bushido_man96

Many of the TKD schools that I have seen do forms, but don't work with applications, whereas this is more of a theme. If you were in an Olympic style of TKD, then you will notice a considerable difference in the sparring rules and strategies. I think that you will also notice a significant difference in the amount of kicking done in Karate. I think you will see more hand techniques, and some different applications for them. You will find many of the same kicks, but just less emphasis on them, and perhaps not throwing them as high as in TKD.

Hopefully you have found what you are looking for. Good luck with the school.

I think you are right, NightOwl. If Kyudo is a Martial Art, then I think modern firearms training is the same.

I see where the confusion is coming from, I think. From the posts that I read, most of us are thinking that Athena is teaching herself Karate or something of the like. I don't think that is the case. I think the case here is about learning fighting principles and ideas, and practicing them to an extent to where they can be called on and used. I don't see a problem with this; after all, it beats the alternative form of learning, which would be to start fights and get first-hand experience that way. At the heart of the Martial Arts is fighting (the Martial part). Anyone can learn to fight, and you don't have to learn it on a dojo floor. My dad was a good fighter before he got into TKD. His dad was a very nasty guy, who was known to put people in their place, and never studied a Martial Art a day in his life. However, I consider him a Martial Artist, because of the skill and abilities that he had. Remember, Martial Art doesn't always equal "I train in an Eastern style in a dojo." As Bruce Lee mentions, we all express ourselves differently.

Whatever it takes, eh? Just goes to show that many things can come in handy.

I can ride the fence here. I enjoy forms, but I could do without them, too. I much prefer application training. If that is done with the forms, then great. But there is more than one way to skin a cat.

That is a very good point.

Cool. That sounds great. So not this Friday, but the next?

To add to what you have presented here, sometimes City Ordinances differ as well. The state may not charge it, but the City may have an ordinance against it, which changes things a bit.

I would say that he should just call himself a fighter. Why does he feel the need to don rank upon himself? To verify what he has accomplished? There are plenty of fighters out there that don't feel a need to do this, and don't even worry about it...perhaps your friend should do the same.

This is so true. I think that when put in a position like this, it is the instructor's duty to help you be as successful as possible by showing you the ropes before throwing you to the wolves.

Best of luck to you!

9-13-07 Traditional Class: 6:00 - 7:00. I started the class off with basics, and did them with the class. I put them through at a pretty good pace, and I was tired afterwards. During the forms section of class, I did 4 black belt forms, so that was a nice workage too. I was tired, but powered on through them. After class, I had another 10 minute Grappling Session, in which I proceded to pretty much get my butt kicked. I am just terrible at it. I have trouble trying to mount attacks, and usually just end up being defensive, and trying to ward off attacks and locks all the time. Towards the end of the deal, my partner got my left arm locked into a triangle-type of lock; well, it didn't feel like it was there, so I was trying to yank it out. As I was in the process of pulling my arm free, he ended up getting the lock, and my arm popped a few times. It is a bit sore today! My ears, and the spots behing my ears are sore, too. It was a good session, even though I suck at it. He did let me work on my throwing a bit when we got started, and I think I figured a few things out there. Later on that evening, I did some ab work: Twist crunches: 2x10 to each side. Crunches: 4x10

That sounds like a fun mix. Enjoy yourself in those styles!

I agree. Just doesn't make sense to me.

I think it had to do with the space he had, and the fact that the others could catch up to him to surround him. He did a good job of creating space, and keeping them in a line, so only one could attack at a time. Good punches maximized his striking efficiency, too.

If you could give an English translation, I might be able to offer some tips for you.

That is annoying, I know. Just take some time and practice at home a bit. Do what you can.

I don't really think so. However, some guys, like Iain Abernethey, do some grappling in their Karate styles. It just depends, really. This is more the exception than the rule, I think. However, transitions to takedowns would be more common.

I read the most of the interview, and I have to say that he sounds like someone I would like to learn BJJ from if I had the chance. I like his approaches. I would not be doing it for competition, for certain. Thanks for sharing it. Only one year to go, and I will be 30. Maybe he could take me on as a student?

straight to the point. likes to keep healthy. i think everyone should learn to take vitamins, but, not everyone knows or cares enough to actually take them for long I take my Flintstones vitamins every morning!

Very nice article. A little baptism by fire, I guess you could say. One of my dojang friends was to go to the Army Combatives course this month, but it got pushed back due to lack of instructors, so now he has to wait until around November. When he gets through it, we are going to work together on the stuff.

I think it really depends on who you get. If you can get into some of the scenario-based training, then I think yes. Many styles talk about awareness. However, showing you how to approach a hard corner, what to look for on passers-by, and things like that take a different approach. Also, knowing the use-of-force continuum is an important aspect taught in most of these styles as well, and for good reason. Many times, you hear people say "I would rather by tried by 12 than carried by 6." However, when the 12 sentence you to 5 to 10, it changes the perspective a bit. I am sure that there are some who claim RBSD out there, and are just junk. It is that way with a lot of Arts and Styles. However, I do think that the good ones can serve their purpose well. A lot of these guys come from military or law-enforcement backgrounds, which gives them a dramatically different take than from someone like me, the career dojang teacher.

Sounds like you were fit to be tied at this ordeal, Montana. I can't say as I blame you, though. I think I may know which organization you may be talking about, but changing the names to protect the innocent here is a good approach to take. As with any incident that you witness like this, it is important to try and not to lump all of the schools of the organization into the category of the likes of this one. There are good instructors out there, that are doing everything that they can for their students' experience. It only takes one bad apple... When mentioning that they would overrun the competition of open tournaments...this is just terrible PR, in my opinion. The instructor should know better than this. However, it was a good way of sidestepping the question, and trying to save face. It really is too bad that the school presented itself in this way. Ps1, you had a great post. I gleaned a lot from that. Even after 14 years of study, I have some qualms about being in situations of defense. I deal with it as best that I can, and try in my training to do what I can to keep things simple, and evaluate situations, and how I should approach them. This is so very true, and I am not ashamed to say that I could be among these ranks. A friend of mine and I were once talking about fighting, self-defense, etc. My friend has been in some scrapes, and knows what it is about. He flat told me, from knowing me so well (we are as close as brothers), that I "just don't have it. I'm sorry, but you just don't. Now your brother, he's got it. He is just crazy." And I know he is right. Some people are born with that knack, that twist, that extra whatever that allows them to take it to that level, and get into it. It was always hard for me to dig that up. It still comes hard. However, by I try to use my knowledge base, and some self-talk, to help myself out with this. My new job has helped me in a lot of ways when it comes to developing this mindset. I believe that I am a little different now than when my friend evaluated me.

I was there for the first go-around of the TMNT! I have all 3 movies, too! The new cartoons are much more serious than the older ones. OK, my Martial confession is done.