bushido_man96

This is a good suggestion. Forming a branch school can be very beneficial for both you and your instructor, and you can network, and have interschool tournaments and work outs, all kinds of fun stuff.

Let us know how it goes.

This is a real problem, the breathing. Improper breathing kills you in a form.

I have worked with ATA's rebeakable boards. They are ok to work with, but for a testing I prefer wood. Also, you get a little leeway with wood, whereas on the rebreakables, you have to hit pretty much dead center. They are great for targeting, though. I do have a big, heavy, rubberized rebreakable, and it is a BEAR to break on. It may be like the ones you were describing, Aodhan, that are from Century or AWMA. It says Break-Up on it. Really tough one.

Those are both very good options of self-defense. Most people think self-defense is just coming to blows and winning after someone starts a fight with you. There is so much more to it than that. You have good suggestions here.

The strategy is sound, but there are other possibilities as well. Recognizing another fighter's style is one thing...knowing your own is another. You can't be an effective counter fighter if you never do it. Just because someone is PS, and you realize they are, doesn't mean you can counter everything they have. You have to know your strengths, and make your opponent play into them. Then, when you find their weakness(es), you adapt your strengths to take advantage of them. Also, I don't think that the style you describe is necessarily slow. It more like a "calculating" style than a slow style.

That slam was nasty. The TKD guy didn't pull of any punches or kicks, other than that goofy jump kick attempt. Bad idea.

two: Kayla, 10 and Kendall, 9 months.

If a good form has a couple of good, well placed kihaps, then it is great. But too many, aye.

See, that's what I'd like to go to. White-Yellow-Blue-Brown-Black, or something. If we Americans weren't so needy and always seeking a pat on the back, I'd go to white-brown-black. I don't know if it is so much about needing a 'pat on the back,' but more about haveing that many ranks to help with setting short term goals, and then establishing objectives to reach those short term goals. The rank systems make that a little easier to manage. All of the colored belt ranks add up to the long term goal of black belt. Also, if you have curriculum for each of the belts, then no matter how many you have, as long as something is being taught and learned, then it is beneficial. Exactly. Everyone always says "Oh, the rank doesn't matter as long as you have the knowledge", but everyone loves to bash the belt system. If I had a belt testing every month, people would absolutely SCREAM "McDojo!!". But, if I had 36 different belts and took 3 years to get to BB, what's the difference between 36 belts and 6 belts with 6 stripes each? Aodhan Exactly.

Congratulations!

I agree. The yell is supposed to surprise and emphasize a technique. There is no surprise and no emphasis if it is done on every technique.

If you feel that you and everyone else is working hard, but not getting cut slack, and you feel good about your progession, and the instructor points out errors and helps to improve them, you should not be worried.

UseoForce is right, I think you are wanting wingspan instead of reach. Spans are usually close to height, but vary at times.

Not sure what to think of that. They weren't impressive, not the little that I saw. Their punches were more like flails.

Grappling is a great idea, and UseoForce has made very good points. Your karate training will help you implement striking, so don't worry about the wrestling's lack thereof.

ps1: Things like indominable spirit, respect, honor, trustworthy, critical thinking, strategy and so on. I say once a black belt (or tan or whatever belt) always a black belt. There are many grandmasters who aren't able to do what they used to do...does that mean they are no longer grand masters? I understand what you are saying here. And I agree, to an extent. As long as the mental attitude is carried on, then I agree. But there are people who do not do this.

I know exactly what you mean. I have the same problem. What I try to do is draw them in, bait them with a feignt, and then see how they react. Set the bait again, and respond accordingly. I had a post on sparring tall people a while back. It can be frustrating, but it can be done. Working your angles and using your timing will be your biggest assests. When I spar in class, I do a lot of blocking, and let them move in on me, and then I just start slugging away. I am not much for countering, but I like to block.

Thanks, White_Tiger.

Gotta love governing bodies, don't ya? Nothing but red tape and jumping through hoops to get things done. Oh, and the waiting.... Not to mention the politics involved.

I figured it out. In the ATA handbooks, it is written as neh-reyo chagi, and the translation is axe kick. Hope this helps!

I am sure you are not doing it wrong; it is likely an organizational difference. That is the only problem I have with this group of forms, is that EVERYONE has taken them and messed with them, making them their own.

Thanks!

This is how many medieval stylists have to recreate medieval systems. Also popular in ancient Greece for the games were boxing and wrestling. Likely, pankrationist would have combined the two styles, and formed a hybrid style....the first MMA events in history!

Me and my instructor agree that if you say you are a Black Belt, but don't practice anymore, then you aren't one anymore.