bushido_man96

Well we can't, now. You already broke the first rule....

Thanks for the reply, DWx. I think I may have been confusing in my initial post. Here is another clip of a kick more like the TTA side kick: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_FgD2_uvXY This is actually the set-up we use in basics. The knee is tight to the leg, like a front kick chamber, even on front leg kicks, without the step. Just pull it up tight like a front kick, as opposed to the high table top like that ATA style. Here is another good example of what I was trying to describe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4baJ-SQBa0&feature=endscreen&NR=1 Sorry if I was confusing, and I hope that clarifies. I'll keep an eye out for more videos, too.

Hello all. I've done two styles of TKD in my Martial Arts career; first with the American Taekwondo Association (ATA), and then with the Traditional Taekwondo Association (TTA). Since I've been involved in two different TKD styles, I've learned two different ways of side kicking. I wanted to present both styles for discussion of the pros and cons and thoughts on each. The first I learned was this ATA style: As you can see here, the chamber is up pretty high and in what we referred to as a "table top" position. When I taught the kick this way, I actually referred to it as such, and would put a target pad on the knee and have the students balance it there when doing slow concentration kicks on the wall to control the knee height. The second way I learned was this TTA style: The TTA style kick has what I would refer to as a more "Karate feel" to it, thus the Karate instructional video shown here. The chamber is tighter to the base leg, but in more of a front kick chamber position than the high table top position of the ATA style side kick. After my years in training, I've come to prefer the TTA way I do it now to the ATA way. I'm a big person on the bottom; God built me a really good base. This has base I have has always made the ATA way of chambering a challenge for me. My leg never feels close to my body, and the heel feels way out of line at the beginning of the kick. I also feel it doesn't allow me to engage my wonderfully ample hips as much as the TTA style chamber does. The benefit to the ATA style chamber is that from that chamber, if you modify it slightly, you can throw three different kicks from the same chamber; a side kick, a round kick, or a hook kick, much in the fashion that Bill Wallace did when he fought. However, I feel that power I can generate from the TTA style chamber outweighs the benefit of disguising 3 kicks, so I don't use my old ATA way of chambering much anymore, even when I practice my ATA forms. I'm curious as to how everyone else feels as concerns these two approaches to kicking. Bob and I discussed this a bit when we trained together, which sparked this thread. I look forward to hearing the thoughts and opinions of everyone else.

That was one thing that was nice about the ATA. Yeah, they had closed tournament circuits, and what many assume as a McDojo mentality. But, they are always tinkering with things. When I was there, the Pro-Tech systems had several different paths you could follow, ranging from weapons to BJJ and the PPCT options. Now, they have weapons requirements built into their black belt requirements, offer XMA style tournament divisions for those younger and athletic types, and they continue to grow and try new things. I think they are tinkering with an MMA styled tournament division now, too. You can say what you want about the ATA, but they don't stagnate, that's for sure.

Well, that I can't say much on. The Aikido club I practiced in, and still keep in touch with, pretty much stays with a traditional Aikido approach, but where they have evolved has been more in their spiritual approaches. They still retain the Aikido philosophies, which is what I still have trouble with in the style, but the club head is also a religious guy, who is active with missionary things, and communicates a lot with many of the churches in the community. He has dedicated mediation times, where they meditate spiritually on a more christian level. He also has a "Godly Warriors" class, in which they discuss the matter of the Martial Arts and their role in their christian spirituality. I've been wanting to check these classes out myself, but haven't had the time to do so yet. As for our TKD school (stepping back into my circle ), we did add Combat Hapkido to our offerings, but it wasn't a requirement; just extra if we wanted to give it a try, and our head instructor wouldn't allow students to do it until they reached green belt. I understand why he did this, but I don't see it as necessary, and if I had my way, I'd get my 1st dan in CH and add it to the overall curriculum, so that when a student tests for 1st dan, they would earn a 1st dan in both TKD and CHD. I hope that kind of answers your question. If not, I'll answer some more!

I love the season two pony tail...

10/29/2012 Treadmill: 1.37 mi in 20 min. Bike: cool down, 1 mi, 4:56 min. Stretch Forms Won Hyo x5 Songham 5 x5 Naifanchi x5 Ge Baek x2 Stretch Won Hyo is the TTA's 5th gup form. It follows the similar I pattern we've been seeing for the past few forms. We do double blocks, with the lead hand in a fighting guard position, or outer forearm block, and the rear hand in a high block position. The opening sequence has the double block, a reverse upset knife hand strike, followed by a lead punch. Its a nice opening sequence, which I think shows power through good hip motion and twisting, with some good self defense applications. There are two side kicks and two front kicks in this form. Songham 5 is the ATA 5th gup form. It follows the rectangle line once again, but this time you start in the middle of the long line on the back, then move to the right to the first corner, up the short side, across the top line to the next corner, back down, and to the beginning. The hand attacks are all head level, and includes the introduction of the ridge hand strike. The new kicking challenge is the stepping reverse side kick, which still causes me problems. But, its something to work on. There are also quite a few of twin and double blocks, with twin low blocks followed by twin inner forearm blocks.

Good stuff, Alex. Thanks for posting this up. It sounded like you got to get some good coaching from the side of the mat, which I think is great for learning in competitions. I loved your coache's line, "That's real life Jiu Jutsu right there!" Good stuff!

That's cool. Didn't realize that.

Nice!

We haven't changed much, that I can see. Our current GM is still around, as founder of the style. As to who will succeed, we shall see.

Nice job tallgeese!

I'm not sure if he cross-trained or not. A spinning backfist isn't exclusive to Muay Thai, and neither are thigh kicks. If we can learn high round kicks, then we can do them low, too.

Yeah, the general idea appeared to be learn and adapt for how you liked. Much looser than now.

I don't think that is necessarily true. It would be up to the NGBs of the style to control everything there.

I'm at a point in my career now where there really can't be any urgency. I can only do a little at a time, and I have to really pace things out now. Learning more patience, and its killing me!

I've had those same revelations myself. When you've done something for so long, it can be hard to see where the mistakes are when it feels right because you don't realize otherwise.

DoctorQui: it sounds like that instructor might be on a bit of a power trip more than anything. I think you should address him in private about the issues you have, and see where it goes from there.

I like the idea of being able to defend myself with my hands and feet. But, I also know the equalizer a firearm can be. I don't get to train as much as MMA trainees do, or with the kind of contact, or the amount of ground training they have. So, having a gun as an equalizer is not a bad deal. I have no interest in "dancing" with someone to see who the better man is. I want to go home and be with my family.

I have trouble seeing a "long range" escape, especially being outside of any kind of range, unless there is a big leap or some such after a technique in the escape. Most of what I've done and taught in Hapkido have been in the close range. We then finish the separation with either a release, which allows a chance to decide to follow up if necessary, or retreat if applicable. Or, the technique ends in a lock, with a finishing strike to hopefully incapacitate enough to escape or detain. In a perfect world, yes, escape would be how the grand scheme ends. But, escape isn't always a first viable option. You can escape and turn tail and run, but if the attacker pursues, then you've turned your back to him/her; not good, unless you have world class speed. So, release and evaluate is a better option, in my opinion. My other consideration comes from the LEO point of view. We want to detain, not escape, so its important that my training reflects these goals. The ability to justify further action must be appropriately articulated. So, its important that the end of a training scenario be broken down in an evaluation setting in order to practice this kind of articulation. That's also where "separate and evaluate" comes into play. Learning to evaluate the attacker's intent, and explain what you saw the intent was, will go a long way in making your case as to why you did what you did. I always agree with this.

You'd be surprised how many people don't realize they've been cut until after the fight is over.

I don't know that I've ever seen anything like that other than in those movies. Most places don't allow you carry them in public, so having the holster is probably not necessary.

I think there are already some lower level organizations that have women competing. White will probably just start plucking the good ones away from them with the offer of bigger purses on a bigger stage with the UFC. Probably won't take long at all.

Its the desire to be able to perform normally again. I know it. I'm still recovering from shoulder surgery. This past week, I've been doing a considerable number of forms, for review, mainly. I started out doing them just as walk throughs, nice and easy so as not to push my arm beyond its limits. Then, I started kicking harder and turning faster, because my legs are fine. And my left arm is fine, so I punch and block harder with it. Well, then the left arm starts to follow along, but hey, its feeling pretty good! Come the next day, my left shoulder is sore, and damn if I didn't work it a bit too much. But, I'll give it time, back off, and it will feel better soon. I think its in our nature to do what we know we could in the past like that. Just make sure to listen to your body, and optimize what you can do. Better to be able to train at a bit less than 100% than not at all.

I agree. I have some autographs of some of the ATA masters in my ATA The Way books. Wished I'd had something for GM Han to sign.