bushido_man96

Well, first of all, welcome to KarateForums! Glad to have you here! I don't know if there are many Karate programs out there that offer the kind of training that you seek. You might check out some YouTube channels from instructors (there are a ton of them out there), and see if anything is offered. I do think that there are probably more opportunities out there for students that were already active members at a dojo, and have something worked out with their instructors to continue their training during these circumstances. However, I think it will be much more difficult to find these opportunities as a fresh student, starting out, with no training. As an instructor, I'd find it very challenging to try to teach a raw, beginning student how to do basic techniques and forms over Facetime or a webcam session. Not impossible, but very difficult. I see you have styles listed in your profile; does any of your instructors offer anything in regards to training via Zoom classes or the like? I understand this sentiment, but you also have to understand how many instructors will feel about this, as well. As an instructor myself, I would not feel comfortable offering to test an individual for rank that I have never seen in person before, and never had in my class before. With that said, it's important to understand how difficult it may be to find someone who is willing to do this. To go along with that, if you can find someone willing to do this for you, the first thing I would question is the quality of instruction, and what the instructor's motives are. They may be truly genuine, and they may do a very good job. Or, they may be looking for a way to make money, and not be concerned with the quality of student they produce, and only with collecting testing fees. So, just be wary about what you find. You say most. Are there a few dojos in your area that are actually hosting some classes? If this is the case, then I would highly recommend that you seek them out, and look to begin your training that way. I think you would be much happier with your progress and results if you go this route. If crowds concern you, you could ask if private classes are offered, and you could probably wear a mask to the classes if that makes you feel safer. I imagine the instructors at these dojos are holding classes to a more limited number, as well, in accordance with most ordinances that are in place at this time. As an instructor, this would be my first recommendation. Now, back to your original request. If you are looking to start some training on your own, and cannot find anyone that offers an online service, there are, again, lots and lots of channels out there on YouTube that you can find to use as resources.

I think an important aspect of this is to do some visualization training about actually getting into a confrontation. Actually thinking about what it feels like to kick or punch someone, how it feels on your hand or foot. What it feels like to be struck, and fighting through that strike to deliver your own. I know that this doesn't go as far as getting some actual contact in a sparring session, but sparring sessions, regardless of contact levels, tend to offer a more comfortable environment that doesn't quite replicate what an actual self-defense scenario would. I'm not saying it's the answer, but it is a good training alternative.

Hehe, the trades. Such fun. I always made it a point to not show any grimaces or winces, no matter how much it hurt!

I liked that presentation. Thanks for sharing that, Bulltahr. I loved that dojo!

The shy ones can be tough. In the past, at some point in the class, I'd announce that "we're going to play a game," and then ask if the want to join in for the game. It can be a good icebreaker.

Congratulations! Catching an elbow with the foot really hurts. I've done it a few times, and there are times where I may have slipped an elbow down to block an incoming kick... Balance is something I still struggle with to this day. Keep working on it; you'll get better.

12/4/2020 Strength Training Squats: 45x5, 135x5, 155x3, 185x1, 210x5, 210x5, 210x5. Press: 45x5x2, 70x5, 85x2, 110x5, 110x5, 110x5. Lat Pull-downs: 130x10, 130x10, 130x10, 130x10. Meniere's was really bothering me today.

I agree, not fighting three knuckleheads would be preferable. I also like your point about learning how to avoid such instances. That is the key to good Martial Arts instruction; teaching students how to avoid such situations.

That's great that you've got more students now! If Cobra Kai is actually revitalizing the Karate community somewhat, then that's a good thing.I've definitely seen a lot of enquiries recently and a fair few were mentioning Karate Kid / Cobra Kai to me. Wouldn't be surprised if the Martial Arts industry grows off the back of this. Well, that'd be alright if it does.

Welcome to KF, Oldschool_EugueRyu! I hope that someone is able to help you out with this. It seems to be rather obscure.

The handles he's got are about 24" long. I'd imagine a 10lb sledge would work as a substitute if you've already got one. Otherwise, it's cheaper to just make your own -- get a cheap plastic pot, some concrete mix, some nails/screws, and an appropriately thick dowel. You can do a batch of them for less than 10 bucks each. There are several videos on YouTube on how to do it: is one.That's pretty cool!

12/1/2020 Strength Training Deadlifts: 135x5, 155x3, 185x1, 210x5, 230x5. Press: 45x5x2, 65x5, 80x2, 105x5, 105x5, 105x5. Lat Pull-downs: 125x12, 125x12, 125x12, 125x12. MA Training Reps Training for three-step sparring: #1, #2, #3 one time each. #4: 10 times. #5: 10 times. #6: 10 times.

Congratulations, everyone!

Congrats, skullsplitter!

11/29/2020 Light stretching session in the evening. 11/30/2020 Strength Training Squats: 45x5, 135x5, 155x3, 175x1, 205x5, 205x5, 205x5. Press: 45x5x2, 65x5, 75x2, 100x5, 100x5, 100x5. Lat Pull-downs: 120x12, 120x12, 120x12, 120x12. MA Training Reps Training for lead backfist, reverse punch, back leg front kick combination: Lead backfist: 20 each side. Reverse punch: 20 each side. BL front kick: 20 each side. Lead backfist, reverse punch combo: 20 each side. Reverse punch, BL front kick combo: 20 each side. Lead backfist, reverse punch, BL front kick combo: 20 each side. Reps Training for three-step sparring: #1: 10 times. #2: 10 times. #3: 10 times. Finished with stretching. Half-hour total for the solo training session.

Good luck to all!

That's great that you've got more students now! If Cobra Kai is actually revitalizing the Karate community somewhat, then that's a good thing.

Martial Arts is recognizable to the lay person as the punching, kicking, and grappling skills that are often time displayed on the mat, sometimes in a local tournament venue, or in a larger, professional venue. Often times, the exposure comes through entertainment in the form of movies. However, to those of us who are entrenched in the practice of the Martial Arts, know there is so much more to the study of the styles than this. The intrinsic rewards of working hard for the sake of some self-improvement that would be unobservable to the lay person that doesn't participate. Those of us who have been around a while, who are well down the road of our MA journey, have come to truly appreciate those moments, as they truly happen less and less the longer we train. It's the law of diminishing returns in action. What the seasoned Martial Arts practitioner understands is that along this journey, there will be ups and downs. Indeed, there will be success, and there will inevitably be failure. Most seasoned Martial Artists understand that failure will happen from time to time, and we've learned to take these moments in stride, pick ourselves up off the mat, and continue to train and move forward. Most importantly, we learn from them. Why do we fail at times? It is because we choose to take risks as Martial Arts practitioners. We enter a competition, or attempt a grading. These events come with inherent risk, no matter how often or how much we have prepared for them. The classroom floor even provides opportunities to take risks every day we train, and failure can happen. However, in the classroom setting, the consequences are much less; it only happens in front of your fellow students, and may lead to no more than a lengthy explanation being made by an instructor or senior student about what happened, why, and how to move forward and get better. But on the tournament scene, or in a grading, the failure is different. It could cost you a match, and be the difference between fighting in the finals and going home early. At a grading, it could be the difference between advancing a rank or not. And to top it off, these failures tend to happen in more of a public eye, with more than just your typical classmates around. Needless to say, and experience like this early on in a student's career, if not approached in the proper manner and with the right mindset, can be quite detrimental to the inexperienced Martial Artist. So, the question is, how do we, as instructors, teach our students to deal with failure? I think there are a myriad of ways we can approach this matter, without necessarily setting them up for failure in order to experience and learn from it (which could be quite detrimental). It's a tougher road to hoe for instructors, as teaching a student to deal with and overcome failure is much more of a mental exercise than it is a physical one. Sure, physical practice can help to shore up weaknesses in technique, kata performance, etc., but it may not necessarily rebuild lost confidence or negative thinking. Along with physical training, it is important to try to foster a positive mental attitude, even in the face of failure. Foster an attitude of risk taking. Quoting Loren Christensen, "failure is the act of not taking a risk at all." Just talking with students about their experiences up their current point of training is a good way to get feedback on how they feel about their training so far. Ask them what they feel comfortable with, and what they don't. Asking about what goes through their mind before a testing can be helpful. Reinforcing their confidence is very important. Even more so, is teaching the students to examine themselves and reinforce their own confidence. After all, it's their journey, and they should take control of it. Another simple exercise is to ask students about their successes and failures. Ask about something successful, and ask them to describe what they can remember about it. Then ask them about a time when they thought they failed, and ask them what they learned from it. Then focus on that learning process, and how they can use it as motivation moving forward. Failure can be very focusing. Use this as an opportunity to get a student to focus themselves. This ended up being a bit of ramble, but I hope it inspires some conversation!

Welcome to KF, Scott, and welcome back to The Journey!

Perhaps, in these trying times, it would be a good time for those who haven't read it yet read Loren Christensen's book, The Way Alone. A really good read, especially for one who finds themselves training alone a lot. He also has some other good books, two of them titled Solo Training and Solo Training 2.

The differences of the 1st and second sets is the 1st section deals with 1 person and the opponent is facing in the middle of the circle while the sencond section your on the inside of the cirlcle and your oppoent is moving arond you.. Ah, ok. Thank you.

Yeah, that NFC East is not good this year. It's almost criminal to think that a team with 9 or 10 wins is going to miss the playoffs due to the fact that the NFC East division winner will get in. But, that's a problem for the NFL to deal with. The Chiefs are rolling right along, with that one agonizing loss to the rival Raiders (and close to another one the other night). The defense is worrying me right now, and so does the lack of the running game a little bit. I honestly think that Edwards-Helaire would have better production running the ball if Mahomes was under center more, but I don't think that's going to change much. All in all, though, I can't be disappointed with how the season is going so far, and I look forward to what's to come!

We're over halfway through the season. What's everyone's thoughts so far? How is your team doing?

11/24/2020 Strength Training Deadlifts: 135x5, 155x3, 185x1, 210x5, 225x3. Lat Pull-downs: 115x12, 115x12, 115x12, 115x12.

I cut salt out of my diet, and cook everything I eat myself, at home, now. I've lost 30 lbs.