mr_obvious

This is one of those topics that make me glad to surf this forum... The more esoteric concepts not usually taught in my dojo. Oddly enough, I was playing with this very concept last class. I ended up settling with a neutral height "gaze" (for lack of a better term), just kinda passively looking forward and not targeting the opponent. Aside from distracting my partners (apparently this could be used as an advantage, as most weren't used to being stared through) it helped me pickup on tendon flex and early detect which strike they were about to deploy. ....if any of that makes sense at all

You know... My school leans heavily towards the sport / competition side of things. I fit the 30-40 bracket; so call me different, but I'm more into the "emotional maturity" aspects of Karate. Maybe someday I'll consider the competition scene. If, for no other reason than to sample other Karateka's style, outside my home Dojo...

Heh, heh, heh... As a tangible example -- after class this week, I stopped for gas in my Gi pants and Dojo shirt -- didn't get so much as a 2nd glance from anybody.

Not entirely sure if taken in context, but I've started applying certain Kihon movements, wherever possible, into my weight training. For instance -- applying forms to Dumbbell Bench Press, DB Mil Press, DB Rear Flies & Rows, Leg Extensions, Rear Leg Kickbacks, etc... Despite being an MA beginner, I tend to take things to the extreme. In my free time, aside from practicing Kata, I'll go "practice" on the six large Oak trees I have in the back yard. Plus cardio three times a week...

This would be (and is) my solution.

My dojo rules don't specifically approach this subject, and I haven't asked Sensei... I see kids going in / out of the dojo, fully uniformed, as do I. In my case -- from the house, to the car, then maaaaaybe 20 steps from the parking lot and into the dojo. Repeat in reverse order after class. Where I train, adults are only required to wear a full Gi in Kata class (1/3 of our sessions) so most of us just wear the pants, shirt and belt to class. Easy enough to dof the belt for any post-curricular stops. I'm with a lot of posters here... Keep your training, knowledge and abilities on the mat (what's the 1st rule of Fight Club?) I'm a n00b, so admittedly, there's not much to hide, lol.

Roger that, sir!

^^^ Anybody tried the GLC products?

Well darn....I guess I should keep getting those Grande Mocha Latte's. We'll just call it a turbocharged / warm version of Chocolate Milk Caffeinated vices aside... Before I push iron in the morning, I drink a shot of VPX Shotgun MHF-1; post-workout stack with 4oz OJ, 4oz G2, 10oz H2O and two scoops of Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey. Rest of the day I consume "real" proteins (Chicken, Fish, Beef), banana, sweet potato, plenty of veggies, Mega-Man multi and Total Raisin Bran....for dinner. I've tried (and previously swore by) N-O Xplod, but switched to the MHF-1 simply 'cause it doesn't cause the gastric distress usually experienced with N-O products. That's what works for me, your results may vary, lol.

Yes..... Erm, well.... I always fear the great dataminer in the sky -- Google. I learned the lesson about putting personal info online, many years ago. Thanks for the welcomes!

Hey everyone... Though I'd come out of lurk mode and say hi! I'm a new Martial Artist (Yoshukai Karate); got into it more for stress management, flexibility and cardio health reasons, than self-defense. I'm what you might call a self-reformed-fatty... Lost a whole bunch of weight back in the day, started pushing iron and reading up on everything nutrition. MA is something I've been tossing around in my head for a while -- finally decided to pull the trigger

Potassium and/or vitamin E deficiency, perhaps? Anytime I neglect these two, soreness and cramps get the best of me.