bushido_man96

I'd say no, as a general rule. Too hard to fix later on. If the technique is that hard for beginners, then I'd say its best to wait to introduce it when they have the necessary knowedge and technique to train it safely.

I'll say that your grip strength hasn't suffered any, Bob. I've never seen anyone with a grip like that before. Very unnerving to be grabbed like that!

Sojobo, I don't disagree with your points there. But, if someone wants to stare at my foot to see if I pre-pivot, then I can use that to my advantage as well. A feinted pre-pivot would prove quite strategic in some senses. Also, if you are in a heavy self-defense situation, I don't think its as likely to be picked up on as a telegraph. In a match fight, its different, though. Also, the pre-pivot doesn't have to mean that the entire pivoting motion happens before the kick. On the side kick, it had in the past. But for the round kick and the front kick, it just starts the pivot motion and makes it less stressful on the knee to complete the pivot as the kick finishes. Its not for everyone. But as one gets older from decades of kicking, and starts to feel the stress on the knees, it might be a change that can add another decade or two to the MA career.

San Diego should have a plethora of schools and disciplines to choose from. I'm surprised to see you have such terrible luck in finding and maintaining a place to train. Perhaps by expanding your search, you may stumble onto something that is right up your alley.

Some clubs make you start at white belt again regardless. There are a lot of variables at play, so it just depends. Not every club will accept other club's certificates and rank.

I think you are on the right track. Throw in the idea that those who began it will begin to throw in their views on how life should be lived and other ideologies and personal philosophies, you'll get into the "traditional" ideas of the internal facets behind the art.

8/26/2011 Weekly stats: Weight: 254 lbs BF%: 30.9% BMI: 38.6 SL 5x5A Squats: warmup: 45x5x2, 135x5, 205x3, 225x2; work: 295x4,5,4,5,5 Bench press: warmup: 45x5x2, 135x5, 155x3, 175x2; work: 230x4,3,3,4,4 Barbell rows: warmup: 75x5x2, 95x3, 105x2; work: 145x4,2,4,3,2 Time to deload. Power clean: 155x5 Dips: 9,5,4 Stretch: standing quads, front/side kick bar stretches, seated knee hugs, toe touches, bis/tris. 8/29/2011 SL 5x5B Squats: warmup: 45x5x2, 135x5, 205x3, 225x2; work: 295x5x5 Overhead press: warmup: 45x5x2, 70x3, 90x2; work: 125x5x5 Dead lift: warmup: 135x5, 175x5, 210x5; work: 315x5 Assisted pull-ups: 11,10,10 Stretch: standing/kneeling quads, front/twist/side kick bar stretches, toe touches, seated knee hugs, tris/bis. 9/2/2011 Weekly stats: Weight: 256 lbs BF%: 31.6% BMI: 38.9 SL 5x5B Squats: warmup: 45x5x2, 135x5, 205x3, 225x2; work: 300x5x5 Overhead press: warmup: 45x5x2, 70x3, 90x2; work: 130x5x5 Dead lift: warmup: 135x5, 175x5, 210x5; work: 320x5 Assisted pull-ups: 11,10,10 Stretch: standing/kneeling quads, toe touches, seated knee hugs, back twists, front/twist/side kick bar stretches, chest/bis/tris. Hitting 300 lbs on squats was one of my lifting goals with the Stronglifts program. It was tough, but it felt great afterwards. The dead lift felt good, too.

Congrats!

Welcome to KF, Kevin!

Welcome to the Forums!

Not much, lately. Work and family take lots of my free time. But, when I get around to it, I'll do forms, hang the heavy bag and work it over, sometimes I'll lay on my side and do different kicks in varying sets, reps, and combos, punch using dumbells, and different things like that. One thing you can do is grab a chair, and use it for balance to do slow kicks, kick over the back, do dips and elevated pushups on it, and all kinds of stuff.

8/24/2011 SL 5x5B Squats: warmup: 45x5x2, 135x5, 205x3, 225x2; work: 290x5x5 Overhead press: warmup: 45x5x2, 70x3, 90x2; work: 120x5x5 Dead lift: warmup: 135x5, 175x5, 210x5; work: 310x5 Assisted pull-ups: 10, 10, 9 Stretch: standing quads, toe touches, front/side kick on the bar, seated knee hugs, bis/tris. Forms: Naifanchix3; Poe Eunx3 8/25/2011 Range: 1:00 - 3:00. Qualified on KS C-Post, and shot 45 out of 50. Not too bad for me, but the farther back I got, the more everything got slapped to the left. Have to work on that. I also got asked by the Undersheriff to put together a basic takedown and cuffing class for the department. Whoo-hoo!

I was in the ATA. I began my MA career in the ATA. I also remember failing a black belt testing because I didn't break a board. Not all ATA schools are created equal. There are those out there that are not very good, and I will not deny that the philosophies of the ATA are what cause it to produce some schools that are questionable in nature. I will say this, though; my time in the ATA wasn't "easy, breezy, Martial Arts time." I worked hard, and earned each rank I tested for. I wasn't the best out there, that's for sure. But I worked hard, and took it seriously. Yes, there are the flashy kicks that TKD is known for. The flashiest I ever got to really was a jump 360 side kick, which is nothing compared to what is seen at XMA competitions today. Yeah, I do spinning kicks from time to time as well. But, there is a science to throwing and landing a good spinning kick. I will not deny that the exclusion of hand strikes to the head in TKD competitions is detrimental to the Martial Artist. It is very much so. That's why it is important for instructors to address this in class training time so that students can become accustomed to blocking head shots.

I think starting Kung Fu would be a great idea. I'm sure with the input from a good instructor, you can figure out how to work around your flat feet, and have a great deal of success. But, it won't happen if you don't give it a try. Good luck!

I will do that, Bob. I also wanted to thank you for all the kind words you said in the post, and thank you for posting the picture. I learned a great deal from you, and Tuite was a great experience. I've always done the joint manipulation stuff with the "cooperative" uke, and you've shown me a way to approach it with more aliveness. I am greatful for that. And there is no question that there were times when I was made uncomfortable during Tuite, and it was very revealing when that happened. So much good stuff to take in. I've also been polishing up on Naifanchi kata, too. You're welcome, Jeffrey. I plan to have an 8x10 framed and hung at the house. Absolutely, MP, and sorry for taking so long to get back to this. My computer at home went on the fritz, and I had been pretty busy at work. I demonstrated this with the stepping side kick first, and then with the round kick. In the stepping side kick, you are taking the back foot, and stepping it either up to the front foot, or past, however you would do it based on your style or situation. The way I've done side kicks lately, is you step up/together/past the lead foot, then chamber, then pivot the foot and thrust the kick out at the same time. With a pre-pivot, you have the pivot completed when you finish the step-up motion. So, when doing a step together side kick, the base foot is pointed in the opposite direction already, and then the kick is thrown. Now, what we derived from this way of kicking is that it tends to take the hip drive out of the side kick to an extent, relying more on the power in the muscles of the leg and butt to power the kick. To alleviate some of that loss of hip drive, you could step up into a partial pivot, where the foot might be at more of like a 45 degree angle, and then drive the hips from there, but you still don't have to do the complete pivot motion. The goal behind the pre-pivot is to save the knees in the end. After years and years of pivoting on that knee, it can start to wear out. What I've also seen happen a lot in class, especially with beginners, is that instead of using the pivot to bring the kick around or drive the hips out, instead what happens is they focus on the kicking leg so much and end up "dragging" the pivot foot along with the kick. So, you get the pivot happening as a result of the kick motion, and not the other way around. And any time the knee of the base leg is playing catch-up to the kicking leg, you are looking at developing a potential knee injury. So, for a round kick like this, I teach the students to start the kick by opening up the base leg foot a little bit, then have them start the kicking motion, and make sure they pivot to generate the kick, not kick and then drag the pivot. I do this with front kicks, round kicks, and crescent kicks. My instructor does his front kicks with the base foot pointing straight forward, and I can't fathom how he does it that way. He has also had some knee surgeries done, too, so that might answer that question. Pretty windy answer, but let me know if I need to clarify further. I hope that demonstrates what I'm talking about.

Many did start out that way. But, many grew to find other goals and had philosophies of their own. Funakoshi's intentions probably didn't completely match those of Itosu or Azato. I disagree. The goal of internal peace doesn't have to be present. One could argue that Karate has many "essences," and those have been and will continue to be molded and shaped by those who hold them. Not everyone holds the same "essence." I will not discoun the usefulness of past wisdom, but, I will say that change isn't always a bad thing. Being ready when walking down a back alley is important, wouldn't you agree? What good does "internal peace and betterment" do you if you can't defend yourself when your life depends on it? Again, I would not say the "true" reasons are internal struggle and self-betterment, but they are some reasons. Everyone has a different reason for themselves. Also keep in mind that although many of Funakoshi's students disliked tournaments, they continued to organize and hold them. The early university teams of Shotokan were very much in competition with each other, and used the tournament layout for their inter-collegiate matches.

I agree with sensei8 on this one, for the most part. I don't worry about "what these circuits do to Karate." Its those who practice Karate that do whatever is done to it. The Japanese who came to lead Shotokan after Funakoshi started the whole tournament thing, and it has grown from there. Its really been a natural progression. I think competitions have their place, and I also believe that competition is not for everyone. For those who do it, I think it becomes a great facet of enjoyment and accomplishment. To compete on a national level like that is something I was never able to do, so I think its a great accomplishment for those who can.

What do you mean by "decades ago" exactly? Hi mate, I was speaking specifically for Kyokushin. I think that training was more raw and full-on back in the 60's to the 90's, now its not as hardcore as it used to be, and only those training for tournaments will really get the full effect of conditioning and kumite (sparring). Conversely, nowdays we have a number of years (Idaresay even hundreds, but in the last 20-30 years and especially with the advent of cross-training and MMA) of refinement of what works for present day and what does not. Even specific kicks have been refined (such as high roundhouses). Taking the best of both worlds would be my optimal change. Hard training, with the techniques and know-how of present day. Hope that makes sense..... Yes, this makes sense. Thanks for clarifying for me. That would be a blessing for any Korean style, I'd say. Unless they all read a copy of "A Killing Art" first. When I start to hear about the "5000 year history of TKD," I mentally just shut down and wait for the talking to stop.

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.