Misturugi

I did kempo karate for about 2 years and a little after i earned my blue belt. Then two years later i started tae kwon do. Today was my second day in the school and i'm having trouble adjusting to the new fighting style and methods of defense. For instance blocking is much more triwsty then kempo and when attacking the stance requires you to bend one knee and keep the other straight but in my old school you needed both knees bent and I am having difficulties adjusting to this anyone have any tips in getting use to this style of martial arts?

HtTKar

I dont know much about Korean Martial Arts, but why would they want you to lock your leg straight? Seems that would have you telegraphing your intentions more as your body level would change each time you move.

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Dude_101

In our school we only use that stance in patterns and line work we call it a walking stance (Gunnun sogi) for sparring we have both legs bent. Maybe your getting confused? coz no one can spar with on straight leg.

freeBatjko

Apart from the valid hints that no fighting stance should ever have straightended legs... I think what you need to realize is that most established styles have parts that work for you and parts that don't.
For example: Taekwondo obviously is famous for its foot work, so it makes sense to listen carefully when they explain why they do this and that with their legs in stances and techniques, and you should ask your teacher why that is supposed to be better than what you are used to.
It is vital for you to understand what the differences actually are. Only then can you make a conscious decision as to how you should alter your own techniques in order to optimize them.

One important rule: When you switch from one style to a different new one, don't make the mistake of chosing one over the other. Learn as much as you can from the new one, but don't forget what you've learnt from the old one.
Try and add all new - while preserving the old...
Find a good balance, combination or compromise between both.
You don't want to have wasted those two years in Kempo, do you?

-free-

bodhisattva

If something doesn't work, and something else does - switch.
Don't worry about "wasting two years in kempo." That has little to do with the issue and isn't much of a factor.

DO compare arts and their effectiveness. DON'T worry about preserving the old techniques if they don't work.

Do not compromise - ever - learn the things that work, and if you find something better LEARN THAT.

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The people here are RIGHT. You have no business fighting in a stance with one or both legs straight. You are talking about the formal stances in Tae Kwon Do and they are useless. Don't waste your time or your money there.

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Mike Brewer

Since it sounds like you're doing this for self-protection purposes, I'd say Bodhi is on target. If you were studying to actually become an expert in a given art because you identify with it or whatever, then I'd say focus on learning that art and its ins and outs. However, if you're looking for fighting effectiveness, you need to be seeking improvements, not worrying about how to keep this or that from whatever you did before. Combative arts and methods are constantly evolving with the times, with your needs, with the environment, and a whole host of other factors. What you should likely be looking for is an art and a training method you can really identify with; something you can get really excited about. Make sure it's practical in terms of training - in other words, they don't so a lot of speculating or theorizing but rather a lot of testing and experimentation under realistic conditions - and then throw yourself into the "lab." Your own experiences will be your best guide, and don't worry if you're the only guy in the room who sees things a certain way. If you get consistent results from a particular training method, keep using it. For me, sparring was always the best education I could get. It didn't always have to be full-tilt or anything, but I really developed my creativity and ability to adapt to other styles and delivery methods by sparring. Some people really get more in terms of creativity and such on the heavy bag or with the mitts. Whatever works for you, though, do it and do it often. I think if you follow that approach for a while, you'll start to learn how to adjust whatever system you do to suit your needs. In terms of Kempo or Tae Kwon Do, that'll mean the little nuances of the art will become natural and you'll just do what best suits you and the situation. In terms of fighting, it will mean you'll be able to ignorethe confines of whatever system you're in and just choose the right stroke for the right opening. The only way to tell what's going to work bet for you though is to put yourself through it.

Best of luck.

Tant01

I don't know who, if anyone, (else) noticed? The first and only post by Misturugi was made two and a half years ago?

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"In all countries where personal freedom is valued, however much each individual may rely on legal redress, the right of each to carry arms - and these the best and the sharpest - for his own protection in case of extremity, is a right of nature indelible and irrepressible, and the more it is sought to be repressed the more it will recur."

James Paterson

Mike Brewer

Um, yeah, sure...I uh...I noticed but ummm...

Okay. No, I didn't notice. Thank you, Tanto, for pointing out that we're basically talking to ourselves here because freeBatjko resurrected the thread.

...sigh.

kanik

Hahaha! Thats twisted! I hate ancient threads....

freeBatjko

I didn't even notice it was that old.

Well... always good to give an answer... better late than never.
-free-

bigboywasim

Rather then doing a little of one style and a little of another I think it is best to learn one style to at least black belt first and then do another style or do two different kinds of martial arts at the same time. For example BJJ and Muay Thai. One is submission grappling the other is striking.

I would find a karate school ( full contact if possible) to finish your karate training.

TKD I have not trained in so I cannot help you if you still want to take it.

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