bushido_man96

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.

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?