Congrats to Master Crane

A most sincere congratulations goes out to our own Tim Baker "Master Crane" on being promoted to the rank of 8th degree black belt. Truly a milestone that few will ever reach.
SUN!

Your Top Three?

What three kata (hyung) (single or two-person) do you consider the most physically challenging (read exhausting).

Mine are:

3. Yun Bee (possibly tied with Pal Kee Kwon)

2. Chul Kee (il,ee & sahm) Dan (done together)

1. Il Soo, Chil Bo (done together as a two-person kata_

Cardio Kata

SUN!
I sometimes(maybe once a week) practice my Kata’s as cardio, performing each technique as though my very life depended on it(as it well may someday). I use my heart rate monitor to control my work and recovery, and intersperse slower patterns/activities between forms. Always remembering that we, “perform like we practice” and trying to maintain an uncompromising demand for technical perfection. Does anyone else use Kata, or Basics as cardiovascular exercise?
SUN!

MMA Fad: Big in Entertainment / Small in self improvment

From what I can remember, we've seen the dominance of Karate in the 60's, Kung-Fu in the 70's, Ninja in the 80's and Tae kwon do in the 90's. Now MMA is THE thing.

How long will MMA reign at the top, is it good for Martial Arts and what will be the next fad?

MMA has taken the media and national public by storm through marketing, cage matches, and Pay Per View programming.

It looks like no other fad of the past and could subsequently have more staying power in the entertainment market. Staying power could be more brief in the market of active practicing martial artists however.

Many MMA schools are popping up and some existing/traditional schools are providing MMA as an add-on that is taught down the hall in the back room. From what I've read, many only train those who want to compete. This limits itself to a smaller portion of the active practicing martial artists. And lets face it, MMA with it's focus on competition, makes it a niche sport better suited for the younger population. These limiting factors will open the door to a new fad someday. Maybe not so much for the viewing public, but it will for the portion of the public that is active or interested in becoming active practicing martial artists.

It appears the popularity of MMA is probably good for all Martial Arts. It generates interest in self defense in the broad public market. I can't help but believe that it leads to more people becoming active in self defense which in turn leads people to other forms of Martial Arts. Traditional ones that provide more balance with more focus on overall self improvement. For example, some may try MMA and like portions of it but because they don't want to compete or find that it doesn't meet all their needs, they may become motivated to investigate other Arts - more rich in tradition and self improvement such as PSR.

Hard to predict what will become the next national Martial Art Fad or when. Put me down for PSR. It could happen!!

Sun!