bushido_man96

I think you are right, NightOwl, and I think you have a good arguement. However, I do think that sometimes in a test the unexpected should be expected. It keeps us on our toes. You make very good points, though, and I respect them.

2-16-07 Me and my dad decided to start chopping and scooping about 25 feet of 2 foot deep snow and ice. That was a good time. I will count that as a workout. Thankfully, my youngest brother showed up to help out as well. It took us about an hour to do, I think.

It's not in any of our hyung, but we have had to break with it a few times at testing and tourneyment. As a warm up before applying bushido's suggestions; sit on the ground, lean back a little bit on 1 hand (as if in the air) and practice the scissor action a few (hundred ) times. Then, as bushido said, practice popping that jumping leg up to the chest & out to the side kick. Try it a few times with just the side kick but bring the jumping leg up to chamber as you kick. Also, I find it a little easier if I lean back just slightly (like on the floor). After you've done the jump & single kick a few times, mentally picture the other leg going out at the same time as the side kick. After a dozen of so jumps, you should have a good feel of your timing, then try and insert the reverse round kick. In other words, try breaking it down into pieces and work up to the full kick. Wow, that is a great explanation, Doug! Thanks for elaborating further! I will use that as well. Another think I would add, is use that scissor motion both when chambering your legs, and when kicking. Make the chambers kind of violent and dynamic as well.

Boy, that is a good question. Thinking about my training, I think that I would have a harder time at this point learning to do it, than dropping it, because of my natural tendency to try to piece together combinations in forms. That is just me, though. What about you???

I never learned sine wave, but each time I see it it just looks too exaggerated for me...I think you can have plenty of power without all of that upper body movement. If I ever joined a school that did it, though, I would just adapt...in the end, I don't think it's right or wrong, just different. Good information on the scissor kick...I hope to do a break with it so I'm starting to work on it. Flexibility and getting enough height are the main things I'm working on now -- just need lots more practice. I could use a lot of practice on it, myself. I would like to do it as a break, just to demonstrate that big guys can move, too! You are welcome for the information.

In all actuality, it did happen sooner; much sooner. Ancient Greek Pankration.

Just go to the testing, with everything in mind, and do whatever it is that he asks of you. He may ask you to demonstrate all of that stuff, and depending on how you do, he may advance you accordingly. Just be prepared. And if you don't know something, don't worry about it.

I think there is a common misconception that "point fighting" means "light contact." I think there is another misconception that "light contact" means "slower techniques."

I have written them down before, and I also have found them on the internet and printed them off to put in the curriculum sections of the notebook that I keep. I also have several books on the forms that I do, and some that I don't. Now that you mention it, I just remembered that I need to update some of the forms curriculum that I have. Any good places to look for said notes? Darn, it, I'm on a different computer back home, at my folks, so I don't have my bookmarks available to me right now. However, when I get a chance, I'll get some to you!

I think that is a good idea, Baron. In my Combat Hapkido curriculum, elbow and knee strikes are part of the system. I will be adding some kicking shield training for the knees, and likewise elbow work. These are very important tools that need to be utilized. Besides, which would you rather take, a solid punch, or a sharp elbow strike? OUCH!!!

I see your point. However, isn't it the whole idea of the test, to test you on something? The fact that it is a concept that you hardly ever deal with makes it even better as a test option. This is just one of many things that can factor into that test. But, I do see your point, in that an adult should not constantly have to spar against children. I agree with you there. However, doing it once in a while won't cause any long term problems with over-controlling your techniques.

I think it seems out of place because it is new. However, this is nothing new in the Eastern world. This has been something of popularity over in the East. It is just new here. What I like about the university is that it brings together other oppurtunities to tie into the MA studies, like criminal justice, business management, etc.

I have also heard that "there is no such thing as a fair fight." I believe this fully.

When spin kicking, it is important not to over-rotate. Work it slow, unitl you have complete control. Then work on speed.

Your body should have a little bit of natural lean to it when kicking. However, when punching, if you lean back, you will take power and your body weight out of the punch. When punching, I try to keep my weight forward a little, of centered. It just depends on the situation.

I can see the point that you and several of the others are trying to make here. However, by pitting children and adults, it can be used to test the level of control that the adult has as well. This could be why some of the schools match kids and adults up this way.

It sounds to me like you are describing some form of "fight club," which would be totally different from the goals of the instruction of this University.

Everyone says that Americans like to McDonaldize everything, but I don't think that this is the case. When you go to college in the U.S., you typically graduate in 4 years. Why should it be different when getting a BA in the martial arts, when it is set up as such. To me, the martial arts are really not a big mystery. Whether it takes 4 or 5 or 6 years really should not be the focus. The focus should be on the quality of the instruction that the students get.

I have written them down before, and I also have found them on the internet and printed them off to put in the curriculum sections of the notebook that I keep. I also have several books on the forms that I do, and some that I don't. Now that you mention it, I just remembered that I need to update some of the forms curriculum that I have.

This one here is pretty subtle. Those slow spinning heel kicks are pretty wicked, too. I would have to practice a lot on those! Hmm, maybe I will start. I agree; slightly more exaggerated. However, not too bad. Like I mentioned, though, the presence of the sine wave motion does slow down the amount of time between what I would consider to be combination techniques, like the down block/palm heel strikes at the end of the form. That guy did have great technique, though. I'd love to have that side kick! The other kicks in his form lacked the pizzazz of that side kick, I noticed.

I have done a spear hand strike (finger-tip thrust) into a very thin board, and broke it. It was not the regulation size of testing board, but a thinner board, maybe a 1/2 inch? Although not to be considered impressive, I thought it was pretty cool.

You are welcome for the explanation. I hope it works out for you. I think most people tend to lean towards that twist kick, and it opens up the hips some, kind of like you are doing the side splits while stretching on the floor. I don't do this kick often, and I am not overly flexible. However, I can somewhat do it. It is not my best kick, but I do feel that I am technically sound enough to know how to perform it. Like I noted earlier, sometimes I like to set up two standing bags and practice kicking between them, either from a running start, or by jumping and spinning. Both will work.

That's a nice strong pattern. I agree. Although, I must say, that in all of the TKD patterns I am seeing online, I can say that I have never done that sine wave movement. I think it causes the techniques to be individualized too much, and makes the forms look rather choppy. Just my opinion, though.

Is anyone here into the MLB? Pitchers and catchers are reporting, and the pre-season will be here before you know it. Who is your team? I like the Cubs and the Royals, but will watch just about anything. Now don't tell me who you don't like, just who you like! I love watching baseball because there is so much that can happen. I like to watch, thinking to myself, "who will hit for the next cycle?", or "who will throw the next no-hitter?", or "who will pitch the next perfect game?" Baseball is also so rich in history, that I love reading up about the game's past. My wife says I am into too much sports. Can that really be?

Well, the house is coming along so nicely! I love the work that we have done so far. So does my wife. In fact, she loves it so much that she keeps getting more ideas for us to do for more home improvements. I think we will be improving our home for the next 5 years! The living room is finished, and it looks great. The hallway/stairway are nearing completion; we only need one more (heavy) coat of paint for them to be finished. Then, the we will be onto the kitchen. That will be a ball because we are going to have to tear out wallpaper. If you have never had to mess with that, I will inform you right now, that it sucks. No fun whatsoever there! I am slowly getting the pieces of our soon-to-be bookcase primed, so they can then be painted. And last of all, we need to get the crown-molding up and around in our daughter's room to finish it out. Of course, if we left it out, no one would know that it was supposed to be there.............