bushido_man96

I would practice slowly, with tension, as well.

I agree with this mindset. However, boxers don't line up in their first class and just take hits. There is no doubt that they can take a punch, though. Besides that, I don't see any of them taking those unblocked shots to the face. I would think that would be a high priority target on the streets. If you are going to take a cheap shot, that is probably where it is going to be directed.

Wow. His movements were very smooth. Thanks for the link.

It does sound kind of silly to me. I also see the reciprocal situation; those who earn the black belt, and then quit, like you mentioned, Sohan. I agree that they are close, and should at least seal the deal. It sounds kind of fishy. I wonder if they have not had discussions with someone else about their 'feelings' on the martial arts, and perhaps this third party has offered them a chance to test out at their respective ranks, in order to gain a few students. As far as their attitudes go, I am not sure I would be allowing them to test at that level in my school. The self-centered, egotistical attitudes are not going to help them very much in any endeavor they embark on, MA or otherwise. It may be a blessing in disquise; they don't sound like someone I would want to represent a school that I would be affiliated with.

Maybe I should! I deserve it!

Thanks for the link, Baron. I'll give it a look later on. More news: The Joey Harrington will not be back with the Dolphins next year; they are letting him go. Jeff Garcia is likely not to be back with the Eagles next year, either. Willis McGahee may end up in a Giants uniform, if they can work out a trade with Buffaloe. And the BIG news:.......The Chiefs signed Damon Huard to a 3 year contract, involving some decent money. OH, NO!!!! Just read bad news: Jared Allen wants out of KC. He wants a trade. I guess the Chiefs think that he wants too much money. They are talking about High Tender, and the Chiefs thinks that makes Allen overpaid. Personally, I would have signed the guy by now. He is fast, and an impact player. He is one step closer to the defense being what it needs to be to make it to the next level, and losing him would be a major step back.

My mom is currently taking post-graduate classes online....she is 50.

I know that Sheffield has been kind of prone to let his attitude to get the better of him. I don't know, maybe Leyland can control him better. The change will probably be good on both ends. (My bad on the Pavano mis-diagnosis...I was doing 3 different things when I heard it )

Best of luck in going back to school, Kez!

2-27-07 Back, shoulders, and biceps: Back: Wide grip pull-downs: 110x10, 120x8, 130x6 Back Hyperextensions: 3x12 One-arm dumbell row: 45x8, 50x6, 55x4 Shoulders: Shoulder press: 111x6, 117x4, 122x4 Alternating dumbell raises: 30x8, 35x6, 35x4 Biceps: Seated incline curls: 25x10, 30x4, 20x8; for some reason, my left arm was very weak on this exercise. Cross-body hammer curls: 25x10, 30x8, 35x4 Abs: Decline abs: 3x15 Side raises: 3x20x25 lbs. Hanging knee raises: 3x10

2-26-07 Chest and Triceps: Chest: Bench press: 155x10, 205x6, 225x4; the last two of the last set were assisted. Triceps: Skullcrackers: 70x8, 80x6, 85x4 Tricep push-downs: 90x10, 105x6, 105x6 Bench dips: 3x10 Abs: Decline abs: 3x15 Side raises: 3x20x25 lbs. Hanging knee raises: 3x10 Conditioning: Stairs: 3x45 sec, 1:00 min. rest Steppers: 3x30 sec, 1:00 min. rest Sledgehammers: 3x1:30, 1 min. rest Combat Hapkido: 1 hour, 15 minutes. TKD class: 1 hr; but I was teaching this night, so I didn't get much of a workout in.

I have a book on Bruce Lee's training ideas. I think that his body type made it so he could look the way he did, along with his diet. As long as you continue to stretch with your training, you will not lose flexibility.

Here's a nice little drill to try: Get a pair of 2 pound dumbells, a pair of 5 pund dumbells, and a pair of 7 pound dumbells.... To start, punch with no weights in your hands, and do the following: 1 straight left, 1 straight right, 2 str lft, 2 str rt, 3 str lft, 3 str rt, up to 5 punches on each arm. Then go back down again (e.g. 4 lft, 4 rt, 3lft, 3rt back to 0) Then pick up the 2lb dumbells and repeat. Then the 5. Then the 7. Then back down to 5, then 2, and then without weights again. By the end your upper body has a nice burn AND your hands are feeling quicker. Give it a bash! Cheers Dave Oooh, that looks nice! I may give it a try.

This training looks kind of interesting. I like the blocking drills, and the movements involved. Taking an unprotected punch to the gut, however, is not my idea of a learning experience, though. Overall, not bad, though.

I don't think it would be fair to consider Kyokushin sloppy Goju Ryu. I am sure they have their differences, but I don't think they would be considered sloppy. Doesn't Kyokushin use more of the Shotokan forms?

Speed bags are great for developing both timing and speed, in my experience. There are different sized speed bags out there as well, depending on how experienced you are with them.

It sounds like catch and Greco could make quite a good combination.

If it isn't available in your area, then you are kind of stuck. You could look into some books and videos, but I wouldn't recommend trying to learn it like that.

Many founders of various martial art styles picked fights, and if anyone they could be considered 'true' martial artists. Now mind you...I don't think that it is right to use violence to solve problems unless it is necessary, but the fact remains that the strong bond that we associate with self control and martial studies has been something romanticized beyond what was actually true. This is a good point. Many of the romanticizations began when the arts started to evolve from the 'jutsus' and into the 'do' that we study today.

From what I could tell, the University offers other BA degrees as well; not just the MA ones. With that in mind, you could combine it with other degrees, for some interesting combinations.

Well, I saw a lot of body conditioning there, but not much in the way of MA training. I am of the persuasion that there is a right way and a wrong way to do everything. I am not sure if this is the right way or not.... I guess if you want to learn to get hit, it works.

Oh, more news! Manny Ramirez is in camp. Carl Pavano has some bone chips in his elbow, and may be delayed in starting. Bobby Abreu is also injured; he strained his oblique.

Tell me about it. I did 225 4 times today; 2 on my own, last 2 assisted. My brother played football for a small NAIA school here in Kansas. He was pretty strong, and after his senior year, he went to Denver to try out for the Crush, I think it was. He did well on all of tests, and even performed some of them better than one of the guys that was there that had made the team. But, they told him they wanted someone taller, essentially. He was 5'10", 245 lbs. his senior year, and was the center.

Thanks for the note, Baron. I will suggest it to the wife. I was thinking of buying white appliances.

I agree with your statement here. This is an area that I know I lack in seriously, and my instructor doesn't work with it much. We work on the ground some with Combat Hapkido, but not to the extent that we probably should. Eventually, I want to work the Combat Hapkido into some randori style sparring situations.