bushido_man96

I had never thought of that, baron. Nice idea!

This is a good point. I'm going to have someone go at me with a skateboard and some other improvised weapons and see if I can figure out what to do. But that being said, self-defense isn't the only reason people learn martial arts. Some people are interested in the historical aspect. Some just like the exercise. They shouldn't think that they know how to defend against modern weapons, but some of it crosses over. A knife's a knife and a stick's a stick. A very nice post, Lordtarial. Baron also has some good points. I do think that training in today's weapons is a very good idea. With the new conceal and carry laws that are going around, along with learning how to spot a potential threat and the like, training in today's aspects wouldn't be a bad idea.

I was doing some reading recently, and I came across some interesting definitions of the terms self-protection and self-defense: Self-Protection: a state of beining in which the practitioner beats the attacker to the punch. Self-Defense: a reaction to an action. What does everyone else think? Are these accurate descriptors? In a sense, I do think that the idea of "defending oneself" has come to be known as more of a reactionary response, mainly due to the "never strike first" principle taught in so many traditional martial arts styles. I do like the definition of self-protection. However, I do think that if ideas begin to change, the definition of self-defense can come around to equal that of self-protection.

I don't really understand what you are saying, yumesa. However, a straight bladed sword can be just as effective in both cutting and thrusting as the katana. I straight blade can thrust without having to strike first. I think the straight blades of Medieval Europe may have a cutting advantage, with both sides being edged, as opposed to one.

This is my thought exactly. It may be a real quick punch, or worse, it may come from behind, where you can't see it.

You are concerned about attacking first because it is assault, but would use a key as a weapon against them? I don't think attacking first in this scenario would get you into that much trouble.

We would be more willing to spar at home, where we can laugh and giggle about it and stuff. Once the instructor was aware that we were dating, he paired us up less and less. My wife has been out of TKD for a while now, with having our son, going to college, etc. However, she would go back, given some time. When we have time, we work together at home.

Kicking on pads, heavy bags, etc., is always fun, and can be a good workout. Get some help to have other hold the bags, and do some kicking and punching drills on them. They should enjoy that.

You could give him some real hard contact, and then smile at him. See what he has to say then! Personally, I would just let it go. He is just making himself look foolish in front of the class.

You are welcome, again!

Oh, yes, I am always reading other people's workouts! That is how I get some new ideas! I think it is a great way to share ideas and methodologies. I, too, have a training notebook, with all kinds of notes, workouts, ideas, class planners, and more listed in it. It is one of my most prize possessions. If I were you, I would continue to keep notes in them as well. Very nice. Thanks. Unfortunately, these numbers are a bit misleading, because my knees hurt so bad, that I only do half-squats. However, I think that is better than nothing.

I sense that you are leading into carpel-tunnel here?? I never thought of that.

Since I have done TKD for almost 14 years now, I would take up Judo if I had the opportunity.

Excuse me for horning in on the Korean arts forum when I am not someone who does a Korean martial art, but I think I have 2 cents to stick in from my experience as a karate kata competitor. In karate, there is no automatic deduction for doing a more basic form than your level, however you just about never see people doing lower forms in upper-level divisions, and if you do, those people just about never place, regardless of how good their form and technique look. I think the more basic forms make it a lot harder to hide your flaws. Moreover, some judges, no matter how much they're told not to, just discount the less flashy basic kata in their head from the get-go. I wouldn't be surprised if the same holds true in TSD, which mostly uses the same forms as Shotokan, my main style of karate. (we have Bassai as well, I am good a it and I like it ) You hit on some good points there, and I don't think you are too far off, as far as the mindset of the judges at the tournaments go. Personally, if one black belt does Chon-ji hyung, and another does Kwang-gae hyung, I am going to take into consideration the difference in the level of difficulty of the two forms. To me, seeing a black belt perform Chon-ji hyung at a tournament looks like he is trying to take the easy way out.

"Chopping down" does make sense. I may have to play with that idea as well. At my school, we have some bags that we can hang up, and they are pretty low to the ground; perfect for practicing that low Thai kick!

I think you hit the nail on the head there. Just by being recognized, TKD was able to work its way into the Games eventually. I think Karate has a chance eventually as well. However, it may have some competition with the upstart IFL. Those guys really have something going there.

That is great. Goal-setting is something that a lot of people don't do correctly, and knowing how to set your goals and manage the path to accomplishing them is very important, and useful for everyone.

This is some great advise. You will learn so much about yourself by competing. They are lessons that you just really can't learn in the classroom setting.

Technically, isn't bunkai the "interpretation of kata?" If so, can you really trian one without the other? Just a little technical question! However, baron, I can relate to what you are saying. After doing forms for so long, I would like to start doing more drilling exercises and self-defense work. That is why I am diving into my Combat Hapkido now. I still do love forms, though. I will continue to do them. However, TKD wears on my knees so bad nowadays.....

Hey, low kicks are great, too. If the rules that we spar under were different, there is a chance that my head kicks would always follow the leg kick that puts the opponent on the ground.

I think that if I was going to be affronted by more than one person, I would pick one, and go off on him until he went down, and then focus on the other. If you can get a real quick blast of techniques to going on one of them, it may surprise the other. Then, you can see how good of friends they really are. I don't know that this would work, but it is the best that my simple mind can come up with.

What you mention here are some of the things that make BJJ attractive to me. I would love to be able to train with this style. Like you say, ps1, as long as you tap when you feel it, you should stay pretty injury free. One question I do have is this: Do you ever have a problem with students who go into a technique too fast and too hard, causing an injury before the other student is able to tap?

Due to the nature of this topic, I think I will move it to the new Self Defense forum. Thanks.

The school does offer elective courses for the students to fill out the credit requirements, including business courses, criminal justice courses, and others. It is very possible to use later on. I think that often times MAs get too wound up in the time-in-rank that other students/teachers have. If it is just a belt, just a piece of cloth, then does the time in really enter into consideration? Personally, instead of asking how much time they have in rank, I would rather see how they handle a class, teach the curiculum, etc.

This is something that many people consider everyday when training. That is why many will not consider options like MMA or even Muay Thai, because of the higher level of risk involved. However, I do believe that the true risk lies in the competition rather than the training. Most of the training is done in a controlled, safe environment.