bushido_man96

Sounds like a blast. I've been working back into some stretching and a few calesthenics here and there. Still fighting the cough, but I think next week I may be able to get back to it.

I've been away for several months now, so when I get back, I imagine the rust is going to be quite bad. Looking forward to it, and not, at the same time.

I'm wouldn't be interested in trying to warn anyone of their chosen path. I'm there to take care of me in that situation. As for "finishing" someone, its going to depend on the situation, and how threatened you feel at the time. If you double someone over with a body blow, and then follow to the head, I don't think that would constitue any kind of attempted murder. Its eliminating a threat that is still standing. If they fall down, then that changes the scenario. If they double over, and you stare at them for 10 seconds or so, watching them weeze, then that could change the scenario, too. As far as doing something "less damaging" to the opponent, I don't think this is the goal of any self-defense. We had an exchange in our Defensive Tactics classes that went something like this: "How hard did you hit him?" "I hit him as hard as I possibly could." "Why did you hit him so hard?" "So I wouldn't have to hit him again."

If I recall, kozushi is the "breaking of the balance" that is one of the cornernstones of Judo, but is also found in other styles.

In the ATA, I started breaking for testing at the purple belt level, which would have been the 6th rank. In the TTA, we break at the brown belt level and above.

I think that when you can distribute the weight more evenly to the feet, it promotes better mobility in all directions.

Congrats!

Kata's aren't really weapons based. There are different Kobudo katas that are weapon's focused. For the most part, Karate kata's are based on striking and some joint manipulation/tuite.

Great points here. Each has their strong suit. I think this can vary. I would be remiss to say that progression skills in BJJ would not be as useful on the street. No one really wants to go to the ground in the street, but just because you don't want it to happen, doesn't mean it can't or won't happen. So, which of the two is better is going to depend on the set of circumstances each is faced with at the time.

Me too. This book is a prime example. I've read it and it's nothing but BJJ inserted into TKD forms: http://www.amazon.com/Taekwondo-Grappling-Techniques-Competitive-Martial/dp/0804840067/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1289242115&sr=8-1 Hmm. Crazy. I can tell you I've not learned any grappling in my TKD training, or forms. I've seen some interpretations, but they were not my own, and none were actually floor grappling; all were more akin to Hapkido type moves.

Not really. Kumite and any form of rule based fighting you can only practise say 30% of potential techniques as in a real fight. You/we are practicing timing, footwork in a stand up fight with guards etc. When was the last time you saw someone lift their hands up in a guard positon for a street fight, measure the distance and pull off a straight reverse punch? I haven't. Do you practice glassing someone in your dojo? Do you practice poking eyes out? Tearing a set of keys across someone face? Ripping a finger out of it's socket? stamping on peoples rib cage? Pulling out a pen from your pocket and stabbing someone in the face? Pushing one opponent away from you as someone else comes in behind you with a knife? What you practice in the dojo is different to what you would use in a real fight. We practice against polite martial artists, not the monsters that exist who really don't care. The problem is that it is difficult, if not impossible, to practice some of the things you have mentioned in a way that is safe for training partners, and 100% realistic. If you add too much equipment, it takes away from the realness. If you add rules, it does the same. So, there has to be some happy medium in there. I think ps1's first post in response is a good indication of how to summarize the training aspect of these things. Yes, most types of sparring have rules of some kind. Its how things are kept safe so we can train again tomorrow.

Plyometrics and a good sprint program will help improve the speed of your kicks. I'd talk to a personal trainer, and get something set up you can follow. Also, make sure to keep stretching.

Interesting. It sounds like you've got some muscle memory that has not been trained out yet. It may take a while to change it, too, if it has already become habit. Just keep focusing and training.

Summarises my point exactly. Thanks Karate developed into something like chinese wushu, looks great fun, but 5 year old with a spoon would be able to best you in a fight. To say that someone would be able to beat another soundly in a fight, based soley off what one sees in a forms competition, is a gross over-generalization. That's likely only one facet of the person's training. As for the reason to why creative forms to music exists, its because people find it fun and challenging to do, and they enjoy it. Do I like creative forms, no. I don't like to watch them at all. But, that isn't to say that I think the performers are not skilled Martial Artists. They are very athletic, to say the least. But, I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that they are unskilled in every other facet of the Martial Arts. In the end, creative forms is just one facet in a world of Martial Arts training and expression. Is it any good for self-defense. Not likely. Does that make it counter-productive to Martial Arts training? One could argue that. But like tallgeese said, its great for those who want to do it, and for those that don't, then its good to let it be, and focus on one's own training goals. I think this has more to do with the popularization of more Martial Arts styles in general than any decline in what would be defined as "true" or "quality" Karate. For years, Karate has been known for more of a medium or "touch" contact sparring (excluding the knockdown styles), whereas Muay Thai's prominence has been seen on the world stage with events like Pride and MMAs coming onto the scene. But, you still do have your pro fighters with the Karate backgrounds. They just tend to be fewer.

Yeah, I think this will tend to differ from person to person. I look in the area of the chest/shoulders, but don't really focucs on it. I use my peripheral to see what the weapons are doing, and react accordingly. I notice that if I tend to focus in on something, then there is something else I'm not paying attention to that will get me.

The reason my instructor has pushed the back stance, in my opinion, is to allow for easier front leg kicking. He's a big believer in the front leg side kick to keep the opponent back. I'm not sure if this is the consensus of the GM in our organization, but the "fighting stance" is basically a back stance, but labeled so because the hands are up in guarding block position.

Sword and shield.

There really isn't much truth to that. I'm a law enforcement officer, and I wouldn't take the skill of a person defending themselves into condsideration on its own. The totality of the circumstances has to be looked at. What was the attacker trying to do accomplish? What was the emotional state of the defender? Where you scared for your life? Trying to protect another? What was the level of the threat? All of these things and more come into consideration when it comes to levying a charge on somebody. Factors like size discrepancy, force levels used, and the like also play a roll in the level of the response deemed appropriate. Now, what happens in a civil court and a criminal court are two different things. If an altercation is deemed self-defense by the law, and you don't get charged, doesn't mean that the crook you defended yourself against won't try to take you to civil court for one thing or another. The bottom line is that every situation is different, and is looked at differently than the others. Each is unique, and approached thus. Maybe some of the other law guys on here can add or detract from what I've said here. Anyone else have anything to add?

Be careful with advertising those. In some states, they are illegal to carry. Just something to keep in mind.

Alex, what is this "run" that you speak of? Hehe, that's the same way I feel. I despise running, so at times, I run just to spite running.... I have similar problems. Apparently, trading punches isn't a quick way to gain a skill set, at least in my experience. Of course, I do get better at ignoring those punches, and worrying about landing my own. I'm lucky in that our right thigh isn't a target in my school. Or, I should say, the others in my school are lucky....

Yes, it would be. I'd prefer to be eased into it a bit more, but that's me.

Unfortunately, not all instructors are like this. I agree you all have valid points as does everyone else who has commented on this topic, I think its an excellent topic by the way. Its just that to me I don't think that "Written Papers" are a good media to express what a student "Feels" about his or her karate.... ....With regards to writting Essays of say 500 words to say 2000 words, some people have issues putting pen to paper and would not manage any more than say two paragraphs; does this mean that they fail that grade because they are not academic enough to complete the written requirements even though their Karate is picture perfect? I think you are looking too much into it. Its just another way of testing. My school requires 1st dan testers to write a page paper answer questions like "What does TKD mean to you?" "What are your future plans for TKD?" and things like that. No big deal, really, and, like it or not, its part of the rank requirement. Another way to look at it is looking at the schools that require things like the 50 man kumite as part of a promotion. If someone can't complete it, then does that mean they fail the grade? Well, most likely. So, there are some things that not everyone will like, but may have to do in order to move on.

Yep. I try not to ever associate the word "fair" with the word "fight." They just don't go together.

I agree that this is true. Once you have accumulated some knowledge and experience, it is much easier to do the "monkey see, monkey do" thing. You have basic concepts of movement down, and can transfer them to other movements. Otherwise, as mentioned, you could be hurting yourself.

In reference to the stances used in sparring, at the school I attend now, the instructor has always passed of the back stance, or L-stance, as the sparring stance, but I have never used it as my sparring stance. I prefer a more 50/50 weight distribution with my stance, and it isn't quite as frontal as a Boxer's is, but it is more of a medium between the front on, and full side on stance. I've tried the side on stance before, but it doesn't really suit my style, as I like to get in and punch in combination, and this is easier to do with more of a frontal stance. I also don't counter kick a whole lot, and tend to be more of a blocker. I do know that Bill Wallace made the side on stance work for him very well, and it can be done. I think it depends alot on what tools and weapons you plan to use, and your strategy in deploying them.