bushido_man96

Sounds like a great class, Ed! 4-3-08 TKD Class: 6:00 - 7:00. Basics went quick today, because we got started a bit late. In sparring, I focused on my front kicks.

ALRIGHT!!! My dream come true!!! First, some good mats for the floor, not too soft, but soft enough for forms and sparring, but for falling when doing Hapkido. Two different colors of matts; one for two rings in the room, and the other for borders. Our school uses red and blue; I like that. I would have a hanging bag in one corner, with enough room to work around it all angles. I would also have 2 or 3 Wavemaster XXL standing bags. In another corner, I would put a headache bag, and a speed bag. Mirrors would line two walls opposite each other; two walls would not be mirrored. Mirrors only 5 foot high, I think. One wall would be a solid bookcase shelving unit, from floor to ceiling, to hold all of my MA books. That is a MUST! I would have a makiwara board installed as well. I have never had the opportunity to train on one, and would love to. AC and heating would be a must. Perhaps a small desk and chair in one corner for jotting down notes, and sitting and having a coffee or beer with training partners afterwards to discuss training or good times. Oh yeah, need the minifridge, too!

The gloved ones may be better configured to receive hand technqiues. The square pads are nice, but they tend to slide and move a bit when punched or kicked. However, the square ones may allow more options, like knifehands, palms, ridgehands, etc.

Best of luck to you, Danielle. I would just keep asking and trying. Hopefully, someone will jump on board with you.

Iceman is right. In most of the WTF books on forms that I have read, the Pal Gwe were the older forms, and the Tae Gueks are the newer forms. I don't know what kind of black belt forms there are of the Pal Gwe type; I think there are only 8. I am not sure if the Kukkiwon requires both, or just one. Nor am I sure what the WTF requires. I think the WTF just wants a rank certificate.

That kind of stinks. This kind of challenge is what the original Vale Tudo and the UFC was built on in the first place. Getting back in touch with the roots would be good to see.

If you have some good research backing, then that would be great. I am just interested in why Boxing became so attached to the Navy. Throw out what you have, and then elaborate on whether it is backed by fact, or by wild conjecture and theory. We'll go from there. I guess the reason that it strikes me as odd is because you would think of the ground forces of being more tuned into the hand-to-hand combat sports, where they would be more inclined to meet it on the field. In the present day Navy, the likeyhood of being boarded and having to repel enemies in the old pirate sense, is pretty much non-existent now. Do you see where I am coming from?

I can't help you there. I don't know much about the exchange rates or anything. I hope you do have a good time over there, though! Enjoy, and let us know what it is like.

Isn't the nature of MA in any case mean that it will be in some respect a violent practice? And IMHO I don't think head punch are any more violent that having someones foot to the head. I agree. Most arts have their base in a violent act; war.I think more people view punching/striking as more violent because everyone can readily do it, and it appears to be the least skillful aspect to acquire. I don't believe this, but I think that many perceive it this way.

I believe that Shotokan is descended from Shorin Ryu. At one point, Shorin Ryu was known as the old Shori-Te, was it not?

I think that there is a noticeable difference in the power that I get from a high round kick chamber and a more forwards round kick chamber. I do both. I also like to strike with the ball of the foot, and have never had a problem with it. Striking with the top of the foot is good, but as was mentioned, it doesn't focus the power as much. When I break boards, I can do 2 with the top of my foot. When I use the ball of the foot, and a high chamber, I can break 4 boards. My thoughts on the high chamber are that it allows for greater power and torque. The forward chamber is faster, and you can use it as a chamber for either the front, round, or side kick. I don't feel that these kicks end up with the same amount of power as they would with a more particular chamber motion, i.e., the high round kick chamber. Of course, with enough practice, one may be able to rectify this. As for the tools, I do think that the shin is probably one of the better options to strike with. It is a hard bone, and can do good damage. Be careful when striking with the top of the foot, especially if you don't have any footwear on. I have been known to block many instep round kicks with my elbows, and it tends to alter the way that the fighter fights afterwards.

It sounds to me that the forward elbow strike should be more of a thrusting technique, whereas the round elbow is an arcing technique. They may start at the same spot, but I don't think they have to. The thrusting elbow could be accompanied by a reinforced push with the off hand on the fist of the thrusting elbow.

It sounds to me like the term Submission Grappling has more to do with a rule set than it does a set style. Any grappling stylist could enter a submission grappling tournament, and use what they know within the rule set provided. Perhaps different styles are better geared towards the submission grappling rule set, but any grappling style could adapt. BJJ has shown that it can adapt to no gi. Likewise, the Sambo guys coud enter a Judo tournament, and adapt to the use of the gi, I am sure. Perhaps we are discussing a classification rather than a style.

When you meditate, I don't believe you are supposed to focus on anything. Therefore, focusing on the "void" would counter the purpose of the meditation. I think that you may have stumbled on to something more myth than fact.

Never heard of it. I would be looking into some scientific study on this one before jumping on board. It sounds a bit far-fetched to me.

I have read the dictionary definition of the term "martial arts." I have written a forthcoming article on the topic as well. Needless to say, I am not impressed with our dictionary definitions. Simply stated, the definition is not accurate. As for whether or not what the ARMA does is Traditional or traditional will unfortunately be decided by those who feel that the only true forms of "Martial Arts" are those that come from the Orient. Even in the Orient, the religious aspects of weapon usage (i.e. katana) aren't as old as many think. When the firearm came about, that is when some of the major swings in the religious aspects took place. As for what the goals of the European Knight and Japanese Samurai goes, they were the same; to win on the battlefield. I think that is about as "traditional" as it gets.

I read Vargo's article as well, and I enjoyed it, and felt that he was quite right. When you train with someone like you say for so long, you know that you can be open with each other with just about anything, especially when it comes to critisisms in or out of the gym. It is a special relationship to have with someone; knowing that he can kick you in the head, and that you can do the same to him. This is the kind of great things that are built in the dojo/gym.

Kung Fu San Shou, is Cung Le's style, I believe. I think the major difference between what Le does and otherwise typical Kung Fu training are his training methods. Here is Cung Le's official website.

Can you elaborate further on the technique in which you break his arm on your neck? I can't really visualize how one would do this...but this could be due to my lack of creativity, too.

That is an interesting way to look at it. I think that if it can be avoided, then it should be. When it can't be avoided, then it is 100% go time. At this point, you are committed, and must be, to see yourself through.

The second link that DWx listed will probably get you a good start. Those guys specialize in breaking. Sometimes, you can catch some of those competitions on ESPN2; they are quite fun to watch. Some of those guys do some crazy stuff. They will at times talk about the training that they do, and how they build up their bones for the increased level of breaking that they do.

Congrats!

I don't quite understand what your meaning is here. What is the difference between the material discussed on this website, and that of the Japanese sword arts (which would be considered "traditional")?

I agree here, too. They are always falling over because they are leaning back to throw their kicks.

3-31-08 TKD Class: 6:00 - 7:00. Class was good tonight. Sparring was so-so. I got to class about 30 minutes early, so I spent some time working on my form, which seems to come and go for me. I also spent some time working on some defenses with a friend of mine. After that, I noticed that my knee felt twisted, and it wouldn't support my weight! I was able to walk it off, though, and made it through class. Basics were changed up a bit, and we did a lot of moving up and down the floor. We got a good workout, and got winded.