bushido_man96

This has been my experiences in my TKD training, as well. There is usually an acknowledged "respect" for kicks, especially when they are pulled off to the head, no contact is made. Sometimes, students will ignore this, and the next kick may find its mark. What I have also seen is that this kind of sparring can allow practicality to go out the window, giving way to the "flicky" stuff that you mention. No, but I do think that it is a good instructor's job to make it a by-product of the training.

11-4-09 TKD class: 6:00 - 7:00. It was good to get back to class tonight.

Well, it depends on what you want out of your training, too.

That's a good thought to consider. But Wrestling, like many other styles of today, is a specialized Martial Art, focusing on takedowns and grappling, essentially. Styles like Karate and TKD are more specialized in stand-up; TKD especially with kicking. And Boxing is the pinnacle of hand specialization. Wrestling's western heritage has brought it up in a more competitive aspect, like Boxing, than Eastern styles have.

This is a nice post, with lots of good thoughts to consider. I do think that complacency can become a problem in the Martial Arts, and many other endeavors for that matter, especially when one is not challenged on a regular basis. I try not to become complacent in my training, often times to the point of constanly wondering if I am good enough at all. The best thing for complacency is a reality check, I would venture to guess.

I think that risk of injury is higher, yes, depending on the rules used, and the safety equipment. Kids using MMA gloves and hitting each other in the face is not good for them.

It sounds like they value expansion, too. Not that it is a bad thing, but asking to recruit other experienced MAists to farm them out, sounds a bit fishy...

I have to agree. back in earlier eras, certain conditioning had to be sought. However, not everyone can be conditioned or have positive results via conditioning as another. In other words, conditioning may not help certain people. There are long term detremental effects from conditioning, that in present society, is not warranted in a social norm. As an example, there is a 5th dan at our headquarters school that doesn't do hand technique board breaking, because he is a doctor by profession. He can't afford to mess up his hands on a board break, so, he is allowed to other techniques.

I think this tends to be the unfortunate opposite extreme when it comes to dojo-relationships. I know, some are wondering how being tougher on someone would be bad for them...but when it is noticibly different treatment than anyone else in the class, it can have the same affect as those that sensei8 talked about.

Agreed. It seems like a times the defensive training against grabs is watered down. The way we teach these techniques at my school is with beginners we do teach it in a static manner, so that they can learn the basic concepts of what to do. Once they reach an "intermediate" rank we start to remove some of the static portions of the self defense practice, and by the time you are testing for black belt, the gloves are off, so to speak. Not only are the "attackers" pushing and pulling you, we require the defender to not just break the grab, but to incorporate at least 3 additional strikes and a takedown into their defense. I think that this is the way to go about it. Students need to know that it is really going to be a bear of a hold to break, and that it is going to hurt really bad, in all likelyhood. Adding realism to it will make the difference in training.

I do agree with the proficiency levels that professionals fighters train for, and that it will be a boon to them, should they need to defend themselves. I do think that we are beginning to see more and more that self-defense instructors put more of a point on improving physical fitness levels to help in self-defense. You also see more MMA types skills seeping into SD training.

Good points, tufrthanu. Although I have done some work, it has been at close range, what we call "slap leather" or "Rambo" drills. We usually do them with rubber band guns, which adds a touch of realism to the scenario.

Thank goodness KC was on bye. During that time, they did manage to suspend LJ for a while. He won't be in KC for much longer. I'll be surprised if he plays the rest of this season.

As much as it irks me, Damon's heads-up base-running in game 4 was a big key. But Lee was good again in game 5. I wonder if he can pitch on 1 days rest???

Should be a hit!

Welcome to KF, Richard.

My brother sent that one to me. Pretty cool! I wonder how long it took to put that together?

11-2-09 Push-up/crunch superset Push-ups: 10 Crunches: 10 Wide push-ups: 10 Crunches: 10 Triceps push-ups: 10 Crunches: 10 Repeated 3 times, getting all sets done in under the 2 minutes allowed for each. On the third set, crunches were replaced with reverse crunches. Forms practice: Yoo Sin hyung, first 19 moves, 10 times. Kicking: did a drill where I would chamber my leg for the side kick, and then roll the hips over to horizontal. Did 3 sets of 5 on each leg, without setting it down. 11-3-09 Forms practice: Yoo Sin hyung, moves 20-40, at least 10 times.

I never liked the two-at-a-time forms format for tourneys, either. Better to take the extra time and let each do the form by themselves.

Since the foot is the base of the supporting leg, and that leg will determine hip placement (if it's wrong, all built on it is wrong), doesn't it all trace back to the "root"? Students have to know where they want the hip to be; they're introduced how to get it into place by proper placement of that which supports and therefore permits. There has to be a beginner's approach. The idea of foot placement, even if it's as basic as to turn your foot first and then concentrate on the hip, is valid. I see the combo of everything in motion, starting correctly all at once and ending correctly (Bob's "Everything in the side kick should start and end at the same time!" comment) at the intermediate-advanced level, not the beginner's. I agree with Joe's post here. I don't think that the base foot becomes the main focus, but it is just as important in the whole of the side kick because the base foot and the hips tend to be linked. I know that if I don't pivot my foot, then I can't get good hip placement. Now, I think that most MA instructors will go down the path of teaching the foot placement first because in the majority of students, it will get the hips into the proper position for the side kick. Now, if an instructor does find a student whose body works a bit differently, then he has to recognize that, and work with the student in a different way. Bob, I liked your post explaining your side kick methods in Shindokan....and I can't help but wonder about your locked base-leg comments....you probably saw my FB picture in your head, over and over, didn't you???

Very nice analogy, Sokusen.

Great attitude there, Tokyo. Keep at it.

I didn't claim that your story was too excessive. Like Kuma, to hear it strikes up an interest; that is all. To me, it sounded like your friend did the right thing, but the workplace didn't think so.

That's an interesting option, if it available. What if she would not have decided to leave for the other school?

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