bushido_man96

I don't think 13 miles is too bad a drive to keep doing what you know. But, if it is a factor, then the Shotokan might be right for you. I would not say that you would "lose" your rank in Wado, because the Shotokan school can't take it or the knowledge you obtained away. With that said, they don't have to honor the rank, and may expect you to start over at white belt, which is reasonable when transitioning from one style to another. The forms may be a little different, but if you get into it and focus, I wouldn't think that as a big deal, either. It will all come with time. Let us know what you decide.

Street effectivness is going to depend on how the art is taught, not what the art is. If the instructors focus on self-defense type scenarios and applications, then you should be good to go. If they don't, then it might be tougher to see where the applications lie. I'd take a look at each class, and then talk to each instructor, and ask them how they teach in relation to self-defense, and go from there. Good luck in your search.

I think that when you've already got pretty good experience, video and book training can provide a great supplement to training. Having a good partner alongside can boost this, as well.

This is a very interesting way to look at what doubt is, and how to manage it. Very good thoughts. I know I have doubted myself from time to time, and it makes me want to step things up a bit to overcome them.

Congrats to all, and thanks to everyone who voted! Thank you! Its so much fun to be a part of this community.

Cassel out 2 weeks with appendectomy. Man, that sucks. I hope Croyle finally wins some games!

I could maybe, maybe, see getting the 360 hook in there, or a back kick, as a counter. The 360 round as well, but more of a skipping counter than really coming off the ground. I can do some 360s, but like Richard pointed out, making it part of my overall strategy is not really happening. I'd be heavyweight, too.

I hear what you guys/gals are saying, and believe me, you are preaching to the choir here. I want more alive, more realistic, less pre-set, and less "black belt only" stuff. But, we'll see what I end up getting. My guess, is more of the same, with just more talk.

It is a tough kick, no doubt about that. I don't do mine very high; not near like Kee did. Welcome to KF, Boualem Bouderba.

Yes, but you're going to end up somewhere, especially while grappling. Right????

Agreed. If it isn't fun, its harder to stick with. Also agree. I lift by myself most of the time, and its hard to really push myself without a spotter. Another way to help increase the likelyhood of sticking with a workout routine is to work it into the regular schedule, and make sure the scheduled workout time is part of the day. That way, its just part of the day.

Agreed. I would also agree with adding cardiovascular exercise to training. I've heard that heavy lifting can raise blood pressure, but I'm not sure to what extent, and for how long.

12-9-10 Weights: push day: mainly shoulders, machine and dumbell presses, and some abs. No class tonight, helping with stuff at work. 12-10-10 Weights: pull day: hang cleans and biceps and forearm work. Next week, I'm going to get back to logging everything to better track my progress.

Absofreakinlutely right.

I think the conclusion that I, at least, have come to is that it depends on your definition of the word "beginner". I've been a member of our college Aikido club for probably going on 3 years now, but, since my schedule doesn't meet up with the Aikido schedule very well at times, I don't get to practice it as much as I want. So, I would say I'm a long term beginner there. But with TKD, I'd say its a bit different. I wouldn't say that I have amassed a huge amount of skill through TKD, but I have considerably more experience with it.

A nice story. I would just put out there, though, that there are lots of people who have told a story with a meaning like this or similar to many other people. To some, it is something they carry with them forever. And to others, its just another story. Neither of them is bad. It just all depends on how you look at the world, I guess.

I say attacking. I think too much emphasis is wrongly put on the idea that a Martial Artist should never throw a "first punch," and that should always be thinking defense first. It is a gross misconception to assume that one will be able to rely on blocking every attack, and therefore wait for it. Action is faster than reaction, so I don't see how it behooves a new student to be taught to block before striking. I'm not saying that I don't have faith in my ability to block, but I am saying there is a definite disadvantage to waiting for an attack to happen. That is my view as far as the striking arts go. As for the grappling styles, I don't know enough about them, or have enough experience, to really be able to say that reversals and escapes are more defensive in nature or not. Great answer, and great points.

Thank you, sir.

Sounds like you are having fun! Welcome to KF, and we look forward to conversing with you.

I miss the SCA fighting. Realistic, it may not be, but fun, it most certainly is! There is nothing quite like getting your bell rung with a helm on!

What is a snorkel circuit? 12-6-2010 Evening: TKD class. Good review of forms, which I needed, especially if I get coralled back into teaching more often. I did spend time before class focusing on a tough spot in my form, and may have found an anwer for it. 12-7-10 Weights: pull day: lat pull-downs, seated, upright, and bent-over rows, shoulder shrugs, one-arm dumbell rows, and some ab work.

Boy, I wouldn't like that at all. I can't jump very high. Spinning I can do, but something like that just doesn't fit well into my fight strategy.

He mentioned last night in class that there will be some 3-step stuff for the black belts. Why just the black belts, I'm not sure. It sounds like they are preplanned, too, so it may just suck. We'll see. I'm still hoping for a sparring class, but no word yet.

Man, if you are a rookie at TKD, I'd stick to getting the spin side kick/back kick down first. If you don't have that, you won't get a 540.

The changes that the UFC has gone through is what has allowed it stick around for as long as it has. Whether the clothing allowed has a huge deterence on other fighters, I don't know. Plenty of Karate stylists have fought in the UFC without their gi on, and I don't know that the lack thereof effected their performance. I'm not sure about Judoka, as they rely a lot on grabbing the gi. But, BJJ did too, but you see both gi and no-gi BJJ. Judo just needs to adjust. I don't think the UFC has shifted to allow certain training methods to prevail under the set rules. Quite the opposite. Fighters started to realize that they needed to cover certain aspects of the fight in order to compete. So, their training changed. Over the years, a pattern has emerged that has proven successful, and so it has been more or less clinged to by many of the camps. As mentioned earlier, its part of the evolution that we are seeing in which a new "style" may have emerged.