bushido_man96

11-25-08 TKD class: 6:00 - 7:00. Class was smaller this evening, so we got to do some form review. It was a good time. I didn't get too tired, and managed to stay strong throughout.

I like the good old punches. I'll use a spin hook kick at times, but it really isn't my bread and butter. I like to block, cram, and punch, and then round kick on the way out.

That's what I would guess. General Choi was making a major push to consolidate the Korean Kwans under his umbrella style that became the ITF. I recently read some history provided by rmclain on his GM concerning this movement, and some in Black Belt Magazine as well. What was different with Oyama is I think that he stayed in Japan, didn't he?

Throw/takedown. I guess it wouldn't have to be a flat out Judo-type launching, but a takedown and finish wouldn't be out of the question.

10-4 here. Unfortunately, I think that many Martial Artists tend to overlook the value of strength training, especially the legs, for fear that increased muscle will decrease range of motion or flexibility. The only thing that is going to decrease flexibility is not stretching. Along with doing the typical squats, leg extensions and curls, try to find the machines that work your hip adductors and abductors as well. Those muscles help to contribute to the holding up of the leg while kicking. Along with the leg muscles, you will use your abs a ton when kicking, especially the oblique abdominals (along the side of your torso). I agree here, too. One of the things that I see and correct a lot of as an instructor is the pivoting of the base leg. You have to focus on the base leg just as much as you do on the kicking leg for complete efficiency. If you are interested in some reading material, there is some good stuff out there. The Achieving Kicking Excellence series is a good set of books, and each book focuses on a specific kick. I have 3 of the set so far, and the others should be just as good. Here is the one on the Roundhouse kick: http://www.amazon.com/Roundhouse-Kick-Achieving-Kicking-Excellence/dp/0970749686/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227766479&sr=1-3 And for some old-school stuff, I recommend GM Hee Il Cho's books: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Complete-Masters-Kick/Hee-Il-Cho/e/9780929015019/?itm=3

According to a brief in Black Belt Magazine, he holds a 6th dan in the art. The brief also stated that he may have began his MA training in Sambo, which wouldn't be an outlandish claim in Russia.

I am all for correct foundations. I personally enjoy the technical aspects of TKD that I have been doing for years now. The challenge of acquiring the technique is great. But, I think that done the proper way, it is possible to teach good foundations that can transfer easily to self-defense, therefore benefiting the beginner student early on, as opposed to having to wait years to feel confident in defending oneself.

Aye. In Kumite for this purpose, how would you arrange the rules, or scenarios, or any other aspect that you would be looking at for testing a technique?

Although I see your point about it being a concept, I do think that it can be a representative style, much like arts like Krav Maga or Systema have become. But on the other hand, you have guys like Hockheim who tend to teach more of the concepts, and you can take it no matter what style you do.

I think that there is a misgiving about how easy the throat is to strike. Unless you are fighting a guy who likes to thrust his head forward and his chin out in the "give my your best shot pose" for the entire confrontation, then striking the throat straight on is not as easy as it would appear. More than likely, if the guy you are being attacked by is a good/experienced fighter, then he is probably pretty good about keeping his hands up and his chin tucked during combat. A tucked chin is going to be tough to get to, and the hands up will make it tougher to get to the sides of the neck, along with the shoulders being rolled up. Now, I'm not saying that one should not practice such techniques, because they can be useful. I just would be warry about the "I'll strike them in the throat" mentality, and assume the confrontation ends there.

That's not a bad idea, either, and like you mentioned, the anonyminity of the suggestions might make it easier for others to be more willing to throw something out there.

My black belt testings were pretty nerve racking for me as well. This last one, where I tested for 3rd dan was really nerving, because I had to do a flying side kick over three people for one of the breaks. I was nervous about it, and spent tons of time practicing it in the school, jumping over kicking shields to fly into a wavemaster. Good stuff.

If they have a weapon, and have demonstrated intent, or better yet, stated that they intend to kill you, or slice you to pieces, etc., and you can then articulate that from what they said and their actions that they intended to seriously injure or kill you, and that you were in fear of your life or great bodily harm, then your chances of justifying it get better.

To that, I'd say: "If you have to ask, then you know the answer."

Its good that she came clean. I can see why she wouldn't have wanted to make a production of it before; kind of like coming to you with her cup empty. Its good in a way, but I think it could have been handled differently. But, no harm, no foul, I guess. Welcome to KF!

Thanks for getting back on PPCT, tallgeese. You have had a bunch more exposure than I have with it. Your reply is insightful. 11-24-08 Chest/triceps Chest press: 110x10, 118x8, 125x6 Triceps press: 210x10x3 Abs Decline sit-ups: 3x25 Legs Leg press: 320x15x3 Combat Hapkido class: 10:15 - 11:15. We warmed up with inside and outside crescent kicks on the paddles, 2 sets of each from the back leg. We did front leg front and round kicks as well, 1 set each. 10 in each set. Then worked orange, yellow, and some of my red belt material. We really broke down the arm bars in orange belt, and spent time on some details. 11-25-08 Back/biceps/shoulders Assisted pull-ups: plate 12x12, plate 10x10, plate 6x4; palms facing in. Abs Cable trunk twists: 70x10x3 Legs Hip flexion: 85x10x3 Hip extension: 160x10x3 Combat Hapkido class: 10:15 - 11:05. More review of orange belt, and red belt. We also explored some forms applications. Afterwards, talking with two of the students, I shared some of my ideas as to what I think the goal of Martial Arts training should be.

Good points above. I wouldn't worry about price quite as much as I would as to what is being taught and how. If you want an improved ground game, then BJJ would be the way to go, I think. For throwing, Judo would be good. Also, you could look into a Hapkido school for something similar to more traditional Japanese Jujitsu.

Hello, and welcome to the Forums. What do you have available in your area to choose from? Judo might fit you well, and would complement your Wrestling skills nicely. I would also add that if you find a TKD school that isn't necessarily sport-oriented, then it might have some things that you like. Just don't let a stereotype deter you.

You really said it right there, tallgeese: everyone wins. Especially when it comes to the more resistive or "alive" training.

On several occasions, my instructor has even ASKED us students to submit ideas or suggestions on things we would like to learn (or do) in class that we might not cover in a regular class or things we feel that need more practice in; and any other comments we'd like to bring up. My instructor is flexible & open-minded in that way. So, I would suggest talking to yours after class and bring the matter up. The worst that can happen is he says no. That is awesome that you have an instructor like that. An environment in which students don't have to worry about whether or not to ask a question, or make a suggestion, is a very healthy learning environment.

Well, anytime there is a turn involved, it seems to me like a good opportunity to put in a trip/throw/takedown of some kind. Thoughts?

Welcome to KarateForums. To improve the height and explosiveness of your kicks, there are two things you can do. First is get into a good stretching routine where you focus on flexibility improvement. Second, is set up a plyometric exercise program to build up the explosiveness in your legs. There are lots of good exercises that you can find on the internet, and if you pick a few to do two days a week, along with focusing on proper technique work with your kicks, then I think you will begin to see improvements. Best of luck to you!

When you jump, make sure to tuck your legs up underneath you. Its kind of like a high-knees position, with both knees tucked up. Practice doing this by just jumping straight up, bursting as high as you can, and tucking your legs. Then land. Rinse and repeat. This is a very plyometric, explosive exercise, so if you do them in 3 sets of 10 one day, wait another day before you do them again.

I second the stun/distract methodology; I prefer to call it a destruction; I don't want to be a fly, I want to be an elephant, stampedeing. In Combat Hapkido, distraction techniques are a part of each set of moves that we do. They usually consist of low-line kicks or palm strikes to the face. It is a good tactic.

How would you test that? I would probably use some Reality Based approaches to scenario based training to see how things worked. How would you test it?