bushido_man96

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.

4/27/2010 Did 3 sets of 10 slow and deliberate push-ups.

What are the SEA games?

Sensei Pat Nakata's classes only wear gi pants, a white t-shirt, and no belts.

Bingo.

I give my instructor a gift every month...its called the membership fees.

Man, if that is true, it really is too bad.

You don't buy clothes you can't kick in...

Sorry, Joe. Tori is probably more appropriate. Totally agree with this. I hate it when people throw a punch but don't even try to make it connect. In most cases I'll just leave it and not block and if they ask why, its because I didn't need to block. The other end I experience on this, mainly with one-steps, is when the defender will yell and then move right away...if I see this going on, I'll delay my attack, so that they aren't getting so anticipatory. The other thing I see happening is when the attacker punches to where they know the defender is going to move to. Both are not good deals.

That sounds like an awesome opportunity! Enjoy yourself.

You and my dad, Bob! I read a lot anymore, and I'd have to say that I really like Clive Cussler, and his Dirk Pitt novels. I read all his others, too, though, and Isaac Bell is a lot of fun. I've recently latched on to William Deitrich's Ethan Gage adventures, which are fantastic if you like to see your characters interact with events throughout history. Gage is involved with Napolean, Jefferson, and plenty of other historical characters, and he is a former apprentice of Ben Franklin. His stories are a romp. Ah, so many others....also of recent has been Matthew Reilly. That guy can make action just fly.

Good job!

I say, if its a target, then hit it. If she doesn't want to wear the chest protector, then that's her decision. You can still punch to the stomach, and to the top of the chest, above the breasts, and still get good contact. For good targets, though, look to the stomach and the kidney area. Don't shortchange yourself on targets because she won't wear a chest protector. Go after it!

I don't own a place, but I did teach at TKD, and I have been attending Aikido as well. I don't attempt to bring Aikido into my TKD class, as it would take away time from TKD curriculum. Also, I don't have enough experience to really teach anything Aikido, so I just keep it as my own training time to learn and grow.

They are variations. Most of it just depends on the instructor lineage.

It is possible to up the contact levels in sparring and not get hurt every day. Using the proper safety equipment can help with this. As far as Shotokan gaining more respect if they make the contact harder, may be true. It may not, as well. I imagine that there are some Shotokan gyms out there that do some harder contact sparring. I do think that it would be a more convincing experience to some as to what the contact can actually make one feel like when fighting, and it would not be a bad experience. But, whether or not it ever changes, we'll have to see.

Which styles would these be? I don't think it ends up being about "killing" moves, but more about the willingness to train to fight in the ring. If one could apply that hold to the throat on the Adam's apple, then it would take much to adjust it to get the sides of the throat, for a choke. As for striking the throat, its a pretty small target, and most good fighters are going to have their chin tucked and their hands up to protect their head. MMA is a real fighting style, and one of the things that makes it so effective is that the practitioners actually practice fighting, a lot.

Well, ground game is going to be a given in most UFC fights; its just the nature of the beast.

That's awesome! Congrats. It sounds like your BJJ training is really working out for you. All that training paying off.