bushido_man96

The book is written by Royler, Renzo, Kid Peligro, and John Danaher. It is in the intro written about Royler.

The martial arts have become available to the public in many ways. Sport competition is one of these ways, and the level of competition ranges from regional tournaments to Olympic competition. Often, both forms and fighting competition are available, except at the highest levels, where it is only fighting. My mom studied TKD for a time. She never had any intentions of fighting anyone. Sure, she could defend herself if need be, but never intended on 'dancing a few rounds' with a young whipper-snapper like me. I feel that one of the appealing factors of the martial arts is the opportunity it provides for a person to better themselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Now, don't misunderstand what I am saying. Just because someone doesn't want to be a fighter does not mean that I will let them get by with bad technique and a lack of understanding to defend themselves. I am not about 'watering down' the martial arts. Far from it. I am constantly reviewing what I see in my current school, and thinking of what I would do differently if I were the chief instructor: what material I would teach, what the focus of the classes would be, and etc. The integrity of the arts, no matter which one, is very important to me. I think that everyone who wants to try out the martial arts, should be allowed to have that opportunity, and I will provide that opportunity if I am given the chance. If they don't want to be fighters, then that is ok. What I teach, and what a student takes from the experience, may very well be two different things. And that is ok with me. If we were all the same, it would be a very boring world, wouldn't it?

Lots and lots of reps. Make sure you get a good tight chamber position with your leg, and explode into the kick. Chamber first, then good kick, and re-chamber. You can strengthen the leg by doing straight legged raises while leaning on the wall. Make sure to stretch real good, too.

He may just have some boxing training or something like that. Could be his dad told him that if you hit first, fast, and lots, that you can have a high chance of winning. Ask him and see.

There is a site called trickkick.com, or something like that. Try it out, or google it, to see if I am right.

There is a lot of talk about being able to fight as a direct result of martial arts training, and that is all well and good. However, not everyone who signs up for martial arts is looking to become a fighter. Some are looking for fitness, some for a new physical challenge. Fighting ability shouldn't have to be the only measure of becoming a black belt. I agree that a certain level of self-defense should be attained. A person should be trained well enough that they can get out of a situation of need be. This doesn't mean that they have to dance with someone for 12 rounds, just do enough to get away and get safe. I am not trying to offend anyone, but I am trying to point out that in this new day and age, there can be more motives for doing MA than just fighting, and that if someone is still willing to put in the time and effort to the practice of their style, and doesn't want to be the greatest fighter in the world, then they are earning their rank just as well as anyone.

Interesting. Why is scaled like that?

I hope I didn't come across being offensive I have seen way to many people be called teachers that had no clue but they had a certificate saying they were certified to teach. Oh, no, no offences taken here. You're cool.

Here is a good kicking endurance drill. Take a fighting stance in front of the bag, let's say right leg in back. 1. with right leg, side step to the right, 45 degree angle, like you would be going into a front stance that way, don't let your body face the bag, face the direction you step, but look at the bag. 2. this is the tricky part, to explain, anyways. You kind of do a little switch foot action, bringing the left foot quickly to where the right is, and doing a right round kick to the bag at the same time. After kicking the bag, let your kicking leg kind of push back off the bag, going back to a right leg back fighting stance. 3. at this point, you should have moved about 45 degrees from the starting position. Now, right when your feet reset, you do the side step, and repeat the whole thing again. You should be able to keep this going, around and around the bag. You can build up to 30 second sets on each side, and you will be loving it, I assure you. Hope it don't sound too confusing!

There are several variations of Poker, like 5 card, 7 card, and all the rage right now, Texas Hold 'em. Try Wikipedia or Google to see if you can find some general rules. Personally, I don't play, so that is all the help I can offer. Sorry!

I have just finished reading the opening of the book Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Technique and Theory. In the short part that I have read, there are details on Royler Gracie, who was almost always smaller than his opponents, and is one of the most respected fighters in the world. The book actually discusses how this style can help the smaller fighter neutralize a bigger opponent. With technique, a smaller person can overcome larger opponents. I'd say that BJJ will help you in all of the aspects that you have mentioned. Work hard, and you will reap rewards. Good luck to you!

tufrthanu makes a good point. If the problems you are experiencing are a direct result of the surgery, then you should look into some physical therapy for your back. You could also ask the therapist if they have some exercises you could do that would help improve the side kick motion along with it. My guess is that you will have to seperate the two, however. Heal first, completely, then resume training. Try not to jump back in too soon, or you may re-injure yourself, and be right back on the table.

I don't understand the upperbody stats. Could you elaborate more, so that I could see how much more I need to bench? I weigh 245, and my last set of bench is at 265, I think. I haven't maxed out yet, so I imagine it is better than 265.

When I have a bad day at the school, I try to think to myself: "I will go home, and tomorrow, I will be better for it. I can learn from this, and I will get better." I try not to look at failures as such. Instead, you could call them OTI's; Opportunities To Improve.

The video made it look like a very 'slappy' technique. I don't know that I could use it in sparring, but it looks like it could be a distraction technique to work into my Combat Hapkido training. I will try to work with it and see what I get.

I understand what you are saying, Brandon, and you are probably right. Perhaps I should have said that everyone can be taught methods of teaching. If that is the case, then, it becomes the responsibility of the chief instructor to evaluate each candidate and then decide who can perform the task, and help them cultivate it.

You may need to strengthen the muscles that hold the side kick up. Put your hand on the wall, and point your base foot at the wall. Then, hold your straight leg out at waist level (or as high as you can), and do leg lifts, up and then down, slow and controlled. Then do side kicks from that wall position, without setting the leg down. Make sure your hip turns over, and line up your heel, knee, hip, and shoulder.

First of all, most amateur boxers are kids who often live at home and just go to school. Most karateka who achieve black belt are adults whose lives do not revolve around the dojo, so it takes longer to achieve the same level of fighting proficiency. How many adults do you know who can successfully juggle working 50 hours a week, spending time with family and maintaining their home and other interests, and training martial arts 18+hours a week? Anyway, to correct some faulty math, a boxer training 18 hours a week would actually amass 2808 hours of training in three years. And I noticed that in your karate figure that by granting the Shodans only 4 hours a week of training you are obviously not counting time spent training outside the gym, ie home training, cardio, weights, stretching, etc. I am sure that most who have the dedication needed to reach blackbelt often train on their own at least a few hours a week. In my school it takes a minimum 5-6 years to reach Shodan, and that is at 3 two-hour classes per week, not to mention outside training time which for most is a minimum 3 additional hours of cardiovascular and strength training. My math comes to a minimum of 2340-2808 hours of training to reach Shodan, in our system at least. Seems about the same as your boxer, I believe, though I grant that the boxer is fitter in a shorter period of time. However, IMO if you match up a well-conditioned black belt against a well-conditioned amateur boxer, I would bet my bucks that the black belt would likely win. More tools at his disposal--I should know, I've done both. With respect, Sohan I agree with you here, Sohan. I don't have the time to dedicate to be a professional fighter, which is what most amateur boxers work towards. I can get in 2 or 3 classes per week, 2 days I can get in a solo workout, and I lift 4 days a week, along with some cardio on those. I have a family as well, and I feel like I am taking from them if I spend all of my time training. And I enjoy my time with my family. Actually met my wife in TKD class!

You can add the striking, that's the easy part.

Here, here!

After viewing some videos of this kick, I realize that it is a kick that I don't do. It is very interesting. I noticed that it was not done with the base foot pivoted, but that may have been that style. This kick looks to me like it could hurt the knee, but I could be wrong. I could see slapping that kick up under someone's chin...ouch!

If a tall guy gets taken down, he loses the height advantage.

I think you have it right here. Although I don't practice karate, I have learned much of the same aspects through the study of my art as well. Things like integrity, and perserverance, have helped me in all kinds of ways. I feel like I am a better person today than I was 4 years ago, and in 4 more years, I will be a better person than I am today. And hopefully, I can help a few more people make themselves better on the way.

I don't really believe in destiny, fate, or any of that stuff. I believe that I am in control of my life, not the variables of everyday life, but my variables.

I feel that strength training is very beneficial to all people, not just martial artists. I wish I was as big as some of the lifters that go to the gym I work out at. Hopefully, I will get that way some day. Also, in order to be able to perform plyometric exercises, one must possess a certain level of strength, which can be achieved through weight lifting exercises that focus on strength building. If I remember right, and Sohan can tell me if I am correct on the number or not, you should be able to squat 1.5 times your bodyweight without much trouble before recommending plyometric exercises involving the lower body. I assume the same is true at some level concerning upper body plyos as well, like explosive push-ups and what not. I can bench press over my body weight, but I can't do explosive push-ups very well, so some strength training would help me there, I think.