bushido_man96

Wow, Bob. I didn't know you were such a baseball buff. Thanks for sharing all that info. Love it. Have you ever read anything by Bill James?

That x-block covering motion shows up in our TKD moves, as crossing the arms prior to blocking or striking.

10-20-09 Ran around the ball diamond twice, with rest between each round. Push-ups: 35, 20, 15 Stretched the legs. Man I hate running.

These are all good suggestions, so I won't repeat any stretching ideas here. What I will suggest, is that muscle strength is just as important as muscle flexibility. So, do some leg workouts like squats, with or without weight, and if you can get into a gym, do some leg presses, curls, extensions, squats, abductor and adductor exercises, dead lifts, or a combination of all of them to build some leg strength. Then keep stretching.

Thanks for the advise, Bob. It does help. The way do the kick is crescent kick into that hand, then flow into the side kick, without setting the foot down between kicks. We do this kick in blue belt one-steps as well (not that I like them there, but we do them...). Anywho, doing the one big motion is a good way to practice, so long as I don't build so much momentum as to fall over. I did a few just now, and found a few things to help... 1. From the sitting stance (or horse stance, if you prefer), if I pivot the leading base leg for the kick by turning the foot more into a back stance position, it allows me to bring the crescent around easier. 2. Holding the hand steady, and really slapping and driving through the hand helps a bit. 3. From there, I am chambered for the side kick, with the base leg not pivoted yet; I then thrust/pierce (??) the side kick out, and pivot the base foot at the same time to open the hips up for power. I'll continue to work on this, and see how it comes together. Maybe I can put a video of it together, and get it up sometime, if I can stand the embarassment.... I'm also interested to hear of this progression is anything close to what Tony does, and if the side kick sounds like thrusting or piercing.

Brian's got nothing to do with the website... And its a good thing I don't have anything to do with your website, because I would really mess it up! All I really know how to do on a website is post.....

I don't compete much anymore, either. I think that the prime time to get into competition is at the younger ages, when perhaps things like job and family don't consume as much time, and you can spend more time training, both in and out of the dojo. That also leads to it being easier when you get older, and still want to compete now and then.

Yep, makes sense. Its good that you can perceive those motions early on, and react. It quickens your reaction time. I wish I could recognize it that quickly.

I enjoy seminars and workshops as well, Joe. When you can interact with different Martial Artists that you wouldn't normally be in contact with, you get to see so many different ideas and approaches. I'm glad you enjoyed your time.

There are a few ways to look at this.... 1. This is the status quo in baseball. You homer off a guy, there is a good chance he may come back high and tight on you, to shake you up a bit. Its all part of the mind game strategy of baseball. 2. As for your first post, would I "teach my son a lesson?" Well, I try to teach him one everyday, but...anyways, in that context, would depend on a few things. A) if he scored a legit point, or got a legit shot on me, then I'd say kudos, and go on with the sparring. I'll get one, too. B) if he scored on me, and then proceded to gloat about it, and talk a bit of smack, or advertise it to those around, then there might be the need for a humbling experience to follow..but this would be the case with any one else I was sparring with, as well.

Its good to see you back, Patusai. We look forward to reading more from you.

I think what it comes down to is that the round kick is easier to pull off mechanically, so the side kick gets cheated.

I can see what you are getting at, Bob. I can also see it from Joe's perspective, too, and they both make sense to me. In the end, it comes down to what you feel is right and proper, or acceptable, in your own school. I have heard of instances when an instructor "stripped" a student's belt, but it was in the case of an adult who stepped out of line big time in a tournament setting. Essentially, this guy was not being a very good ambassador of the school he was from, and he got in trouble for it. In this case, I kind of view it as an instance where the instructor saw fit to make him a black belt, and through abuse, had that privilege stripped from him.

Agreed! This one is one of the toughest to get through to the students of our school.

Guile is a character from the Street Fighter video games. One of his "special" moves was called the Flash Kick, which was essentially a back flip boot to the head.

If you ever get the chance to read A Killing Art, you get to see where at times these kinds of ethics seem to be ignored by the very ones who choose to push them on others...

We've got our last meet this weekend, and then she's through with it. We'll see how it finishes out.

My brother saw it, and he enjoyed it. I think I'll wait for the DVD release, though.

I'd rather think of it as a "kick to the side" to simplify things. Perhaps that is something that gets lost in translation.

I tend to look at the upper chest area, and allow my peripheral vision to take in everything. I don't look at the eyes, because I think then you tend to narrow your focus. I also think that its easier to get faked out by shifting eye movements or head fakes.

Instructor or student, we're all still human, and subject to attractions all the same. I've dated within the school as an instructor before. It didn't work out, but it didn't destroy the school, either. It all depends on how responsible two adults can be.

My team isn't in, so right now, I'm in the Phillies lot to repeat.

Yeah, it was a heart breaker on my end, Bob. But, KC had their chances, and didn't capitalize, so what can one do?

Probably something by the George Dillman camp. I'm suspect when it comes to this subject, but you might look him up, if you are interested.

This is a good idea, Bob.