bushido_man96

I usually experience the instances that you mention in the opening post just about every day that I go to class.

When it comes to breathing in my school, we are told to exhale upon completion of the technique. Other than that, it isn't covered very much. So, I should inhale prior to beginning the step of the technique then....right? In the Chon Ji hyung, the movements are not taught as combinations, and I think that this is because it is tough enough for the white belts to get the moves down, let alone put them into combos. In my explanation in the above post, I would inhale as I chamber the first move of the form, the down block, and exhale as I step out and block. Its a bit tougher to explain without the techniques as landmarks. The next move is a step and punch, so I would inhale quickly, and then exhale as I step and punch. But, as a higher rank, I could take a deeper breath to start with, and exhale as I step to block, and then punch; I actually worked with this on our high orange belt form on a section of 3 consecutive stepping punches, and I noticed a difference. I also worked on it during basics in class the other night, when I was going at my own count. I noticed that I started to outpace the class a bit. How does this sound? Do I appear to be on the right track?

I agree. Power comes from the ground, up through the legs, through the hips, then into the upper body, shoulders, and out through the arms. Also, punching the air will only take you so far. Get to a bag, and work on it there, too. The resistance that a bag provides will help to build strength in technique. If you have access to someone that is skilled in the use of the makiwara, this can be beneficial as well.

I have never been a fan of pressure points, either. They are hit and miss, whereas you know how the elbow works, and it is relatively easy to find as a joint.

It might have to do with whether one studies Aikido or Aikijitsu....just a thought.

In my experience, if you aren't selling what the people want, then they won't buy. I don't intend to use monetary terms here, because I don't think making money should be a sole concern of MA training. But, my point is, if someone sees grappling, and wants to learn grappling, then they aren't going to spend their time at a Karate dojo that doesn't teach grappling. If my daughter wants to run track, then I will put her out for track; not basketball, even though she can do plenty of running there. In the end, I think that these things ebb and flow all the time. A lot of people saw the productivity of BJJ in MMA competition, so many took to it like a duck to water. Now, with the onset of competitors with backgrounds in "traditional" styles, like Georges St. Pierre and Kyokushin, and Lyota Machida with Shotokan, I think people will swing back towards arts like this. Perhaps it shouldn't be this way, but it is one of many different things that influenc MA participation today.

I think that the style of Western Kickboxing that got its start with the point-based Karate tournaments of the early years here in the states. I think some of them tended to be a bit higher in contact level, and then at some point there was a branch where there was "kickboxing" and "point" tournaments. Joe Lewis was a full-contact guy, as was Bill Wallace, I believe. Chuck Norris remained a point fighter. Since then, the two have grown in seperate ways, with Kickboxing becoming its own animal, with more of a sport focus towards competition, but any stylist could/can compete in it.

Very nicely put, Bob. I think Aikido practitioners are called Aikidoka, aren't they?

Hell, I hit walls all the time when I am happy. But it isn't considered out of control then, is it? So, why would it have to be different when hitting a wall out of anger?

I teach it like a side kick at not quite 45 degrees to the front of the target you are aiming at. You kick out like a side kick, around 6 inches away from the target. From there, the kick is "hooked" through the target, driving through the target with the leg straight. The kick should drive through about 6 inches, and is then retracted in an exaggerated round kick chamber. Foot remains in side kick position. Now, the spin heel kick is a different story, as the leg is straight throughout the duration of the kick.

Welcome to the Forums.

Tastes better, too.

5-11-09 Weights Bench press: 235x5, 6 fail Row: 190x8, 9 fail...go up Military press: 125x6, 7 fail Lat pull-down: 170x6, 7 fail Leg extension: 175x7, 8 fail Leg curls: 205x10 Machine curl: 60x4, 5 fail Triceps push-downs: 180x5, 6 fail Abs Cable trunk twist: 80x10, 10 Decline crunches: 22x12, 10 Knee lifts: 12, 12 Cardio Bike: 5 min. @ 90 rpm; 5@100; 5@90; 5@100; 3@90; 2@120. Stretch. MA Workout TKD: 8:50 - 9:40 Bagwork Side cut and front leg front kick: 3x10 each leg. Side cut and front leg side kick: 3x10 each leg. Spent the rest of the time working on interaction drills, moving around in the ring. Closed stances, back leg round kick to allow defender to side cut and counter. Also did open stance, front leg round kicks as attacks. This time was used to get better at seeing the kick motion start, to allow a faster response to initiating the cut and defense.

I have taken it before, with chongroidant, and it never did do much for me. I don't take it anymore, but my knees have felt really good lately.

I walked through my white belt form today, Chon ji hyung, with out the techniques, and doing only the stances and footwork motions. I find my self breathing in at the beginning of the step, during which would be the preparatory chamber of the technique, and then breathing out sharply as I finish the step, which when the technique would land. Thoughts on my approach thus far?

Ah, that's too bad.

Hehe, fun. It took me a bit on level 4 to figure out the direction the lights were pointing. Its tougher on a laptop with no external mouse. Love that banjo music, too.

Nicely done, Bob. I got my wife a card and some treats for Mother's Day, and that's all she really wanted. That, and just hanging out that day (Sundays are a day off for me).

I didn't know about the gelatin thing. Thanks for sharing it. I tend to have problems with my knees when I really work them up good.

Its tough to argue with you here, Bob. One of the things that tournaments tend to do is motivate people through some of these findings. You see who is better, and it makes you want to work harder.

I don't notice that it does. I just take what we have in cupboard, be it ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or neproxem sodium (Alleve).

To this end, Tiger, I think that cross training can become a valuable tool, especially if you can't find someone higher ranked than yourself nearby in your style. Cross training can open your mind up to different ideas and ways of doing things, which facilitates the brain waves to start churning again. That is what I like about Aikido; it puts me completely back into beginner mode, and I haven't experienced that in a long time.

5-11-09 More work on the side cut. We did side cutting to front leg kicks, front and side kick, which are more like checking motions that allow for combination follow-ups. After warming up on the bags, we moved to interaction drills. We started in a closed stance, and moved around the ring, throwing back leg round kicks that the defender would side cut on, and throw the counter kick. Mainly, this was to recognize the motion of the coming kick, and to respond quickly with the cut, and then counter.

I don't know a lot of Eastern fighters, so I can't go that route. And then, you are only considering those that tend to spend time in the public eye, where as not all MAist do.

I never ice down much, but it may be because I just don't get that beat up. We don't do knockdown or knockout sparring in class, but I do get bruises and soreness from time to time. Still, I just let it go. If my head is hurting, then I'll take some Tylenol or the like.