bushido_man96

Let me guess, he hadn't been kind enough to teach you the combo breaker yet, had he?

Well, you never know what can happen. Maybe in time, you will accomplish that goal. Never say never!

Well, you've got to have one of those guys around you to tee off on every now and then, right Bob?

Thanks, ps1. Patrick, you are welcome.

Yeah, that is true. But like I mentioned, having one can only be a boon to your school, as long as it is professional.

Missed a week in the gym due to family concerns, so when I got back, I backed off on some of my weights. Little sore after working out. 8/1/2011 SL 5x5B Squats: warmup: 45x5x2, 135x5, 205x3, 225x2; work: 250x5x5 Overhead press: warmup: 45x5x2, 65x3, 85x2; work: 125x5x5 Dead lift: warmup: 135x5, 175x5, 210x5; work: 275x5 TKD: 6-7pm Basics: tired out through these Forms: 3 forms, including Yoo Sin. I actually ended exactly where I began for the first time I can really recall. One-steps: blue/brown belt one-steps. Sparring: Instructor allowed me to spar without pads tonight, and it made a world of difference! I can move so much better without that damn chest protector (hogu). Stretch: light stretch, seated straddle, left and right, and stretched hip flexors on the floor, sitting in seiza position. 8/2/2011 Stretch: seated straddle and butterfly.

I agree, thacker, and most times, if you strike to the head with your hands, you should try to do so with open-hand techniques, as opposed to the fist, unless you are really good at it. You likely won't have a cup on for groin protection either. Or be wearing a loose fitting gi to move in. I don't think training without gloves is a bad thing necessarily, but I do think you should protect your body as much as possible in training so that you can keep training for long periods of time.

Welcome to KF, Tim!

Welcome back to the Forums! Don't worry about going to a school and looking like a newbie; we all started that way!

Cool, I didn't know that. Also reading your post above, I do think that word of mouth is one of the most solid forms of advertising one can get. If satisfied customers are talking about you to other potential customers, it can travel fast. In the end, you are more likely to end up with those who are really dedicated, and williing to stick it out for a long time. When I think back to starting the Martial Arts, other than learning with my dad years ago, I got back in when a friend of mine invited me to the local TKD club.

This is a good arguement for "not a Martial Art," as it relates in opposition to the point JusticeZero had earlier. There has really been some good discussion on this topic, with lots of valid points made for either side. Excellent discussion, everyone!

I had a lot of great times in my first TKD school. My instructor from that time is still a person I consider a good friend. I don't feel I am as close to my current instructor, but I don't feel that this experience has been any less than my previous one. I guess I would have to say that some of my best experiences have been in training with my friend here, who is also a city police officer, just doing Combat Hapkido and Defensive Tactics together, 1 on 1. We have lots of good, open-ended conversations about technique, strategy, class ideas, and have also folded each other up into lots of fun positions while we were at it.

I think this has become more the norm now than the challenges of the past. There was a time when those things could be done, but now, most cities have an ordinance in place for those types of things, and who wants to get arrested because they don't like the fact that another MA gym has moved into their demographic area?

Again, Kudan and Judan have NO tests whatsover in Shindokan!! Yeah, talk about wanting to run away and hide...

I voted no, but, this quote by JusticeZero.... This gives me pause. You make some very valid points that are very serious concerns when it comes to self-defense. In the end, survival is the key, and running away is a good way to survive an encounter, especially if you can out-run and out-maneuver your attackers. A very convincing arguement, JusticeZero.

I do think having a well designed website can be beneficial to any school. However, I don't think that if a school doesn't have a website, that it isn't worth checking out. Bad schools come from all over the place. So do good ones. The internet, or the yellow pages, does not discriminate; they advertise for whoever is willing to pay for it. I think in time most people will realize that today's internet is yesterday's yellow pages. Its the place to find info. Granted, its not always accurate, but yellow page discriptions are less than informative, save an address and phone number. Whether a school has a website or not, its worthwhile to check out all schools nearby in person before signing up for one, in my opinion.

Books can strike people in different ways. Perhaps the Prince struck home in some different manner? I think everyone likes to put The Tao of Jeet Kune Do, The Book of Five Rings, and The Art of War as the the top 3 most of the time, due to the stature of those who wrote them. However, there is a lot more to learn from and read out there.

I have a few. I took a reverse side kick to the chest from an instructor once; I thought he was throwing a spin hook kick. The same instructor in a DT demo shin kicked me in the common peroneal, through a kick shield, and dropped me, and he also knocked me stupid momentarily with a brachial stun. Sparring with my "little" brother (5'10", 300+ lbs), I got thrown across a room. Good times!

Congratulations Liver Punch!

Wow! I don't know what to say or where to start! First of all, I would like to thank you, Patrick, for giving me this opportunity. I didn't realize then where it would lead, and KF has become a big part of who I am. Thank you, Patrick. I also want to express mu gratitude to all of the staff members I work with now and worked with in the past. You are a blast to work with! To Bob; thank you for those kind words. They mean more than yo know. And last but not least, I thank all of the great members of KF for all of their great contributions. Without you, I wouldn't have near as much to say. Thank you all!

Love the Glock!

That sounds like you had a good testing, then. Yeah, even though one group was a tad down, it sounds like they got what they had coming, and I don't blame you or your instructors a bit. Its important to step up to the plate and bring your A game to a testing, even if you're not feeling it that day.

That's good advise. Keep up your practice, be confident in what you know, and manage the butterflies as best you can. Good luck!

The only qualification an instructor needs, is to be good at instructing. Moral character and all that helps, too, but I can deal with a jerk if he can make me better.

That sounds like you've got a great trip planned out! Have fun with it, and give us a good article or something on it when you return!