DWx

Thanks guys. Been cramming theory stuff all weekend.. I probably should have started looking at it all earlier . The "special" break we do is really just a chance to show off to the examiners and people watching. My instructor and the examiners know that we can all do standard board breaks otherwise we wouldn't be asked to test. So lots of people use bricks.. I've seen people do breeze blocks in the past. I did ask if I could use ice (as a joke) and got told I'd have to be the one to clear it up and carry it down two flights of stairs.

Welcome Eisho

Welcome Fofito

I use ankle/wrist weights on occaison. You have to be very careful with any sort of explosive movement though because there is the risk of over-extending and tearing something. I usually try to go through my forms at half-speed with them on and their great for improving control over your legs.

Have just handed in my application form for my 3rd dan test. Pre-grading is a week on Sunday and if all goes well I should test in about a month or two. Haven't been on this side of the table for a while so I hope I don't get too nervous. Will have to break at the testing and its usual for the candidates to do their standard breaks plus a more interesting break. A lot of people go for jump breaks or speed breaks but I was thinking of going down the power route and trying out something different on bricks or tiles. Anyone got ideas of "special" techniques I could do that doesn't involve jumping? Maybe something you guys have tried in the past?

Can't use a mobile over here unless its hands-free.. Was looking for another video similar to the one above that I saw on tv but found this instead: http://www.dft.gov.uk/drivingchallenge/ .. I failed at it. Makes you realise how hard it is to concentrate whilst driving.

Apparently she thinks the "woman" part implies that she has to grow up a bit.

But it is interesting to see what variations are out there and the reasoning behind them. Also you never know when someone will come up with a reason or a method which makes more sense than the ones I'm currently using.

Congrats!

Thanks for the replies so far guys. Maybe I should just clarify what the block is for you guys who don't do the form/style. In that video the blocks are from 30 to 40secs. The idea of the W-shaped block is that you are stepping either into or away from an attack and are blocking with the forearms against attacks to head height. Both arms can be blocking simultaneously or you can be blocking one attack with one arm. Well in this form you are already looking at the direction you are moving towards because of the previous movement. So my master argues that because you have already seen the attack coming you can block it and use only your peripheral vision to keep an eye on it. That way it makes sure that you aren't blind to whats happening on the other side of your body because of the positioning of the body and arms you can be vulnerable on that side. Also when looking to one side a lot of people often find that they over twist the torso in order to see. However sensei8, your reasoning is whats usually argued for the looking towards the block option. On a side note, we are taught not to look with the head before moving, but to look with the eyes first. Then the head and body move together (this is a stylistic thing not just limited to my instructor). The idea is that by turning the head first you would be a signal that you are about to move whereas just moving your eyes to look is a lot less obvious to a would be attacker. There are other reasons too such as wanting to keep the spine in line unless its absolutely necessary not to to prevent any strain on the neck.

I actually thought this was quite a good spin on the phrase... although I just asked my 15 year old sister what she thought and she took offense at the "woman" part (not actually sure why but will have to ask her later). I guess with anything you say to people you just have to take into account individual sensitivities and what each person can take. What motivates one can cause offense to another.

Bit of a technical question here for people who do the Chang Hon forms (or even if you don't). This is something we have been debating over in class for a few months now because my instructor and his master teach it one way but others in the UK teach it another. Where do you look when doing the W-shaped block? (moves 13-18 in Toi-Gye or 39, 40 in Ge-Baek). Do you turn your head and look towards the leading arm? i.e. the way you stepped towards. Or do you look straight forward and just rely on peripheral vision as in this video. The second version is what we do in class and all the videos I can find do it this way (and in Gen. Choi's book). However the England squad members we train with are being told to look towards the leading arm because this is now whats "correct". Which way do people do it on here?

Me and my sister actually tell each other to stop hitting like girls all the time in training. We both take it as a joke and use it to motivate ourselves but there are definitely people in class I wouldn't say it to because they'd most likely take offense, then again there are people who would take it in a positive way.

What I was taught was similar to what was in the third video. However like what was said earlier, if the attacker has really got their fingers in your hair you can't do much unless you want to rip your own hair out. Best policy in my opinion is give them a good hard kick in the kneecaps/groin/stomach etc. first, then either continue attacking until they let go whilst screaming for help.

Congrats

As with most of these situations, the only thing that will really help is practice. Like JusticeZero said, do them slow and keep doing them slow until you have the movement down then try to speed it all up. A variation on the exercise you posted above Reala, is to extend the leg out in a side kick like position and then instead of up and down move it side to side to engage the quads and hamstring. One of the things I find best for working on control is to get a target and practice hitting it every time even if you have to do it slow to get it there. If you have a heavy bag, chalk a cross on it and practice hitting it dead centre over and over again. If you don't have a bag another good thing to do is to get a piece of string/rope with a knot at the end hanging from the ceiling or a tree or whatever and then try to hit the knot.

For triceps, diamond push-ups, with the hands together rather than at a shoulder width. Or push-ups where the hands are placed around the lower chest level with the elbows going straight back.

Congrats

Welcome Dan

Welcome Patch

According to the University of Exeter beetroot juice is the way forward: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8186947.stm

IE8 also has a compatibility mode which'll let you see the webpage as it looked in IE7. Good that you got your problem sorted though

Wonder what the instructor would think though if a trained maist turns up in a SD class intended for complete novices? I can understand your reasons for wanting to do it though; I've never taken one but always wanted to know what kinda stuff they teach. Would love to have a go at one of those full armour suits too.

Contact is good for you as long as its controlled because your body will react to the stress and form harder denser bones (Wolff's law). As long as it isn't too hard to the point where your breaking bones instead of knocking them, you will benefit in the long run. As a martial artist, or in any contact sport for that matter, pain is something you just have to deal with and attune yourself to. After a while you can overlook superficial pains and learn to ignore and push yourself through, but you'll also know when something is serious and when you should step-out and get it seen too. In any case, given a SD situation or whatever being able to get hit and think nothing of it is surely going to beneficial?

I guess I'd prefer the book for striking and the video for grappling. Striking is what I do so as long as there are a decent amount of photos and good explanations to go along with it I'd pick the book. But I have very little experience with grappling so a high quality video where I can slo-mo it or freeze-frame and still see whats going on would be better, I think.