bushido_man96

That is some really good advice. Whenever any of us receives feedback from a grading we always are told that basics are the foundation of the exam and if you've failed you need to work on them. Everything else falls into place. Exactly. We had one of the highest ranks in the ATA at our school last year, and I was struggling with part of my 2nd degree form at the time, so I asked him for help. He had me "joon be", and when I did so for my form, he said "No. Joon be for Songahm 1" (Which is our white belt form). When I looked at him quizzically, he said "Everything you struggle with in later forms can be fixed by doing the lowest ranked forms", and he was exactly right. By doing my colored belt forms (We call it the Songahm Star, all of our colored belt form patterns laid on "top" of one another form an eight pointed star), I was able to fix my 2nd degree form. Aodhan The foundation is the most important thing.

You could condition them on a Makiwara board.

All I ever saw of dim mak was in Bloodsport.

Hey, Sohan. When you bench, did you say that you have a pretty wide grip? Because I tend to grip the bar just outside of my shoulder width, being a farily narrow grip I suppose. Do you think I should stay with it, or change, or just personal preference?

Well, don't boxers do a lot more running as part of their training? If so, this would give them a pretty good level of cardiovascular endurance, even if the fight itself tends to be more anaerobic.

A word of advise, don't play any pick-up basketball games while healing.

Welcome!

I can relate. I had a 2nd degree black belt in the ATA, and then moved, and had no school. I took up TKD in the TTA, and am now a 2nd degree again. Get to test for 3rd in April. Time in TKD: almost 14 years.

Yeah, that video was bad. I don't know what they hope to accomplish. I've got kids in class that make more contact than that. People want to take all of the risk out of everything, eliminating most of the fun. In my opinion, there is no strategy involved in this kind of fighting. I hope these guys aren't being deceived into thinking that they look good.

Both UseoForce and Jiffy are making well substantiated points. I will not express my feelings either way, but I will say that the main point does still stand: You can't accomplish anything in the martial arts without working hard at it.

That's me. No idea whatsoever.

It is hard to walk away sometimes, especially when you give a guy a chance, and he just won't quit. Then, it seems like he just needs to be dropped, and lets face it....you only got two cheeks to turn!

Sounds like a good plan to me!

Do some cardio work like running or swimming. Try to find a partner to hold target mitts for you, and explain what you want them to do. Who knows, maybe you will end up training your next training partner in this fashion. Good luck in the competition.

NUTS!!! I think that would kill me.

Very nice! And so very true. I love watching the commercial on TV, the latest in my area is Hydroxy-cut. "I lost 45 lbs on hydroxy-cut!" And what they don't tell you is that they scalped their diet, and exercised for AT LEAST 30 minutes a day aerobically. When I see pills and such to lose weight, I just scoff. I don't even mess with protien drinks or muscle building compounds, or anything like that. Not that I don't trust them, I just don't use them.

I've never been a big workout to music guy. I don't mind it, but I can go without as well.

Hey, I work nights, so get to check periodically.

That's kind of cool! I remember when I was at ATA Instructor certification camp. On breakfast of the first day, Grandmaster H.U. Lee and Grandmaster Bong Soo Han (I think is his name?) of Hapkido sat at the table with me and a few others. THAT was cool. I was so quiet though, I could not think of much to say or ask. If I could go back, I would chew their ears off with questions.

Well, as far as that goes, I can't wait until swords become an extension of my body.

You are just going to have to rest it, buddy. You can still workout, but take it easy when you have to pivot, stretch, and what not. 270 spins, not such a good idea at this point. Every night, RICE it: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. Don't worry. I have rolled both of my ankles about 3 times each, and have been in crutches and braces for a while. Crutches lasted about a day for me, and I wore an ankle air cast one time, and then another time a big 'ol boot made just for me ($300). I recovered within about 2 months, and I am fine now. It will be a little weak for a while, making it more suceptible (sp??) to re-injury for a time. Take it easy, and it will heal.

If I was drinking something while reading that comment, you would've owed me a new keyboard. -Protagonist

Technique + Speed = Power Power = 1/2 Mass x Velocity squared

That's nice. I have tried it, but I can't keep my leg out very well, and I can't go down too low . Practice, I guess?

Ok, guys and gals, got a good one for ya here. Start by kneeling on one knee, other leg out behind, like a lunge all the way to the floor. You stand up, do a front kick or axe kick or crescent kick with the leg that was back, then land forward and go to the other knee. Up and down the floor. Hurts like mad! Good stuff.