bushido_man96

5-22-09 Push-ups: 2x20 5-23-09 Morning DT Training: 9:50 - 12:00. More groundwork, mostly from the bottom doing Kimuras, Americanas, and straight arm bars. I got some good reps in on the straight arm bars, and I feel like I am picking up more and more each time I go. I really like the training, and boy, I get good ab work and inner thigh work when I do it! One guy also put on the Red Man suit, and we got to do some fun stand-up work with that. Evening Some partial and full dips.

Yeah, I get the 2nd day thing, too. Its funny, because I used to feel it when I woke up in the mornings. Now that I work nights, I'll go all night and feel fine, and then when I get home, and settle down a bit, its like the soreness just sets in all at once. Kind of a cool feeling, really. One thing to keep in mind is to stretch a bit after the workout, especially when you work something that much. A bit of stretching can help with that soreness.

Take your time with the conditioning. Don't worry too much about hitting the hardest material you can find over and over until your knuckles bleed. Do some bag work, and some makiwara work, if you have one available to you. Take it easy on the reps to begin with, and work up as you go. Save your body while your young.

Hehe, no joke.... Very nice pics.

I got it in the mail! I've been spending time playing classics like Double Dragon, Contra, and Super Mario Bros, and I am loving it! It even has an adapter so that you can plug it into TV jacks and play it that way! The screen, although small, is nice, and gives a pretty good picture. The size of the screen isn't bad at all, and the overall unit isn't too bulky, either, considering that you are sticking a full sized NES game-pak into the top of it. I am adjusting to the way the A and B buttons are done, but they aren't too bad, either. Overall, I'm very pleased with my purchase!

Those are some very cool photos. And we'll get some more, now that they got all the updates made to the sattelite.

Welcome to KF!

Welcome aboard!

You could try scraping it off with a razor something like that. Other than that, I'm not sure.

Very nice, Kuma.

I agree with you 100% here. I'd wouldn't mind if it did fall out of Olympic favor. It might be better for the art all around, but who knows for sure.

No, not specifically. Some schools may demonstrate use of some pressure points, but for the most part, it is a joint manipulation-based style, not unlike Jujitsu styles.

Agreed. They will cover TSD more than most other magazines will.

Yes, its a different angle of attack, and gives you another tool to use. Hook kicks can be great for getting around obstructions like arms, and if spinning, the momentum can be nice, too.

DWx has some good questions there. Are you using a point system, light contact, etc? Those things will play into your strategies. And forms is a different beast. Great article, Joe. I like CS Kim's stuff alot.

Are you asking about a spinning crescent kick, perhaps, Bob?

Hehe, I kind of like that one...

Bruce Lee was known by his incredible feats and physical abilities. I think a lot of his popularity has come from his exposure, and he definitely used that to his advantage. Who wouldn't, especially when you are pushing a new philosophy that many haven't heard of? I don't think I am as good physically as Bruce Lee was after his 19 years in training. Would I like to be, oh yeah. That would be great. But, I just keep plugging away, looking to improve as I go along. I pray that I get to have more than 19 years in the Martial Arts.

isshinryu5toforever is right on the money. So what if they do things a bit differently? Its an opportunity to learn something new along with what you already know. In the end, its not the rank, but the knowledge that you take with you that will count for more than anything. I went from a 2nd dan in one TKD organization to being a white belt in another; totally different forms, one-steps, and training styles. In the end, I haven't lost anything, but gained a whole bunch. Its all time I would have spent training anyways, so its for the best.

There are lots of good points here, and all of them are viable ways to look at the black belt rank. Sparring is but one way to judge a level of proficiency. A good sparrer may not be good at defending himself, and a poor sparrer may have what it takes to wipe up on the street. Age can play a factor in performance, as well. In the end, the body of knowledge as a whole should be a determining factor when considering black belt rank. Can the person teach the information? Can they perform it adequately? Best of all, can you count on what you are taught to work for you? All of these can come under consideration.

I agree with WNM here. Don't worry about your detractors, or what they might think. It is your journey to take, so do it your way. Check back with the school, and if it has changed, then look around other areas, and see what is available. Best of luck to you!

Washing belts isn't a very big deal, really. Here is a good article on the "not washing belts" condundrum: http://www.24fightingchickens.com/2005/09/09/urban-legends-of-karate-belts/

Wow. What a sight!

So what of the styles that don't use rank to show any indication of skill level? At what point would the "traditionalist" reference them to being ready to look into another style?

I hear what you say here, but even the Olympic committee has been teetering on whether or not TKD should come back to the next Olympics, because the matches don't draw a lot of attention. I think that some significant rules change would be able to revitalize TKD's sport side.