bushido_man96

Currently, I get one TKD class a week, and then I do two Combat Hapkido sessions during the week.

The best thing that you can do is go visit each school a few times, and observe the classes objectives, and the instructors' methods. These may weigh in more than the style itself. With what I said above, tallgeese is right on target here. With all of the time I have spent in my MA training, I wish now that I would have Wrestled more, and focused on my Combat Hapkido more. I don't pick up grappling very well, either, but there is no denying its usefulness. Especially in Law Enforcement, where you won't be able to really use striking skills until the situation escalates seriously. By that time, you will be upgrading to weaponry, anyways. BJJ is great for position improvement, whereas Judo will give you a plethora of takedowns. Both use the same moves, but each has a different focus. In the end, check out each school, and then make your choice. The TKD school may even have a Hapkido program to supplement your training as well. Let us know, and welcome to the forums!

You can get around the windmilling with footwork and ring control. If they run at you, plant them with a kick. When you get in close, punches become natural. I like to punch when close, hooks and uppercuts. I then try to clear out with a kick when they begin to back up.

I had not heard about the continuous ducking as defense, nor the flexible sword. The art is an old art, rooted in combat, much like Krabi Krabong is.

Don Wilson was able to adapt his Kung Fu to Kickboxing very well. It can be done. The saying goes "the best defense is a good offense."

Well, all tourneys are learning experiences. If she came away with something new, then she did ok. I don't know if I could say congrats, but she should feel good about her experience.

ps1 is right about the stances being transitional, I think. Tallgeese is also on point, using a singular stance to be ready in, and then you use your transitions from there.

The spear hand can be a good weapon, but I wouldn't concern myself 6 years of conditioning to use it. I would use it to the eyes, but otherwise, I would choose a different tool for other targets. The spear hand does have different forms; the two-finger spear, usually to the eyes, or the spread finger spear, in which you can rake afterwards.

I have never been one much for weapons katas. I would much rather see how the two-person drills work. I would be more intested in the applications of the movements. The kata looks nice, though.

All of these questions would be best answered by taking them directly to a school and asking an instructor. Even different schools of the same style will have different ideals. Check with them; they will give the best answers for them.

ps1 is right. Accidents like this will happen. If he gets upset, then so be it. Listen to him rant, and then be done with the matter. We are all human. I am sure he has lost some things along the way as well.

Right, I had read about the Koma references. Basically, it was Judo curriculum, but a different focus.

Does he have a bit of califlouer ear? I have heard that the Gracies are really laid back and informal about their training. I think a seminar would be great.

I think that I would rather learn how to incapacitate someone with a blunt weapon, and then tie them up. I think that would be a bit easier.

I think some people have it, and some don't as much. It may be trainable, but I think it mostly comes from awareness training.

If you don't want to bleed, don't get into a fight. If you have to defend yourself, these are things that may have to happen. The best thing to do, if this kind of thing worries you, is to go to the doctor as soon as you can afterwards, and get shots or a checkup. Things like this will be hard to avoid, but if you want to defend yourself, you have to do what you have to do.

Dividing your time to get good at these positions is the only way to do it. However, it would be most advisable to be able to do drills that start from one position and transition you to another, where you can apply the various techniques and strategies. What it comes down to is a fighters skill, in the end. If you get beat, it was because the fighter was better, or better that day, anyhow. The early UFCs showed that you can be a master striker, but you can be taken down and submitted by a mediocre grappler, just because you aren't familiar with that range of combat.

Round robins are great. We did that when I Wrestled in middle school. Kicked my butt everytime.

When we had a ground fighting defense seminar put on by the KLETC, the instructor did focus a bit on escaping and getting away, as opposed to staying on the ground and grappling with the person. When you have all the tools that you do on your duty belt, it is important to be able to make space and get to your tools. Very good point.

I agree. Knee kicks are also very valuable tools, and often overlooked.

It isn't the weapon so much as it is the system. I have read several guides to Medieval Combat, and the system is what allows the transfer from weapon to weapon, as opposed to the weapon itself. The quarterstaff can be a good place to start, because it is cheaper and easier to get than a good sword is.

Why not contain all, then?

No, BJJ should have all of the takedowns that Judo has. You just have to spend more time on them.

That is a great idea. If you have those resources available to you, why not use them?

I think that football players would have the advantage. They are strong, and are used to contact, and most of them are very fast, even the big guys. Many of the lineman understand the use of leverage and body mechanics when it comes to moving men just as big as they are out of the way. Even though they may not have the aerobic conditioning that soccer and basketball players have, they have the explosiveness that is required in the short-length of fighting conditions. Many of them also have good cardiovascular endurance, anyways.