bushido_man96

7-27-09 I worked with one of the TKD students that has taken a liking to the Combat Hapkido curriculum. I broke down a few of the breakaways with him, done from a same side wrist grab. The technique could be described as an elbow push, and then spin away. The hand that is grabbed, this arm is moved by "pushing" the elbow toward the attacker, like prepping an elbow strike....this is kind of tough to explain....and you finish as if you were bracing your arm on a wall, and the arm is flat to the wall. By getting to this position, you create space in the grab, which works against the thumb of the attacker. By slowing it down, and working this part, it made the technique work that much better, and from there, applications could follow. We also worked on some of the trapping drills with this student, working on flow and demonstrating where the inserts come in. Some of these drills flow really well into each other, and make the applications part of the system that much nicer. We also discussed the "duality" of some of the techiques and movements. Generally speaking, whether you counter-grab outside or inside, there is a technique available. This helps get away from the "I did it wrong" idea, and leads into "I have this option if I counter here, and that option if I counter there..."

I could spen an entire class session working on the proper chamber position of a side kick. I agree with what you say here, in introducing the specific chambers for each kick, as in my TKD style, we do have different chamber positions for each. I think a big part of it is in drilling the chamber itself, without kicking. Just to get that chamber position down right, and in the beginning. On the occasions that I do get to teach, the side kick becomes one of my pet projects. I can only do so much with one class here and there, but I can always hope that they take it with them.

7-24-09 Morning session Mile bike ride to run the dog. He always starts out blasting, but gasses about the last half of the mile. Combat Hapkido: 8:35 - 9:35. Trapping application techniques: Same side/outside - cross side/outside; same side/inside - cross side/inside...attacker punching, trapping and striking. Stringing techniques, two non-curriculum techniques (drilled for a while), finished with bits and pieces of the curriculum. Evening session Bag work Dumbell punching - Jab: 3x10 each; Cross: 3x10 each FL side thrust kick: 3x10 each leg; needs work, lots of work. BL side thrust kick: 10 each leg. Dumbell punching - Jab/cross combo: 3x10 each side, but not on bag. Weights Bench press: 155x10, 185x6, 205x3 Leg press: 230x10, 320x10, 10 Cable row: 156x8, 9 fail; 156x7, 8 fail Biangular shoulder press: 96x10, 108x10 Lat pull-down: 120x10, 120x8, 9 fail Straight bar curls: 55x10, 65x10 Triceps push-down: 95x10, 100x10 Ab crunch machine: 72x10x2 (ouch!) 7-25-09 1 1/4 mile bike ride with dog. Last half was like a cool down, though. 7-26-09 Mile bike ride.

Cool, thanks.

Nice idea.

I'd heard that the upcoming Affliction event was cancelled because of the Josh Barnett testing. The one thing that the UFC does want out of this is Fedor. White is going to have to make some consessions, however, in order to get him.

You could also look into Iain Abernethy's website for ideas on the use of bunkai from Karate katas: http://www.iainabernethy.com/ He has several books on the subject of applications from Karate katas, and it may work as "the missing link" to what Anslow discusses and demonstrates in his book.

I agree. I constantly wonder these things of myself, and try to push myself to get to a level that I feel that I should be at. I am not in any hurry to test again anytime soon, so I have the time to make sure that I am gaining knowledge and improving. Glib, yes, but I can see a point to the statement...

Very interesting! Another martial artist who said....what handicap!?!Excellent! Thanks for sharing that! I have one of his books. That guy is a BJJ machine, and I can only imagine what it would be like to train with someone like him. This is an interesting instance, Bob, and I have not heard of anything like it. I'm sure there would be some challenges to work through, as far as communication goes. However, a deaf instructor could offer a class to other deaf students, all of whom could communicate through sign language. Another point to consider would be whether or not the instructor could read lips or not. But in the end, I think it would be possible for someone to do.

I remember that story. Very nice one, too.

Are these done with the back leg each time? And when sliding backwards, do you switch feet and round kick, or slide back and do a front leg round kick?

7-20-09 Weights Bench press (free weights): 185x9 Row: 200x6, 7 fail Military press (free): 95x10 Lat pull-down: 170x6, 7 fail Bicep curl: 70x7, 8 fail Triceps push-down: 165x7 Leg extensions: 130x10, 10 Leg curls: 160x12, 12 Gripper: 30x15x3 Leg press: 228x10, 240x10 Decline crunches: 15x10x3 MA session Combat Hapkido: 9:30 - 10:30. Worked through trapping drills and some combinations strings. 7-21-09 Dumbell Punching - 5 lbs each hand Jab: 3x10 each side Cross: 3x10 each side, hitting the bag as well. Bag Work Punching work: 3 rounds Front leg round kick: 10 each leg; right leg pulled on the groin a bit. Front leg side kick: 3x10 each leg, trying not to telegraph. 7-23-09 TKD class: 6:00 - 7:30. I felt like I had some more to put into basics tonight, and I felt really worked. I think I might have zipped through my form a bit fast, but the instructor didn't comment on too much, so maybe it was pretty decent. I did get to spar a 2 minute continuous round with one of the first degrees, and although I think I could have performed a bit better, I didn't feel totally spent after the match. I would have needed more than a minute break to go again, though. I need to get some more sparring in, like doing some round robin work, to get a bit more used to hanging in there. We finished with some back and forth drill work, and then stretched.

I think that once a student has developed the strength and actions in the hips, that one can get away with doing this. But, its important to learn the proper way, first.

These are some of the same reasons that my instructor cites. By using big movements early on, and developing muscles, it makes the moves that we "shorten up" that much more powerful.

Very well said. I like your points here, and I agree with you.

Ah, that's another thing that wouldn't jive on karma for me. I'm not a re-incarnation guy, either.

Great thoughts guys. Thanks for sharing them. Another drill... Chase/push drill: This one is good to do in equal portions of time, like 30 seconds of chase, and then 30 seconds of push. Basically, the holder will let the kicker "chase" him around a ring by backing away and circling, so that the kicker can get some combos going. When its time to switch, the holder "pushes" toward the kicker, cramming them, so they have to make space, and kick as the holder comes into them. Really kills the legs.

Welcome to KF, Conrad.

Very cool homes. Thanks for sharing. I can only imagine what it would be like to have my own gym in my own house.

That's pretty cool. It gives a sense of familiarity, in a way, knowing they aren't just sets.

That's a good idea, too. Never thought of that. Makes me think of the movie Gladiator, where Maximus always rubbed dirt on his hands before going into a fight; I'd guess it was to keep grip on that weapon.

For anyone interested, here is a link to the article that tallgeese posted on the subject: Principle Based Martial Arts Training. Be sure to give it a look; very good read.

Man, that's too bad, for both the show, and for the state of the MMA comps like this. We should have been watching a match that had potential to go for a few rounds, maybe 3, with two fighters in top form, and both rated high. Now, we will be seeing a fighter step in who hasn't had the time to adequately train and prepare for a force like Fedor, and the card will likely suffer.

Ok, the title may sound odd, but its something that I think about almost every class when I see students doing side kicks, and chopping the chambers up to where the kick looks like a half round/half side kick, and not a good side kick. Rateh noted something about learning to chamber side kicks and back kicks in the thread What did I teach today? : Now, I am not trying to assume that the difficulties in teaching a good side kick are compounded by the existence of the round kick, but when I see things like this happen in class, it frustrates me because the short cut gets taken a lot on a side kick, and the short cut is always in the chamber. Then it always turns into the half-in-half kick. Do any other instructors see this problem with teaching the side kick, especially to the beginners through intermediate levels? I even catch it in some black belts at times, trying to make a fast side kick with half a chamber. Just a little rant from me. Anyone else?

If that's the reason, it's silly. I don't even look at the belt when judging. I don't like longer belts because when I do front kicks, the end has a tendency to fly up into my face. So, I wear my proper size or 1/2 size small. John I agree with you here. If a judge is too busy staring at belt length, and not judging the form, then he probably doesn't have the necessary requirments to be a judge.