bushido_man96

Yes, it pretty well mimics the front kick motion. You just can't get your hips into the weight movement, though. Other than that, pretty much a match.

I'd think that something in this case would be better than nothing, if you don't have a partner. I have heard mixed feelings about them, but it might be worth a try.

No, we don't trap either. Sometimes the leg might get "hooked" by "accident" when trying to sweep it out of the way, but that is an "accident." I try to move back and at an angle, to get a counter shot in, but I have trouble getting away from those side kicks.

I agree. A black belt should look like a black belt when doing the white belt form. All that has been learned through the years should be seen in the low rank forms, too.

Although I can't speak for the policies of every organization out there, when I was with the ATA they were very good about making adjustments to curriculum requirements, as far as the physical ones go, so that they could move up the ranks, just like the others.

To your first point - I agree 100% On the second point. I personally believe that kata is NOT bunkai, but a way to help remember and practice so that you can do bunkai. The movements in kata should not be taken as a literal fight but as a dance to help you remember concepts in fighting. Hope that makes sense? As for the second point here, I do think that there is likely some extrapolation that takes place when performing the bunkai.

I think that the idea of using the word style to refer to kata came from the time when it wasn't unusual to learn just one kata from a master, spend your training time on it, and the applications found therein. Abernethy has spoken about the probabilities of this. There's a great book about this too. "Five Years One Kata" by Bill Burgar. He studied Gojushiho for five years straight and came up with an entire self defense system just from it, and gives you his blueprint on how to work on your own. Pretty interesting stuff. That would be an interesting read, I think. I may have to search that one out.

I have not heard of that one, but that isn't saying much. Good luck in finding it.

I think that it would be a blast to learn. The few times that I get to work on some ground fighting stuff through seminars and DT and what not, I always come away with something. Now, I need to get together with a partner and drill a few of the things that I have learned, so that I don't forget them, again.

Thanks, tallgeese. In the DT training that we do, we cover a wrist lock/arm bar, one of which comes from inside, and the other from the outside, so that no matter how you end up, you should have something to work with. I also see some of the parallels with the Hapkido I do, but the Hapkido tends to be much more direct. Here is a video clip of Ikkyo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QwNKF3iE8k&feature=related This is very similar to what we are doing, only we are not letting the grab complete. Also, when we step in and push the elbow up, we then step to 45 degree angle with what would be the right foot in the video, bringing the arm straight and dragging him off balance more. Other than that, it is close.

Actually, I think that there is one that is based of the White Crane system of Kung Fu; I thought it might be Shito-Ryu, but I might be wrong.

I like that approach a lot too, Kuma, and its the one I try to train when I do Hapkido and Defensive Tactics. Getting away from those weapons, as well as placing yourself at the opponent's flank or rear, is of great strategic value in my eyes.

I think that the idea of using the word style to refer to kata came from the time when it wasn't unusual to learn just one kata from a master, spend your training time on it, and the applications found therein. Abernethy has spoken about the probabilities of this.

Not a lot of animal influence in TKD that I know of, or if there is, it just isn't a focus. However, that doesn't mean that we don't try to develop the skills that you mention above. We just try to use a more all-encompassing approach, I guess.

That's why I said legend. They have proof of Chinese MA before the existence of the Shaolin Temple, but I don't know too much more than that. Not really my area of interest, I prefer Japanese arts. I noticed that you did use the word "legend." I wasn't trying to point any fingers or anything; I just used your quote because you mentioned it, and I thought it would highlight my point. I like to read on the history of the Japanese arts, too, and I am supposed to be getting some books on Karate history from a Classical Fighting Arts contributor, but they still haven't come yet.

When defending straight-line attacks, like straight punches, side kicks, or front kicks, do you usually find yourself moving to the inside of the technique to defend, where you then might have to worry about other limbs, or to the outside of the attack, where you can be away from the other weapons for a brief time? Where do you naturally go, and what do you work towards? I'd love to hear any ideas and suggestions.

What methods have you found successful for defending against the front leg side kick, whether it is a stepping through kick or just a front leg kick? When we spar, we try to sweep the kick out of the way, and then move in on it, whether to the front of back of the leg depends on what stance you are in. Does anyone have any other suggestions for defending it?

Good luck, and keep us posted as to your progress.

I have been working out on the weekends with the Aikido club at our college, and the first technique that I have finally fealt like I have gotten a grip on is Ikkyo. The way we do it is instead of letting a lapel grab be completed, we step back and intercept the hand before it grabs the lapel (I like this, because I can see some parallels with intercepting a punch, but that would take some time). We make contact to the arm, and slide down in to grab the hand in the Ikkyo position; next, we attack the elbow by pushing it up and somewhat "through" our partner, getting them off balance; then, we step out at a 45 degree angle and circle the arm around and down into a locked straight position, with our partner hopefully below the level of our hips by now. Then we will slide back in and forward at another 45 degrees, pushing our partner down, and then slide forward and to the other 45, and into the Ikkyo pin. This explanation is probably rather crappy, but it is about the best way I can think to explain it without pictures. If anyone has any comments, thoughts, or suggestions on this technique, please feel free to let me have it! I look forward to them.

That's creative. Didn't we see a NintenToaster already?

Nice. Human bowling pins.

3-23-09 Weights Bench press: 225x7, 8 fail Row: 180x7, 8 fail Military press: 125x6, 7 fail Lat pull-down: 170x5, 6 fail Machine curl: 55x7, 8 fail Triceps push-down: 180x5 Lunges: 10 each side Ab wheel: 12, 10 Cable trunk twists: 80x10, 10 on each side Cardio: Bike for 25 minutes, then had a good stretch. Repeating round kicks: 3 sets of 5 on each side, with each rep being two kicks. I was working on doing one to the middle section, and then following up to the high section. Last week, the instructor mentioned that he would like for me to try doing a multi-level board break with the round kicks, instead of the power breaks that I usually do. He wants to use me to show flexibility with power, or the like. What the heck, I'll give it a try. MA work out (9:15 - 10:00) TKD: 9:15 - 9:50. We worked on some ring sparring drills for the upcoming tournament. I won't be competing, but the 1st dan that meets with me on Monday mornings will be going, so we're getting some extra sparring work in for him. Aikido: 9:50 - 10:00. We spent 10 minutes here working on Nikkyo. It was pretty much just an intro to the technique for me, but we can fine tune things later. We had to beat feet out of the school at 10:00 because the instructor's girlfriend teaches tumbling classes. Oh well.

Thats pretty cool. Congrats.

Yeah in ITF we only ever use "pattern" or "tul". Rarely anything else. Not even "form". I wonder if this is perhaps a regional thing. I don't hear the word pattern used a lot, other than some reading. But I have always heard the term form. In the ITF itself? I've always heard the term "pattern". That's the term used by all 3 (ITF) orgs and in the official encyclopedia. All the events I've been to use "pattern" as well (they even use the term at all international tournaments too). I know people who do the Chang Hon forms themselves might not use the term but I'm pretty sure within ITF itself its always "pattern". It could be that because I am not in the ITF that we don't use the term pattern. We use hyung in class. I think it was Anslow's book that I saw the use of the word "tul" a lot. By regional, I thought that maybe in the UK the term pattern was used more, and in the US the term form was used more. I could be wrong, though.

I think that the main issue is a safety concern. Elbows can be really nasty tools, and can cause cuts along with concussions. It will also depend on the school/style, too. Kyokushin styles tend to allow the usage of the knee strike, but not the elbow. Some styles will also allow sweeps to be used in sparring. The sparring is not as likely to be as indicative of the "original concept" as the applications of the katas are to be. But, these applications are trained in a controlled manner, and sparring is a less controlled environment.