bushido_man96

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.

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?