bushido_man96

Interesting. Do they have different requirements for different age groups?

11-8-07 Traditional TKD Class: 6:00 - 7:00. Good overall class tonight. My right leg was a bit tight, so I took it easy on the kicks as far as height goes. However, after class, I managed to tear up my left leg really good. It still hurts right now. One of my buddies was working on a jump 360 degree axe kick that he likes to do for board breaking. I was giving him some suggestions on it, and then demonstrated it...on my left leg, because my right one was tight, and I didn't want to pull it. Well, I ended up ripping up my left leg really well. I iced it for a while, but it is still tight. Going to have to work on training around this injury, it appears!

You mean, you are still running, right now???

Getting over the lack of motivation is going to be the major thing for you. You are just going to have to work through it mentally. Try using visualization to see in you mind how you want to do certain techniques. Then, you practice them to make them look that way. As for improving technique, make sure to work with your instructor on this. Ask him for suggestions, but just a few at a time, and work on them...lots. It will all take time. Same with flexibility, balance, etc. Take a few stretches, and do them. Find a few balancing exercises, and do them. As for general physical fitness, do simple things like push-ups and crunches, squats, lunges, etc. If it ever becomes a possibility, get to a gym, and ask a trainer to help you get started in lifting weights. The two things you are going to need the most are hard work and dedication. There is no magic pill. Good luck, and dive in!

Well, to be honest with you, you are probably in better physical shape than I am, too. I think that physical conditioning is important, but there are other aspects to think about as well, such as the teaching abilities of the instructors and black belts. Hopefully, they don't get too crazy with the physical requirements. Do you know how these requirements compare to military requirements?

If the stretching causes serious pain, then you shouldn't do it until you are healed. However, that doesn't mean that you can't work on something else, like punching combinations and the like. That is what I mean by train around your injuries. Try to avoid training the injured area if you can, and work on something else.

I don't quite agree with this statement. You can generate a good amount of force throughout a kata without getting tired after every one. The key is to relax your body until the last moment before impact, relaxing those muscles until the next move, and utilizing the proper "breathing timing" as Killer Mike refers to it. I work on controling my breathing when doing forms all the time, but I still find myself winded after a hard forms workout. I think that you will be at least a bit tired after putting all you have into a form.

Yeah, that is kind of crazy reasoning. It kind of sounds like a close-minded way to look at it. It shouldn't matter what they wear; especially if you can benefit from what they know.

That is a good point, Rainbow Warrior. When you are running side by side at the same speed, it seems hard to get ahead. So it is at times with training partners. That is why having a variation of skill levels is good for everyone.

Sometimes, during the traditional classes, I like to get up and do the forms with the lower ranks, to get some review and some extra workouts. It also lets some of the other high colored belts know that it is ok to get up and review material with the lower ranks in class. Nothing like a good refresher now and then to keep you honest!

A very nice article. Unfortunately, I think you are correct in the fact that MA and self-defense aren't always looked at in the same light, although they should be. Very well put. I think that this point holds true.

Fighting multiple opponents always = bad deal for you. Best defense: have friends.

Good to see your training is going well, especially with the running. Do the black belts still do mid term testings? They did when I was in, but I don't know if they still do or not. When did Soon Ho train with Shaolin monks? I would be interested in seeing some of his backgrounds. I actually got to attend a seminar class with Soon Ho Lee when he as still the Chief Master. I got to work out in this class at the Rocky Mountain Workout, in '94, I believe. It was fun, and a good workout. I got a hell of a sweat going, and we worked out in the open mountain air. Thin air is hard to breath in for a flatlander like me!

Get to a doctor about your knees. They may need some work done on them. Then, find a way to supplement your training so that it doesn't stress your knees so much. Talk to your instructor about this, and he should be able to help you out. The key to success in the Martial Arts isn't training through your injuries; it is in training around your injuries.

In general, the judo gi fits more loosely. The sleeves are larger at the openings, there is more room around the shoulders and chest, and the jacket is usually longer. However, for general practice, they are practically interchangable. A Judogi just gives better grips to the opponent. That is probably because of the standard grip used in initiating most Judo matches, right ps1? I know that they tend to grab a lapel and a sleeve at just above the elbow. In BJJ, one would not seem to spend much time grabbing just one area of the gi, but all kinds of different areas, so it all has to be tough.

Good article. I think that most of the time, the physical preparedness is going to be there, especially if you are a serious competitor. Therefore, after achieving the physical training needed to survive the competitions, the mental training and conditioning is very important.

This is a very well put together book on forms. It begins with a section on fundamentals for Poomsae practice, including the ideas and theories behind the way the WTF set of forms were made. It then moves into basic techniques, which are explained very well, and then gets into a section on warm-ups, which is basically a plug from another of Kim's books, Ultimate Flexibility (I recognize the pictures from the book ). There are also sections on the theory behind the Tae Guek and Pal Gwe Poomsae, which is rather good reading, although brief. Each is discussed before each of the respective forms sections. The Tae Guek are illustrated first, then the Pal Gwe, and finally, the Black Belt Forms. Prior to the illustrations, each form's theory and philosophical applications are mentioned, which are to be kept in mind when performing the Poomsae. Next, a Poomsae Line is given for each form, showing how the moves follow the diagram of the form. Also discussed are the trigrams that reflect the name of the form. This book lays out the patterns of each form well. The pictures are sometimes layed in a confusing manner, but numbers on each help with following along. In places, a reverse or side view is shown to illustrate certain moves. After each form is illustrated, there is a section on "New moves for Poomsae ..." Personally, I would prefer to have this section shown before each form, but that is just me. Otherwise, well laid out. Overall, I think this is a good manual for the WTF forms, and I have always liked Kim's work, and Kyu Hyung Lee seems to be as good as well. As for the layouts go, I think I prefer the way that Grandmaster Richard Chun lays them out and describes them in his books. However, the advantage here is that all of the forms are in one book, as opposed to spread out over several volumes. If you are looking for a WTF form reference book, this one will suit your needs.

That would be my guess as well.I can't think of too many that have laid claim to training with Bruce Lee, as I have seen lately. Legitimate ones that come to mind: Inosanto, Richard Bustillo, Chuck Norris and Joe Lewis (however, I view these two as have trained with Lee as opposed to have been trained by Lee).

I have not run a mile since forever. I would say that I could do it in 20 minutes, maybe.

I think you are right that he looked into some history when creating the upper rank forms. I also believe that TKD has some Chinese influence, even though it may be small amounts. In actuality, TKD has roots in Shotokan Karate, and if Shotokan has any lineage to Kung Fu, then the little bits will be there. Maybe that is where H. U. Lee came up with the cirucular motions for doing some of the black belt techniques. However, to say that he has experience in Kung Fu, I think may be a bit of a stretch.

Yeah, I know. But I don't know that he had any experience with Kung Fu, other than just seeing some stuff. My understanding was that he garnered the majority of his training under General Choi.

Thanks, guys. We didn't always have this setup, but it is very nice now. During testings, however, we open up the back of our TKD room, and put in chairs for the parents to set in and watch. If it fills up there, the others can watch out in the lobby. It really works well.

You are talking about GM Soon Ho Lee, right? Not the previous GM Lee, who was the one who made the forms?

It sounds to me like you are losing the mental battle with yourself about going to class. Many people are mentally worn out after a tough day. It is the few of us that are able to pull a little bit more together to get to a few hours of MA training. Your body hurts, and that makes it easy for you mind to make an excuse not to go. You need to get past this, and just make yourself go to class. After you do it, you will feel so much better about going. You will feel some energy, and you will get a good night's rest, too. Ignore your mind, and go to class.

Ah, yes, I remember these days! In our black belt classes, we would do that all of the time. However, instead of sitting down, the lower dan grades would repeat other forms while the higher dan grades did their forms! So, we got no rest. My legs would be sore for a few days afterwards. As for not getting tired, you would have to condition yourself on a regular basis. I think that the point of it, though, is to give each form all that you have, and keep digging deeper and pushing harder to make the next form you do look just as good as the one before.