bushido_man96

Nice analogy, Bob. As life ebbs and flows, this is for certain; we change, and how and what we do changes with us. I'm at a point right now where organized MA practice isn't as high a priority as it once was, just due to being busy with the family and their priorities. So, the molding process has slowed right now. But, the time I do spend is hopefully more quality.

A tradition is merely an established practice over a period of time. They usually hold some kind of cultural significance in relation to where it started, but isn't always the case. That is all it is. Its basically repitition that everyone gets used to, and since change is tough on lots of people, they just keep doing it because they are comfortable with it.

There you go ruining a favorite Martial Arts quote with scientific theory. Kidding aside, I have had a board hit me back when trying to break with a knife hand strike. I still hate that breaking technique....

I actually got exposed to this guy at the academy. Good stuff!

I remember Showdown in Little Tokyo. I enjoyed it, and Rapid Fire, as well. Never really got into The Crow, though. RIP Brandon.

Welcome to KF!

Welcome!

Welcome to the Forums!

Welcome aboard!

You're welcome. Anytime.

I've never contracted anything from the school. I don't hall a bag with me to the school, and I wash my uniform after each class.

Rest is best. I've done it before, and tried to swing a golf club while the pull hadn't healed. Ouch. Rest.

3/26/2012 Deffley A Squats: warmup: 135x5, 205x3, 225x2; work: 255x3x5 Bench press: warmup: 45x5, 135x5, 205x3, 225x2; work: 255x3x3 Barbell rows: warmup: 135x5, 155x3, 175x2; work: 193.6x3x5 Incline bench press: 165x3x5 Weighted crunches: 37.4x3x12 Back hyperextensions: 45x3x10 Assisted chinups: 3x10 3/28/2012 Deffley B Dead lift: warmup: 135x5, 225x5, 315x3; work: 375x5x3 3/30/2012 Deffley C Squats: warmup: 135x5, 205x3, 225x2; work: 260x3x5 Overhead press: warmup: 45x5, 95x5, 115x3, 120x2; work: 126.2x3x3 Weighted crunches: 38.6x3x12 Seated good-mornings: 155x3x12 Assisted pullups: 3x10 4/2/2012 Deffley A Squats: warmup: 135x5, 205x3, 225x2; work: 265x3x5 Bench press: warmup: 45x5, 135x5, 205x3, 225x2; work: 260x2,1,1 Barbell rows: warmup: 135x5, 155x3, 175x2; work: 195x3x5 Assisted chinups: 3x10 The belt I was wearing while squatting broke on me today. That was a fun feeling mid-squat. It was starting to wear at the hole I had it at, and I guess my big belly pushing against it was all it could take.

3/20/2012 Aikido: 8:05 - 9:05. Weapons class. Learned bokken kata 2, and got a video on my phone so I can practice at home. At the end of class, we each got to do a run through of the kata with an actual katana, which was kind of cool. My forearms were sore for a week after that class. 3/21/2012 Deffley B Hang clean: 115x3x3 Dead lift: warmup: 135x5, 225x5, 315x3; work: 370x5x3 Romanian dead lifts: 200x5x5 Weighted crunches: 35x3x12 3/23/2012 Deffley C Squats: warmup: 135x5, 205x5, 225x3; work: 250x3x5 Overhead press: warmup: 45x5, 95x5, 115x3, 120x2; work: 127.4x3x3 Push press: 167.4x3x5 Front squats: 165x3x5 Weighted crunches: 36.2x3x12 Back hyperextensions: 45x3x10 Seated good-mornings: 155x3x12 Assisted pullups: 3x10

A simple 5x5 program will help you gain strength on your bench. Start with a load you know you can handle, and do 5 sets of 5 reps. The next session, add 5 lbs to the weight previously done, for another 5 sets of 5 reps. You only have to lift 3 days a week to make gains. Look into something like Starting Strength to get a good start into building strength, if that's what you are looking for.

I'm not sure where the mistake was, but we have a few differences between your way and mine. When we come out for the second set of knife hand block/punch/repeat, I do left hand knife hand block, then right punch, then do the other side. I thought your kicks looked good, however, that one gal stood right in the way after your hand slap crescent/side kick combos. But it looked like you kept good balance, and your side kick stuck nicely. Overall good job, I say!

I'd take out one day of bench, and add overhead presses or push presses, to round out the shoulder muscles a bit more. OHP is a great exercise. I've recommended this eslewhere, but you might consider looking into Jim Wendler's 5/3/1 program. I understand it is a great program for those active in other sports, and he has setups for 3 or 4 days a week training. Here's some info on it: http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_article/sports_body_training_performance/how_to_build_pure_strength

I'm coming in a little late here, but I agree with Master Pain here. The human body is really quite resiliant. As far as being jumped by a gang goes, you could probably articulate fear for you life pretty well, and thus justify deadly use of force. Self-defense rarely happens as it does in the movies, either. Its cool to watch guys like Van Damme kick guys off motorcycles, the hoods of cars, and other cool things like that, and make it look easy, but self-defense rarely is (I know I made an extreme case there, but I wanted a chance to reference my favorite Van Damme movie ). The final thing to think about is when it comes to using deadly force, it isn't something that most of us can just decide to do. Think to yourself right now, "Am I willing to kill someone if I have to?" If you answer yes, then you have to take it a step further, and think about what that is going to be like. Can you force yourself to visualize what its like to snap a neck? To squeeze a throat until someone stops gagging? Can you hear that gagging in your mind? Can you visualize yourself twisting a knife into someone? I think many people easily resolve themselves to the fact that they would defend their life by taking another if they had to. But I don't think many think about what will actually take place there. It is very much a mindset thing, and just saying it to yourself doesn't really make it so. Then, there's the aftermath to deal with once the deed has been done. That's a whole other discussion there.

Yeah, I've seen that as well. Trying to stack up the bad guys is the way I try to go in class. The problem I have is that since the contact is very severe, no one is afraid of trying to run through and around your techniques, making it all fall apart.

I've always wondered about how useful any type of "conditioning" on the part of any one who trains using the tap out might work in self-defense. If someone slapped a choke hold on me some night while I am working, and am caught in a bad way, I may try to tap out, just to see if they will release. Who knows? It might work.

All schools will teach differently. If your instructor seems to be a kata only guy, then you may want to find a different school. If he is doing new things, see if he sticks with them, and then make your choice. As for "secrets in katas..." I don't buy into that. The only reason there are "secrets" there is because he either doesn't realize the applications, or just doesn't teach them. And its fine if he doesn't know them. Not all styles or instructors have that knowledge. In the end, where you train and how you train is entirely up to you. If you are enjoying the training you are getting now, then why not stick with it? If your sole reason to train is to be an effective fighter, and you are not gaining the necessary skill set in training, then search out a different school. Either way, it is your choice.

I think that using full range of motion weight training and things like plyometrics will benefit a lot more than isometrics. I think isometrics might be more helpful in spot training incidents where you are looking at trying to improve strength through a sticking point or something like that. But, to each his own.

I agree. There is nothing wrong with having some reference books lying around. I've got books on styles I've never even studied, and reference them for ideas from time to time. The two you mention sound like they might have some promise. You may have to bite the bullet and purchase one of them, and see how you like it. What one lacks, the other might contain.

Welcome to KF!

I was just getting ready to ask what kind of proof there was out there to susbstantiate that the vertical fist was faster than the horizontal fist punch. I'm not sure how the speed is affected by altering the angle of the fist.