bushido_man96

The use of forms is going to depend on the style/organizations outlook on forms. When I was in the ATA, the forms had no applications in the sense of bunkai, but did have some relative combinations that were applicable as they were done in the forms, for things such as sparring. For example, and back leg round kick, reverse side kick combination is a logical movement sequence for sparring in the ATA. However, the main goal of the ATA forms is that of technique development and advancement. As one progresses in the ATA, one sees the degree of difficulty in the techniques progress with each new form. The ITF forms I've been doing for the last 7-8 years don't really lend themselves to the same kind of technique advancement as those I did with the ATA. However, there are some areas in each of the forms that have some value in the bunkai style of applications setting. This isn't a stretch, seeing as many of the ITF forms have move sets similar to those coming from forms in Shotokan Karate. In Aikido, we don't do any kind of form/kata work. We do basic movement exercises, and then do technique work and applications. So, although Mr. Fink's article does a pretty good job on explaining the purpose of forms, I will debate the fact with him that not all MA styles incorporate forms training (Boxing, Wrestling, Aikido, BJJ, etc). So when it really comes down to it, what you are going to get out of forms training is going to be based on why your style does forms, and how much your instructor(s) know and are able to pass on to you (as with most things you learn in the MAs). Once you've exhausted your instructor's knowledge on forms, then you can start looking in other dircetions on your own, to see what else is out there.

I'm a bit late to the discussion here, but oh well. I've received certificates for each colored and black belt rank that I've achieved. I think it has become commonplace now for organizations to do this. Yes, problems do pop up when crossing organizations. I've been a victim of that myself, going from one TKD org to another. I didn't let it bother me, though, because although they don't have to recognize rank, they will eventually come to recognize skill and knowledge levels. I think in the end, what matters is if one feels comfortable and confident in what they have learned and achieved. If they do, then I don't think the need to be "officially recognized" by another organization is all that important.

I'd say the styles are very different. So much more use of hand techniques, and the tuite of the style really opened my eyes to how that stuff can be applied in sparring, and in self-defense.

I second what these two guys have already mentioned. Relax and breath. Success is where preparation meets opportunity. If you feel confident in your preparation, then this opportunity should take care of itself. Welcome aboard and good luck! Keep us posted as to the results.

These are the lifts I do right now. Squats, bench press, barbell rows, overhead press, and dead lift, with power clean thrown in, and dips and assisted pull-ups as well.

8/19/2011 Weekly stats: Weight: 250 lbs BF%: 31.4% BMI: 38 SL 5x5B Squats: warmup: 45x5x2, 135x5, 205x3, 225x2; work: 285x5,5,5,3,5 Not sure what happened on that fourth set. Overhead press: warmup: 45x5x2, 70x3, 90x2; work: 135x4,4,4,3,3 Time to deload on OHP. Dead lift: warmup: 135x5, 175x5, 210x5; work: 305x5 Assisted pull-ups: 9,9,8 Stretch: standing quads, front and side kick bar stretch, toe touches, tris/bis. 8/20/2011 Training with sensei8: 10 am - 4:30 pm. Upper body basics, Naifanchi kata & bunkia, tuite in sparring, blitz and avoiding the blitz. 8/21/2011 Training with sensei8: 10 am - 2 pm. Basics, some kicking discussions, one-step work with both styles, tuite series, kaki drills. For a more detailed account of our training time together, check out this thread: Shindokan and TKD get together! 8/22/2011 SL 5x5A Squats: warmup: 45x5x2, 135x5, 205x3, 225x2; work: 285x5x5 Nailed it this time. Also got a compliment for good form from another guy at the gym. Bench press: warmup: 45x5x2, 135x5, 155x3, 175x2; work: 225x5x5 Barbell rows: warmup: 75x5x2, 95x3, 105x2; work: 145x4,4,4,4,3 Power clean: 150x5 Dips: 7,6,6 Stretch: standing quads, front/side kick bar stretch, toe touches, seated knee hugs, kneeling quads, tris/bis.

Welcome to the Forums, Dwayne! I love the Medieval weaponry experience you've got there. Where did you get your training in them? I study it quite a bit, but mainly through reading, so I look forward to anything you have to offer on the subject.

Did you try to Google it? Might be able to find results there.

I don't worry about it too much. There isn't much point trying to change the minds of those who won't listen to you as it is. The main thing a TKD stylist can do is focus on his/her training, and being honest to oneself about what you are doing, and what your goals are. Those who train practically and effectively will be seen that way, and those who choose to go other routes, will probably continue to receive this kind of rhetoric.

It sounds like you are going to have a fun time working some of those ideas into your training. Its cool to take and modify and fit things together like that. Like a puzzle.

I'd say if the adjustments are still sound in nature, then it would be ok. But like ps1 mentions, if the throw is done "poorly," then it would probably be better just to wait and introduce it when the students have the skill to execute it and land properly. But, I'm no Judo guy, and like mentioned before, it may be wiser in this case to defer to your isntructor's experience.

On 8/20/2011 and 8/21/2011, sensei8 and I were able to meet and work out together, exchanging ideas, techniques, and training methods. We had a really good time, and I know I learned a lot in the process. On day one, I demonstrated some of our basic techniques that are part of our regular TKD classes, and how we generate power and move in general during class. Our stances, especially the front stances, are a bit longer than what Bob's stances were. The prep positions on some of the hand techniques we do in TKD were also longer. Bob's style was more compact, which I liked. After some exchange with basic hand techniques, I learned my first Karate kata with Bob showing me Naifanchi (or is it Naihanchi?) kata. I also showed Bob our Poe Eun hyung, which is similar to Naifanchi in that it is done in a "back to the wall" sort of way. Bob showed me several other kata, but Naifanchi we spent more time on. We then moved on to doing some of the bunkai applications from this kata, which was an interesting experience for me. I know I was having some trouble catching on, and Bob was very patient with me here. Bob also showed me how some of the tuite worked in sparring, along with the blitz, and avoiding a blitz. On day two, we started off with some Shindokan basics, and then did some TKD kicking basics. Discussion of working around physical limitations came up when discussing kicking, and we had a good exchange on what I call a "pre-pivot" set up when doing various kicks, which was a really good exchange on the pros and cons of each. I then showed Bob some of our white and orange belt TKD one-steps, and how I transition them into self-defense based scenarios. From here, Bob showed me some of how the Shindokan one-step process works, and we did some blocking drills with what I called "heavy hands" that Bob showed, and then worked into some tuite series, attempting a lock, countering, getting countered again, and so on. Really good stuff. Day 2 finished up by doing some kaki (pushing hands type) drills, and Bob really helped me along here in gaining an idea of how to use foot sweeps in facilitating some joint manipulations in different aspects. These two days were a great exchange of information, and its cool that on-line forums are what allowed Bob and I to get together to do some training and talk one-on-one about the different aspects of the Martial Arts that our styles bring us. I think I was the big winner here, though, because Bob was able to teach me soooo much more than I was able to teach him, with him having so much more experience than me, but I hope that I was able to impart some knowledge that will be as beneficial to Bob as his was to me. Overall, we had a great mini-seminar training session, and we have KarateForums.com (and BlackBeltMag.com, as we met there first), to thank for this meeting taking place.

I didn't like doing the kick that way when I first started, either. But, after doing it for a while, I find that I can really engage my hips along with the pivot to get good power out into the kick. I'm doing a thrusting kick, as opposed to a snapping side kick (which I've never really done, anyway). Maybe that will help you out some.

The Little Black Book of Violence by Lawrence A. Kane and Kris Wilder. I just finished this book, and really enjoyed what I got out of it. Its geared toward expanding upon the nature of violence that most people don't think about before engaging; things like when you cross the line from self-defense into assault, and the likelyhood of going to jail after an altercation is broken up by the police; coming to the realization that you are or are not willing to take a life if need be; and dealing with the legal ramifications you may face after a physical confrontation, just to name a few. The book is broken up into three sections. The first is titled "Before Violence Occurs," and covers things such as awareness for avoiding places that are bad news, both obvious (like a rough bar) or the not-so-obvious (like parking garages, and other places where other people aren't likely to be around in big numbers). Also covered are the chest beating escalato game played by those wanting to egg on a fight, how to use words to aid in your defense (especially in developing witnesses), and surviving "the victim interview," just to name a few things. The second section is titled "During a Violent Encounter." This section is focused on the nitty-gritty. Talk has failed, or you have been outrigt attacked, and its go-time. Topics such as trying to stay out of jail, understanding how much force is the proper amount of force to use, defending against women (geared towards the men here), and realizing that you will get hurt in a fight, along with how the adrenal dump affects your stress level and motor skills during a confrontation. The third section is probably the most valuable section, and I say that because it is the part of a confrontation that is very rarely dealt with by many instructors, the "Aftermath of Violence." Knowing how to apply first aid (and applying it to your opponent if it is safe to do so), handling blows to your self-esteem (especially if you view yourself as a 'fighter' and end up on the losing end), dealing with psychological trauma and seeking help with things such as PTSD, understanding critical incident amnesia, seeking legal advise, and how to deal with the press if it becomes a factor. Kane and Wilder have done a very good job of putting together a book that isn't necessarily geared toward the Martial Artist in general, but to young men who see violence glorified in the press and in movies and think they know what violence is about. It may seem cliche to say that "every young man should read this book," but it really does have a lot of valuable information in it, and it brings to bear the reality of being involved in a violent encounter.

How about learning to fight to learn how not to fight.

What do you mean by "decades ago" exactly? I would change the way our one-step process is done, and make it more of a progression into self-defense based scenarios. I would probably change sparring to allow hand techniques to the head, and get rid of the chest protectors. I would also add the Combat Hapkido curriculum to supplement the one-steps.

Its great you are having such a good time with your training. I've always thought Judo would be fun to learn. I have a few books on the subject, and enjoyed reading them, and learned a few things. Hard to figure some of that stuff out without an instructor, so I just keep them for references or ideas I want to read up on. It would be a good time, learning how to throw like that.

Congrats!

I would like to read this book, too. There are also some words in the book by Marc "Animal" MacYoung that leads me to believe his works would be worth looking into as well.

We wait another testing cycle. Also, if a student fails a testing, they are not required to pay the testing fees for the next testing. So its not just a money scam off gradings.

I think that is fine, but it just depends on the outlooks and philosophies behind each different school and teacher. I like to get paid, but if I don't, and I still get asked to help out at class, I do it.

What do you mean by lift for "power"? My goal is to build power and overall strength when I lift weights. I do 5 sets of 5 reps of for the core exercises in my routine. Its the Stronglifts system. I don't care about being able to see a six pack or looking like a model. I want to be strong.

Well, that seals it. I'm packing up the family and moving to train at your school! I love that movie! Should be required viewing in my mind. 8/12/2011 Weekly stats Weight: 254 lbs BF%: 30.8% BMI: 38.6 SL 5x5A Squats: warmup: 45x5x2, 135x5, 205x4, 225x2; work: 275x5x5 Bench press: warmup: 45x5x2, 135x5, 155x3, 175x2; work: 220x5x5 Barbell rows: warmup: 75x5x2, 95x3, 105x2; work: 145x4x5 Power clean: 145x5 Dips: 8,7,6 Stretch: standing and kneeling quads, front/side kick bar stretch, triceps. 8/15/2011 Aikido: 9 - 10 am Stretch: back while kneeling, seated straddle left and right, butterfly. Exercises: worked on tenkan again, doing sensitivity exercises, then into a transition to sankyo lock, to a throw. Also did some extension exercises. SL 5x5B Squats: warmup: 45x5x2, 135x5, 205x3, 225x2; work: 280x5x5 Overhead press: warmup: 45x5x2, 35x3, 85x2; work: 135x3,3,2,2,2 Dead lift: warmup: 135x5, 175x5, 210x5; work: 300x5 Assisted pull-ups: 9,8,7 Stretch: standing quads, front/side kick bar stretches, toe touches, triceps.

There's good reason why not a lot of Chung Do Kwan is out there. When Choi basically absorbed the other Kwans into his KTA (later ITF), they all kind of faded. Some guys stayed true to what they did, but I'd say that's the reason you don't see much "true" Chung Do Kwan any more.

ATA requires breaking at the brown and red belt levels, the two before black. An instructor of mine incorporated breaking at the purple and blue levels, the two belts before brown. In my current school, white belts do combinations at testing. All ranks above do at least one round of free sparring along with other curriculum. The tests usually covers forms, one-steps, sparring, and board breaks for the higher ranks. It really isn't some monster test of physical duress or anything like that.