bushido_man96

My answer is yes to all of your questions. Continue to improve your kicking techniques, and also work on your punches and strikes. Change your weaknesses into strengths. Also, work on your footwork. Side step, cut, etc. to create space and give yourself advantages angles from which to work. Something else you might do is go outside your usual group (if you can) and finds some other people to spar and workout with. Changing your environment can help to open your eyes to new ideas and help you change things up a bit. Everyone has caught onto what you are doing in your group. So now, you have to change it up.

Reminds me of the saying: "Jack of all trades, master of none." I am not concerned about being "master" of TKD, or of any other system. It is like when everyone says that "black belt is the beginning." You can also say "you never truly master anything." I am not going to argue which is right or not. That is not the point here. What I am arguing is that there may be some aspects of fighting that an instructor has no experience in, and it can be learned elsewhere. I have been doing TKD for over 13 years now. I think I have the basics down. I don't need to be drilling my punch over and over again. I want to learn how to punch, block/slip a punch, and then apply arm bars, takedowns, or escapes from there. Likewise, if I get taken down to the ground, I want to be able to get out of that situation. Learning grappling would help out with that. "Mastering an art" would take years. I am not terribly interested in that. I want to learn to be able do defend myself in a fight. That doesn't take as long as it does to "master" an art. It can be done efficiently. That is my goal.

This is a good suggestion. Give it a go, perhaps.

If the art has built-in grappling and joint manipulation techniques, then why doesn't the instructor just include them when he teaches classes? I can appreciate your analogy of learning two languages to martial arts. I would link this to being similar to learning TKD and Karate at the same time. What I refer more to is learning striking and grappling, which would be different enough to not confuse.

I wonder what the price tag on that bad bot would be?

Well done!

I have seen some that don't spar until they get their second or third belt. I have also seen those like lordtariel describes. It is usually up to the descretion of the instructor.

I never had a costume, but I bought a lot of the toys! My mom still has them at home.

Nice stuff, so far. I would like to see a review on this one...... Hard Target!!! One of my all-time faves. I would review it, but I don't want to steal your thunder, man! Besides, you do a great job.

I thought that was what you meant. I have read enough on karate styles that I have picked up a few nuances here and there. We call it a natural stance instead of neutral.

I watched some Cung Le MMA fights. He looked pretty good. I like seeing him branch out to MMA, and other venues. He threw some good spin side kicks, but his lead leg side kicks did left him very exposed. he just wasn't taken advantage of.

Well done, Tom!

No problem, and thanks for sharing. Keep up the good work, too!

Good explanation, James. Yup! I agree 100% also. Overall, the type of instructor you have influences when you begin to learn to use them in a "soft" manner. Often they are taught as "hard" at first. I think you make a good point here, ps1. I think it is easier to teach it this way in the beginning. As humans, we find it natural to meet force with force in the beginning, and therefore it is easier to learn initially. Then, later on, we can adapt it.

This has been quite an interesting explanation and comparison of forms. I like it, although I am not very familiar with these forms systems. It is still quite enjoyable.

Very nice. That form seems very simple, but effective, too.

I think if you just got into it, Baron, you would be surprised at what comes back to you. You may surprise yourself.

I still have a temper, but the MAs have helped me to control it better. I have also learned better patience through the MA practice, and especially from teaching.

That's good stuff, James. You have some good experiences there.

I know those schools are out there, Baron. However, we have to do our duty to help keep those who are looking for quality MA to be informed on what they are getting into.

Mine has my name on one side, and the name of the organization, along with TKD in Korean on it.

I don't know for sure. I wonder if that would be a way for them to do internships?

Good thread, Baron. I feel that my weaknesses are being somewhat out of shape (round) and having bad knees. I don't have a lot of endurance. As far as fighting goes, I don't have a lot of experience, and that is a disadvantage. Groundfighting is a range of combat that I have very little experience with. Another problem I have is with the adrenaline dump. Again, this comes from lack of experience. On the plus side, I think I have pretty good technique. I usually do well in forms competitions, and I enjoy them. I can block decently in sparring, but this leads to a lack of lateral movement, as I just assume block or brush off a technique, and then move in. I can kick ok, but I like to punch. I won't blow anyone away in the ring, but I can exchange some blows, I think.

You never know until you try.

I agree with you completely. I feel that it is important to get out of the "comfort zone" that we all get used to at our regular stomping grounds, so that we can open our minds up some.