bushido_man96

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.

I think the best thing you could do is focus on what you feel comfortable with doing...the things you have spent the most time on, and have made work for you. Then, adjust your game as you go along. Best of luck to you!

Thanks, me too.

I would not think that your feet sticking like that should be too much of a problem, but if it is, you might consider some chalk of some kind to powder them and free them up a bit. I wouldn't do it, but it might work for you.

Thanks DWx. The truth is, it's not credible. It's a franchise. But then, Taekwondo isn't really credible either, not if you realize it's just Japanese karate given a different name. There is a kind of public shame Koreans seem to have over Korea being occupied by Japan in the early part of the 20th century, and they will never admit that such an occupation might have brought with it a more advanced civilization, so there is a denial that Taekwondo is really rooted in karate. And I took WTF Taekwondo for a year with an old Korean in Colorado Springs (who was very prominent in Olympic Taekwondo) who wouldn't even admit Karate existed or for that matter any other form of Taekwondo than WTF (Kukkiwon). He knows better. He was alive in WWII in Korea. He knows who General Choi is, and he knows Choi studied Shotokan Karate under Funakoshi in Japan. And even Shotokan Karate is not that old! Not even a hundred years yet. My point is that every martial art in existence today is not that credible. The martial arts of bygone eras are probably not that much more credible . I'm a bit troubled here. Why do you say that Martial Arts aren't that credible?

I tend to rotate mine, but I'm not sure it makes a difference as far as power or technique is concerned. It probably has more to do with comfort than anything else.

The sheep are just normal people. They aren't necessarily scared; they just don't have the ways or the means to fight if they need to...lack of training, weapons, or, they just don't want to, or, are taken by surprise, by the wolf in the night. The sheep isn't always afraid. But when the sheep is attacked-mugged, robbed, or what have you, he may not have the recourse to act. This isn't being humble, or fearful. It may be fear at the time, but who wouldn't be? The sheepdog is the protector of the flock. He knows that his duty is to protect the flock, no matter the cost. Now the sheepdog isn't really a superhero; he just does what his job is, which is to protect the flock. The wolves here are the criminal element, preying on the weak, old, young, innocent, etc.

Well, my work schedule now keeps me up late at night, with nothing much to do but post on KF, read, and watch movies. Of course, most of my favorites are Martial Arts related movies. So, I thought when I was watching one, I'd post about it here, and see what y'all had to say in return to my ramblings. This weeks movie, on 04/28/2010, is Gladiator, with Russel Crowe as Maximus. This is one of my favorite movies of all. I love the background, and of course, the fights. I enjoy the storyline, too. I really like Maximus' character and qualities. I think the movie can break up into thirds as to the story makeup. In the first 1/3 of the movie, we meet Maximus, who has a nickname - "General." We see many people refer to him by this one-word nickname, and he is respected, but not just for his ability to fight. He also puts the fighting into perspective as a general in an exchange he has with Quintas: Quintas: "People should know when they are conquered." Maximus: "Would you? Would I?" He is respected by many, and feared by others, but not necessarily for his ability to fight, but because he inspires others, and lead them. Also, for the genuineness of his characte. In the second 1/3 of the movie, he gains a new one-word nickname - "Spaniard." The others don't know him as a general, but they do know he can fight. And he fights for a different reason now; because he is required to, and not necessarily to entertain, much to the chagrin of his handler, Proximo. But others still recognize his character, and he still makes allies. In the final 1/3 of the movie, he regains his "General" nickname, when he reveals himself to Comodus in the Coloseum. And his charisma saves him from the emporer, and allows him to exact his revenge in the end. I love the story, and the fight scenes in this movie. And I'll be honest; I almost cried at the end of this movie.

04/28/2010 FL side kicks, 3x10, each leg. Also did some stretching.

I envy you. My work schedule has caused me to miss classes, and this will likely continue until July. So, unless I get some training time solo, I'm out of class for a time. I've been back once since I got back from Academy.

That seems to be a purely American custom, most places in Europe would see that as being either symbolic of cutting the friendship or giving bad luck. Depends on the region, I'd guess. In America, a lot of people carry knives because they are very useful as a tool, are legal in most cases, and make for good self-defense in a pinch.

I remember a high dan grade once telling me that we've only got two cheeks to turn... But, at any rate, you make some interesting points. I'm not big on the "turn the other cheek" idea, but that's just me. As far as the weak being humble because they have to in order to survive, this I'm not so sure of. There is a difference in being humble, and being fearful. Its the wolves, sheep, and sheepdog idea.

Well, Martialart, I will say this, it appears that you are making lemonade out of lemons. Kudos for taking your training seriously in that venue. Perhaps it will make others follow suit.

I agree with DWx. You can still have the hand tight, with gaps in the fingers. I think most instructors don't like to see the gaps, because they want the technique to crisp and clean, and so teach that if the fingers are gapped, its "bad technique," when in fact, there probably isn't much proof that this is the case.

Wow, that's something else.