BDPulver

LOL, guess it saves time on cutting that trial piece

actually it can, swimming has some good resistant type excercises that one can do. one of our black belts from ages past use to invite us to her pool during the summer to work out in (gi and all). when my sensei holds his camps we sometimes run to the river to train in as well. Kicking in water gives a funny to your legs but doing it alot you start to feel it.

I had this same problem when i first started too. Had a bad temper. My sensei would spar me to help me overcome my temper and hypernense till i started to learn to control it. it takes time to master that kind of control but in the long run it is worth it. I use to be told the worse thing in a fight is 2 people with a hot head. So once I learned how to control it I became the cool one while controlling the hot head now.

I would agree with Kuma here. As one who has had surgery done swimming is better on the back then jogging. Even doing a brisk walk with weights puts a small strain on the lower area (where i had part of my disk removed and a filler put in to regrow it). Doing easy stretches and upper body twists slow and steady will help strengthen it. I still have trouble jogging though so i stick to walking instead.

unfortunately no. but i do know what your talking bout. use to fence in school. I live in technically redneck territory now. Mainly where the big past time is UK baskettball and from what ive seen here high school sports like baseball/basketball/football.

Yeah, been doing that. Hoping I'm not disturbing my neighbor below me though. gotta love apt life.

ah, i forgot bout Tuite. Thanks for reminding me on that sensei8.

Thanks, not sure yet. there sending me to a specialist in cinncinnatti to have better testing done. but doctor said i will more then likely need surgery done by the sounds of my problem. Forgot to mention my biggest problem at the moment is doing upper body work outs cause doc restricted me on how much i can lift with the left arm and no force at all (so normal pushups and stuff out of question). I been trying to find other things to do but so far none.

Yes and No. Depends on the style and instructor. When I teach to my students I try to teach them how to avoid being grappled and if they are how to defend in that position. Mind you I'm not an expert on the grappling art so my intentions is to show a student it can happen and what to do.

Been going to the orthepetic (sp?) doctor here recently for a problem with my left hand/wrist. They thought it was carpal tunnel but it wasnt. Now they think its a neurological problem ( i think thats how it was worded). So, been coming up with excercises and techniques that doesnt have me use the left arm and its been interesting. Got put on short term for the time being though which is not fun. So, anyone else going through the same as me some form of disablity and compensating on that injury by not useing it. I have found doing empty hand katas is good as long as i do them slow and fluid. Weapons though I'm having problems with like sai and kama. Bo not too much cause i can do it like empty hand. But real quick on the problem, if i try to do anything with my left hand like grab something too tight or repetitive motion it locks up or goes into a spasm or both. but thats the jist of the problem right there. Training has been interesting though to say the least.

oh dont give away any details yet I still wanna see it.

Been studying, practicing and teaching since 84. At the moment i just study and practice. Still looking into trying to find a place to open up a dojo. But home dojo is in Hackettstown, NJ. I try to go back once a year (would like to go back more but gas is outrageious still). I live in Ashland, KY now. Rank is still Nidan due to when I moved. There is no one in this area that is part of my association. I am part of the IWKA. My instructor is Kyoshi John Hughes and his instructor is Hanshi William H. Duessel who was instructed by Tatsou Shimabuku and follows Kichiro Shimabuku now.

I'm with bushido_man, much as I'm interested in it I'm just gonna wait. I'm still kinda upset on the title of it even though I know why. I've been asked what is the difference and it annoys me a bit even though I know its just a movie. I'm actually anticipating The Last Airbender though which I do wanna see. I need to see if there is a 3d theater around here.

thanks patrick

I'm with you there Geogiant. I wake up laptop is on, i come home from work laptop is on. Heck, I even bring it with me on vacation hoping theres a wifi connection.

LOL, this is too true. I have been told as well this is an american trait too. A girl I dated once was from england and I was joking with her about my english. She said I dont speak english I speak american which tends to use slang, slurs and mispurnaciation (see I cant spell) of words. After a while I started to see this and found to be our society. I've even heard news anchors create new words or use words that you thought never would be used.

here's mine http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000878725388 hmmm...doesnt want to post link.

Well being that I also have tattoo's (if you see my FB page you'd understand) especially one on my arm of Kanji I'll get asked. I'm not ashamed of what I know or what I like. Heck 30 yrs of training, studying, teaching I have gotten to the point its part of my life and attitude now. I also like to spread the word cause I am in the process of opening up a actual school here where I moved too and bring some of the sensei's teachings to the schools here (drugs and bullying are really bad and some of the teachers want a positive influence with someone that is dedicated to help stopping it). The first thing I am always asked though "are you registered?" which I usually smile and explain its a myth. And how people get the misconception on it. But I dont keep it secret even with family/friends/co workers. I like them to know I'm someone that can be trusted even with bad times. its a trust thing and I always found if they cant trust you who can can they trust.

I had this problem when I first started. My sensei corrected me many times but I never understood what he was trying to tell me. When you move your foot, its a balance form. You should be moving the ball of the foot not the whole foot on the ground. The squeaking you are getting is the whole foot skin folding underneath. Even though you dont feel it thats what it is doing. What I found was to train in the grass to help with my stepping. If this is too easy go to loose gravel or asphalt. It will help get better control of your stepping and work your foot progression.

Growing up I was bullied by this one kid almost non stop. It got me to the point where I started taking different ways to get to places. This guy (we'll call Hank) would chase me non stop. Hank would pretty much sometimes just stalk me to harass me. Always wanted me to fight him. I think my mom followed me once cause I would go to KMart as a kid to buy gijoe figures and she got worried cause I took too long coming home. She tried talking to me but I was the typical little kid by saying it was nothing. I tried tae kwon do but didnt like the instructor, just kept reading black belt mag's then. My mom saw my interest in MA grow and enrolled me in with the teacher I am still with to this day. Before I left for the Army back in 89 he tried to pick a fight with me again but I just looked him straight in the eye and said no I'm better. turned my back and heard call me coward, chicken and some words not appropriate for the forums. After my time in I came home, totally forgetting bout Hank cause of the stuff I've seen or done or was involved with. And thats when I found out some never grow out of it. Hank saw me riding my bike around town (I was getting into Mtn biking ) and pulled his truck right in front of my path. At first I didnt recognize him, being same age it was not doing him well. Figured he was on drugs heavy. He started off on me again. now mind you I was 23 at the time and here he is still trying to be a bully. I just looked at him while he started mouthing off again. Saying he was gonna kick my butt and all that. I looked at him again but this time stood there and looked him down. I warned him if he tried it would not be a confrontation he would walk away from. Told him I was tired of his you know what and he started to act a bit timid. In fact one of his buddies told him I wasnt worth it. He never took his eyes off me as he got back in the truck cuss'd me a bit and drove away. I was never scared more in my life then that day but felt relieved at the same time. One I wasnt sure what wouldve happen'd and two I figured being older like that people would grow out of it. Last I heard though "Hank" was serving 10 to 12 for drugs. That was when I was back home in 02. Pretty much, its hard to understand a bully but its harder trying to figure out why you became the target to begin with.

cool

my mom reminded me of this one when I hit shodan. you know your a martial artist when you mom grabs your bo to wake you up cause you almost clocked her in your sleep.

I'm with sensei8 on this. I need to ask questions to be a little smarter and wiser. I always tell my students to ask questions if they dont understand and that the dumb question is the one never asked.

oh not a problem. I would suggest to have someone that knows how to use one show you.

here's what i wrote in the other thread. Plus I've been using the makiwara board since I was 15. My teacher showed me how to properly execute on it and besides the bloody knuckles I've never had any other problems.