bushido_man96

I think either can work, but it will mostly depend on the way your are going, front or back like you say, or, if you've done a move that has brought the hips to the "on" position, and you need to perform another move, like that block/strike shown in the second video, then it would be wiser, I think to move the hips into the "off" position, which will still provide some snap and power into the technique, and will be quicker than "reloading" the hip to get a forward motion.

Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. It lends some good input to the discussion here. I do have a few questions for you in regards to your training. Do you alter your training in any way to train in a more focused way for your MMA matches? Or do you just do your regular class training? Do you do any kind of extra pad work or bag work, and any other kind of sparring training? I look forward to your answers.

Great topic, Dobbersky.

But the thing is, in self-defense/combat, you can never be sure, can you? There is not guarantee that even a jab will land.

My arm still bothers me right now. There doesn't seem to be any hope in sight. I went back to work last week, and the two days I worked killed my arm. The biceps tendon in it is really holding me up, and its getting to the point at rehab sessions that the therapists don't seem to know what to do about it. I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever be able to do TKD or weight lifting again.

I've had an instructor move away years ago. It sucked. I consider the guy a great Martial Artist, as well as a friend, and he is doing very well now; better than I am in a Martial sense, anyway, but he was always better. But he taught so much, and I always enjoyed it. I'm still under an instructor now, and I hope to be so for a while yet.

It depends on opportunities, as well. I could probably have a branch school under my instructor's, if I wanted one, but the issue is I would have to drive at least 40 to 45 minutes one way to hold the classes in a different town. I just don't have the resources or desire to do this, with work and family and all that going on. During my ATA days, when I ran my own school, I was on my own, and had to train on my own for the most part. Now, that I get to do the training, I think its much better for me, as I always enjoy learning, and I do better when I have someone else pushing me and a class to compete with.

10/9/2012 AM clinic session - 45 minutes.

I guess it would depend on the manipulations involved, or what the goal of the situation is. For LEOs like myself and tallgeese, when the simple answer would be to punch someone out, we don't always have that option, due to use-of-force issues. Therefore, we have to facilitate a different route to get to our desired destination, which could be getting a hand behind the back, either standing or on the floor.

Insecurity, fueled by ego, I think.

I agree, Zaine. Power comes through technique, and as technique gets better and more refined, it becomes more possible to add more speed to the technique, adding more power.

Your previous response below reads: Here, you said "swords." That is what prompted the wording of my response. I don't think anyone is claiming that MMA has reinvented the wheel of Martial Arts. What MMA has done, however, is look at the way training is done, and how it can be done to focus on Martial success in the competitive environment, as well as in self-defense. I disagree once again. I don't think the lack of a forms curriculum in MMA, or other more "traditional" training aspects degrades to mere brawling. The athletes involved spend way to much time training for it to be considered brawling. The reality of combat is chaos, and this is seen in the competitive MMA environment; its rarely pretty, in either sense. The beauty is in the intricacies of subtle movements that shift weight, targets, and hence strategy just enough to tip the balance of a fight to the favor of the victor. Another important point is the need to realize that in the higher levels of MMA, the competitors are so advanced that the lay person may not understand the intricacies of what the combatants are doing in order to get an advantage on the other. I would also note that there is no reason the techniques MMA fighters learn wouldn't work for self-defense; there have been several articles posted about demonstrating how some fighters have defended themselves successfully. As far as teachers being like fathers goes...that's up to the interpretation of each individual for themselves. I don't really want a father figure as a teacher; I'm a grown man who doesn't really need to have my views and philosophies on life altered by another. I want a competent teacher that teaches well, and knows his stuff, and is an above-board type of person.

However, the rules/regulations governing these venue's prohibit many techniques that would normally be used by karateka's trained in them. I agree, Bob. That's why I think you end up with the few-and-far-between types who choose to eschew some of the more "traditional" techniques in favor of the standard set of punches and kicks, along with more Boxing related defense, and then focus this skill set on the pads, bags, and in sparring practice. Like I think Machida has done with his training.

I don't think his understanding of it came from his being African American, if that is what you are getting at. There are so many more African American fighters now and during the time he fought, but they didn't show those same traits. I think Clay's ability in the ring had less to do with some DNA connection to African MAs, and more about his natural speed and his focus on moving a lot and avoiding contact in fighting.

I don't agree with you here, Shango. There are quite a few systems that don't use weapons, but I would still consider them Martial Arts. And swords can hardly be considered as a practical self-defense option in today's world. Not many people conduct muggings with swords. Hand guns are going to be more popular weapons for both self-defense and crime perpetration than other Kobudo style weapons.

10/8/2012 Back to the gym today, even if it is only for cardio... Upper body cycle for 6 minutes; 3 forward and 3 backward. Treadmill for 20 minutes, walking/jogging (with more walking than jogging). Covered 1.2 miles. 1 mile on bike to cool off. Stretch.

I think the way we will be seeing most Karatekas entering MMA right now is through the exceptionally talented and/or hardworking practitioners who achieve a high level Karate background, then move into the MMA environment through an MMA gym, and then end up spending less time in the Karate environment, and more in the MMA training environment. But, they will have that "Karate background." I think this is how we will see the few and far between Karatekas pop up, like Machida, that the more traditional Karatekas will want to see more of in MMA. Yes, Machida is a good example of a Karateka in MMA. But, he also has those other credentials. And when you watch him fight, there really is no doubt he is a Karateka first in the ring. But, Machida doesn't train in the traditional way that Karate schools do. If he did, his training schedule would be crazy, and that alone demonstrates how hard it would be for traditional Karatekas to find the training time to prepare for MMA competition. Most of us have families and jobs to do. ShoriKid, that was a great response. The one thing I would disagree with you on is that I think Kyokushin stylists might actually have a leg up on other Karate stylists, due to the level of training and contact they have in their fighting style. Thanks for the replies so far, everyone. Great discussion.

I think the goal should be to facilitate the training so that when "the moment" comes, you've practiced and practiced enough that what you have practiced comes to the fore, and that it has been researched and studied enough for the body to know it is a fluent and efficient technique. That's the goal, anyways, in my opinion.

We differ here. I don't make this distinction when kicking with instep or ball of the foot. My base foot still rotates the same amount, close to 180 degrees as I can make it go. If I don't do this, my ball of the foot kick will not have as much power, because I won't be able to get my hips and body as engaged in the kick.

I actually think that's great that you're not making your son join MA. At our club we see a lot of kids who get signed up by their parents who also train but the kids don't really want to be there. Thanks, Danielle. Its kind of tough, because I really want to share the MAs with my kids, but I don't want them to feel forced to do it because of me, and then not enjoy it, and put a bad taste in their mouths for the future. I've seen that happen firsthand at my current school, and there are some pretty miserable practitioners there that you can tell most of the time don't want to be there and are not enjoying themselves. I figure they'll come around to it if they get interested enough to. I've at least got a foot in the door with him enjoying Wrestling, and he is already asking when Wrestling starts up again.

Kudos on your breaks, jaypo. That's exactly the point I was trying to make to the students in our school, and seeing it like you did really sends the point home, I think.I think a good way to think of performing techniques in forms is in the manner you demonstrated, that if a board just happened to appear in front of a technique, that the student would be able to break the board with that technique, and not have that moment of anxiety I see so often during board breaks when the student sees the board, then gets all wound up about breaking the board instead of performing their technique.

That sounds like a cool deal. My DT partner and I would watch the Combat Hapkido videos, and then train back and forth for reps and discuss how we liked or didn't like the techniques. With experienced and dependable partners and some MA experience to go with it, video learning can be possible.

Although there is a spiritual aspect that is usually portrayed in Karate practice, it is largely up to the practitioner to observe and follow said philosophies. Many still have a desire to participate, and many of the past greats, like Norris, Wall, Uriquedez, and Wallace, were all great competitors, but that doesn't mean they didn't adhere to the philosophical aspects of the art.

Thanks for the response here, ps1. No worries on the delay!

I'm not sure what kind of boards they brought in, but I've never had boards break by dropping them. And I've seen bounces by moderately sized adults with bad technique that I would have been ashamed to call a technique. But, everyone has different experiences.