sensei8

The maxim speaks that size DOESN'T matter because knowledge DOES matter. A smaller person doesn't have to be afraid of a bigger person just because that bigger person is, well, bigger.

Yes, it's very interesting. Thanks for the article Danielle. It's like super-human strength needed to save a life, like picking up a car off of someone. It wasn't pre-planned, therefore, that needed strength was called upon when that 'moment' occured. We practice our techniques over and over and over, but, they're pre-planned...slower. Whenever we encounter something in our daily unplanned lifes and this something is an attacker bent on harming us, our responses are much faster and more focused. Still, I'll keep practices pre-planned reactions and then some because I believe that my reactions will then become automatic whenever I'm attacked, but, I'll be 21 milliseconds much more faster across the board.

Every advice I've read here thus far have been good, but, I'd caution you to first consult with your doctor for the answer that best fits you in your current condition. Ask you doctor to avoid any unnecessary injury to yourself.

I own a wide mixture of gi's including brushed cotton. I really like the look and the feel of the brushed cotton gi. I don't prefer it over other gi's I own in it's totality. The gi, for me, must meet the needs for the activity that I'm doing at that time. Cotton is light, therefore, cotton is cooler whereas a much heavier gi is hotter but the heavier is great in taking the punishment of Judo/BJJ and the like. So, to answer your question.... Yes, you should notice a cooler workout from the brushed cotton over the cotton/poly and therefore, this is a good purchase, imho. Brushed cotton is also easier to care for than any other gi on the market, imho. Still, the gi must match the needs of the planned workout, imho.

Expelled or resigned from an organization might be one possibility.

It doesn't all have to be about the money side of it. I'm sure there are a lots of reasons why group tuition is favoured over one-to-one. Toptomcat's previous point about teachers being able to teach groups but not individuals is a good point. Time constraints too might be an issue. I concur! It's not all about the money side of it. I tend to put the money side of it near the very top of any list because it can't be ignored totally. Time constraints as well as the points that Toptomcat brought up are valid, and they do can't be ignored totally.

Size difference in takedowns warrants the maxim that speaks about size and how size doesn't matter in the martial arts. It's nothing to be afraid of, size of an opponent, but, it's something to accept and to embrace.

Similar to the Royals and the Chiefs; very nice arrangement as well as very nice stadiums.

same here. Same here as well!

Still, performing at a tournament after having only 10 days of EXPERIENCE with either of these Katas, or any Kata, isn't such a good idea, imho! I don't imagine that you'd be willing to execute any Kihon, Kata, and/or Kumite for a grading test with only 10 days of practice. I don't know of anybody who would! Wanting to compete is fine, but being unprepared isn't the martial arts! Any way, good luck and let us know how it went. I hope you do well!

Speaking about hair. Once I sported a grizzly adams style beard. My Dai-Soke looked at my beard more intently as my beard gained fullness and length. He'd walk up to me and stop and look and shake his head as he walked away muttering something in japanese. He did this for about 3 weeks before I asked him if I had done something wrong, to that he said nothing...still. I liked it, but my Dai-Soke finally mentioned to me that while my beard looked ok, I've given my future opponents an advantage. I asked, "How so sir?" :::YANK::: Yanked at my beard as hard as he could...then just walked away. A few seconds later he stopped...turned...and said in a very deliberate and quite voice... "Do you understand?" Man that hurt, I mean that HURT! Couldn't of he just told me, you know, sat me down and explained it to me. But no! That's not his way because he's one of those "picture is worth a thousand words" kind of Sensei. I got the point! I still didn't shave it off for about 6 months because it was getting very hot to keep it in the middle of summer.

Toptomcat, That's a very good point....a very good point! Possibly it's easier to teach the mass against the one and in that, it bumps up the revenue!? Thereby lowering the controllables on a P&I by some margin, i.e., eliminating the number of classes per day, and in that, saves on the utilities and the payroll.

One caters to the tangible while the other caters to the intangible. Can you elaborate? Because that strikes me as an oversimplification at best. I deserved that! Tangible in this case speaks about BELTS and how easy they are to obtain as well as the importance of them. Intangible in this case speaks about BELTS and how hard they are to obtain as well as the unimportance of them. I seek only that which is intangible!

james4949, Welcome to Karate Forums. Nice post and dead-on sir! Hey, at least the doc had cartoons!

Is it me or...? Has anyone else noticed that private lessons are slowly becoming a thing of the past, kind of like a drive-in theater?

One caters to the tangible while the other caters to the intangible.

Kanku Dai or Jion in 10 days? Wow! Then compete with having only practiced either for 10 days? Wow! My suggestion would be to practice either of them much, much longer before entering any said tournament with either of these kata's. I'm not saying that you can't learn either of these katas in 10 days. But, I believe that when you're performing either of these katas; you'll appear to the judges that you just learnt either of these katas...in 10 days! Not saying that you won't do an awesome job and that the judges won't give you high marks, but, Kanku Dai is a physically demanding and visually impressive form, when performed correctly, and it's one of the most popular katas in modern competition. Jion has a grandeur to it that should show through with all the movements. Jion is a powerful but very basic and honest kata. Mistakes are very hard to hide in Jion due to its calm power and smooth transitions in the movements. A student must have good Kihon to make the kata run smoothly and with power. Having said that, pick a kata that you already know inside and outside. Remember, judges aren't just looking to see if you know the kata, but, the judges are looking at, to name just a few, your focus, believibility, posture, technique, breathing, balance, understanding of said kata, and transition.

Control isn't a suggestion for the black belt student; it's a requirement!

Going right to 3:00 and watching what follows is eye-opening. I agree...very eye opening!

$180 per month? OUCH! $250 per month? OUCH...OUCH!

It's possible that they don't want to have the apperance that they're dumb. Students don't want to say to their instructor that they don't understand some technique(s) for the fear of the appearance that it might reveal to their instructor. Obviously, you're the only one in your class who's actually heard the saying..."There's no such thing as a stupid question." I wouldn't. Yet, I still wonder the very same thing myself about karate students throughout the world. I agree!

I agree!

The key for you, imho, is that your instructor is "pretty good" across the board. Therefore, I believe that you're not at a disadvantage because you've never had a private lesson. I imagine that I'd love to have a private lesson from Nishiyama or Kanazawa, to name a few, but, being in a group lesson with either of those two would've still provided me a very solid lesson.

ROFLMHO GO YANKEES!!!!!

Spending more time selling/pitching the close than what was spent during the actual free trial lesson is what would've turned me off as a potential student. Does the school/instructor care more about me as a student of the martial arts or as someone who can sign a contract thus provide revenue? If it's the latter, well, I'm not interested.