bushido_man96

Very nice. Thanks for sharing these with us, Bob. What handicap, indeed.

It looks downright awesome! Too bad I don't have a PS3...

I agree with this. One needs to be reasonable when setting the prices. I remember discussing this previously, and I commend you for your actions. Top shelf, sir. However, I raised a concern then, and I want to bring it up here again, just for a refesher, and discussion. My concern was that if and when things would happen to turn back around, could you, or would you, bring prices back up to where they were, without the students grumbling and asking "why?"

Cool, thanks. 7-16-09 TKD class: 6:00 - 7:30. We amped up basics a bit tonight. After our stretching kick exercises, we did axe kicks coming from the outside and from the inside, and the did our regular front kicks. I think that these are kicks we could benefit from doing as a regular part of basics. We also did a double jumping front kick after our regular jump front kick. A touch advanced, but nice to do at times, for working the legs and the hip flexors. Gets the heart rate going, too. We also did some of our combination techniques from a back stance, instead of transitioning to a front stance first. It wasn't too bad, but I think it was tougher on some of the lower ranks. Its a good way to still focus on the mechanics of the technique without the benefit of the stepping motion. Sparring was decent tonight, although I still feel like I am having trouble with my side stepping; I still get caught with techniques. I also ate a few crescent kicks to the head tonight, so I need get my damn hands up and keep them their. The 4th dan told me that I seem to be leaning back a bit much, like I don't have my weight going forward. I have to fix that, because I've got too much weight to not take advantage of. We finished with some kicking shield work, doing 30 second continuous drills. Nice class, my legs were sore, and I was able to do more, even with the sore groin still.

Very good points, Bob. I agree.

Before class tonight, I warmed up a bit with some basic techniques, and worked on these two side kicks a little bit. I think I may be seeing some of what you are saying on the piercing kick with that kind of leg swing into the chamber position. Bringing the leg up from the outside is wierd, but as I bring it around, and then swivel my hips and pivot my foot into the chambering position before the kick, it seems like some things are coming together a bit. We'll see how it goes.

Out of curiousity, did your knockdown training prove to be a boon to your WTF competitive career?

Like any type of physical activity, it can probably prove to be dangerous when it is done the wrong way. As long as you stick to sound movement principles and breathing principles, then it'll be just like any other physical activity: good for you.

Ah, thanks for clarifying this. I do agree with what you say here, as far as "pretty" katas go. Yes, they do, in my experience. I was just using the previous analogy to make my point, that's all.

It sounds like you had a good experience. Do you plan on sticking with the Shotokan class?

Its unfortunate, too, that this will likely be overlooked for a very long time because of his actions after the fight. But, he brought it on himself. I also think that the hype is something to be ignored. It seems like too much is expected of the fights at times. All of these guys are so good, and in such good shape, that I think these hyped matches are going to be more and more like this, where people claim that the fighters don't look skilled, when in fact they are so skilled, that they don't just pounce all over each other recklessly. They train for months on a fight plan; when the time comes, they work the plan.

I do agree that when it comes to wanting or needing something that one cannot provide for themselves, be it because they don't know how, or just don't have the resources to do so, then it is the right of the person providing such things to charge accordingly. Yes, some will charge more, and some less, but that's what makes up the market, and it may be driven by uniqueness or quality of the product/service offered. If you don't like what someone offers, then learn to do it or get it yourself, or move on to the next in line.

What is the Babro series? 7-15-09 Morning session Combat Hapkido: 8:00 - 9:00. Started with the technique string, then moved to red belt material. We covered all of the material, moving through it at a pretty good clip. Where getting pretty close on this stuff. This rank does a lot of stuff with the Nikkyo lock, and I am picking it out in just about everything we do for this rank. At first, I was having trouble getting it right off the bat, but now, I nail it about every time. Afternoon session Bag work 3 rounds, just punching Knifehand strikes: 3x10 each side, from the position we use for basics in class. Backfist strike: 3x10 each side, like the knifehand. Dumbell punching - 5 lbs weights. Jab: 3x10 each side. Cross: 3x10 each side.

What is the price like on Fairtex equipment?

Hehe, that's kind of funny. Another thing that I see along these lines is the overuse of the word "Osu!"

Hasn't the WKF done this? No, I'm not saying that at all. I'm just saying that there are some katas that are percieved as having a higher degree of technical difficulty in performing, and so those forms will naturally get geared more towards competition. I could take Chon-ji hyung to a tournament, and I have no doubt that I would knock the snot out of that form. I could nail it, no problem. No kicks, only punches, blocks, and front and back stances included. Now, if someone in my division does Choong Moo hyung, and knocks it out of the park, as well, then who should be rewarded? The black belt who did the white belt form and knocked it out of the park, or the black belt who did the black belt form and knocked it out of the park? That's the analogy I was trying to make.

I also think that at times the reverse happens, when a Sensei may have made a change to something, be it subtle or not, and then passes it on to the students. Then, you get the students that become Senseis that then claim that if their Sensei did it that way, then it should never be done any other way, and yada yada yada...

Yes, it can be an irritating thing to see. But for the average journalist, they attempt to use terminology to generate visualizations. Some attempts are more futile than others, and none of them will likely seem excusable to us. I guess in the end, we just have to sort of chuckle and move on with it.

I'd say go for it. If you don't like it, you can always go back to what you were doing, right? Best of luck in it, and I would look forward to your reports on the training.

Did anyone get to watch UFC 100? I did not, but I did read a bit on it, and saw some news and clips here and there. It looked like it would have been a good one to see. Unfortunately, the fights were downplayed by Brock Lesnar's "celebration" after his win over Frank Mir in the main event: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news?slug=dw-lesnar071209&prov=yhoo&type=lgns I don't like or condone the way the Lesnar acted here. Apparently, neither did Dana White. Hopefully, Lesnar's actions after the fight won't be tacked as a stereotype for all other MMA fighters out there. Hard on the heels of this story, is the story of White nearly guaranteeing the signing of Fedor Emelianenko to fight in the UFC in the near future, and that the Fedor vs. Lesnar match will happen: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news;_ylt=AigATsVW.ELhiP5NjDoIsgWtEo14?slug=mmajunkie-White_says_Fedor_Lesnar_imminent&prov=mmajunkie&type=lgns I would love to see this fight, too!

Yeah, I think that is true. Sad, but true. I know I won't allow any student to do that in any class that I teach.

Congrats on this wonderful accomplishment, Bob! Well done!

I agree. At times, I think that failure is something that attempts are made to avoid in society these days, because of the "negative" effect it has on people. But, it is an experience that can be learned from, and I don't think that it is a bad thing. We shouldn't look forward to failure, but at the same time, we should come to understand that it isn't the end if we do.

I can see the benefit of drilling in this way. Very nice, indeed. 7-13-09 Weights Bench press: 225x1, 205x5, 135x10 I went back to the free weight bench today, and I could tell that I hadn't done it in a while. I hate that feeling... Cable row: 200x6, 7 fail Military press: 125x4, 5 fail Lat pull-down: 170x7, 8 fail Leg extensions: 160x10 Leg curls: 220x10 Barbell curls: 90x7 Triceps press: 215x10 Gripper: 30x15x3 Treadmill: 20 minutes of walking on incline. MA workout Combat Hapkido: 2:00 - 3:30. We worked on stringing a set of moves together. Right now, we are just in the memorizing phase. Afternoon Workout Bag work: 3 rounds, just punching. Dumbell punching - 5 pound dumbell in each hand: Jab: 3x10 each side. Cross: 3x10 each side. Here, I did the the dumbell punches in between the rounds on the bag. I really liked the way my arms, back, and shoulders felt the day after this workout. The only problem is that I need a heavier bag. 7-14-09 Aikido: Aikitaisos Shomen: 10 each side. Irimi: 10 each side. Tenkan: 10 each side. Combat Hapkido: 2:00 - 3:00. Stringing techniques together again.

That is pretty cool. Thanks for sharing this.