bushido_man96

Yes it is. We're really enjoying studying under him! That's pretty cool. From reading his articles, he seems like a very knowlegeable individual.

This is a good point, but not all SD is about striking; it may be about escape and running. I'm just playing a bit of devil's advocate.

I'm a 3rd dan in TKD, a brown belt in Combat Hapkido, and a white belt in Aikido.

Another way to approach it that is similar to DWx's idea, is to do a technique, form, or whatever, and say the name of it with each technique that you do when practicing it. That association will help it stick, too.

I find that kind of funny that you say that because when kickboxing became big in the 70's many traditional martial artists didn't like it and felt it was a fad as well. (Of course I also assume when you say traditional kickboxing you are referring to full contact kickboxing that was made big by guys like Joe Lewis, Chuck Norris and Bill Wallace, so if I'm making the wrong assumption please by all means let me know) Assuming that, I'm not saying I agree or disagree with you on the point I just think its funny. I've spent a good deal of time thinking on the subject actually, because the grandmaster of our system is Bill Wallace who blasted MMA last year in some of his columns in Black Belt magazine and caught a lot of flak for it. So I always find it a little amusing... Actually, Chuck Norris never competed in full contact bouts, as near as I remember. I recall the article that Wallace did on MMA. I actually started a thread on it in Black Belt Mag's forums. I was one of those that didn't really care for it, but that is neither here nor there. What I don't understand is what the big slam on MMA is. MMA has just as much to offer in training as other styles do. I think that some people feel that if the art doesn't have that "traditional feel" of wearing uniforms, bowing to instructors, that it can't be classified as a true Martial discipline. I don't think it is really a fad. I'm pretty sure that it will stick around in some form or another for a long time. Its already been over 10 years since the first UFC, and it was in existence in other countries before that; Vale Tudo, Pancrase, Jim Arvanitis' Pankration, and we can't leave out the old Pankration from ancient Greece. I also agree with tallgeese in that there really isn't anything new under the sun when it comes to hand-to-hand fighting; just new methods of training, improved training equipment, etc. Like tallgeese also mentions, when you take an approach to training with certain goals and ideas in mind, it can seem different when compared to what is out there. Creating one's own style may not seem coshere to most of us, but we should also remember that some guy with the last name Lee hodge-podged some stuff together, and it turned out pretty well....

Sit-ups will not take weight off your midsection, if that is what you mean. Contrary to what some companies will tell you, you can't spot-lose weight with diet and exercise. The weight comes off where it will, and we don't really get to choose. Now, what sit-ups will do is strengthen your abdominal muscles, so they will probably gain some size. But you won't see that six-pack if you have too much fat around it.

Ah, those pesky weddings....well, it only happens once (hopefully...). Just out of curiousity, Alex, do you still compete? 3-16-09 (Session 2) I was hoping that session 2 would include a DT session, but alas, it wasn't meant to be.... So, I settled for 25 minutes on the bike, and then a stretch.

Poomse is only used for WTF style and their forms. That is another word I forgot. Actually, the ATA refers to their forms as Poomse, too. In the end, they're all just another word for the same thing.

It sounds like a good time. Glad to see you enjoyed it.

That is a good arguement to make, but if you tank out before the bad guy does, then you can end up in a bad situation. And when the adrenaline dumps, 30 seconds can feel like 2 minutes. Its still a good idea to train oneself to be in shape, too.

Like tallgeese mentioned, being big, strong, and well-conditioned is a bonus anytime. When it comes to combative sports, there is a reason why they have weight classes. One could make the David and Goliath arguement, but remember that David had a weapon, and fought at range... With that said, when it comes to height/weight and how it relates to a style in general, has more to do with how you train, and what you train, as opposed to your body build. I'm 5'7", and weigh 240. Even though I am short, I do TKD. If I spar a taller person, they usually have a reach advantage on me. So, I just have to figure out how to get inside that range. So, it has more to do with training a strategy than specific skills, like kicking. Now, if I were to compete in Olympic rule tournaments, I don't think I would fair to well, because most of the 200 pounders I would be facing would likely be around a foot taller than me. Its just the nature of the sport; the same would likely be true for Boxing, or Judo, etc. So, the more competitive you get, the more your size/strength is likely to be of importance. The same can be true of point fighting. If I spar against a taller, lighter person, who is faster than me, I will have a heck of a time using my weight to my advantage if I can't work for a KO or something like that. Light contact point sparring is just tougher for me.

Sounds like a well-run dojo/dojang, where there's mutual consideration, mutual respect. Your teacher must be running a tight ship and setting a good example. We can have things like this happen at our school at times. It tends to happen a lot when we do lighter contact, and we pull our kicks off so as not to hurt anyone. Well, what happens is, the student doesn't respect the kick; in other words, they don't realize that a high-rank could have really nailed them, but when pulling the contact, they don't realize it. So, they walk right through the kick, and continue on like it didn't happen. So the next time, they may get tagged with that kick....

Is that the same Floyd Burke that contributes to Black Belt Magazine?

Good luck, white owl.

I think Joe is right. Slow it down, and get lots of good reps in, before you start speeding things up. Are you having trouble remembering forms, or basics, or is it all the stances? You mentioned "fighting stances," but I really think you should only have one fighting stance, and everything else transitions from there. Could you elaborate a little bit?

3-15-09 100 Push-ups Week 5, Day 3: 13, 13, 15, 15, 12, 12, 10, 30 = 120. Time for another exhaustion test. 3-16-09 (Session 1) Weights Bench press: 225x6, 7 fail Row: 170x8, 9 fail Military press: 125x4, 5 fail Lat pull-down: 160x8, 9 fail Machine curls: 50x9 Triceps push-down: 180x4 Ab wheel: 2x10 Combat Hapkido: 9:00 - 9:50. We really focused on the orange belt material, working on a few techniques that needed some focus. We also worked a few of the strikes, working on the hook and uppercut a bit. Aikido: 9:50 - 10:00. We spent the last 10 minutes of our hour on Aikido, focusing on Nikkyo. I am feeling improvements here, too. Talking to my workout partner, he said that the sensei has invited him to test this May. He will test for eithe 7th or 6th kyu, which I thought was good for him.

That's too bad. They are a bit pricey new. Maybe check around some MA schools, and see if they are looking to get rid of some. You could also check out ebay. You might find something there.

I like the idea of crashing the kick, and it isn't something that is done a lot in our style. Mainly, we hang back and counter. I like the idea, though, and may have to start working with it more. I like the spin heel kick, Heidi. At times, I'll throw it to the body. They may have their hands guarding, but there is a lot of momentum there, and they will likely get knocked over anyways.

Is there a difference? I always understood that pattern and kata were essentially the same thing. Like using the word "form." A pattern to most "extreme" traditional Martial artists, is an insulting way of talking about a kata, because a pattern has no life, while kata needs life breathed into it. To me, it was all the same: kata=pattern=form=hyung, etc. In many TKD schools, the forms are referred to as patterns. We obviously don't use the term kata, simply because it is a Japanese term, but the Korean equivalent is the word hyung, and the English equivalent would be form or pattern. I have never heard of the exclusivity of any of the terms before. But hey, to each his own.

I've heard some people refer to the "Aikido Wars", with a West Coast Aikido (gentle, flowing, blend with your opponent, gently immobilize your opponent, hug your opponent afterwards) and East Cost Aikido (gentle, flowing, rip your opponents arms off). I think of the rap wars when I hear this...drive by wrist lockings and all that....Hyperbole, of course, but it does seem that Aikido has diverged into 2 separate styles, one of which is more internal like Tai Chi, and the other that seems closer to its Daito Ryu roots.... The approach we take in Combat Hapkido tends to be more along the rougher aspects than is taken in the Aikido club I attend. In our Aikido club, they don't really mess with striking too much during the techniques, and like to take the "peaceful" route. I find all too often that my TKD will to kick or punch comes into play during my Aikido class. I agree! If I can't "feel" it, it likely isn't going to effect me much.

Hehe, the joys of teaching, and learning. There's no school like the school of hard knocks, eh? Its great to hear you working with your daughter like that. I only hope my son takes to it like I have, and can have the same kind of experiences, too.

I just wear mine. But, you could run it through the wash once or twice, as well as drying it. You could also have someone hold one end, and you can start twisting the belt around and around from your end. Then unwind it and do it the other way.

My Wrestling game is pretty lame. I did it in 8th grade, pretty much sucked at it (I wasn't all that athletic, either), and never went back to it. If I knew then, what I know now, I would have stuck with it, just for the knowledge of the ground game.

Yes, good luck and keep us posted!

I'm sorry to hear that your cross-training experience was this bad. I guess I have been fortunate, and my cross-training experiences have been pretty good. Like tallgeese says, it can be a viable way to train. But at some point, I think that things have to come together. If what you are doing does not integrate things at some point, then I think you aren't moving in the right direction.