Withers M.A.A.

One of my other passions.... CARS!!!! I currently drive a Supercharged Black 96 Mustang Cobra. I'm making 430 hp at the wheels which translates to around 500 at the motor witha 15-20% drivetrain loss. This car has every mod under the sun. Here is a rundown of what is done to it: MOTOR: Vortech S-trim Supercharger-V1 Impeller Superchips ECU Module C+L 80 mm MAF Motorsports 36# fuel injectors Steeda Radiator Mac High Flow H-Pipe Mac Cat back exhaust Ford Racing 9mm Spark plug wires Denso Iridium Spark plugs SUSPENSION AND WHEELS: Saleen 18x8.5" rims 255/35/ZR18" Dunlop SP8000 tires Steeda Sport Springs (1 coil cut-rear) Tokico Illuminas (5 way adj.) Steeda Front and rear Swaybars DRIVETRAIN: 4:10 Motorsports Gears Race Concepts Drilled/slotted Rotors w/Hawk Brake pads Stainless Steel brake lines Centerforce Dual Friction Clutch Steeda Tri Ax shifter APPEARANCE: Cervinis Cobra R hood Saleen S351 rear spoiler Cobra Grill insert Clear Corners Tons of Zaino!!! INTERIOR: Corbeau Targa RS Racing seats Grant Racing Steering Wheel Cobra Floor mats Autometer A-pillar Boost Guage Aluminum interior pieces

Lead leg, lead hand.... Start off with a pump sidekick throwing the first kick to the outside of your opponent. This will trick him into following your kick when his hands move to follow it rechamber the same leg now throwing another sidekick into his ribs. This is a variation of the machinegun kick but I've found it to be way more effective. Also, make sure to set your hands up with your feet and your feet up with your hands.

I practice with the nunchaku and esp. the double nunchaku. It is a fun weapon to learn and to teach. However, I don't look at the practical side of the weapon for self defense. Back in the day they were used to defend against samurai swords etc. but now against modern weapons they won't fare as well. For my primary weapon I am liscenced to carry a firearm so that is my weapon of choise, and I can legally carry it. When I teach the nunchaku I tell my students the history of the weapon and tell them we train mostly to keep tradition and to break from the norm. I also do agree with the persons belt being used as a nunchaku so in some sense it may be someone practical to train with. Pete

So if I fill them with sand I'll have less problems??? I did have a problem years ago with an original wavemaster which started to leak. Sand will also make it heavier won't it? That would work even better... Pete

It would mostly be used for the adults but I do want the older kids to use it also. It has also been my experience that the lower ranks esp. during sidekick drills tend to push the bags as oppossed to kicking them thus knocking them over. Have you used the XXL and how is it? Can you knock it over or is it just to big. Does the base get in the way during double roundkicks etc?

I'm opening a new school in a few months. I'm debating about buying the Wavemaster stand alone bag. I was looking at the XXL version which is almost 6 feet tall. Should I buy this one or should I just buy the smaller version? Does the base on the bigger one get in the way for kicking drills? What do you recommend?

Position most of your weight on your back leg. Lift the front leg and execute either a roundhouse or side kick. Slide forward without dropping your kicking leg and repeat. For every hop you throw a kick. Sidekicks work better than roundhouse kicks. Practice so you can mix the kicks up and go from roundhouse to side to hook to ax without ever dropping your leg. The key is the slide forward between each kick.

A spinning hook kick can be one of the most devistating kicks if properly executed. It is one of my favorite techniques. I love to set people up both offensively and defensively and then stuff them with a spin hook. Offensively- Throw a roundhouse kick to the body getting your opponent to drop his hands to block then step down and bring the spin hook around to his face. Defensively- Set the person up to attack you. As he commits side step a bit and catch him in the jaw with the spin hook kick. This kick works well in this scenario but a spin back kick works even better... Pete

I disagree with most of you on this topic. Yes, point fighting is not the most aggressive of fighting out there. As for taking a hit, I've seen more knockouts in point fighting than the UFC. At my old school, it was primarily a competion only school but when they would train in the dojo even in point fighting they hit VERY hard. Point fighting teaches you speed and to put together combinations. Yes it isn't the most realistic way to fight but it is useful. I wouldn't train to only fight for points but if you can combine point fighting with full contact then you can learn a lot. Pete

The Nunchaku is a very flashy weapon. The only problem is that a lot of judges don't know exactly what is going on when you're performing a nunchaku form. Many times your strikes may look like figure 8's and because of this you may not score as high. A double Nunchaku form will have more of an advantage over single but obviously is a lot more difficult. I would say if you're planning on the nunchaku then pick up a pair and go to town. Learn to multiple spinning combos using various strikes having both nunchaku moving at the same time. Also learn to do double figure 8's and learn to keep the nunchaku spinning while you kick. Pete

A few years ago a buddy I was competing with was doing a Katana Form and he did a strike in his form to the throat of an adversary with the edge facing the ceiling. He over emphasized the retraction of the strike gliding the edge under the bottom of the nose causing him to drop his weapon and grab his nose to hold all the blood back. Needless to say he was rushed to the hospital and got numerous stitches. The sad part was this was in blackbelt competition. Pete

EVERYTHING in the Martial Arts is a compromise... Bouncing will keep you lighter on your feet and help you move forward, backward, sideways, etc. much quicker than having your feet planting. From a T.K.D. standpoint it is basically essential. The compromise is by being light on your feet and not having your feet planted you lose power. Stronger stances and firmly planted feet will "usually" generate more power. So I would say bouncing at further ranges to allow for quicker offense and defense but on the inside while you were battling it out a flat foot stance MAY be more beneficial to take your opponent out. summary: bouncing: faster but less power Flat foot: Slower but more power Keep in mind that speed does equal power also. Isn't the Martial Arts so confusing???? lol Plus so much depends on the individual because everyone is different. Best advice for you is to try both methods and see which one works better for you.

I compted many years nationally in forms so I have a bit to contribute here. First off make sure you get a good night sleep, eat a good strong breakfast and wake up with the determination in you mind you are going to perform 120% to your potential. The minute you wake up, you need to focus on your performance. Psyche yourself up as much as possible. Don't go to the torn. and watch other competitors flying around and flipping etc. This will only intimidate you. If you have some great techniques practice them frequently before your division to prepare you and to psych your competitor out a bit. FOCUS is the main ingredient. The second you bow into that ring you need to make it known that ring belongs to you. Don't be overly ****y or arrogant but be firm and decisive. The way you walk is important (keep your head up) eye contact during into etc. Then step back focus AGAIN get into the perfect mind frame where only your form matters and when you are 120% ready take charge.... Good Luck, Pete p.s. EXPLOSIVE POWER IS KEY!!!! Good stances, tight fist, fingers tight in knife hand blocks etc., focused energy and strong kicks

One trick to getting of the line faster with your blitz it to position your back foot somewhat like a sprinter would. Don't over exaggerate it or you will telegraph it. Keep a light bounce shift 70 percent of your weight on your back let and when you're ready just push off the back foot lunging in with a backfist and follow with a reverse punch or kick. Make sure your backfist comes straight out from your shoulder. a lot of people tend to jump in the air to blitz but this leaves you way more open for a sidekick counter. Remember the shortest distance between 2 points is a straight line so keep it as linear as possible. Practice short sprints of 2 to 3 steps VERY often to work your speed and timing. Good luck, Pete

How good of a kicker are you??? I love to stuff people with sidekicks whenever they charge at me. Try setting them up so they charge with a backfist or jab and stuff them with a sidekick in their ribs. One solid kick will either drop them, give you a point, and/or intimidate them from attacking that way again. Works for me all the time. Pete

I ordered a kicking shield and a pair of hand targets from http://www.martialartssupermarket.com. The prices they had were great!!! Has anyone dealt with them before and how is their service and do they ship promply?

Well as a coach and competitor on the Naska National circuit I've seen and done my share of weapons forms. If you're at an open even then most times a fancy form will win over a tradition. (not always but VERY often) So keep that in mind. If you're a great kicker and have fast hands and can put together combos that combine kicking with hand motions then kamas are a great idea for you. (remember this is open competition not reality against a sword etc. where your foot would be cut off if a kick was thrown) If you practice a traditional style and are proficient with the Bo then modify that form and ad some extra figure 8 motions preferably with a spin etc. My experience shows that these are the 2 primary weapons of choice among the best competitors in the U.S. Good Luck, Pete

Thanks guys for welcoming me... So far it seems everyone here is very nice which is what I like to hear. So there are other firearm enthusiasts here... thats a plus. I'm mostly into the handguns my favorite of which is my Sig P226 40 cal. Martial Arts is my first passion, followed by fast cars, and then firearms. I'm in the process of opening my own Dojo by August. I already bought most of my equipt. but if anyone has some they want to donate that would be nice too... hehe I was a national competitor or Krane and Naska in the blackbelt Mens American Forms division. If anyone wants some pointers on forms competition let me know and I'll do whatever I can to help. Pete

I'm in the process of opening my own M.A. school and I'm looking for good deals on equipt. Anyone know some good sites?

Hey everyone just wanted to say hi. I'm new to this site. I'm a Kenpo and T.K.D. stylist. I love Sport Karate and am currently in the process of opening my own dojo. My interests include my Supercharged 96 Mustang Cobra which has practically every mod under the sun... And I'm also into firearms. I have a few handguns and also an AR-15 assault rifle.