bushido_man96

Being open to questions and new ideas is important to advancement, especially if we claim to be always a student. I think when attending a different school, it is important to learn the new things, and evaluate them and compare them to what you have done in the past, and then work with each on your own. No one gets offended, students don't ask why that guy does things differently, and you enhance your experience in the Martial Arts.

The kata looked crisp and good. The bunkai looked like very interesting, as well. It looks like your hard work paid off.

I think the swing kick stretches and some static stretches with your leg up on the back of a chair, keeping the leg straight and stretching it out. From there, you can work on having someone pull the chair out from under your leg, and focus on keeping it locked straight and held up as high as you can for between 5 and 10 seconds per rep. And, while we're all plugging our workout ideas, I posted an article that may give you some more ideas to look at on your front kick: Front Kick Class.

Does the Kick Boxing really pose any style problems for you, or is it more along the lines of being a style that allows you to take the ways that you have learned to punch and kick and apply it to the Kick Boxing rule set?

Well, its hard to tell just by looking at them, but if I knew enough about them to tell this, I would tell him that I think he has an opportunity in Judo. However, I would not tell him that training in a different style would be a waste of time. I would just make sure he knew what his options were.

If you do it properly, that is what you are supposed to be doing in Push Hands. I'm not very good at it but trying to over power your opponent like a Judo contest will work against you if your opponent is any good at Push Hands. Takes a lot of time but eventually you learn to use their momentum against them. Judo isn't really a contest of trying to overpower someone. In essence, it is more like push-hands, but with the whole body. You attempt to break balance by leading the opponent one way, and then taking them another way. Especially with the really high-ranked Judoka, they are very attune to the movements you make, and can react accordingly.

What do you think the key to good body movement is, in regards to athletic performances, like the Martial Arts? Does it have to do with keeping the knees flexed? Is it having a good athletic stance? Is it staying light on the feet? What does everyone think?

Hehe... "turn right, you must..."

I think your best bet is to try to forcefully rechamber leg as he holds it, thus bringing both closer together. From there, you should work to clinch up with the opponent, and strike from there. That way, if he attempts to take you down, he goes down with you, and you may have some control over the landing. I actually did a sacrifice kick like this once, when sparring with my brother in our front yard. He trapped my round kick, and I jumped and brought the other leg around in a hook kick to his face. It got the job done, but I wouldn't recommend such a kick in a self-defense scenario.

Yes, the repurcussions are there. It is important that you can justify your actions in a court room after having to defend yourself. There is a good chance that you could end up there.

I don't think the UFC should worry about his appearance. They weren't concerned with Abbott's at the time. If he can fight, let him go.

I think that people just like exposure to new things. However, conforming to the way the school does things probably is taking the high road.

I think that a class on the clinch would be a blast, as well as working with the Greco-Roman take downs.

I agree with the others. Stay with it. After all, all you have is time, right? In time, it will feel like second nature to you. Feeling ackward is natrual at this point. One of the best things about the Martial Arts is that you advance at your own pace, not someone else's. After all, I don't think an instructor will kick you out because you are coming along slowly. Take your time, and enjoy it all!

This, I would agree with. Good thoughts.

Yes, definitely easier said than done. I don't know if I would want to totally empty my mind or not. Although, I do kind of agree with the idea of "empty your cup," as in to open your mind to allow new things to be experienced.

Nope. I would love to see something on some, though.

I would say that the choice is yours. If you were into kicking, then going with a kicking style is what you should have done. And the fact that you have done so well speaks to the fact that you can overcome a challenge like that. It sounds like you and I are a bit alike. Although I don't have a lot of core strength, I am short, at 5'7", and also a bit heavy, too. However, TKD is what was available to me, so I went with it. With all that said, it is not too late to take up something that you feel may compliment your body style better, like Judo. It would probably make you a better Martial Artist, as well, and give you another challenge to look forward to.

Keep in mind that Korea was closed off in occupation up until the 1950s, was it? So, they didn't have much to do that was theirs. I don't think that Korea was a hotbed for filmmaking, so you have to consider that as well.

I think it has to do with the fact that we try to continually hone what we do, to make ourselves better, more efficient, etc.

I agree with your outlook here. I think that many times as teachers, that our students have nothing to offer us. Many times, this is not the case.

That's a pretty cool story.

That's pretty cool. I loved the sound of KITTS voice.

That's pretty sweet.

The first one was the most interesting, with all the switchbacks, I thought.