Starting Over

**Scarab Beetle** · Posted On: 5/12/2005 5:53pm

Originally Posted by Don Gwinn

I'm not sure. All I know is that it's not about FOOD, as promised, you deceptive SOB.

LOL no ****

**Gypsy Jazz** · Posted On: 5/12/2005 6:52pm

Mind explaining what you had to change? Is it learning for a MMA environment, or is it like learning a whole new way to fight? Maybe a little of both?

I think I speak for everyone who's gone from a traditional kata heavy school to one that puts emphasis on sparring, when I say that you have no idea what's going on the first time you try things a new way. I kept chambering, using rising blocks and went into narrow stances that would get single legged in a second. Eventually I overcame those habits thanks partially to getting hit and taken down. I thought I was good until the first time I sparred/rolled. How quickly I learned different.

**feedback** · Posted On: 5/14/2005 7:10pm

Originally Posted by Gypsy Jazz

Mind explaining what you had to change? Is it learning for a MMA environment, or is it like learning a whole new way to fight? Maybe a little of both?

I think I speak for everyone who's gone from a traditional kata heavy school to one that puts emphasis on sparring, when I say that you have no idea what's going on the first time you try things a new way. I kept chambering, using rising blocks and went into narrow stances that would get single legged in a second. Eventually I overcame those habits thanks partially to getting hit and taken down. I thought I was good until the first time I sparred/rolled. How quickly I learned different.

To put it simply, he's had me ditch the crazy monkey, change my overall elevation (higher), and stay less hunched and more relaxed. As far as punching, he's been putting huge emphasis on keeping my elbows down and in which requires a bit of relearning, and wants me to throw my cross a bit differently.