wolfen

another issue with shoes is the added weight... it doesn't seem like much but it can throw your kick off by a lot if you aren't used to it.

what would be an english translation of shuto? sorry for my ignorance... we use very little Japanese... Only sparring calls (Osu and the like) and kata names (which for some reason are named differently than all of the rest of the kata forums call them... but they are the same katas).

I still do pushups (and much better than I used to). I haven't done quite so many or in a very regular fashion (pushups have never been my favorite; I HAVE though used other exercises to target the same muscle groups), so that day didn't affect me quite as much as it could have. In any case, both my legs and arms have MUCH more explosive power now (and pushups/squat jumpies are not a real problem anymore).

I think he could have given a little more accent to the slowed moves... they lacked a well defined end... that's just me being hypercritical though.

yeah but gatorade is not an energy drink... it's a sports drink. plus it has the backing of GSSI (aka - GOD).

home-made clam chowder (new england) and neighbor-made albondigas (meatball soup)

you may want to strike that part about Ibuprofen. I have seen a guy take 3200 mgs of it and wonder why his hands were numb/tingly. I use it a lot myself, but I do so with a knowledge of what it does.

As a student athletic trainer, I have discovered this marvel of the modern man. I have two varsity football players using it (I'm trying to find out who so that I can talk to them about what is clearly labelled on th back of the bottles). As this also is an athletic community, what have you heard about it and have you seen any real benefits?

first: someone mentioned rowing... even using an ergometer ("erg machine"/"indoor rower") is very good for the whole body as long as you use prper form second: I admire your persistance (thread starter) and hope that your routine continues to be effective. third: on a personal note, does anyone notice that it is a lot easier to do a workout with someone who is a little bit stronger/faster/better than you? fourth: yeah, I sucked at pushups back in the day... then my coach (for crew/rowing) had me do 515 of them and 1545 squat jumpies in the course of a day (I was late getting down from my room). final:I personally like body weight exercises (including ankle weights) and for striking practice I throw a 2.5 pound medicine ball at a rehab trampouline and strike it on rebound.

"With all do respect, if you think schools are not as dangerous as the so called "streets" you might want to think again." at one point in my high school career (at a private college prep no less) I had someone try a throat strike with the full intent that I would at least be severely injured. Thankfully, he was slow and had no idea what he was doing. In return, I punched him a few times and pulled a pressure point in order to subdue him. the point is, while the streets tend to be more dangerous, school's can have issues too. To reply to the original question: psychological control is important in all fights now (in schools and on the streets). If your safety is in question, you MUST defend yourself, however, you also have to judge what the minimum damage you can do. with this in mind, I have assumed you don't start the fights or in any way abuse your art. If you are abusing your learnings, then STOP.

for forms and (sometimes) one-steps we use ribs. sparring you guard your head. when sparring, if I get a chance to actually chamber before a standard punch. I chamber to the high ribcage/low shoulder region.

often a sensei will allow you to move up to the appropriate level after your first testing (after a sabbatical). If not, try to see it as an opportunity to hone your skills and fill gaps in your knowledge

I find that kata open ones eyes to new applications of techniques, unless you are very creative. They also hone discipline (if performed correctly). It would be awesome to spar with my first sensei (though I am sure he would still whip me). My second sensei moved to Georgia so I can no longer drop in during his classes

I had a crappy hook thrown at me today. I wasn't really expecting it so I used a quick, simple side block/grasping block. Strict grasping requires more precision and is easier to screw up; whereas, a strict side block requires a punch or sweep to prevent further attack (I don't like punching people and as an ATSA I worry about concussions). I moved into an elbow lock from there. Maybe not a textbook answer, but it happened.

that's why it is good to be a memeber of a high-quality low-quantity organisation with accomplished members of several styles who work together for a combined curriculum centered around self-defense (at least for the lower levels) and mental focus. almost NO politics whatsoever. To the original question, in my organisation it takes anywhere between 4 and 8 years depending on instructor (they grade differently) and student (some people are slower than others). average time is right around 6 years.

stretch your quads and hamstrings like a madman. There isn't really anything else to it.

If you are going to use a high protein diet (either for muscle mass or against fat mass) make sure to drink a LOT of water. I know this may seem contradictory to the idea of losing weight, but high protein consumption leads to dehydration. Even if you do drink a lot of water, know that you'll urinate it out once you get well hydrated. Maybe I sound too worried about water, but I have seen what crash diets (in the athletic sense) can do to people.

he takes about 2-4 feet out and roles it (perpendicular to the rolling in the box) or doesn't if he is rushed (threads cross on their own when nott controlled; get two or three threads crossed and say a fold in the tape and it will take some serious effort to rip). it is like a short rope-type thing; mostly for grappling, joint locks, and binding hands. It wouldn't work so well against someone armed, but for unarmed it is useful. BTW - 1.5 inch Johnson & Johnson brand "Coach" or "zonas" tape are ideal

i have a friend who can use athletic tape as a viable weapon

^you could jab it into someone's eye maybe this isn't too odd but if you snap one of the sides off of a pair of scissors, the remaining side works as decent knife.

they would not trigger an episode of pain or an injury, but they increase chances by straining the bone at the attachment.

i think that's it. that sounds right. I normally just say proprioception so i tend to forget the full name.

I train in toushi kan, but my organisation has several styles. we allow sparring at 7th kyu (out of 8 kyu) (except for sample sparring with the sensei which happens 1 time after about 5 classes) we highly encourage sparring at 6th to advance past 5th you must spar to your sensei's satisfaction to advance to 2nd and higher ranks you must meet the requirements of the panel of sensei(s) (9 sensei(s) all 3rd dan or higher, i believe the highest was 7th dan in shotokan and a 5th dan in toushi kan (one of shigeki umemoto's own students)). This requirement is not bad when you have a rather strict sensei. the rules for basic sparring (for 7th through 5th) are as follows: pads are mandatory a fitted mouthpiece is mandatory kicks & punches to the body score +1 kicks & puches within an inch of the head score +1 kicks that hit the head are penalised -1 throws and sweeps are not allowed. flurries are unscored (as if they happen, it is the result of both people ignoring defense). for 4th kyu - 2nd dan (as high as my organization tests) the rules go: same as above except throws, locks, and sweeps are allowed (if they are controlled and followed up by a punch). and flurries stop happening unless one person entirely outclasses another at which point the stronger would take it easy to teach the weaker. i find this gives much better control and snap on techniques even though it was designed to prevent injury to young students (of which there are quite a few until 5th/4th kyu).

i do athletic training and enjoy reading a study here and there. when doing plyometrics, it is helpgul (and not just a little) to wear ankle weights... before i get raped by people who have read other studies... 1 - this is from GSSI (GOD among athletic research institutes) 2 - you start at a half pound per ankle and workup a half pound per week (and stop at 2.5 lbs in the study(I personally stopped at 5)) in other news, plyometrics does more than give jumping height. the entire purpose of plyometrics is to increase explosive power in the legs. ever since my coach (for crew; not my sensei for toushi kan karate) assigned me a little over 1500 jumpies (like frog jumps but stationary) for being late a half hour during a regatta (never made that mistake again); I have seen a great increase in my speed and kick power. the point is plyometrics work for more than one thing (same goes for eccentric contraction excersises). personally, when i do concentric excersises, i use a cross-wise motion (there is an official term but it excapes me right now) this is more practical and works muscle groups as opposed to muscles individually or dually edit: the crosswise thing is "Proprioceptive ??? ???" ("???" denotes an unkown word that i won't lok up) edit2: first blank IS neuromuscular. second blank is probably contraction.

it could be straight leg raises if you do those... they are bad for you (I point to studies by GSSI). you know, the type of thingwhere you lie down and raise your legs off the ground keeping them straight. that is AWFUL on the insertion of the hamstrings (don't ask me which one). this is the same reason why it is better to lift with your knees than your back/waist (even if your knees are shot to hell like mine ).