bushido_man96

I don't really know what Parkour is, but from the descriptions, it sounds like the acrobatic stuff that Jackie Chan does in his movies to get away from people. In my opinion, if you try to do stuff like that, you are going to be in a world of hurt if you mess it up. If you want to run, then run. I know that schools should teach every aspect of self-defense, but let's not over-complicate this. Running is running. The way you get faster is to do sprint training. The way to gain endurance is to run distance. Now, if you want to try to swing from escape ladders, try to climb a wall, etc., then best of luck to you. That is going to take quite some time to become good at, and most schools aren't equipped with the "environment" to train you how to do something like that. And if I am mistaken as to what you are talking about, then disregard the above statement.

This comment cracks me up! Thanks. I already have plenty of reading material to catch up on, and I just got my latest issue of this year's Black Belt Magazine in the mail. I haven't got to it yet, because I am still reading on the back issues! Perhaps I will have to come back to the back issues, and read on current events. In the news area of the old one I am reading, there is a spot on "Jet Li's newest movie, Cradle 2 The Grave." That really dates it!

I can understand what you are saying, but there is something you have to look at from the male's point-of-view; the possibility of sexual harrassment accusations. It is a very big thing now, and many guys don't want to run the risk of being accused of such a thing. That is why it can be so uncomfortable to do such things, even in an environment like a Martial Arts school.

Ok, I got my questions sent to the proper email address this time. I will wait and see, now. I will post the results when I get them.

Thanks Baron. As far as whining about the little things, like clutches and homework, goes, I can't fault anyone for that. I have gotten back to whining about the little things again myself. I guess it is a good sign, that I don't have too much to worry about for now.

Sweet. Someone put a lot of work into that. Thanks for sharing, Baron!

Plyometrics... That's a dirty word. Despite that, I agree that I've found they help quite a bit. Yeah, I know. Everytime I say it, I wash my mouth out with chocolate! I did some today, and my knees are not thanking me for it right now!

Just as a warning, keep in mind that you may be very busy, especially if you are teaching part-time, and working full-time. Depending on how many hours of class time you offer per week, it is going to cut into your free-time, family-time, and training-time. Those are all things to keep in mind. Unless you are really, really dedicated, it can lead to a quick burn-out.

Good luck with your class! Keep in mind what Rick said, with keeping it simple. I wouldn't get into knife disarms or anything tricky like that. Some general awareness and safety stuff would be good for them. As for techinques, I would not venture to propose anything. Everyone has different ideas on self-defense methods, so I would not venture anything there. Nor do I really have the experience to do so comfortably.

Some people have different schedules than others, though, and may not be able to make it to the regularly scheduled classes that schools have. Therefore, private lessons may be the only way that some can get lessons in.

Very true. Just throw something, like a back leg round kick. Watch how they react, especially if it becomes a habit for them. Then, you can work feints to open up other areas.

I use all three, depending on the situation. I make sure to practice all three as well. I can break 4 boards with a ball of the foot round kick, done head level. I can also break 2 boards with an instep round kick at chest to head level. So you can use both; although not everyone is into pain as much as I am. The shin kick is also a very powerful kick as well, and I use it for low kicks to the legs. Cross brought up some interesting points when it comes to choosing the tool to kick with. One other thing to consider is range as well. If you throw a kick, and the opponent moves (as they often do), then you may not have a choice as to which tool you strike with. If they are close, the shin will do the damage. If they move away, then the instep may be the only way to get to them with that move, at that time. Wearing shoes/boots, as cross mentioned, can also give an extra layer of protection to the striking tool. This is the only time that I think I would strike with the toe(s) of my foot (especially wearing steel-toed boots). However, I have seen clips of the toes being used. I think it would take many years to toughen the toes up for that, though.

^^this^^ I would much prefer a palm strike under the chin. Less telegraphed(under the line of vision), less chance of breaking hand, more chance of hurting the person, more options for follow ups. That would work well, too. My friend and I have been doing some Close Quarters Combatives, and we do a lot with open hand techniques as well.

I think that would be best for you right now. Instead of worrying about what you can't do, worry about what you can do right now. Things may fall into place for you later.

That is very interesting. The moves are very different from what I have seen.

Thanks for sharing that, Ed. You can really see Bruce's philosphical outlook on just about anything that he is asked about. He is so much fun to listen to.

As far as altering the technique to make you feel more comfortable, and to train different options, this is a good recommendation. However, also keep in mind that hitting a female in that area is much akin to a male taking a shot to the groin. Something to think about if you ever get attacked by a female.

Thanks, cross.

This is a very strong point.

It is really hard to tell what is causing the problems. Lifting probably won't help the condition, either. If I were you, I would go visit the doctor, and have them take a look at it. Listen to what your body says, and regulate your training levels accordingly. If you train yourself into an injury, you will be doing yourself a greater disservice than just backing your current training levles off some.

I talked with my mother tonight, and she was feeling pretty good. She is still pretty sore, though. The nurses at the ER told us that she was very combative. They said she was strong as a horse at the time, and they couldn't get her to comply for nothing. She only weighs around 130, so she must have been really fighting. She calls next week to get the next appointment set up. They will take more CT scans, and see what they can learn. They can't do the MRI, because she has a Pacemaker, so the Docs are a little tied by that. We will see, I guess.

Congrats! Keep up the good work!

Those are all good points, YoungMan. I have so many questions for the fellows heading this up. I just have to get my questions through.

Well, there are so many aspects here that you have to think about. Some instructors can teach some things well, and not others. Competitive sparring is an example. But it doesn't necessarily mean it will transfer well to all areas, like self-defense.

We always have favorites, as people. Think about teachers in school...you have many, but always have a favorite. Don't worry about comparing the two. If that is the case, you may never find another school to train at. Besides that, if the other instructor is willing to show up every day to teach, then he is one-up on your current instructor already. You should not worry too much about what your instructor is going to think of you if you leave. After all, it is his problem if he can't keep you because he can't maintain a schedule.