bushido_man96

I'm not very big on the frayed look, I guess. None of my belts have frayed yet, either.

Just go to class, and work out. If he sees that you have enough experience, he might double grade you. If he doesn't, then just go on; you might be more rusty than you thought.

If not having a changing room is an issue, at least take a t-shirt, and change it in a bathroom or in the car after class.

You might see if there are any Filipino styles around. They usually consist of hand-stick-knife training, and it all tends to overlap very well.

I agree. Striking before applying any joint manipulation, or striking as you acquire the lock, is a good way to facilitate the success level of using such a technique. If instructors allow resistance in drills with joint locks, it is quickly realized just how tough they can be to pull off. Striking can help take the grabber's mind off the grab, weaken the grip, and occupy them in defense while the defender can then work on getting away.

I think that there are different ways to look at what is "hard core" and what is not. Some will think of it as the body conditioning type of training, with full contact, padless sparring. Others will think of it as lots of traditional line training in basics and forms, with lots of attention paid to technical ability. Sparring will likely be invovled as well, but it may not be the "blood and guts" style of sparring. Both have their merits, and both can offer good training. I'm sure that there are many more ways of training that can fall into the mold of good training, as well. So, it is important as a student, to decide what you want your training to be like, and seek the instructor/school that offers it.

I think that by training extensively, then yes, it is possible to reach that kind of level. And if you feel confident enough in your abilities so that you don't need to use them, then that's fantastic. However, at times, some people don't have the luxury of taking that option, and therefore, must fight in some form or another.

Hehe, isn't that the truth?! Now, I hope soon to start living vicariously through the Martial exploits of my children...

This is something that I think can be hard to control at the student level. If students want to date, who am I to stop them from doing so? I might warn them about what can happen should they part ways, especially if it is rough, but, that's life. People come into your life, and people will come out of it; it happens to all of us. And if someone develops feelings for another along the way, then why try to get into the middle of it? Now, when it comes to instructor/student relationships, I think you have to approach it differently. I still don't feel inclined to be the one to tell my instructors who they can and cannot go out with, but I think that intentions have to be realized. I would not like the idea of any instructor, chief or assistant, using the student base to add tallies to their score, so to speak. But if the intentions don't appear to be that way, then I wouldn't have a problem with it. Chief instructors, I would expect to hold to a level of professionalism that they would not date from within their school. But then again, a chief instructor may meet that special person, and if this is the case, then proceeding with caution is the way to go. Now, with all that said, I will also add that I did meet my wife at the TKD school...

They split a pair in an away game this week, winning one big, and losing one big. But, she said she had some really good hits, and the team played well. Unfortunately, I couldn't go watch, because it was a long drive away. I was glad she did well, though.

Brian, I just hope that the Chiefs have a better 2009 than they did in 2008: 2-14, but, hey, at least they had 2 Pro-Bowlers in 2008! Yeah, but one of our pro-bowlers is now an Atlanta Falcon. I'm hoping we get a win here soon...

10-2-09 Aikido: 3:45 - 4:30. Worked on Shihonage again, and did some rolling work.

Ah, that explains that, then. Thanks for the clarification.

It sounds like you enjoyed your class. Keep us posted on how it goes.

I think that some of that training does have merit. But, there are different ways to approach it, and everyone has ideas of how to approach it. I think I'd rather take my hits in sparring, as opposed to standing and getting hit, but, if done with a responsible training partner, it could be productive. I'm also kind of impressed to see a spinning hook kick done by the white belts. I think I'll bookmark those vids, too, because I see some things I think I'd like to work with. Thanks for sharing them.

There are some good points being made here, but we could also discuss the loss of stability from jumping and kicking, as well...it makes just the heel coming off the ground appear less suspect.

Oh, ok. Its cool. I was just confused...

Can't help you on either of these. The only TKD forms I have been familiar with are the Palgwes, Chang on, Tae Gueks, and the ATA forms. Perhaps those were some of the early forms that Gen. Choi taught before he began instituting his Chang on system?

I don't know if there is a double standard, or not. But, I do know that not all Martial Artists will train the same way. Some people really get into the rugged, outdoor, freezing cold training. I don't so much. I don't mind the cold, but I'd rather not walk around outside barefoot in the snow. The same goes for the kind of body callousing type of training. I don't necessarily think that those are just "guy things" to do, but I do think that on the average, you'll find more guys into that than women. And I think that is ok. To each their own.

I was trying to agree with you here....did it come across differently?

9-30-09 Combat Hapkido: 3:45 - 4:30. Worked on trapping drills, doing some movement up and down the floor. Led into some good stuff, too. Weights Assisted pull-ups: 15, 10, 10 Sit-ups: 30, 20, 20 Lat pull-downs: 96x15x3 Dips: 6 Bench dips: 15x2

Hey, the Phins just picked up Tyler Thigpen in a trade with the Chiefs. Although I don't envision him as a starter, I do think he'll give some nice looks in the Wildcat.

Tallgeese has addressed this before, and it is true if the officer is not allowed to move tactically backwards or at angles to get to cover and draw. So yes, it is true, to a point. I've learned over time that these concerns have more to do with an individual's outlook on what the arts are for, as opposed to some blanket philosophy that applies to an Art/Arts in general. Although I have been exposed to various philosophies when it comes stylistic ideologies, I tend to take them with a grain of salt, and keep my own opinions and outlooks in mind. My Aikido training is like that. Suffice it to say that some of my opinions on the MAs tend to sound a bit out of place when I voice them in Aikido class.

Just because the goals of the combat change, doesn't mean that it isn't any less martial. In many ways, being an LEO is being put behind the 8-ball, more so that being in the military. There is considerably more use-of-force that comes into play, and when an officer has to go to lethal force, then they have to get through those steps, first. In the military, the soldiers basically get to engage the enemy, with extreme prejiduce. Law enforcement don't get to open up with that option. But I don't think it makes it any less martial. I think that street fights can go the same way, too. You never can tell if you're getting the guy that just wants to beat the crap out of you, or the guy that is wanting to kill you. So, you still have to go through that use-of-force ladder.

Been there, done that, too. Man, takes a LOT of time, at least good ones do, so its hard to make time for it now. I used to play Magic, The Gathering a ton, too, but too expensive and not much time for it anymore, either. I also LOVE to read. I've been reading lots of fiction lately, including Cussler, Rollins, Gibbins, Matthew Reilly, DuBrul, George R.R. Martin, Ted Bell, Tolkien, and William Dietrich. I pick up some literary classics now and then, too. I also read just about anything MA that I can get my hands on, too. Been Facebooking a lot lately, as well, and that's a good time. I like to use it mainly to keep in touch with family, and mess with my daughter's Facebook account, too.