bushido_man96

I don't think that too many people actually join an MA school thinking that they can learn things like flying and kicking 8 feet in the air. I think that most people have a pretty good grasp of what the human body is capable of, and if they see these movies, they join knowing what they can and can't do. Overall, I don't think MA movies are a problem. I think that they expose people to the arts, and that helps.

I agree with John and Tallgeese's approach. The skill set and level should determine what level one compete's in.

This is what I would prefer, but it isn't how my current school runs. I don't have a problem with tradition, but I like to see things from a modern standpoint, and dealing with applications in this way can work with applications from more traditional approaches. I think it can all work together.

They say that potassium helps with sore muscles. So, banannas and potatoes are a good source, and I'm sure you can get some pills that supplement it. On a side note, I have heard the arguement that lactic acid build up is more myth than reality. Can anyone add some research to that?

Hehe...like I stated, though, my brother is the crazy one. I'm much more sensitive than he. I do think that it is important for students to know that the possibility of getting hurt in a confrontation is high, and that they may have to work through it. Now, I don't think we should come up with inventive ways to hurt students when training so that they get this idea, but it is something that should be addressed at times.

Joe: have you tried doing a quick, switching foot reverse back/side kick? Its quite fun, and may fall into what you have been working on.

Yeah, see a doctor, and ice the thing, too. Remeber RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.

Congrats, Wa-No-Michi!

I don't own a lot of Karate books, but I am waiting for some to come in from Dragon Times by Cook. They won't be old books, but the history in them should be accurate. Funakoshi's Karate-Do Kyohan dates to 1973, but anything older than that may only be available in Japanese.

Well John, I can understand this thought process and I have tried on this forum to present a considered opinion in this area, however in the most part, it seems that any aspects of ma that do not have a direct correlation with the "street lethal" objectives as you put it, seem to be relegated to the realms of antiquity. You may have your work cut out here. I've all but given up really. Aikido's soft approach can still contain methods to help one in self-defense capacities earlier rather than later, in my opinion. Even if it has to do with teaching more awareness to situations, and ways to defend against attacks that may be of a more simplified fashion than some of the more intricate movements of the style. With that said, I don't think that one has to do street lethal techniques in order to defend himself. Truly, awareness training can increase the chance that no physical technique has to be thrown. Its a start. But when it comes down to it, and its time to make contact, its important to take into consideration that contact is sufficient enough to help one to escape.

I think that RBSD does have a code, however. The style is based in the survival of confrontation, and in doing so, the defenders are expected and usually trained to understand the moral, ethical, and legal responsibilities of their actions. Often times, they will have to make the case for their actions in court. Therefore, even if RBSD does not follow some of the codes that more traditional systems do, it still does have its own direction. These things are especially important for the law enforcement officers who are supposed to protect others in such a way.

This is an interesting way to look at it. Thanks for your insight here.

I think it is common to feel this way. I have to wait another 2 years from now before I can test again. With the cost of it coming up, I don't think I mind the wait too bad; it gives me time to save up for it. But your instructors won't forget you. They know, when you have stuck around as long as you have already, then you will most likely be around for a while, and they recognize your committment. You probably could pass a grading right now. But, could you do better, with the extra time? Think of it that way.

Congrats on a job well done!

Congrats to your instructor!

This is a problem that I have in sparring, and have been trying to correct. Our sparring sessions are tough to get any trapping or slipping work in, because no head punches are aloud, and it seems tough to do this to body punches. I usually just cover and move in. Working the angles to get in comes a bit tougher for me, but I have been working to improve it.

I think Rateh might be close. Not all testing go the same, and not all instructors think alike. So, it could be fallout from that. After all, you still passed, so that is something to look at positively. As for how the testing was conducted, keep in mind that there is always more than one way to skin a cat. Different instructors have different approaches. I would ask questions, if you have concerns. Like all the others have said, approach tactfully, but don't be surprised if you get outright rebuffed. Sometimes, instructors will feel that they don't have to justify their choices from testings to students. Hopefully, your instructor is a bit more open-minded than this, though.

I see a lot of this from beginners, especially when doing one-steps. I make sure to point out to them that if they had to reach for it, then there was no need to block it in the first place. I use this as a way to help them learn to judge distance better. Its a good tool.

Happy Thanksgiving to everybody.

Good luck!

My main concern would be if it was someone who wanted to show up to class in a white belt to try to push around some of my students. If this was not their intent, then I don't mind so much that they withheld information. However, I might inquire as to why they felt like they could not share the information forthright.

I agree here. My middle brother played football up through college, and Wrestled in high school, as well as doing TKD for a time. He is tougher than I am, and he can handle pain pretty well. He played a few weeks of football in high school with a bad shoulder, because if he would have gone to the doc, he knows the doc would have told him to sit. He wouldn't. His arm was hurt so bad that he was hiking the ball with his right hand, and then throwing it up into the D-lineman after hiking. Pretty much played a game with one arm. That said, I don't think I could deal with quite as much pain. However, with getting banged and clashed in sparring, I have found that at times, you have to work around the pain. You either protect it by switching a stance, or you grit your teeth and work through it. I would also say that there is a difference between just pain, and an injury. My brother had an injury. I don't think I have really ever trained or fought through an injury like that. Still, both are a demonstration of toughness.

Welcome to the Forums. From what I have read on the history of Karate, it was developed for the most part as a civilian-based self-defense system. You could look into research on Tuite or Touidi, or Naha-Te. It also has some Chinese style influences as well, notably White Crane, and I think Chuan Fa, but I might be off there. Jujitsu was more of a combat-based system, as it is the modern incarnation of what was taught to the Samurai for hand-to-hand. I am no Karate expert, by any stretch, but this is what I have garnered from my reading. Others probably have better info for you. I hope this helps out.

Take Wado and I dont think the foundations transfer easily. I would say that student would be at about 3rd kyu before they start to get these down. This would mean training for about 2 years. Does Wado fail in your eyes? I think the foundations of the techniques in the style might be different than what is needed for effective self-defense skills. Learning simple strikes like the palm strike, and teaching how to drive power into it from the ground up, along with being able to cover and move can easily become part of the early curriculum of any style. Also, de-escalation ideas and what to do post-fight, as well. If it takes 2 years to cover things like this, then I would like a different approach. I would like to see my school do more things like this, but it doesn't. These are the things that I feel are just as important to instill in students as the material for the next belt test. I agree. To me, it just seems like the balance should be implied.

This brings up a good point about the strategy/style comparison. If someone has no prior MA training, and takes up learning what we would call in the law enforcement pedagogy Defensive Tactics, which would likely consist of a bunch of RBSD training, then wouldn't they be a Martial Artist, with RBSD as their style? Now, on the other hand, as a Martial Artist with the bulk of my experience being in TKD, I can see how bringing in RBSD skills to augment my training would make it more of a strategy. Perhaps it can be both?