bushido_man96

I do like the idea of using stripes as "markers" of what the student has done and what they need to do. It makes it easy for an instructor to glance at his students and know what they need to focus on.

As I get older, I find that I'd much rather train indoors than out. Especially right now, as winter has pretty much arrived in west-central Kansas.

I'd say if a person is inclined to learn a few systems at a time, then do it. Take your time, and grade when you feel you are capable of doing so in each. I look at it this way: in school, we never spend time learning one subject until we are good at it, and then move onto the next. We spend time on languages, and math, and social studies/history, etc. We tend to do alright with that. I think it is entirely possible to do with physical training, as well. How many kids play different sports throughout the year without any issues? Plenty. I would caution that when learning more than one style that it would be beneficial for the two styles to have as little crossover as possible. For instance, learning TKD and Tang Soo Do is probably more detrimental than it is helpful. But learning one of these styles along side Judo or BJJ or Wrestling would be more beneficial, as you're covering two distinctly different aspects of fighting. Not that you couldn't spend time learning both TKD and TSD, but the likelihood of mixing up miniscule differences between the two is high, thus frustrating both instructors. But, you could try it. I just think it would be a better use of your time to go with a stand-up style and a ground style. I think each instructor varies on their stance in regards to this. Some instructors are very possessive of their students, and would like for them to instead of doing 2 days a week to two different styles, would rather they spend 4 days a week with them. Other instructors are insecure to the point that the student may find the favor the other style, and fear losing the student. I see why an instructor could feel that way (be it right or wrong). I know my previous instructor was not a fan of it. However, he is not around right now, and I feel kind of like I'm in instructor limbo. I view the current CI at our school more as a peer than an instructor. Unfortunately, I don't have the time or the inclination to put into training in another style right now, so its a moot point for me.

Congrats!

10/21/2020 MA Training TKD Class: 6:30 - 7:30 pm. T-shirt class. Did all of my black belt forms: Kwang Gae, Poe Eun, Gae Baek, Se Jong, Yoo Sin, and Choong Jang. I did three stations on the heavy bag, two kicking and one hand techniques. I helped the chief instructor with jump spin heel kicks, and then the other two black belts in the class did axe kicks on the target pad. Stretched before and after class. Station 1: Front Kicks: FL front kick, BL front kick, FL stepping front kick, FL jump front kick, BL jump front kick (jumping away). Station 2: Punches: Jab, Cross, Jab/Cross, Lead Hook, Rear Hook, Lead Uppercut, Rear Uppercut. Station 3: Round Kicks: FL round kick, BL round kick, FL stepping round kick.

10/15/2020 Strength Training Squats: 45x5, 135x5, 185x3, 205x5, 205x5. Press: 45x5x2, 65x5, 85x5, 85x5.

I think there are a couple of advantages to the belt system and uniforms used in what we like to refer to as "traditional" systems. 1) The belt system provides the instructor a quick reference of what each student should and shouldn't know, and what material that student should be working on. B) Putting on a uniform/dobok/gi has kind of a psychological aspect to it; the student knows when the uniform goes on, it's time to train. It helps to set the tone of the class, that we are here to train, and the student sets their mind to the task at hand. Now, with that said, I believe that serious training can be conducted without changing clothes. I also believe that the belt and uniform system are heavily tied to the modern form of training that we use based on the idea of testings/gradings for rank. We learn material, we test on it, and we earn a belt; rinse and repeat. So long as we keep testing like this, I see the belt system sticking around.

What do you mean by "curriculum black belt" and "instructor black belt?"

If all other options are not viable, and you really want to do it, then do it. There are lots of good resources out there; there are bad ones, too, so be on the lookout for what you're getting.It will be more difficult than doing it with an instructor on hand, in a class, but it can still be done. And every chance you get, seek out an instructor. Whether at a school should you move, or a chance to get to some seminars, or whatever. But look for those chances.

Congratulations, Noah and Stephanie! Enjoy the ride!

I'm not sure what's going on here this year. Most kids wear a mask on Halloween, anyways, so that shouldn't be much of an issue. I'll be watching expectantly as it approaches, to see how people handle it.

Season 3 will be....interesting....

10/14/2020 MA Training TKD Class: 6:30 - 7:30 pm. T-shirt class. After warming up with some ground kicks/doggy kicks and light stretching, I completed the first two stations of the kicking class, front leg side kicks and front leg round kicks of various types. Worked on some jump spin side kicks on the bag in regards to board breaking. The last 20 minutes of class was used for sparring. There were only 4 of us, but all black belts (one kid). I don't know what the deal is, but it seems like I spar better if I haven't sparred in a while. Stretched at the end of class, too.

Welcome to KF!

Welcome to KF!

If I had to guess, I'd say probably through team sponsorships and possibly through commercial sponsorships the company gets for hosting the events. But that's just a guess. They could have a rich benefactor or team of benefactors that support and likely practice Martial Arts, as well.

That sounds like a completely reasonable approach to me. I'm of the mindset that a testing shouldn't have to be long in order to accomplish what it is meant to accomplish.

Are you talking about practicing at home after you start the classes, or trying to do so before you start the classes? If you are looking to start training yourself at home, you can sure try to do so, but it will be difficult with no experience and no instructors. But not impossible. There are plenty of resources on youtube you could search out for learning basic techniques, stances, kicks, blocks, punches, etc. The key would be to really pay attention, start slow, and it would be handy to have the means to video yourself and watch it, and then compare what you do with your resources, to see what you need to fix and do differently. Best of luck in your endeavors!

Ours has 9 dan ranks as well.

I've never had the opportunity to train a kata with its bunkai, but it seems to me that it could be quite involved and require a considerable amount of time to learn, memorize, get right, and then regurgitate. For that reason, I think perhaps going to a one belt per kata system might be the most beneficial, for learning purposes. You could also include a breaking requirement for each of the ranks, and as they go up in rank, the complexity of the breaking technique(s) could go up. If you are reluctant to add additional belt ranks, you could instead use tape to put on the belt to indicate that the student has learned a kata, bunkai, and demonstrated the breaking requriments. It would be a quick indicator of what they know and what they don't know in regards to the rank.

It's great that you got to move to a newer, bigger facility. Sounds like you've got some great floor space! Keep up the good work!

We can only hope this all ends soon, Danielle, and we can get things back to normal. Kudos to you getting something put together for your students, by making the adjustments. In time, things should get back to normal.

10/4/2020 Strength Training Squats: 45x5, 135x5, 155x5, 205x5, 205x5, 205x5. Power Clean & Press: 45x5x2, 75x1+5, 110x1+5, 110x2+5, 110x1+5. Deadlifts: 135x5, 155x5, 185x4, 205x1, 230x5. The 45 lb warm-up sets on press were not cleaned first. On set 2, I did two power cleans because I didn't re-grip for the press right. But, more practice is good! When I press from the rack, it's easier to take a narrower grip on the bar, thus maximizing my range of motion for the lift. When I clean the weight first, I have to really work to re-adjust the grip to press. Once this gets too difficult, I'll move to pressing from the rack soley. For right now, though, I'm really enjoying getting the extra power movements worked in.

First and foremost, knowledge and application of the material in the curriculum is required. After that, as Bob mentioned, not all black belts can teach. Each person learns things a little differently than the next, and being able to be flexible enough to recognize this and address it is a skill learned over the course of a career.

Congrats, Zack!