bushido_man96

I was wanting to see this, Bob. Thanks for sharing this! I'm going to try to work it in over the course of this week or next.

If my yard was fairly level and didn't have any stickers or burrs in it, I'd consider some barefoot training. Otherwise, I agree with the above, to find a comfortable training shoe. I've had TKD "kicking" shoes in the past; they were lightweight, but I found the bottom of the shoe to be too narrow for my liking, causing my balance issues. Your mileage may vary.

I agree that easing back into training is going to be the best. Especially in such a de-conditioned state. I'd recommend starting off with a maximum of two days per week of training. This helps limit expectations somewhat, in order to make them more manageble. I would also consider talking with the student to try out this experiment: see if he's willing to wear a white belt for a time. I'm not saying to reduce him all the way to white belt, though. Have him wear a white belt until he can demonstrate proficiency in the white belt material. Once he's got that down, give him the belt signifying the next rank. Let him work up to that material, and the lower rank material, and then give him the next belt to wear. I think this would help him stay focused on just a few objectives at a time, while also using the time to get back into shape. I think this would help keep the pressure off of this student to an extent, and build his confidence along the way.

Well, I started watching it, and you're right, I am enjoying it. I've made it through season 1, and am almost finished with season 2. I really enjoy the Bosch character, and I also like Deputy Chief Irving (and enjoy Reddick from his roles as Charon in the John Wick series). I don't gravitate towards cop shows in general, mainly because it's what I do and know what kind of things can and can't be done. I usually watch a few episodes at a time, and then have to quit, because there are only so many unlawful search-and-seizures I can put up with in one night... But, that said, I am finding it enjoying to watch, and look forward to the coming seasons. I saw the character is based on a series of books, too. And the books are always better....(don't tell my wife!)

The student seems to make the grading's difficult, and that's why I've always told my students before any Testing Cycle, that the Testing Cycle will take care of itself, one way or another; just do your best, and stop worrying about it or stop being overly cocky about it. I agree with that. For some people, the idea of "testing" or "grading" causes them to instantly put more pressure on themselves. Which is a good thing, because they learn to work under pressure, and a test should do that. But then there are others, who don't get overly bothered by the aspect of a test, and may not feel the same pressure. Everyone sees it a little differently. After all these years, I still get nervous for testings.

Quarantine here is over, so it's back to the gym! 6/1/2020 Strength Training Squats: 45x5x2, 115x5, 135x5, 155x5. Press: 45x5x2, 65x5, 75x5, 75x5, 75x5. Deadlifts: 135x5, 155x5. The squats really stretched out my inner legs. Been too long! 6/2/2020 Firearms Training: 4 hours of range time. Sighted in rifles, then did some shotgun/pistol transition/moveing-and-shooting work, then did the same with pistol/rifle. The practice has paid off, and even though nothing was really being "scored," we ran the lines in pairs as kind of a competition. I'm very happy with how much the practice has helped. 6/3/2020 Strength Training Squats: 45x5x2, 115x5, 135x3, 165x5, 165x5, 165x5. Bench Press: 45x5x2, 95x5, 115x5, 115x5, 115x5. Barbell Rows: 75x8, 75x8, 75x8. I may not continue to do the bench press. My shoulders just do not like how it feels, and the pain doesn't go away the more I do it. It's been this way ever since my surgery.

Sounds like you are picking up some good training! That's great!

Would you say that you weren't properly prepared for the test then? Yea. And while our Sensei didn’t tell you ‘yes you should’ or ‘no you shouldnt’ grade. He would suggest in other ways that you were racing a little. Which I was I think. If you wanted to grade, you go ahead. But don’t expect to pass just for taking part. People fail tests, there’s hardly a point in even having a test if there’s no possibility of failing. I think of it like taking a test for a class in school. You are presented with the material, and you spend the time to digest, understand, and practice using it, and then when you take the test, it's all on you and your preparation. I don't think that gradings should be make so crazy difficult that it is unlike anything the student has ever done prior to the grading.

I understand the idea behind the training in Aikido, but from what I've seen, it has to be augmented so that the practitioner can't expect any certain energy, and may have to adjust and provide their own. This has to be born out in the training hall.

Nice sense of community there.

If you are in a style that practices bunkai, then I say you are lucky. Being in TKD for most of my MA career, first in the ATA and now my current style, there have never been applications worked out along with the forms. Over my time as a martial artist, I've read and collected various books on the subject, and have learned how to start delving into this on my own, but without a partner, it's a bit empty. The main thing I've been learning the more I've researched this kind of thing is that the bunkai should be intuitive in regards to what you are doing in the form; either a single technique or a series of techniques, the explanation should be pretty straightforward, and not overly convoluted. That's been my takeaway so far.

Welcome to KF, Dave! Glad to have you!

Kansas has pretty well been released from any kind of quarantine and stay-at-home orders, leaving decisions up to county governments going forward, and for businesses to determine how to move forward in their best interests, and those of their customers. I'm looking forward to finding out what our TKD school's plans are.

very excited about it. Whoa! Snapped it in half! That was something! Do you suppose that had to do with the quality of the bo, or more to his power?

Would you say that you weren't properly prepared for the test then?

Like any style, what you get out of it is really dependent on the instructor and his/her philosophy and approach on teaching and learning.When I briefly attended the Aikido school in my hometown, the sensei there knew that of my TKD experience, and the fact that I would kick and punch as a warmup didn't bother him at all. Likewise, most of the students there knew I was a local TKD guy anyways, so it was never an issue. As for learning the techniques....the sensei is worked with described it as "giving" or "providing good energy." There is a learning curve that is heavily involved in trying to learn how to receive the techniques and then flow into the throws. I found at times that if I wasn't given "good energy" then I needed to produce some extra of my own, usually by pulling them along to get their momentum going. I think as the practitioner gets better, these things get figured out. Now, I don't necessarily like this way of learning, and think it definitely has it's problems. But I think once students start to really understand it, they can see the training benefits of it.

Sorry for your loss Spodo Komodo. Congrats on MOM.

Wow, 20 years! This is so awesome! It's so great to see how this community has changed, grown, and excelled over these past years as a bastion of quality Martial Arts conversation. Onward and upward!

Sounds like an awesome opportunity!

I have not seen it yet, but sounds as though I may need to add it to my list.

I'm with you, Danielle, in that doing online testings would be quite tricky. In order to pull it off, I'd want to have each student submit testing videos, or get online and do the testing over Zoom or something like that, on their own, so I can focus on that student and not try to squint around and check what every student is doing on a small video screen. If I decided to try it, that is. There is also the issue of the partner practice, like one-steps, sparring, and self-defense that is very difficult to determine the efficacy of without a partner. This is where family members that train together could benefit, but not every student may have that opportunity.

Blind Fury is a very entertaining movie. I need to find that one somewhere.

I would go have a talk with the instructor about it. Tell him your training history and rank, if he doesn't know it, but tell him you want to enter the school at the rank he determines you should work from. I've been in a similar situation, and started over in a new school from scratch, at white belt. The instructor then evaluated me as I went along, and moved me up in rank accordingly throughout certain testings. It worked out well, and it didn't really change much for me, as I was still learning and getting better. Either way, I think it'll be much the same for you. Best of luck!

The Last Dragon is a fantastic movie! Anyway, onward. I agree that training using online resources is limited at best, but, in a pinch, is better than nothing. Two things I would recommend: 1. Research the sources, and find good quality production and teaching material, and stick with it for a time. It'd be really easy to find a Muay Thai video one day for knees, and a TKD video another day to learn some sweet kicks, but in the end, I think what will benefit you most is to find a style to latch into for a time in order to learn some basics and get these basic movements down. It will help you establish a base at least, and when you feel more comfortable in your ability to acquire technical proficiency, you will benefit more when you expand your searches into other venues. 2. Find a good training partner! Talk to some friends, and try your damnedest to get at least of them to go all-in on this project with you. You can provide each other with feedback, and open up your training opportunities to partner drills, which are much needed to gain proficiency in the Martial Arts. Here's a great article written by Zaine in regards to online training: The Perception of Online Martial Arts Training. I've also got an article on training using media-based supplements (yes, shameless plug): Martial Arts Training Through Media Supplements. Hopefully these will help you out. I would also highly recommend that once you are able to do so, look into joining a Martial Arts school with a good instructor. This will get you by for a while, but a good instructor will be able to take you so much farther.

Welcome to KF, champ!