bushido_man96

This will probably be easier to find throughout the country as well! TKD is huge! It is very popular, but make sure you look into the rules sets when checking. If you can find and AAU tournament, or a USTU qualifier around your area, they should have the Olympic style rules. Oddly enough, when I watch the Kyokushin guys fight, I see a lot of similarities between their sparring style and the Olympic TKD style. The differences seem to come into play with the strategies and the point scoring systems.

Well done, Matt! How did it feel to you? Did the break feel good?

Hey, Menjo. That all makes sense, now. Thanks for clarifying. I wasn't really offended by the post. I just feel that there are many people out there who think that the Japanese Samurai is the end-all, be-all of the combative swordsman, and that no other warrior class in history can compare to them. Many people don't have a clear idea of what the European Medieval warrior was like; their training, skill level, etc. So, I took it upon myself to try to break up some of the old stereotypes of the European Medieval warrior.

Good for you! Keep at it!

First of all, you have to analyze a few things about your martial arts training. If you do a lot of tournament fighting, then that could be a route for you to go. If you are looking into being a bouncer/security type of person, then you will want to make sure you have a background in restraint/control tactics of opponents. Your first option in this line of work won't be to hall off and deck someone. You will also find out really quick how much sparring in class is different than these situations. It will depend on your goals and your training as to what you want to do. In the LEO and security jobs, your martial arts will be a supplement to your job, along with other aspects as well.

A simple answer to your question is that the game of the MMA competition has evolved and changed into what it is because of what is sucessful under the rules set. All of the fighters are more balanced because it helps them to combat what they will see in the ring.

I would workout in a variety of different clothings, so that I can get a different feeling each time I work out.

I think that this would work well in with my Combat Hapkido training. Thank you for sharing!

You could look for some Olympic style TKD tournaments as well. The rules set is a bit different, but you can fight to knockout, and need body displacement to score points.

It sounds like you may be on the right track, here. There are a few things that I don't believe coincide with rank, like head kicks. However, there are some things with technique that should be pretty universal, and just walking someone through doesn't do the person any favors. I would say that reaching brown belt in 2 years is not unheard of. I got my black belt in just over 2 years. However, everyone has different outlooks and opinions, even instructors. In your case, you have done well by just planting that seed in your friend.

It sounds like you have a great instructor there, french fri25. That was a very generous act by him, and I think you have done well by him.

We had the same thing going on, and then, it froze. It set things back a bit, but things are looking up, now!

Good luck!

Thanks for sharing those, James.

You can even supplement the free weight exercises in the circuit with body-weight exercises, like push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, etc.

Thanks for the explanation, James. 4-20-07 Today, I did Combat Hapkido with my brother in the back yard from 5:00 - 6:00. He and one of his roomates is going to start coming over on Fridays to do it regularly, which I think is great. I love to do martial arts with my brother, and I want him to get back into it so bad. The Combat Hapkido will be right up his alley, too, because he has always had a knack for that kind of style.

I'm not too sure what to ask. My main motives for taking up martial arts are: - for the exercise - and to release anger and aggression in a controlled and acceptable manner. A friend once recommended Kyokushin, though I haven't thought about it for a while. My main concerns are: - time and money is scarce because I am a uni student - I have to get myself contacts I would like to commit to martial arts but I have to deal with these two issues first. These are excellent questions to ask. Why? Because they are relevant to you, and the instructor will want to help you out in any way that he can (if he is a good one). Other questions that you could ask include: What is your teaching philosophy? Do you require tournament competition? Do you teach self-defense, or sport? Anything like this, that may be relevant to what your wants/needs are, will be good questions to ask.

Man, ps1, that is freakin' awesome! That is what is so cool about the MA's, I guess.

I can't really comment much more than what has already been stated. ps1 and ninjanurse have it down. There is plenty of research that you can do on the internet and such to find out the general information and background of different arts, but if you really want to research, you need to visit the dojangs around you, watch the classes, and see which instructors you like and dislike. It appears that you already have found a good instructor, and that makes all the difference. Welcome to the Forums, and best of luck on your journey!

I agree, jaymac, that many people take the "McDojo" factor into consideration all too often. When I ran a school, I used a collection agency and contract so that I didn't have to be a bill collector. That way, all I had to worry about was teaching the classes, and not heckling those who didn't pay on the 15th of every month. It isn't McDojoish; it is just smart business.

I chose my art because it was the only one available in the area. I went to a class with a friend, and that was all she wrote.

Thank you. I know that there are a lot of people out there that feel the same way you do about kata. Although I don't feel that way, I appreciate the ferver of those that do take kata to heart like that. Although I don't share the same feelings as you, it doesn't stop me from working as hard as I can and getting as much as I can out of my forms practice.

My thoughts go out to the families of the victims as well.

Ah, I am ready as well! I don't mind the cold, but when it is over, I like it to stay over until the season rolls back around. I love to BBQ, and I can't wait to get it started. My boy likes to run around outside as well, so that is fun. While he is playing in the yard, I can solo train outside. Maybe he will begin to mimic me more! With the weather warming up, me and my buddies will be breaking out the armour and wooden sticks again, and let the bashing begin!

It sounds like you have a lot of combinations planned out already. What I think you should do is get someone to train with, and have them grab ahold of you, and start to attempting to pummel, throw, and otherwise beat you around. You may find that as the situation gets started that all of your pre-planning could be for naught. Think simple techniques...leg kick, maybe to the knee. If he gets close to you, try to get a path to his throat or eyes. You don't want to take into account that everything that you throw is going to find home. Fighting is very sloppy, and is hardly ever clean. There is a reason why you don't see much "perfect technique" in a street fight.