Sharing some Quotes, Notes and other stuff Part 4

I am very happy to have learned that people actually enjoy this series so here is the last one (I think) this time around as I am running out of journal :-P When I change books again (earliest at new year) I will see if I will revive this series and share some more. I also have some older notebooks which I can also share stuff from if people are interested. Because these are notes taken from my journal these posts might look a little chaotic but that is the nature of my notes. I have an index and I am also using a method called "threading" which is a brilliant method to use when taking notes all over the place so to me this is all logical and helpful but since I am sharing bits and pieces here as they show up in the journal it might look a lot more disjointed than it really is:-P So for those of you jumping in here in part 4 I will share that I am using the Bullet Journal System as Ryder Carroll presents it. It is a clean no nonsense system, but if you google it today you will probably be swarmed with elaborate pieces of art. The original system is great, but these elaborate pieces of arts I am sure is great for those with the time and artistic sense to make them but dont look to them if you want to start journaling. In my mind they're kinda missing the point :-P Think on Taekwondo and how if you google it you will find K-pop and circus demonstrations all over the place, while the practical application of the art for self defense is something entirely different :-P  As always the things written in cursive is diretly from the journal while regular writing is me adding context or thoughts to the quotes.

First out is a very lengthy and interesting quote from the book "Mind over muscle" by Jigoro Kano. Here is a link to the book if you want to buy it. Note it is an affilieted link so if you buy it I actually get a small comission :-) Nice way to support the blog while you get a worthwile book :-D 

Anyway here is the quote:

"Randori practise (Sparring) page 139:

The reason for the kinds of abuses that have arisen today is that people have forgotten that randori practise means fighting in earnest. If one fights in earnest, a stance in which you lower your hips, spread your legs, and tilt your head forward is extremely disadvantageous. Both your face and your chest are vulnerable to your opponent's atemi (strikes). It is also difficult for you to move quickly to fend off your opponent's attack. Atemi is not used in everyday randori practise only because it is dangerous, but you must nevertheless practise with the expectation that your opponent may attack using atemi at any time. 
The failure to give sufficient consideration to this is at the root of todays mistakes."

I read this in the book and thought WOW! This is EXACTLY what we see in modern Taekwondo sparring. The original concept was to prepare for self defense, while the modern sparring is far removed because we no longer take grappling into consideration. If we did we would not kick as high, have such a narrow stance all the time and our hands hanging down at the sides. Once you stop looking at the goal or purpose we start doing all kinds of weird things. These days sparring has become its own thing evolving into an olympic sport but theres nothing stopping us from dividing between free sparring and olympic sparring at a club level if we so choose ;-) It was just funny to see that the founder of Judo experienced the very same problem in his own lifetime. 

"You will never always be motivated, so you must learn to be discioplined." - Unknown

I wrote down the quote above because it is the god damned truth :-P At that point I was midway through my summer vacation and I must admit that it had been a while since my last training session. Eventhough I spent that part of my vacation in the mountains taking long hikes everyday, I was itching to do some kicking and punching again. I am sure you guys reading this blog feel the same way if you dont practise taekwondo for a few days. 

"If you do not make time for your wellness, you will be forced to make time for your illness." - unknown

This one too is a great reminder that even if practise takes away a little of your "family time" it is nevertheless an investment in health which again translated into more years with your family. In Norway once you start to go older many become very stiff and cant move well. This has a huge impact into their daily lives. Having spent a year in Korea and witnessed the difference between senior citisens there and senior citisens here in Norway I know that I want to keep practising Taekwondo as long as I can. This way I know I am doing what I can to be able to move about even when I grow older. 

"If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactis suck!" -John Steinbeck

Iain Abernethy has shared this quote a few times and I love it. It greatly surmises the mindset you need to have in a self defense physical altercation. 

"To find out what makes a technique efficient use the three "T's" or "W's". 

• Technice, Timing and tactics
• What, When and Why

This is from "The role of Kihon" a video by Iain Abernethy (yes I take notes when reading, listening and watching instructional videos.... I am a nerd... Anyway this is Iain's tool to establish what makes something "good" or bad. If you google "The role of kihon Iain Abernethy" I am sure you will find the podcast with the same title where he also goes over this model. It is well worth looking into this as it is a great mental tool.

Video? Choi Hong Hi's 1965 book page 134 shows examples of dallyon or forging techniques. Both alone and with a partner. Knocking excersises with a partner to toughen attacking tools and defensive tools.

This was a note I took as a video idea came to mind. If you follow my youtube channel you will at some point see me making this into a video unless someone reads this, turns to page 134 and makes their own (I would not mind if anyone did).