bushido_man96

Nice, DWx. I think I have read on Choi's circle, but have forgotton about it since. I agree, John. Teaching can be so rewarding. It makes the time you spend worth-while.

Itosu did make the Pinans, and he made them the way that he did so that he could teach them to children. He had a purpose, at the time. However, does that mean the purpose still holds for today? Don't get me wrong, here. I love forms. I always have. I think that they are beneficial to MA practice. However, as I previously mentioned, I don't think that they are a holy grail of the Martial Arts. There are many different styles out there that have thrived without the use of forms as a training tool. I think that Bruce Lee obviously felt that there were better training tools out there, as well. With the years that Lee spent in Wing Chun, I would be willing to bet that he had some level of competency in the art. I would also be willing to bet that he had some knowledge of the use of transitional movements (stances) and how they related to fighting. In his readings, he was a big proponent of the use of footwork. I also don't think that Lee was in the habit of "bashing" other arts, as you mention. He did have his opinions about them, but he also had many friends that were practitioners of the more "traditional" arts. I don't really think that he would have spent time in their workout sessions to "bash" their arts. I could be wrong here, but I think he had a little more respect for them then that.

I agree, Shorin Ryuu, that street fighting everyday would not be a healthy way of learning to be a warrior. However, what we deem as "traditional" Martial Arts training cannot always be viewed as the ideal, either. I think that he could be better than the average brawler. I agree that he won't be able to fine tune some things like power generation and the like, as training in a class environment would. However, he will learn so much more than can be taught in a class environment, such as dealing with the adrenaline, and staying cool. Neither is ideal. I just think that all too often forms are taken too seriously, and are looked at as something that cannot be improved upon or altered.

That is a good way to do it. I used to visualize mine when driving on Interstate by myself for hours at a time. It helped to keep me awake.

I have started using a little visualization in the gym when I am lifting. I put the weight on, and then visualize lifting the weight, with good form, and with moderate difficulty, even if it is heavier weight. I'll keep it up, and see if I notice anything.

It is an interesting paradigm, isn't it, John?

You would probably need a military background and a decent amount of experience if the Marines were going to take you on as a teacher.

I have days like that, too. They drive me crazy, and drive me to try to sharpen up.

For street clothes, I would usually be wearing shoes, shorts, and a T-shirt. However, I responded as for my work, which is basically the typical LEO uniform, with those polyester type pants, a ballistics vest over a T-shirt which is under a button-up collar shirt. Also black work boots (not steel-toed) and a duty belt with the gear on it (radio, cuffs, pepper spray, taser, keys). I would feel it a necessity to do the training in this gear, because things feel and move a lot differently when wearing this stuff. This is the outfit I would most likely be wearing when the crap hits the fan.

I have done a few different styles of sparring. I like sparring, and I think it can be beneficial. It makes for a good athletic activity, which can help out by getting one into shape, if it is done often enough. However, not all sparring is created equal. I think that sparring in a scenario-based training session can be very beneficial, whereas most of the sport-style sparring that goes on doesn't travel down this road. I also feel that sparring styles should have some level of contact. It can teach rhythm, flow, help with combinations, footwork, and distance. It can be a great training tool. However, I feel that it is important to note to students that sparring and self-defense should not be confused.

Very good article, cathal. Thanks for sharing your experiences. It sounds like you got so focused on something, and being aware to it, that you blocked out everything else. Probably the adrenaline, for the most part.

I have read, in Wikipedia, I believe, that the word is over-used in the Western schools (and used for the wrong reasons), and you don't here it used as much in Japan. In TKD, we don't use any affirmations of this type. If the instructor addresses us with a command, we just reply with a "yes, sir" or "no, sir."

This is me! Nice list. Very relative, I do believe!

Welcome aboard! Best of luck on your upcoming test!

That is great, Tom. Congratulations! You must be very proud?

In the end, this is one of the best ways to deal with a bully. It is sad, but is also true.

I am not sure to what extent even the super-fancy moves seen in movies would have worked in self-defense; even hundreds of years ago. Hundreds of years ago, techniques were accompanied by a weapon on a battlefield, and flash would really have no place. Keeping it simple is how to stay alive.

5-2-07 Taught Orientation from 5:30 - 6:00. I focused mainly on front snap kicks with the kids today, and I thought that it went very well. We concentrated on the 4 parts to a kick, and I held a target pad for them to kick as well. Today in class, I did forms from 6:00 - 7:00. I did white belt through hi-blue belt, which was 7 forms, and I did each one twice. Ab roller: 3x10

This is a good point. The value of cardiovascular exercise should not be diminished due to this book. It is still an important aspect of overall health and wellness.

Yes, abdomen, back (lower), hip extensors, etc. Even into the lower legs. You could probably even include shoulders into the mix. Push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, knee raises, abdominal twists, back hyperextensions are all good ways to build your core. Pilates and Yoga would be great as well.

Thanks for posting that so I didnt have to. Think about it for a minute- here are two people who cant be anymore striking oriented, and their natrual instinct is still to grab their opponent. This is true, but they aren't thinking takedown when they clinch...they are tired. However, that is not to say that with a little augmented training, they could turn it into clinching and takedowns. You make a good point about it being natural to want to clinch up. Since the dawn of mankind, shows of stength have been exhibited in wrestling types of matches, and nearly every major culture had some form of a folk-style of wrestling.

This is also a matter of not showing that you know that you goofed up. Sometimes, the judges will be so intent on judging the technique that they get lost to the form. They may not catch it, as long as you don't stop in the middle, slap yourself on the forehead, and yell out "DOH!"

So, how does an up and down movement (y axis) increase force on strikes in the horizontal plane (x axis)? I might buy sine wave motions for strikes that have a downward vector to the strike..... But for punches? I think I can shed some light on this. In reading the Fighter's Fact Book 2, one of the authors talks about a technique called the "gravity drop," (I think is what it was called ). What he did is basically went from being somewhat upright to dropping the weight forward and into the target (almost like dropping from ready position into a front stance), which would put the body weight, along with gravity, into the target. It made sense when I read it, and thought that maybe that is what General Choi had in mind. I just don't think every technique would require its use, though. For example, doing a gravity drop into a block would not be as effective as it would be in a straight punch or elbow into the body. Try it with an elbow strike into the heavy bag, and see what you feel. Let me know if you need more technical info...I'll give it as best as I can.

Ah, I see. It just doesn't appeal, eh? I can relate.

Very nice, John. Well laid out.