Tiger1962

It's a shame really because I'm sure there are people out there like me who like to attend tournaments just for the sheer fun of competing. It's exciting, you get to watch others compete and maybe even learn a few things by watching. You get to meet people and make new friends who enjoy the same thing as you. It's sort of like a really small scale olympics... It doesn't matter if you win or lose as long as the match is run fairly. But when it isn't, that kind of throws it all out the window for me. It also ticks me off when the judges insist on "no hard contact" and you obey those rules however your opponent does not AND wails you one AND does not get called on it. That just makes me wanna take off the gloves and open a can on him.

How about when you close the refrigerator door with either: back kick side kick front kick LOLLLLL

LOL - I still occasionally screw up how to tie my belt too and its mandatory for me to wear it all the time! (I chalk it up to a *senior* moment.) You're right though, the whole thing is really dependent upon the style and how the flow of the school is, how strict it may be and whatnot. I don't always like or agree with some of the "rules" of my own school either.

I've seen this happen many times. .....and this too......... In addition to this...I've also seen the flip side of the coin where you have a female martial artist who over-compensates to prove she isn't one of those "delicate girl-types" and so she "acts like a male" (sorry, for lack of better description) and in turn has an intimidating demeanor to her classmates. Makes me think to myself: "can't she just be the gender she is without trying to act like an alpha male?" I'm probably wording this all very politically incorrect but being eloquent is not my strong point. Sorry!

I've tried different types of music. Some specifically for meditating which you can download on iTunes. I find music that is slow and soothing good for meditating however some of it can also put you to sleep (the repetitive instrumental kind). Personally, I love the sounds of rain, waterfalls, ocean waves and really most nature sounds to be good for me when I meditate.

Me too! I find this really interesting.

I don't meditate regularly, but when I do, I find that it relaxes me. I have not yet noticed a difference in my training because of it, however.

Personally, I can't do a split & am not attempting to, but I do know someone (who is older than you) who has been practicing for the past year and is almost at a complete split level. I guess if you keep at it, it can be done.

My first thought was to drop to the floor real close to where your opponent is while he's holding your foot and sweep out his leg with your free foot. Sounds strange but its the first thing that came to mind.

I think no one really knows how they will react in a real life situation until it actually happens. I would hope that martial artists (especially the "newbies") don't believe that some of the stuff you learn in class can be applied in a street situation; meaning, you won't start doing katas if someone tried to steal your wallet. LOL Where martial arts helps is that it makes you size up situations like you never have before you started training -- that is how I believe it changes you. Before I started training, I'd board a train or bus and just hope that I'm not unlucky enough to encounter some weirdo. Now when I board a train or bus, it's automatically natural for me to immediately size up who is on that bus or train car; my eyes scan over the crowd and I think about who I should or shouldn't sit next to and how I would react if someone started harrassing me. That may sound kind of paranoid to some, but I swear that ever since I started training, this is how I think now. It's sad, I know. I don't like to let my guard down. I always try to be alert and aware of my surroundings and if something doesn't seem *right* I move or change my space. When I am home, I imagine what I would do if someone broke in, what would be the first thing I would grab to defend myself. I didn't think this way BEFORE I started training so that is how I feel martial arts changes your perspective on things.

Excellent, excellent post. I would like to add that no matter what style of martial arts one trains in, some form of street self defense should be MANDATORY in EVERY style. When I go to tournaments and watch sparring matches and see these fantastic sparrers get their trophies, I often wonder how they would fare in a real life situation when you don't have pads and gear on, and there are NO rules. It's great to learn the artistic side of martial arts, but being prepared for life's nasty surprises is very important (and practical) as well.

congratulations! I'm glad I found this site. It's got a wealth of information.

I was able to watch some capoeira moves and demo's last year and let me just say my mouth was hanging open. I could have stayed there all day and watched this group perform. It was awesome!

I would love to get a life size head-to-toe sparring dummy. I know they sell those half ones called "B.O.B." that you put water or sand in the base, but a real life size one with legs and feet and arms would be great. I'd also love a pair of engraved samurai swords to hang on the wall.

Eosin Panther I hear is very good.

A few years ago I bought a contraption from Century Martial Arts online they call "turtle shells" and it worked really well for me. I had gotten hit in the same spot as you and when I started wearing my good ole turtle shells, the next time I was hit, the person who hit me hurt their hand ! LMAO !! It's made of hard plastic and they sell them by cup size. I haven't gone on their website in a long time so I don't know if they are still in business or sell them but I'm sure other martial arts supplies stores sell them. The way they work is you insert these white plastic shells into a sports-bra-like top which has these pockets inside the sports bra, and that hides the shells. Its actually comfortable and not cumbersome to wear, in fact, no one knows you're wearing it unless they decide to punch you in the chest. The only thing is they cover only the actual breasts (individually) and not your sternum or rib cage like the other chest protectors do. I really recommend them, so I hope you're able to locate it.

WOW !! Talk about poor sportsmanship !!

Sorry, perhaps I was too vague. What I meant was students training to be teachers, I feel, should definitely assist in class, no doubt, but with the white belts, the children and the very young students (tots). I've seen brand new black belt teens assisting in adult classes and.....that just doesn't work. Not for me anyway...and I'm not prejudiced against teens teaching....some are indeed awesome. My preference is that advanced classes should only be taught by the head instructor or someone who is equivalent to him in experience. I've visited a few schools, and have seen otherwise. I guess this is a personal preference...some of these questions might be premature to ask when first joining a school...but its always good to know what the environment and protocol is like before you join.

Yes technically it is a piece of cloth, but those martial artists who study the old school very traditional styles that are strict with their philosophy and history hold the symbolism of the belt in high regard. This is by no means an ego thing. I'm not talking about being fanatical here either, just the tradition that some styles teach to students regarding the belt. We would not dare touch or wear our instructor (or any senior member's) belt. The instructors and masters teach us that that would be a blatant show of disrespect. We wouldn't get whipped to a post if we did but its more of a respect thing, know what I mean? So, you see, this is not something I/we conjured up in our heads, it's what *some* schools teach from the day you join. Maybe yours is more relaxed type of training and style. We could never wear shorts and a tee to train. No matter the temps, its a full do-bok / gi all the way. It's all part of the protocol and training that *some* styles teach. The old school traditional styles tend to be more stricter with their whole philosophy.

LOL !!!

I agree with most of what you said. This is one of the reasons why I became very angry when I found out that a classmate of mine borrowed my belt without my knowing, when I wasn't in class one day. Now I don't leave it in the dressing room anymore. This is also why I believe in people having their names embroidered on their belt, regardless of rank but especially from black belt and up. A person would have to be pretty dumb to borrow someone else's belt with a name on it that isn't theirs.

AikiGuy - I commend you - that is EXCELLENT advice and an EXCELLENT approach to it. ALL instructors should follow your advice if they have children, relatives, spouses, friends, etc. in their classes.

When you're not in class, try to think up of scenario's or combinations and different ways to react to them. It's definitely NOT a woman thing, there are plenty guys who freeze up and don't react fast enough. After a while it will become second nature to you and you will definitely notice improvement.

Don't worry you're not too old, there are plenty people who started at an older age than you and also plenty people older than you that still train. What I do, is that I allow enough time to stretch, pay attention to the way your body feels and reacts to different moves...cool down after class. Most of all, don't gauge or compare your training to the 20 somethings....just be YOU !

I have yet to find a good one either. I'm hoping someone I know can just make one for me.