bushido_man96

No, I didn't misread. Just agreeing, basically. Sorry about that confusion.

How long? Which style?

I've been to the gym twice already this week, and plan to get in tomorrow. Thursday I should make class. Steady workout regimine is the start.

I'm unsure of how lucrative XMA competition is, to be honest. I've never been into it. A local Karate school that holds an annual tournament does have open divisions for weapons forms that are XMA type, and I don't believe there is any money to be won. As far as leaning away from traditional to something more flashy, I don't know if that's the case or not. Everyone has different goals, and many schools want to provide as many aspects as they can to bring in as many students as they can.

If you don't train until your knuckles bust open, it shouldn't cause any permanent, long-term damage. Focus on those three things he mentioned at the beginning, and just keep your reps down, like 10 on each side for starters, and leave a day between training periods. Over time, you'll be able to punch it more before reaching that point of breaking the skin. Just remember, that if conditioning the knuckles is a goal, along with the other three principles, that it happens over an extended period of time, and injury creates downtime that won't contribute to training. Be methodical, and listen to your body. You'll be fine.

This is very common in many competitive endeavors, including Boxing, Wrestling, even sports like football and baseball. In many cases, the coaches didn't even have the physical talent that the players they end up coaching have, but do have another gift entirely.

Wednesdays and Thursdays are my days off right now, so if you want to work something at odd hours, those would be good days for me.

Not if you live in Chicago! Now, I just watch and see, and enjoy. I think it will be Packers/Steelers in the Super Bowl. Steelers win.

Thanks for the kind words, Patrick. It was a fun time. In case anyone is confused, I'm the short round guy on the left. It was pretty cool to get to stand up and talk about what we do here at KF to those that were interested in moderating forums. I've seen places that have done a bad job moderating, and they didn't last very long. The fact that KF has been around for 9 1/2 years is a testament to a process that works. It was pretty cool to be able to address a room full of people that are probably a lot smarter than I will ever be. Thanks for that oppurtunity, Patrick.

Now that's awesome, and so practical. More likely to have something like those as opposed to that nice piece of rattan when you need it. Good to be comfortable with the adjustments. Which kicks? I read an article years ago from Black Belt Magazine titled "500 Kick Club" or something similar. It had a nice idea for working several different basic kicks. I printed it off, and still have it. Used to do it more often. This sparks me to start it back up. 1/18/2011 Weights: Pull day: 45 degree arm curl: 25x10x5 sets. This machine has different arms to load the weight on, and I did one set, moved the weight, next, etc, no breaks. Burns. Barbell curls: 65x10, 75x8, 80x6 Shoulder shrugs: 220x10, 240x8, 260x8 Dumbell curls: 25x10, 30x8, 35x6 Overhead cable curls: 70x10x3 sets. Abs Ab coaster: 20x10x3 Smith crunch: 30x10x3 Forearms Barbell wrist curls: 45x15x3 Reverse barbell wrist curls: 45x10x3 Forearm machine: 45x3

I think that's a matter of perpective there. Tallgeese: I like your breakdown of the stance and guard. I actually try to do something like that in TKD sparring. I have noticed that when I take body hand technique shots, I tend to just kind of crunch up and absorb, as opposed to really "blocking" anything. Now side kicks to the body are a different story, I try to block and sweep them out of the way, and cut an angle to the 45 degrees, so I can be close for a counter. This doesn't always work well for me, though, as my angle tends to naturally go backwards or sideways more than angled forward, and part of that kick still snags on me. After a time, I just get frustrated and start bringing my elbows down on those damn side kicks. Take that, ankles! Hahahaha......sorry, got carried away there. I tend to when I get frustrated.

And Elbows in!!! And your butt off the canvas!

Yeah, I have no illusions about catching any punches.

I agree with MasterPain. It sounds to me like the instructor wanted to show off some knowledge that you didn't have, or just plain to try to make you look the fool. If they wanted you to do something a certain way, then they should tell like MasterPain said, just that they do it differently, and would like for you to do it that way in the curriculum. Now, if you would stick it out until you get to sparring, then you could do some of your Isshin Ryu stuff, and see how it works out. Sparring is always more freestyle, and bad technique will show up, and good technique will, too. That said, with the amount of disrespect you've been given, I wouldn't blame you if you quit. But, not all TKD instructors are that way. I know I appreciate someone's else's ideas and knowledge, and always like to learn. Unfortunately, egos abound, and it appears you've found one. I'm sorry to hear that.

In reading some of Iain Abernethey's books (many of whom think has gone out of the way from what Karate truly is, as far as bunkai goes) stated in one of his books that the katas contained no ground fighting. What he did do was study some grappling (Judo I think), and in his delving into figuring out what the interpretaion of kata moves were, figured out some ways to apply a few of them while on the ground. But, no ground fighting in the katas. Agreed. I like to kick and punch, but have no ground game to speak of. Its a downfall of TKD, so I try to fill it with Hapkido, Aikido, and some grappling at the DT club when I can.

Yep, that's what I meant. Missed a key there, I think. Mmm, beer. Sounds good to me. When you comin' by?

What do you mean by this?

Welcome to KF, Jona. Glad to have you here.

Welcome to the Forums! I hope you find it enjoyable here. Thank you for your service, as well.

Welcome to KF! I'd love to hear more about Washinkai Karate. I have not heard that name before.

Last week sucked. Back, I hope, for a while. 1/17/2011 Weights: Push day: Military press: 95x10, 105x8, 115x6 Iso shoulder press: 45x10, 55x8, 60x6 Dumbell shoulder press: 40x10, 45x6, 5 Rear deltoid fly: 90x10, 105x8, 120x4 Deltoid machine: 115x10, 130x8, 145x6 Legs Hip sled: 280x10, 300x10, 330x10 Angled standing leg press: 90x10, 110x8, 130x6 I'm not sure if the sled carries any weight here.

Knuckle conditioning is a nice bonus, though.

Thanks for the suggestion MasterPain. I have considered doing that to also work on my punches too but at the moment time and lack of money means its not really possible. TBH we do get hit quite hard in the face in our point sparring; ITF Taekwondo is pretty much full contact apart from you can't win if your KO opponent. I really think my problem stems from having a high tolerance to pain and being able to roll with the punches. My coach always says I won the fight just not the spar. It just means I'm giving away points. This is one of the reasons I never liked point sparring, especially in the ATA. Tall, quicker guys would just own me because all they had to do was slip something in that made contact to get a point. I can get inside and slug away, but that's no good for a point strategy. To echo was MasterPain suggested, just have some of the training partners ar your dojang spar with you, only using head shots, like a Boxing match. That way, you know everything is coming high, and you will focus more on keeping that guard up.

For general flexibility, you can look into many physical fitness manuals for basic arm and leg stretches used to stay loose or for prior to lifting. I like Jay's directions, too.

Hehe, I thought you might. Just thought I'd put in a plug for the grapplers!