bushido_man96

I agree. You don't want to end up being punch drunk. Try to simulate your training to reflect your goals here. Maybe by starting from a kneeling position and fighting up to a standing position or something like that. Or enter more hard contact competitions.

Tournament #2 of this season is in the books, and if tournament 1 was the up, this one was a down for him, and I felt bad for him for it. He just had a really rough go of it, from match one. This tournament was on 12/29/12. When I got the bracket, there were a total of 5 kids in it, which I thought was great, because that meant more Wrestling. Then I saw that the 70/73/76 lb weight classes had been combined, which worried me a little, because the year before I was told by a coach that a 2 lb difference in kids is like a 10 lb difference to adults. I had Wrestled him heavy the year before because I was afraid he wouldn't make the weight, and he suffered for it with kids that could just lift him off of them after a takedown. But, this was another novice tournament, so I thought that would likely even things out a bit. I talked with one of the coaches, and he didn't seem concerned. Match one was with a kid that stood a head taller than my boy, and he was holding his own really well against him, but, during the course of the match, he got picked up and slammed hard, twice. Feet clear off the ground, and thrown down hard, knocking the wind out of him, and I'm sure scaring him a bit in the process. He was pretty well finishing the match in tears after those slams, but he fought hard, and didn't get pinned. Lost by points after 3 rounds. My wife and I had talked to this kids mom, and she said he actually weighed 71 lbs, and is usually in the 73 lb bracket. Someone later on after the meet told me they didn't think the kid was a novice, either, but I wasn't too worried about that, and told my son he would probably Wrestle more kids like that in the open tournaments. Match two was better. He won by pin in the 1st round. But I had spent a lot of time trying to get him back on track after the first match. He really let that get into his head. Match 3 was against the same boy from his club that he Wrestled and beat in the first meet. The first time they met was a close match that went all 3 rounds, so I figured this one could go either way. But, my son let some things get inside his head. When they go to practice, they split the classes, and he is in one group, and the other boy in the other. My son is convinced that the other boy is in the "advanced" group, and is getting better coaching and learning more stuff. He lost the match on points, went all 3 rounds, and didn't get pinned, which I think is always good. But he was fussing/crying afterwards, so we went to talk about it, and he told me he went in knowing he was going to lose because of his conception of the practice divisions, etc. I told him he had beat the kid once before, and they were both pretty even, so they might win and lose against each other. But he just really wasn't having any of that, and getting him back on track mentally was tough after that. His last match was a scratch, as on of the kids hadn't showed, so he had a win that way, going 2-2 for the day. I kept trying to talk with him and keep him positive about everything, but I think that first match really finished him off for the day. But as the week wore on, we talked more, and I took him to the gym and worked on the mats on how to breath out as he gets slammed down, to try to take some of that fear away. I also worked with him on a few more things to help shore up some of his basics as well.

Adults need to learn about the laws and case studies on these things. Legal defense is a very real part of self defense. I agree. The way most MAists view self-defense and what cops base arrests off of are very different. I agree here as well. I don't think its my place to try to make character improvements on adults, or really on other people's kids, for that matter. That's someone else's job.

Happy New Year to all! Stay safe tonight, and kiss the one you love!

Just wanted to hit this up again. Please move back to Instructor Central Forum.

Welcome to KF, Tempest!

I've heard that method before, but never drilled it. I've thought about how I would set up scenarios and work this with students, perhaps them hitting certain key words helping to bring the situation down, or other certain words or actions would amp things the wrong way. I think there are lots of opportunities to put to use in this type of training. I'm curious where these "industry standards" come from, where you learn them at.

Even adults can continue to develop, if they choose to. I think it usually takes a bit more determination to change as an adult, though.

Ditto for me. I think its only natural at times. But, you shouldn't feel strange if you feel confident in yourself, either. Good luck as you test!

"75 Down Blocks" by Rick Clark, which is available on Kindle for 10 bucks nowadays. It's an interesting read and there is some good applications. There's also a few stinkers in there too unfortunately. The main idea is it gets you to look outside the box and see what you can do with a chosen technique. That's what I thought. I would give it a look. Thanks!

A tradition is an act or process or other such thing that it followed because it has been followed in the past. People in the Martial Arts sometimes fail to see that traditions can be started at any time, and as long as the new act or process is adhered to, then it becomes a tradition as well. I think what most "traditional" stylists try to do is adhere to what someone started so as not to change it, either because they feel it can't be improved upon, or is "the way it is supposed to be," or in order to not lose what was taught, whether it be applicable or efficient or not.

If he was a grappler, he didn't show it well. I would think most grapplers would be willing to take a few shots to get in close, take down, and submit.

I've heard lots of good things on Miller's writings. I just haven't had a chance to read any of them yet.

Welcome aboard!

Welcome to the Forums!

Welcome back!

There is word that floats around about ambush attacks like this in response to cops shooting down armed suspects. Its very realistic to assume someone wanting revenge would just call in a "suspicious activity" report or a "welfare check," to lure in an officer and kill them. Always be vigilant.

Never have experienced this, and I feel bad for you. I hope it heals soon!

Have you tried a google search? That will give you relatively close options. Also, check the phone book for whole-in-the-wall places that haven't moved into the internet age.

If there is a Hapkido school nearby, you might check it out, as well. Aikido is a nice art, too, but I find its a bit too pain avoidance for my tastes in self-defense, but I have learned some good things from it. I'd start checking out schools in your area, see what they offer, and see what fits your desires the most. Who knows? You may practice a while to find out what you thought you wanted in training isn't what you wanted after all, and switch to something else. Best of luck and keep us posted.

Enjoy your Shotokan training, and keep us posted as to how it goes.

Tallgeese gave some good answers, and I can't add much more. Finding some guys or gals that are willing to up the intensity with from time to time might give you what you are looking for. Also, ask your instructor about it, and see if he knows and would recommend anyone you could some more of that kind of sparring with.

I agree that MA skills don't transfer to other things. There are MAists out there that think they do, but they don't. I would also offer that you didn't choke there on that game, Bob. You did your best, gave your all, and that's about all anyone can ask for. I think the word choke is a bit overused when it comes to sports analogies. Now, if you lost a game of bowling to me, who really sucks, and I ended up winning some over-the-top bet with you, then that would likely be a choke. But this instance, na, I don't think so.

Good thought here. I think there was a book written about a down block, with like 75 different applications. I'd check that out.

I think its important to practice the techniques, and then as you apply them with different people who attack differently, things will have to be modified and varied here and there. It takes time and practice to work techniques through to find out what works for you and what doesn't, and what it takes to adjust. As for fault? I don't think I can put a good answer to that.