bushido_man96

My question is, how much different was it in the old days than it is now? I think people would still show up; I don't see any reason to smack people around with sticks in class, if that is what you might be referring to. However, there isn't any reason that MA shouldn't be a physical challenge. Maybe someone can't kick high, but that doesn't mean that they can't kick well. I think what is key is finding what your bread and butter is, and doing what you can with it. As far as how long a black belt testing should last, or what it should consist of, I am not too concerned about. After all, you earn your belt in the hours of class time you put in. I think that testing is to put someone in a stressful position, and then watching them perform. I think what our idea of making good black belts boils down to is that when you have a group of 8 orange belts in your class, that you don't think that they all have to test for yellow belt at the same time. If one needs more work, tell them they need more work, and hold them back. If they don't appreciate your actions, then they aren't there for the right reasons (like sensei8 mentioned...rank should merely indicate a level of knowledge and skill). Should all black belts be knockdown tournament champs? No. Should all black belts be kata grand champs? No. Should a black belt be easy to decipher from a crowd of colored belts, when you don't see any belts on them? I think so. How do we get there? Like Sensei Pat Nakata says: with hard work.

Man, that was rough. It didn't look like he had ever done it before. Tough lesson!

Part of this may have to do with the angle and set-up. For example, when I do my board breaks, I have to come off at about a 45 degree angle from the boards, so that I can make contact with the ball of the foot. The inner thigh is a good target; I have been using it in my Combat Hapkido sessions, as it tends to allow me to flow into some of the techniques than the kick to the outside of the leg. If you get it just right, you can get your foot into the nook of the knee, and buckle them down to one knee, as well.

I don't really buy into either of these ideas. I don't think we are all on a preset timetable, where it doesn't really matter what our actions or decisions are. I am in control of my future, my present, etc. Sure, there are some things that are out of our control, those are circumstances that we may not be able to do anything about. However, when it gets down to nut-crunchin' time, I don't feel that it is already decided between "me or him" as to who wins/loses or lives/dies. Its up to me to make the decisions necessary to either fight and win, or survive and escape. Here's a favorite quote of mine: "Battle does not favor the righteous or the just; it favors the prepared."

I can see why you took this approach, ps1. Was there a point in training in class at which you realized that you could beat your instructor easily, and then decided that you should back off? How gradually, or how abruptly, did you realize this? It was gradual. A combination of my maturation, my instructor growing older, and my constant and hard training. If I'm lucky, one day a student of mine will be able to do the same to me. Gotcha. You are lucky, though. At least your teacher(s) still work(ed) with you and sparred with you. I have not been so fortunate.

This topic stems from the following quote by Ozpunker in this thread: This got me to thinking, and I was curious if everyone had their own definition as to what constitutes a "Martial Arts technique" proper? Is there a way you define a technique in this way? As for me, I don't feel that there is a requirement to make a technique an "MA technique." A technique may not be the cleanest, or the fanciest technique, but I don't think that takes away from the fact that it is an MA technique.

Very cool. Thanks beast!

What little bit of goofing I do with a stick, I like to keep a bit out the back end. I feel like I have better control that way.

Pretty cool video.

I agree. My middle brother played football, and contact was not a big deal to him. I wondered if I could ever hurt him.

I hope he makes a good showing. I don't know how competitive the heavyweight division is right now; I haven't been able to keep up for quite some time. I always liked Holyfield, the way he carried himself, and the way he fought. The guy was a total beast when he was younger. I'd hate to see him come back, and then have a finish like De La Hoya did here recently.

That's terrible. I hope they find suspects soon. RIP

He probably figured from Bruce that being fast is good....

That is a bummer, Joe. Its the only downfall of the holiday season. We had an icestorm today, so I didn't make it to class. Instead, I got to stay home and make supper for the kids, while the wife was coming home from work (an hour away). Adventures in cooking with me never turn out too great...

Yeah, tell me about it. My family has scattered as well. Brothers are all gone, all that jazz...its tough to get together anymore.

I agree. Turnabout is fair play, and enough is enough. That said, I don't think that it is fair to judge all Karatekas by the actions of these two players at one tournament. It is akin to judging the personalities and actions of all MMA fighters because of the actions of a few that tend to veer into the limelight constantly.

I'm not saying that this is right, but it is the way that it tends to be. Adults usually are the ones in charge, the ones looked to when kids need help, advise, etc. So, I'm not sure if it is ego that is to blame, or the fact that the status quo is being messed with that would bother most adults. I think that something that might be part of it might have to do with general life experiences...adults get more of this than kids do, and the concept of "what can a kid teach me" might tend to come into play. I realize that teaching the concept of humility is a staple of many MAs out there, but I'm not sure that subjugating an adult to the care of a child in class is the right way to go about it. An adult may view it as not teaching humility, but as outright humiliation, which I think, are two different things. I don't think that I would want a child to be my regular MA instructor. I know that this wasn't the orginal scope of the thread, but it has leaned in this direction. I don't have a problem with children getting work at some teaching and leading skills, but some controls being in place, and not going overboard with it, are the keys to success in this scenario.

Welcome to KarateForums!

I used to be decent with Spanish, but not anymore.

I hope he recovers soon. My thoughts and prayers go with him and his family.

Man, that is a bummer. Did you tell them that its never too late?

I think the true differences lie in Okinawan/Japanese differentiation. I think that there are some variations in the movements, from style to style, but otherwise, it has more to do with the languages and translations.

I believe that chi sao is the "sticky hands" drill that they do, isn't it? If it is the drill I am thinking of, they use it for different things, but one of the major ones is for developing sensitivity towards another's movements and intentions, as well as using it to work their trapping drills, which come in handy for self-defense.

This is why I think that tournaments within organizations are a good idea; more consistency.

I think that this changes the scenario a bit; you are both adults in this case. When one is not an adult, that is when there is a difference in opinions.