bushido_man96

Congrats! Good job!

Wrestling is a Martial Art.

There are some books available on Pankration that may whet your appetite about the reconstruction of the style. Here are a few I can find: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?WRD=Pankration&z=y&cds2Pid=9481 Anything by Jim Arvanitis will be a good source; he is the ringleader in the revival of the art. I have also seen some advertised in Black Belt Magazine called Game of the Gods.

Talk to both, and tell them your feelings. Then you will have to decide based on what they think, and on what directions you want your training to take.

Knee push-ups, like the others mentioned, will get you started. You could also by some dumbells. They don't take up much space, and you can get light ones to start with, and then get heavier ones as you get stronger. You could do some arm curls and triceps extensions/kickbacks with those, to get some muscle into your arms.

You could go look for another TKD school to get back into, if you like. Or, if you want to learn fighting techniques, you could look for an MMA gym or a Thai/Boxing gym. As far as learning new, advanced techniques goes, keep this in mind: Keep It Simple. Just because a technique is "advanced" doesn't mean it is better. The basics are there for a reason. Don't get caught up in "cool" at the expense of practicality. I hope you can find what you are looking for. Best wishes, and keep looking.

I would check out the Jujitsu-only school, and then the Shotokan/Jujitsu schools, and compare the Jujitsu components of each school. I would bet that the Jujisu-only school will be more focused and specialized in that aspect than the Shotokan school would be. If you want a balance, though, then a school that provides both would be convenient, if it suits your needs. As far as the kicking in TKD goes, kicking high is nice, but not always important. As a TKDer, some of my best kicks are below waist level. As for not being flexible, and unable to kick high, you won't be able to with negativity and no practice. You never know, you might enjoy it, and get really good at it. As far as training for the mental aspects of any style, I believe that depends on how the person approaches the training. Sure, some schools will get more heavily into that than others, but if you adjust your mindset to what you want as far as the mental aspects go, I think you can achieve it no matter which art you study. Good luck, and let us know what you decide.

Yeah, I agree. I would just like to see or hear an explanation as to why the changes take place. Does anyone else have some technical differences in their forms that they would like to add?

Yes, it would be good for a throat strike, or as a grabbing motion if you turn the hand into different positions. You could also use to parry and attempt to grab arms as well.

All I know is that I've hardly seen a Tae Kwon Do fighter chamber their leg after a kick. That might be what he was referring to. Our school emphasizes the the rechambering motion of the leg on kicking. I know that some Olympic style sparrers probably do it differently, but that is a different game, too. The schools I have always been in have always insisted on the rechamber, though.

I agree. However, I think that it is easier for the grappler to become a striker than it is for strikers to pick up grappling. That is where the grappler's advantage lies, I think.

In the end, I don't think it is time that matters, as everyone puts in different amounts of time, in the form of days and hours per class per week. In the end, what will matter is what you are learning will help when need be. You really find this out with experience, as opposed to time-in-rank. That is what I have always appreciated about styles like Muay Thai, Boxing, MMA, or Wrestling; no ranks. If you can prove you are ready, and then win or show promise when you perform, then you and all others (of the style) know where you are, and respect it. Of course, it doesn't mean that they don't want a shot at you, either!

I wish I could read three books a night. To be honest, though, I am really quite a slow reader. Otherwise, I would have read most of the books I have bought by now. I know it looks silly that I am quoting myself, but I want to give a brief review of the books that I have that I read. Of course, my reviews aren't quite as good an informative as the ones that NightOwl can give (he is the man ), but I try. If I find out anything about any of the books that anyone else has posted, I would quote them as well.

Don't think old, think experienced. Hehe...

Hehe...my brothers can tell horror stories of me when I used to play the Nintendo (old NES). I have ruined a couple of controllers in my day! Of course, that was before I became the nice, even-tempered, gentleman that I am today!

I will have to look into what I need to play it. I don't want to use the keyboard, even if it is an option. I will need a control pad of some kind.

8-24-07 I didn't work out hard today at all, but I did walk through Se-Jong hyung a few times, concentrating on foot placement while transitioning from move to move, stance to stance. I have some funny footwork in this form, but I really like it. I also practiced some kicks, without a warm-up, so I was careful not to be too speedy.

Boy, I hope not!!!!

TSD was one of the kwans in Korea that did not join with Gen. Choi in his attempt at forming a nationally recognized Korean art, which came be known as TKD. So, TSD has some different forms than most TKD schools would use, but many of the same principles, as TSD and TKD can both trace their current roots to Shotokan. Hapkido is said to be derived from Daito-Ryu, and has been modified and some versions include some of the high and advanced kicks that can be seen in TKD. Taek-yon, as it is seen today, seems to be comprable to Caporiea, but seems more upright to me, from what I have seen. It is "played" like a game or dance. What roots this current style claims to have to the original, I don't know. I doubt much substantial, though. There is also a Korean sword art called Kumdo, which appears to me to be a Korean version of katana usage. However, I don't know any history or "roots" of this sword style. That is the best that my limited knowledge can provide at this point. I am sure there are others with broader knowledge of the above that can chip in.

Very nice videos! The opening of the Enpi was nice.

There really is nothing quite like a new gi, is there, Kez? My black belt has my name on it in English, with Korean below on one side, and the name of our school in English with Korean below on the other side, along with the dan stripes on each side.

Good points, gzk. It goes back to accreditation and certification. It can be kind of like a quality check, in a way. However, Ottman, you are right in that you say it doesn't really mean anything any different. Some are just proud of their "Martial Family Tree."

I am not sure why people think this... it is very untrue. If you look at the history of martial arts, it is generally associated with a criminal element. china - triads, tongs and other gangsters. (ever hear wing chun referred to as gangsterfist?) brazil - capoeira was associated with thugs and criminals, which is part of the reason it was banned. france - savate was associated with thugs the list goes on. I am not sure I agree completely with you here, nine_weapons. In every society, there is always a need to fight. It may come from the bad, as you mention here, but it may also come from those who need to defend themselves from other territories. Perhaps not those that are bad, but are perceived as such due to differences between societies. However, your point is a good one. It doesn't matter what style you study, be it Karate, Judo, Muay Thai, fencing, or MMA, there will always be those that we want to emulate, and there will be those who are dangerous people that you don't want anything to do with.

The Pankration episode was great! My favorite one so far. I thought it was interesting how they suggested that Alexander the Great, during his conquests, may have introduced some moves in his Asian campaigns that may have influenced some of the Eastern arts a little. Food for thought, anyways. The fight at the end was good, but I was suprised at that particular organization's rules of not punching the face, while the other places they looked into didn't seem to have that restriction. Bill had a nice punch to the face, though! But the Pankratiast's opening round kick was nice, too. I like how the kick came straight up, like a front kick, and then turned over at the point of contact. Very nice.

Maybe once in a while! I remember a tiff I had with a guy when I was in high school. He hit me in the face a few times, but his punches came from hanging down at his sides, and I don't remember feeling them. Even after the fact, I don't remember my face or cheeks being sore. I think that maybe he just couldn't punch well, though.