bushido_man96

I have been working on some different stuff lately, working out solo at home. I have been getting frustrated with myself lately, because I feel that I am not where I should be for as long as I have been working with the MAs. Class always gets me tired, even after being in my current dojang for over 4 years now. I just feel like I am working my butt off, but not getting anywhere. It feels like everything is a struggle. I am not trying to run myself down; this is just how I feel. Plateau, I guess The 4th dan in the school says everything I do looks good, technique wise and all, and another of the 1st dans says he even looks to me for technique comparison. I am not trying to brag here, because I still feel like I am struggling with techniques at times, and sometimes don't feel good about them. Does this happen to anyone else? I guess it is a good thing, this way I don't become complacent in my training. Just curious on what eveybody's take on this is.

This is good when going from something like Shotokan to BJJ---they are two different arts. But when going from one shotokan school to another, you might expect that your rank would be somewhat recognized. I went from one TKD school to another, and started from scratch. It did not bother me, because I knew where I stood, as far as ability and technique. But I can understand why it bothers some people. Sure, it is just a rank, and everyone says it doesn't matter. But when you work that hard to achieve something, I can understand why some people get upset, when they have a great achievment like that discounted by someone else. Yeah, I suppose I can see your point, but I can also see the point of the instructor that won't recognise the grade. It is the ones who get defensive about it that bother me. "Well, the black belt is not in my style, and that style doesn't do this or that, so blah, blah, blah." When it is ego in the way, that bothers me.

I know that we would all like to meet our heroes, but consider this. We are heroes ourselves to someone. Whether we teach, or are a high rank in the class, or just lend a low rank that works hard every day, we are a hero to someone. There is someone who looks up to you. They may be young, and you may think that they just don't know any better, but to them, you are it. My point? Lead by example, and always help, even if it is just in idle conversation, let alone teaching or helping with technique. And the best part is, they will know there hero. (I was feeling inspirational. Done for a while now! )

Hey, you can't be ashamed of that. He was an awesome quarterback. The only quarterback to be on the only team to win 4 consecutive AFC championships. Also great accolades as far as the record books go, and he was no slouch in the USFL.

That sounds about right. To be good at anything, you have to work hard at it. Just the way it is. I tell my daughter that there are two ways to do things: right, or again.

This would be very nice. Maybe this is the way it should be. But there are some positives to organizations. It is just that the negative always seems so overbearing, that we forget about the positives.

Your spiritual beliefs should really not be too much of a concern, unless you get into a dojo that has its own sprititual beliefs that would conflict.

Very cool info. On the back of Black Belt Juijitsu, written by Machado, is a little quote by Norris. Wikipedia stated he was a black belt.

My last set of 1 is at 270.

Good stuff!

Hey, another SCAer! Hooray! I like the good ole long sword, as in the Medieval European style. And a nice, big shield, too.

Yeah, now if I could just retain it all.

This is good advice as well.

I have this problem as well. All of a sudden, every inanimate object just gets in my way!

Break down your forms, and give each segment some attention. This will help to get trouble areas down. As for sparring, doing round robins will help to build some stamina. Try to work in some cardio work as well. Best of luck!

You have written novels? Can I find them somewhere? I'd love to read them. Yes, you can find them in my room. I currently have a 650ish page novel that I'm sending out to agents in an attempt to get it published, a 500 page sequel to that novel, and 100 pages of the third book in the series, which is in progress. Hopefully, you could find them in a year and a half or so. Cool. I'll get some titles from you, and I will look for them!

This, and also alsey made a good point about transitioning your feet around and behind the opponents. These are my guesses as well.

Quote: It was created by a group of businessmen who hired Nakayama as best as I can tell, was then a 1st Dan under Funakoshi and "JKA" promoted him to 9th dan and set him up as "Chief Instructor" of the JKA. Wow, he was jumped from 1st dan to 9th? Wow.

I think I heard a guy who works for the PD here talk about it. He said the bukai included a lot of breaking, and was pretty self-defense related. I might be wrong, thinking he said this and said something else. Check it out though, and keep us posted!

Cool info, Jiffy. I have messed around a little with grappling, and wrestled one year in middle school. I try to keep my head, tuck my chin when the get to my back, and try to work something, but I just don't know enough yet. Going to go for it, though!

We have students that grapple or came from grappling schools & have learned there are some arts out there that can deal with a rush, single/double leg takedown, sweep or throw. Those types of grappling techniques have weakness like any other martial art technique especially when taken out of the octagon or sporting arena. The effectiveness of counter grappling is inherent to the amount of pain/damage inflicted preventing the grappler from completing the takedown. The obstacle in demonstrating moves casually with saftey in mind is the grappler doesn't acknowledge the technique & follows through with the takedown. Then dismisses the move as ineffective. When applied with intent counter grappling is vicious. The quality of a Hung-Ga practitoner is kinda judged by the stability of the stance & footwork. Royce Gracie was able to do this quite effectively in the first UFC's.

I don't think pain is an emotion, I think it is elicited by certain factors, but the body produces endorphins to suppress it. Some people release more endorphins than others, which enables them to tolerate more pain than others. I believe this: some people have a high pain tolerance. Some don't feel pain as much as others. Some ignore it. And some like it.

This is good when going from something like Shotokan to BJJ---they are two different arts. But when going from one shotokan school to another, you might expect that your rank would be somewhat recognized. I went from one TKD school to another, and started from scratch. It did not bother me, because I knew where I stood, as far as ability and technique. But I can understand why it bothers some people. Sure, it is just a rank, and everyone says it doesn't matter. But when you work that hard to achieve something, I can understand why some people get upset, when they have a great achievment like that discounted by someone else.

I got to grapple a little bit today with a black belt friend of mine for a little while at class tonight. He is in the National Guard, and they do some BJJ in basic training, so he knows something about it, and he has wrestling experience as well. We rolled a while, and he was trying to work a key lock on me I think, but he couldn't get it. I tried to shoulder lock him, but it wasn't working for me. A few times he tried a headlock or a triangle, but I wiggled free. But he kept control of my arm for the most part. He then got to my back, and had me stretched out and both hooks on. I felt that, but it wasn't enough to tap, so I grabbed a finger to loosen his lock, and then we broke. I felt ok about this, but I felt like I was on the run all of the time. He didn't submit me, though, so that was kind of a personal victory. Any help or suggestions on what to work on would be greatly appreciated. I have a long way to go, and he is going to start working with me a little. I am looking forward to learning some real good grappling someday. Thanks, all!

Congrats! You can do it!