bushido_man96

Respectfully, I ask how you know for sure Aikido will keep you off the ground? I've trained in Aikido some (not extensively, but some), and although I see the merit in the style, I don't see it as a grappling defense answer.

I agree with JusticeZero. If you absolutely have no options but to video train, then by all means, give it your best effort. However, if you do have someplace you can go train with an instructor, especially if you have no prior experience, then that would be the better route to take. You'll likely get some better technical advise, and immediate feedback, which will increase the quality of your training. Good luck to you.

Thanks for the word, Yamesu. I really appreciate them. I do find I more responsibilities with my family, but I don't view that as something detracting from other things. Eventually, I'll get more time back for TKD and other training, so I just be patient with it. Who knows, maybe my kids will pick up an interest in it, too, and we'll all be there together.

Nice pics. It looks like you were having all kinds of fun! Maybe next time you'll get a more deversified turnout.

I agree with you, tallgeese. You may not want to go to the ground, but that doesn't mean you won't end up there. Knowing how to move and get back up is important. Snapping a bone while on the ground really quick would be a good way to drop one of the attackers out of the mix.

Being ambidextrious won't be necessary; just make sure to practice executing on both sides. Proficiency will come with time and practice.

I could not agree more. In fact, if the goal is fighting strength then the destabilised lifting is probably more beneficial than isolated weight training. I don't really think so here. Barbell training is going to help you build the stabilizing muscles by maintaining a strong core throughout the movement of heavy weight. There really isn't much call for a bunch of accessory "stablizing" exercises if you weight train properly.

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.