bushido_man96

I agree with your assessment here. I think that doing paired work on the applications is a much more productive use of class time than spending it on solo forms practice. I would love to do more things like this, aside from our one-step sparring that we do. Given a chance, it should evolve and become more interactive as time goes on and experience grows.

You mentioned counter-puncher; how about counter-kicker? You could also require a staple move for anytime a combination is thrown; like a hook punch, or a hook kick, for example. As for the grappling part of it, you assign different "missions" for the fighters. For instance, one draws a card that says they can only win with a choke from side mount (however practical this is; I'm not a grappler...yet), or one can only win after sweeping his opponent. Things like that to make them focus on different moves and setups, particularly ones they are uncomfortable with.

I'd call that a bait. I guess by giving them an opportunity, you still remain the one being attacked; although a foolish idea, I think. Anybody can get lucky, and I know my luck is terrible as it is, so I wouldn't try anything like that. I'm not saying you would either, but I see what you are getting at here, as well.

Actually, studies have shown that muscles help to insulate the body better from damage. So, having big muscles helps with being "tough." That's probably a big part of why most of the professional fighters out there are well muscled guys. I beg to differ on this as well. Being bigger and stronger than your opponent is a significant attribute in fighting and self-defense; that's why they created weight classes in professional combat sports. Its also the reason why in justifying a use of force, the size of the attacker can be brought into play in order to justify a higher degree of force in escaping an attack. I'm not saying you are wrong in that experience isn't valuable; it very much is. What I am saying is that you can't discount someone's size and strength as an advantage to them, either. You should also never assume that your attacker doesn't know anything about fighting. Underestimating your enemy is a good way to get thumped, too.

The data presented is what it is. Since most of us have enough control to not go out and start fights with anyone, its going to be little more than conjecture as to how things would change when a trained MAist is attacked. I think Liver Punch makes good points here, too; if you are a trained ground fighter, don't let the stats from a fight study dictate whether or not you take someone to the ground in a fight or not. I haven't read enough of the study here, but I wonder if these fights are "picked" fights, where the two combatants started off in a mouthing off contest, followed with posturing, and then came to blows, or if they were "jumped" by someone not paying attention; a surprise attack. This information could change the dynamics of the study completely.

Our colored belt system has a "recommended" and "decided" grading subsystem. Basically, the "decided" is like getting a + on your grade, like the difference between an A and an A+. I don't mind it at all. Everyone has different abilities, and everyone can't be judged the same. There are also varying degrees of being good. Some people are very sound technicians, and their bodies are built so that every kick and technique they do looks so tight and awesome. My instructor is tall and lean, and he has very tightly chambered kicks, and has good power all around. I'm rather hefty, and am quite a bit shorter. Being stockier, I don't develop the same tightness to the chambers of my kicks, so I can't compare my technique to his very well; to me, his will always look better. But, then there are some people who might be more powerful with their hand techniques, or better at sparring, or have had multiple chances to defend themselves, and have excelled in those areas. So, I think there are varying things that MAists can be good at, and still be different enough that you can't pick out at first sight why one is a certain rank and another is higher or lower.

7/15/2011 SL 5x5B Squats: warmup: 45x5x2, 135x5, 205x3, 225x2; work: 240x5x5 Overhead press: warmup: 45x5x2, 65x3, 85x2; work: 120x5x5 Dead lift: warmup: 135x5, 175x5, 210x5; work: 295x5 With the deload on squats, I really focused on my technique, especially hip drive. Dead lift felt really good. End of week stats: Weight: 255 lbs BF: 30.5% BMI: 38.8

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The study was focusing on the assumption of unskilled fighters, so in that context, it's not a terrible sample. I would still significantly prefer something else, but it is acceptable for a non-academic study. I'd also say that for control purposes, MMA fights would probably work. I think that MMA fights would not be as good as a control group, because you have a more select sample you are picking from. Its also a different environment than "non-consesnual" combat takes place in. Therefore, I don't think it would accurately reflect what happens in "non-consensual" combat.

I agree with you here; every MAist must do what they feel is best for them. However, the fact of the matter is that when a fight happens, try as one might to control all aspects of a fight, there are variables in fights that arise that may be out of our control. Hence, more people end up on the ground than they might plan.

I'd like to sit down and ask them what it is they don't like about the school. See if anything positive can come out of it. If not, then expulsion would be the alternative. My question would be if they are badmouthing me, my abilities, the training, or just talking about things they'd rather be learning. Those are the thigns I would want to figure out.

That's great, LiverPunch! From reading what you post in The Martial Artists' Training Log, I'd sign up for you classes if I was there. I'm sure you'll be great. Keep us posted as to how it all goes. Did you get promoted at work? Congrats there too!

This is absolutely correct. As for practicing outside of the dojo, I used to practice in the gym, my home, the park..whereever I had a little room to move. Having a place to practice should not be a problem. Motivation to practice can be, but that's entirely up to you and nobody is going to force you to take the time and energy to practice outside of class except for you. That's the decision you need to make. I agree with Montana here. I'm a bit confused though; are you actually able to get to the dojo? If so, then go, whether or not the classes are huge or not. Just pay attention, and try as hard as you can. If you're that worried about screwing something up at home, just use that time to practice what you already feel you have a good handle on. Use it as review time, not learn new stuff time. You've asked a bunch of questions to try help you get confident and motivated, and that is great, but in the end, its your decision alone. We can't motivate you, take the class for you, or learn for you. That has to come from within. I'm a short, heavy-set guy. I'm 5'7" or 5'8", and weigh about 255 lbs. I've always been short, and kind of heavy. TKD is not easy for me. But I do it. I love it. I want to show others what a short, stumpy guy is capable of. If someone wants to doubt me, then that's just bonus motivation for me. Get out there and just do it!

Welcome to KF, LittleW!

Along with the cardio, make sure you inputs are less than your outputs. Check how many calories your taking in, and make sure you burn more off than you take in. If you can't increase your amount of workouts, then you need to decrease your caloric intake a bit more to facilitate losing more weight.

Do you have access to go to a gym to lift weights? If so, a few programs you can look into are Starting Strength and Stronglifts.com. I use the Stronglifts program, and I love it so far. If you don't have access to a gym, then I'd suggest buying a jump rope, and doing something like a Rocky workout, doing running, skipping rope, use a pull-up bar, and push-ups and ab work.

7/11/2011 evening TKD class: Basics, stretch, form, one-steps, sparring. The form came together a bit better this night, and I didn't lose my balance too much. The instructor told me I tend to "hang" after rechambering a kick, not getting the leg back to the ground very quickly. Will have to work on that. Sparring went ok, and I did kick a guy around 6' tall in the head three times. I've also worked with my 5 year old intermittenly on some TKD stuff, but not so much on things like stances, forms, and techniques, but more along the lines of getting off-line from an attack, working an angle to get to the back, attacking, and then moving away. When his attention span permits... 7/13/2011 SL 5x5A Squats: warmup: 45x5x2, 135x5, 205x3, 225x2; work: 270x5,5,5,5,4 (almost got it) Bench press: warmup: 45x5x2, 135x5, 155x3, 175x2; work: 200x5x5 Barbell rows: warmup: 75x5x2, 95x3, 105x2; work: 140x5x5 Power clean: 115x5 Since I have stalled 3 times on the squat weight, its time to deload 10%, and then work my way back up from there. I felt stronger with the squats today, but the spotter I had seemed to be assisting just a bit, so I'm going with the deload.

I think I've seen that somewhere before. It appears that in the case of a takedown, where both go to the ground, the results appear somewhat murky, but it seems to me to imply that if you take someone down, with say a Wrestler's takedown, then ideally they land first, so you have a better chance of winning. Makes sense to me. Even with this in mind, its important to note that having a good ground game or takedown game will help to defeat the chance for someone else to take you down, thus raising your chance of being the victor.

7/3/2011 Tried to stretch out the hip flexors a bit. The right one is really tight. 7/4/2011 SL 5x5A Squats: warmup: 45x5x2, 135x5, 185x3, 205x2; work: 260x5x5 Bench press: warmup: 45x5x2, 115x3, 135x2; work: 190x5x5 Barbell rows: warmup: 65x5x2, 95x3, 105x2; work: 130x5x5 Power clean: work: 95x5; had good pop this time. 7/6/2011 SL 5x5B Squats: warmup: 45x5x2, 135x5, 185x3, 205x2; work: 265x5x5 Overhead press: warmup: 45x5x2, 65x3, 85x2; work: 110x5x5 Dead lift: warmup: 135x5, 175x5, 210x5; work: 275x5 7/7/2011 Stretch: seated straddle left and right, butterfly, glutes, reverse hurdler, hip flexors. 7/8/2011 Weighed in today Weight: 254 lbs Body fat: 30.8% BMI: 38.6 SL 5x5A Squats: warmup: 45x5x2, 135x5, 185x3, 210x2; work: 270x5,5,4,4,4 - first stall out on squats. Bench press: warmup: 45x5x2, 135x3, 155x2; work: 195x5x5 Barbell rows: warmup: 65x5x2, 95x3, 105x2; work: 135x5x5 Power clean: work: 105x5 7/8 and 7/9/2011 Tried to stretch out the hip flexors again. 7/11/2011 SL 5x5B Squats: warmup: 45x5x2, 135x5, 205x3, 225x2; work: 270x5,5,4,4,4 - second stall. Overhead press: warmup: 45x5x2, 65x3, 85x2; work: 115x5x5 Dead lift: warmup: 135x5, 175x5, 205x5; work: 285x5

nice one. reflex kick. wouldn't think you could get enough push off the side of the cage. Ah man, I can't view it right now! Is it a spin hook?

I agree that the kids that young should be seperated. This isn't always viable, but if there are enough of them, then they should be in their own class.