bushido_man96

Hey, that's cool. However, you may check into it before you cut your losses. It may not be too expensive, because many are just clubs under the umbrella of the university.

Please, call me John. And Warrior-Scholar has some of the most educated Tang Soo Do, Soo Bahk, and Moo Sa Do minds around. I like to pretend I'm one of em Cool. I'll try to remember to call you John. I call just about everyone by their usernames, because I see it all of the time. I am very interested in TSD, so I may ask you some questions about it from time to time.

I know that there are a lot of smaller TKD associations out there as well. The one I am in is one of them (TTA).

That is a good question; however, styles like muay Thai and boxing have been able to by-pass katas completely, and make very competent fighters soley through the use of drills and sparring. Newer styles like Krav Maga have also been successful without the use of forms training. This is true to an extent. However the statement was that to practice drills you needed to derive them from kata. Going solely by this line of thought, sloppy kata will lead to sloppy drills. However, you don't need the katas to derive the drills. The Eastern Arts are the ones responsible for the katas, and for the derivation of drills from them. Many Western fightings styles never used katas as drills. Boxing is one, wrestling is another, not to mention their weapons usage. However, I have seen a source that said that pankratiasts used a form of kata, but I have only seen this in one place. I'll concede that point. However, they have gone beyond the need to practice kata, and focus on drilling and application. MMA fighters, boxers, and grapplers don't spend time on forms. They get right into the meat and potatoes of fighting. They still dedicate the time needed to be successful. Maybe they don't spend that time on forms, but they get plenty of training time in. Let me make this one last comment on "realistic military fighting systems" that happen to make their way to the public. Sure the Russians might use Systema and the Isrealis might use Krav Maga, but how much time to you think they practice and focus on their hand-to-hand skills as opposed to say other skills like detecting possible hostilities, firearms, etc? I agree with you here. As I have said before, I enjoy my forms training. However, I don't feel that it should overshadow my self-defense training.

What is "Macdojoish" about it? Is it just because someone wants to compete, or because someone is willing to give a demonstration for show? I am having trouble understanding the definition here.

It is a nice kata.

Just got to break them loose!

We all mess up from time to time. Just make it up next time!

Welcome to KarateForums, Andy!

I try to keep the arc that the kick travels in very tight. It makes it easier to control, especially if you chamber and rechamber the leg. Proper pivoting of the base leg is important as well.

Well, how old are you? I am 28, 29 in January. Oops i thought you were older than that i'm 29, 30 in july. Hehe I guess I am just bad off!! Maybe if I lost some weight, that would help...

That doesn't make a whole lot of sense to do, because that is the case with many physical activities that are done today. Why try to scare people off by making that the first thing they read?

Welcome to KF!

I think this is good food for thought! Now, it comes down to what constitutes "holding your own." Does it mean that you can kick someone in the groin, and then knock them over and run? Kick them in the leg, then in the head? Or going 3 rounds 3 minutes long and winning a sparring match? Like I mentioned earlier, there are so many variables to consider.

Very good question. Even technique may not be enough. Knowing technique does not necessarily translate to fighting ability. I know guys that don't have a lick of tangible technique, but they can scrap. That is a very good question as well. Why not test them for Nidan?

When I do axe kicks, I tend to chamber them as well.

Oh, of course! Duh!

That is an interesting concoction. Not what I had in mind, but it would work.

Thanks, JWLuiza.

Well, this depends on the school. As for WTF TKD training, you may be right. However, from what I have seen, I think that the TKD training that I do is very similar to some TSD schools' training methods.

It seems odd that a 3rd dan would break away and create his own style, doesn't it? I would think that one would not do this until he had achieved a masters rank, or something similar. However, I could be wrong.

That is a good question; however, styles like muay Thai and boxing have been able to by-pass katas completely, and make very competent fighters soley through the use of drills and sparring. Newer styles like Krav Maga have also been successful without the use of forms training. You are correct, there are many benefits to practicing katas. One thing that I think that has helped to add interest to kata training is the competition aspect of it. I love to compete with my forms; it is actually the division I prefer to compete in. Do I think of my form the same way when I compete than when I train otherwise? No, but then again, competition fighting is rarely the same as fighting, either, with the exception of MMA. All in all, I feel that competition is very beneficial to aspects of the martial arts. I don't know where I am going with this, but it sounds good.

His katas were very nice, too.

I don't see why it woundn't be a rear hand hook, because he doesn't square up his feet in the video clip. He maintains his stance. I understand what you are saying, but you don't have to square up to throw the rear hook if you are close enough to the opponent. When I work on the bag, I throw front and rear hooks. I feel it is a matter of technique, and you must be in position to use it correctly, like any technique.

You are making a very good point, mantis.style, and I feel that your way of learning would be very authentic. I don't think authenticity has really anything to do with lineage, tradition, or standards of training. What it has to do with is effectiveness. And if your learning experience is effective, then you are getting authentic training. The fact that you started with sparring concepts in training doesn't mean that it was not "authentic." On the contrary, it could in fact verify the authenticity of your training.