bushido_man96

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.

I would think that they would be about the same, and you could do either Art with either gi. Not sure, but I would think so.

Very nice! It looks like a complex move to make work, though. Good work!

I don't agree. I think that some places put more emphasis on things like conditioning, which may make it tougher training. However, to say that one can learn more in "school" as opposed to a "gym" is a misconception that many have about what most would call more "sport related" styles. I think that one can learn as much in a Wrestling gym about how their body works, and how to perform moves as they can in, say, a Shotokan school.

Was the movie with Dolph a Thundarr or He-Man movie?

It does look interesting. Some very beautiful backdrops there.

At my school, we are fortunate enough to have our TKD room closed off, but with at big screen in the lobby area that parents can sit and watch the class in. We have a camera in the TKD room that feeds in the class to the big projection screen. We also have a play room that kids can hang out in as well. When it comes to kids doing this, you may want to hang some small signs in the sitting area that states "Quiet Please" or "Stay Seated While Class is in Session" or the like. In the end, you may have to talk with her after a class, and let her know that her children are disrupting the class.

11-6-07 Combat Hapkido: 11:15 - 1:00. We worked on Blue Belt material today. A good workout. It is nice to get an extra day of work on this. Back/shouders/biceps Assisted pull-ups: plate 10x10, 9x8, 8x6 Back hyperextensions: 3x12 Dumbell shoulder press: 40x10, 45x8, 50x6 Barbell curl: 75x10, 80x8, 85x6 Legs Physio ball curls: 3x10 Hip adduction: 3x10x115 lbs. Hip abduction: 3x10x115 lbs. Hip flexion: 3x10x85 lbs. Hip extension: 3x10x145 lbs. Abs Physio ball crunches: 3x15 Taught Kids Class: 4:00 - 5:00. Today, at the side kicks portion of basics, I noticed that the kids did a very good job of chambering their kicking legs tight and doing good side kicks, and not shortening them and making them look like round kicks. It made me feel good to see the results of my continued nagging at them. Throughout the basics, I held a traget pad in my hand for the kids to make contact with, just to spice things up a bit. Everyone loves to hit the pads, right? For the side kicks, I held a kicking shield, and lined them up to get some reps on it as well. I find that I have to constantly remind the students not to change their techniques just becasue they have a target in front of them to hit. The techniques should be executed the same way, with the same power.

It sounds great, Scott. You may have found the right place for you.

What is the "monkey block?" I have seen 3rd degree form performed quite a bit, but not for a while. I don't remember seeing anything too out of the ordinary, though. Do you think that GM Lee had any experience with Kung Fu?

hmmm, maybe because when I went to a boxing gym, it was a long time ago and things were more hardcore back then, also maybe cause I went to a pro-gym? the workout was REALLY hard and I thought I was in shape. I couldn't lift my arms after the 1st day. And I got challenged as well, the head coach who is a "name" was willing to let it go, even though I had no prior boxing experience. I think he wanted to see what I was made of. oh well those were the days That may have been just the way that particular gym was. Especially being a pro-gym, it may have been a bit rougher. I am sure that there are some MA schools out there like that as well.

There are a lot of things that you could say this about. The thing is, though, if someone wants to charge that much, then it is there business. Believe me, I know what it is like to live paycheck to paycheck, so I don't like having to pay for MA lessons. However, it enjoy it, so I make sure I can afford to do it. If someone wants to spend years of their life devoted to learning a Martial Art, and doing it well, then I leave it up to them to decide how much they think their time and energy is worth when it comes to them teaching what they know.

I think that the HOFs that are out there are mostly a political-based award. The only HOF that I really know of is the Black Belt Hall of Fame, and I take those inductions with a grain of salt. Each organization may have its own HOF as well, so it is hard to tell. I am sure that there are some instructors and black belts out there that work very hard, and then get noticed in this way. I am sure that some deserve it. It is just hard to sort through it all at times.

11-5-07 Chest/triceps 1-arm dumbell bench press: 3x8x50 lbs. 8 reps each arm. Vertical butterfly: 100x10, 115x8, 130x6 Cable crossovers: 50x10, 50x10, 60x6 Triceps push-down: 90x10, 105x8, 105x8 Overhead triceps extension: 90x10, 105x8, 6 Dips: 6, 5, 5 Legs Lunges: 3x10x30 Calf raises: 3x10x160 lbs. Forearms Gripper: 3x12x30 lbs. Wrist curls: 3x20x20 lbs. Abs Roman chair crunches: 3x20 Side raises: 3x20x30 lbs. Solo workout: 9:25 - 10:25. I warmed up with Do-gans 1 and 2, did Choong Jung Poomsae 1 and 2, and then stretched out. After stretching, I dove into Yoo Sin hyung. I slowed down the first half of the form, working on getting some hip movement into my hand techniques for power. I am getting better with the target-strike crescent kicks followed by the side kicks, but they still don't feel great. Combat Hapkido: 10:30 - 11:30. We worked on defenses against punches, and different applications for them, along with some different side wrist grabs and the like. Traditional TKD Class: 6:00 - 7:00. I worked on getting my hip motion into some of my basic techniques. I think it went ok. When we got to forms, I told myself that I was going to slow it down a bit, and especially take some extra time on the target-crescent kick to side kick spots. The instructor noticed that I kind of slowed there a bit, and he said that I am doing it well, and just need to give it a bit more time. He said it is coming together well. So, I guess I am my biggest critic. Aren't we all? After forms, we did one-steps, and then spent the last 15 minutes of class working on advanced one-steps, which was kind of fun to do. Then, after class, me and a few others got into talking about different kinds of variations for the advanced one-steps. A good time, all-around.

loved Thundarr http://youtube.com/watch?v=1kIIc4tvtF0 Never saw that until now. Interesting. I think He-Man was better.