bushido_man96

I expect a lot from myself. I work hard, and will put my mind to it, so I will expect a lot from myself.

She might, but first you would have to take one of those scorpion kicks to the head when she bends over forward....

I think that having the same kind of mindset for both your sparring and SD is important to train the two at the same level, as well. Like your blocking example, or the guard that you use, etc. Of course, in the end, it depends on what your goals are, too. If you are not concerned about sparring for points or tourneys, then your class sparring may reflect that, and so may tournament results, if you choose to enter them. So in the end, it just depends on what you want. And maybe, you spend a few years on tournament competition, and then back off, and focus more on other aspects. After all, we have nothing but time, right?

Those are good criterea to go by, cross. I think you are right on the money with them. Even the old "meet me after school" falls under these typical elements. Unless, of course, friends end up jumping in. Even then, however, most times both sides show up with more than enough seconds to even things out.

There are many who think the original is lost. It may well be, too. I don't really know too much about it, so I can't comment for certain.

Great story, USCMAAI! Its hard not to chuckle along with the telling! But, I think we all have a story like that to go with our training. Its good humbling, right?

I love the old Kathy Long and Cynthia Rothrock movies! Great stuff!

I think that the basics will come along rather quickly. I don't think I'll master anything anytime soon, and that's ok. I wouldn't plan on it being that way. But, as for learning the basics, I think I can do it in a fairly good period of time (maybe not weeks, but months) and get good at it that I can really start putting things together.

I am having fun, Zanshin. Good stuff. 9-22-08 Combat Hapkido: 10:10 - 11:10. We started off the session with doing kicks on the hanging bag: Front leg front kick: 10 each leg. Back leg front kick: 10 each leg. Front leg side kick: 10 each leg. Back kick (facing away): 10 each leg. Front leg front kick, back leg front kick: 10 each leg. Front leg front kick, back leg round kick: 10 each leg. 45 degree angle round kick (dead leg): 10 each leg. We made sure to keep the legs on a lower line, mid-section on down, to focus on our Hapkido moves. After the bag work, we got into techniques. While my partner was practicing his yellow belt techniques, I did my red belt techniques. He has come along quite well with his techniques, and will be more than ready to test when the time comes. He has also been a really good partner for me, helping me to get better at figuring out what I need to do to make some of my more difficult techniques work. I feel better and better after each session about my chances to test, too.

I don't think lifting weights affects flexibility that much. Not stretching does, though. There have been a lot of great fighters out there that have been pretty good sized, and still flexible. Joe Lewis is the first that comes to mind. Bruce Lee lifted like a fiend, but controlled his diet to an extreme as well. Bolo Yueng, across from Lee in Enter the Dragon, was a big man, too. I say that strength in the Martial Arts is just as important as flexibility is, and it is also important to focus on specificity for your workouts.

Oh, no, I haven't been quiet. I've got it posted in The Martial Artists' Training Log thread. That's where I'll usually post my training stuff. If I have other ideas, questions, or concerns about Aikido itself, I'll prablably post them up here, though. I have been reading through the student handbook I was given this Saturday, and I asked about some other suggested reading material to check out as well. Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere was suggested by the teacher and another student, which I already own and have read. Dynamic Aikido was suggested, too, so I'll check it out, too.

I think that the sticky hands techniques would be interesting to spend time with as well. It is quite intricate. I have seen some of the other applications of the moves coming from more direct attacks, like straight or hooking punches, as opposed to the hands on method you posted. All good stuff, though.

Good show, James. I figured you had something like that in mind.

This is one of the techniques that I was describing earlier. A good one, too.

Well, my Chiefs have started 0-3, and it is getting tough to deal with. They threw a stat up on the screen yesterday that said they lost their last 12 in a row. Nuts. One good thing that happended yesterday is that Larry Johnson got on track finally. He had 24 carries for 121 yards and a TD, and did break off a big, 48 yard run. Unfortunately, the Chiefs couldn't stop the run either, and Michael Turner is quickly becoming a diamond found in the rough for the Falcons. He and Norwood are quite a running pair. It also appears that Matt Ryan is coming along quite nicely. I felt that the Chiefs two rookie corners played pretty well, and I see no reason why they shouldn't keep starting, either. They have a young secondary now, and should build on the front line. Dorsey is looking pretty good, but they should be able to stuff the run better than they did. Tyler Thigpen wasn't spectacular, but he is the 3rd string guy, and as he gets more reps in practice, should come along. Huard might be the better option if he gets healthy, until Croyle comes back. Here's a brief game recap: http://www.chiefswarpath.com/2008season/regularseason3.htm

It sounds like it should be a ball! Good luck, and have fun!

I think that this is a good idea. When we do takedowns, wrist locks, holds, throws, etc. in class all the time, we are spoiled with a partner who knows what's coming, and how to fall and roll so as not to hurt themselves, and knows when to tap when things tighten up. We should work some of this stuff on the layperson partner from time to time, so that we get a better feeling for controlling the situation on locks, and on how they will hit the ground when they fall.

9-20-08 Aikido class: 10:00 - 12:00. My first official class, after the seminar. It went pretty well, too. We started with some breathing exercises, which I would rather not do, but, it comes with the program. After all, breathing is good, right? We then did our wrist stretches and then some basic movements, called Aikitaisos, I think. These are the body movements that tend to show up when doing the movements, so as I get a better grasp of them, I'll be spending more and more time getting them down. After that, we spent some time on breakfalling and rolling. I roll pretty well, but my knowledge on rolling is a bit more limited than what is done in the Aikido class, so I still pick up some new stuff. Afterwards I learned to do the knee walking that they do, which they called Samurai walking. I did it pretty well, but I don't think my knees care for it too much. Then, we got into some technique work. Several times I had some of the guys tell me to relax more, and I told them that I was relaxed. Every part of the techniques "flows" into each other, moving very much in a dynamic sphere. At this point, my techniques tend to be a bit choppier, until I can get the motions down, and the footwork, which is going to take some time. But, I did come away with a few things that I liked. All the throws we did came from the same side wrist grab for now, but I have seen how they move up the arm into other grabs and strikes. For some reason, which I think is related to the falling and rolling, I get sore through my shoulder muscles doing the Aikido. It isn't a joint ache sore, but muscle soreness, which is good. I like it, but I never thought I would get sore like that doing Aikido. But, that's what I get for thinking!

Try to use your front leg to attack more. Practice firing that kick off as an opponent comes in. Then, you can use it to set up other attacks off your back leg. A front thrust kick, or a front leg side kick from a more sideways stance are good ones to practice, and if you are taller, it allows you to use your leg length to your advantage. Keep up the good work! Congrats on the win!

This is good advise. Even doing Aikido and Hapkido, it is important to switch partners as often as possible, because everyone has a different level of flexibility and pain tolerance, so you have to be able to adjust your techniques accordingly. Sometimes it changes the way you have to move your body around, or how to distract to begin a technique.

The only thing that worried me about that technique was the chance of taking some kicks to the chin in a venue when such a tactic is allowed. Other than that, I can see that you can really drive a good punch in there with this technique. Just as a side note, it really shows how much technique there is to Boxing. It isn't just a bunch of slugging. It truly is a beautiful art to watch.

Pretty cool...one dude even had blood on his uniform! The rubber band training was cool, too. I have seen those used for TKD kicking as well, but have never had the opportunity to train with them.

Is he aware of your concerns? I would suggest speaking to him first because he may not know that you, and possibly other students, feel like this. As a dan grade and one of his instructors you could make suggestions to areas you think you should be teaching and learning. If he's not prepared to listen and maybe change a few things, then consider leaving. edit: jaddensinn beat me to it I agree here as well. Do some talking first, and tell him that you want something different, and that you are considering this option. Listen, and see if he will listen as well. If he won't, then that should answer your question.

I agree. But be ready to throw another final blow if you have to.

I think that it is possible to work into a "happier" medium here. Take TKD sparring, for example. If you plan to train so that you can be successful in the ring and on the street, then you may have to streamline your ring sparring to a point where you have the basic kicks and strikes down to the point that you can score with them, and use various movement strategies to incorporate them in such a way to be successful in sparring. Then, in the street, using these more basic techniques at lower attack levels can help to improve your chances there as well. Then, the only thing you lack is some ground fighting defense, which one would most likely have to supplement in other training. But, if you spend your time on the 360 and 540 kicks in sparring, then that may be what comes to you when its go time in self-defense. These may not serve as well. I don't know for sure, though. In the end, if you have a good 540 round kick, then you probably have a good back leg round kick to the leg, too.