bushido_man96

I agree with you whole-heartedly here. In my situation, I plan on learning everything that I can to help myself out, and then if I ever do leave, I will take with me not only what I have learned, but also what I have learned that I don't want to be associated with.

That's an interesting way of doing it...I haven't thought too much about it, but I think we're probably 7/8 or just all the way turned by the time we hit. This is pretty much how our strikes hit home as well. Sometimes we do vertical punches as well, and I feel like they don't get quite as much power. I don't know if it is because there is less twist involved, or if it is a psychological thing with me.

My black belt is starting to wear a little around the area of the knot, but that is all. I will probably end up with a new one within a year, so it won't wear much more.

Very nice article. You have produced a wonderful overview of the arts. I know that my patience has improved quite a bit from my MA training, most of it coming from working with kids. Although some would say I am still impatient!

My feeling on the chucks is that they make a great show, but have too many weaknesses if you come across a weapon of any length. If someone came at me with chucks, I would take off my jacket or shirt if I had to, and try to get it caught in the chains and yank it away. However, I could be wrong, and with proper training, maybe it could be a very viable weapon. I do feel strongly that it does not match up well against other weapons. Just my opinion. They are fun and flashy to watch, though. Fun to use, if you can keep from smacking yourself.

That's why I always carry a pair of footlong sticks and a length of cord in my pocket. Never know when they'll come in useful. (Just kidding, by the way) Sound like a regular MacGuyver! Build something in a few minutes, and you will be safe!

Street Fighter 2. It is an anime based off of a video game.

i have no idea, we have been having problems for months now, and I havn't heard any word of him even being aware of it, but I'm not sure. To bushido_man96, the IOGKF as a whole is far from a McDojo. But it is true that the US cheif instructor is attempting to turn it into one. He is making sure he gets money in all sorts of needless ways. He even rose the price to an insane amount for a Seminar with Higaonna Sensei, the head of our org. The email he sent out to the blackbelts eligable to go was written like an annoing car commercial you hear on the radio. It is not my intention to offend anyone, and I apologize if I have done so. It just sounds like the organization trying to bump up how much money they make. Make the colored belts pay higher dues, but don't let them count as members. And when that much money comes into play, over that many people, it kind of raises some red flags. It sounds kind of fishy to me. If things are different in Okinawa, then it sounds like this may be the beginning of a big disagreement, and another political arguement and break-up in the world of martial arts. I sincerely hope this does not happen, and hopefully the situation gets resolved soon.

yup. Man, I would love to try Muay Thai, but there is nowhere around here. Maybe if we move some day...but then I will be an old Muay Thai guy, so probably won't be fighting much.

Hmm, don't know how to help you there. Check with the registrars office on campus about places that offer grants, and tell them your interests. You would want the college to know, especially if you do it on campus. Also, check to see if you could offer an MA class through the college for credit hours to the students....good way to get interest in arts from students.

Sounds like you are doing well by them. I was not sure how your ranking methods worked, so I was curious about learning more than one form. If I lived close to you, I would come work with them and you for something different with no problems. I have a question for you. What is the difference between the MDW TKD that you did, and the TKD you do now?

I kind of agree with elbows_and_knees here. You can do a back fist two ways, flick it or follow through. The jab could be done this way also. Just because it is usually used as a setup, doesn't mean it can't be used to finish, either.

I just don't think Diego is at that level yet. Hughes is a manimal.

I'm not in college, and I still don't have money! Where you going to school....I may have to relocate.

You don't rotate your wrist for an upset punch? That is different. We rotate it, starting with the knuckles up, instead of down. Try it, you can get some good snap.

Go get it, shotokan-kez! Good luck to you!

I think your concerns are verified, and maybe you should check out another location. As for the long warm-ups, they are ok, as long as they are doing something TKD related, like basics or kicks and stance work and stuff. As for starting late, that should not be acceptable practice. I would look around.

Glad to hear you are getting back in the groove! Sometimes we just need a little break, eh?

I am honestly from the middle of nowhere, Hays, Kansas. Population, approx. 15,000....20,000+ when college is in session. I am originally from Colby, KS, population 5000. My graduating class had 98 people in it.

I am not familiar with chun kuk do. If you could give me some info, or a web site, I would appreciate it. And also, welcome to the forums!

Many states also hold yearly games, and may include martial arts competition. Here in Kansas, we have the Sunflower State Games every year. Missouri has the Show Me Games, etc. See if your state does this as well.

This is a good tactic for teaching beginners, but I would be wary of creating a bad habit with a pre-pivot. If they continue to pre-pivot and it turns into a habit, this is a major telegraph. Instead of pre-pivots, I have my students chamber for the kick, first without pivoting the grounded foot, and then with a pivot, so that they can feel the difference in their hips. Then I have them just practice the chamber (the proper chamber with the pivot) without kicking, so they can get used to pivoting and picking their leg up in one motion. I do the same for side kick, and I have them practce the same at home, telling them to do 5 chambers only before practicing full kicks. After a week or two of this, most students develop pretty darn good kicking mechanics (or at least a good understanding of what needs to happen to throw a proper kick, even if the physical execution needs some more practice to get down, which is understandable.) Yeah, this is good advise as well. I use the pre-pivot if they are having trouble turning their foot all the way around, and it is also great for people with knee problems. It can telegraph, but if the other fighter is busy watching your feet, you can probably get something else in on them.

I will, just hope I can dig up a training partner.

Contracts are not a bad thing, if they are used properly. There should be options for signing 3, 6 or 12 month terms. Usually, a beginner can sign up for 3 months without any reservations. The year long contracts will usually be picked up by those who are already full members, and have been for some time, and know they will continue to do it. There are people who have bad experiences out there, and this happens with everything in life. If we never went to another restaurant because of the service we got at one, we would have trouble finding places to eat on dates!

Welcome to the forums! Glad you are here. As for your question, I would start with reading up on meditation and things such as this. It takes years to attain the mastery of what you are describing, so you have a ways to go. Be patient, and try to find out where you could do some training. Good luck!