bushido_man96

Unfortunately, this is the case, for the most part. It is best to find someone to learn with. Even if you just get with a friend, and start thinking about the types of attacks you may face when being jumped. Just experimenting may help you to learn some things. You can get some good tips and advice from books, and some basic technical ideas. However, what you can't get from a book is instant feedback, which is one of the best tools to facilitate learning.

Trying to put your own style together sounds like a very tall order, especially with little experience. You need to find someone with some kind of experience, pick their brain, and then start working on practical applications for fighthing/defense. It will take some time, and experience will be the ultimate teacher.

Wow. I don't really know what to think. We like to think the Martial Arts family is above this, with all the push for integrity, respect, discipline, etc. The bottom line, though, is that Martial Artists are all human as well, and not all share the same beliefs and philosophies. There are bad apples in every bunch. It is really too bad. Explanations would be interesting. The fine doesn't seem all that stiff, but I guess it is because I am used to seeing the bigger salaries of pro sports in America.

Yeah, I can understand your feelings, YoungMan. I would love to be able to check it out, just to be able to give a full, credible report on it, as opposed to just guessing and assuming. However, these types of things go on in Korea all the time, and no one thinks twice about it. I think, if it is done right, it can be a good thing.

One problem that comes with for the women is that their personals are in a more frequent area of contact, where things can become more uncomfortable quickly. The body is usually a main target, as has been mentioned, and the groin can be less of a target, especially with specialized sparring rules. I know that self-defense is different, but even then, when a groin shot is initiated, it is almost always a consciously pulled shot, where to the body, it may not be so when guys work together.

Ok. Here are the questions that I asked, and the answers that I got in return: 1. How many hours in the program will be spent in actual Taekwondo classes? Will there be 1 hour of physical classes per day, or 2 hours per day, or 1 class every other day, etc.? A: In the TKD classes you spend 2 hours in class and training for every 1 hour of credit for the practical components. You will also be asked to train on your own as well at the dojan. 2. I also wondered if the there would be regular physical requirement testings held throughout the course of the program, in which the students will move up in rank? A: Yes, each semester there is testing done to make sure you are progressing properly. At these times of testing you will also be certified by Kukkiwon if you pass. 3. I also wonder what the process would be in accepting students who hold previous Taekwondo rank into the program? For example, I currently hold a 2nd degree black belt, but not through the Kukkiwon. How this affect me, or someone who already holds rank in the Kukkiwon? A: Yes, we accept any and all students even those who are not black belts. However, students do start at basic training, so you will have the experiences of a blackbelt, but you will still start as a beginner. However, we all anticipate that those with black belts will advance quite rapidly. Those are the questions and answers I got. What do you think?

6-13-07 I had a quick workout today. Taught Orientation from 5:30 - 6:00. Back Assisted pull-ups: plate 13x10, plate 12x10, plate 11x7 Back hyperextensions: 20, 15 Abs Roman chair crunches: 20, 20

When I kick with footwear on, especially work boots, I just lower my kicks, especially to the thigh area. I just use that extra weight to add a little bit more momentum to my kick. And my legs are heavy as it is.

Well, I still think it looks nice, but is just not as applicable as many might think that it would be. Even at the basic level, you are looking at a lot of very complex motor movements, which, when the adrenaline dumps, goes out the door very quickly. Miss one of those precision jumps across two buildings, and then that's it. You are done.

I suppose it is because of the approach of karate and indeed kung fu training. It is for life, and that is, very long term. Secondly once he masters the more complex moves/blocks in karate he can combine them with his particular style's techniques such as kicking, knee attacks, elbow attacks, open hand chops and finger attacks, locks and joint breaks, takedowns etc. - all of which are techniques that are none existant in boxing - to greater effect. This ultimately means that using his long term approach he will spend more time learning a richer art, and as a result will get more out of it in the end. I don't think that it is necessary to spend many, many years learning a more complex blocking system to use in combat, when you can be just as successful with more simple techniques. Adding complexity doesn't necessarily mean something is being made better. Also, I am not saying that complex systems cannot be useful or successful. However, just because something is simple, doesn't mean it can't be a useful, and enriched, system.

Welcome to KF!

Paolini, and George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series!!! I am also going to begin reading Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. I am a nut, I know.

Congrats!

Montana has some very good points. It also may be that she is just a little scared, and it will just take a little extra time to get her into it. Maybe you could work with her a little bit at home, and see if that sparks her interest.

I used to see advertisments for Billy Jack Jeans.

I wish I could read that article. It sounds like this guy uses the term "McDojo" openly, and in a positive light. This would be the first time I have ever heard of anything like this. This is indeed not a good thing. It sounds like this guy is proud of how he made his money, and is not concerned with the fact that he is fueling the fire in the Martial Arts community about such schools that prefer to churn out belts at the expense of good teaching, good learning, etc. It sounds to me that someone of this nature has lost all integrity, for himself and others. Are you being too hard on him? I think not.

In TKD, Hwa-rang and Choong Moo forms have round kicks in them, as do some of the black belt forms (Ch'ang On system). As for the Karate aspect, I think I saw somewhere on these forums that the round kick was not originally a Karate technique, but was adopted when a practitioner witnessed it in a Thai match. I can't vouge for that for certain, though; it is just what I had read. Can anyone shed some light on this?

That sounds great, man! I am glad to here that you have found where you feel that you belong. On your comment here, I would say that JKD is never taught as a style, but as a set of philosophies and methods. In the book, Lee actually states that you can apply the concepts (better word) to any style that you study. Anyhow, perhaps you won't be "Dazed and Confused" any longer!

I would love to post up here, but I have not read any yet! I know, I know. However, a friend of mine gave me the first three books (paperbacks) for Christmas one year, and I am going to start reading the series. So, when I do finally get to the 7th book, the paperback should be out, and not be too expensive.

Wow, sharp kid! I used to play with one when I was younger. Now, I would probably get so frustrated with it that I would just round kick it out the back door!!! What, I have patience.

It looks nice, but I don't think it is realistic. It would be the equivalent of training XMA for self-defense purposes.

Since you will have the time, do role-playing in each of the sessions. Do some research on what the popular forms of attack are, and then role-play. Role-play everything, from the approach, to the attacks, the defenses, etc. Whatever you do, don't do anything that is going to give these kids a false sense of security. Explain the reality behind the situations of being attacked, whether it be by a bully, or a kidnapper.

6-11-07 Chest/triceps Bench press: 205x6, 215x4, 225x2 No spotter today. Skull crackers: 70x10, 80x6, 85x4 Overhead tricep ext: 90x10, 90x10, 90x8 Abs Roman chair sit-ups: 2x20 Bend-over, reach-backs: 10 each side, using a 5 lb. dumbell. Swiss ball roll-out (praying mantis): 10 These last 2 ab exercises I got out of Solo Training 2. In the book, Christensen recommended only doing one set of each, 2 times a week, and then adding as you feel more comfortable. They were both kind of ackward, and they did make my gut a little sore! If anyone wants explanations on what he calls them, and how he explains them, just let me know. Conditioning Tuck jumps: 3x10 Jump rope: 3x1 min. rounds Sledgehammers: 3x1 min. rounds, 1 min. rest Pool I took my daughter swimming, so while I was there, I decided to practice some kicks in the pool. I didn't do a whole lot, but I wanted to be able to kick in class this evening, too! Front leg swings (pulling down, too): 2x10 each side Front kicks: 2x10 each side Side kicks: 2x10 each side Back kicks: 2x10 each side...these were especially tiring. Taught Orientation from 5:30 - 6:00. The kid I have now is very sharp; his stances are already good, and he has pretty good technique. Traditional Class from 6:00 - 7:00.

These are good recommendations. I have read and enjoyed them all. Zen in the Martial Arts, by Joe Hyams, is also a good read. Not very historical, but very anecdotal, and enjoyable. Here is a title to be on the lookout for: Karate Chronicles: The History of Okinawan and Japanese Karate, by Harry Cook, B.A. It is going to be a pricy book, at around $100, not counting the shipping, but it may be exactly what you are looking for. I saw the information in an add in Classical Fighting Arts magazine. The book is to be released in late 2007. There is a number you can call to reserve a copy, if it is what you want.

I am glad that you brought this up, because it is a good point. When kicking with the ball of the foot, you have to make sure that your target is at the proper angle when striking with that area. Take a board break, for example. If I am kicking with my back leg, I line up at about a 45 degree angle to the board. That way, when I make contact, I am only making contact with the ball of the foot, and the toes are out of the way, maximizing the striking area. That is why in sparring, you see so much instep striking. The surface is flat, and doesn't require any special angles to get to the target from. Same way with the shin. That is why the shin is so versatile as well; no angular restricitions, and it is a very hard tool, causing lots of damage.