bushido_man96

I agree. However, I kind of see this movie beginning and ending with fighting. However, I don't expect any of the 300 to survive.

Very nice, NightOwl! I love your reviews! As for the note on the Bruce Lee film, The Big Boss, that was just a little tidbit that I added. Not that it made the movie good; it was just a tidbit. As for The Drunken Master, I think I own that video. I know that I have seen it, and it is pretty good, for an older movie. Have you seen The Fearless Hyena I and II?? They are ok, too.

Nice vids, Shotokankid.

I think motor skills practice is what enhances motor skills, no matter your size. Losing weight will make you move a little easier, I imagine, but it shouldn't have much affect on your fine moter skills.

Here is the answer to all 3 of your questions: Go ask a doctor. He will be able to see it, and mess around with it, and take MRIs, etc., to give you a proper answer, as opposed to an educated guess.

For me, it was a sense of accomplishment. Starting out with a goal in mind, and seeing it through. It felt great to achieve that goal, and I still take pride in it. Now, it is different. Although I still cherish the memories, I continue my training, knowing that the black belt is not really the goal, but just another objective to accomplish on the continuous journey that is the Martial Arts.

The ITF was started before the WTF was. The ITF is General Choi's original organization, which might have been called the KTA, the Korean Taekwondo Association. From the reading I have been doing, it looks like the two organizations are in the process of merging in some aspects. It will be a long process, and we will see if it takes or not.

You didn't really list mine, so I went with the closest variation, the spinning hook kick. What I really like is the spinning heel kick.

Actually, the kwons were unified in the '60s when General Choi created Taekwondo, which became the ITF. The WTF came along later, as you mentioned, in the '70s. From what I understand, Kwang Kee did not like the structure of the new "Official Martial Art of Korea" as TKD, and kept his kwon, Tang Soo Do, the way it was. Not all schools of TKD are run like the WTF does it. The ITF and some of the other, smaller organizations of TKD will run things similar to the way TSD schools run. The forms may be different, but the mannerisms of the classes will be similar.

I worked on this kick again tonight. It is getting better. It is just taking some time!

Cross makes a good point. Power is based off of speed and size, techinque, and other factors. You may not be hitting hard because you are not properly following through with your techniques into the targets. When you punch the bag, focus on hitting the spot that is 3 or 4 inches deep into the bag, not the surface of the bag itself.

I think that anger can be a useful factor in a fight. You just have to know how to control yourself when you use it. Sometimes, if you are on the ropes, and in pain, or something of the like, getting angry can push you enough to throw yourself back in there, and give you a little extra. It can also be used as an intimidation factor. I feed off of my anger from time to time.

It may be useless for self-defense, but if it is something that someone likes to do, and enjoys expressing themselves by doing it, then why does it become a bad thing? I know that I cannot do any of the flashy techniques that she can do. However, I can still appreciate that she has the talent and ability to do them. I know that there are a lot of techniques in other arts that could be considered useless, like jump kicks, spinning kicks, and some others. However, they don't receive the scrutiny of the XMA stylists that wish to express themselves in this way.

Nice. Very sharp and snappy.

Just because these methods may be "old" or "traditional", doesn't mean that they are the best methods. Neither does it mean that it is good training.

It is a Taekwondo tournament, fought under the WTF rules. It looked like they were using electronic scoring systems. The rules are points are (supposed) to be given for blows that create body displacement. Kicks to the body and head are allowed, and punches to the body, but not the face. No contact below the belt, or to the back. They do not break for points, and fight 3 2:00 or 3:00 minute rounds. This fight was by some low ranks, from what I could tell technique wise. More experienced fighters will use offensive or defensive strategies, counter fight, etc. At the Olympic level, it is very impressive to watch, and they are very good athletes.

Well Baron, your Seahawks signed Patrick Kerney. A good pick-up for them, I think. And the Broncos signed Travis Henry. It may be a rough year in the AFC West. Don't you wish the Seahawks were back in our division, Baron? And the Dolphins really cleaned house, didn't they, Patrick? They got a good trade out of Welker, but I didn't expect them to drop McMichaels. That was kind of a shock. I knew that Harrington was out the door, though. And it sounds as if the Chiefs are actively shopping Trent Green. They asked him to take a pay cut, I heard, and he really isn't interested. The Chiefs also signed Napolean Harris from the Vikings at MLB, and I think they plan to trade/cut Kawika Mitchell. I don't like this move, either, as Mitchell has been a good young player, and his best years are ahead of him. I guess time will tell.

Cross has a good point. I would be more worried about what you are learning in your training as opposed to just getting another rank.

If you are confident with what you do in class, then you should be confident going into your testing. Good luck, and let us know how it turns out!

Very true. The Thai fighters do use their body well in defense.

I agree. I think that if we are softer towards the women, we are cheating them out of their self-defense training.

Many people question how you know when it becomes applicable to strike first. There are warning signs, if you know what to look for, that will give the opponent up. Clenched teeth will advertise that the attacker is gearing up to strike, and is not calming down. Also, watch to see if they clinch their fists up. That is a sign of a possible incoming strike. If you notice these signs after attempting to de-escalate the situation, you could probably justify a pre-emptive strike.

Good info, gzk. I like the drills that you mention. This stuff can rather easily be incorporated into traditional MA classes, and should be, on a regular basis.

Black belt testing is always very memorable.

amen! anyways my sensei said is wasn't wise to quit training right after you get your black belt because it's at that level where you will truly understand your art. I think that if you train to get a black belt, and then quit, then you are no longer a black belt. You were a black belt.