bushido_man96

11/18/2020 MA Training TKD Class: 6:30 - 7:30 pm. T-shirt class. I worked on my three-steps, trying to get them memorized so I can work on more fluidity. While doing this, I was also coaching a student on his kicking as he was going through some kicking stations. I also had him review random colored belt forms for his upcoming black belt test, and also the one-steps for his current rank.

I don't have a "challenge" per se. But my current goal is to get back to strength training regularly, and start pushing into some new PRs. That, and more regular TKD training.

I agree. It seems this method caused interesting hybridizations between practitioners, as those who felt more comfortable with one thing over another would mold their style that way.

"Kancho geri"

In Korean culture, 9 is the special number, so going to 10th dan in Korean styles doesn't make much sense.

11/16/2020 MA Training TKD Class: 6:30 - 7:30 pm. Black Belt Class. We spent the first 20 or so minutes of the class having the young black belt students make their first attempt at teaching some techniques. It was educational for them, to say the least. After that, I did Do-Kang 1 twice and Do-Kang 2 twice. Next, I spent time working on our first 6 three-step sparring.

Ugh, that stinks. Hopefully it passes soon, and the dojo opens back up.

Indeed it does! There's a running joke in our dojo. By itself, "Keri" means kick. When used with an adjective, it becomes "Mae-Geri", "Sokusen Geri", "Mawashi-Geri", etc. "Geri" by itself means "diarrhea", and the Okinawan masters will laugh at you if you try to use it (by itself) to say kick. Now that is interesting. How unfortunate for those not in the know!

Keep talking to the doctors and your insurance company to figure out what the hiccup is. Above all, get the treatments, and then worry about the payment later.

So, are all the points listed in your opening post in reference to videos on that YouTube channel? If that's the case then I guess I can go watch the channel for the explanations.

I like the steps, but it seems he likes to use it for an opponent that doesn't move his feet when defending. Which is a nice tactic, and do like the footwork. I'm enjoying the conversations here, but I'm curious if you can offer any explanations without having to watch a 10 minute video?

I'd be willing to bet that those skills aren't missing. The fact of the matter is that you have one great athlete fighting another great athlete...something is going to give. If a fighter lost, did he make some huge mistake....or just fight a better fighter? That's how I see these statements: and I think a Martial Artist worth his salt will be able to be honest with himself, and determine when it's their own fault for being hit, or if the other fighter is just better. Either way, back to training, back to the drawing board, and making yourself better. Accountability is a big thing. Own mistakes, and learn from them, and then use them to get better. Experience is the best teacher. Next:

The line of sight vs. crosshairs analogy makes lots more sense to me. I understand the hiding the rear foot and showing the front hand now. In TKD classes in the past, I've done a footwork drill with students where one takes the lead, and the other follows and mimics to the same stance on his/her own side. It's not unlike this drill. In contrast, I've taught students in sparring/self-defense to "cross the T," in which you try to get lined up perpendicular to the opponent, making your body the stem of the T, and their body the cross at the top of the T, thus exposing as many of their targets to your weapons as possible, and thus being able to overwhelm them with attacks. His drill here is basically the reverse of that, preventing the opponent from "crossing the T."

Hehe, I'll go with that!

I've seen that video before, and it's a good one. But he doesn't really speak to the use of peripheral vision. He does talk about not telegraphing, which is always useful. What you do have there is the very real situation in which action is usually faster than reaction, which taking away the telegraph helps so much with. I think I am not explaining myself well when I talk about using my peripheral vision. The arms and legs of the person I'm sparring with don't look blurry to me. I see everything in good focus. What I do not do is stare at the lead arm and wait for that punch, or stare at one of the feet that have been kicking me. Anyways. Onto the next line: Not sure what this is. The front hand is pretty easy to see all the time; it's out in front, and many times is the jabbing hand. By hiding the rear foot, are you talking about being deceptive in kicking? Or are you talking about lining your feet up so your rear foot can't be seen (this doesn't sound right, but I can't tell from your description).

Doesn't "geri" mean "kick"?

I'd be all nice, and be like, "hey Bob, let me show you this cool website..."

I see what you are saying, but I don't necessarily agree with your analogy. If I focus in on the opponent's chest without regard to the weapons that he has (arms, legs, feet, fists, etc.), then I don't feel that I am observing the threat properly. I don't stop looking at the opponent, but I don't "zero in" on any one thing in particular, either. I look at the chest area, and draw an upside down triangle, with the top base crossing from shoulder to shoulder, and the two sides coming down and in towards the centerline at the hips, or where the legs part at the body. By seeing this area, I see the weapons of the body, and can read what the body is doing.

All devices on planet Earth...EXCEPT, of course, MINE!! Hehe, I'd find a way to sneak in and use it, if it were the only one left!

Lower standards? No. Changes in protocols and procedures? Perhaps. At our school, we are engaging in sparring, one-steps, and self-defense work as normal, and have been doing this for some time. Our numbers have taken a hit due to Covid, though, and I pray the school can recover from it. Fortunately, thus far, my boys' wrestling seasons are going forward with practices and competitions.

Explain this. When I spar, I look at the chest area, but don't focus on it, using my peripheral to see what moves.

It's a good question, Bob. I think 45 degrees is effective. But is full rotation more effective? It just might be. But, if the person executing isn't skilled in punching, the full rotation may be detrimental enough to refrain from teaching it that way. But, as one improves, moving to the full rotation should be explored. If at least to have more options in the toolbox. The close punch is a different animal entirely. It's always a close range punch, and usually arriving at an upward angle. It's also a strike that isn't likely to result in the straightening of the arm, and therefore engages a different group of muscles and different mechanics. The upside down, horizontal punch can be rotated, but it doesn't seem to rotate as much as the straight horizontal punches (jabs, crosses, straights, etc.).

I think for beginners and for people who only train part-time, it is important to settle on an approach they can absorb quickly, easily, and practice effectively in their own time. I do think the 45-degree is optimum for defensive tactics, because of how attacks happen in a civilian context. It is the least injurious angle I have found in my personal experimentation. Similarly, it starts the activation of the triceps and secures proper elbow alignment, thus not as powerful as a full rotation, but it is enough to start gaining some of the benefits. For people training full-time, or with more experience behind them, I do think one should broaden to finding the optimum alignment per target, distance, and angle relative to the target. I like your points on both accounts. As for my typical DT group, the 45 degree angle works best as I have to keep in mind that this group of folks aren't experienced punchers, so I must keep in mind that I need to keep their striking tools in good order so they can use them. To that end, I also teach hammerfists and palm heel strikes as options, if they don't feel confident in striking with their knuckles.

Congrats, stonecrusher69!

I have been doing more and more punching with the 45 degree angled fist, especially in bag work. I find it provides a happy medium of getting some power out of rotation, as well as controlling my elbow position. When I teach punching in defensive tactics, I like to teach the 45 degree wrist rotation, as it keeps inexperienced punchers from over-rotating, thus avoiding damage to the last three knuckles in the form of a boxer's fracture.