bushido_man96

Fights at those joint practices are pretty common. Bunch of big, strong, alpha males lining up and beating on each other. Tends to happen. Bill should be a lot of fun to listen to. I don't watch the Manning Cast, so I'll probably miss out. I imagine he has a wealth of knowledge to share.

Same. Years ago, in my first TKD school, a solid wedding band with on rock in it was ok, but every school I've been to since hasn't allowed jewelry for safety reasons. I take my ring off to train.

8/20/2024 Teaching Evaluation/Vetting Session: 2:00 - 3:00 pm. This was for a person who wants to teach for a TKD Club on our college campus. There is a "Traditional Martial Arts Alliance," and a few of us watch those with interest in teaching a club to make sure they are a safe instructor and know their stuff. There were not many students that showed, so we jumped into the class and went along, evaluating from there. The gal that was teaching was a 1st dan through the WTF (now referred to as WT, but I don't know that flags anything). However, it didn't really go very well. She didn't really break anything down and didn't really explain anything very much. I felt like the class needed more structure and focus; a direction. I wouldn't recommend her to teach at this point. At least not on her own. She mentioned monthly testing cycles, which was a red flag for me. She also mentioned stripe tests (getting stripes on the belt to demonstrate certain requirements have been met), but I was confused as to whether this would be done in the same 1-month cycle, or if it would stripe test in one month, and then belt test the next month. After bowing in, we started off with some basic punching from sitting stance (or horse stance or middle stance). From there she moved to down blocks, and then a "set" that was down block, inside block, forward backfist. Again, she didn't really elaborate very well on how to do these blocks and strikes. She did have some direction on where to start the hands for the down blocks, but for the other techniques she was much more vague. Next she talked about the pattern of the forms, the Tae Guk patterns, and started by having us walk through the footwork/stances of the form only, stepping, turning, etc where it was required. After a few of the step-throughs, she added techniques, and we got through maybe half of Tae Guk 1. She showed it, but didn't elaborate on technique, or the targets of the techniques; head, body, groin, etc. She showed us, but didn't give a "how" to the techniques. After the form work, we lined up on one side of the mats and did kicking up and down the floor, front kicks first, then round kicks. Again, there was little explanation of detail. I had to ask about the striking tool being used. That would have been the end of the session, only about 30 minutes. Aikido sensei asked a few questions and asked her to work us through some more stuff, so we did a drill with kicking paddles. She demonstrated a downward hammer fist strike, which she stated in her old school white belts would do as a board break at testing. She started giving some technique feedback as she went around to watch the groups perform. I was using my hips to generate power in the technique. She said I should not twist so much, and the power should come from my arm. It's a good thing the session ended shortly thereafter, because I was pretty much done by that point. My observation was that she was not a good instructor...yet. Everyone has to start somewhere, and everyone can improve. She would benefit from being an assistant to an experienced instructor who could delegate some tasks to her in order to gain more teaching experience. She would also benefit from having a good lesson plan ready to go. It wouldn't have to be terribly elaborate; focus on a few hand techniques in stances, a kick or two, some time on the form, and then some clean-up at the end. But she didn't seem to have a plan. The only stance she showed in the class was the WT walking stance. I would have liked to see how she taught a front stance or a back stance. She did "show" a sitting stance, but the direction she gave did not give me any sense of how a student should do the stance. She slid her left foot out twice, and said "here, here, and then bend the knees." I do admit that I'm at a disadvantage in that I've probably done TKD longer than she's been alive and therefore have a standard set in my head for instructors. She will teach another session next week, and I'm going back to evaluate again. The other instructor involved has already cast his vote, and he may not show up for the next session. I'd like to see her come in with a lesson plan and present a copy for us to look at. Then I could ask questions about what, how, etc. I'd also like to see her just perform her material; her colored belt forms and her black belt form. That might help answer the rest of my questions, as well. Strength Training Leg Press: 45x10, 135x10, 185x5, 225x3, 275x5, 275x5, 275x5. Bench Press: 45x5x2, 65x5, 85x5, 115x5, 115x5, 115x5. Lat Pull-downs: 130x10, 130x10, 130x10. Triceps Push-downs: 57.5x15, 57.5x17. 57.5x10. Leg press didn't bother my knees today. Last set of bench was a little better on the shoulder.

8/19/2024 TKD Class: Traditional Class: 5:30 - 6:30 pm. No Aikido class today, so I made a point to get to more TKD. Basics: Better balance today, especially in the kicking combinations. Forms: Dan Gun, Hwa Rang x2, Choong Jang. One-steps: Helped with blue/brown belt one-steps, mainly in getting them to flow the techniques together better. Sparring: Only two students in the class besides me, so both of us black belts sparred each of the kids once. The little brown belt went all-out, and he was charging in just a punching away. I let him work and tried to get him to add more kicks after using his punches, especially coming up the backside to my head. Sparring the orange belt was typical for that rank; techniques thrown too far away, getting the body out of position, and not much for combinations. I had him focus on fixing his stance and body position as he moved around so he wasn't presenting a big target to the front. Black Belt Class: 6:30 - 7:30 pm. Nothing to strenuous today. We went over more of the itinerary for the upcoming women's self-defense seminar. We were mainly clarifying some drilling points and how we're going to approach things, what order, etc.

The old misload. How do those little plates sneak on there, anyway???

I look at lifting weights as taking medicine. I do it because I want to be able get myself off the toilet when I'm older. I'm doing it because I want to do TKD into my 70s. I'm doing it because I plan to be independent until the day I die. Loaded skeletal movement has all kinds of benefits. Increasing the muscle mass of your body is good because the muscle requires a lot of energy from your body. Therefore, those with higher muscle mass tend to have higher resting metabolic rates; the body is burning more at rest in order to keep those muscles up. Increasing muscle mass can also be a boon to those lean towards diabetic issues from being overweight. Muscle mass going up and body fat going down helps out there. Weight training (especially with barbell exercises like the squat and deadlift) also increase bone density, which is exceedingly important as we age. You mentioned the soreness aspect. It's possible to lift three days a week and not experience a whole lot of soreness. When I started it up seriously, I did squats, and upper body press movement, and then deadlifts, all in the same workout, three days a week. I was sore for about the first week, but after that, I didn't really experience a lot of soreness, and I was still increasing the weight each workout. So you don't have to be in a steady state of soreness to be improving. "No pain, no gain" is a silly and outmoded concept. Now, as one gets stronger and starts pushing his/her limits more and more, then there could be days here and there where some soreness sets in. But by and large, it doesn't have to be that way. Finding a good barbell coach is tough, too. And good ones will be pricey. Coaches that have the Starting Strength Coach credential (SSC) are very good; they know how to coach the squat, press, bench press, deadlift, and power clean very well, and they know how to program the lifts. There are Starting Strength Gyms popping up in cities all over the place; if you're in the US, there might be one nearby, and you can probably reach out for a coaching session. If you don't have one in your area, many SSCs have online coach options that are very thorough, and they have a good system with parameters set in place for getting the best quality video footage of your lifts so they can evaluate technique. They also have some good software to illustrate the stuff back to you. Again, they are pricey, but they are good at it. I don't know that I could say that I hate lifting. I've never been as strong as I'd like to be, and the stronger you get, the harder it gets, for sure. I never enjoyed grinding out sets of squats at 380 lbs. But when I finished the set and racked the weight, I felt pretty darn good about myself.

hahaha how else do you think your going to know what is going on? but seriously though, not only are you having to retrain your muscles that have different attachment points with something inorganic. Also you are having to do a whole lot of proprioceptive training to get used to them anyway. but also then some for your training. I use this acronym with my clients; DBAD when it comes to training post-op or even in general training when you haven't had surgery. It stands for Don't Be A Dummy. Which just means train smart and listen to your body That's good training advise at any age!

Is there any particular reason you've done that, Bob?Like I said, personal reasons!! I’m not ashamed of them at all. I’m not ashamed of myself at all!! I don’t need them hanging up in my home. Like I said, personal reasons. Hopefully, I’ve still your respect. Of course, Bob!

8/18/2024 Strength Training Leg Press: 45x10, 135x10, 185x5, 225x3, 270x5, 270x5, 270x5. Press: 45x5x2, 65x5, 85x3, 110x5, 110x5, 110x5. Lat Pull-downs: 127.5x10, 127.5x10, 127.5x10. Triceps Push-downs: 55x15, 55x15, 55x15. The last set of leg press really hurt my knees. They did not like that set. I put the belt back on for pressing.

Thank you both, DP and Bob! I really appreciate the kind words! 8/14/2024 TKD Class: Traditional Class: 5:30 - 6:30 pm. Worked in with the traditional class again, and there were a few more students in attendance. Basics: still having some balance issues, especially with kicking combinations. I'm not jumping very much on the jump kicks; knees don't like it. I can a little better when the right leg is the kicking leg on the #3 jump front kicks. Forms: Dan Gun, Do San, Yul Gok, and Hwa Rang. Good reviews for me, and good to get some extra work in. One-steps: I helped with these, on low-green belt and blue/brown belt. We had a blue belt working with a low green belt, and the blue belt needed a little help with the green belt one-steps, which is not good. I told him if he is going to be the higher rank, he shouldn't be asking the green belt for help on the one-steps he's supposed to showing her how to do. The green belt needed to focus on "pushing" out her side kicks and pivoting properly in order to get things going straight. Sparring: Watched and critiqued and offered advice. Again, the blue belt kid needed to work on putting things together and to not do his techniques slowly. He had good height on his kicks, but if he doesn't try to speed things up he'll never get them to the targets. I kind of liked doing half the class with the students and then being in more of a teaching aspect the second half. I miss teaching full classes. BJJ Class: 7:00 - 8:30 pm. I'd been fighting a sinus infection for most of the week, and that affected my performance in class for sure. But I still got through it. 1. Kazushi drill, getting a 2-on-1 or 1 and a collar tie, and the objective was to get arms around the waist. Use push/pull, arm drags, snaps, whatever we could think of to get to the waist. 3 minutes. 2. Similar kazushi drill, but the goal this time was to get a foot behind one of their feet to then destabilize and get a takedown. 3 minutes x2. 3. Top/bottom drill: top person's goal was to get an arm or head and arm isolated and break them down. Bottom person's goal was to get out or get to guard. 3 minutes. I need to just get better at scrambling. 4. Same as the previous drill, but the top person's goal was to get to an arm-in guillotine, an Anaconda, or a D'Arce choke. Bottom person still trying to get out or get to guard. 3 minutes. This last drill was interesting in trying to get to the submissions. I started to figure it out a bit. I was struggling to get air today, and that didn't help things at all, but it was still fun. Both of boys came to this class, and it was fun to work with both of them. The instructor allowed time to free roll afterwards, but I didn't partake. My boys spent time working on the submissions, as they were having trouble setting them up. I helped with that a little and watched.

Is there any particular reason you've done that, Bob?

Congratulations, DP! That black belt looks good!

I agree! This is exciting for KarateForums!

8/13/2024 Strength Training Leg Press: 45x1, 135x10, 185x5, 225x3, 265x5, 265x5, 265x5. Bench Press: 45x5x2, 65x5, 85x5, 105x5, 105x5, 105x5. Lat Pull-downs: 125x10, 125x10, 125x10. Bench press bothered my right shoulder somewhat.

8/12/2024 Aikido Class: Weapons Class: 5:00 - 6:00 pm. Jo warmups: hi-8, hi-4, lo-4, then combined hi-4 and lo-4. Went through jo kata 2, and I can get through the first half without issue. We went through the whole thing, and I get through it was just a few hiccups. There are some sections that are starting to flow together, too. Next was bokken work. We did a basic thrusting exercise across the floor, with a partner holding the other end and applying weight. This helped us focus on getting power through the floor and into the hips with proper pushing using both feet. Then we moved to disarms. I did kote-gashi disarm into a pin and weapon release, and then we did a "breath throw." That one was tougher. Instead of moving to the outside angle of attack, we moved inside, and had to grab the hilt between the swordsman's hands and go from there. You had to really sink it to establish a base and break their balance, and the other hand was placed on the back of the blade for control. We could then step across and throw them off their own sword handle with an up then down circular motion, or we could turn the sword back on them to make them release it and cut them in the process. It was definitely a tougher one. I need better timing and flow to make it work. TKD Class: Black Belt Class: 6:30 - 7:30 pm. The CI and I spent the class going over some of the mount and guard defense we plan to teach in the women's self-defense seminar.

A black belt BJJ friend of mine called it that, too. So far, I am enjoying the sessions, and I don't mind the approach. He keeps things simple as far as the parameters of the drills go, and we get lots of work in. This is where I am on it as well. So far, I don't mind it, and I do have very limited experience on some finishers. My youngest son, a wrestler, ran into the very problem you mentioned. He is great at takedowns, applying pressure, and getting to a pinning situation, but he just doesn't know any finishers. But I think we'll be getting to some of that stuff soon. I'm keeping it all in perspective. However, if there would have been some technical drilling prior to the game, I might have had a better answer to the problem at hand. That's a good way to approach it. I'll probably start with getting takedowns. Once I get better at that, I can look to getting into a position of advantage. We are currently taking the no-gi approach, which hasn't been too much of a bother yet.

Yeah i am just avoiding him tbh and will try to do so as much as possible. Otherwise i am going to begin his introduction to pins (easiest way of avoiding either of us getting hurt!) One of two things happens to people like this; they learn their lesson, or they quit and forever tell stories of how they quit because an instructor held them back, or didn't realize their potential, or some such nonsense.

My thoughts also. Are they afraid you'll switch to the other side? I think it's a lot of things. Insecurity that a different instructor will have answers they don't. Fear the students will like the other instructor's methods better. Fear the other instructor offers more of something they want (sparring, self-defense).

Mandating competitions like that would for sure seem to bring in a younger crowd. It's great that it's not mandated.

Great question. I'm already seeing things here and there that I can cross over. I think where I'd see the most carryover between the two is in applications. Unfortunately, our school doesn't cover a lot of applications. However, as I explore and do things on my own, I see things cross over. As an example, in TKD class during basics, we'll do a standard turn-in-place when in front stance to go the other way down the floor. I can apply that turn at times in Aikido techniques, making sure I use my hips to generate power in the turn and get momentum going, balance broken, etc. The more and more I see these things, the more I'll try to share my discoveries here.

That's cool. Might be worth looking into.I am not far enough into it yet to have an opinion, but it has been on my bookshelf for a while, so I decided it was time to read it. So many books and not enough time. Ain't that the truth?I've been poking through Taekwondo, A Path to Excellence, by Doug Cook. Unfortunately, I'm reading the history section right now, which is usually painful in a TKD text. And usually false. Is there some contiversy about when TKD became a martial art? No, the controversy is how it is related to the "ancient" Korean styles. Short answer, it isn't.

Absolutely. And this is why Karate has changed and evolved along the way. Why one person learned one way from a master and another student may have learned another way. Each is an indication of where one was in the journey.

8/10/2024 Strength Training Leg Press: 45x10, 135x10, 185x5, 225x5, 260x5, 260x5, 260x5. Press: 45x5x2, 65x5, 85x3, 105x5, 105x5, 105x5. Lat Pull-downs: 122.5x10, 122.5x10, 122.5x10. Triceps Push-downs: 52.5x15, 50x15, 52.5x15. I forgot to move the 2.5 lb plate over on the 2nd set of triceps.

8/9/2024 BJJ: 7:00 - 8:30 pm. Today we did fewer "games," but did each one twice, switching up partners. Duration was shorter, too. At the end of class, we did some free rolling. These first two drills were kazushi drills again. 1. Both partners standing, neutral position in wrestling. The goal was to get your hands wrapped around one knee (like a single leg), around two knees (double leg), or around the waist (body lock). You got one point for the single, two points for the double, and three points for the body lock. There were no takedowns performed, though; once you locked hands, reset and start again. He had us keep score, too. The main parameter was that we had to have two points of contact with your hands prior to getting the lockup position. So basically, no blast doubles from distance or anything like that. I partnered with Kenneth here, and he beat me in points the first go by 1, and I think he really beat in the second go. 3 minutes rounds x2. This was a good drill for manipulating the arms and body for a takedown. I definitely need more work here. 2. One person was seated with hooks inside the standing partner's legs. The seated partner's goal was to try to get multiple points of contact to break the standing partner's balance. The standing partner's goal was to try to get one or two legs inside the seated partner's legs. If the standing partner went down (hands or but on mat), roles were switched. 3 minute rounds x2. We switched partners for this drill, so getting different body types. Had a long-limbed, skinny guy. I found that while I was standing, if the seated guy put a hand one each of my wrists and held on, it made it easier for me to keep track of his hands that way, and I managed to keep my balance for a long time. I was also able to manipulate him somewhat by moving my arms around, even though he had "control" of my wrists. If he got to a 2-on-1 situation, then it was a little tougher to deal with. When I was seated, trying to do armdrags to get the feet in closer to secure an ankle was helpful. 3. Seated/standing set up again, but without the hooks. Standing partner's job was to try to get around the seated partner and push them down or pull on their legs to make them fall back onto their back. The seated partner just needed to try to pivot to keep from giving up the back and try to keep the standing partner from breaking his balance backwards. 1 minute in each position, then switched roles. New partners for the next drill. 4. Side control drills, much like the previous class. Partner on top needed to try to keep the position, and we could choose three levels; a) hold position, b) isolate an arm, or arm/head, or the other arm, and c) move to mount. I chose to isolate. Partner on bottom was to make space and get to a guard position. 3 minute rounds x2. The first partner I had was a guy about my height, younger, and stronger. I did ok in both positions. I struggled, but could eventually make some space and get to guard on bottom. On top I could hold for a time, got into a little scramble, and gave up too much space. Then we switched partners, and found myself in hell. On top, he moved and made space right away, so we switched. I spent the rest of the drill being pinned in side control. I tried to frame the head away, couldn't get anything. Couldn't get my knee under to move into a guard. Eventually had to tap out because I couldn't breathe. It was truly demoralizing and humiliating. The instructor covered some things that I could look to try next time. I'm learning that you have to start understanding where your body is and what the opponent's body is doing, even when you can't see everything. Very difficult right now. It's a whole new level of kinesthetic awareness. After each drill, the instructor always asks for feedback on what we found worked, or what didn't, and how we can develop it more. I like the approach. After all those drills were done, the mat was open to free roll. I rolled three times, 3 minutes each. I'm not good at takedowns, and I managed to give up my back three times. I went once with Kenneth, and he did a pretty good job. He got me pinned, but he just didn't know how to finish, so I talked him into an armbar. He'll get there, just needs some work on finishers. I need a ton of work.

8/8/2024 Strength Training Leg Press: 45x5x10, 135x10, 185x5, 225x3, 255x5, 255x5, 255x5. Bench Press: 45x5x2, 65x5, 85x3, 100x5, 100x5, 100x5. Lat Pull-downs: 120x10, 120x10, 120x10.