bushido_man96

There is an old thread floating around here somewhere about that college in Bridgeport. They were to have majors in Karate, TKD, and Kung Fu, I believe, along with studies in the histories and cultures of the countries that the respective arts came from. I thought it looked cool, too, but I don't know how useable the degree would be for me. That, and I'd have to move now...

I think that lots of schools are under pressure to make sure their students hit assessment levels, so they work hard at achieving this. I wouldn't expect the load to lighten anytime soon. It doesn't help time management any, that's for sure.

Good call there. That way, they can't try to get the cash from you then, either.

I like "subdue the 'I'."

A retired instructor that I know used to be with the UTA (Universal Taekwondo Association), and they practiced the ITF and the WTF Tae Guek forms.

Man, that's like the ultimate yin/yang of hard and soft styles there. Pretty cool that you get to teach and train in both.

This last month's Black Belt Magazine featured an article on the Judo that Toshikazu Okada taught and used. He was a bit different from Kano in that he focused more on the ground fighting aspects of the style than Kano did. I thought it was another good example of differentiation within a style.

If you have an issue with the testing cycles at your school, just don't test as often. Just because a testing has come along, doesn't mean you have to test. Hold yourself out till next time, or the time after, if you feel the need for more preparation. From what you mention of the other school, I see a few flags pop up there. If an instructor isn't willing to let me watch a class, then I don't think I want to really partake in that class. The best way to take care of the problems you may see with your school is to stick with it, be true to yourself, and when it comes time for you to teach, you will know what you will and won't allow to happen as far as pushing or pulling students along goes. If we all do this, then we all can fix the Martial Arts.

That would be great, too. You could look at how far you have come.

It depends on if your town has a curfew, and if they tolerate that as disorderly conduct.

Speaking of the ATM usage, make sure no one nearby has their cell phone out, like they may be texting or something. They may be attempting to take a pic of your pin. It sounds like the pamphlet has some really good, basic advise in it.

A smaller flashlight can make a good weapon as well, like the Kubotan. In fact, there are some tactical flashlight classes floating around that can teach you to use one in such a way. Blind them first, and then attack them with it. Keys are a good improvised weapon, although the range is a touch limited. But, if you are close enough to punch someone, then you can use that key jutting out from between your knuckles. If you find a rake or some other lawn tool in a yard, one could be used well as a staff. Smaller branches from trees could suffice as a short stick. Also, if you know a sword art, then you could use any stick and do the same striking and blocking maneuvers as with the sword art.

10-14-08 Boy, was I sore after lifting yesterday. My arms are screaming at me. TKD class: 6:00 - 7:00. We didn't get to do any sparring today, but I got a lot of review on white belt one-steps. After the class was over, the instructor pulled the black belts out for a little drill as the remainder of the students departed. He attacked us from overhead with a blocker, first with the soft part, and then with the hard handle, to see how we would attempt to block. I made an effort to step inside and get the wrist or arm on both, as opposed to blocking the paddle with my arm, because I kind of figured out what he was getting at. He also attacked us with a knife, and we discussed some tactics to try against a knife attack. It was a nice drill, and I suggested that we get to do more of it, too.

I don't think speed really masks errors. Whether slow or fast, I can usually pick out the nuances of a hand or foot technique. When it comes to grappling or joint locks, its a bit tougher for me to tell when it is done faster, though. When there is an aspect of a form or move that I want to concentrate on, I'll slow things down. However, my goal is to be able to do the movement quickly, because that is most likely how it is going to be the most useful to me.

That's a pretty cool gesture.

Right.....I suppose that is open to suggestion, isn't it?

Even if it works out ok, the damage is still done, I think. Everyone will wonder now...

True, but you can't always hit your live partner in the face...

I believe you are correct. It translates as breath, doesn't it?

My school is not affiliated with the ITF or the WTF, but we practice the ITF form set, but differently than the ITF systems do them. We don't do the sine wave movement, and our forms are done with more power, I think. We do Olympic sparring rules, and wear the WTF gear setup. We don't do any grappling, though, which is a bummer. Your forms are the ITF forms, too.

LEO = Law Enforcement Officer.

I've read other postings by you, Bushido Man, that touch on what I would call Western thought vs. (friendly vs.; no butting heads) Eastern thought. I find that I can read, even appreciate, a certain amount of Eastern philosophy, but I'm really a Westerner. My study of philosophy, of Western thought, of a Westerner's mind-approach, has been far more satisfactory to me than Eastern. A friend from the past, with whom I used to do Taiji, was very open to Eastern thought, more from readings, though, than any visit; he'd never visited that part of the world. I guess that's why when we speak of ki/chi/tan tien/chi kung/feng shui, etc., I see them to a point (like ki/chi), but I have a limit on what my mind will accept. (I wonder if a "true" Eastern mind looks at the Western and reacts the same way; too foreign?) Is it our upbringing? Our society? Our experiences in life? I believe that, in many ways, we are the sum of our experiences, and those experiences that helped shape me were Western. How Westerners can think Eastern (and vice-versa), I don't have an answer for. Yep, I'd say you're spot on here. I have been doing things and seeing things the Western way for so long, that I don't see myself changing. And, I like our Western ways and philosophies. So I stick to them.

I agree, to an extent. I think in the end you have to trying to decipher the martial applications to make it Martial Art. Again, I look back at the cardio-kickboxing analogy. If you do cardio-kickboxing with martial intent, it still doesn't make it a Martial Art.

I agree. A forceful exhale will do very nicely.

Nice. I wanted to be the Hulk, but my recent gamma radiation experiment failed, and not in a good way....