bushido_man96

Reading this section makes me ask what your goals are exactly for your training? I imagine, from what you describe, that you have that figured out. I am just wondering, for the sake of curiosity.

Awesome, awesome, awesome article! I love looking into the Western Martial Arts, and I believe that they have so much to offer. Your information on the Bare Knuckle Boxing is intriquing. I would love to be able to learn more about it. Thanks for that article!

Yeah, I don't care for that prevent defense at all. It prevents you from winning.

10-18-07 Traditional Class: 6:00 - 7:00. My shoulders really felt it tonight when doing the hand techniques during basics. You know, I don't know why they get called "hand" techniques anyway. I mean, they work your whole arm; they should be called "arm" techniques. Anyway, onwards and upwards. Class was going along well, I guess, and then, during one-steps, I think I got a little extra on a spin crescent kick, and it pulled my right leg muscles a bit. Nothing too bad; I was able to continue, but I felt it. At the end of class, instead of sparring we finished with some partner drills: 1 technique back and forth, then 2 back and forth, then 3 back and forth. We did each in a series of rounds, which must have been around 45 seconds to 1 minute long.

Technique is a key factor in kicking well. You also need to 1) stretch, and 2) build your leg strength. It is one thing to be flexible, and another to be strong enough to hold your leg up when trying to kick high. Make sure you get good and warmed up, and then do stretching exercises. You will want to do side splits, front splits, straight leg stretches, butterfly, and any other stretches that can work your quads and hams. After a good class, when the muscles are good and warm, is a good time to stretch. Then, you need to spend time on your leg strength. You can do this by lifting weights and supplementing some other leg exercises. Start by using the wall or a chair for balance, and do simple side kicks. But do them slowly, 5 seconds out, 5 second hold, and 5 seconds back. Do 3 to 5 on each leg, until you get stronger, then add more. You can also do an exercise where you extend your slow side kick, hold it out there, about waist or chest level, and then begin pulsing your leg up and down, about 4 inches either way, so you are making the muscles along the side of your leg lift your leg up, doing small reps. Do around 10 at a time, then do the other leg, and alternate 3 times. You can also do slow round and front kicks to build strength in those areas as well. I hope these help. Ask your instructor for some good stretching exercises, and get a steady diet of these routines, about 3 times a week, and you will begin to see improvement. Good luck!

If you are looking for the physical challenges of the arts, I think that the Shaolin Kempo may offer more along those lines. The jujistu will be more along the lines of self-defense, but I think the Kempo aspect should give you more of a challenge. As for the Hapkido, in my exprience, it isn't quite as physically demanding as other styles, but you may want to check it out, just to see what it has to offer. There are some Hapkido styles that do some quite extensive kicking. Otherwise, I think that the Hapkido and Jujitsu would be very similar in the joint locking techniques that they offer. Finally, if you have not already done so, I would recommend going to each of the schools that are available to you, and watch a class of each, and then see if you can sit down and ask each of the instructors your questions that you have stated here. We can offer lots of advise, but without actually seeing what each has to offer, all we can do is speculate. Welcome to the Forums!

Thanks for the link, DWx. He does the form a LOT differently than we do it in our school, but I think I can take something away from that. I noticed that he finished the crescent kick with his body to the front, and then pivoted to the side to do the side kick. I may have to try that approach, as I was bringing my body all the way to the side with the crescent, and then doing the side kick. Thanks again!

I am not the fastest person around, so I have trouble setting it up. I can use it for a counter, but my countering isn't the greatest, either. So, I would use it without the quick, short steps, and do the full kicking motion, get the full rotation out of it, and just bury it into someones blocking arms or trunk. I am more of a block-and-counter fighter than a counter-fighter.

How did this go for you?

I believe the korean version of Judo is Yudo. Someone please correct me, if I am wrong. This is what I was aware of as well. However, I do think that Yudo is a rather recent rendition. After reading the Wikipedia information, apparently Chun, Sang Sup, the style's starter, studied Judo in Japan, along with Shotokan Karate. It looks like the link to both styles is legit.

I am sorry to hear about your friends' fathers. That is a rough deal. Best wishes to them.

Anytime! You are most welcome.

The more cotton in the gi, the more likely it is to shrink. Look at the material composition of the uniforms when ordering them; it should be available on the sites you look at.

Training at the Kodokan, eh? That would be really cool! Have fun!

This book was an overview of some history of the samurai, contain excerpts from books such as A Book of Five Rings, Hagakure, and Code of the Samurai. It is full of anecdotal stories and stories of samurai exploits, mixed with the excerpts from the above titles, and lots of Japanese artwork randomly spalshed in. The book is ok, and has a few interesting points, with a timeline of samurai events paralleled by other events in history, the method of putting on armor by the samurai being illustrated, and a few other novelties. I bought the book on the bargain rack, and I don't think I would have paid much more than that for it.

Is it a required combination? If not, just change it up.

Having many judges like this can be fairly typical. It is also typical that these judges will each discuss the scores on their sheets, and explain why they feel the way that they do. It would be likely that any differences in philosophy and criteria would be discussed and taken into account when scoring the testers. Your daughter will be able to develop power, and she can do this by working on her speed and technique. If the technique is already there, then as the speed comes along, her power will increase. With time, it should improve. If you are concerned that she will continue to fail tests because of this, then put off her next testing until you feel that she has developed enough to overcome this problem. She doesn't have to test everytime there is one scheduled. Let her take the extra time to build her strength, and work on all aspects of her curriculum. With the way that many schools seem to push students through the ranks these days, it is actually quite refreshing to see a school that will seriously evaluate testings, and hold their students to a higher standard. Don't lose heart, and don't take failing as an insult. It is an opportunity evaluate and improve. I hope this helps. Welcome to the Forums!

I have been working on the section with the waving kicks that correspond with the outside/inside blocks from the support-hand position, and the section where I do the inside crescent kicks, slapping the hand, and then going directly into the side kick without setting the foot down. For this second section, I am working on getting my leg around from the crescent, and keeping the knee high for the side kick. I am also working on the pivot to get into position. I don't feel like I am getting good extension on the crescent kicks, either.

I am not sure that anyone thought this of the technique. Just about all of the judo throws are based on some level of technical skill, including sac throws.

I remember that game...Bills backup QB won it...what was his name...??? Frank Reich. That was it. Was that the AFC Divisional Playoff? Because I think the next game was when the Bills beat the Chiefs in Buffalo. Or am I thinking of another year? Well, Patrick, I see the Phins lost a weapon in the Chris Chambers trade. That kind of sucks for the Dolphins. Who do they have left for WR? Ginn, but he is still young... On another note, the Chiefs traded RB Michael Bennett to Tampa Bay for an undisclosed draft pick. On a related note, Priest Holmes may practice this week, and there is a possibility that he could be activated for this Sunday's game vs. Oakland: http://www.chiefswarpath.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=1&id=1192496780

If that is the case, then I think he could hold his own. I am not sure if he would be able to compete for the title immediately, but I think he could get in there and make some waves.

My new form is Yoo Sin hyung. I know all of it, but am having some problems with some sections. Does anyone have any input on this form, and could perhaps help me out?

10-16-07 Yesterday's gut twisting exercise on the Roman chair made my abs sing today, so I did not do abs again today. Ouch!!!!! Back/shoulders/biceps Assited pull-ups: plate 11x10, plate 10x10, plate 9x8 Back hyperextensions: 3x15 Seated cable row: 120x10, 130x8, 140x6 Push-up and row: 30x8x3...these are great, and exhausting! Barbell biceps curls: 75x8, 80x6, 85x4 Legs Hip adduction: 115x10x3 Hip abduction: 115x10x3 Hip extension: 85x10x3 Hip flexion: 130x10x3 Solo workout: 3:40 - 4:00. Worked on my blasted new form, breaking it into segments to get down some tough spots. It is really giving me fits. Kids Class: 4:00 - 5:00. Only two students showed up today, both orange belts. So, they got a lot of individual attention, and we ironed out some things on basics that should help them out a lot with their forms. I also worked with them on nuances in one-steps, working with distance, good power, proper form, etc. At the end of class, I had them perform their one-steps on the heavy bag, so they could judge their distance and make contact with the techniques. They seemed to enjoy that.

10-15-07 Chest/triceps Bench press: 195x8, 205x6, 215x4 Vertical butterflies: 100x10, 115x8, 130x6 Triceps push-downs: 90x10, 105x8, 6 Bench dips: 3x10 Legs Hip sled: 345x10, 355x8, 365x6 Physio ball curls: 3x12 Calf raises: 160x10x3 Forearms Gripper: 30x12x3 Wrist curls: 20x20x3 Abs Roman chair crunches w/twist: 3x12x20 lbs. Combat Hapkido/Defensive Tactics: 9:20 - 11:00. We worked mainly on ICHF Purple Belt material today. As usual, we went through the curriculum, breaking down the moves, and then applying different applications from different starting points, and working towards alternate ends as well. Time flew by, as we accomplished quite a bit. Traditional Class: 6:00 - 7:00. Class was good tonight. My new form, Yoo Sin, is proving difficult to get a handle on, and I have been spending some time breaking it down. I know the whole form, and now I just have to concentrate on all of the little nuances to get it right.

Sorry, I just realized this thread was here. Yeah, I really enjoyed week one with the Chiefs. Nice...I see you are from Houston. Were you an Oilers fan as well?