bushido_man96

Welcome to KF, Alex!

Nice to see I'm not the only one who thinks this. In the ITF TKD world we've a similar lark going on, and people need to stop wasting their time learning half-baked hapkido moves from people who don't even know them properly - while delivering them from awkward stances and angles just so they very roughly conform to the kata - and actually learn their basic techniques and core applications! The prime advocates tend to be the people whose grip on the subtleties of basic techniques is so slight that they'd run out of things to teach in 6 months, so they wander off into ninja-fantasy land doing bits of anything from the most unlikely positions. Cheers, Tony It may be a different than "traditional" approach, but it doesn't mean that it isn't effective, and doesn't lend itself to practical applications. Just a different path.

Like mentioned above, you shouldn't have too much trouble. Learn what works for you, and how to get in on the bigger guys so you can work them over.

My brothers have one for me like that....I don't understand why???

Battle does not favor the righteous, or the just. It favors the prepared. Unknown Success is where preparation meets opportunity. Luck is the residue of design. Napolean

7-28-2010 Bike ride with dog in the morning. Afternoon: jogged mile in 10:39. Stretch briefly. The floor was being used by the dance/tumbling class. Weights: back and shoulders.

Very good point. Like learning other styles to add to your tool box.

Very good point people will always be wanting to do the "new" MA because "the grass is always greener on the other side" so I think people get irritated because they feel their Ma is outdated because nobody talks about itIt doesn't have anything to do with what is "new" or "cool." Its been around for over 10 years in America now, so "new" isn't the word to use to describe it. Its popular because it is effective. I think the other main problem that some traditional stylists have with BJJ is coming to the conclusion that spending 20 years learning how to fight on your feet can be nullified very quickly by a guy who has been ground fighting for 6 months to a year. That is a very large humble-pill to swallow, and some people have trouble swallowing it. I think tallgeese really summed it up well in his post.

I don't think that's a fair judgement to make. Kids can hit and kick as hard as an adult if you train them properly. This'll be evident if you have a breaking requirement for grading. Sure they wont break as much as a 200 lb man but neither is a smaller woman. But kids are definitely capable of breaking one board, a lot I know can go through two pine ones easy. Think this goes back to not allowing kids to have a belt purely because of their size. This is another dead-on statement. Its unfair to try to class them in with adults, because of their size. Most kids are never going to be able to out-strength an adult. Comparing kids to adults in these areas is comparing apples to oranges. I know some adults that aren't as big and strong as some high school athletes. Its just tough to use it as a measuring stick.

Is the test different this time around? Do they pay another testing fee this time around?

It sounds to me like you did the right thing. Its good to let him know that you weren't comfortable with it, and that he was able to utilize you as an assistant instead, which will help in building that comfort level up for the future.

Good stuff!

7-27-10 Jogged mile in 10:29. TTA low green belt form and one-steps ATA camo belt form and one-steps Stretch Chest and triceps in the gym. No bench today, just machines. Shoulde doesn't feel so bad, either.

I wonder at times, but I think that for the most part, in order for the trick kicks to be done right, the basics would have to be solid.

If they only do kata in competitions, then the nature of it being a competition is making kata a sport. They just as well jump in with both feet, instead of standing on the side of the pool testing the water with one foot.

I don't think those guys are posers. They spend lots of time training...after all, that's how they make their living. The talk and the intimidation is also a psychological part of the competitions. Yeah, they talk, and they act tough, but its also part of the entertainment aspect of it. Not everyone likes it, but its part of it. I mean the kids at my school that wear tapout shirts like they know what real fighting not an actual UFC fighter.Hey, I wear Kansas City Chiefs t-shirts, but have never been invited to training camp What I mean by this is that entities like the UFC have taken the world of Martial Arts and marketed it like it never has been before. Now the layman takes an interest in Martial Arts, picks a fighter or stable of fighters that he likes, and can by merchandise that reflect those preferences. Its not unlike me buying KC Chiefs gear, since I am only the biggest ever KC Chiefs fan (ok, maybe an exaggeration there...I'm not THAT big....) but I think you can see my point.

Could you elaborate, im having a thick day What I mean is why not just being able to talk to an instructor like he is just anyone else out in the world, without a title or anything like that.

In Combat Hapkido, we always try to finish, whether it be with a lock, pin, break, or strike of some kind.

In the material I have read about Muay Thai, they do lift the heel, even when kicking.

This is a nice quote. I like it.

It sounds like it would be a good read. I may have to look into it eventually. Thanks for sharing your review, Jay.

I like this idea, im sure some schools probably do it too I hear this arguement a lot, so lets toy with it a while. How will the test be different? Is the curriculum different for the under-aged jr black belt? If not, then I take issue with it. "Sorry, kid, but you're just not old enough to be a 'real' black belt. So what we'll do is wait until you turn 16, and you can do that jr black belt test all over again, and then, you will be a 'real' black belt. How does that sound?" I think that sounds like an instructor working a student over for more testing fees. And even if one doesn't charge testing fees, what has really been accomplished here. Its like the driving restrictions they put on kids when they start getting their license. Most of the time, the restrictions are just foolish. So, should an member of law enforcement ignore/violate the rules/regulations/law that make up the driving restrictions for kids? If the law says that a kid is to have an adult licensed driver with them while their driving, for example, and an officer of the law see's that a kid is driving without an adult in the car, possibly that officer should disregard the rules/regulations/law because that officer thinks that the rules/regulations/law is foolish? Aahhhh...no, I don't think so. No matter how foolish one might think a rule/regulation may or may not be of any said martial arts organization; it's their law, and I believe that that should be respected. I did not say it is ok to disregard rules/regulations/laws. What I said was that sometimes, laws/rules are made that don't really accomplish anything, other than creating other rules and regs to be followed. As for law enforcement, there is this little thing called officer discretion at our disposal...

Should an instructor go against the rules/regualtions/by-laws of the Headquarters? If you've got rules in place to govern this, then probably not a good idea to go against them. But, I do think it could be a good idea for said organization to speak of this periodically, and revisit the ways of doing things, and why they are that way.

And here is the problem. These kids memorize which way to turn on their Katas, or what combinations to perform for their Kihon, and help each other out during kumite. So all they have demonstrated is that they learned how to pass a test. So does that mean they really know their arts? How are adults any different? I memorize forms, and learn how to take the tests, too. I don't think you give the kids enough credit.

Here is one Randy Couture demonstrated: