bushido_man96

I think that in general the lower body is the most important in martial arts. Whether it is hip rotation for striking as mentioned, lower body leverage in many grappling styles, or even an emphasis on low stances. I like all of these explanations. Very good ways to explain the use and importance of the hips.

12-4-07 Taught Kids Class: 4:00 - 5:00. I worked on a variety of things in this class today. After basics, I rolled out the wavemaster bags. I had the kids practice punching on the bags, at my count, and focusing on using the hips in their punching technique to develop power, also focusing on pulling the opposite hand back. We did a front hand punch and a revese punch, using the hips in each. I then moved on to doing knife hand strikes in a similar manner. Then, I had them turn their backs to the bags, get in a sitting stance, and then do punches. Instead of punching the bag, they had to elbow the bag with the reaction hand, to focus on pulling the hand all the way back to the chamber position. I finished with having them do front kicks to the bag, but after the kick, they had to hold the rechamber position before returning the leg to the ground.

12-3-07 Chest/triceps Dumbell bench press: 70x8, 75x6, 80x4 Dumbell bench flies: 40x8, 45x6, 50x4 Dips: 10, 10, 7 Triceps push-downs: 90x10, 105x8, 6 Abs Roman chair crunches: 3x20 Side raises: 3x20x35 lbs. Forearms Gripper: 3x12x30 lbs. Legs Physio ball curls: 3x10 Calf raises: 3x10x160 lbs. Solo workout: 10:00 - 11:00. Worked on round kicks and punches on the heavy bag, working for technique and power/follow through. I also worked on my form, and felt like I have improved on some parts of it that were giving me problems. Finished up with some Ho Sin Sul with one of my classmates. Traditional TKD Class: 6:00 - 7:00. Today's class was shaken up from the normal routine. After upper body basics, we worked on free flowing combinations in different areas; some kicking, some open-hand techniques, some spinning techniques. Later on, we did some sparring where we at one point focused on countering, and at another point focused on attacking. It was a very good class.

Is the sun shinning brightly over there in Fantasy Land? Hey, it works for me! Dead serious! However, I am not saying that I am always right, either. However, there are times where I am.

Congrats to your school's students, Zanshin!

If they do an Olympic style TKD fight at the end, it will be interesting in deed. The Olypians are so fast, and can counter really quick. That, and they won't be allowed to punch to the head, so that will change their game plans really quick. It should be good.

Just do what you can in training for now, and take it easy on that foot until you see the podiatrist, then. No sense in pushing it too far.

I think you are right there.

I agree that those guys are great athletes. I could see the speed that they have. The only thing that seems to matter, though, is whoever gets the first fast move in. Perhaps they should do a more continuous style of sparring, as opposed to a stop-and-point sparring.

By death strikes, I assume that you mean things like striking to the throat, or the base of the skull, or things like that?

I agree.

If it is loaded with patches and school identifications, then I would agree with you. However, if you have a plain white gi, then I don't think it would be a big deal.

I don't think you get overloaded with too many blocks, but what you do get is variations on how each block is performed. Minor differences, I think. However, I don't know if it would cause that much overload or not.

It sounds to me like it could be a gym, with weights and the whole shebang, along with being an MA school. Even though, my school is in a gym, and I only pay $60 per month for use of both.

Well, I guess using a simple reverse punch, I like to use the pivot of the rear foot, followed by use of the hip, to generate power. For a side kick, I try to turn my hips in kind of a turning over/into the kick for power generation. For round kicks, I use a lot of follow through, and then opposite reaction with the same hand as the leg that kicks. This is definitely easier to demonstrate than it is to explain!

I don't think that sounds like advise; it sounds more like a command. I don't think that there is anything wrong with wanting to learn different things, nor should anyone be able to put a leash on what activities you do. As far as being considered "cowboys" goes, I guess I would have to take that as a compliment. I don't think it has anything to do with big egos, however. I think that those who are so insecure as to allowing others to explore multiple options in training are generally the ones that have an issue with their ego. Furthermore, I think that Zorbasan is on the right track; the most of us here are paying our instructors for a service. Therefore, I think that the instructor should keep this in mind. It truly isn't any of my business what other activities my students do in their spare time pertain to. If they do something that is totally out of line with regards to the school, like illegal activities, then something should be done. However, I don't view cross-training as an illegal activity.

Amen to that! One mistake you don't want to make, in my opinion, is to assume that you are always wrong, and you always have to do the smoothing over. Believe it or not, every now and then, the woman is wrong, and it is her job to appologize, and then initiate the talking it out process. Yep, thats right; then SHE will have to bring the hot chocolate!

I understand completely! Sorry for the misunderstanding. After I posted, I thought about that, seeing as I am in the same boat. I don't sit on a panel yet, but I do run the floor for testings. I do that more than I test myself, now.

Good luck to you!

Well, they use their hands to gain momentum in kicking and stuff, so they kind of play a balancing role, in a way. I still don't advise it, though, unless you like the taste of spinning heel kick with mustard on it!

That helps the rules out in that area, then.

Reminds a lot of Olympic TKD, but with more hands. Hands hanging down, but the bad part is that the only thing that matters is the initial contact, then they break. Lots of dancing, too. The throw was nice, but avoiding the flurry of tags to get one off seems to be the problem. I definitely think a Kyokushin style of fight would serve it better.

One thing I am lacking in is the amount of practice department.

I think that the main point is that these things don't work the same on everyone. Some people are really "nerve dead," and it doesn't work the same on them.

Personally, I think that this is the focal point of the Martial Arts; fighting. At least, self-defense, is very important, and should be the focal point.