bushido_man96

John, in writing, I like the way that you approach the training scenarios. I think it would be something worth exploring. From what it sounds like, you aren't hung up on the execution of certain techniques (technique requirements), but more with being efficient with your responses, and successful in executing them. Is that the case, or am I jumping the gun here?

These are some very good names that I don't think a lot of Western MAist know anything about. Ott the Jew especially. Another big one for Western Swordsmanship is Johannes Licthenhauer.

So cross, do you think that for the most part you see the changes taking place in the area of training methodology, as opposed to anything else?

I agree that it's very good for the higher dans to do this, and on a regular basis, Rateh, but I feel that six months is a rather short period of time, and I'm not at all surprised that it takes a year for the "new" way to be incorporated in all the schools. I'd have thought it'd be done annually or even every two years. My question here is why should this be relegated to only the high ranks? Chances are that the "changes" that are made are not difficult to learn and adapt, and everyone involved would benefit. I also think that lower ranks should be experimenting with different things as well. Its not something that only higher ranks can do right. Experimenting can help everyone at any stage.

I'm with tallgeese here. Especially when size and weight factors become a disparity. Knowing and using your environment can give you the advantage that you need to be able to escape an attacker, and his buddies. I found Mr. Rutten very entertaining to listen to, as well. I think he would be a fun guy to get into the gym with. He seems very knowledgable.

Congrats, John! Well deserved.

Couldn't kata-based systems bear more fruit if you did experiment with them, though? Take what guys like Iain Abernethy and Stuart Paul Anslow have done with their Karate and TKD systems, respectively. What they have done has helped to improve their systems, from what I can see.

That sounds like a blast, tallgeese. I think my dad got to do one of those at one time. He dropped two mags into a guy with a shovel coming at him... 1-30-09 100 push-ups Week 4, Day 2: 20, 25, 20, 20, 30 (needed at least 28 ). I decided to repeat this day, since I didn't get it earlier in the week. Next week, I'll start Week 4 over again, and try to move on. I am feeling some improvement. Weights Chest press: 140x8...different machine Seated row: 170x6, 7 fail Military press: 106x6...different machine Lat pull-down: 150x7 Triceps push down: 135x12...different handle attachement this time Machine curls: 50x6 Cable crunch: 105x20, 16, 16 Cable trunk twists: 80x10x3

Ok then, so, is soreness necessary for improvement? If you aren't sore, are you just maintaining?

My thoughts exactly. Also, its easier, I think, to kick while wearing shorts. Maybe some kickboxers will disagree, I'm not a super-high-kicking-expert. I'll go with that. Even in my TKD classes, I have to kind of hike my dobok pants at times to get my kicks up. It's quite annoying, because my legs are big anyways, and the pants tend to cling and snag.I'd take the shorts any day.

I don't really think it is all that important to get national/international recognition from one organization. I was at a tournament where there was a guy from a TKD school (and I am not knocking TKD, it was just one individual) who was a 2nd degree and did his Kata and it was horrible. I remember looking at the other black belts and we all had the same look on our face - how did he get a 2nd degree? So even though he had recognition from a large, international group (TKD), he lost all credibility as soon as he demonstrated his techniques. I have seen this at tourneys as well. It just kind of boggles my mind. To top it off, some of the guys that I see like this are pretty fit individuals. They are in much better physical condition than I am. Most of them are not as heavy as I am, and can spar pretty well, and have good amounts of energy. I'm fairly portly, but have much better technique than they do. It just makes me wonder.

That would probably be a good idea. BJJ guys tend to work the transitions quite a bit, and they may be able to help you clear up the details. There is nothing wrong with asking for help, even outside of your own gym.

Hey guys. Since this topic took a turn in talking more about the specifics of Iado and Kenjutsu, I split the posts off to start its own topic in a more appropriate forum. Thanks all.

I don't know that I would try to spread Zen to other Christians, especially in the church. Most won't understand it completely (like me) and will put up a brick wall to you. On the other hand, when they do question you about it, you should be able to give astute answers that help to clear the mud for them.

I wouldn't be inclined to buy into the "battlefield tested" idea behind this. For the most part, battles have mainly been fought with varying levels of armor on. These points wouldn't be accessible through armor.

As far as how things are looked at in Asia as compared to the states, you have to take into account that these are two different cultures. Milage will vary. As for the TKD bashing that tends to happen, there are two ways to approach it. Let them run their mouths, and just ignore them, or, you can get into a verbal arguement with them. Although a verbal arguement can be fun from time to time, I'm not sure you can accomplish anything in regards to the Martial Arts with one, without it breaking out into a challenge of some kind. In the end, though, the proof is on the floor, as a friend of mine is fond of saying. You find it in talk or written word.

Unfortunately, I live in both worlds here. In the DT and Combat Hapkido sessions that I do, I like to experiment here and there, and test and try different things out. In my TKD and Aikido classes, unfortunately, the classes are pretty well set. I despise the one-steps in TKD, and view them as pretty well useless after the first few belt levels, but mainly because we don't expand on them. As some might have seen from my rant on the cross-over side kick in the MA training thread, I have some issues with some instructor's ideals on technique. The Aikido class, which I do enjoy for a change, is just somewhat helter-skelter at times, and I think that the students in that class take a LOT of things for granted. I would like for our TKD classes to be more experimental, but they are not. So, I do my thing on the side.

The video was a nice one. I know what you are saying about drawing the blade for cuts. It appears that the kata stops the motions. I think you could draw the blade with the katas, but I don't know if it would be allowed.

Like with my Chiefs this year....

Can't wait! I loved that show as a kid. And Scott does good work, too.

Welcome to the Forums, Damen!

Black belt testers have to write an essay answering 3 questions: How does TKD remain important to you? What does earning your black belt mean to you? What are your goals in TKD? I think those are it, but I'll take a look for sure.

If you've missed an issue or 10 of Black Belt, check this out: http://books.google.com/books?id=ONsDAAAAMBAJ&dq=Black+Belt&lr=&source=gbs_all_issues_r&cad=2_2&atm_aiy=1960#all_issues_anchor

And that's the deal. We do it this way, so that we have to exaggerate the technique; it is good for making sure we aren't cheating on the chamber, and making more of a half-round kick. However, I can watch all three rows in front of me do the kick, and it is pretty well wrong. Then, I do it the way I think is right, and get chided for it. I was fairly hacked. Our instructor does tell us that for sparring and board breaking, doing the cross-step behind is the way to go, and it is. But for basics, we break it down, and do it this way. My body and waistline are fairly wide as it is; I ain't very slim. So, when I get my body turned like that, it won't come back...but it seems like he doesn't see that. 1-29-09 TKD Testing: 6:30 - 8:00. We had mainly lower ranks testing tonight, and one brown belt. Afterwards, the black belts got to do some board breaking. And man, the boars were tough! These were some heavy, sappy boards. I can usually do 3 to 4 boards with a back leg round kick, and so tonight, I lined up 3 of them. After 3 hard shots with the right leg, the ball of my foot was a bit tender. I dropped a board, and switched to the left foot, and got the 2 on one try, but wow, did those boards pop! They were pretty nasty.

I would say that allowing brown belts to beginning to get into warm-ups, along with supervised assistant teaching, would be a good start. 1st dans should be assisting as well. 2nd dan and up could do unsupervised teaching, I think.