bushido_man96

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!

I don't disagree with your last statement, but, if the practitioners didn't do traditional Karate before, they probably would have done the XMA competitions. Like I said, just a different context for the technique.

If you worry about hits to the face, then pad up. Wear Boxing type sparring gear and gloves. If you do a medium to light contact session that just gets you into the habit of moving your head and blocking/deflecting shots to the face, it will go along ways to helping you out in self-defense. Like Mike Tyson says, everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth. That is very real, and you don't want to come to that conclusion when someone jumps you on the street or in a bar. Best to have some kind of experience with it.

Not necessarily. But being accredited is a big thing in our society nowadays. Mechanics have to be ASE certified anymore, and you don't see the old shade tree mechanics shops much anymore. Sure, they may still know everything there is to know about a vehicle, and be able to fix it, but that certification goes toward guaranteeing the work and the person doing the work. Along with these kinds of things comes the ability to establish an insurance policy, etc. Being accredited is just good for business anymore.

The thing of it is, however, if you don't ever experience that kind of contact in some way, shape, or form, then when it comes time to fight, you won't be used to hands coming at your face. This is one downfall of TKD sparring in my organization.

Makiwara.

I'd say just about anything with a grappling background would be beneficial supplemental training to Karate.

Yeah, I guess a rather specialized style.

I voted maybe, because the belt doesn't mean as much to me as it once did. I'll be honest, when I started, I liked the idea of testing, moving up, and earning that next belt. It was motivational. Now, training itself is motivational, not the ranks.

I think it would be a good motivational thing. And at the test, when it finally comes, the instructor could tell the student, "Congratulations, go get your belt off the wall. You've earned it." Why not?

Good luck and keep us posted!

Welcome aboard!

Welcome to KF!

I agree, and keep most of my self-defense geared kicks simple and low. But, it is fun to kick high, and to spin around and stuff.

I see a lot of the hands flapping around in Olympic-type TKD matches. Instead of concerning themselves with blocking, they worry more about countering off the attack. It also appears to me they use the hand movement to facilitate the movements of the kicks, but I'm not sure of that is the case or not.

I've enjoyed my time with Hapkido so far, and think it has lots to offer.

I think this is a good point. The goals of the practitioner are going to play a big part in selectin what they want to do, and instead others are worrying about what styles are "represented" in MMA.

Having it "in writing" with accredited backing is always nice to see. But, it isn't always the most important thing, either. The knowledge gained is what's important, and if it is high quality, then I wouldn't want to pass it up because it lacks organizational backing.

Its interesting reading this today, as I was reading Cook's Shotokan Karate: A Precise History, and recall Funakoshi saying how Karate used strikes to "supple" up an opponent and then using a throw to further debilitate them. I would definitely like to see more throws or takedowns worked into my TKD classes.

I suggest napalm. Lots of it.

Here is the way I look at it; you will need to know how to do both. Use the Aikido classes and training to learn how to "move with" the attacker, as that is what Aikido seeks to do alot: utilize the attacker's energy. However, the attacker won't always be giving you that energy, and sometimes you will have to make your own to accomplish what you want. That's where your Kempo training will help out. A problem I still have a bit with Aikido is I either end up pushing them or pulling them along to make it work, generating more of the energy than they provide. Its taking time, but its coming along.

I've never done any "Hapkido sparring," although I think it would be a good thing to develop, especially as hard as it can be to apply a joint lock on a less than cooperative opponent.

Thanks for the review, tallgeese. The only books on BJJ I've got are the ones written by the Gracies, and I've been pleased by all of them. But, I see others out there, and am never sure of which ones to pick up. This helps, especially since my knowledge is so limited.

I don't know. I don't really take on a different character or culture in the TKD school. I do blow off a bit of steam at times, but usually, its just another part of a day for me.