sensei8

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.

Interesting. In that, I suppose you choose TKD because you've been training in it for some time now, and your training hasn't been for naught.

Have you ever doubted with anything within the MA? I know I have many, many times. Doubting oneself is the beginning of discovering. The MA isn't for everyone, and in that, if the MA was so easy, then everyone would be doing it, well, doing it effectively. Why do I stand this way? Why do I punch this way? Why do I kick this way? Why can't I get it right? What is wrong with me? Everyone else seems to have no difficulties...except me!! Why is this kata so hard for me? Why is my sparring ineffective? Why? Why? Why? This internal battle is fought day in and day out. The most advanced MAist has had doubts before, even today!! Why? We're human, and in that, we will doubt ourself from tme to time for whatever the reason(s) might or might not be. No matter where the doubt has come from, it's still there for us to dwell over and over. If you haven't doubted, you probably haven't thought very hard about what you believe!! I open the floor for your thoughts.

Rank up when it's appropriate, and not whenever it fits. Time heals all wounds, but rushing rank can only hurt ones betterment as a MAist. Rank up when it's right, and not because you want it; you shouldn't want rank because you're shouldn't be learning the MA for the sake of rank alone. Imho!! As far as your question about the church. Speak with the pastor about it, and see what he/she says, including charging for the lessons and the like. Many churches don't allow the MA to be taught at their church for many reasons, and whether we like the reason(s) or not, it's their church. Good luck!

While they both might seem similar, imho, they're worlds apart. Hence, that's why they're not being called Shotokankyokushinkai/Kyokushinkaishotokan.

A good sensei doesn't examine from time to time. His job is to constantly correct and advise. The shiai-Jo and the dojo are distinctly different places. K. True, however, I was speaking about the MAist in general and not the Sensei/Instructor having to examine from time to time.

Whoa...those that I would still want to train with, well, ANYONE!! I'm not selective when it comes to exchanges and the like because I believe that MAists have something to offer no matter rank.

Did you choose said MA OR Did said MA choose you??