, I was happy with the way things went. I told Kendall we were definitely going to work on takedowns, and we got some experience with the tie-breaker system. Stay tuned for next week's tourney!

Great post, ps1. Thanks for sharing it!

Any technique can be effective, if it lands. Like jumping 540 degree spinning hook kick. Effective, if it lands on the noggin. Efficient, though? Not really. It takes a good setup, and is a long technique.

That's awesome! Have a good time!

I don't think necessarily, but also kind of in a way, yes. Confused? Me too. Everyone really has their own style and method. You are taking what you've learned and your experiences and using them to mold your self-defense. So, what you do may be a bit different from what others do. So in a way, it is your own style. But, does that constitute the creation of a new style? Not necessarily. I could take the Hapkido I've done and add it into what I've learned with TKD, but I don't think that would necessarily mean I've created a new style. Just a different method and approach.

My dad had introduced me to the MAs as a young boy, probably 8 or around there. He took me to a few of his classes, but nothing really stuck then, but the seed was planted. As I got into middle school, I was bullied some, and had low confidence. My 8th grade year in 1993, a buddy invited me to his TKD class, and that was that.