bushido_man96

I thought you might like that.

All good points, JiuJitsuNation. If you don't ever push yourself there, you won't know what it will be like.

Thanks, Alex. It sounded like you were getting close to 2 hours in per session, but wanted to check. The Aikido classes go two hours, when I can get there, and depending on the day, TKD goes 1 to 1.5 hours. Unfortunately, basics and forms take up most of the time there. 9-20-10 15 side kicks each leg. Also practiced the inner crescent kick/slap hand into side kick section of my form. I really hate this part of the form, so I am focusing on it now.

I was thinking about using some of the ideas of focus mitts with Combat Hapkido, and using just one mitt to strike, and having the other hand used to attack and allow for wrist manipulation. It will definitely be good for the distraction techniques.

Chiefs win, and start 2-0 for the first time since 2005. Cassel started to look better in the 2nd half, too. If the offense doesn't come around, then it will be a long season. The defense held awesomely again, but this game was won without an offensive touchdown. That concerns me.

I say go for it, Bob. Who knows? It may lead to a second career...

I agree. I don't think that just slugging it out at each other, going for knockouts and injuries all the time, is the right way to train. But, the training should develop speed, timing, and power, and it should all be controlled at the same time.

Congrats, and welcome aboard!

The main issue I have with chucks is that everyone whirls them about, but you never see anyone HITTING anything with them. Hitting something is going to effect the way that end comes back, and how you catch, reset, etc. You don't by chance do ATA TKD and use their chuck method, do you?

There is a lot of talk in this thread about "going to the ground being a bad idea, and it should be avoided." I think everyone agrees with this. In fact, I think everyone agrees with the fact that getting into a fight is a bad idea, period. Here is the deal, though.....you don't always have control of what happens in a fight....and even if you don't want to, you can end up on the ground. So, regardless of whether going to the ground is a good idea or not is irrelevant. What is relevant is the fact that you CAN end up there, even if you DON'T want to, so its good to be able to fight from there.

And what are the emotional responsibilities that come with being a black belt?????? Lots of people mention this, but never elaborate, so I am interested in what others have to say. I've personally come to the point that I don't agree with the term "junior" black belt. A style should either have an age requirement for black belt or not, and stick with it.

Alex, how long are the BJJ classes you attend, and how long are the classes you teach? 9-19-10 15 lunges each side. 10 side kicks each side. 9-20-10 DT class today! Finally got to do something! Worked cuffing techniques, which was good review. About an hour long class.

Philosophies, in my experience, are almost always individual outlooks or ideals that others try to impress on everyone else, especially those wanting to learn something that they know.

That's a good one!

One should be emphasizing all those attributes while sparring. Because if you don't while sparring, they won't be there when it comes time to defend yourself. You can have good control and still have power, speed, and all that good stuff. If you are throwing slow techniques in order to control them, then everyone involved misses the point. And good training. When it comes time to defend oneself, this is what it is going to be like. No, you don't have to spar and get pounded everytime, but some aggressiveness is good to experience, as well as some contact.

It is very much an individual endeavor, even though we tend to be surrounded by many other stylists in our endeavors.

I will keep you and yours in my thoughts and prayers, Bob.

The only issue I have here is that forms training is not conducive to all styles, like Judo and BJJ, for example. I know that Judo has some kata, but it isn't used like the forms of Karate and TKD. Another thing is that in sparring, one probably uses well under half the techniques learned through the forms. X-style blocks rarely get used, and high blocks rarely get used in sparring. And I still haven't got to use that crescent kick/slap the hand/into the side kick application/combination in sparring. I like the idea of the "platoon" tactics. But, I wouldn't call it platoon tactics as much as I would refer to them as a platoon training tool. Just like Funakoshi did with forms when he started training larger groups. Its easier to line everyone up and call out a cadence that everyone has to follow. Another thing good about this is that instead of using regular old calesthenics like jumping jacks, push-ups, etc, they are training moves like punches, strikes, and kicks (not as many as the blocking motions, in my opinion), that will be useful when close quarters combat arrives. Like you said earlier, when they know the forms, they can buzz through them and get a good workout in, and the forms can be done in sets and reps, too. The drawback is that in order to do the forms, the moves have to be learned to a proficient level before they can be done at decent speed.

I have to wonder at times, if this isn't the way that forms were put together in the first place. If they are meant to be "catalogs" or "manuals" of systems, and the moves have applications, then were they put together in an order to make a template of what worked for someone? That's my reverse-engineering way of thinking how forms came to be in the first place. Of course, we've had our discussions about the TKD forms and "bunkai" applications, and that they probably weren't put together in certain sequences based on that. So, that leaves the sequences either being for sparring combination/self-defense purposes in and of themselves, which isn't likely with all the forms, or like you mention, technical skill development. I can buy into this idea. However, there are better ways to develop these attritbutes outside of forms. Forms can help improve these things; we agree there. Perhaps the benefit of the forms work is that you get some of all, although "all" of them won't necessarily be maximized. Yet, still a good point, and an ok rationalization, I think.

Thanks Patrick. Time to go get Cleveland now!

Welcome to KF, Paul!

That is a great article, Danielle. You have made a lot of good points in there, and I agree with many of them. It was overall enjoyable to read, and I will be chiming in on some personal reflections soon. Thanks for posting it!

Great quote.

I'm not so sure about that. Thugs can be warriors, and vice versa, I'd say. Not everyone has a code of ethics, though.

Here here!