bushido_man96

How'd you do there?

All good advise here. For stretching, I would work on front splits, and more so on side splits--this is the actual side kick position, if you pivot the base leg.

You are correct. It doesn't limit you, and there is always something new to learn. I think it is up to the individual here. Some people like to keep it a secret, and then, when they line up with a white belt to spar, and floor a white belt, then they make their announcement. Granted, this doesn't always happen, but it does happen. You can keep it a secret, but people will usually find out eventually. If the belt is just a belt, and it doesn't matter, then why does it matter if a seven year old holds black belt rank? You make some very good points, and I think it is beneficial to study other styles, whether they recognize your rank or not. No one can take away from you the knowledge that you have gained. Welcome to the Forums, spark!

You make some good points, bearich. I agree that kata is one of many tools that the martial arts have at their disposal. Here is an order that I feel should be considered for martial arts training: Basics should lead to forms--forms should lead to bunkai, and bunkai should lead to kata-based sparring, or some other form of resisting self-defense application.

I like your method, Jiffy. It echos the way I feel about self-defense. The only problem with having one good block is that it only stops one technique. It is good to know how to duck, slip, and evade attacks as well.

Cool, thanks! Another bookmark!

Not too bad. I made it to the top 11, but I didn't make it to the top 3 (they didn't tell us where we ranked between 3 and 11) That sounds good. A good learning experience, huh?

I second that. The fight that Brandon Lee has with the kung-fu artist toward the end of the movie is great. Also, I watched Kung-Fu Hustle today, and I just about busted a gut! It was great fun!

Did you know that Chuck Norris' real name is Carlos?

Another point is that if you find somewhere to train, you may meet someone there that knows a little boxing, and would be willing to work with you. If you want to do some reading on the subject, Turtle Press offers a book called Boxing, The American Martial Art. I have been meaning to buy it, but have not yet. Welcome to the forums, by the way!

You raise a good point here, elbows_and_knees. When I was in the ATA, I can remember the history behind GM H.U. Lee creating his new forms. They are very nice forms, and they are fun to do, and are great for building technique. However, even with the forms system that I use now, it seems that forms are made, designed, or borrowed and used just to make a curriculum, i.e., to have something to do at testing. You test, and then learn a new form, and test again. To me, this is stagnate training. We need to have a reason for the forms, or if there is no reason, we need to apply other things in the testings, like drilling, more self-defense, and perhaps some more spontaneous activities of defense. Now, don't get me wrong, I enjoy doing forms, even if I don't know applications to them. I still like to do them, and they can be a measuring stick for skill development. However, I feel that application drilling is just as important as well. I also feel that even if forms are newly designed, you can still find applicable techniques and drills within them. They just need to be taught and drilled.

Very nice. I just bookmarked it!!

This is a nice explanation. When I was younger, my dad taught me and my brothers some foot sweeps, because that stuff was legal when he sparred competitively. We don't ever do them in the styles I work with now, so I like to hear about how to do them. They can be very useful.

There's more to UFC fighting than just taking a beating. While it might look unpolished there is skill within the scope of what goes on in the octagon/ring. I would have to agree with HG here. Not everything is going to look pretty in the ring, or on the street, for that matter, because of the ever-changing environment. It is constant adaptation and evaluation in response to what the opponent does.

Cool. So, how did you come out??

Well, here's an update. I had my first full class today since the injury. I ran earlier today, and I thought that I had aggravated it. Well, I got to class, and it was a great class. He had quite a few students in there tonight, and we did the whole sha-bang: basics, forms, one-steps, and we got some sparring in. I took it easy with my left leg, especially with kicking. I didn't kick very high, and not fast at all (I didn't want to snap that muscle). When I sparred, I decided to work on my footwork, and I only kicked with my right leg. Using my left leg as a base didn't seem to bother it too much at all. After class, I even got it to stretch out a little. To sum up, I am not near 100% yet, but I am getting there, and no more sitting on the couch excuses. Heck, I even did extra forms tonight, because I want the work. Hopefully, if all goes well, I will be physically prepared to test in April.

Have fun learning Koryo. I have done it a few times, and it is kind of a fun form. But, it was different than anything I had done, so I liked the change. WTF TKD might be fun for you, as it will probably give you a route to competition, if that is what you are into. I hope it works out for you, Laurie!

I thought it looked pretty good. Was that for a try-out, or a competition or something??

No, that doesn't sound abnormal to me.

Welcome, Neo Dragon!

Interesting info....I did not know that. I saw the charts, and that purple heart wood looked to be the way to go. I'll bet its expensive, though.

Jet Li and Jackie Chan have both had their fair shares of cartoony fights in movies as well.

Wow, interesting. Glad I don't drink them.

Good post, bearich.

You know, I never thought of that analogy. I just might have to use it sometime "Its only a flesh wound!"