bushido_man96

In reading this, I kind of see where you don't necessarily go along with the processes of someone like Abernethy or Anslow in deciphering the bunkai of katas.....am I close?

This subject came to mind during a conversation with my instructor (which tends to bring up a lot of my topics). He is a big believer in technique, and so am I. He pushes basics, and forms, and the one-steps (billed as self-defense techniques), and sparring comes last in class, for around 10 to 15 minutes (if we get to it at all). I don't mind doing basics and forms, and I think that having good technique is important. But his data is collected from his days in coming up through the ranks, competing as a black belt, and doing very well. He was the middle weight champ at a yearly tournament in Kanas City for 10 years straight, which is quite a feat, and hasn't been duplicated to date. One of his fellow classmates was the heavyweight champ at the same tourney for about as many years in a row, and he also went on to be a professional kickboxer. So, these guys had some talent. But, I don't feel that their experiences parallel those of every other practitioner. I think that good applications are a big part of learning to spar and defend oneself successfully. We have quite a few students in the class that are openly irritated with sparring; they don't like to do it, and I think it is because they don't have many good experiences with it. Instead of getting chances to work sparring drills, like counters, two-person ring drills, and generally sparring enough to learn and become comfortable with applying these techniques, we "just spar." It has been my experience in these situations that the more aggressive and dominant types will excell in this kind of setting, whereas the more timid will fall by the wayside. I am a big believer in technique; its half the battle. But, the other half is application of that good technique. Working the strategies to go with the techniques, and make them effective, is the best of both worlds, in my opinion. What is everyone else's opinions on this?

Hey, I'm a Meatloaf fan, too. Not many around that are, from what I can see.

I think that this could be an issue, and if it is, then one would notice it because it is an out-of-character disposition. If you see someone down that usually isn't, then I'd say yeah, maybe cut them some slack, because they may be having a bad day. But, at the same time, I think it is important to try not to let your personal life effect your gym time. I know it can be tough at times, and it is ok to have a bad day. But, it should be controllable.

I agree here. Take the stance that you want to use, and work from it. If you have to switch stances in sparring to kick instead of punch, you are setting yourself up, because the opponent will figure out what you will have coming. You should be able to develop your kicks and punches from the same position. Now, during your technique combinations, you may transition from one stance to another, and that is fine. Just keep in mind that if you have to transition out of necessity, then you give away your game. This can be bad for self-defense, too. Find a stance that you feel that you can defend efficiently from, and then work your techniques from there.

Hey, I'm on a roll now!

Well, that's tough. I think that the knife naturally lends itself to being used as a weapon, so much so that it has been specialized over the years to be used specifically as a weapon (combat knives, daggers, etc). The hammer, although formidable, doesn't lend itself as readily to defense, in my mind. It isn't balanced very well, and can't be carried as well as a knife can; especially the folders. You could make the arguement that the hammer has specialized as well, like the larger medieval warhammers and such, but by and large, I think that the knife would serve one better. I think that if you strapped on a tool belt, and carried a hammer and a knife everywhere you went, and kept a little notebook in that belt to tally each time you found an opportunity to use the hammer, and the opportunity to use the knife, I think that the knife would come up the most. Thus, the reason I think that its use as a weapon has arised, as well.

I think that it sounds really strange. What are his Shotokan credentials? Does he actually know Shotokan, or is Seidokan so close to Shotokan that they two can't be differentiated? Is there any more information that you can offer to the scenario?

Thank you, WNM. Do you feel that bunkai should be set in stone, like the forms are, or do you feel that there is leeway in the interpretations available?

I got my first taste of bokken work at an Aikido seminar I attended in September of 2008. We did some work on holding the bokken, striking with it, and moved on to doing some Tai Sabaki movements with cuts as partner work. In April of 2009, I got to do a bokken kata in a Saturday class, because it is a requirment for some of the 3rd kyus testing. It was a simple kata, consisting of cutting, then thrusting moves, all going to the front, then back, then to each side; it finished with cutting moves to each corner. I kind of look forward to getting to do some more work with the bokken. During the seminar that I attended, the higher ranks demonstrated some attack/counter drills done with partners, and they looked like a lot of fun. For each class, a bokken, a jo, and a tanto are brought out and placed at the front. I hope to eventually get to work more with these.

I'd agree with that, too. Both have been used widely, and most likely in every culture.

Hehe...Madden could go up there, I guess. I meant Link, not Zelda, but I'm sure you knew what I was getting at.

Thank you, Patrick. I hope everyone had a good holiday.

Hehe....

I just don't think I would want to hold a record like that.

The knife has been one of mankind's most important tools. It has been around since likely the beginning, from the first time a piece of flint was sharpened up a bit, up to now, where we have tactical folders and larger fixed blades available to us. As long as there has been the need to hunt, the knife has likely existed. As long as there has been a need to fish, the knife has likely existed. Its the ultimate traditional tool, in my opinion. Mankind has always used one, and I don't think that will ever change.

That's rough, Bob. But, seeing that you overcame that, I can imagine that any testing afterwards wasn't nearly as much pressure.

I would have to get in close, and then stay there. To attack, I'd try to work an angle to get closer, instead of coming straight in. If someone that tall just goes on the attack, then I'd look for some blocking/countering opportunities to get closer.

Very cool. Giga Mac....where did that idea come from?

I agree with you here. It would be hard to do, and to be effective. I think that if something like this was attempted, you would end up seeing wars between organizations who claim real this or real that.

I would tend to agree with tallgeese. If you plan to train that long, then watching intensity levels and how tired the students get will be very important. Also, planning the classes will be important, as you will want to handle highly technical stuff early on, when the students are fresh, and work more on conditioning or whatnot toward the end. Could you do a class during the week, after 8:00 pm? That might be a better solution to one 4 hour class. Then, you can have two classes.

Ok, back to training. My neck problem didn't seem to go away with just rest, so I think I need more focused attention on it. So, if it hurts to train, and it hurts to not train, I decided to go with training.... 4-13-09 Weights Bench press: 225x6, 7 fail Row: 190x6, 7 fail Military press: 125x4, 5 fail I just can't seem to get over the hump here. Lat pull-down: 160x7, 8 fail Leg extensions: 145x12 Leg curls: 190x12 Machine curls: 60x6, 7 fail Triceps push-down: 180x5, 6 fail Decline crunches: 20, 10x22 lb ball Cardio Bike: 20 minutes Martial Arts Aikido: 9:50 - 10:00 We warmed up with technique work, doing Lapel grab Ikkyo, then cross-wrist grab Kotegaeshi, then cross-wrist grab Kokyunage. We did one on each side, then moved onto the next one, and did that for about 25 minutes. We worked on Aikitaisos (basic movements) for the next 15 minutes. This little spot helped me to gain some better understanding of some of the things we do in the classes, and I was glad we focused here a bit. For the last 30 minutes of our session, we spent 10 minutes focusing on each of the techniques listed above that are required for our testing.

I'm sure you can find some kind of planner on the internet, but if you got with a trainer or coach, and laid out some goals and objectives, they might be able to help you line out something specific to your needs. As for me, when I track my progress, I just get a little wire bound notebook, and write down what exercises I do, how many reps, sets, and what weight, and put the date at the top. Of course, you can fancier if you wanted to, and if you can run Xcell worth a hoot, you can probably design something pretty impressive. So I just take my little notebook and a pen to my workouts with me, and flip to the day before to see what I did with an exercise, and I'll make notes to myself if I need to go up or down in weight. Pretty simple.

Speaking of books, here are a few on the subject of stretching: Ultimate Flexibility: A Complete Guide to Stretching for Martial Artists by Sang H. Kim. Stretching Scientifically: A Guide to Flexibility Training by Thomas Kurz. I have the Kim book, and it is informative. I don't have Kurz's book, but I have read some of his material, and I have heard good things about this book.[/url]

I saw Joe post an article where Joe Lewis blocked a lead leg side kick with a "pendulum" block, and then turned back into a cross to the body. It looked like it had some interesting applications, especially with spin kicking, since the body is already half-way turned.