Don't Be So Sure!!

[MasterPain]

I think my point was actually to make sure you make the distinction between the three. And what you are saying is 100 percent correct with lighter contact. When you increase the level of contact to better simulate fighting or competing, a less experienced but fast and strong person becomes more of a problem. I've trained my whole life, but on several occasions I've seen highschool football players with no MA experience train for a couple months give me trouble with speed, reach (I'm about 5'6), and basic boxing skill. Did I have an advantage? Yes. Did I get clocked a few times? Yes again.

[Blade96]

Your thoughts/ideas?

Muy thoughts is that you are a very smart man, Bob-sensei. I knew a white belt who went into a sparring competition and came out with a silver medal. I agree the black belt can be defeated and I have a feeling that attitude can be the black belt's undoing!

When I begin to sparr for the first time i will not develop the attidude that i am invincible. not even if i become a black belt.

[sensei8]

Your thoughts?

Muy thoughts is that you are a very smart man, Bob-sensei. I knew a white belt who went into a sparring competition and came out with a silver medal. I agree the black belt can be defeated and I have a feeling that attitude can be the black belt's undoing!

When I begin to sparr for the first time i will not develop the attidude that i am invincible. not even if i become a black belt.

Don't say "if", believe in yourself at all times, and in that, say...WHEN!!

[ShoriKid]

Is it bad if I can use myself as both ends of the example to upper belts when I'm teaching?

When I was a newly minted yellow belt, several years back, I was sparring with on of the blackbelts. Things were going well, I was looking for open spots and trying not to just stand there. I through a round kick as the bb moved forward. As he advanced and rotated his hip into a nice, crisp reverse punch, my foot met his chin. He stood straight up and toppled over backwards, eyes rolled back into his head.

Fast forward quite a ways and a yellow belt with a nice Philly shell style defense, that he does naturally, cracks me with that waiting right hand in a nice, looping, upper cut. I didn't fold, but I got chicken legged and had to go fully defensive while I worked out some complicated matters. Like my name and the day of the week.

Thing being, no matter how ready we think we are as black belts, there is something you don't know. Those new folks are great to point out those holes in things that we can't see. As trained martial artist we look at things from just that perspective, a trained one. We have expectations when looking at techniques and movements. We have built in reactions to things. White belts/new students don't have those. They ask the honest questions that should make you think hard and not just brush them off. They're also great to work with as a partner on a technique because their reaction is going to be absolutely honest. If it works, they move, it hurts they grimace and flinch. If it doesn't they look at you as if to say, 'Okay, now what?'. Think of them as a black belts best self imposed lie detector.

[Blade96]

Your thoughts?

Muy thoughts is that you are a very smart man, Bob-sensei. I knew a white belt who went into a sparring competition and came out with a silver medal. I agree the black belt can be defeated and I have a feeling that attitude can be the black belt's undoing!

When I begin to sparr for the first time i will not develop the attidude that i am invincible. not even if i become a black belt.

Don't say "if", believe in yourself at all times, and in that, say...WHEN!!

Oooooooooooh, that's right! WHEN!!

I give myself uraken for that.