bushido_man96

Even if your opponent's miles away? These guys aren't rank amateurs and they're not WTF taekwondo competitors - they know what to do with their hands. Elwyn Hall wouldn't be duking it out with a guy in the street and trying to absorb blows into his forearm. It's bang, bang, bang and down they go. That's what karate's about. I would keep my hands up if they were a distance away, because I can still move them to use them, or just cover if I can't. When you get into combat, you don't rise to the occasion; you sink to the level of your training. That said, I train to keep my hands up.

I agree with you here 100%.

I would do a Google search to see what you can find. It isn't terribly popular in the states, from what I know, so it may be difficult. Good luck, though.

Thanks. I do what I can. I have seen several instances of the OODA loop, and if you get caught behind the 8 ball, it is very hard to catch up. Why wait?

Maybe it is just me, but the kihap is kind of more of an emphasis on certain techniques. I try to do all of my attacks strong, so that I have good power throughout.

I wouldn't worry about the ankle weights; you can still practice it without them.

I really don't think that these are what most people would consider "ground fighting" techniques. They are techinques done standing, while someone else is on the ground. Most practitioners' definitions of "ground fighting" techniques are going to be related to those of ground submission types of moves, like arm bars, leg locks, and chokes. Things like that, where both of the fighters are on the ground, or darn close to it, like kneeling.

I think that this is part of the problem. The ideal is different over there, and the wording doesn't lend it to be figured out very easily. It is taken at face value, and some just don't like it.

You could get a heavy bar, the length of your sword, and do slower, more controlled motions to improve the strength.

Can you push it back to where it was? If so, then it is probably a hernia.

Good information there. Very helpful. Thanks again!

I think that the most important point to keep in mind is to not treat the dojo as a "dating pool." Meeting someone at the school and falling in love is one thing....using it to stage your own episode of "The Bachelor/Bachelorette" should not be what one thinks about when joining/attending a Martial Arts school.

First, practice jumping. Do some plyometric-type bursting exercises. Do them 2x a week, a few days apart, so the muscles have time to recover. Also, practice jumping and chambering the kick only; not kicking. Make sure you are completing each part of the kick. See how that goes for you.

Now that you guys mention that, you might be on the right track. I would have it checked out.

Because there's no point waving your hands in the air if your opponent is too far away to hit your head. And you discourage them from coming close enough to hit your head by hitting them if they do. Their guard tends to be mobile; the first instinct is to increase distance between yourself and your opponent to not allow them to hit you, then if they do manage to close the distance, you strike aggressively to drive them away and then try and guard your head as a last resort. Standing there with your hands in front of your face isn't a spectacularly good tactic - you're just inviting a boot to the ribs or a punch to the torso. It's easier to guard your head with distance.I find that much of what you explain here tends to be the case in a point-style sparring set up. I fight in class with my hands up, and if a kick comes low, I either swing down the arm to block it, or lower my elbow into the strike, giving them a nice stinger. However, if I were going to defend myself, I would much rather have the boxer or Muay Thai stance of having the arms up, protecting myself.

Well, I'm not sure it does...I was just elaborating on the point. I agree with you here. In my initial response, I stated that I prefer the pre-emptive strike. However, if you are caught off-guard, and must block first, then the preceding statement has more meaning for me. It is like you said, performing the moves with destroying the opponent in mind, whether you are blocking or striking. I like this quote.

I'd say 25% of the time the samurai would win, 25% the knight would win, and the other 50% would go the way you said. I think that you guys might be on the right track, here. I think that the two warriors are kindred spirits, and both would have been highly skilled, and formidable to deal with. What would be very interesting is to see what the difference would be between the Samurai and the Knight, but the Knight weilding the sword and shield combination.

I would say the difference is you should be asking your sensei for advice about cross training(whether he thinks it's a good idea, why, what's a good complimenting art, ect...) rather than asking for permission. More or less, I think you are close here. I think that the instructor should be able to admit to what he doesn't know, and then make suggestions about ways to shore up the deficiencies; as in places to go, etc.

Congratulations, Kerry!

Only if you contact a hard area, like the shin bones of an opponent, and if you haven't been conditioned. Striking the side of the leg is not a hard target, so it won't cause you any pain, really.

I think the front kick and the stomp will be easier to pull off than a low side kick, which still requires some body re-alignment.

By the way thank you for your comments, I love to discuss the martial arts, and it is refreshing to see so many people who love it as well. Hey, thanks. Appeciate that! Now you just have to tailor your technique training on your own to meet the needs described above, and make your style effective, instead of accepting it as not being effective.

I would have to agree with you on one this. All martial arts were designed for one purpose....protection of self. Therefore self-defense should not be a by-product of training. If anything it should be the main goal. The other aspects of learning martial arts (self-betterment, tourney participation, exercise, etc) should be considered by-products. This doesnt mean that they are not important, but secondary to learning how to protect yourself and your family. After all it doesnt matter if you have achieved enlightenment, or won the grand champion of kata/sparring if you are assaulted and killed on the way home from the dojo! Great points, both of you. The sport aspect is great, because of the way you train your body. Being fit and athletic is very important for self-defense, I think. One small point that I may combat you on, USCMAAI, if I may, is the origin of the fighting styles. I don't know if I would say self-defense, but rather, the need for armed combat in mass groups. I would think the goals would be somewhat different, but I could be off. What do you think?

I kind of agree with cross. I think that learning to use a firearm is very important. Learning to take one away is only one part of the equation, and it would not be very common. Learning to fire the weapon, how to move strategically with the weapon, etc, are all very important things, I think. I do not teach this, but I am learning it, currently. It really is a lot of fun!

But who governs the governing body and makes them certifiable? This is the big question. There are so many anymore, that it can come from all kinds of places.