bushido_man96

Those are some good points, bearich. Do you think that strategies such as those would be more suitable for ring fighting or sparring, as opposed to a street altercation?

But they are not political parties, they are Martial Arts associations. Each has something to offer, and each can make you better. Why close off other branches of learning?

What was the title, KNOCKuOUT?

I think that Bill may be able to pull off more of the wrestling type upper body throws in the Pankration, though. Either way, it should be good.

Mine too!! This used to be pretty common, until companies like Century started making the new belts with stripes on them.

You mention that the newer students get a lot more grappling work than striking work to start out. I have also seen that the new Modern Army Combatives training starts out with grappling as well. The first level is grappling, and then they move up to the striking and Thai style kicking. Just a trend I noticed.

Very nice sites, NightOwl. Those associated with it are very straightforward about what they plan to accomplish, aren't they? (By the way, that book title you put out keeps taunting me! Since it is pretty cheap, I may have to order...soon...)

I was punching the bag at home one time, doing a punch out or something; anyway, I was punching full power. I did an uppercut type technique into the bag, and I felt my wrist kind of tweak. Well, for some reason I didn't register it right away (just one of my crowning moments of realization ) and I wound up to punch again. Lucky for me, the second hit (same hand) did register. Thus concluded that day's punching drills!

Very well put.

I think you are talking about an essay contest for non-Korean Masters in the ITF. I saw an add for it in TKD Times. I am sure that not everything between ITF and WTF can be shared. There is just too much bad blood there, I think. However, the competition thing is based soley on being a WTF member, and qualifying at the tournaments. A guy I competed against while I was in the ATA trained at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, and won the Colorado State Qualifier in his weight bracket. That is one other example I can think of where a student was a member of another organization, and still competed.

I have also seen black stripes on belt tips to show rank, like one brown belt being senior over another, due to test performance, etc. In our system, each belt has a high and a low distinction. Low blue belt, for example, has a white stripe through the middle. High blue belt is a solid blue belt. This continues up to recommended black. I have also been in schools that put stripes on one side of the belt to show the acquisition of certain requirements for testing; one stripe for forms, another for new basics, etc. That way, an instructor can glance at the belt and see what they need the most work on.

I thought the Judo episode was good, too. I think that Bill might have done ok, with his wrestling background. Jason got tossed very clean a couple of times. He was a good sport about it, though. I got a little caught up on the Karate episode, and I was a little disappointed with the fight at the end. I thought that Bill might have tried a few more kicks, especially to the legs. I'll give him one thing, though; he is tough! I think if Jason and Bill would have switched for the end fights of these two, they may have been more interesting. I can't wait for the Pankration episode! That should be sweet.

I agree with DWx. It is basically the underlying story being recycled. In the original, Lee wasn't an agent, he just helped the agency out (if I remember right). There have been lots of remakes of movies, and they aren't all bad. You just can't go to this movie and expect Enter the Dragon. That is when you will disappoint yourself. Aside from that, there are plenty of skilled Martial Artists out there that could make the role look good. Granted, not as good as Lee, but it can still look good.

Ah, that makes sense as well. That way, a plateau doesn't necessarily stall you out?

Battle does not favor the righteous, or the just; it favors the prepared. My personal favorite: I concede that it was a cheap shot, but it was the only one I could afford.

Seeing the white, I don't really understand. I don't think you are blanking out, though. As long as your are moving and reacting, and are in control of yourself, everything should be fine.

Sorry, but I laughed a bit when I pictured a soccer mom looking to take her 9 year old into martial arts and seeing this drill as soon as she walks in the door... Well, that may not be the exact context in which it would be trained. The students that you would do these drills with would need to be able to understand the situation, and the circumstances that would make it justifiable. I would hope that none of our children would have to face a situation that required the usage of such a technique.

Thanks, NightOwl. Although I don't discuss the Chinese MAs very much, I do find interest in just about every style that is, has been, or will be. I will look into your title, and maybe it will become mine some day as well. Hey, just checked it, and it does look interesting. Those kind of manual set ups are right up my alley, and it has a good price on it, too. Thanks again; I'll look into it. After this load, though, it may be a month or so...

Welcome to the Forums.

But you never know if someone may pull a knife. It is always something to think about.

It may turn out alright. It sounds like it will just have a similar story line to Enter the Dragon. You can't expect it to be that. As long as you keep an open mind, and lower expectations, it should be enjoyable to watch.

Good points also, Kevin.

Ah, I see. Thanks for the clarification, Menjo.

There are ways to train them. Most of the time, you would just train on the ways to get where you need to be, the set-ups, I guess. When the opportunity is there, you take it, if it is justifiable. Training with fruit is a good way to kind of get a feel for what it may be like. Loren Christensen talked about a drill in one of his books where one partner lies on the ground with goggles on. The other partner kneels, and with a piece of fruit on the goggles, starts to dig his fingers into it. While doing that, the partner that is "getting his eye dug out" starts to flail, yell, and writhe in pain, to simulate the reactions of doing such a thing.

I, too, get a discounted rate for being on a contract. Also, as part of the contract, the monthly fees come out my account via EFT, which makes it nice that I don't have to worry about writing a check every month, or getting behind on payments. Really, contracts can be beneficial, as long as they are used right. If you have been at the same school for a few years, and don't think you will leave, getting on a contract probably won't hurt you that much.