bushido_man96

If I were you, I'd visit the area schools, and see what is offered. Watch a class or two of each, and ask for a schedule to look at. From there, you should be able to allocate your time to get a class or 2 in per week. When you view the classes, watch the content, and what they tend to focus on. You should be able to tell if they are working towards goals that may equal what you want. You may not find the perfect match, but you should get something that gives you most of what you want. Like tallgeese mentioned, working on techniques on your own, without instruction, could lead to bad habits forming. You can break these, but it can take time, and you end up re-training instead of training. Like he said, work things you are pretty sure you know for now. Along with that, doing some basic physical fitness exercises would benefit your solo training time fairly significantly. Welcome to KF.

No doubt there. It definitely takes some guidance to get there.

7-30-09 Warm-up: Bike ride/jog with the puppy dog today - stretch. Combat Hapkido: 8:45 - 9:30. We worked on our trapping applications today, and also worked on strining together techniques from these applications. The work we have been doing on combo string really helped out here. Bench press: 195x5x5 sets Crunches: 25x4 1/2 sit-ups: 25 Push-ups: 28, 20..max sets Double crunches: 25 Dumbell military press: 20x15x3 Sit-ups: 15, 15 Dips: 7, 6...max sets Tonight TKD testing: 6:00 - 7:00. Testing was small tonight, with 3 white belts, 3 low orange belts, and 1 high orange belt, and 1 recommended black belt testing for 1st dan. No demo tonight, either, which I was kind of glad for.

I've done that several times, to each of my ankles, and it is not a good time at all. I've had x-rays each time, because I heard the popping noises each time. You should do the same. I didn't have any broken bones any of the times, but on one occasion I did have to wear a boot to lock my foot into place, and keep weight off of it. Not a fun time, but at least it wasn't broken.

Actually, I power lifting does tend to build muscle mass, just not as toned up as a body builder would be. Also, I don't think there is actual proof that building a massive body is building a slow body. I think that there is a common misconception that big people are slow people, and this just isn't the case. Even if someone is big and strong, like a body builder, they can still train to be fast. Also, keep in mind that one's ability be fast is due in large part to the amount of fast-twitch muscle fibers one is genetically endowed with. Football players are a good example of how big, strong, muscular people can be strong and fast. Many NFL caliber offensive lineman, weighing in the neighborhood of 300 lbs, can still run a 40 yard dash in around 5 seconds. Then, they bench press 225 lbs between 20 and 30 times. You can also watch some of the drills that linemen do with their hands, because they have to use their hands so much in their blocking techniques. Sumo wrestlers are another example to look at. Even though they don't look like they are strong, and look unhealthy due to their size, most of them are extremely flexible, and their hands are fast, too. So, as you can see from these examples, there is more proof that weight training in various capacities is actually a boon MA training, as opposed to a drawback.

These are great ways to look at the lead leg round kick. Thanks for the pointers. I should have clarified what I was thinking earlier, because the kick I was thinking of was one of just picking the front leg up, without any step with the back leg, or other set-up for the kick. But, these are good ideas that you mention here.

...isn't finished yet. ...isn't a big secretive thing. ...isn't a religion.

That what we used to call them when I was in my ATA classes...they are a very effective tool in developing the muscle memory for a kick.

You might try to check with an athletic trainer or MMA coach in your area as to what they would suggest. You could also try speaking with a nutritionist, let them know what your activites and goals are, and see what they suggest. Welcome to the Forums, by the way.

Being strong is not a disadvantage to the Martial Artists. One who put an end to that arguement was Joe Lewis, who was a weight lifter since he was around 14 years old. He was not slow, and he was not inflexible, and he was a very successful Martial Artist. You can actually see that even now, even though he has aged quite a bit, that his strength training still benefits him. As for what the result of having "body builder muscles" is to the practicing Martial Artist, I am not sure. However, a lot of what a person's muscle structure looks like is due to genetic traits. Some people will have some awesome tone, and some won't have any tone at all, but may be able to bench press a house. In the time that I have been weight lifting, I have not noticed any kind of slow down in technique, or loss of flexibility from lifting, and I tend to lift as heavy as I can, when I can. Also note, that there is a difference between power lifting and body building.

The main drawback of a front leg round kick is that it lacks a lot of power, even if it is thrown to a low target. Throwing a belt level or higher front leg round kick wouldn't accomplish much in a full contact fight, unless one can generate and unusually high amount of power from it.

7-28-09 I taught two classes tonight, the Little Lions, which consists of 4-6 year olds, and the adult class. Little Lions The Lions class was a focus on memorization today, and I did a drill called "add a technique" with them. Basically, what we did is I had them all line up and face me in a fighting stance, and I mirrored them. I did one punch, then they had to repeat it, without watching me do it. Then I added another punch, followed by a kick, then another. I only worked them up to 4 pretty simple techniques, and they picked it up pretty well. The second drill we did was holding one red pad, and one black pad. If the red pad was flashed, they did a punch, and if the black pad was flashed, they did a kick; two techniques each, and then to the end of the line. "End of the line" was an exercise in self-control in itself, one that several of the kids failed miserably. The drills themselves, went well, though. Adult Class Prepped for testing with forms and one-steps, giving a few little things to each of the groups that were testing, things that they could tighten up their forms and one-steps a bit with. Worked on cleaning up a bit of the basics, as well. Mainly little adjustments in foot placement, good hip usage, etc. We got some good sparring time in, and even got some ring time with those that had pads to spar with. I also worked on some front thrusting kicks for sparring use as a stopping kick, but I mainly had them focusing on getting the thrust motion, and not a sliding up, snapping motion of the knee.

7-28-09 Warm-up: bike 1 mile with the dog, then a 5 minute stretch. Leg press: 315x10x3 Australian pull-ups: 14, 11, 10...all max sets Lunges: 3x10x10 lbs. dumbells Dumbell curls supersets, 25, 15, 10: 10, 15, 20x2, 10, 12, 15...killers. Calf raises: 3x15 each leg Finished up on a Schwinn Spinner for about 5 minutes, doing short bursts of high speed, then resting. 5 minute stretch. Little Lions class: 5:15 - 5:45. Taught this class tonight, and we worked on memorization. A few of the kids were a bit misbehaved, so I had to sit them out. For the most part, the drills we did went pretty well. TKD class: 6:00 - 7:30. I got to teach this class tonight, too. I added the axe kicks into the basics that we did last week. I also added a punch/back leg side kick combination, to get some extra work on the side kick. Testing is this week, so we reviewed the forms and one-steps to prep for that, and gave each of them some little things to clean up for the test. Finished out with some sparring, and then drilling on a front thrust kick to either the kick shield or the chest protector.

Good idea, for sure. I also like to do slow kicking while the students use the wall or a chair for balance. That one really helps them "remember" how the leg goes and how the muscles should be working for a particular kick.

Its good to hear that its not fractured, at least so far. Watch out for those walls in the future...

That one looks like a good read, too. I may have to break down and buy it.

I concur with you here as well, and it was one of the problems I always had with sparring in the ATA. It seemed like it didn't matter if you kept your hands up in a good guard or not, because if something just slipped through and knicked you, they got the point. I much prefer to be able to spar continuously, even though I tend to run out of gas fairly quick, because it allows me to stand in there and instead of blocking everything that come at me, I can worry more about knocking things a bit off-line so that it isn't as direct a hit. I try to do the same thing, Rateh. I try to make it as positive an experience as possible, by introducing strategies and drills that can transfer to the sparring ring, and give them a good amount of reps so that they feel more comfortable in a sparring environment.

I don't believe that weight lifting shortens the muscles. If anything, it increases the amount of muscle fibers, giving more size, and therefore, possibly adding length to the muscles. Strength training can be a boon to any Martial Arts activity, and to not consider exploring it as a training supplement is shortchanging oneself, in my opinion.

Elaborate all you want, or as little as you want. I just wanted to generate some discussion, that's all. In our TKD classes, we also tend to work angles in our sparring, and in our one-steps, both of which could be adapted to self-defense. Its more than just punch or kick.

I don't disagree with you here. I do think that the response you stated would have a time and place, that's all.

Lots of good points, ShoriKid. I have never been all that great at sparring, but I do feel like I have the ability to teach and explain things that can make my students better at sparring than I was. I concur with you here as well, and it was one of the problems I always had with sparring in the ATA. It seemed like it didn't matter if you kept your hands up in a good guard or not, because if something just slipped through and knicked you, they got the point. I much prefer to be able to spar continuously, even though I tend to run out of gas fairly quick, because it allows me to stand in there and instead of blocking everything that come at me, I can worry more about knocking things a bit off-line so that it isn't as direct a hit.

I think just the nature of what we do lends to a bit of curiosity about what goes on in the MA community as a whole. However, I think you are right in stating that one shouldn't let it cloud up his own classes just for the sake of what seems to be in or out. I think that this is the right attitude to take on, especially in delivering your curriculum to your students. If an instructor is looking to add or subtract something to the curriculum, then it is important to evaluate these additions so that one knows if it is going to benefit the system, or just fade away in a year or so.

Here's another example, Master Robert Ott, who after being the victim of a crime, was blinded, among other things. He teaches Hapkido: http://www.sinmoolegacy.com/Pages/Instructors/Ott.html

From 7th gup on up, our students spar in testings. Usually, it will be one match, for 1 or 2 minutes. Black belts will usually spar at least 2, if not 3 times, and usually with a partner a rank above them, if not 2 ranks; it just depends on who is available. I have a new question for everyone here: as an instructor sitting on the testing panel, what do you look for from sparring? Would you ever not pass anyone due to their sparring? The reason I ask is because every other part of the testing has is defined as to performance perameters: forms are done a certain way, with concern to stances, techniques, and targets. One-steps are the same way. Board breaking is easy to see if they get that or not. So, when I see a no-chage at a testing, it is typically because a student totally botched a form or the one-steps, or totally botched the breaking session. I don't think I've seen anyone no-change due to not sparring well, and I've wondered why sparring doesn't get looked at the same way?

I came across this passage in reading C.M. Shifflett's book Aikdio Exercises for Teaching and Training, and thought I would share the idea here, and make some conversation. Basically, its a Q&A spot in the book, and the question asks how Aikido is different from Karate, and the answer is "in variety of responses and end goal." A brief list follows, listing 4 possible attacks: pull wrist in, push wrist in, turn wrist in, or turn wrist out. The answer from the Karate point of view to each question is Punch/Kick, where as the Aikido answer is different for each, in this order: enter (irimi), turn (tenkan), shio-nage, or sankyo (wrist lock). It appeared to me here, that the Karate aspect wasn't really getting a fair shake in the deal, as there are many different ways to deal with attacks in Karate that don't necessarily equal punch/kick. To just say punch/kick, is to simplify too much, as Karate could also utilize outside movements, inside movements, and the like. As far as the "goal" of each style is concerned, I would save for perhaps a different thread. Although I do agree that Aikido does have a variety of ways to deal with different attacks, I also feel that striking styles do so, as well, and that they deserve there dues. I would be intersted in hearing elaborations from both the Aikido and Karate/striking sides of this discussion, as I feel both can learn a lot from each other.