bushido_man96

I think any time you change your range, it is a transition, isn't it? For example, striking range could be broken into kicking range and punching range. Then, you get into infighting, then into clinching, grappling, etc. Maybe?

I think that in the Karate circles, one of the older masters, I think Gogen Yamaguchi, was nicknamed "The Cat," and was known for his quickness, and he used that stance very exclusively in kumite. I think that is where the stance got its nickname. Karate guys, let me know if I totally botched this.

Isn't your daughter carrying on the Martial Tradition for your family, sensei8?

2008 was a good year for me. I tested for and earned my 3rd dan in TKD. A personal highlight of the testing was nailing all of my board breaks on the first try, and I think I was the only one to do that at the testing. I also started working with Combat Hapkido regularly again, and plan to test in the spring for my next rank. I also kicked up my amount of DT training, doing so on a fairly regular basis until this last month. It has also paid off for me at work once. You just can't beat being prepared. Last, but not least, I started taking Aikido classes this year as well, and I have enjoyed them. Overall, I have been pleased with my MA training in 2008.

I don't really see this as an issue at all. Case-in-point; Wrestling is already a sport option in most school systems. Other Martial Arts can be taught in a similar premise without any concern.

I agree 1000%. If don't have that level of force used against you, and you think that you'll hit them in the throat to get it over with, you might have problems come your way. It might be slim, but if the person can determine that you in some way intentionally tried to strike his throat, then he might be able to push it onto a defense attorney that may try to press charges on you for aggravated battery or something similar. Like tallgeese said, articulating the threat that you perceived is so important. Don't just think "I'll hit him in the throat." You have to think "I hit this guy in the throat because..."

These are good ideas. I can honestly say that our school has never proferred anything like this. I like what I see so far, and see the value in coming up with something like it. What I like about both examples is that they are short and sweet; only 4 parts each.

I would guess that there probably isn't much difference between the two. Most swords work the same way, and I imagine that the two are fairly close. I'd say its the Korean incarnation of Kendo.

Knife work is something that I would love to have more experience in. If I were to try anything, it would most likely be from the sword grip position, due to my inexperience with the weapon.

Well, your muscles adapt to the amount of work they can do. So, you should be able to keep increasing, to an extent.

You could try to secure a mattress to a wall somehow, and use that.

Sounds like a good time, both ways. Out of curiosity, what was the name of your organization again, Joe? I have a book on Tang Soo Do, and in reviewing it, I see the same names fo the Pyong Ahn forms that you do. Just wondered if they were connected.

I'm trying it out by starting in a right stance, looking over my left shoulder, doing a fast hop of the right leg to about where the left was, and shooting the left straight back. I've also tried it in the left stance. I can see it's for closer quarters when you want to back kick but there isn't the room for a regular one. Yeah, I really like it, and it doesn't require much of a jump. I refer to it as a switching stance kick, or "switch kick." You can do it with a round kick, too; you just switch forward instead of back. Nice variations. 12-1-08 Chest/triceps Bench press: 155x10, 185x8, 205x4 Triceps push-downs: 90x10, 105x8, 8 Biceps Dumbell curls: 25x10, 30x8, 35x4 Legs Lunges: 2x10, alternating FL front kick chamber and hold: 2x10 each side Abs Cable crunches: 70x20, 105x15, 10 Combat Hapkido class: 10:00 - 11:00. We worked off the beaten path today. We did some kicks on the ground from the lying power position, and also did some trips from the position. We also did a bag kicking drill where we worked pretty hard to keep the bag holder from getting close to you while on the ground. We then worked on some scenario stuff a bit, back to the wall, from a fence position. It wasn't anything overly impressive, but it was a start. TKD class: 6:00 - 7:00. I taught class tonight, but I got some work in, too. Broke a little sweat, and reviewed some stuff. Changed up basics a bit, too. Toward the end of class, I worked with the students (mostly kids) on how the knife hand strike we do in basics can transition into its very own self-defense technique, complete with blocking, seizing (if there), and the strike itself. I thought it went well. If anything, maybe it'll give them a reason to see why its so important to practice the basics hard. 12-3-08 Side kicks on floor: 2x10 each side. I also have been working on breaking down the push-up portion of the burbee, as I don't bounce off my chest and explode up very well. Burpee push-ups: 6, followed by 6 regular push-ups. 2 sets.

I don't know about your program, but my wife has the Bisk program (I think). She plans on sitting for it within a year or two, I think. It sounds like you have set aside plenty of study time, so good luck!

I didn't overeat....as much as I did last year. Still overate a bit, though. Can't help myself...I live for food!

My daughter and my wife like to snap pics here and there. For Christmas, I am getting my wife a higher speed digital camera, so she can take more pictures in motion. They like to snap pictures in nature at times, and my daughter wants to try to enter some in the fair.

I would like to have one. I thought I might have had my wife talked into one at one point. Not yet, though.

Sweet! I still have some of those yellow-suit space guys, without the visor on the helmets!

Perhaps you could look into trying to have a pre- or post-work Karate time, where those interested could show up an spend some time on kihon or the like. It might spark some interest.

That's the book I was mentioning. There is another set of books called the Best Karate series, and it has been pretty good, info wise as well. Several other old masters have put out books, as well, and if you google their names, then you should turn up some titles by them.

Yes, indeed!

Ok. That helps a little. I'll try to think of it that way when I spar next.

No, I haven't done randori yet. I have done something kind of like it, but more limited on attacks, and the responses that I was to use.

I don't have a lot of titles on Kung Fu, so I may have to broaden my horizons a bit, and look into some of these titles.

Thanks, ShoriKid. That's good advise. When you step off on your angles, do step with the front leg, or the back? For my sparring, I tend to step off with the back, cutting more foward than back (hopefully...). Its easy to do with round kicks, but side kicks give me the fits.