bushido_man96

I agree. I was hoping it was Frank Shamrock, but I imagine there is a bit of a weight disparity there. Ken Shamrock is just doesn't have it anymore. I don't see this one getting out of the first round.

This guy got what he deserved. Its really too bad that this may be the shining moment of TKD what could be its final Olympic appearance. All due to some poor judgement.

It sure is. If it falls out of the Olympics, its no big deal to me. It won't effect my TKD career at all. And, it will probably still have its international competitions and such. But, if the ITF and WTF do merge, perhaps they can streamline some things and get it back to the world stage.

Can you find a place that doesn't have a contract set up?

Tallgeese's post hits the nail on the head. It is a good way to articulate why you took the actions that you did. And you may be. In some places, they will arrest both parties involved in a fight, usually for disorderly conduct. But, back at the station, you should be able to get the opportunity to speak with officers, and give them a verbal and written statement as to what occured. Your friends may also show up and do the same thing for your case. All of this will help. The problem with this rationale is that you assume you will get the opportunity to hit back. I don't know who turned the phrase, "Everyone has a plan, until they get hit in the mouth," but it has meaning, especially in a situation like this. His one attack may be enough to knock you out cold, and then, you could be at his mercy. Not a good spot to be in. If there are witnesses around, then it is important to act the part of the victim. Keep your hands up, palms out, near your head, and make sure you say loudly and repeatedly something to the effect of "I don't want any trouble," or "I just want to go home," or anything of the like. When the attacker continues to press, look for signs of pending attack; face turns color, jaws clench, fists ball up, etc. If you see these things happening, then you can probably articulate the fact that you felt in "danger of great bodily harm from being struck." At that point, I would say preempt. As for the choice of strike, it is really going to depend on what you are comfortable with. A palm heel strike into the chin is a good strike, and you can control the chin afterwards, and drive the person back and to the ground. From there, it is time to get away, and report the incident to the police.

Well said, Josh. Sometimes we have to take a time-honored belief, a philosophy if you will, and apply its relevancy to our own time. It isn't disrespectful to determine how a past maxim may still be important, still be relevant, by examining it in a more fluid way. One of the reasons I enjoy teaching social studies is that the students analyze, think critically, and sometimes come up with surprising insights. I agree that at times we have to interpret some maxims in relation to how society has changed. Perhaps it is somewhat changed from the original interpretation, but people change too, and the original author may have adapted, as well.

Oh, yeah! I remember that thread. Very relevant. Perhaps not that one has to die, but that one is prepared to make that sacrifice, if need be. Here is a quote from Volume 1 of The Way of Traditional Taekwondo: Perhaps there is some relevance there, as well.

Here's a brief jaunt from the same chapter: I think that is pretty self-explanatory. Work hard, study hard, and get results.

A quote from Musashi's Book of Five Rings, in the Book of Earth: What does this mean to you?

From Bushido: The Way of the Samurai: Discuss!

I think that this is very much the case. It is important for females to train with males for this purpose. As instructors, I think it is important to not let partner work always take place between "friends" within the dojo. These interminglings help to adapt to different people and body types.

Yes, awarness and avoidance are the best ways to avoid it. But, when the time comes, heaven forbid, I think one would need to be able to physically resist, too.

Well, I see some ups for the Chiefs as the preseason winds down. I think LJ may be back to form. He has looked really solid this year. They may have nailed down a return man in Dantrell Savage. The defense is back to being a ? mark, though. Croyle looks more confident, and could have a breakout season. Just to remind all the football fans, don't forget to sign up for the KarateForums.com Fantasy Football League. It should be a good time. We need 8 to 10 teams to make it go, so don't wait too long! The season is right around the corner!

No problem.

I'm still not sure that it is worth not fighting back, even in this scenario.

I have CPR training. I imagine my instructor has some as well, but I don't know for sure. Our 4th dan is also certified. We also have 1st aid kits on hand.

I agree. It is important that we not get sucked into a provocation in this way. This is what I want to avoid. I don't want to be punched first, at all. I don't even want them to have the chance to raise their hand in an attempt to attack. If I can derive from the verbal and physical clues that I think that this may happen, then I am going to act first, throw the first strike. So, I believe that they have verbally attacked first.

The 4th dan in our school is also a school resource officer, and he teaches some basic self-defense stuff for the girls at the schools he works at. In a class the other day, he was told by some "expert" that they recommend that when girls/women are being raped or sexually attacked otherwise, that they don't recommend them to fight back. They say this because the attacker will fight harder, and actually cause them to get hurt more by infuriating the attacker more, ending up in a higher chance of being killed in the process. How do you feel about this idea? Personally, I think it is bunk. I think it is a bad idea. I know I would want my wife and daughter to do everything in their power to stop the attack. Not submit.

It will also depend on your interpretations of the moves in the forms. Is that a downward block, or a downward hammerfist strike to the groin? It just depends. I think that depends on what style you do. For example, in ITF there isn't exactly much interpretation. Everything is defined right down to the exact degree your arm is bent, the distancing and the cm² you are connecting with. A low block must finish bent at 15° from the elbow so the fist would not be at the correct angle for a proper hammerfist. Stuart Anslow uses the down block as a hammerfist strike in some of his form applications in his book Ch'ang On Taekwon-do Hae Sul. That's one of the places that I have seen this application.

Only when the wife isn't home!

I didn't think my response was too broad. I am not a very deep individual, really. I wouldn't get it done. If others want to, then that's their business. I just wouldn't do it, money or no.

From Yahoo! Sports: Lopez challenges call concerning a "cut kick" in his match with Italian Mauro Sarmiento. It sounds like politics at work here, but I can't be for sure, since I didn't get to watch the match. Its strange to see Lopez fighting for the bronze, and not the gold. He had been undefeated in international competition since 2002! But, happens to the best of us. What will come of this? Is this the last year for TKD in the Olympics?[/url]

I thought the full contact looked ok, too. In full contact, when you get close, use uppercuts and hook punches to the body with no remorse. Make 'em sorry they closed with you. That guy fought with his hands way down low; he reminded me of an Olympic TKDer like that. Use that to your advantage. When he prepares to kick, try to jam him, and then unleash the hounds on the body. When he backs away, finish with a kick, maybe to the head.

Very well spoken, tallgeese. All of the concerns you list are valid. After 14 years of TKD, I am not sure that I would ever throw a head kick outside of class. I am not quite that fast. However, I do know that if I can kick high with power, then my low kicks are loaded, too.

Thanks, tallgeese. No YMCA's here, so that part is done. Checking with some coaches would be a good place to start. Down the street from me is the former college Wrestling coach. He just took a different job in the athletic department at the college, so maybe he could help some, too.