bushido_man96

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!"

Well, it looks like you are getting a lot of videos for $100. Hopefully, they are good quality. Unfortunately, you won't know until you get them. As for learning without an instructor, I say if this is your only option, then go for it. Perhaps later on you will be able to find someone to teach you.

14 events held at every modern day Olympic games: 100-, 400-, 800-, and 1500-meter races, the marathon, 110 m. hurdles, high jump, pole vault, long jump, triple jump, shot put, discus, 1500 m. freestyle swimming, and individual saber. Taken from By the Sword, written by Richard Cohen.

It sounds like things are going well, Kez!

Wow, you do better than I do, then. Whenever I fight sword against spear, I find it difficult to defend against the reach and thrust.

The nice thing about rattan is that when it breaks, it won't splinter off and cause serious injury.

Your feet will calous up in time. Just remember to keep your hands up for defense!

Congratulations! It sounds like you have a great supporting group there with you. Keep up the good work!