bushido_man96

Bulky doesn't always mean slow. Just like anyone, you have to train to learn how to move your body and weight. Sumo Wrestlers can be very explosive, and are quite agile for big men. There are football players that weigh close to 300 lbs and can run a 40 yard dash in under 5 seconds. Bulky=slow is not a sound arguement, in my mind.

The problem comes in adults being willing to take this youngster seriously. At an age when parents are still teaching this youngster, how can one expect to be taught and promoted by said youngster? I think that is where the problem lies.

I am more of the gaining muscle and strength school of thought here. There comes a point, though, that it may be important to lose some of the fat so that the MAist can move his/her body more easily. But, I am a firm believer in weight training/strength training to improve the Martial Artist's abilities. I think that there are still a lot of MAists out there that are under the misguided belief that big muscles slow you down and render a Martial Artist inflexible. These fallacies have never been proven. I was noticing this when I started running. But, I've kept at it, and now, its just like it was before I was running. After doing leg exercises, you might want to stretch differently, because weight training the legs may not get them as warm as other activities would. Maybe after weights, get a little jog in, and get them more warmed up, then stretch. Either way, I believe after a time of sticking with your routine, it won't be so hard anymore.

6-3-10 Jogged for 15 minutes. Hit the mile 11:10, and finished with 1.3 miles. Stretched. Did my splits w/o sitting on the ground, which has suffered a bit. Felt good to stretch that way, though. TTA white and low orange belt forms. ATA white and orange belt forms.

It sounds like you enjoyed it. I am with tallgeese in that I wouldn't like to see one of my MA classes a week exchanged with yoga, but if you have the time and enjoy it, then go for it.

Thanks. I'll keep that stuff in mind.

I have started running, and I do at least a mile each time I run. If I get 3 days a week, I'm doing pretty good. I am trying to bring it up to running for 15 minutes now, and will work towards getting a mile and a half in, and add from there. Surprisingly, it hasn't been bothering my knees like I thought it would. Afterwards, I get a really good stretch, since I am warm.

6-2-10 Jogged for 15 minutes. I got a mile in just over 11 minutes, and topped out at around 6 mph. TTA white belt form TTA white belt one-steps (7 total) ATA white belt form ATA white belt one-steps (3 total) TTA lo orange belt form TTA lo orange belt one-steps (4 total) ATA orange belt form ATA orange belt one-steps (3 total) Then had another good stretch. If I keep this up, I may end up being flexible again.

It is wrong. But unfortunately, it is the Kukkiwon that has brought that image on itself. But, if one keeps his goals in mind, and knows what one is learning at the time, then its easier to focus and not pay attention to what others say or think.

I wondered if some schools still used the Pal Gwe's, or if most had just moved onto the Tae Guk's. That seems to be the trends. When my dad first started, many years ago, he did the old Pal Gwe forms.

At first I was thinking its just glorified shdow boxing. After reading you're post I think you are probally right. I think that the major downfall here is that you end up having two guys throwing all kinds of techniques at each other at the same time, without regard to what the other person is doing. It ends up becoming a continuous buzzsaw of techniques, with no rhyme or reason. If you don't have to worry about being struck by a technique, then you won't learn how to deal with it, and what techniques you can and can't do when you are jamming each other or being pelted from a distance.

Sorry Bob, but I am pulling for the Celtics here.

Very nice. Thanks for sharing that. I always get so frustrated when I jump rope.

Welcome to KF, Tim.

Not bad ideas at all, mr. obvious.

Its tough, and depends on the students' ranks. Breaking into rank groups, and having an instructor that can help with each, would be a good deal. But, it doesn't always happen that way.

I like to just try to have a really big plate...with sideboards on it, too.

I agree. I don't think it is the norm to see a bunch of high ranks in a school. I think that typically lower ranks will outnumber the higher ranks, just due to the process of elimination. I think there is a 10% factor in those who make it to black belt, and then a 10% factor for every degree thereafter.

For me, it would depend on what was being offered as far as curriculum goes. I'd be willing to check it out, at least. Who knows?

I'd guess its a technique issue. Kicks are a lot more technical than hand strikes are, in my opinion. They have always been more challenging for me, anyways. Having someone with some experience look at what you are doing and guiding you along can go a long ways in helping.

Ours are conducted in front of a panel.

Yeah, it does sound somewhat counter-productive. I have not heard of it. I could see sparring maybe in a limited fashion from like a kicking distance or something, to work on that aspect, though.

I've got some old tourney footage of me laying around somewhere. Its a great training tool to use, especially in slowing down parts of a form so I can break down technique. I think a great idea would be to video tape every white belt's first testing. Then, tape them again when they test for black belt. After promotion, have a gathering with food and beverages, and a TV to show how someone started, and how they look after testing for black belt.

I think its a case of sometimes "actions speak louder than words." I know that there is an old gym axiom, as well: "show me, don't tell me." Sometimes, both of these do have room in the dojo.

Kihon, Kata, and Kumite. Basics, forms, and sparring, in English .