KickChick

...in Disney Orlando Wide World of Sports complex http://www.usopen-karate.com/espn_schedule.asp watched tonight the televised portionof Power/Creative Breaking Championships.... awesome demonstrations from Master Elton Trower (finger strike thru Coke can.... laying stomach side on bed of nails while performing double board strike. Chip Townsend (who I believe is partially blind, performing a spin roundhouse break to baseball bat. Larry Fields balancing stomach side on 3 samarai swords performing a double break...among numerous other "creative" breaks , too numerous to mention. Fred LaSala was awesome as well! Anyone else catch it? I wish it were longer... I could have watched all night! Catch the World Teams/Forms Championships on 10/11 and 10/31 check site above!

eh, Mike...you can go see a professional but they'll tell you exactly what I am going to tell you (I know from experience!) This is one of the very most common martial arts muscle pulls .... these muscles have an extremely wide range of motion, and they stretch out rapidly as you throw your kicks forward. Rehabilitation begins with the classic combination of rest, ice, and compression. The amount of rest depends on the severity of the pull or tear and is typically two to three days. This should be followed by limited activity until you are free of pain and fully restretched. Icing the muscle for 20 minutes three or four times a day will reduce the chances of aggravating the condition. Then you can start on a gentle stretching program. You need to start stretching as soon as possible while the muscle is recovering. As long as the stretch is gentle and steady, you can start as early as the second day after your injury, unless you have a major tear. Go into the stretch slowly without jerking the muscle in order to avoid pulling or tearing it again. Stretch to the point of discomfort but not pain.

Good Luck to you benedictbm ... I too like inyctrotter,wish I had started earlier, but I haven't done too shabby for myself! .... my countdown is done!

.... and I thought it was from "drinking too much" !!!

.... (not to take away the spotlight from Mike but...) Yay! Doug!! You got your black belt back! I also noticed you made the stats/posts page too!

DIDN"T HEAR YOU FROM WAY OVER HEAR .... sorry hmm, I'll try and help out girls.... There are so many ligament and cartilage injuries that occur in the martial arts. Anything but the most superficial knee injury should be seen by a doctor. What you seem to both have is "runners knee" (known medically as chondromalacia patella or patello-femoral syndrome) this is caused by misalignment of the kneecap in its groove. The kneecap normally goes up and down in the groove as the knee flexes and straightens. If the kneecap is misaligned, it will pull off to one side and rub on the side of the groove. This causes both the cartilage on the side of the groove and the cartilage on the back of the kneecap to wear out. On occasion, fluid builds up and causes swelling in the knee. As a result, you will experience pain around the back of the kneecap or in the back of the knee. Runner's knee is very common in the martial arts because of the characteristic bent knee stance and rapid, forceful kicks causing the kneecap to shift and to rub on the side of the groove, thus causing pain under the kneecap. This type of injury requires rest until the pain eases, icing, and anti-inflammatories. Aspirin seems to have a healing effect. To reduce pain on a daily basis treat the problem as you would runner's knee: Use an arch support or orthotic device in your shoe and do quadriceps-strengthening exercises.The proper treatment, really, is to correct the foot position to ease the stress on the knee. The problem is that most martial arts are done barefoot. Wearing an arch or orthotic in your shoe in daily life will allow your knee pain to subside so that you can function on the mat without a shoe.

.... it figures! Many years ago I worked with a fellow Englishman and he would always try to get me to blush ... by "introducing" me to some of his vocabulary. I must say I've developed and ear for it! (my father's side of family is from England ).... ... ok, So it is not "that" here in the States that we are speaking of. But I will have to wach who I tell that I feel as if I'm "bonking"

Having a bad day? A man was working on his motorcycle on the patio, his wife nearby in the kitchen. While racing the engine, the motorcycle accidently slipped into gear. The man, still holding onto the handlebars, was dragged along as it burst through the patio doors. His wife, hearing the crash, ran to the patio and found her husband cut and bleeding. She called for an ambulance and, because the house sat on a fairly large hill, went down the several flights of stairs to meet the paramedics and escort them to her husband. While the attendants were loading her husband, the wife managed to right the motorcycle and push it outside. She also quickly blotted up the spilled gasoline with some paper towels and tossed them into the toilet. After being treated and released, the man returned home, looked at the shattered patio door and the damage done to the motorcycle. He went into the bathroom and consoled himself with a cigarette while attending to his business. About to stand, he flipped the cigarette butt between his legs. The wife, who was in the kitchen, heard a loud explosion and her husband screaming. Finding him lying on the bathroom floor with his trousers blown away and burns on his buttocks, legs and groin, she once again phoned for an ambulance. The same paramedic crew was dispatched. As they carried the man down the stairs, they asked the wife how he had come to burn himself. She told them. They laughed so hard; they dropped the stretcher and dumped the husband. He fell down the remaining steps, breaking his arm. Still having a bad day? Just remember, it could be worse . . . The average cost of rehabilitating a seal, after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska, was $80,000. At a special ceremony, two of the most expensively saved animals were being released back into the wild, amid cheers and applause from onlookers. A minute later, in full view, a killer whale ate them both. Still think you are having a bad day? A woman came home to find her husband in the kitchen shaking frantically, almost in a frenzy, with a wire running from his waist toward the electric kettle. Intending to jolt him away from the deadly current, she whacked him with a handy plank of wood and broke his arm in two places. Up to that moment, he had been happily listening and dancing to his Walkman. STILL think you're having a bad day? Two animal rights activists were protesting the cruelty of sending pigs to a slaughterhouse. Suddenly, all two thousand pigs broke loose and escaped through a broken fence, stampeding madly. The two protesters were trampled to death. What? STILL having a bad day? An Iraqi terrorist didn't pay enough postage on a letter bomb. It came back with 'return to sender' stamped on it. Forgetting it was the bomb, he opened it and was blown to bits. Feeling better?

I came across this term the other day (one that I never heard before) ... sounded to me like an English slang like "shagging" .... but it's not! "Bonking" is the word athletes use to describe that complete loss of energy when you rapidly crash. When you're "bonking" everything seems like to much effort and you feel mean and nasty. (I may have experienced this once or twice in sparring sessions). So what's behind the "bonk" -- Low blood sugar. When you eat carbs your body stores them in your muscles as glycogen. Physical activity uses up your stored glycogen. Your body makes sure you keep going by using the sugar that's in your blood ..... and you "BONK"! Anti-bonking is simple: drink before youre thirsty, eat small snacks before youre hungry. Best energizing snacks: fruit, nuts or seeds, and those energy bars!!

ok then, just thought that these links also offered recommendations also. Here are mine: Stretching Scientifically: A Guide to Flexibility Training Thomas Kurz Book of Five Rings Miyamoto Musashi Women in the Martial Arts Linda Atkinson The Martial Arts Athlete: Mental & Physical Conditioning for Peak Performance Tom Seaborn Science of Martial Arts Training Charles Staley Lost Art of War Pin Sun Musui's Story Kokichi Katsu The Complete Tae Kwon Do Hyung Vol. 1,2,3 Hee Il Cho

Patrick .... I know where you are going with this, but let me point you to the MA Entertainment forum where there are some threads already on this very subject of ma books .... here are just 2 http://www.karateforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3809 http://www.karateforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4372 I for one often read non-fiction when it comes to Martial Arts .... training/streching/forms/technique books. I could list a few of those.

Monkeygirl I am going to suggest to you to take a look at my post in H&F regarding "pelvic alignment" http://www.karateforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2318&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=pelvic%20alignment Flexing the hip to excess unwinds the capsular ligaments of the hip (including the pubofemoral ligament which tends to resist this excessive abduction). Spreading the legs out without these additional movements, twist and tightens the ligaments of the hips and jams the neck of the thigh bones against brim of the joint cavity of your pelvis. Flexing the hip (tilting the pelvis forward or moving the thigh to the front) relaxes the ligament. To achieve a super side split you need to stretch the hamstring of the front leg and the muscles of the lower back so that you can tilt the pelvis forward while keeping your torso upright. There are some good stretches in the thread above to work on (from Kurz's Stretching Scientifically) Now as far as aes's hip pain .... yes I do suggest you go to a doctor because although you aren't experiencing anymore pain, believe me.... if you continue with ma training you most certainly will be confronted by that same condition again. A snapping pain in your hip is almost always due to the iliotibial band snapping back and forth over the point of the hip. As you stretch the band out, this pain will disappear. The fibrous band running down the outside of the thigh is called the iliotibial band. It provides lateral stability to the hip so that it can't move too far to the outside. In some people, particularly martial artists and runners, the band overdevelops, tightens, and saws across the hip bone. Each time you flex and bend the knee, the band rubs against bone, causing pain. Although this condition often causes knee pain, it may also cause pain over the point of the hip.

For me, would have to be ninjutsu... those guys scare me!

.... like that huh? That was a very good question Bon ... having a good diet helps in many many areas, not only to maintain desired weight. Actually we are ta;king "nutrition" here. Also I forgot to suggest a good multivitamin (if you are not taking one already). (Off Topic: -- Thanks Bon! ... "album" pics to follow on board breaks )

An academic diet .... brings new meaning to "You are what you eat" I suppose my answer to your question Bon is to eat .... "smart" There are no foods that would actually increase the IQ of a person, but eating the right thing at the right time would keep the energy levels up. The food you eat has a wide range of effects on your body systems. There is evidence that food can affect brain chemistry. The brain is a vast network of nerves along which messages are sent. The biochemical messengers of the brain are called neurotransmitters. Among them is serotonin, which plays a crucial role in your emotional well being. The body manufactures neurotransmitters from nutrients and these nutrients we eat, play a significant role in the functioning of the brain. According to recent researches, eating carbohydrates with proteins causes more aminoacids to enter the muscles. This in turn aids in serotonin. This helps better neuro-transmission. So include carbohydrates and proteins in moderate quantities in your daily diet. A proper diet can actually improve stamina, alertness, memory and attentiveness. Eat smart. Eat right. Give food a thought and give food for thought. This way, you will be mentally, physically and emotionally ready to face the challenge of exams. Mental activity is demanding, and your brain needs regular refuelling. You may also feel like a snack just to break the monotony of studies. Don't reach for junk food for a snack ... go for protein bars Here are some tips to follow: 1. Do not skip breakfast. It is the most important meal of the day. 2. If you have no time for a regular breakfast, carry a fruit, a packet of biscuits, a sandwich and a packet of nuts which you can eat while commuting to school. 3. Eat something during breaktime. 4. Drink fruit juice and plenty of water. 5. Balance your food choices ... don't eat too much of one thing. 6. Eat more grains, fruits and vegetables. 7. Take a few minutes to relax after meals. 8. Schedule revision of easier subjects after meals. 9. Enjoy your meal you deserve it. 10. Eat plenty of raw vegetables. Make up interesting salads. 11. Make eating fun, not a chore. 12. If time permits during exams, enjoy meals with the family. This will take your mind off your studies for a while. Do not eat alone in your room. This tends to make you brood over problems. Enjoy the experience of eating. 13. Set realistic goals, both for studies and food. You cannot change your food habits in a day. Include at least one nutritious item at each meal and work more and more of the right stuff into your menu. 14. If special meals cannot be cooked for you, find interesting ways of eating a food, say eggs. They cook fast and are easy to eat. An omelette, with a variation of spices and herbs, is the answer to a quick and nutritious meal. 15. Do not go on a yo-yo diet ever, and especially before and during exams. A yo-yo diet is one in which you go on a bingeing spree and then go on a crash diet alternately. Both extremes are dangerous. 16. Drink milk regularly. Do not buckle under peer pressure and feel that you are too old for milk. If you do not like milk, drink milkshakes, flavoured milk, yogurt or flavoured yoghurt. Flavored yogurt comes with natural fruit in it, It can be eaten quickly and carried in your back-pack. 17. Drink fresh fruit juice as soon as it is made. Do not allow it to stand for a long time, 18. Remember, it is the total diet, not the nutritional quality of single food item which determines the quality of intake. 19. Never skip meals in an attempt to lose weight. Eat all the meals in moderation. 20. Keep to a time-schedule for meals. When you draw up a timetable for studies before exams, include meal times and take into consideration the time and duration of each meal. Do not compromise on this. 21. Do not postpone your night time meal till very late. 22. Do not stay on an empty stomach for too long. 23. Keep fit! A sluggish body leads to a sluggish mind. 24. Keep physically active. (which you will and are doing!) If you have no time for regular exercise during exams, then here are a few simple ways of ensuring that you get some exercise to boost metabo: You could walk up and down and study for a while. Stretch and bend down after long hours at your desk. Walk around the house a few times. Take the stairs instead of the elevator whenever possible and wherever possible. Do spot-jogging once in a while.

Most sparring matches are not limited to lateral, straight in and out types of movements. Many fighters will circle their opponent in an attempt to create an opening. Openings are often created when the defender is not able to effectively use their footworkand body positioning to follow the circular movements of the attacker.The ability to maintain proper body alignment while circling is an important skill that is often overlooked. You can use a two-part drill (CIRCULAR MOVEMENT DRILL) to develop this skill. First you pair off with a partner. Take a fighting stance facing each other with very little distance between you. The partner who is deemed the aggressor will circle the defender at a realistic pace, changing direction at random. The defender will attemptto follow, always keeping their body alignment such that effective blocks and counters are possible. Both partners are limited to stepping only with their rear leg, while pivoting on their lead foot. This simplified footwork means that the defender can concentrateon proper upper body alignment, making sure that the aggressor does not succeed in getting slightly too far behind or in front.If at any time the aggressor feels that they have created an opening,they should attempt to strike it. This will serve to reinforcethe need to maintain proper positioning.When you feel comfortable with this drill you can move on to the second part. You areare now permitted to circle freely with both feet. You must now incorporate proper footwork to maintain correct upper body alignment. This two step approach will result in feeling comfortable with circular movements and will illustrate the importance of proper body positioning while sparring

http://goatbucket.homestead.com/files/fh/2002/10/c2g.jpg http://www.jetli.com/jetli/projects/projects_other_cradle.php?bw=high

Untitled Jackie Chan & Jet Li Project http://www.jc-world.co.uk/jackiejet.asp OMG!!! LookS AwesoMe!!!

You can now contact your cable company and tell them you want Blackbelt TV. You can also fill out this form. Sounds like there will be a great mix of shows, movies, and real competitions. http://www.blackbelt.tv/site/cable_email.php3

The very best time to concentrate on stretching and really working the stretch is after you are thoroughly warmed up (dripping with sweat) from a workout. This is when you can really push your muscles and tendons more than usual in order to get on that "fast track" so-to-speak! After all my cardio kickbox classes we really work on our flexibility stretches ... because when your muscles are warmed up there is less chance for injury. You need to do a search here on the forum in Health & Fitness under keywords.... stretching (correct spelling), high kicks, flexibility determination, and splits..... --- that should tun up for you a vast amount of threads offering advice to achieve that never ending desire!

Both ramymensa and karatekid1975 brought up some good points regarding the female martial artists own type of personality trait with regards to their training in martial arts. Like I posted in General Martial Arts (Post in on the Bullentin Board) of the pic of the female ma breaking wood with the caption of the husband saying "Oh can't you pick up a hobby like knitting like other women do?" Well, no --- I am not like other women .... and most "other" women cannot understand why I (and other women like myself) do martial arts...... to subject ourselves to the physical rigors, bruises, unladylike behaviour , taking time away from husband & children, ruining your manicure/pedicure, and even "prancing" around barefoot where other people also prance barefoot.... (I tell ya..... I've heard it all!!! , and these are the same women who are outta shape, yell at their husbands and kids and are deep down inside not very happy with themselves). Its with the support of my husband and kids that I am a martial artist. I "am" what I "am" (oh no popeye ) becuase of martial arts .... I would be one of those women I'm afraid if it were not for the saving graces of Tae Kwon do. Everyone around me benefits .... I guess even here on the forum for that matter too and I from all of you! If for anything , yes, martial artists are a "different" breed and I do believe each discipline of the martial arts produces different personality traits. I have seen some aggressive sport karate/TKD practitioners as well as grapplers and some rather far too subdued Tai chi and other "soft" martial artists. "A warrior has qualities that the average person does not. Two of these qualities are loyalty and dedication to something greater than himself - his chosen art.A warrior is only a warrior because he believes in a cause greater than himself. A warrior whose cause is himself and his own ego glorification is no warrior at all. He is someone who just plays at being a warrior You will have to overcome your negative personality traits. You will have to discipline your mind. You have to allow yourself to be transformed into a warrior despite yourself." --Pai, Gong Li

Sometimes it is tough to workout when you don't have anyone there to spur you on. One of the things a teacher gets paid to do is to make you do things that you won't make yourself do. Sometimes though, you just have to be your own teacher. Everyone finds their own motivation from different sources .... but I tend to go with Jack on his opinions. Train for yourself! And I think its taezee that had a quote in his sig that says it all ... ""whenever youre lazy enough not to train .someone, somewhere is training very hard to kick your ass" A training journal can be a great motivational device! Buy a medium sized spiral notebook and use one line for each day. Also write important or interesting things that happen in your life too! You will find that in keeping a journal you will tend to stay on track. You can also see where you can change things around a bit .... diversify your workouts if they "look" like they are getting played out a bit and getting boring. I've discussed your workouts with you ... and I find them anything but boring. Maybe you are just over-training. Keeping a journal will also show you whether you are or not. If you are not really fired up about working out, sometimes it is hard to get started, and easy to kill time, and easy to quit early. On those days it is good to have a workout that is quantifiable, that is, something that can be counted -- like the 1000 kicks workout or picking one kata that you are interested in and then doing it a specific number of times, or another kata workout is to do every kata you know a set number of times. Try imagery to motivate you also. Before or during training sessions, calling up images of your goals for that session, or of a past or future competition or competitor can serve a motivational purpose. It can remind you of your objective, which can result in increased intensity in training. If you have something you are just dying to try out, or improve, or learn, then motivation is not your problem .... you just have to find that "something"!!!! ... as far as motivational songs -- my all time fav will always be Rocky's theme song (see the imagery of him jogging up those steps with the sweat stains all over his sweatsuit .... you know what he is thinking about .... he out to kick booty) that does it for me!!

A blow to the solar plexus, which is a nerve center in the abdomen, is responsible for many a knockout in the ring. A strike put the solar plexus temporarily out of service, short-circuiting the nervous system. Usually, nerve function is restored within a few minutes. I've been told that if this happens to you while sparring, rest until you feel normal and then pick up where you left off. What you need to work on is breathing techniques and how to expel your breath when taking a hit while contracting the abdominals..... this will lessen the pain of the impact somewhat.

I gotta tell ya .... the only thing I use my blender for is margaritas and mudslides .... but if I were to do a protein shake I'd use Whey Protein Isolate which I hear is the best and easily digestible and assimilates about 95-99% of the total amount of protein in the serving (25 grams or so) I like my protein naturally from "food" or if I'm having a bad "food" day .... I grab the very best tasting protein "bar".

Hey karatekid ... we have a lovely shade of purple at my TKD school (after green belt before bluebelt) Good going Mike ... you've "earned" it ... feels good huh?