bushido_man96

In our organization, when we test for black belt, we have to do all the colored belt material at that testing. However, the instructor can call any form up to the rank the student is at any testing. We don't normally do our basics during testing. We go straight into the testing material of forms, one-steps, sparring, board breaking, etc. I do think we should call on lower ranking forms to be done more often at our testings. It would make students think about keeping up on them better.

I knew that was true when I was suspended in middle school because some kid punched me in the face. I didn't even hit back, but if i had... I would love to encourage my students to fight back when someone's picking on them, but I would be so fired. I noticed a kid doing his homework at the gym yesterday. In the health class book there was a chapter on violence. I asked to read it. The words self defense did not exist, but zero tolerance does. In other words we will punish you for defending yourself. Yep. This is happening, and its bad. The punishment for bullying isn't severe enough to deter those who do it. Suspend them from school? They don't care, because they likely don't want to be there anyway. I tell my kids to not put up with it, and if they have to fight, go for it. I'll take care of the teachers. They may get in trouble at school, but they won't with me, if they are in the right. I agree here, when it comes down to property. In this sue-happy world of people who lack accountability, this will happen. Possessions, unless they are yours, from your home, aren't really worth it. I'm sure WalMart has some clause in their insurance to cover loss like that. I do remember while I was in the academy watching a video not of a theft, but of a domestic battery in progress, and the convenience store attendants just stood by and watched. I think they did call the cops, but they did not intervene with the beating. The reason was because this store branch has a policy that states that its employees will not intervene in fights like this. Property, I can understand. But, watching this video really got to me. If it meant my job, I'd probably be willing to give it up to stop a physical beating. But, I'm sure they had the policy in place for much the same reason WalMart has this policy above.

When sparring, do you have a preference between back leg and front leg kicking? I'm interested in all angles here; point, Olympic, Karate or TKD, pro or cage aspects, knockdown, etc. My instructor is a big proponent of "establishing a front leg," especially a side kick, but this strategy doesn't work so well for me. It could be just that I am slower, and don't have good reaction time. I will do front leg round kicks, but like to come off my back leg, and am starting to work more combos beginning with a back leg kick, like the front kick, to the body. I'd like to hear everyone else's preferences.

3/17/2011 TKD class: 6:00 - 7:30. Basics, forms, one-steps, and sparring, with a stretch after basics. Sparring went ok. Worked on a back leg front kick, and getting it into combinations. Some were ok, I think I just need to commit to it more. I also need to work on my footwork bad. I also despise my form. It angers me. 3/19/2011 Stretching.

Not me. Nice job.

Rank may not always be respected or recognized. Skill will be.

My only issue with this side of the argument is that if you don't speak the entire language, and only know the "Karate" portion of the language, it really isn't going to help you out much more than just following along. If you are going to receive any kind of intricate, more precise instructions on fine tuning technique, either the instructor has to speak to you in the language you speak and understand, or have a translator present. One of the common knocks to TKD, especially in Olympic style sparring, is all the kihaps that go on. TKD has its kihaps, and Karate has its "Osu."

I don't think it negates it completely. Cup or not, that many strikes in that area consecutively are going to cause some pain and discomfort. But, how many times anymore do you see someone end up in a position like that, allowing for that many strikes to that target area to take place? Even when it was legal, you didn't see it like that, except for maybe that one time. I don't recall many others.

I can remember times being a dummy for instructors demonstrating pressure points and the like. When I think back on them, I can't think of any of them that would hurt more than taking a punch or a kick thrown with "intent." They were also done while standing still; no resistance. We did go over things like this when I was in academy as well. However, they never crossed over to the types of techniques we did for more active resistance. They were used for the passive resistive types of scenarios.

I agree. Knowing why helps to see the reasoning behind the methods. If all an instructor can do is say something is wrong, and do it again, without any kind of elaboration, then they aren't being an instructor. Agreed again. I have no issue with the repititions. But they need to be good reps. Exactly, and not every student can pick things up like that. And great students can come out of both molds, and become great teachers. But not if they aren't taught in the first place. And that is what will end up happening. Instructors like these won't have many good students unless they get the really talented ones, or those who can dig into those concepts themselves and make the most out of them.

You'll have to fill me in. I don't recall that fight. It might have been one I didn't see. After a later crime, I feel less sympathy.You're right. It's not often, and they're not always fight enders, but I'd still rather be hit in my belly. Well, I can't deny that that experience would suck. But, there are always exceptions that prove the rule. And, it this case, it was multiple strikes in a very compromised position. Ouch... I agree with you here. This is a case of "saying doesn't make it so." I do think it can be beneficial to train how to exploit these opportunities when they do arise, but its tough to expect that they will happen in isolation.

As far as LEO experience goes, pressure points can be good on the passive resister, but when it comes to full on active resistance, not so reliable. At that point, going for larger clusters like the common peroneal or the brachial stun serve you better. They are easier targets to hit, and offer more reliable results (unless your scrapping with a Thai Boxer...). However, the better option is to just escalate to something like OC, Taser, or even baton.

Another excerpt from Harry Cook's Shotokan Karate, A Precise History. This quote is from Takayuki Mikami, who is not anyone I am really familiar with, but I'm sure some of our Karate brethern here are. The quote has to do with the way training was for him at Hosei University: The bold is the part that stood out to me for this thread. What is your opinion on this type of training, or way of being taught? I can understand the repitition, but as for nothing being explained, I kind of waver a bit there. How would you feel about training this way?

That's impressive and very wrong at the same time! I almost feel the same way about that as I do about my friend's Hello Kitty Nunchaku. Although I did once make a meccano and razor-blade guillotine upon which I tried to decapitate a 6" Ewok action figure. Thick neck on an Ewok, takes a lot of cutting... Wow...not quite sure how to take that....

You'll have to fill me in. I don't recall that fight. It might have been one I didn't see.

3/15/2011 Weights: Pull day: Barbell curls: 65x10, 75x8, 80x6 Shoulder shrugs: 220x10, 240x10, 260x8 Cross body dumbell curls: 20x10, 25x10, 30x8 Overhead cable pull-down curls: 70x10x3 Dumbell wrist curls: 15x20x3 Reverse dumbell wrist curls: 15x20, 15, 15 Abs: Ab coaster: 20x10x3 Thera crunch: 25x10x3 Smith crunch: 30x10x3

I wouldn't worry about hampering the class. Its the instructor's job to bring you along. I'd at least go check it out, and see if you like it or not.

Eye gouges and groin kicks are not end-all, be-all techniques. Can they be valid? Sure. Can they fail, yes. The eye is a very small target to hit, so that's one thing to keep in mind. But, if a Boxer or MMA fighter can hit someone with a jab, then they can probably extend their fingers if they feel the need, and poke someone in the eye. There is cross over there. Competition environments do involve rules, but they also often times involve well trained fighters. What competition brings to the table is active resisitance. If a Judoka who has practiced and performed a hip toss thousands of time in class and in competitions against resisting opponents who expect to be thrown in some way, and they still don't stop it, then to say that they could not perform it in street self-defense against someone who may not be expecting it, or no how to defend it, just doesn't jive. MMA comps do have rules, too. And they are in place mainly for the protection of the competition, and the rules have made the competition better. But think back to the days when there were fewer rules, and how often a match was decided by a groin kick or an eye gouge. Not many come to mind.

What is the best construction toy of all time? For me, it has to Legos, hands down. Its such a great toy, in fact, that I still play with them, as an adult, and don't even care to hide that fact. As a kid, I was also a fan of Lincoln Logs, and also played with Tinker Toys periodically (my grandma had them at her place when we visited). But, I just don't think you can beat the versatility of Legos.

I'm also keeping them in my thoughts and prayers. Terrible deal.

"Martial Science" to me sounds like someplace that might be willing to evolve and change over time. What you describe, though, doesn't seem to jive with that. Someone who hurts students to get compliance doesn't sound good at all. I'd be more inclined to look into a class, just from the description.

I'd heard about the StrikeForce purchase. I'm not sure what he plans on doing with it yet.

3/14/2011 Home workout: Basics while watching a movie in the early morning hours (love the night shift...) Alternating single punch, sitting stance: 10 Alternating double punch, sitting stance: 10 (20 punches in all) Alternating triple punch, sitting stance: 10 (30 total) Down block, front stance: 10 each side Lead punch, front stance: 10 each side Reverse punch, front stance: 10 each side Lead down block, reverse face punch, front stance: 10 each side (20 techs total) Knife hand, back stance: 10 each side Middle block, back stance: 10 each side High block, front stance: 10 each side Double knife hand block: 10 each side Upset knife hand, front stance: 10 each side Reverse upset knife hand, front stance: 10 each side Double forearm block, front stance: 10 each side Weights: Push day: Military press: 95x10, 105x8, 115x5 Iso shoulder press: 45x10, 55x8, 60x6 Rear deltoid fly: 90x10, 105x8, 120x6 Deltoid machine: 115x10, 130x8, 145x6 Abs: Smith crunch: 30x15x3 Cable crunch: 100x15, 150x10, 10 Also tried 2 pull-ups. TKD Class: 6:00 - 7:00. Basics and forms class. Basics got changed up, which was nice. We did some consecutive blocks and movements, and some block/counters with kicks during basics. Got lots of form review, too. Was actually sore after class. Nice feeling. A pretty good workout day overall.

It sounds like you are getting enough class time in, so perhaps use your outside of dojo training time for conditioning like running and jump rope. Running and jumping rope are both great training tools for fighting. As for running, make sure to pace yourself. You will get sore at first, but as your body gets used to it, it will adapt and recover. With only being a month out, you may not see the results as much for this tournament as for those down the road. If your good at jumping rope already, you might consider doing it for rounds. If your opponents aren't buying them now, you might just forego them altogether, at least for this competition. But, a few things to consider: 1. Fake moves you already do. If you never do a front kick, then faking one might not do you any good. But, if you do a lot of front kicks, then faking it will gain you something, because they should try to counter what they think is coming. But make sure its something you connect with, as well, regularly. If you don't make a lot of contact with techniques, then fakes won't do you much good, either. 2. A good fake has to look committed. If your fake doesn't start like your normal technique would, then no one any good will buy it. You've got to sell your fake like its the actual technique coming. Can't help you here. I'm no dietician, but I would recommend that you get a good protein source somewhere, since you don't eat meat. It might be tough to get all that work in you want in just a month. But, if you start working on them now, they will come over time for later events. What you might do is pick one of these, like fakes, and work on them specifically, and see if you can develop something you can take in with you feeling confident about. Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

I just looked at the form in the video...there are a number of minor differences in the way we do Won Hyo, but the difference in Mr. Suska's form that brings him back to center is around 0:51 where he steps to his left before performing the last two moves. In our case we come back to a closed stance after the side kick so we end up to our right. It's all good... Yeah thats weird now that you pointed that out. I've always put my foot down shoulder width after the kick, don't know why he crosses over. I noticed the same. We put our foot down in a closed stance as well, landing the right foot right next to the left foot, both feet facing back to the starting direction, and then step out to the last two moves. That was the only difference I saw in footwork. Maybe I'm just too erratic with my feet.