Snapdragon

I recently purchased ankle/wrist weights because I want to increase the power and speed of my kicks. But then. . . someone told me they'd just end up tearing my legs up. Is this true? Then what can I do to further strengthen / heighten / increase the speed of my kicks? I've already learned to do a full split, but I don't know what else to do to reach even higher.

I haven't, but I most certainly will now. Judo, however, isn't much my thing. I'm rather slight, with muscles distribution primarily in my legs, and I have issues throwing burly men off me. Would kickboxing be something to look into?

Crazy! I always felt so old for being nineteen in my classes, but here's proof that not only am I not alone, I'm actually one of the youngest. This is great, and proof that martial arts is a lifestyle, not just a hobby.

Isshinryu doesn't seem to have the fame [and, thus, American practitioners] of some styles, but it is definitely something I enjoy. What would the knowledgeable, martial-arts savvy forum-posters suggest for a complementing style?