bushido_man96

We have 18 forms in our system. 10 are for the colored belt ranks. 1st through 3rd dan have two form requirements each, then 4th through 7th have only 1 each.

I like how you approach this. I don't think its a bad idea at all. If it were me training with you, though, I'd probably ask your opinion of what level you think I should grade for, as opposed to trying to figure it out myself. I say that because I think it would be tough to take the level of what I've achieved in my current style of training and then try to meld it with whatever level it would equate to in a different style. So I'd just ask for a recommendation. I understand the point tallgeese is making here, and I agree with what he is saying, as well. This is an arguement that can go either way, and I think that many students spend parts of their MA lives on both sides of the fence. In the beginning, students get excited about the opportunity to grade up, and earn that new belt. Its motivational, and it should be; that's part of the reason the belt system was created. Its also good for setting out requirements for each level of a student's learning. As most students go along in their MA lives, they learn that the belt isn't as important as what it is they have learned, and the experiences that come along with it. Now, with all this said, how many of us are going to go to our training schools this week, and not wear our belts? How many of us are going to go to our teachers, or Soke's, or HQ, and tell them we choose to no longer wear our belts, because the rank doesn't matter; the knowledge and experience does? And after that, how many of us are going to try to convince our superiors in rank in our schools or organizations to do the same? And how many are likely to go for it? I'm willing to bet not many. So, even though rank isn't important, it is important.

I appreciate this! Thank you!

I'm not a big sine wave supporter, Bob. I have never trained to use it, and I don't particularly enjoy watching it when I search for forms on youtube. I understand some of the arguements for it, but I don't do it, or try to do it.

If In Ho Lee was in his late 40's when I started TKD around 16 years ago, then I'd say he's close to his 60's then, but this is just a guess. Oriental folks tend to age better, it seems. The ATA forms tend to be more about flow and technical precision. I see a lot of them any more that just don't seem to have that "pop" to the dobok that we used to try to get all the time when I was in the ATA.

Thanks for sharing this, tallgeese. I will be taking a look at it, and likely printing it off, if you don't mind.

Great post, ShoriKid; great responses to sensei8's questions. I think what Bob may have been getting at in his re-evaluation stance, is what is one doing to cause themselves to be placed in a situation like that. Its true that there are times when they just happen to you, but if they happen a lot, then it is likely due to either bad decision making, or through the profession one has chosen.

I had the privilege of attending one of his seminars in Texas. It was amazing. Now that would be a fun time! Learn a lot? I agree, and this is why I don't throw a lot of them in sparring. My instructor was a big front leg side kicker when he competed, and is big on them in sparring, too. I'm short, stocky, with wide hips and stumpy legs, so a side kick setup is really tough, unless I'm standing side-on, which I don't. So, I'm more of a round kicker and front kicker. I like to punch, as well.

I would utilize low line round kicks, to the upper legs especially, and to the knees, for self-defense for sure. Most of the time, if you are in a pretty decent athletic stance, a low round kick is pretty easy to throw.

Welcome to KF, decker! I think the attitude you are taking towards your training goals is fantastic. Don't be surprised that you can't still hit that black belt, though. With your attitude, I'd be willing to bet it happens eventually.

Welcome to the Forums! Since you mentioned you left Tang Soo Do, and started Karate, do you still work on some of your TSD stuff, or have you left it behind for Karate completey?

Welcome to the Forums!

Welcome to KF.

Thanks, yamesu. I'm hoping so, too.A little update; my son has now had his first setback due to injury. He actually ended up with a fractured humerous a few weeks ago, and he had to get a cast put on. The good news is it should be off by next week, according to the ortho doc, and we'll be back to practice as soon as he is all healed up. He was bummed about it, but in the long run, this can be a good learning experience in perserverance.

Time to play catch-up again: 12/29/2011 Kicks on clapper pad: front and back leg rounds, rev/spinning hook kicks; around 5 reps of each, on each leg. Kicks in the air: side kicks and back kicks, using the wall for support, no set down between kicks, focusing on lock-out. A few sets of 5 each leg, each kick. 12/30/2011 Max Out Squat: warmup: 45x5, 135x5, 205x3, 225x2; work: 315x1, 325x1. I'm good with that, considering the work I've done on form this year. Overhead press: warmup: 45x5, 95x5, 115x3; work: 135x1, 145x1, 155x1, 165x1, 170x1. Felt good about 170 lbs, but after having my form reviewed, it was really a less than stellar performance. I'll go with it as a max effort, but am going to deload and work on form, to get it right. Some good news from my instructor: he is planning on doing some morning classes after the new year, a few times a week. This will be great for me, as my days off always change, as well as my shift. The classes will be around 5 people, but it will still be good to work out in a class room setting. Pretty excited about this; I just hope it sticks. 1/2/2012 Deffley A Squat: warmup: 45x5, 135x5, 205x3, 225x2; work: 265x3x5 Bench press: warmup: 45x5, 135x5, 155x3, 185x2; work: 230x3x5 Barbell rows: warmup: 95x5, 115x3, 135x2; work: 165x3x5 Stretch: standing/kneeling quads, toe touches.

I agree with tallgeese. As long as you take good care in your practice, it should be fine. I can't think of any reason why one couldn't practice Wrestling for as long as many others practice Eastern styles.

But action is always faster than reaction. That's what I don't like, even if I know how to counter a punch and use their momentum against them. Its hard to know what they might do.

Suplex is awesome. Best, throw, ever. I love a good suplex.

If your life is in jeapordy, then you should do what needs to be done to defend it. If you can run away, then great. If you have to fight, then you have to take what is presented in the chaos of combat. I see many responses like, "I'd break something." But these responses leave out the fact that the other guy is thinking something, too.

in a scale of 1-10 how hard woud it be for someone to give a head kick in the respective catagories -decent martial artist -good martial artist with very respectable kicks - extremely good athlete,lets say a bb in tkd(no mcdojo) very solid fighter, and i am not having ideiasIt appears here you are trying again to quantify something that can't really be quantified. You are also adding in so many variables between skill sets and athletic ability that makes it even harder to establish a base line. I guess one thing you could do is watch a myriad of fight footage, both street fights and professional fights of varying levels, and then do a statistical analysis of the kicks thrown, landed, and that cause knockouts. You could also figure the percentage of total techniques that kicks thrown are (depending on if you count knee strikes as kicks will affect the stats). What's important is training for the proper strategies and tactics, and fitting the proper techiques to them when necessary.

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but it sounds to me like you are trying to attach a "level" to someone in the same vein that role-playing games might do to characters. It really isn't the same thing, and it becomes tough to really quantify a "skill level," in my opinion. Skill level can be high, but experience can be low, and vice versa, so it really can get tough to try to quantify things like this.

Western stylistic tend to fizzled with age because they stop training as much, mainly because they stop competing. You see old man "eastern" stylists whoop on younger stylists because they aren't usually pro level athletes. You don't see 50 year old Boxers competing because the pro game is a younger man's sport. There are some fellows that train western styles forever, but most don't because their competition careers are over.

I'm not sold on it, but those strikes look real. I'm with MP, though; not my cup of tea. I've seen this before, where a professional NFL punter kicked one of the guys in the groin. Ouch.

I agree that its hard to quantify confidence. Someone can train and compete all their lives, but not have confidence in the chaotic environment of a street fight. Some people may not train in MA at all, and have great confidence in a fight. Everyone is different.

Congratulations!