bushido_man96

Cool....he did have a quick backfist!

Very nice. Gotta love the braggarts!

Very welcome!

That is an interesting outlook on the subject. Welcome to KF, by the way!

Just like anything, practice makes perfect.

pants sagged to the butt level won't impair footwork - they can move. The problem comes in when they try to raise the knees - running, kicking, etc. The lowered crotch seams won't allow them to do it. I've only seen a few situations where the pants actually fell down. Ah, I see. Good to know. Being a kicker, I also agree with your idea about kicking feeling unnatural for untrained people. It takes a while for the trained person to become comfortable with using them proficiently, and having the confidence to use them without thought.

depends on the kick and the target area...Ideally though, you don't want to be there. For example, if a tiip comes at you, either scoop it, parry it down or shuffle back so you are just out of its reach. Ok, that makes a little sense. What exactly is a "tiip?" It makes sense that you don't want to be there, but how do you do this and still gain an angle or edge on the opponent?

It is very difficult to mimic the adrenaline dump in training. When this dump occurs, it seems like everything changes, and you have to be ready to react. It is also difficult to determine how people are going to react to certain techniques during a fight. It is never safe to assume anything.

When you think about it, the style dictates how you train. Sure, you can say "If you train like this on your own..." but let's be real - most people go about their normal lives after they leave the school. They WON'T do the extra training. In a typical sport fighting class, the very nature of the training will get you in competition shape (or close to it) for that event. It's part of the style. With the exception of capoeira, I don't see many traditional schools that do this. Consequently, yes the style does make a difference. Very good point. I am not good at groundfighting, because my style does not cover it. And try as I might, a decent grappler is going to take me down if he really wants to. I have been trying to learn a little grappling, but on your own, the road is long..... It is also difficult for me to get that extra training in after the classes that I normally attend, as elbows_and_knees mentions. The best way to combat this limitation is for the instructor of the style to adapt and add different training.

I just purchased this book, and it came in the mail this last week. I flipped to the back of the book, to check out these moves of this form, and it shows some very cool interpretations. It shows the hooking punch used as a choke hold, using the stepping and twisting motion to cinch up and control the opponent, and then the staff block is used as a stepping out move, and the hands go forward to throw the opponent to the ground. There are several other applications as well, and this book is pretty indepth, with good photos, even though they are black and white. The more I learn, the more I will probably post.

Excellent. I haven't gotten a new book in a while, let me know if it is any good. Thanks. Will do. All right, I got the book, and have begun to read it. There is lots of interesting history information in it, along with some things about Gen. Choi Hong Hi that I did not know. So far, it is very interesting. I glanced ahead to some to the advanced forms, just to take a peak, and it is like, wow, it will totally change the way that I train TKD. I will keep you posted.

Very nice post, patusai. You make a very good point about how the masters tested their techniques. Whether it comes down to fighting or randori, these high speed training/fighting with a resisting partner/opponent is where the true test comes in. However, kata practice in a controlled environment, including bunkai training, is a good way to start training for these advanced situations.

Good story. Pride is a terrible thing. I got my 1st dan in the ATA in a little over 2 years, and worked my way up to 2nd dan. When I left my hometown and joined a new school, I had to start over, and take almost another 2 years to get to my new 1st dan. Perhaps this was a blessing in disguise, after what I see here about the negativity received about 2 year black belts. I do know that if I were to run my own school ever again, I would probably have testing cycles about every 3 to 4 months, and do a lot of things differently than my instructor does now.

I think that forms practice is a very important tool in the study of martial arts. There are many good things that come out of forms practice. However, that does not mean that those styles that do not rely on kata training are lacking in their style. Each has its own way of training, and each has something to offer. I love practicing my TKD froms, and I feel that they are very important to the art of TKD, if they are practiced for the right reasons, and are analyzed in order to find the applications therein.

This is a great statement. Many high ranks don't think like this. It is important to always approach each class with a fresh mind, so that you can always find something new to learn.

Actually, I have a few questions, and they can be to anyone in general that deals with these things. 1. Do you teach bunkai to the junior (children) students? 2. Can you give me an idea of how you go about your bunkai practice? 3. What is the difference between your "junior" syllabus and "adult" syllabus, if you have this seperation? I am sure I will have more questions pop up as answers to these come in, and I appreciate your input. Thanks in advance!

I would like to know how the absorption of a kick works in Muay Thai.

Very nice analogy, Steve_K.

Welcome to KF, sonofkanga!

I haven't had one of those in years. I may have to go back to them.

Any grappling style would go well to help your groundfighting skills. Just take a look around your area to see what is offered.

Mine is too, but usually I punch it a while, and then come and make some posts!

Very interesting. I may have to try it sometime. Here is a good one. You grab a partner, and you both get into pushup position, facing each other. Pick a number, like 5. Then, one person begins, doing 5 pushups, while the other waits in the up position. When done, the other person does 5 while the other waits. Then the other goes again, doing 4. You keep this going, alternating and waiting, all the way down to 1, and then you go back up to 5. It is a great workout, and a good way to push each other.

Check here: http://www.karateforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=8082 The Martial Arts Research Library sticky.