bushido_man96

I don't really think so. I think that there is a big push by many instructors selling their programs that this becomes so, but I think that by and large, it has more to do with the person than whether or not they practice a Martial Art. There are MA good guys out there, and MA bad guys out there. That may sound kind of corny, but its the truth. Man, that's tough for me to fathom. I can't think of many of the colored belts in my school that I wouldn't mind hanging out with. But, that's the way I grew up. I can be friends with just about anyone.

This is a really cool idea. As for places to go, the only place I can think I would want to really visit would be the Roman Coloseum. As far as training goes, along with some steady ground fighting training, I would love to train in Western Swordsmanship.

It depends on the amount of time you have to put into them, and what is expected out of them. If you are expected to break down applications out of both, then two per belt might be a bit much. If not, then it might be ok.

I'm not buying into that. There are only so many ways the body can move, and for the last several centuries, its the way our bodies have been. There are no moves that can't be countered. There may come a point in a technique that is "of no return," where something is so sunk in that it can be difficult to relieve, but to say it can't be countered, is not believable to me.

I don't think that takedowns or armbars are such complex maneuvers that a white belt could not learn them. But, this is one of the drawbacks of the "basics and forms" or "kihon and kata" training style. One has to get locked into the technique before it can be "applied." I don't think that this necessarily has to be the case, though. I'm not saying that it can't be an appropriate way to learn. I do think that there are better ways to learn some things, though. As for the tweak this way and that aspect of the thread, I really wasn't referring to that. But, those kinds of questions could be annoying. But, they should all have ready answers, too, and it is always an option to allocate time after class for more focused discussion.

Welcome to the Forums.

This is not something I have experienced. It does sound goofy, though, especially faking an accent.

No, not at all. At the last grappling session I went to, the instructor was showing some ways to clear away to draw the gun while on our back. Handy information, for sure. 5-6-10 Qualifaction at the range today. Shot well; can't complain. I haven't been to the range since qual at the academy, so I felt pretty good.

Cons to forms can be anything from taking up training time that could be better put to use with partner training, no resistance to any techniques, and they fail to develop a sense of timing in relation to interacting with others.

There are counters to everything. Nothing is that all-encompassing. Beware of phrases like that.

Excellent, Bob. Thanks for sharing this with us.

Um this last question you pose...if I am learning the form, then I should be ready to understand the answer. If he thinks I am not, then something has gone seriously wrong with the training.Like most of the others, I tend to agree with Tomcat on this one. Questions are good, and neccessary, and should not be shunned by any instructor. A good instructor should be able to answer them, anyways. And if he can't, he should be able to find someone who can.

I tend to agree with CTTKDKing's post when it comes to categorizing McDojos. Its true that there are some out there, but its important to see what is offered in each particular school. I began my training in an ATA school, and we had good instructors, with good technique, and liked to spar. There are some good ones out there, and some bad ones out there.

Welcome!

Welcome, Dan.

I like proofreading.

Forms have pros and cons. There are plenty of styles out there that don't do forms training, and finding one of those should help you accomplish your training goals.

I'll proof it for you.

I don't think there is avoidance here. I truly think that someone can do something just because they like it; there doesn't have to be some psychological underlying principle behind it. I like to think of myself as a simple man...there isn't much going on upstairs with me. My wife will ask me at times "whacha thinkin'?" and my simple response is usually nothing. And that is the case. I don't have to always be thinking or analyzing all that goes on around me, or even that I am involved in at the time. I just do it. And usually, its because I just enjoy it. I think this statement is a result of the rank system of most Eastern styles, and not something that is a hard and fast rule. Its because I think people get caught up in rank all the time. As a black belt, I don't do much of anything that I didn't or couldn't do as a white belt...I can just do it better now, because I have more time in. Its not so much about rank in, but time in, which gives the experience to make one better.

See, this is what I don't buy (no offense, especially when you realize I'm only writing this to help myself understand--I'm not presuming to teach anyone anything. I am being taught by your opinions). I don't buy that the study of martial arts is for self-defense. I think that is a facade, albeit an unconscious one. I've taken self-defense: it's called non-violent crisis intervention training, and reserve police officer training. In the first, I learned how to take down an aggressive patient, and or escape from that patient. In the second, I learned how to fire a weapon at a target and quickly reload, how to use a side-handle batton, and how to use pepper spray. That's self defense. I keep a Barretta 9mm 92FS on my bedside table at all times. At work, when I talk with a patient, I covertly keep a side stance, my hands out of my pockets, and a mindful presence about what they are doing with their hands--even with the cool patients. That's self-defense. None of that stuff took very long to learn. (By the way, I am not a reserve police officer at this time.). But in martial arts, self-defense is a side-effect of the training. Because it is martial training perfected to the level of an art, it naturally gives one the ability to fight an opponent, but by green belt, we are doing kata that has nothing to do with self-defense. By green belt, we are moving into an entirely different sphere of combat, and I believe that is a psychological sphere of combat. If you're into weapons, especially the Japanese katana, like in Iaido, you have completely left the realm of realistic self-defense. A gun is for self-defense. A sharp katana in trained hands is so mercilessly effective, it's not about self-defense. Think about it: modern martial arts, from Funakoshi's Shotokan Karate on, has come about in a world that has had superior battlefield weapons. It enjoyed it's greatest spread throughout the world after we dropped two nuclear weapons on Japan. Everyone just about in the US has a gun, and yet, martial arts is more popular here than it is in most Asian countries. All I'm asking is that when you are doing kata, when you are training in sparring, when you are training with your chosen weapon, what are you fighting? After all, you could have taken up golf or gymnastics--if all you wanted to do was challenge yourself. What do you think? I disagree with your assessment here. Just because guns and nuclear weapons are a more efficient way of taking lives, doesn't mean that physical Martial Arts training are null and void. I am in the same line of work that tallgeese is in, and the truth is that I will put hands on people many more times in my career than I will draw my gun. So, all that time spent on the range, albeit very valuable, is not going to be used as much as the hours I spend on hand-to-hand combat time. When I am doing a form or working the bag over, it isn't always a "battle" with something. Sometimes, its working towards getting better at something physical in particular, like a side kick. So, at that point, the side kick is the focus, not some other underlying demon that needs to be exorcised. Training to fight doesn't have to be a "fight while training." If that is what motivates you, then that is fantastic. But, not everyone else sees it the same way. It is also important to note that when discussions like this start, not everyone's opinions will jive. But, it is important for us all to know that everyone's opinion is welcome.

LOL! That's funny...and no, it's not time for a memoir because I'm nobody special! Sorry, I thought it was you who said you had 45 years in martial arts. No, you're correct, I did say that, but, I'm nobody that's special or noteworthy to write a memoir. What you may view as "nothing special" may include some very touching or heartfelt, important moments to those you've interacted with over the years. Perhaps they would enjoy it?

You train because there may come a day when it is needed. And when the time comes, you WON'T rise to the occassion...you WILL sink to the level of your training.

Congrats!

04/29/2010 Floor kicks Round kicks: 3x15 each leg Side kicks: 2x15 each leg Front kicks: 2x10 each leg Also did a bunch of half/dips on a bench while at the track meet today.

Don't worry about your size for Wrestling too much; that's why they have weight classes.