bushido_man96

Good points, lordtariel. Very well put.

Nah, I have limits, Baron. When I do leg work, like squats, they are only half-squats, because it hurts my knees so bad. So, the weight that I can lift is somewhat inflated, as I don't go through the entire range of motion for the exercise.

Sort of. I am a Jailer at the Dentention Center here, working for the Sheriff's Department. 3-14-07 Conditioning day!!!! Hooray!! Sledgehammers: 3x1:30 min, 1 min rest Stairs: 3x45 sec, 1 min rest Steppers: 3x30 sec, 1 min rest Jump rope: 3x1:00 min Cable reverse punches in front stance: 50x10, 60x10, 70x10 From 5:30 - 6:00, I taught Orientation again. I had 6 kids in there today! It just keeps growing and growing. Then, from 6:15 - 7:00, it was Kicking Class, which felt more like a conditioning class. Kicks on standing heavy bags: Front leg midsection side kick: 10 each leg = 20 kicks Back leg midsection side kick: 10 each leg = 20 kicks Sliding back, front leg midsection side kick: 10 each leg = 20 kicks Spin side kick: 10 each leg = 20 kicks Jumping back kicks, alternating legs, continuous: 20 total kicks This is very tiring, and is kind of like a plyometric burtsting exercise. Front leg midsection round kick: 10 each leg = 20 kicks Back leg high round kick: 10 each leg = 20 kicks Switch-foot front leg round kick, hi section: 10 each leg = 20 kicks 360 degree spinning round kick: 10 each leg = 20 kicks Spinning like for side kick, but instead doing repeat round kicks (mid, then hi): 20 each legs = 40 kicks Spin side kick, continuous hi round kick: 20 each leg = 40 kicks (I count each kick once; doing 2 kicks before setting the foot down.) Plyometrics We laid 3 bags on the floor, and then did jumps between each of them. The first jumps we did with the feet together, jumping laterally, over each bag. We went down and back 2 times. Next, we had the feet apart, jumping and straddling each bag, down and back twice. Everyone in the class went through the drill twice. This was pretty tiring. Clapper pad kicks Front leg outside axe kick: 10 each leg = 20 kicks Back leg inside axe kick: 10 each leg = 20 kicks Front leg switch-foot outside axe kick: 10 each leg = 20 kicks Front leg jumping/cross-over axe kick: 10 each leg = 20 kicks. If I counted right, that totals 340 kicks. Good stuff! Stretch Side splits: 3x20 - 30 sec. Front splits: 3x20 - 30 sec. Seated side splits: 2x20 - 30 sec. Reaching to each side: 2x20 - 30 sec. Reverse hurdler stretch: 2x20 - 30 sec.

Well done! Welcome to the Forums!

Very nice. Thank you.

I agree. Are there any karate systems you know of that base belt advancement purely on fighting ability in full contact sparring, and not on ability to execute memorized kata? I believe that's partly how western kickboxing developed (separate from Muay Thai). That's why I left karate for KB. I think that believing that one can end an altercation with one strike can be misleading to the practitioners. I think that one should train your techniques so that they have as much power and efficiency as possible, but to also train in combinations, in case one technique is not enough. I don't think that there are many altercations that end in one technique. I understand the logic behind the saying, but the saying itself is dangerously misleading. When I do forms, the punches are the typical punching hand going out to strike the target, while the other hand is brought back to the ribs at the same time and rate of speed. I believe, in my limited knowledge and experience, that this is how many styles of Martial Arts do punches in their forms. I was wondering if your style does them differently. When I spar, or if I have to punch in self-defense, my punches do not travel on that exact same path. However, I have done enough training to know how to transfer my weight into the "boxing punch" by pivoting my feet and turning my hips. These are obviously not the same ways of punching. However, I make the transition from one to the other very well.

Glad I could help, Baron. Let me know what you think of those books, and if you think I could learn from them as well.

Lordtariel has a good suggestion. If you feel confident in your boxing skills, then leave the boxing or karate for a while, and start up the TKD to improve your kicking. Two arts at a time would be a little more manageble than 3. Also, check with several different TKD schools, and see if there is one that offers a kicking drills class in there schedule. That would be more conducive to your training, seeing as you have some prior experience.

The name sounds like I have heard it before, but I don't know much about it. Can you give us some ideas of what the system contains?

That was cool. I love that old black and white look, too. It gives a very classical look. Very nice footage.

WOW!!! Benny was freakin' awesome! He was even fighting guys that appeared to be using some Thai rules, and he wasn't, and he still won. I wonder what it would have been like if he could compete in the MMA competitions of today?

I also love the state of continual growth, learning, and improvement.

That sounds like it will be a great time, cross. I hope you enjoy yourself. And have a happy birthday! I look forward to the post-seminar reports, too!

Whoo. You should get plenty of training in at one school, then.

Willis McGahee is a Raven now, and Corey Dillon is looking for a new home, possibly in Buffaloe. The Chiefs lost Jordan Black to the Texans, but I don't think it is that big of a loss.

I have to make an update: My instructor is now a 6th dan. He tested just about a month ago, and passed.

First of all, welcome to KarateForums! As for your questions, you can find lots of information in these pages. If you do some searching, you can find many tidbits of personal experience relating to this subject. Here is what I recommend that you do, along with your other research: 1. Interview your local Chief of Police, or whoever on the force you have access to, and ask questions for them, pertaining to what they would do when fights happen, and when someone gets severly hurt because one of the fighters was a Martial Artist. 2. Interview a local Judge on the subject, the same you would do with the Police officer on the subject. 3. You could also interview a few attorneys on the subject as well. I hope this helps.

What you are talking about Baron are what would be considered "true two-handers." They would still be a class of broadsword, but for use in both hands.

I have seen a performance that involved the use of the sheath, because the practitioner was doing iaido. As far as what the Samurai wore, they wore battle gear, not karate uniforms.

And ping-pong. Jet Li said it in one of his movies, "oh, yeah, state law."

What you say makes sense, cross. I have some cop friends that I will address the scenario to. It isn't like leaving the scene of an injury accident, I don't think. But, I don't know if any other charges would come up. You could get charged with aggravated assault, if you hurt them bad enough to be taken to the hospital.

Cool, Tom. Thanks for the tip. Do you keep the leg straight the whole time? Or do you snap it back to kick out?

Well, I have a messed up week. I am working an extra day, and it is throwing my schedule off a bit! 3-12-07 Chest and triceps Chest Bench press: 175x10, 205x6, 215x4 Incline bench: 115x10, 125x8, 135x6 I am noticing improvements here. Decline bench: 135x10, 165x6, 185x4 Same here, feeling better about it. Triceps Triceps push-down: 90x10, 105x6, 105x6 Bench dips: 3x10 Abs Decline abs: 3x15 Side raises: 3x20x25 lbs. Hanging knee raises: 3x12 Combat Hapkido was 3:30 - 5:00. We mixed in all kinds of stuff with it today, doing applications of takedowns and whatnot. It was a good time. Learned a lot. From 5:30 - 6:00, I taught Orientation class. I have 4 kids in there, and it is coming along ok. Had to skip regular class tonight to get ready to go to work.

Let me know how that works out for you, Baron. I don't think not lifting is going to help you gain the flexibility any faster, but I could be wrong. Everyone is different. However, since I have started doing my conditioning drills and lifting more with my legs, I have not noticed any decrease in flexibility, or an increase in tightness in the muscles.

Anytime, Baron! Let me know how they work out for you. I do that frog stretch regularly, and I think it helps, some.