I've participated in a couple local tournaments and was looking forward to competing in some bigger stages this year and next but I'm starting to weigh the reality that full contact knockdown rules is a bit much considering my age and the risk of injury. My age is not so extreme that the thought of competing is absurd; I'm more in that gray area. That's why it tears me up. I know I have it in me to be a champion, and I do like the extreme training for a tournament, but there are some things in Kyokushin...

smoothsake

I posted once before about the notion of diminishing returns as you continue on with anything, but namely Kyokushin. In the beginning everything is new but you learn so much. As time fades well you make smaller improvements, particular in the details and technicalities. Well recently I feel I've made some of those smaller improvements and it feels good. So good that I'll be taking my 4kyu promotion early next month.

smoothsake

Here are the rules for kata (shoulder) kumite:

1. First person to touch opponent's shoulder with open palm is winner
2. You can block, fake, parry

Variations of this game include Kyokushin mark kumite:

1. First person to touch opponent's Kyokushin mark on dogi is winner
2. You can block, fake, parry
3. You can stand migi mae kumite tachi to try and cover the mark with your left arm

smoothsake

We played an interesting game at the dojo the other night. Here are the rules...

1) 1 minute rounds
2) Objective is to kick your opponent in the head using jodan mawashi geri
3) Punches and other mawashi geri OK to disguise your jodan
4) If no head kick is landed cleanly (i.e. not blocked) then do 30 push ups at end of round

This was pretty fun. Everyone was going for the jodan. Good clean fun.

smoothsake

So forgive me for being a little slow but I have returned from my vacation in Asia and - well what a trip! I'm starting to get over my jetlag and am finally feeling normal so I thought it be appropriate to post to my blog.

Of course I was in Tokyo to watch the IKO1 WT. I'll save that for a different posting. For now I want to tell you about my experience training Muay Thai (MT) in Thailand.

This has been a little bit of a dream for me for the past year. For one, I love...

smoothsake