bushido_man96

Do straddle splits and side splits. These will help open up the hips. Seated groin stretches will help as well. Hurdlers' stretches are good for the hamstrings, also. After I do the side and straddle splits, I sit back and reach foward, towards the floor, and then over to both sides. Hold each stretch for 20-30 seconds, and do about 3 sets of each.

Lay on the ground, grab your kicking foot, and pull it out to the side of your body, pulling the toes back to touch the ball of the foot to the floor. This should help you in getting your foot into position. Hold the stretch for about 30 seconds, and then do the other foot. You aren't doing Gae Baek, are you?

There's some rather unpleasant attacks in there. Fighting tends to be rather unpleasant. Being efficient in a fight is what will get you out the quickest. Although some of these attacks may be difficult to pull off, they are still great techniques to get in if you can.

One problem so far: The Coaching Requirements. Although it is a good idea, many current instructors would have to get coaching certification, and they may not want to do that. It is like telling them that they don't know what they have been doing for the last 20 or so years.

Thanks for the info, ps1.

I see what you are saying here, but generally, a front push/thrust kick isn't going to be aimed much higher than stomach level.

Thanks for the information. I knew there was something there, but I had a few wires crossed. Thanks for shoring that up. I have read several books that are WTF based, and in the "History of TKD" sections, there is hardly ever a word mentioned about Gen. Choi. Politics rearing its ugly head. That 360 in Chung Moo is tough. The key is to get a good burst up, and to tuck your legs up as you spin. This will help with the clearance you need to stick it.

I guess my question is actually, "what is the test's purpose?" After years and years of training surely you know the capabilities of your students. Surely they know their capabilities. It sounds like you're being brutal simply to be brutal. Just my opinion. please no one get offended at what i am about to say. My students are very well conditioned and able bodied individuals, it is called a test for a reason,sure i push them,i push them hard,but its not for the sake of brutality,this is the same way i was pushed and im grateful to my various Sensei for their as you call it being "Brutal"or as my assocaites and i like to call it tough love.There is an old saying that I think sums it up quite well"The iron thinks it's self needlessly beat on the anvil, and burnt in the fire...However the sword looks back and understands why."sure...I could water down my test,Raise my fees and pass people just to pass them, like 75% of the Instructors and mcDojos out there but then it would not be a test,it would be a hand out.In the end it boils down to the student.my students know what their getting it to on the onset of a test,they know its a tough test, they go through with it,and pass or fail they walk away with a scense of accomplishment and pride in themselves ,if they pass they know they've earned that belt,if they fail,they pick themselves up,train harder and succeed.but then again unless you've ever had to truly earn your rank or be truly tested,I wouldn't expect anything I've just typed to make sense. Each instructor has a different philosophy on how or what should be done at a testing. There is nothing wrong with making a test physically difficult. However, not everyone pushes it as far as you like. I am not saying that I don't like your style...as a matter of fact, if I lived nearby, I would even give it a shot. I like to see how far I can push myself. Some instructors like to focus more on material for testing purposes, like forms, self-defense, sparring several rounds, and board breaking. Does this mean that they are not earning their rank? I don't believe so. I don't think it makes it look like a hand-out. I see a lot of instructors like to have some distance running involved as a part of their testings. I don't, because I don't teach the students how to run, I teach them TKD. If they want to run as a supplement to their training, then that is great. It will benefit them in the long run. However, I won't hold it to my students as a testing requirment. Different strokes for different folks. Neither is necessarily wrong, just different approaches. In my opinion, students earn their rank in class, sweating every day, giving their all, working as hard as they can, showing drive, determination, preservation, and a willingness to learn.

Our instructor is not real big on teaching philosophy. Discipline is strong in our school, though. In the past, a school that I attended and taught at focused more on integrity, respect, and the like. We learned history of the organization, and of the art of TKD in general, as well.

Actually, I can do this kick both ways. Neither is wrong; just different. The kick done with the heel as the striking surface is very popular in the Muay Thai circles. I think kicking with the heel is safer, as the kick is more of a thrust or push as opposed to a snap. As I said before, neither is wrong, they are just different ways of doing it.

That looks like a nice testing schedule. Something I have noticed about Karate is the freedom of choice in doing a form. In TKD, we have a set form per rank, and must know the lower rank material as well, although we may not have to demonstrate it.

Thanks, Jiffy. I was kind of going over the technique in my head, and I thought the hips could go into it, but not to the extent of the cross. Therefore, I erred on the side of caution. I guess even when I do a quick jab, I still jut my lead hip forward, into the technique a little. I do the same with the backfist, but the backfist goes sideways, but my hip goes forward. The motions seem to be counter-productive to each other, as near as I can tell.

What is it?

I am curious about the Master's history. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks!

Thanks, Kerry!

Cool story. That is friendship there.

, Imagine if Bruce Lee was alive, He would probably get a -1That's because Bruce Lee wouldn't have to click the mouse, "it would click all by itself..."

Good show, Patrick!!!

You bring up the point that so many other martial artists try to bring up. But the fact is you will fight as you train. Ask anyone who is in real life struggles day in and day out. Police and military are the best examples. You can't train to shoot short of your target every time and just assume you'll be able to aim accurately when the time comes. You train to shoot accurately and, even then most people shoot awful under the stress of combat. The same goes for punches and kicks. I'm not saying you need to be taking your partner's head off. But you should train with some moderate contact at least once a week. This way you actually get to see how your strikes affect the person. You'll be surprised! If you worry about conspicuous bruises, wear large 16 oz boxing gloves and boxing head gear. This will greatly prevent such things. ps1 has made an excellent point here. Reference Jigoro Kano, and the work he did with judo over jujitsu. It is the same principle, essentially.

Instead of satin or silk, I would just get a regular old cloth belt, like what Brandon has mentioned. I think in the long run it will be more durable. I would be too worried about tearing up a satin or silk belt. However, I tend to be a bit rough on things, too.

It took me a while when I was in judo to get over this. There's two different scenarios for it. One, the woman is a serious student. I'll grapple just as hard with one of them as I would a guy because if I don't they'll tear me a new one. When you're fighting someone serious, you don't have time to think about accidentally doing something, and if you do, they usually don't mind because it's an accident and they're too busy trying to bar you or choke you out. Then there's the giggly goof off ones. You have to be a bit more careful with them because a lot of the time they're really self-conscious. Since I'm never in a position where I'm competing with them, I usually just be a good uke and let them practice. This might not be the case with everybody but it was how things worked in my dojo. It sounds like you had a good system there. Was judo fairly popular with the women? Like you, I think it would take quite some time to get used to grappling with the women. Being just a throwing dummy, I could maybe do that.

I had not heard of it, but it looks interesting. Is he involved with several different organizations, or does he just have some ties via associates through them?

Once we get to brown belt level in our style, breaking is required at testing. Lo brown: hand technique (ladies can do elbow strike); Mid brown: foot technique; Hi brown: two foot techniques.

Hooray!! Tap the keg, let's party!!

Just look around your area, see what is available, and see what you would like. Visit the schools, and then make your decision.