bushido_man96

First rule: practice, practice, and practice some more. Drill you form until you have it down. When you think you have it, do it some more. The last thing you want to do is freeze up and forget it. When preparing for a tournament, I like to break the form up into sections, and work on it that way, so I can give special focus and extra reps to the tough spots. If you plan to spar, find out from your instructor what the rules system will be. Then, work on some sparring strategies that will work for you. Also, spar against as many different partners as you can, in order to get a feel for different fighting types. Second rule: Don't get too wound up if you don't place. Experience is a valuable teacher in competitions. The more you do it, the easier it is to know what to expect. You will most likely be nervous, so breath, and try to relax, and go out and have fun! No matter what happens, you will learn something new, and that is the best thing you will take away from it. Best of luck, and let us know how it goes!!

Sounds cool! I hope you have fun, and all goes well. Good luck if you are competing!!

I just finished reading a book on TKD Hae Sul, which is essentially bunkai for TKD. There were a lot of interpretations for locks and takedowns, some easily seen, and some not. Simple double forearm blocks were used to throw someone down, and middle blocks were used as arm locks. Picture the retraction hand holding the opponents arm straight, and the blocking arm braced behind the elbow. Lots of interpretations, in lots of different places.

I would keep wrestling with your buddy, and try to figure some things out. One thing is for sure, being pinned on your stomach, with an opponent on your back, is very BAD! Definitely get something worked out to defend that.

I would say that you should do what is best for you. If that is karate, then do karate.

I was only joking, don't even know Tai Chi. Fighting a guy of that size would be difficult - to say the least. Oh, sorry! I agree with you.

I had not heard of cults like this before. This is very new to me. A terrible thing, no less.

https://www.stretchingusa.com Aaron Mattes has a real good program. Looks like a nice site. The next chance I get, I'll browse it some more. Thanks!

yeah, restraint is the neame of the game. If the situation warrants - Like I'm getting attacked by three guys, which recently happened - I can strike. But under normal circumstances, restrain, restrain, restrain. That is kind of what I assumed, but didn't know for sure. I think I will look into some of the double arm holds and chokes that you mention. The big problem that I have is that I am not very tall, so I think people think they can just mess with me and get by with it. I am a little heavy, so I have some weight and strength, but it's being short that is my disadvantage.

If you can't feel the pressure of a slow developing arm bar before something gets injured, well more power to you, but I certainly feel the pressure being applied, and when I'm ground fighting (training) there's plenty of adrenaline flowing. Back to what someone else said here though....if I get into a fight with someone its because there was no way out of it, and they were the aggressor....they can tap till their hand goes numb, if I lock an armbar on them their arm is getting broken, because its happening fast and I'm not trying to submit them, I'm trying to end the fight. I agree with the way you feel about ending the street confrontation. Especially if there is more of his friends, snap the elbow, and get ready for the next one.

Very good points. Very well put.

I understood your translations, but heck, I didn't know what some of those symbols were called to begin with! Now, what does it all mean??

this is Steve Armstrong http://www.bohans-family.com/Lineage/len/armstrong/armstrong.htm Very interesting. Best wishes to him and his family. Thanks for the link!

Hope it works out well for you!

Sounds great. Congratulations!

Very good points, DokterVet. I think I see what you are saying. My point of view comes from the training (although limited) that I have done with these types of hold/locks, and when showing the lock, the instructor will apply the pressure to the point of the joint not bending, and then do that little extra 'tweak' that doesn't cause damage, but lets you know what comes next. The points you make, however, clear up what we were discussing. Thanks a bunch!

My sentiments exactly.

I disagree with you here. When being held in an armbar, you can apply pressure to the point where there is pain, but not breakage. It still hurts, and that is how they know when to tap out; it hurts, and sends a signal that the next level is breakage. I'm not sure you understand my point. A pain compliance technique is a technique that causes the opponent to tap or to react a certain way based solely on the desire to reduce the pain you are inflicting. Arm bars, kimuras, chokes, straight ankle locks, heel hooks, kneebars, etc. are not reliant on pain compliance. In training and competition, people tap to them because they cause bodily harm/unconsciousness, not because they hurt. Therefore these techniques will transfer very well to a self-defence situation where the person may not feel pain due to addrenaline, but will be incapacitated by major joint damage or unconsciousness. Well, I think I get your point. What I am saying is that on the street, you could apply them to the point of pain, and try to talk down the assailant, before breaking the arm, leg, etc. Why you would trust someone in that case, I don't know, but you could if you wanted to. Does that make sense?

Man, that sounds great. I envy you.

I have not been in the ATA for a while, but since those weapons are learned at that level, you may have better luck checking out some videos from Century or something like that. They may not teach it to you.

Ah, cool. Thanks, Sohan.

The idea of paying per lesson/per class is kind of a turnoff for me. I feel as an instructor I should offer as many classes per month as I can, giving all of the students the same opportunity to excel in the martial arts. In my opinion, it is very difficult to relate a significant amount of useful information to a student in one class a week.

Sounds great. I have a friend that attends Combat Hapkido seminars on a regular basis, and he loves them. He always learns a lot.

The best thing you could do is take up some form of grappling martial art. If one is not available where you live, see if you can get with the high school wrestling team a few times a week.

I feel that the only downfall that wrestling has to BJJ is that wrestlers are constantly working for a pin, and if they get into this mindset in self-defense, it may get them in trouble. Wrestlers try to avoid going to their backs, and will do what it takes to avoid it, whereas BJJers don't mind it, because they aren't conerned with a pin, and they know that they can control their opponent from their, and still submit them at times. However, wrestlers are usually very well conditioned, and this is an advantage for them. But, BJJers are probably similarly conditioned, so it may be a moot point.