bushido_man96

No, I think you understand. We are just having different views, I think. I kind of relate it to like sparring. The best way to get good at sparring is to spar. However, it is important to know the basics before you start sparring. I am also not discounting the importance of drill practice in any way.

I like to use books and tapes as references, not as sources to learn primarily.

I suck at basketball. Thanks for the advice, guys...I've been taking it easy, but it twinged when I tripped coming down an escalator and I was worried it was going to go out. It's so weird, though...yesterday, I was really hyper, and I jumped up six steps from the ground, tripped, and caught myself with no problem...sigh...still taking it mostly easy, I suppose... Hey, I stink at Basketball, too, but it didn't stop me from going out and looking foolish.

Do some active/passive and PNF stretching. Those should help you get past the last little point.

Oh, yeah, good stuff! I like the pain!.... .........except that I thought I was gonna cry like a girl when my finger got smashed!

The same could be said for karate. Lots of variances there, too.

For me, it was a few colored belt forms. Couldn't get them down, and then, right before testing, they were there.

Playing taps for you.

Those are good questions, parkerlineage. I wonder if it is mental, or have to do with physical toughness, or something else.

This is true, but once you get into performing the event, you will experience these events anyways.

These are some great exercises, guys. Thanks a lot!

I have heard of the technique. I have seen it called the "ox jaw." Never trained it, though. Punch, knifehand, ridgehand, palm strike, spearhand is about all we do for hand strikes.

Do a google search of the area, and see what you come up with.

Good reply, cathal. I think it is hard to get a good feeling vs. multiple opponents with a ground fighting art, as it tends to get very one-on-one.

Good luck to you!

Hey, that's cool! Your hands are pretty quick. How long have you been practicing that?

although you make a good point I have to disagree with you. I think its better to understand the technique well then just practice defense against certain attacks, or as you say "practice of that specific event. No one attacks the same and people are completely unprecitable in a fight. There are so many "specific events" that you can not possibly cover every single one and how they variate from person to person. In my personal experience it helped me more to understand techniques than practicing a certain event. You are right, but allow me to explain a little further. Take football, for example. The best way to get better at football is to play football. Now, I do agree that learning the basic techniques of football, like stances and tackling principles, is very important to learning the game. But, specifically practicing the event will help you excel at the event.

THAT was the coolest thing I have ever seen! So COOL.

It sounds like you have a legitimate beef there. I had to start over at the new school I was attending, but I skipped a few ranks here and there. If I were you, I would maybe find another school. Especially when high ranks start asking questions about technique, that should raise some flags.

Bring a friend to class, and have them bring a friend, and have all of the other students do the same. You should spark some interest that way.

Not sure about the six ways to use the hips. Twisting for power would be one, I guess. Fulcrum for a throw would be another. Not sure what the rest would be.

quote Shui Tora: What? The Roundhouse or sidekick? The round kick.

If you can teach a level of control, I don't think any of these ages are too young. Kids start wrestling at around the age of 7, if not younger. The problem is teaching the joint locks/submissions. If you can get them to control them, it won't be a problem.

Congratulations! And I am sure your instructor is very confident in your skill level and abilities, and has no doubt that you will not only excel, but prove to be a good example to other students at the school. By the way, I like the way you describe your school and instructor. It sounds like he truly enjoys showing people the way.

I hear you there. There are only two schools were I live. One is karate, the other is the TKD school I go to.