sensei8

I've a wide plethora of drills to increase what you're seeking, but, I'll list my favorite... Tennis ball drill!! I've been using it ever since 1979. I line up the class, and they must have a mouthpiece and eye protection, then, I start throwing tennis balls at them in ways that they can't even imagine. In that, agility and movement are at the forefront if they don't want to get beaned. And don't worry, I've three very large trash can full of tennis balls, so , I've plenty of ammo at my disposal. Balance: KATA!! Try Kata on a floating floor; quite educating. A floating floor is a when you have covered the floor with tires and placed 3/4 inch plywood onto of that and then placing a standard mat over that.

Sometimes, imho, peer pressure can make people do things that they know to be harmful to themselves because they want to be accepted and the like. Weight loss short-cuts and the like are birthed from trying to drop weight as quickly as possible.

Solid post!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!!

No discipline should ever HURT, imho!! Other than that, discipline as you see appropriate.

With the YMCA, they want to see your teaching syllabus and/or curriculum break down. If you've done that, and they're still not responsive to you, then it could be a number of reasons why. Go down and speak with the director that's over that department so that you can know exactly what's needed and what you lack. One, it could be that they've already got an instructor of your style, and they don't need another instructor, UNLESS, you can offer something that the other instructor can't/won't, and that the YMCA will think that their members can benefit from. Members come before anything/anyone else!!

...and so the dilemma! Me, I'll go personal choice! The Video I linked to shows various breaks (tameshiwari) being done with different body parts. (Open hand, foot etc) The point being we hit wood, bricks etc with parts of our bodies that we hit our opponents with, we use the same power (in knockdown/full contact) to do this, now add in the simple fact we do this 'stuff' for fun! We enjoy the combat, the challenge to fight! I'd rather not be on the end of such a punch, or kick, but it happens and will happen and when it does I want to be able to stand there smile and return the favor! (I do not mean we go out looking for it on the street, I mean we compete we train in this stuff with all the pain and pressure that comes with it and we look back and smile and keep going back for more!) When I exercise, I try to keep the sets in groups of 30, then rest or do some other part of the body fora set of 30. I am of the opinion to do more in one go or for extended periods of time regular is great for stamina but in time will risk greater injury if it is not already doing that! We do need stamina, 100% yes, but we must rest that is a biological law, it cannot change will not change in our life time...evolution has taken a few years to get here, were not about to change that in a few weeks in a gym or dojo. I hear what you're saying, and in that, I can't ignore a doctors advice either. I still do sit-ups in any way that's comfortable and effective; I'll be 56 years old this month, and my body keeps telling me to remember that I'm no longer that young elastic bounce right back up guy anymore, but I'm so stubborn.

Start visiting MA schools around where you live. When a MA gets your attention, then visit it some more to get an overall opinion of the different classes and all. Don't forget to write down some questions that you've thought about while visiting that school. Then, visit with the instructor. Many schools offer free trial lessons, but, be careful because not always what you see or experience in a free trail lesson will be exactly what you're going to be actually involved in. Be respectful, but ask as many questions as you want because it's better to know now instead of later. Don't let weight and the like discourage you from taking the MA. Weight will come off, but it's a two way street. As you're losing the weight from being actively involved in the MA, you must also excercise and watch your diet, if dieting is what you want to do. Good luck!!

Also, many lift their chins because they're not wanting to get struck, and they think that by lifting ones chin, they'll be out of reach, and that's not the case always, and that also could be because they've been struck in the chin to often. Sometimes its the lack of live drilling/sparring and the like. I'm not saying that that's what you're doing and/or experiencing, I'm just pointing out other possibilities because a chin-offering is a big target, one that can't be ignored.

Dojo discipline should NEVER hurt in any shape, way, and/or form!! If a child student is more than the instructor can handle, then the parent, and ONLY the parent/guardian, should administer any discipline, and/or corporal punishment, if that's the way of said parent/guardian. Instructors who 'abuse' their students should be turned into the proper authorities asap, and without any prejudice and/or reservation. Wrong is wrong!! If an instructor had ever hurt my child, well, it wouldn't have gone well for said instructor!!

You're more than welcome!!

In your opinion... Who's a better student: Kids OR Adults?? Why?? I believe that kids are better students because of thier unbridled enthusiasm and imagination and quite fearlessness, yet not reckless. not meaning that adults aren't capable across the board. Your thoughts, please.

DITTO!!

Yes, Pettite as well. Didn't mean to disrespect him at all; a great starting pitcher if there ever has been one, he certainly was!! GO YANKEES!!

The Dolphins will bounce back just fine, imho!!

You know, I've both sides of the story: Sit ups or not. Nowadays, it appears that doing sit-ups isn't good for us for a variety of reasons. Then, some still say that sit-ups are good for us for a variety of reasons. These are coming from the experts in said fields. Sheech! What's one to do? Does it come down to personal choice or not? Should one follow the orders of their doctor or someone else?

A not so funny thing that I've seen in the past while visiting dojo's, was the dojo awarding belts that are a size 1, and then encourage said student to purchase their own belt. Made no sense to me because the dojo could've bought the proper size belt from the get-go. Sheech!! If my student wears a size 6 gi, then that's the size of the belt that I'll be getting them.

First, I'm not a Kung-Fu practitioner. My thoughts... What I've seen, they seem to fit like mostly anything else does, but, that's dependent upon picking the right size first. Kung-Fu uniforms seem to fit loosely/baggy. There sizes are selected from sizes 000-9. They are if said Kung-fu school requires one to wear. Quality varies just like they do for a Karate gi; depends whom the manufacturer is. What I've seen, most Kung-fu uniforms are quite lightweight, but, imho, they couldn't hold up to the abuse as seen my Karate gi's. Again, if said Kung-fu school requires them, then yes. Ask said school!!

How does ONE choose said MA? How does said MA choose YOU? I didn't choose Shindokan; I choose to learn how to defend myself, and in that, Karate was the vehicle. Shindokan didn't choose me at first; it accepted me into its Way, and in that, it's Way has, over time, choose me. In that, over time, it became a mutual feeling; one that can't be denied!!

Great posts thus far, and I thank you, please keep them coming. It's one thing to doubt oneself, but, it's another thing to give into ones doubt(s) because nothing can be possibly learned from it. Let that doubt feed into something much more positive in ones MA betterment because doubt begets determination to break that temporary feeling. I doubt...I doubt...I doubt...NO...NO...NO...NO...NO...OUT WITH THE DOUBT...OUT WITH THE DOUBT!! Believe in oneself that all things are possible with those who wholeheartedly believe. On the floor; work through the doubt until there is no doubt that one can do what was once felt to be impossible. The MA can bring that doubt, but it's the MAist that will break away from any doubt. What is hard to do now, is not what will be hard to do in the future if one strives for success and the like. Doubt...Why do we doubt to begin with. WHY? The summation of 'why', is to the summation of 'because'!! We just do!! It can be hard to except at its onslaught at first, but, with determination of ones realizing exceptional possibilities, that said doubt is conquered, but, only until a new doubt is birthed by our own MA trial and tribulations. Whenever my students are showing the signs of doubting, I simply remind them that it's a temporary feeling that will pass, but not if one succumbs to it totally, but instead, they must work through it to defeat it. Welcome to being a MAist! I wouldn't have it any other way.

Congrats, and very well deserved!!

Yankees aren't in the playoffs but it's ok. I'm very sad that Mo's Yankee journey is over...imho, world greatest closer ever in all of baseball. Yankee's, imho, will take many more years to get back to the top because rebuilding isn't as easy as making a peanut-butter and jelly sandwhich. Take care Mo!! My money is on the Rangers all the way to the World Series...as the Champion!!

Well, my Cowboys are doing fine, we're .500, and in that, they could always be better. Now I'll tell you what's got my attention. THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS!! I mean, WOW and WOW. For the past few years, they couldn't win a game even if they were playing by themselves; they couldn't catch a break. But this year, 2013, they're on FIRE!! They share first place with the Broncos right now, but man oh man. Way to go Chiefs!! I know that Brian is beside himself, and I don't blame him a bit. Any team is capable, in that, I really hope the best for the Chiefs...SERIOUSLY!! Oh, yeah, I love my Cowboys, but sometimes they bore the tar out of me. They start strong and then hit a brick wall at a billion miles and hour. Result: No playoff and No Super Bowl. I know Patrick should be giggly too. His Dolphins are in 2nd place with a 3-1 record--.750. Very respectful beginnings, and yes, the seasons early. Tannehill got kind of got beatup by the Saints, but, he's a solid QB, imho. Good luck to all. GO COWBOYS!!

You know what kata should be really called? Transition Drills. Not just in movements, but in techniques as well. Imho!!

Speak with your instructor. If the belts too long or too short, your instructor will let you know it immediately.