bushido_man96

Quote parkerlineage: so we're both the opposite of you and your brother - light and fast. Hey, c'mon, I aint too slow! Got stuck with the leg up high, huh? That stinks, especially when everyone is around to see. I was fortunate; it was just me, my brother, and a few friends around as witnesses.

Me and my younger brother, who is about 5'10" and weighs 300 some pounds decided to change our sparring rules one time. We allowed head contact with the hands (light contact, acknowledging good hits), and we decided to allow throws and takedowns. I am 5'7", and 245, so I aint gonna wrestle this boy too much. Anywho, we go along, and I get pretty good shots with some head kicks, and some high hand strikes. He gets good hand strikes, and believe me, he can kick, too. I got taken down a few times, so we were pretty even. Well, I am going along, and I get to chasing him with a combo, and end up with my right leg set behind his right leg, and I had my hips low, and my right arm around his chest. So, I try to hip throw the guy.....very bad idea!!!! I tried to push once, then another time, then I looked at him, and he smiled, like this: , then proceeded to hip toss me about 5 feet in the direction of his choice! In the end, I gave him the match, and we had a good laugh about the whole thing. Does anyone else have any good natured, laugh-at-yourself sparring stories like this one? Share 'em, if you like!

The first time I ever put one on, me and my brother did it so we could go with harder contact, and just beat the pulp out of each other. It was strange, because we actually didn't hit each other that much, and we did a lot of blocking and some countering. We took them off, and then went at each other again, and really went harder and meaner than we did without them. Kind of weird, but that's the way it went. We didn't hurt each other too bad, however.

That is an interesting response, Shinobu. I like some of it, and disagree with a few ideas. Bruce Lee was a proponent of the idea that the best form of practice for an event is the performance of that specific event. I do feel that this goes along with streetfighting, just like anything else. Now, I don't want to be misunderstood. I feel that the repetive practice of martial arts techniques, inlcuding basics, forms, and self-defense segments can all help us to be able to better defend ourselves should the situation arise. However, if one has never been confronted before, then the initial feelings of anxiety, adrenaline, and what-not can set in. It is very difficult to train these feelings in the dojo/dojang. However, the ideal place to experience them is on the street itself. I don't condone this behavior, I just accept the fact that there are somethings that are hard to account for unless you have direct experience with them. As far as things that have changed in street fighting over the last 1000 years or so, the biggest impact has been the firearm. Once a gun becomes involved, I don't refer to it as a street fight, it is now a gun fight, or just plain shooting.

Bruce Lee did Wing Chun, didn't he? I wonder where he got the idea to yell so much.

My span is about 67", and my pathetic reach is between 23 and 24 inches. Yeah, me!

The recommended testing is like a probationary period. I'll have to learn a new form, and then test on it again withing the 6 month period to test for 3rd decided. So, essentially, I have to test twice to get to 3rd decided within a 6 month time span.

I always liked the boxer kick, and a little variation where I bring my knees in to my chest, and then poke my feet up through my partner's circled arms (if that makes sense).

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.