What I've Learned So Far

1. Q. What have you learned how to do since you started working on your senior project?

A. When I began Senior Project, I've learned to make more effective use of my footwork with effective kicks instead going in with punches because it helps create openings; and makes countering difficult against me.

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZYm1nm3i-o

3. Q. What research helped you to do this and how?

A. The one research that helped me was my book "The Ultimate Kick: The Wallace Method to Winning Karate" by Bill "Superfoot" Wallace because it opened my eyes to make some small adjustments to my current techniques.

Independent Component 1 Plan Approval

1. What I plan to do for my Independent study component is my Karate training and Competitions I partake in.

2. This plan will meet my 30 hours because I train every week, each class I train in is worth an hour and it helps me stay prepared for my other half of the plan which is competition.  As for competition it may not come very often but I will go for every chance I get.

3. This independent study relates to my Essential Question because as I said before, training helps me prepare for any competition I go to and the competitions give me the feel of being a real competitor.

Defining the Essential Question

1. My Essential Question is: “What is most important to competing as a top rated competitor in Martial Arts Tournaments?”

2. Words to define:

• ·         Top rated competitor-A competitor who has had more successful results than average at a Martial Arts Tournament.
• ·         Martial Arts-Various methods of unarmed combat and self-defense.

3. From the research I’ve looked through up to now, a few possible answers to my essential question are: Always concentrate on your division for a tournament, learn from your losses, to know your opponents, and to always have a strategy in mind because in a fight you shouldn’t think while fighting but instead have your timings set and prepare your counters towards their counter.

4. My most important source right now are my Competitor Profiles on Kyle Gray, Raymond Daniels, Shelly Allen, and Jason Tankson from Karate Tournament Central, author for all of them is Boice Lydell; they help me learn what those top rated competitors do at tournaments, how their attitude toward other competitors are, and some of their training styles.

Second Interview Questions

1. In your Martial Arts career, what tournament are you most proud of and why?

2. What areas did you compete in?

3. What do you currently do at these tournaments?

4. What disciplines are you specialized in?

5. What is your role in NASKA?