bushido_man96

I think I'd buy a gun, but that's just me. No Iado classes available here.

Those are very valid points, as well.

2/5/2012 Naifanchi: 5 times through, trying to get some little things ironed out. 2/6/2012 Deffley A Squats: warmup: 45x5, 135x5, 225x3, 245x2; work: 285x2x3 Box squats: 220x3x5 Bench press: warmup: 45x5, 135x5, 205x3, 225x2; work: 245x4,3,4 Barbell rows: warmup: 115x5, 135x3, 155x2; work: 186.2x3x5 Glute/ham raises: 3x5 Assisted chin-ups: 3x10 Hip thrusts: 3x12 Bench session sucked today. I thought after last Monday, I would hit my 3x5s, but instead, went backwards even farther.

Last week was our first week back to practice. Everything healed fine in his arm, but the doc said to stay away from practice for another 3 weeks. Now he's back to it, and we plan on hitting another meet next Saturday.

Do the moves have to be submitted for approval?

The problem with learning so many kata, and if you train to use kata as responses to attacks, then when you do get attacked, you are likely to take longer to cycle through what response you should use in response. If you don't train responses this way, then I suppose you could learn all the forms you want to without having to worry too much about it.

Yes, they are. I've also been able to implement elbow strikes along with a takedown; swinging the elbow up over for an armbar...the face is right there, anyways...

Could it be that kata came about because so many trained by themselves, or perhaps with just one other, for so long? It is hard to fight by yourself, unless you have a friend named Tyler Durden... Anyways, nowadays, most of us aren't lonely people that work out alone, in the hopes that the one person will come along in life for us to pass on the valuable self-training tools we have to. I can see how the value of kata is greater when a bulk of training time is done alone. It keeps the techniques categoriezed and organized, and the helps with retaining the bunkai through some association. That's just a guess though.

That's a no-bones about it answer there. A little positional training would go a long way.

This is kind of a valid point. However, "dojo" just translates as "training hall," I believe, so there is nothing inherent in the translation that implies there must be rank involved. We've just come to expect it to be this way over the years. But then again, I like gym better anyways. That's what it is in the U.S., anyhow. I hardly ever use the term "dojang" when I talk of attending my TKD classes. I just use the word "school." Stupid semantics anyways.

What a ride, Bob. Crazy, indeed. It sounds like those who think they are running the show have a plan, and they want to expel anyone in any place of leadership that doesn't share that plan. I'd be interested to know what each of the "Boards" within Shindokan do; what their responsibilities are and what-not. It sounds like there are a lot of cooks in the Shindokan kitchen, if you get my meaning. I'm glad you are reinstated, and I hope things right themselves for the time being.

This is how I mean with my point. Tournament experience is going to be different than self-defence experience. Tournament experience can be easy to get, and is easily defined by a win/loss record. The idea of winning in self-defence has a different connotation, and the experience can be tougher to come by. So for me it would.come down more to what kind of tactics the instructor is using, and the methods used to teach in the classes.

It can be helpful, but is not all important. There are lots of good trainers out there that weren't necessarily great fighters. It can help, and add some credibility to your situation, but if you can't teach what you know, then the only people you will be able to help are "the naturals" out there.

Giants vs Patriots tomorrow. Who you got?

This tends to be the trend, and I think its because kids are the ones who have the time to take up activities like Martial Arts. Adults don't have as much disposable time, therefore, you don't see as many packed in adult classes. There are lots of different feelings on kids classes, what they should entail, what ranks they should be allowed to attain, etc. But the truth of the matter is that in most areas, an instructor is likely to pull in more kids for classes than adults, so a good kids program can be vital to a school.

Does it not matter whether or not you enjoy it? If it isn't enjoyable, then it would also seem like an obligation. I enjoy interacting with the students, and I especially enjoy the technical aspects in teaching moves. I enjoy watching the students as they improve from month to month, and year to year. The cons are that at times it can get frustrating, but that is good in the sense that it makes me look at different ways to "say what I mean," and forces me to become a better teacher in the long run.

Great post, Bob. Good info there on managing time and seeking help. Never be to proud to ask for help!

You will also weight the least in the morning after waking up from a night's sleep. To see if this kind of weight loss is consistent, you need to weigh yourself at the same time every morning.

2/2/2012 Forms: moves 1-19 of Yoo Sin, in an attempt to get back into form for class. Did side kicks, 5 each leg, using a banister for balance with no set-down in between kicks. 2/3/2012 Deffley C Squats: warmup: 45x5, 135x5, 225x3, 245x2; work: 280x2x3 Box squats: 215x3x5 Overhead press: warmup: 45x5, 95x5, 115x3; work: 130x3x5 Incline bench press: warmup: 45x5, 95x5, 115x3; work: 135x3x5 Front squats: 135x3x5 Seated good-mornings: 135x3x12 Hip thrusts: 3x12 Assisted pull-ups: 3x10 Later: side kicks, 3x5 each leg, using wall and no set-down.

These are not true. I lift heavy weights at the gym, and my TKD does not suffer. Heavy lifts will not "shorten" tendons. Lifting heavy weights moves the weight through the complete range of motion of the joint. Increase in muscle size does not equal a decrease in flexibility. Lack of stretching equals a decrease in flexibility. Also, if you train with heavy weights properly, they do not make you slow. Take the bench press for example. Its not a "slow" lift. It appears slow at higher weights because the lifter is working closer to his current potential (if he's doing it right). If you see the same person bench press at around 60% or 70% of his max, you'll see him moving the weight faster. "Bulking" only happens when you increase your caloric intake in an attempt to gain muscle mass. Bodybuilders take in a bunch of protein and calories to maintain their builds. Powerlifters will do similar things. But remember, power lifting and Olympic lifting are weight-classed sports, so its not just big people who are strong. Here is a link to a female power lifter: http://www.132poundsofpower.com/ Would you classify her as bulky?

You need to: (1) stretch your hips and lower back out as well as your legs. Splits are nice. But there is alot of hip muscles involved in actual kicking. You can stretch these hip muscles out practing the stances. Do it slow. And do it a little lower than normal. (2) take it easy. You have had only 10 lessons. All good advise. You can build strength in those kicking muscles by using the wall or a chair for balance, and doing slow kicks and locking them out for a few seconds, then pulling them back to the chamber position. Repeat for 5 reps, about 5 seconds out, hold 5 seconds, and 5 seconds back. Weight training with the legs is also beneficial, especially the squat. Higher level kicks come with time. With deligent practice, you will get there.

I like elbow strikes. We do several of them in our one-steps, when we are close to the opponent. In Combat Hapkido, we also made good use of them, always being in grabbing range. They are common for distraction techniques there. Good hip movement makes for a good elbow strike, allowing the whole of the body to be in the strike.

I've never seen the Muay Thai handstand kick. I haven't seen too many spining wheel kicks in Muay Thai, either.

In 6th degree form, there are basically "blanks" in the form to fill in. I'm not sure, but I'm thinking the moves the practitioner wants to do may have to be submitted to either a regional director, or even HQ, to be approved for their form. But I don't know for sure. That be a question for a regional director or other ranking individual. Or for a 6th degree.

I lift, 3 days a week. I lift for power and strength, and right now mainly do strength lifts, all with barbell. I do back and front squats, bench and incline press, overhead press and push press, barbell rows, and dead lift. I do some accessory work on the side, to help facilitate the main lifts. As I go along, I am going to see if there is a place I can squeeze in some power cleans and power snatches. I've noticed that my stances have improved with weight training, and I feel more solid and rooted in a stance. Overall, stength training is really helping my TKD.