bushido_man96

I tend to agree with tallgeese here. If you want to do both, and have the time and resources to do so, then go for it. If you find it a bit overwhelming, then stick to one for a while. I also think that you can master/perfect/whatever you want to refer to it as, more than one art. Its all about how well you can pick it up, and how hard you work on them. Its possible. Maybe not easy, but hey, if it were easy, then everyone would do it.

My deal here is that these guys have to start somewhere, and have to get that experience from somewhere, so I don't have a problem in working with someone who doesn't have as much experience as others do. One can only become great one day at a time. Who knows? You may end up becoming a part of something special.

I agree with your sentiments here. I like to gain the control and maintain it, especially since its more applicable to cuffing and the like. Yes, I have noticed this, too. Aikido movement, for lack of better terminology, seems to be a lot more technical than the Hapkido movement that I do. However, I have found spots where I do a bit of cross-over with each. Of these two 'soft' styles, I find that Hapkido is the 'harder' of the two styles. However, in reading books put out by the Yoshinkan, I've seen more serious striking involved. The system I study in tends to be less aggressive with the strikes. Thanks for the comments thus far, guys.

That is something that bothers me about Fencing footwork, that it is all back and forth, with no lateral movement. Its good footwork for what it is, but having that lateral movement is a big helper, in my opinion.

Randy Couture vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira……………Nogueira Keith Jardine vs. Thiago Silva…………………………………….Jardine Chris Leben vs. Jake Rosholt………………………………………Leben Nate Marquardt vs. Demian Maia……………………………….Marquardt Brandon Vera vs. Krzysztof Soszynski………………………. Soszynski Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Chris Tuchscherer……………………..Gonzaga Ed Herman vs. Aaron Simpson……………………………………Simpson Michael Russow vs. Justin McCully………………………………Russow Todd Duffee vs. Tim Hague………………………………………….Hague Mark Munoz vs. Nick Catone………………………………………..Cantone Marcus Aurelio vs. Evan Dunham………………………………..Dunham

I have been studying Combat Hapkido for several years now, and I have also been studying Aikido for a while now too, although the college break has put me on hiatus from Aikido. I have seen some difference in the two, and wanted to share them here. 1. Energy. In Aikido, there is more focus on energy. It may be given by the attacker, in the form of a push or a pull, or the defender can give some energy to create movement for projection. In Combat Hapkido, this isn't always the case. Attacks with punches or kicks will produce some energy, but grabs are not usually accompanied by a push or a pulling motion. 2. Rolls/breakfalls. Many of the Aikido techniques end in a throw, or a "projection" of the attacker; the attacker is thrown, and rolls back to a standing position many times. However, there are some breakfalls, and there are also pins and locks taught, as well. However, I feel that Combat Hapkido does a lot more takedowns and restraints/holds, which means for the attacker, that there is less rolling, and more breakfalling, and more tapping out. 3. Striking. Combat Hapkido contains strikes, and they are usually part of every technique done. They are used as distraction techniques, as well as finishes. In Aikido, there isn't near as much striking as the defender, and striking technique is not worked on as a part of the curriculum. It is in Combat Hapkido.

8-24-09 Bench press: 165x10, 175x8, 185x6, 195x4, 215x2, 235x1. I may go up on the early sets. Crunches: 4x25 Sit-ups: 20, 15. I used less foot brace on these today. Push-ups: 30, 25, max sets. I don't seem to be making gains here. Dumbell military press: 30x15x3 Dips: 10, 8 max sets.

In watching one of the videos posted on a thread, the instructor started by stating that they were demonstrating "advanced" self-defense techniques. I don't like the use of the term "advanced" so much in regards to self-defense. What exactly would "advanced" entail? Is there anything that you can't learn self-defense to early on? I don't like to think so. I like to think that you have self-defense; no titles or otherwise. I think that if an instructor has a good system of concepts and strategies, then those things will reach across the board for most, if not all, self-defense scenarios. Just my take, though. Thoughts?

Welcome to KF, and welcome to the world of Martial Arts.

Congrats!

You'll get varying degrees of answers on this one, but as far as I'm concerned, I wouldn't rule the dojo out until you have viewed any of the classes the shodan teaches. Many will say that no, not as a shodan. But, the person may have a good grasp of the material, and have a good teaching method. If he does, then there isn't any reason to give them a shot.

I like the elaboration on hitting and pushing. My sentiments, as well.

I agree with JusticeZero and work on other things. Focus on your other hand. Maybe lead with the other side, and do things that way. Rest that particular finger, but work around it, and keep your training going.

8-20-09 Got 5 minutes of doing shome akitaiso, then got interrupted. 8-21-09 Warm-up: Bike with dog 1 mile, 5 minute stretch. Leg press: 255x20x3 Assisted pull-ups: 10, 7 max sets. Dead lift: 205x5x3 Crunches: 4x25 Lat pull-down: 110x15x3 Lunges: 3x10 Dumbell row: 35x10x3 Dumbell curls: 25x10x3 Bar curls: 70x10x3 8-22-09 Ex. bike: 7 miles Walk: 12 minutes 8-23-09 Bike 1 mile with dog, stretched out legs.

Typically, that stuff isn't going to get you the results you want, in a healthy way. The best thing to do is watch your caloric intake, and exercise. Always has worked, and always will work. And no side effects.

I hear lasik sugery works wonders.

I look toward the direction I am going when stepping into the block, then focus forward upon completion of the block. Then, I look toward the next block, and so on. I found a Jitte Kata video here, Bob: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAiAm0W-zgw Yes, its the same block. In my TKD school, we actually call them Mountain Blocks, as opposed to W-shaped Blocks.

Muay Thai clinch.

To elaborate on Sensei8's thoughts on visiting a dojo, I would try to do so without calling and setting up an appointment; just drop in. That way, you see what goes on from day to day, and not a special demonstration of what black belts might get to do.

I have come to not appreciate this statement much. Why discount all the learning that takes place before it? I think that learning is learning, and later learning builds on early learning. I like to think of it as just a continuum. I do think that it is difficult to quantify what exactly a "black belt" is. Everyone has different talents and abilities, and it is up to them to figure out what it is, and how to grow into it. Not everyone will have great technique, but some without may be great at applying concepts and strategies, and so on. Sometimes, I think the styles that really have it all figured out are the ones that don't use rank at all.

BJJ actually has more in common with Judo than JJJ, especially in its training methodology (randori-friendly). Maeda brought Judo to the Gracie family, but referred to it as Jujitsu because his instructor, Kano, was very much against the idea of challenge matches and the like. So as not to anger or offend Kano, Maeda referred to it as Jujitsu, and then the Gracies learned it, emphasized the grappling as opposed to the throwing, refined it, and then the challenge matches came, etc, the rest is history. So, rather than being "one small piece," I actually see it as a specialization in an area that came out of JJJ. Judo, specialized in the throwing aspect, and BJJ, in the grappling aspect. Originally, Aiki-Jujitsu was the unarmed system used by the Samurai class. It was never a point of focus, really, as it was a fall back should the weapons be lost or bound, etc. So, a Samurai, on average, would have spent more time in honing sword and other weapon skills, and less time on Aiki-JJ. The arm bars and what not were likely still there, and some things probably changed over time, especially after the sword was no longer a point of concern.

Could you possibly extrapolate a little more please! With my limited experience with Aikido thus far, I would agree. There are a lot of intricacies in Aikido, from the types of movements you make, to the giving/taking energy, and things like that. Of course, schools do vary, and some may have a process that translates things faster than others. What I have experienced so far is a lot of technical points in the moves; also, the philosophy of not using much offensive attack at all makes it more difficult to translate, in my opinion.

I think that it is something useful, to a point. The problem with backing up too much is that you don't gain any advantage by it. But, if you can back up faster than your opponent is advancing, then you can set up a counter to go back towards them.

I like most of the components of the first video, but I would definitely consider striking with the hands more prior to securing the hands. Kicking low, groin or knee, rather than the body, and I liked the outside movement, provided he doesn't keep ahold of the hair. Otherwise, you help them take a chunk of it out. I didn't like the second video at all. It looked ackward, and the instructor didn't do a good job of making me feel like it could work. In the third video, I didn't like the idea of going so low at the beginning of the technique. It might be ok, if your really limber, but I would take a different route.

I'm not saying that I disagree with you, but how and where do you set the standards? For TKD and Judo, is black belt reserved soley for those who can compete and win in national and international competitions? For BJJ, those who can win in submission matches? Would achieving full splits and exceptional flexibility be a requirement, as well? I think that there are a lot of different factors that go into ranking, and not all factors fit all people the same way. That's why I ask how one thinks the standards should be set.