bushido_man96

There is some stuff you can get called mole skin that you can put on it that might make it a bit more bearable to perform with.

Are the legs legal targets in K1? Its been a while since I saw a match, and don't remember. Being able to see the knee would ensure that you wouldn't get kicked there.

Thanks, Zanshin. I think that the NKF is the national governing body in the U.S. for Olympic Karate, and is under the umbrella of the WKF. Much like the USTU was/is under the umbrella of the WTF. Thanks for the link.

I didn't bring up paper; I just said credentials. They are not necessarily the same. Certificates are printed on paper, sure, but you just take it for what its worth. Now, take a guy like Hocheim. He has credentials, but they are not necessarily in the form of a certificate that he can show everyone. Sgt. Jim Wagner is another. I don't know that a lot of new styles show up; just different styles. There are many who spend years and years under one teacher, and eventually will venture out on their own, and start their own school. Then, they will teach in their own "style." Does it make them wrong? No. Does it make them right? No. It just makes them, them. As far as the belt system goes, the Martial Arts weren't about belts until Kano introduced them. All they did was indicate rank and knowledge. They still do. The belt has never been magical or "deeper." It is, and always has been, just a belt. You take it for face value, and with a grain of salt.

I have read about Olympic-style Karate, I suppose in an effort to get Karate into the Olympics. I have seen a little information on it, but I thought I would probe a little to find out more about what it entails. I read that the governing body is the USA-NKF, I suppose the National Karate Federation. Does anyone know any of the specifics about this? Like what the stipulations on forms competitions are? Sparring rules and regulations? I am very interested in seeing what these entail.

I don't know how many people read ESPN The Magazine, but in an October issue, there is an article about Pat Miletich's gym in Bettendorf, IA. Apparently, he has a try-out held there every year, where guys come from all over the country to try their hand at being the next MMA star. The article was quite interesting, and the fact that it shows up in a sport magazine like ESPN The Magazine shows just how big MMA is becoming. One thing discussed in the article is how tough it actually is to break into the MMA game, even the lower rungs, like the IFL. I loved the article, and thought the magazine did a good job of covering the subject. I also saw that ESPN did a spot on MMA on its new TV Magazine show, E60, but I didn't get to see it. MMA gets more and more coverage all the time. Comments?

I think that the main thing is that many don't spend a lot of time and research in what they start. They just do an art for a while, and then decide they want to do their own thing, and just start something up. What people want to see is training credentials and experience.

I think it depends on the research and how you teach and spread your information. I think a lot of it depends on how realistic of an approach that you take as well.

Congrats KF, and Happy Birthday, Patrick!

Happy Thanksgiving to you as well, and to all! I can't wait for that turkey dinner!

It was well known that Bruce Lee did a lot of research, and had a LOAD of books in his personal library; probably more books than many of us have read in our lifetimes. Therefore, I don't think that he created many of the principles or ideas that he used for JKD, nor do I think he claimed to. However, he did organize them into his own system, which I think he deserves all the credit in the world for. He may have been arrogant and a bit cocky. However, he is not the first great Martial Artist to have those faults.

Welcome aboard! I like cake, too. Especially chocolate.

Welcome to the Forums, tengu-raven!

No, you're right. The ones that don't work hard generally don't stick around long.

After 14 years of TKD, I still get nervous at testings; even if I am not testing sometimes! Being confident and well prepared are the two best things you can have about you when testing. When they call your name, and you go up in front, take a few deep breaths, and when they tell you to begin, just go. If you mess up, fix it and go on. Don't get frustrated, and just go. Best of luck to you!

One thing I did notice was the lack of elbow strikes in the fight. I am guessing they were left out for a reason. However, I thought Jason fought well, and he even took the guy down 3 times. I thought for sure that might get him the win. I guess the Cambodian's punches and kicks scored really well, though. I think the fact that the Cambodian basically controlled the pace of the match got him the victory.

It may sound like a harsh thing that Serra did, but if he doesn't want him to teach at his school anymore, than I would have to agree with him. Serra obviously has some goals for his students, and has some ideals behind them (don't quit, never give up, persever, etc.). Of course, not everyone will be that way, either. It is a choice that each of us would make differently. Who knows? Perhaps Serra will eventually change his mind, too.

I agree 100%, YoungMan. Everything in moderation, including moderation.

You might teach them a little bit about positioning in the ring so that they can make their points seen by the refs. This will ensure that as many refs as possible will see them scoring points. Teach them to work the ring as well. Try to corner an opponent, or even work them out of the ring, and to stay on them until the judges call break. It is also good to have some bread-and-butter moves, the moves that each has that are their "speciality." They don't have to be fancy, but just something that they can fall back on. Once they have that move, if they have one, then teach them to build strategies off of them, too.

11-19-07 Chest/triceps Dumbell bench: 70x8, 75x6, 80x4 Dumbell bench flies: 30x10, 35x10, 40x10 Cable crossovers: 3x10x50 lbs. Triceps push-down: 90x10, 105x8, 8 Overhead triceps extension: 90x10, 105x8, 6 Dips: 7, 7, 6 Abs Roman chair crunches: 3x20 Side raises: 3x20x35 lbs. Decline plyometric crunches: 10x22 lbs. Forearms Gripper: 3x12x30 lbs. Wrist curls: 3x15x25 lbs. Defensive Tactics: 10:00 - 11:15. Today was a fun day! A few other police officers showed up to work out with our regular group, and we worked on the hammer lock, applying it to takedowns and cuffing, worked passive-resistance, and finished up with various takedowns. It was a great time. However, while goofing around, do something totally stupid, I managed to re-pull my hamstring muscle, setting back yet another week.

Short bursts is what I prefer as well. I don't do it now, though. Too tough on the knees.

Congratulations! Keep up the hard work!

My brother and I decided to have a sparring match once where we used our TKD rules (which included hand contact to the head), but also allowed takedowns and throws, however we could pull them off. I pretty much had my way with him striking, although he did get some good shots on me. Where he dominated was in the throwing and takedown department. He had some Wrestling experience in high school, and he was much heavier than me. The problem I had was that when I got in close with my strikes, if he could defend a few of them, he could get a hold of me and basically throw me across the room. It was a good time, for sure, and showed me some of my weaknesses.

There is some interesting stuff there. I like the training with the partners on the backs. Good stuff.

I don't think Lee stated that he himself created Mixed Martial Arts. However, he was a proponent it, and there were many of his time that were not. There was a man named Edward William Barton-Wright who was doing things much like Bruce Lee was about a century earlier in England. So he wasn't the first, but he was successful doing it.