bushido_man96

Moving forward here, exploring more of Bruce Lee's philosophical sense. So, is it just me, or does this sound like some talk of a another you in a parallel universe or something? And we need to basically purge this kind of thought from our thinking? I kind of have an inkling as to what karma is; the idea that "what goes around, comes around," that universe will balance itself out in the end. I've usually heard karma spoken of primarily in the sense of someone who has wronged us "getting what's coming to them," but I imagine that in the Eastern sense, there is more to it than that.

Sounds like a great start to a library!

Welcome to KF, BeefcaketheBarber! Glad to have you here!

Great points, SKL59. I don't recall that I've ever focused on my pecs or my lats feeding the punch. I've just focused on using my whole body as a unit to generate the power. I've found more and more that I prefer a fist that is rotated about 45 degrees off vertical, as I like the rotation and the fact that it keeps my elbow tucked in line more.

Good on you, Danielle! I remember jumping in with the 5x5 program some years ago. I moved to Starting Strength, which I found to be a better template, and they have a book which provides great information on how to do the lifts and how to get the program started. The hardest part is getting started, that's for sure. It's great to see it! And thanks for dipping in here with me!

All good points, Bob. You'll have to remind me what Shu/Ha/Ri translates to exactly, but I do remember discussing it. If I recall correctly, it's the study and expansion of forms and their applications?

Thanks for sharing the video. I don't have so much of an issue with trying to eliminate shoulder movement, but I don't like the idea of trying to take away the hip rotation to generate the power. I'm a big believer in the power coming from the ground, up through the legs and hips. It seems to me that more force can be generated through hip rotation than through the hip thrusting. In the video, he is still using his hips for power, which I like. His shoulders still move, but not near as much as seen previously. I like what he is teaching here.

Agreed. The early Okinawans that were practicing their own brand of MA learned some things from the Chinese, thus incorporating it into what they trained.

12/20/2020 Strength Training Deadlifts: 135x5, 165x5, 195x3, 210x1, 245x5. Press: 45x5x2, 70x3, 95x1, 135x4, 135x4, 135x3, 135x3, 135x1. Pushing the press just as much as I can. Going to hit as many reps as I can per set until I reach total work set volume of 15. Evening stretching session.

Congrats, SLK59! Well deserved!

Welcome to KF, JamuraiSack! Glad to have you here. This is quite the goal you have. What sources have you looked into thus far? Have you looked into the Bubishi? You might also look into Harry Cook's tome, Shotokan Karate, A Precise History. Perhaps it will provide some insight? I'm sure some of our other knowledgeable KF members will be able to chime in somewhat, as well. Best of luck in your search!

Thank you for that, SLK. Very helpful. I am familiar with the idea of Mushin, so that helps in crossing the bridge here. That would seem to lead to the Lee quote, "I do not hit; it hits all by itself." Glad you've jumped in here! I plan on running ideas in this thread for a while!

Ok, I think I'm ready to start this off. I'm bypassing the forward and anything before that in the book, as the meat of what I want to get into lies after that. Emphasis on boundless expansion was in the text. So, I'll admit I've never been much of a philosopher, and know next to nothing about zen and achieving it. So, these first several pages of Lee's writings are truly lost on me. I guess to get to the meat of things here, we should isolate what the "true knowledge" and "real life" refer to. I guess, it has to do with something like "what is," as in this moment in time, perhaps? I don't know? Perhaps not over complicating a thing, and letting it just be what it is, and do what it does? "Boundless expansion," I think, refers to letting one's mind be free to explore all possibilities, and not be tied to one particular approach or way of thinking. Don't try to expand it, but let it expand....? And then there is the "totality." This, I have a little trouble grasping. And add to that "particular department" aspect of the discussion...and it loses me. At face value, to me, "totality" and "everything" are one and the same. Thoughts? I'd love to hear how everyone else sees these thoughts.

12/18/2020 Strength Training Squats: 45x5, 135x5, 155x3, 185x1, 225x5, 225x5, 225x5. Press: 45x5x2, 70x5, 95x1, 132.5x5, 132.5x5, 132.5x5, 132.5x5, 132.5x5. Lat Pull-downs: 140x10, 140x10, 140x10, 140x10. Switching to 2 1/2 lb increases on the press, and apparently moving to sets of 3, as well. My first set of 5 stalled at 3 1/2, so sets of 3 it is now. To keep the same total volume, moving to 5 sets. As it gets harder, it may go to sets of doubles and singles to get to 15. Later that evening, the whole family went back to the gym to do some cardio work. I piddled around on a rower and a bike with no real effort put in, but I did spend time on the stretching machine, probably about 10 minutes.

That's quite the path, there. Lot's of richness!

Ah, very cool. Love the Tyrannosaurus, too!

It's great to set a goal like this! First off, get the technique down. Get really comfortable with all four major aspects of the kicks (usually consisting of chamber, extension, rechamber, and return to the floor). If you don't get the kick done correctly, then doing it high isn't worth squat. Technique first. Now, as you are learning technique, take the time to stretch frequently. Especially when you are really warmed up, like after a class. Take time to stretch your legs, back, and shoulder girdle/arms. As your flexibility increases, so will the height of your kicks. Finally, you need leg strength, too. I recommend barbell squats for strength. I recommend 3 sets of 5 through full range of motion (that means parallel squats), three times a week if you can fit that in. You can also do what I like to call concentration kicks, using a wall for balance. Stand next to a wall or holding a chair back for balance, and execute your kick in a slow fashion. You'll chamber and hold briefly, then you'll spend about 5 seconds extending the kick, and then hold the kick at full extension for about 5 seconds, then repeat as you rechamber, then set down for a rest and rub the knot out of your leg before repeating. You can do this with most kicks, but I find it works wonders with the front, side, and round kicks. Only do it a few times to start out, or you'll get really sore. Work up in reps the following week. Once you feel good with that exercise, you can add what I call "pulses" to it. Once you've extended the kick and held it for a few seconds, begin "pulsing" your foot up and down, just a few inches each way, and then side to side, very small, controlled movements so you can keep your balance. And no cursing my name as you do these . Hope this gives you a place to start!

Thanks for sharing that. It answers my question very well. The breaks at the end were impressive, too.

That's a very interesting video. Thank you for sharing that.

I've jumped back into it. It's been some time since I've been able to find what I'd consider another promising TKD book to read, but I found one that I really enjoyed. It's titled Old School Perspectives on Taekwon-do, by Ciaran McDonald. It's another TKD book in which the author's goal is to dig out possible applications to forms. He lays out a nice outline of the how's and why's, and rather than spend chapters showing a form, and then applications for each move, he worked a different route. He first laid out comparisons that TKD forms have with various Karate katas, through identifying "templates" with in the TKD forms that have been transplanted into TKD forms. From there, he spends time breaking down the "traditional" blocking methods and shows how they can be used in application. He has another section on the applications of stances, and how the stance in use can demonstrate what the techniques are possibly being used for. So, instead of providing a book that says, "here are the applications," it instead provides an outline for digging in. He does layout some examples in the book, but again, it's not a straight dishing of what he thinks the forms applications are. He mentioned at the end of the book that he is publishing two more volumes, so I'm looking forward to them. With that book finished, I got in the mail today a new Bruce Lee book: Jeet Kune Do: Bruce Lee's Commentaries on the Martial Way, published by Tuttle Publishing and edited by John Little. When this collection came out years ago, I picked up several volumes, but not this one, because I thought it was just a rehashing of Tao of Jeet Kune Do, but I appear to have been wrong. So I look forward to digging into it. It also appears I'm short another volume, titled Bruce Lee: Artist of Life. Looks like that's another added to the list...

What are latkes?

Those times when instructors really seem to open up and present things to you like that are especially enlightening. Especially with a good instructor. Since I'm not a Karate stylist, and I've not retained much of what I've learned of the Karate vocabulary, can you please explain to me what "shime" is?

I'm curious about these differences. If the SKA likes to do this technique as a "thrusting" technique, but without rotating the hips, where does the power come from? Only arm strength?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and Happy Holidays, everyone! 2021 can't be worse....can it? Bring on the new year!

Thanks, Danielle! Just knowing this thread exists makes me focus on getting something done a couple of times a week at the least. It's good motivation, I guess.When I first started the thread, my hope was that other people would join in with what they've done for training during their weeks. At first, there were several people who jumped in and posted, but they kind of fell off. But that's what I really want out of it; to see what others are doing, too, and see what I can do to affect my training. So, with that said.... PLEASE, EVERYONE, FEEL FREE TO JUMP IN HERE AND POST YOUR TRAINING ALONG WITH ME! IT'S LONELY IN HERE! So, today's training: 12/15/2020 Strength Training Deadlifts: 135x5, 165x5, 195x3, 210x1, 240x5. Press: 45x5x2, 70x5, 95x1, 130x3, 130x3, 130x3, 130x3, 130x3. Since I'm doing press on back to back days, and with the weight getting heavier and being a little harder to manage, I decided to go with sets of 3 and still get the same total volume. It was still pretty hard today, and likely is because of no recovery days between. So, moving forward, I may adjust and have the second day be a push press day, and see how that goes. Then, after catching up here at KF, I'm going to sit and read Old School Perspectives on Taekwon-do for a little while in a light stretch.