bushido_man96

I'm with you here. I'm not nimble and quick, nor am I as flexible as I used to be. I'm also built rather inadequately for the TKD "standard;" I'm 5'8" and around 255 lbs. That doesn't tend to lend itself to flying kicks and fast footwork. I do, however, like to punch, and to get close to the guys I spar. However, we don't punch to the head, which gives a false comfort zone when in close like that. I rather enjoy working Boxing combinations on the heavy bag, and not just kicks. Kudos to you DWx for stepping out of the zone of TKD and into Boxing for a bit of cross-training. Very cool, and sounds like it would have been a blast.

I think the bunkai training allows one to react on instinct. In just kata training, there is no stimuli to react to, so you are just building movement skills.

I feel this way from time to time with the ITF forms I do now. I do enjoy practicing the techniques, and trying to really make a form come together with power and speed. I also liked competing in forms. The ATA forms are geared towards technique advancement, even at the higher black belt levels. In the colored belt ranks, you can see a clear progression in the kicking techniques and hand strikes that are learned at each level. Even the black belt levels have advanced kicking combinations and jumping techniques and combinations. No bunkai, per se, but still learning how to move the body and put techniques together in different combinations.

Thanks for the added info on Oyama and Choi, Kuma. Thanks for the last post as well, breaking down differences between the knockdown rule set and the Olympic style of TKD.

tallgeese has good advise. By making yourself train only 2 days a week, you will feel more of a drive to get back to that next session, and you won't be as likely to burn yourself out. Also, I'd say don't hesitate to get right back into your club. Don't worry about "polishing up" before going back; that's what the teacher's job is to do, polish you up. Go back right away, and get your schedule going to build that habit of training.

One of our second dan forms, Poe Eun, is like this. It isn't a very long form, and it all goes in one line, from side to side. All back stances, sitting stances, and a few cross-leg stances.

Enjoy your training! Keep us posted as to how it goes.

Keep the faith. Stay strong. Don't focus on the fact that you can't do Karate now; instead, focus on the strength that Karate gave you, and use your will and desire to do Karate again to motivate you to get through this. These are the situations that build your perserverance. You WILL get through this. Think positive, and stay the course.

Styles vary, so check with your instructor to find out what kind of testing cycles you have, and if there are certain time requirements for each rank.

In my opinion, yes, it is. The long term effects of that sort of conditioning, such as severe arthritis, makes it dangerous, and there are no applications in the real world for it. Light conditioning, such as a makiwara or bag training is OK...I do that, but to this extent...no. I'm with Montana on this one. Great for him, but I don't think so great for me. Not everyone's body is going to react to that kind of training the same way, and I don't wish to aggravate my bones and joints that much.

Can I sell you mine? It's only slightly used. How much? We've been addressing here that the taller person, Bob, is getting the advantage. Now, what if Brian weighs 255 pounds, and Bob only weighs 210 pounds. How much does this change things up?

I'm not sure how Judo is less violent. Thowing someone into the concrete on their head sounds pretty violent to me. Actually, claiming that any Martial Art is not violent is kind of counter-intuitive, don't you think?

I appreciate your attempt here, but could you translate to some English for me? My Japanese isn't quite that extensive. Thank you! Extremely sorry Bushido - I tend to fall into the trap of thinking that most people know what Im on about. No problem! Thanks for the explanations here. I can't view these right now, but it sounds like our back stance. We do some kicking from a one leg stance, but not much, in forms. I hear what you are saying with the pivot and then forcing the hips out. Thanks for the explanation here.

Absolutely makes sense, brickshooter. As seen from the previous posts, there really isn't any clear connection as to which style uses which, because most of us have stated we do it stepping behind as it is.In the end, I think what you show here is that how someone perceives a technique as being "right" depends on how they are taught the technique, and in what context the technique is taught. Like your sparring stance example. And in my example, we do it differently in basics than in sparring.

I actually have a Combat Hapkido DVD titled Combat Throws, and it is a collaboration of Pelligrini and an Aikido instructor that modified some throws to be used without grabbing garments first. Like gi and no-gi grappling, good to know how to both, I think.

I didn't see the fight, but why be a sad day for Judo? A bad day for one man shouldn't be proclaimed a bad day for the Art, I don't think. Besides, isn't he getting up there in age, too? I don't recall, but I remember hearing his name a while back...and I've been out of the MMA loop for a while.

This is possibly the greatest oxymoron of them all, isn't it?

All joking aside, I think the ideas here from tallgeese and Master Pain would be the best. Bruce Lee spoke and wrote about a lot of things, and although he was highly skilled, I don't think he dabbled much in the ground fighting aspect of things. I know he had some ties with Judo Gene LeBell, but I'm not sure how much actual ground fighting training he had. He never spoke much of it, if he did, and he spoke a lot more about his Wing Chun experience, and Boxing and Fencing research. Groin Strike's ideas about the car, chairs, and fire are good ones, too...

I'd use a gun. From about 30 feet away, and three loaded magazines....

This is a very creative way of approaching these mechanics. Very nice, and it makes pretty good sense, too. Most people when they kick or throw things, they do use that weight transfer automatically (whether that's natural, or through time spent performing the motions). Its a great visual aide to give them for learning the new movements of punching and kicking. Great idea, brickshooter! Thanks for sharing that. I had never thought of it this way, Bob, but when I think about the techniques performed in my mind, I see what you are saying, and agree. The crash/subside of the wave is a great analogy.

Welcome to the Forums, Solipsil!

Welcome aboard, Andy! Where were your articles published at? It would be cool to check them out.

The Judo class sounds like a good time. Keep us posted on how your training goes.

Welcome to KF, Steve! That looks like a nice product you have there.

Thanks, SaiFightsMS. I hope to serve another 5, as well, at least...