bushido_man96

Asking questions is a good thing. When you ask questions about techniques, either for application purposes, or how it is done, it shows that you are willing to learn, and like to learn. Just don't discouraged if they tell you to focus more on one thing when you ask to move onto the next. They will move you along if they fell you are ready. However, it never hurts to ask! I don't agree with this viewpoint at all, and it was probably a good thing that you changed directions. I am not sure that this is necessarily the case, when people ask questions about things. When it comes to clarifying how something is done, I think it is important to ask questions, to make sure you do it the proper way. I think that it shows a healthy willingness to grow in the Martial Arts.

It sounds like you have a great student there. Keep up the good work!

5-21-07 Chest/triceps: Bench press: 205x6, 215x4, 225x3 Incline bench: 135x8, 145x6, 155x3 Triceps push down: 105x8, 105x6, 105x6 Overhead triceps ext: 90x10, 90x8, 90x8 Abs: Roman chair: 2x15 Side raises: 3x25x25 lbs. Trunk twists w/45 lbs: 3x20 My body is sore today!! Prior to Hapkido, I did some bag work: 3 sets of 20 switching round kicks, and 3 sets of 20 alternating jump spin back kicks. Combat Hapkido from 3:45 - 4:45. I should probably come up for a different name for this section of my workouts, because we really do all kinds of different things, some related to tactics I would use at work. Anyway, we practiced some rear-leg takedowns, doing 3 different variations: the real leg sweep, the inner leg hook reap, and the good ol' hip throw. We also worked on manipulating passive/resistive subjects into arresting techniques, and worked on the block/pass/pin drill as well.

You can develop your kicking power with different training methods, such as weight lifting and plyometric exercises. Incidentally, what kind of kicks are you talking about learning? Could you give some examples?

That is a good point. That is why it is important to try to have someone around that can tell your side of the story. Even checking for bystanders that saw how everything started, and getting them to make statements, can help your case. Most likely, the two would be arrested. In court, though, you can make your case.

The important question, I think, is do you train to use these techniques properly, in case you need to. The other point the instructor has to make is to be justified in using these techniques. It also depends on what the attitude of the attacker is. Usually, you can tell when the two of you are squaring off outside of a bar...this is a fight. However, if you try to fight someone who is trying to kill you, you may be in for a rude awakening. Just seeing these moves in forms, or being told what they are for, is not really enough. You have to train to grab the hair, have someone wear goggles to go for their eyes. Loren Christensen recommended a drill where your partner lays on the ground, wearing goggles, and you place a peeled orange over their eyes. You procede to dig your fingers into the orange, while your partner kicks, screams, and thrashes about in mock pain.

Boy, she probably won't go dancing with you again!

Welcome!

Point taken. However, the goal is differnt. The goal then was to kill/maim. Now, the goal is more or less based on surviving, in which neither of these has to happen. However, the same techniques can be used for both.

That is kind of cool, Rick. Thanks for sharing it.

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.