bushido_man96

You lucky dog! Our cable provider dropped it so my hubby is demanding another satellite system dedicated to football! We are soo bummed!! I would be uspest, too, if I were you! I was so afraid that I wasn't going to be able to watch the Chiefs play on Thanksgiving this year because our cable provider had not gotten the NFL Network yet.

Traditionally, I think almost all of the boxer's punches were thrown with the fist vertical--the rotation of the wrist is a fairly modern version in boxing (I think).

I don't think that this is the case. You can throw a rear hook; the criteria is that the arm has to be bent, and the punch comes from the side, not straight forward. The cross is a straight punch.

That is cool. How do you start with the sweep kick?

I liked your post, Shui Tora, and I agree with most of it. However, there is one section I would comment on: I feel that this idea is what causes things to become stagnant, and unchanging. When someone says "do this," and you ask "why," and they say "because I said so," then you aren't learning. You just take something for granted, that it is valueable, and then you take it with you, to the next generation, and you give them the same reason. Here is a story: A mother is in the kitchen cooking a dinner with her daughter. They are making ham. Preparing the ham, the mother cuts the ends off, and places it in the oven. The daughter asks, "Mom, why do you cut the ends off the ham?" She replies, "That is how my mom taught me." The daughter presists, asking what the reason was for. The mom does not know, so she asks her mother. Her mother replies: "I always cut the ends off of the ham because my stove was too small to get the whole thing into." As you can see, by blindly carrying on a tradition, and not knowing a backing, things can stagnate, and even become wasteful. Just food for thought. I am not saying that anyone should directly disobey their sensie. However, asking questions and hoping for answers should not be frowned upon.

I have heard of testing requirements like this before. My dojang doesn't require them, but I have heard of some like this.

It is very hard to put a number on this, I think. Some people can take a shot, and some can't, as has been mentioned already. A concusion occurs when the head is jolted so hard that the brain bounces off of the inner wall of the head. The number that they came up with is probably the minimum amount of force that it takes to cause this 'bounce' to happen. I don't know for sure, I am just speculating. However, whether the person will be rendered unconscious, is a different matter.

OK, this week, the Chiefs play in St. Louis against the Rams for the Governor's Cup. My brother and his wife live in Missouri, and they are going to the game this weekend. They are both Rams fans, so I am hoping for the Chiefs to take it to them, so I can have one over on my brother. Some unfortunate news that I have heard this week is that Priest Holmes will most likely be retiring at the end of the season. He is supposed to see a neurologist sometime soon, and will then give an announcement. He was a great person, and a great player, for the Kansas City Chiefs. He gave the team a rushing threat that they had not had since the Nigerian Nightmare, Christian Okoye, played there. He holds most of the KC rushing records, and is sure to be in the KC ring of fame soon. Now, Larry Johnson will carry the torch, and I expect him to hold every Chief rushing record within the next 4 years.

TigerDude makes some good points. It just takes some time to get used to doing. You have to commit yourself. Think of it this way: they are going to hit you, and they aren't going to think twice about it. You should do the same.

It is hard to get around speed in non-contact sparring. You need to keep working your reaction time, and also, try to get faster each time. Try to bait your opponent with feints, the way he does you. Then work on a counter based on his reactions. It is all strategy. Or, you can thump him once, and try to intimidate him (although I don't recommend this course of action highly).

Never heard of it.

Len Dawson was the man. Did you know that he was one of the most efficient quarterbacks of the day, and I think he still holds some of the records at Purdue. He was originally drafted by the Pittsburg Steelers, but was cut in training camp. Sorry, KarateK. I hijacked the thread.

Fosgate, I've had the same thing happen on both of my pinkies, though they were indeed broken, with one dislocated at a 90 degree angle. Ouch. With respect, Sohan I am so paranoid about this, that I make sure to keep my fists tight all the time! My injuries actually happened catching medicine balls....have to watch those outstretched fingers... With respect, Sohan Ewww, thats quite a bit of weight coming in! That's gotta suck!

So, it seems that the interpretation can be a backfist, a release technique, or a combination of them.

Yep, that's right. ATA is what it is. The system is called Songham Taekwondo. Songham means "Pine tree and Rock." These are supposed to be Korean symbols of stability and growth. The first five forms are called Songahm 1 thru 5 (white, orange, yellow, camo, and green belts); the next two are called Inwha 1 and 2 (purple and blue belts). Inwha means "Unbroken Glory." The last two colored belt forms are called Choon Joon 1 and 2 (brown and red belts). Choon Joon means "All things turn out perfect and beautiful." They are fun forms to preform, and they have more kicks in them than some of the earlier forms systems. However, they don't have any laid out bunkai, as far as I remember. I enjoyed my time in the ATA, and I think you will, too. Have fun! If you have any more questions, I should be able to answer them, or find the answer for you.

Good point, cathal. The bunkai, the one-steps, the basic self-defense, even the forms, are all great for getting you thinking about what works for you, and what doesn't, and it gives you a base from which to modify, add, or subtract technique.

Great news, Laurie! Glad your back to it!

Patrick has it down. I love Thanksgiving. It is my favorite holiday. To me, it is about getting the family together, now that my parents are grandparents, and we get a whole houseful. My mom eats that stuff up! For me, it is all about the fellowship, and getting the family together, and being home for a few days, where I grew up, sleeping in my old bedroom.....there really is nothing quite like going home. Ok, now, for the best part....THE FOOD!!! I am sure everyone knows by now, that I like to eat. Officially, I am a charter member of the Dave Thomas Big Eaters Club (OK, joke!)!! I always go overboard on the food, becuase it is all so good. Turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing (or some call it dressing), and hot rolls, and more turkey and tators and gravy, and more rolls to mop up the gravy!! Oh, yeah, and then desert. I am not a big pumpkin pie person, and it is usually the desert of choice. I prefer rhubarb pie or crisp, or a good apple pie or crisp. And then, the old stand-by, chocolate cake!! Man, I can't wait. I hope this helps.

You like it?!?! Really!!!! I decided to go get one, and I wanted one that was really me. And, although I am passionate about the MA, I show that in my writing and typing. However, I think my wife could attest to my passion for Kansas City Chiefs football!!!! I am DIE HARD!! I am so proud of that thing!

I do like the mobility of the free-standing bag, but I feel like I could get better benefits from the hanging Wavemaster. I don't know if it is the best bag on the market, but I do know that water won't settle and if you ever need to transport it, or have to move, it should be pretty easy to drain and move.

Best of luck to you!

Fosgate, I've had the same thing happen on both of my pinkies, though they were indeed broken, with one dislocated at a 90 degree angle. Ouch. With respect, Sohan I am so paranoid about this, that I make sure to keep my fists tight all the time!

That is cool. I want to utilize my crescent kicks more, but I am fairly short, so I am trying to find ways to move in and use them, or to counter with them. I can use a spin outer crescent counter, but I want to incorporate the others as well.

This is why strong abdominal muscles, back muscles, hip flexor, and leg muscles are important in any athletic activity. The core is the key. I agree with this, to an extent. The big, strong guys need to relax and learn the technique, and then, when they have done this, they can learn to apply their higher strength levels more effectively. Then, it becomes an advantage. All to often, both unskilled beginners, and very strong, unskilled beginners, will try to use their size and weight to muscle people around, only to have their momentum reversed and used against them. By learning the technique first, you can learn how to finesse the movements. Once you can use finesse, you can then learn how to apply the strength that you have. I feel that both are equally important. I agree with this statement. However, there are some very skilled practitioners out there that really can have at it, no matter what weight they are fighting against. However, these people are very rare and very special.

Tore off 35 lbs in 3 months playing racquetball a few years ago. That's before I got into martial arts. Then I gained it all back! Go figure. We can start a new racquetball/superball exercise craze!