KickChick

IMO ... belts have always been an idication of tenure in the system not a measure of skill. A specific colored belt is awarded to a student based upon his or her meeting the minimum requirements for the belt and for his or her demonstration of skills during a test that are substantially improved from his or her last belt test. Belts are awarded to students based on improvement of their own personal skills. For this reason, belts give only a rough estimate of a student's skills. One same color belt student may display extraordinary skills in comparison to another same color belt student. It may appear that the lesser skilled student does not deserve the belt, when in actuality, he or she trained an extraordinary number of hours and showed great progress to earn the belt in comparison to the more skilled belt who was able to easily learn the skills in a short time. Each student then trains and progresses at his or her own rate in accordance to his or her own desire and ability. What you are failing to realize searcher is rank is awarded based on tenure, performing certain minimum skills, and on making substantial personal improvement, it is a more a social and psychological status than it is an indicator of fighting ability.

More on the wearing of shoes in training here: http://www.karateforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=2306&forum=2&18

Well actually your belt should not be "washed". Care of belt: You should clean stains individually. To relax a new belt so it will hang freely, continuously crush it into a ball with the hands and store it this shape. A belt may be stretched by hanging it over the top of a door and pulling down on the ends of the belt. There are more posts here concerning purpose of belts http://www.karateforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=2100&forum=2&30 Also I posted this a while back ... an informative philisophical meaning of the martial art belt http://www.karateforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=1717&forum=27&7 Basically the styles that traditionally use a belt ranking system do so primarily for determining this: The overall skill level of the class, using the number of yellow belts, green belts, blue belts, etc. The approximate skill level of each student. The approximate physical fitness level of each student. The approximate number of months/years each student has been training. The approximate level of commitment of each student. What patterns, step-sparring sequences, and techniques each student knows. What patterns, step-sparring sequences, and techniques each student needs to learn. Whether a student is allowed to free spar. The approximate sparring ability of each student.

Zoinks! Two years after a clash of egos forced Mystery Inc. to close its doors, Scooby-Doo and his clever crime-solving cohorts Fred (FREDDIE PRINZE JR.), Daphne (SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR), Shaggy (MATTHEW LILLARD) and Velma (LINDA CARDELLINI) are individually summoned to Spooky Island to investigate a series of paranormal incidents at the ultra-hip Spring Break hot spot. Same here Sai ... I loved Scooby so much my mom used to call me deby-doo I've heard mixed reviews on it ... also heard that if they threw in one of those famous Gellar kisses that even that wouldn't save the film!

I do believe in the years to come Iron that we are going to see a rebound in such schools. Let's just hope it becomes an epidemic!

In TKD we use a combination of hard (closed)and soft (open) blocking styles. Open handed blocks (single/double knifehand blocks, block and attack, inner knife hands) use relatively gentle force to delay or deflect the attacking force. Soft blocks are generally slower since they require more blocking motion and more body movement ....(snapping the hip into the block transfers your body mass into the technique for additional power) Hard blocks (closed fisted) use far more force. The block is struck with a forceful blow to either, stop, delay, or deflect the attack. Hard blocks are quick, using minimal motion, and body movement, and may be painful to both the blocker as well as the attacker. _________________ KarateForums Sensei 1st dan Tae Kwon Do (ITF) Cardio/Fitness Kickboxing Instr. [ This Message was edited by: KickChick on 2002-06-17 15:02 ]

More tips here! http://www.karateforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=738&forum=19

We train on carpet .... so carpet burns are common! Yeouch! _________________ KarateForums Sensei 1st dan Tae Kwon Do (ITF) Cardio/Fitness Kickboxing Instr. [ This Message was edited by: KickChick on 2002-06-17 13:40 ]

I was merely curious and I am sure I'm not alone here in wondering.I don't believe it was asking too much from you .... I do believe we all do understand where you are coming from ... you have reiterated many of your points time and time again (I was waiting to hear the dog tail scenario again LOL) .... I feel the same way about being a black belt ... (your thoughts on that?) Martial art is evolving,constantly changing to fit the needs of the society at the time. That has always been the purpose of martial art, to give the 'artists' the tools to survive within their society! If it hadn't adapted, it would have failed... we wouldn't even know of it today. Maybe with that adaptation the true essense of the martial artist has been clouded ... if you are a true martial artist in your own mind isn't that enough for you? _________________ KarateForums Sensei 1st dan Tae Kwon Do (ITF) Cardio/Fitness Kickboxing Instr. [ This Message was edited by: KickChick on 2002-06-17 13:06 ]

Good advice from everyone above .... and yes, we've all been there. Developing calloused feet is inevitable! The bottoms of my feet are so tough I could step on a tack and not feel it! Not a pretty sight however! A good pedicure now and then is good just soften the callouses but do not remove them!

Well unless you are a female instructor ... in that case you are addressed a "ma'am" Black belt students are addressed respectfully by their proper title i.e. sensei, sah bum nihm..... _________________ KarateForums Sensei 1st dan Tae Kwon Do (ITF) Cardio/Fitness Kickboxing Instr. [ This Message was edited by: KickChick on 2002-06-17 11:09 ]

Its the same at our school also Mr. Man. We have a poster displayed at front of class with the word "can't" with a red line going through it (4-letter words are not allowed in the dojo!) It's not that I can't. I can! The brain says I can almost all of the time ... unfortunately I am not 16 years old and the body says Whoa! You want me to do that??

Congrats to you MonkeyGirl... Make sure that you are truly ready first both physically and mentally and then go for it! Although your instructor has given you the ok to test sooner you must first feel that you personally are ready. Oh ..... tips for test day--- "Breathe in and breathe out" .... and it's your day to shine make yourself proud .... and those that have trained with you!

Teenagers should never be placed on a restrictive diet to lose weight, unless a doctor supervises one for medical reasons. Limiting what you eat (at your age) may be harmful to your health and interfere with your growth and development. To promote proper growth and development and prevent getting overweight this is what someone your age should be eating: Most of the foods in your diet should come from the grain products group (6-11 servings), the vegetable group (3-5 servings), and the fruit group (2-4 servings). Your diet should include moderate amounts of foods from the milk group (2-3 servings) and the meat and beans group (2-3 servings). Foods that provide few nutrients and are high in fat and sugars should be used sparingly! Stay away from that junk food!!! You may just need to lose maybe just 10-20 pounds. (75 lbs??? that's 1/2 your weight kiddo!) Do more cardio! Get more active! Don't eat before bed time! Things I see teens do all the time! Discipline!!! Set your goal to do it and work hard! Good Luck! _________________ KarateForums Sensei 1st dan Tae Kwon Do (ITF) Cardio/Fitness Kickboxing Instr. [ This Message was edited by: KickChick on 2002-06-14 09:49 ]

Oh I've been back Laurie! 16 more lessons to go ... but that to me doesn't mean I'm ready for the test. I have to "feel" that I am ready. I'm sure you know what I mean! It all came back .... I have momentary ""brain farts" though!

I was wondering if anyone else here has taken considerable time off from their training and has gone back and had to struggle through remembering their forms and getting back their flexibility (which is probably the worse!). I know it is more common for women in the martial arts due to their getting pregnant. I stopped training at 4 months (then green belt)and returned 2 years later. Those that were at same level as me are now at 3rd dan! I took another year off last year and returned to training earlier this year. I taught and took kickboxing solely last year. I just didn't know how serious was to keep going. I am over 40 and although I am physically in better shape than I was in my 20's ... sparring and injuries incurred due to the nature of tae kwon do was taking a toll on me. I had to figure out whether I wanted to continue with my TKD training. After joining this forum ... I knew I had to get back into training and shoot for that 2nd dan! Anyone else?

I was thinking about that time (long ago) just the other day and how different it was back then than it is today. I think I had more of a difficult time of it than the students today because when I began at that time the student base was made up of more advanced students as opposed to beginners and somehow I felt the need to "catch-up" or "to be as good" as them.... and when I wasn't I got real down on myself. Also (back in the day) we were given just a dobok with no belt. We had to earn the white belt. I hated wearing that baggy dobok which made me look fat and was quite happy to finally receive my belt. I believe the instruction was a little more difficult and more respect seem to have been shown by the students to their instructors. I remember punishments of remaining in horse stance for several minutes or numerous push ups given for improperly addressing yourt instructor or not kihaping or talking in class while instructor was teaching. Well, those are my reflections ... many changes over the years but the quality of instruction has always remained the same. _________________ KarateForums Sensei 1st dan Tae Kwon Do (ITF) Cardio/Fitness Kickboxing Instr. [ This Message was edited by: KickChick on 2002-06-13 16:48 ]

There's a saying .... "Those who know don't talk, those who talk don't know"

...and why shouldn't they. People who are more prone to car accidents (like male 16 yr olds) pay more for car insurance. Someone will scream discrimination .. you know it!

First and foremost TKD is a modern Korean martial art .... it only later evolved into a sport. The underlying purpose of TKD is combat. TKD may be practiced as a pure sport, as a pure fighting art, or as a combination of both. You speak of caution and using your abilities as a last resort? "Karate ni Sen te Nashi" is a favorite saying of the great Karate Master Gichin Funakoshi, the "father" of modern Karate.. It means "In Karate there is no first hand." TKD is based on the same principle. TKD is a defensive art. The TKD practitioner does not attack unless being attacked. If an attacker does not pose a threat, then you do not attack, and, once a threat is neutralized, the attack stops. You see, self-defense is an important benefit of TKD (not just pretty good for self defense). Self-defense is not just using defenses and counter attacks against attackers. It is the ability to prevent injury to oneself or others from attackers. This includes learning to fall safely, to communicate with aggressors, and to escape from violent situations. And just as you posted monkeygirl, self-defense is not just concerned with physically dealing with violence, it is mostly concerned with avoiding becoming a victim of violence. Oh and BTW Eye of the Tiger .... I edited your post to correct the spelling of "Tai Kwon do" .... hope you don't mind _________________ KarateForums Sensei 1st dan Tae Kwon Do (ITF) Cardio/Fitness Kickboxing Instr. [ This Message was edited by: KickChick on 2002-06-13 12:46 ]

Too much TV, Playstation and the computer and little physical education is making our kids fat and they grow up to be -- fat adults. I heard this morning that a school (in U.S. somewhere --forgot where) is banning the game of "tag" in the schoolyard. Seems its too physical and too injurous for the children. It also lowers a kids self esteem. GIMME a BREAK! Most schools now make gym an option to kids. They don't have to take if they don't want to. I also heard on news today that they are developing a special diet pill for kids to help them lose their weight. How about getting them outside (home and at school) and getting them physically active!!! Parents too are to blame. Parents come home from work and offer fast and instant food, and if the kids are happy and electonic media babysits them. How about playing basketball, football, sledding, inline skating, bike riding, get a wiffle ball game going, walk around the block or hike in woods, swimming, etc. etc. These are all the things I do with my kids. My suggestion (for US) is a mass advertising blitz for physical education and healthy eating (as "Men's Health magazine suggests -- yes, I read it! ) This is done for safe sex, HIV, drunk driving, drugs and so on. Or hit their pocketbooks ... increase obese people's health insurance and give tax breaks to businesses that require their employees to be part of a regular fitness program. Putting a pic of a fat lady on my fridge would work for me ... _________________ KarateForums Sensei 1st dan Tae Kwon Do (ITF) Cardio/Fitness Kickboxing Instr. [ This Message was edited by: KickChick on 2002-06-13 10:55 ]

Jack .... looking over your post again, you mentioned pain on the back of the inside of your knee. Now I know you're young (15 now right?) , but this may possibly be an indication of bursitis. Bursitis is irritation of the "bursae sac " in your knee. There are three muscles that meet together at one point in the knee. Inflammation occurs here if these muscles rub against each other which they do when performing ax kicks and crescent kicks. Bursitis also is caused by prolonged kicking with full knee extension. We must remember to constantly keep the knees soft when kicking to air! Pain behind your kneecap can be another condition which is the softening of the patella cartilage. Strengthen the quads on inside of knees by doing leg extensions ..... with machine if available to you. Hamstring pulls are the most common injury a martial artist endures. I see it happen weekly at our school and most people don't have a clue as to how to prevent or when stricken how to treat their injury. Your hamstrings generate knee and hip flexion. They help you retract your front, side, roundhouse and hook kicks. These muscles are generally weaker than your quads and if they are (as possibly in your case Jack) you have a muscle imbalance. Martial artists should/must include leg extensions, curls and squats in their training routines!

haven't a clue as to why.... Shark cartillage has been investigated for its potential role in enhancing wound healing, regulating immune function and stopping the growth of tumors and some forms of cancers. A similar situation is seen with the use of shark cartilage in people with osteoarthritis. Antioxidant supplements, including vitamin C and vitamin E, may help prevent exercise-related muscle injuries by neutralizing free radicals produced during strenuous activities. Also look into glucosamine (see threads on this in H & F) _________________ KarateForums Sensei 1st dan Tae Kwon Do (ITF) Cardio/Fitness Kickboxing Instr. [ This Message was edited by: KickChick on 2002-06-12 16:32 ]

A friend and I were talking about just how many people nowadays are not only fat but truly obese. Now I know there are many reasons as to why ...(ex. genetics, special circumstances....) but for the most part the majority of the people I see (as I people watch at various functions) are just fat by their own choice and outta shape!! Who is to blame for this obesity epidemic? Society? ... and how do we solve this problem?

Generally, minor strains can take weeks to return to action, while more serious injuries can take months. If you don't ice, stretch and strengthen you will end up with a chronic and debilitating problem which is probably why you have had this "problem" for a while now. Is there swelling? Stretching and massage will help restore range of motion and healing. Once the inflammation is reduced and range of motion is returning, you can begin leg curls with extremely light weight to regain strength and flexibility. You may have to start training your quads more .... usually weak quads are the culprit for pulled hamstrings. It is necessary to work the ham strings and quads equally so as you don't pull either one! But I would first seek the advice of your physiotherapist ... in the meantime "take it easy" -- I know, I know, easier said then done! _________________ KarateForums Sensei 1st dan Tae Kwon Do (ITF) Cardio/Fitness Kickboxing Instr. [ This Message was edited by: KickChick on 2002-06-12 15:48 ]