bushido_man96

There are some good comments here, for both sides of the arguement. I think that if kids spar with adults, it can help them to build confidence in working with grownups, and also help when it comes to the bullying situation. Giving kids confidence is great. However, it has to be done in such a way that it does not build false confidence. There is a difference in a child blocking a controlled round kick to the head, and an angry stranger grabbing the child by the shoulders, and attempting to leave with them.

I think that a lot of misconceptions came from the fact that the warrior classes gained noteriety through their exceptional skills as fighters. Naturally, people would view these great warriors in awe. These viewpoints probably began the fanticization of what becoming a warrior was like. Also, these warriors would gain the respect (or fear) of the other people because they had a talent that was special. Therefore, they were respected, and I imagine it started to stick from there. However, you can quickly find out that you can respect someone, but they may not return that respect. Instead, they know of their position of power, and look down on you instead.

^^^Hehe, not so much with the standing side kick, but moreso with the twist kick. I really felt that I could focus the jumping and chambering movements a lot more when just jumping and scissoring my knees, as opposed to doing the whole kick, at this point.

The idea of Bushido and Chivalry are both fairly romanticized. For some reason, the "shining knight" made its way into literature, and has remained there for many hundreds of years. Most of the time, these codes only transferred to your position in life, i.e., class. Anyone below the class you were in, didn't really fall under the category. The ideas that the MAs should be honorable, and uphold all these criterea are fairly new. Is this bad, though? No, I don't believe so. However, the ideas of what life was like in antiquity is very overstated, in my opinion.

I worked on this technique some more on the the 21st (Yesterday), and got gradually better. I found that practicing just the chambering motions, using the violent motion and explosive jump, helps to get those initial motions down. I will keep practicing!

2-21-07 Conditioning: Stairs: 3x45 seconds, 1 min. rest (I could really feel that extra 15 seconds!!) Steppers: 3x30 seconds, 1 min. rest Technique work: Jumping 2-Direction kick (scissor kick): I did this kick at least 10 times, each side. I also practiced just the scissoring action of the chambers, and bursting and jumping. Twist kick: I did this one several times to help with the jumping kick. I actually kicked on the bag. It is difficult, finding the proper angle to keep the toes comfortable. I then did Combat Hapkido for an hour: 4:30 - 5:30.

This post was originally published as an article in a dedicated KarateForums.com Articles section, which is no longer online. After the section was closed, this article was most to the most appropriate forum in our community. The media coverage that the martial arts receive currently is higher than it has ever been in the past, due to the vast coverage of martial arts sporting events such as the Ultimate Fighting Championships, Pride Fighting Championships and the K-1 events. With the advent of the “mixed martial arts” of our time, many people in the public eye have seen the martial arts as a conglomeration of striking, kicking and ground fighting. Even with the advent of these fighting venues, I have come across a problem that I have with my martial arts training. I study a “traditional” style, under a “traditional” instructor and he is not very open-minded to the idea of cross training in other martial arts outside of his school. In the martial arts, one of the most popular tenets stated is “loyalty for one’s instructor.” This tenet implies that once you have an instructor, then you should be loyal to him inasmuch that you will not stray from his path of teaching and have confidence in what he can teach you. In an ever changing world, when people are constantly moving, changing instructors and even styles tends to happen. If a student does not move, instructors expect loyalty from their students. In my experiences, my instructors would not look favorably on me looking into other schools and definitely not in joining them. The result of this action could mean expulsion. This results in what I refer to as martial arts “monogamy,” in which a student essentially ends up marrying his martial art and to an extent, his instructor. This isn’t a bad thing, as long as the instructor has all of the knowledge in the world to impart on his students. As far as I know, that guy does not exist. Here is my scenario. I have been training in Taekwondo for thirteen years and have been teaching for over 6 years. However, I lack ground fighting and joint manipulation skills. My instructor decided to incorporate some Hapkido curriculum into the school. This curriculum was supplemental to our Taekwondo classes. He would not offer Hapkido during a normal class block (say, from 6:00 to 7:00 pm), but instead offered it for 30 to 45 minutes after our traditional classes. This worked out well for a while and I even tested up to my blue belt, I believe. After a while, attendance to the later classes dropped and soon thereafter, so was the class. Now, the only joint manipulation training that I receive is every two months or so when we do Ho sin sul at the end of class instead of sparring. Why do instructors do this? Why do they want to restrict their students? First of all, I feel that they may be a bit egotistical about their levels of skill or knowledge. They are also territorial about their students. It’s kind of like when parents try to give other parents advice on how to raise their kids. Instructors have an “it was good enough for me, it’s good enough for my students” attitude. Secondly, I think that an instructor feels threatened about losing a student to a school or instructor that their student will like better. No one likes to lose out on business. After all, most instructors are businessmen. They may point out that attending other schools is a conflict of interest. I have also heard instructors say that they don’t want their students going to other schools and sharing information that they have learned from them with other students or instructors. Some instructors would view this as disloyal behavior. Last of all, an instructor does not want to concede that they have a “weakness” in their abilities. How many Taekwondo instructors offer their students the address of a good Jui-Jitsu school and then tell them to spend two days a week shoring up their ground fighting skills. Indeed, not very many instructors will encourage enrollment in another school to supplement the training that they provide. Through actions such as these, our various masters and instructors, in an attempt to preserve the tenet of “loyalty to one’s instructor,” fail to demonstrate humility or humbleness on their own part. The simple fact of the matter is that they do not like to address their own inadequacies. A lesson can be learned by all from perhaps the greatest martial artist ever, Bruce Lee. He learned things from grapplers and strikers alike. In order to be his best, he knew he had to ask questions and seek answers. In so doing, he became one of the most respected people in the history of the martial arts. Many present day masters and instructors could learn from his example, that martial arts “monogamy” restricts their abilities and this action does not benefit any martial artist. Postscript: I have noticed that there are many on these forums that train or have trained in multiple styles. It this is something that has only happened to me, it is not my intention to make it appear that the entire martial arts community is this way.

Well, they aren't yet, but they haven't had much success under the current regime with Romeo Crennell. And I hear they still love Marty in Cleveland.

Ooh, very good points, Sohan. That would be a smart business endeavor. They always sell out, no matter what. (Good to see ya back, BTW!)

Thanks for the list, but unfortunately, Salina is the closest one of those venues, and is an hour and a half drive from here (Hays). I can't really justify that. The others are either 2 or 3 or 4 hours away.

What about this? Ft. Hays State Univ. Judo 600 Park St., Hays, KS 67601 Office: (913) 628-5868 I talked to that guy once, and he said since I was the only one currently interested, he didn't feel like putting the time in. Of course, I spoke to him back when I first showed up at college. I am not sure if the club still functions or not. I could ask, though.

I think he meant single hand. Typo. With respect, Sohan Could be. Either way, I think that both would have merit. I am sure you could do more reps with both hands, so therefore, you get a different workout. Variety is good.

Some cool kicking there. The device definitely has some uses; no doubt there.

Thanks for the list!

It is true that punching is very popular, but that does not mean that everyone will fight the same way. If that were the case, learning to fight well would be so much simpler. Some people will throw haymakers. Some will jab and move. Some will slip and counter. Others may attempt a low kick before punching. Some may punch, and then clinch. These are all different styles, although they may involve the same techniques. Every fight is different because every fighter is different...from a style standpoint.

I think it was a fighting style indiginous to Africa, where the slaves came from, but was then modified to the dance form, when brougth over to Brazil. But, I could be very wrong. Someone correct me if I am. Does anyone know of any indigenous African fighting systems?

A good side kick takes a sideways set-up, and most MMA fighters have a forward facing stance. Even if you do a good side kick, you have to move your body back into position to follow up with hand techniques, and a kick follow-up will be a long while developing. I think that is why.

I would love to swim, but don't get much time for it. Also, no other arts around here to switch to!

I am feeling you there!

Good point. Will A-Rod be back to normal this year?

Yeah, get this, as their LINEBACKERS coach! How in the world did the Bears forget to lock him up? I was shocked. I did not see this coming. I think that may lay the groundwork for the coach of the future of the Chargers. I think you are right, Baron, about the rest of the Bears being ready, waiting on Rex. But still, they guy needs a chance. One more thing. What does everyone think Marty's chances of ending his career as the head coach of the Browns are? Might be a chance, there.

Holy cow, there is a lot of stuff there!

I thought I might slip by in my family too, Patrick. Don't worry, you most likey will get sick. That tough, Lordtariel. Good luck to you, though.

Work yourself in gradually, NightOwl! You want to train more than once a week!

That all makes sense. The reason I wouldn't wait to even things out at the next testing is because, what if she doesn't pass? That is always a possibility, so why wait for it to happen?