JohnASE

I don't think the Korean arts in general are all that popular, primarily TKD. Like bushido_man96 and tenshinka said, TKD orgs made an effort to spread their art and expand the business of martial arts. I remember hearing about TKD org meetings which were primarily about business with little discussion about the art. Aren't there so many kung fu movies because Hong Kong's movie industry is so big? Now that I think about it, there haven't been that many kung fu movies made in the US, and most of them involved Hong Kong people. Off the top of my head, all I can think of is JKA Shotokan. They had an instructor training program whose graduates were trained to spread Shotokan all over the world. Many of Shotokan's great senseis completed this program-Kanazawa, Enoeda, Asai, and Mikami to name a few.

Pre-ordered Brsinger from Amazon. Got it a couple of weeks ago but haven't cracked it open yet. I'm currently rereading Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series and a couple of non-fiction books, so I'm not sure when I'll get around to it. Maybe someone else in my family will get to it soon. Didn't particularly like the Eragon movie, but I'm used to movies not equaling books. Does anyone remember the Lord of the Rings movie by Bakshi? It covered Fellowship and the Two Towers, but it wasn't good enough to get The Return of the King made. Even so, I hope Eragon did well enough to continue the series. I'd like to see what they do with another one. The Black Company was great! I haven't read it in... over a decade. I don't remember which books I enjoyed the most, but the Books of the North were definitely up there.

This isn't actually the case. Most of the companies that handle these contracts will let you out pretty easily. This is because most court cases surrounding them have ended in favor of the person trying to get out of the contract. Because future court cases are determined based on precedent, it's just less costly for these companies to let you out. Look at it this way. They lose a couple hundred dollars by letting you out of the contract. They lose thousands upon thousands in attorney fees and court costs if they make you take it to court. Just ask to be let out of the contract. If your school is really pushy, they may wait until you have an attorney draw up a formal request (about 50 to 100 dollars). But they are going to let you out. JUST ASK! It really is that easy. My info could be outdated about this. I'm thinking back to a time when a lot of schools, at least around my area, were using billing companies. I remember hearing from some instructors that some billing companies were too hard on their students and that some had been sent to collections. This might not be the case today.

This sounds good. They might let you out of your contract to maintain good will if your kid is staying. If that doesn't work, maybe you can offer to buy your way out of the contract. Yes, this is common. Well, not unusual. You're not legally bound to attend, but you're legally bound to pay. Of course, if you have to pay, you're more likely to attend. Contracts provide the school with some financial stability. Martial art is a seasonal business. For example, most schools get slow during the Summer or Winter breaks. Annual contracts make it easier for the school to stay open during the lean times. In exchange, contracts usually offer a discounted rate over month-to-month or pay-per-class plans. The problem is with people like the OP, who sign a contract and decide they've made a mistake. Usually, this is a legally binding contract, and failure to pay could have a negative impact on your credit rating. You could be sent to collections. However, most schools aren't hardcore businesses. They'll cut you some slack if lose your job or have to move or something.

Yeah, kumite gis are designed to fit bigger and looser than standard gis to allow for better freedom of movement. Maybe their sizing chart is off, too. Kumite gis tend to have odd texture. I guess it's an attempt to add structure without adding weight. Adidas and Tokaido kumite gis both have it, too. Sorry you're not happy with your purchase. I bet there's no getting away from being hot and sweaty when you work out in a hot (humid?) environment. For your next gi, you might find cotton more comfortable. It definitely absorbs sweat better. Of course, that means it won't dry as quickly.

+1. This is a good one. We sell the Cool Guard version. Most of our customers like them better than turtle shell types because the inserts wrap around the sides a bit. Supposed to be more comfortable and a little more protection. I don't know if there's a UK distributor. We also have customers who like the Adidas WKF Female Chest protector, but that might be mostly because it's required for WKF kumite competition. Since they're WKF approved, they should be available in the UK. http://www.seka-sports.com/product_protectors_lady_cp.asp

Yes, as a rule, heavy weight gis will be much warmer than light weight gis. Of course, your light weight gi is probably poly/cotton, so it's already warmer than a 100% cotton light weight gi, but I think most heavy weights will still be noticeably warmer. If you don't want to go too heavy, there are some gis that are about 10 or 11 oz instead of the usual 12 to 14 oz of the heavier gis. They're heavier than the typical medium weight and often made of better quality cloth, but they're lighter and cooler than the typical heavy weight. I believe the Adidas Contest Karategi is in that range. I'm not sure, but maybe the Tokon Spirit, too. I probably shouldn't say if I'm not sure, but if you're interested, you can follow up on it. There are others, too. I just looked up the Arawaza Diamond you mentioned. You know that's a kumite gi, right? It's designed specifically for kumite. I'm not saying you shouldn't get it, but I wanted to make sure you knew what it was. It should breathe well, but it's probably very flexible, unstructured material. Comfortable, but it won't give you the pop that bushido_man96 mentioned, so it's not a great kata gi. I think most people use them primarily for kumite competition, not as a regular workout gi. Oh, and with proper care, a heavy weight gi will likely last a lot longer than a light weight gi. Good luck finding the right gi!

It all depends on which gi you're looking to buy. Different brands and models will be cut differently. It also depends on how you like it to fit. Shotokan practitioners often like a looser fit. As far as shrinkage goes, that depends on the gi too. Cotton will almost always shrink more than poly/cotton. Lighter weights will usually shrink more than heavier weights. Looser weaves will usually shrink more than tighter weaves. But these are not hard and fast rules. Most cotton is preshrunk, but some are preshrunk a lot and others hardly at all. But, of course, like others said, proper care will minimize shrinkage.

At 6'1", 330#, I'd be surprised if you found any size 7 gi that fit you well. I would go with at least a size 8 or size 9. Size 8 isn't too hard to find here in the US. There are few gis that come in size 9. If you haven't already, you should try a tournament cut gi. The jackets are cut longer and the sleeves are shorter than standard cut. Of course, you can't assume anything about sizing a gi online, Check sizing charts if available. Some gis are cut on the narrow side. That's not likely to work well for you. I see you list yourself as FSKA. I assume that's Funakoshi Shotokan Karate Association. A lot of Shotokan practitioners like Tokaido brand gis. I think the Tokaido Ultimate is cut a little on the narrow side, in both the tournament cut and standard cut. The Tokaido Kaminari and Tokaido Kumo are cut fuller and are available in tournament cut size 8. I'll shoot you a PM.

I don't know much about the development of Enshin Karate. Honbu Dojo is in Denver. I think Enshin's founder, Ninomiya, is best known for the Sabaki Challenge. It's supposed to be a pretty intense tournament. I just popped into the Wikipedia page on Enshin, and it says pretty much the same thing, but there's more info there. Here's a link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enshin_kaikan And here's a link to the honbu dojo's page. http://honbu.enshin.com/index.html Kyokushin, in general, is supposed to be pretty brutal. I know more than one kyokushin instructor who said they had to tone it down for beginners, especially kids. Too many people getting hurt.

I've heard stories of young kids who sleep in their gis! Sometimes, people buy karate or kung fu pants for non-martial arts use. For general workouts or just lounging. I know more than one instructor who wore their gis out to grab a quick bite between classes and people would come up to them and ask about martial arts and where they train. They figured it was good PR. I didn't hear whether anyone gave them a hard time, but I'm sure that must've happened from time to time, too. I see nothing wrong with you wearing your gi around the house. I don't know if I'd wear it in public unless I was at or going to a martial art function. But, hey, it's your gi! Wear it where you want!

Sizes will vary from brand to brand or even between models from the same brand. A Tokaido Ultimate size 5 will fit differently than an Adidas Elite and both will be different from an Adidas Mastergi. I was a little surprised by the size 4/180 that shotkanka92 got. Adidas Karate gi sizing equates their size 180 to size 5 in the US. I guess even that changes from brand to brand. To further confuse things, Adidas Judo gi size 180 equates to US size 4!

Cool car! The pre-5mph bumper years. One of my favorites, but for me, it would have to be a convertible! Actually, my favorite muscle car is probably the '68 Camaro RS. SS would be nice. I'd love to do a resto-mod on one some day. I haven't owned either of these cars, and maybe never will. I'm really a small car guy. I've been seriously thinking about the Camaro, but I'm going to hold off. I have a couple of other projects that I'd rather do first. My buddy's almost done with a frame-off-restoration of a '70 Chevelle SS 396. I haven't seen it yet, but I'm sure it's going to be a sweet ride!

I usually recommend buying gis and equipment from your school, especially for newbies. I've heard stories of people buying stuff or getting stuff as gifts that aren't acceptable at their school. Examples are V-neck uniforms at schools that use cross-over types or black gis at schools that only allow upper ranks to wear black. Plus, with kids, sometimes they really hate being different from the other kids in class. Having said that, there are alternatives. Online stores are an option, but fit and quality are hard to determine until you actually get the gi. Be sure to check their return policy. There are more than a few brick-and-mortar martial art stores, but not in all areas, or some local school might have some type of pro-shop. Also, some sporting goods stores will have a martial arts section, but their selection is usually pretty limited. Oh, and you're probably right to start with something inexpensive. Most new students don't last very long, especially kids. If your son decides to stick with it, he can get a better quality gi then. Just watch out for cheap junk. Some cheap gis have been known to start coming apart at the seams after only one or two washings! Others are light but should last several months or more depending on care an use.

Interesting analogy! There are a lot of fans who can discuss football intelligently that have never played in an organized league. I'm sure some have even never played pickup games! That doesn't necessarily mean they know less about the strategies and nuances and histories of the sport. I think having only book knowledge would severely hinder anyone's understanding of martial arts, but it could still be possible for him to become an expert, just not the same kind of expert as someone with decades of personal experience.

I've always wanted to go to the Galapagos Islands. So many strange things to see there!

My phone is a Palm Treo 650. A year or two ago, I purchased TomTom software for Palm OS and an external satellite receiver that connects via bluetooth. This combo works great for me! The receiver is maybe 2.5" x 1" x 1" and tracks up to something like 21 satellites, so it rarely loses a signal. And if I'm out somewhere without the receiver (I always have my phone), I can just pull up the TomTom software and get point to point directions, but without the receiver, it can't track my progress. I think the software and receiver each cost me about $100 or so, and I paid about $200 for the Treo a couple of years ago. I've been very happy with the system. But of course, I'm biased toward Palm OS. Over the years, I've had a Treo 600, Treo 180G, and a Palm III.

Sorry. Off the top of my head, I can't think of anyone in Colorado Springs but here are a couple in Denver. http://honbu.enshin.com/ http://coloradobudokan.com/ Both are very reputable instructors. I suppose they might have affiliated dojos near you. Good luck in your search and your research!

If you're more tired after sparring than after cardio training, maybe you're kinda like me. In general, when I play sports, I get pretty pumped up. When I'm done, sometimes I feel kinda week and occasionally even a little shakey. It's not just being tired. It's like I'm coming down off of an adrenaline high or something like that. While I'm playing, I'm fine. It's not until I stop that it hits me. I used to think it was just exhaustion. But now I think it's adrenaline, because I noticed that sometimes I get a similar feeling after being in danger, like when I'm driving and just barely avoid a bad accident, or if I'm involved in a confrontational situation where I'm pretty angry. It's like I get pumped up, then I crash. Just a thought.

From what I've seen in the US, embroidered black belts are pretty common among traditional Japanese styles, almost always in Japanese. Most will have the name of the style and sometimes the dojo. The karateka's name is only occasionally used among traditional dojos. Rank bars in traditional dojos is pretty rare too. Cost can vary widely depending on what you're looking for. Belts can range from a few dollars (US) to $50 or more. Embroidery on top of that can run from about $10 or $15 to $40 or $50. Even at $100 total, I think the cost is smalll compared to the costs involved in earning a black belt-dues, testing fees, training equipment, time & effort. I think if you like embroidered belts, you should get one, whatever the cost. Oh, and I should probably mention that some senseis would object to their students wearing belts they got on their own. If you don't know for sure, it might be a good idea to check with your sensei before spending your hard earned money. I don't know what's available to you in the UK. Tokaido has some good stuff. Shureidos are great but hard to get in the US. I would guess that Adidas is pretty popular in the UK. Their karate line is good quality in general, but I don't have much experience with their belts. Maybe someone in the UK can offer some local suggestions.

Yeah, this is the first thing to pop into my mind. Or maybe it was second, and first was "dedication."

Oops. I answered this in the "First Concert" thread. My favorite was The Eagles: Hell Freezes Over in 1994 at the Glen Helen Blockbuster Pavilion in San Bernardino, CA. We were on the grass beyond the seats. The atmosphere was pretty chill. It was a big party! Everyone had a great time. There were funny, smokey smells coming from all around us. The music was great! Everyone knew the old songs. Not so much the new stuff. I went again in 1995 at the Rose Bowl. It was still great and still fun but sitting in seats felt more confined, less free. You could see better though.

1977 Ford Capri II Ghia. V6. I modded it a little. Headers and pipes. Lowered on stiffer springs. Airdam. It was obnoxiously loud but fun to drive. It was my only 4-seater. I've had nothing but 2-seaters since. In order, Datsun 240z, Datsun Roadster, Porsche 914, Mazda Miata, Honda S2000. Most modded, mild to wild! There were a couple of bikes in there, too. A GSX-R 750 and currently a Ninja 250. I'm planning on selling the S2000 soon. Who knows, I might end up with another 4-seater.

Rush. Signals tour back in the early '80s. Neil Peart was awesome on drums! I'm not much of a concert goer, but my favorite has to be The Eagles: Hell Freezes Over. 1994, I think. We were way out in the boonies, but it was a blast!

Shureido calls the KB-11 a middle weight gi, but that doesn't mean it'll necessarily compare to anyone else's middle weight. I don't remember ever seeing a KB-11, and it's been years since I've seen a KW-11 (the white version), but if I were to guess, I'd say it might have been around 9 oz, give or take an oz. Actually, I'm so UNSURE that you should probably ignore that number. Anyway, matching a top from one company to pants from another can be tricky, even without having to deal with black mottling. One thing about Shureido gis is that they have very nice material. Generally, their cloth has a smooth, tight weave. You can't match that without paying for it. If you care about your top matching your pants, I'd recommend sticking with Shureido. If it's not a big deal, get whatever your comfortable with.