bushido_man96

Welcome to KF, Scott. It sounds like you've got a pretty special program going there in Joplin. Coincidentally, I have a brother named Scott, who lives in MO, too. St. Clair, to be exact. Glad to have you here.

Welcome to KF, Adam.

Wouldn't it be kind of tough to do Iai techniques with a jo, because they involve the drawing of the sword? Just wondering; it seems like it would be ackward to me.

3-24-09 100 Push-ups Week 5, Day 1: 17, 19, 15, 15, 30 (needed 20) = 96 MA workout Defensive Tactics: 3:30 - 4:15. Worked on red belt Combat Hapkido. While doing one of the reaping takedowns, one of our TKD instructor's daughter came by and watched. Well, I have a habit of slapping the ground nice and hard when I get taken down, and I am pretty decent at breakfalls. So, some guys know that they can throw me hard, and I'll be ok. So, the daughter brings a couple of her tumbling class friends over and says, "hey, show them that takedown." So, I get reaped hard, smack the mat and fall hard, and she says to her friends "see, don't mess with Stan (my DT partner)." I was like, man, thanks a lot. Glad I got to make you look good, buddy...we had a laugh over it. Good stuff. TKD class: 6:00 - 7:10. We have a testing on Thursday, so the class worked on mostly prepping for that. My old training buddy was in the class, so when we did one-steps together, we had a bit of fun hitting each other while we were standing there as a target. Good times. Man, my legs are sore today from the lunges I did on Monday. I think I need to do them more often, to get my legs stronger. I don't do a lot of weights with my legs, but maybe I should start. My knees don't like the squats, so I have to be careful.

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.