Training Alone

[binarypunk]

I am really wanting to learn some real good self defense. The thing is I live in smallville USA in Alaska, not too many people really want to practice with me. The only Dojos that I know of are in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Kenai and I think Juno. So I was wondering what kind of suggestions do you all have for people that want to train by themselves and/or don't have a place to train? Videos, books any of that work and is there any equipment I should get? Like a dummy is that worth my money?
Quick background: I am more of a grappler than anything else I wrestled for years and moved up here with the family back about 3 years ago. I was thinking wrist locks, arm bars, BJJ? But any and all suggestions would help thanks.

[Erik]

You really need partners with whom to practice.

Other than that, keep yourself nice and athletic and that will be a good start.

A big hanging bag can help - 200 lbs, practice your kickboxing combos on it. But you should get some basic training to start with so you train yourself correctly.

[Eliz]

I agree with Eric. I would go so far as to say an instructor and training partners are essential. I have never done well learning from video tapes. I use tapes more to reinforce or re-familiarize myself with something.

My friend is in Pittsburgh studying for her Phd. She studies MA's on Long Island, New York. She goes twice a month and stays with her instructors family. They pretty much workout all weekend long. I know that set up is a little extreme. She was an undergrad in New York and she studies a Japanese style that is not widely practiced. Hence the reason for the extreme commute. My point is, (yes, I do have a point :t2: ) a lot of people travel for MA's training. Maybe someone near you would be willing to make the commute with you?

Good luck.

[Moon dog]

greetings Binary
I agree also with Eric. You can train knees and elbows on a heavy bag but even kicking you could either injur your foot and ankle easily. In fact I wouldn't ask most new students to kick a heavy bag due to risk of injury. It is true though that a heavy bag will tend to keep you in general good form. One of my personal hang ups is using a 45 kick "pea-chagee" (used in tae kwon do competition)rather than a round Kick "mawashe-geri" (used in Karate/jujutsu self defense) the difference is suptle but the effect is large" So after years of training I still find I have to deal with a developed bad kicking habbit. Simply said ongoing instrustion is important. its more difficult to change a bad habbit than learn the correct way the first time. Even after many years instruction and doing some teaching I find that my sensei is correcting small things in my form.

[Erik]

Hey Josh, can you tell us more about the difference in kicking? I'd like to know. Thanks. -E

[G Hendrix]

Does anyone know where to get 200lb hanging bags? I have heard about them many times but I have never seen them at any of the schools or gyms I have visited.

[Cliff Hargrave]

I have never seen one. I thought the biggest ones were 150 lbs. I have a 100 lbs bag in my garage and it works just fine.

[Erik]

I may have mis-estimated the weight of these hanging bags. 100 or 150 may be what the ones I am visualizing actually weigh.

[Moon dog]

greetings Erik
I hesitate to start spouting of about what I think I know about kicking. I will tell you I some good discusions though with the gentleman that I have been learning Shotakan and jujutsu from. One of our most heated discusions is regarding the need to fully veiw your opponent before striking him with any turning or spinning kick. Of course the tried and true Karateka anwser is yes. you must first turn to see your opponent before letting the kick really go. But there seems to be some downsides to this. Also I would be happy to discuss kicking timing or other questions. My background is tae kwon do and karate and a little Judo. other wise Ive been training jujutsu for and shotakan for the last three or four years. By the way The korean pea chagi can be effective if you use it well. Its just not the power kick that a round kick can be. many good practitioners can do iether kick interchangebly. I am really challeged to do this. So maybe that is a more personal downfall.

[Bugeisha]

Is the "pea chagi" performed like a turning kick (the above mawashi geri) only with less rotation, so that the kick comes up at a 45 degree angle rather than parallel to the floor?

[Moon dog]

Yes it travels more of a 45degree angle. this is very fast but because much of the force is traveling at an angle to the target then some of the force of the blow is deflected off. I think that it is however an easier kick to follow up with other kicking.
It seems I believe this has evolved due to Olympic Tae Kwon Do. Ive trained with a strong Olymic style taekwondo practitioner for 5 or 6 years. his kicking was wonderfull but he truly specialized with this. Years ago I also had an opportunity to learn from a korean gentle man and he taught the round kick as is taught in Karate. Parallel to the floor with greater hip rotation. But he was teaching Tae kwon Do. So I think this has somewhat evolved due to point fighting. Im not sure of this though just speculation.

[Dan Harden]

I find the attack angle of a kick works best if it is -not- applied at the target latterally like a round house. Use a mui tai leg kick for example. Instead of placing the load of the kick across the thigh I make the angle -into- the leg. Its hard to descibe here. Think of it like the kick coming -in- to the bone and across at the same time, sort of like sword cut. The result is, its loads the bone and captures the muscle in between your leg and his bone and increases the damage. With a different angle his leg rotates or releases some of your energy and absorbs more of the shock to the tissue. With the leg load kick you have a type of acceleration impact like capturing a head between the floor and your fist. What did the most damage? Both! With acceleration trauma. It's not uncommon for us to bruise up with one kick, and it works for legs or stomach. Its just one reason that stomach kicks or knees work so well. The body mass stabilizes and has to absorb most of the impact. It can't bleed it out. Well..... if he is relaxed and quick enough it can, but I wouldn't count on most people being able to pull that off in freestyle. I never kick to the head though, some find it effective, but I have never bothered to make much use of it. Anyway, for jujutsu this inside and across aids the potential for follwing it in to grapple as your hip and back leg can frame-out to follow. We keep the leg and the hip relaxed so the kick whips-in instead of chambering a lot of muscle for the work. Of course you can easily not follow in and just return and continue with stand-up work.
Heavy bags are great for training; conditioning, impact, targeting, stance and balance etc. But, there are things- such as tissue damage, follow throughs, and take down angles or entering that a bag cannot teach.

Cheers
Dan

[breaksallaround]

binarypunk, are you trying to tell us that your *real* name is actually guy montag? :rolleyes: that's like saying your name is peter pan. the moderators here are serious about the real name rule you agreed to when you opened an account. ;)

[breaksallaround]

also, welcome to budoseek. just leave my books alone..... :laugh:

[DragonMind]

also, welcome to budoseek. just leave my books alone..... :laugh:
But I have a nice little flame going here...

[Oniw17]

For grappling taining, you all but have to have a partner, that way you know that your moves are working.




I wish my name was Guy Montag.......

[Sgathak]

Well, "Guy Montag" doesnt even know how to spell the name of the capital city of the state he claims as home... Im betting hes a baby troll.

[Oniw17]

Didn't Bruce Lee use a 200lb bag?

[FLYINGGUILLOTINE]

IF YOUR SERIOUS ABOUT CONTINUING IN THE GRAPPLING FIELD YOUR DEFINITELY ARE GOING TO NEED A PARTNER TO EFECTIVELY PRACTICE YOUR TECHNIQUES. I AGREE TO KEEP YOURSELF FIT WITH A HEAVYBAG AND POSSIBLE LIKE ELIZ SAID LOOK INTO THE POSSIBLITY OF TRAVELING TO A DOJO AND SAYING OVER ONE OR TWO DAYS AT A TIME. A GOOD INSTRUCTOR IS WORTH TRAVELING FOR. PROTECT YOUR NECK. :bow: