GeoGiant

I am very happy to report that I am now a yellow belt. Going through the test was very stressful but a great experience. I had to perform 3 katas then wait while other performed theirs. I think I held my breath through the first kata and most of the second. I started to feel more comfortable by the time I was finishing my last kata. I assume I was holding my breath because I was panting like a person that just ran a marathon. I had to perform 5 one-step defenses - twice. The guy I was teamed up with was great. We both had the same philosophy - move through the technique hard and fast then end with a a loud ki-ai. I'm not sure our movements were perfect but if the intend of the one-step was to block, punch, drive the person to the ground... we did it! I had to fight for 3 one-minute rounds. I took some shots and gave some shots but I wasn't winded at the end of the 3rd round. I'm starting to feel like I'm strategizing more and pacing myself as opposed to charging in like bull and throwing everything at once. Testing ended with a belt ceremony where my instructor talked about the history of our MA how he hopes to move his school into the future with our testing class. Again, great experience.

I'm an 8th Gup White Belt right now and I'm testing for my 7th Gup Yellow Belt tonight... & I'm really nervous! I have class from 6:30 to 7:30, then testing will begin right after class. I have about 2 hours between the time get off work and the time class begins. I intend to go home, loosen up, and practice my katas (BTW - Is katas incorrect? Can you use kata to mean singular and plural, like deer?).

All good advice. Thanks!

Just my $0.02 - As a guy that is 6'4" and 180 lbs (ie. tall & skinny) I found weight training helped me quite a bit with maintaining form and preparing my body for contact. When i first started taking class my joints hurt! ...all the muscles in my lower back hurt! ...all the muscles in my neck hurt! ...etc. Doing full body &/or compound muscle exercises like clean n' jerks and dips helped me get my stabilizing muscles where they needed to be. I typically workout with weights 2 to 3 times a week. When I lift, form is the focus not the weight or amount of reps. For example, I will loosen up on the double-end bag using 1 lb hand weights and throwing 500 punches (jags & crosses with an elbow here and there). I will bench 3 sets - 12, 11, 10 reps. Flyes or dips = same set and rep but at varying angles. Varying bi & tri exercises then I finish throwing a couple hundred punches with 10 lb weights in my hands. It takes me about 1 1/2 hours from start to finish.

Thanks for the advice. I know my question may have sounded silly to some more experienced ppl but I'm an order / operation type person so if "x" is supposed to done, I will always do it. I've been working out at my dojo for the last 7 months and i didn't know anyone before I started there so I'm a little apprehensive about asking non-technique questions (I'm not sure why).

Hi Guys! I'm new here. I just posted an introduction - "my intro with a little background info". I was wondering if anyone bows to other students / sensei when they are outside of the dojo? I'm referring to situations that have nothing to do with martial arts. Say you run into a black belt at the mall. I ask because I ran into a sensei at a gas station and I didn't bow... it felt strange not to.

Hello, my name is Mark. I’m a 37 year old married guy with no kids. By day I work as a geologist and by night I’m attempting to be a martial artist….. I’ve been studying Tang Soo Do for 7 months and I’m testing for my yellow belt at the end Feb (2010). At my dojo we must receive 5 stripes on our white belt prior to testing for yellow so the yellow belt test is the culmination of those 5 stripes plus sparing – 5 katas & 10 one-steps defenses. I was always a runner until around age 35 when my knees started causing me problems. I’ve always had an interest in martial arts (from movies I guess) so one day I decided to check out a dojo that I passed a few times while going to work – it was closed. I ended up going back after 6 months or so and I met with the instructor. After an intro 4 lessons I signed up for a year. I’ve been attending class 2 to 4 times week ever since. I guess I just got lucky and fell into a great dojo! I didn’t know how to evaluate potential dojos but I knew I didn’t want to go to a strip mall. I’ve always been fairly athletic but I’ve never been very competitive, if that makes sense. I’ve played organized baseball, football and basketball but it was always more about hanging with my friends then competing against another team. I was always the guy that liked preparing for the game more than winning the game. However, since studying martial arts I’ve found that I am more competitive than I thought. When I spare I want to win. When I perform a kata I want to perform each move as if my life depends on it. The idea of levels that mark achievement and the hierarchy that goes with that achievement really appeals to me. I love the camaraderie that training in a group creates but I also enjoy the opportunity to challenge myself personally…. this is what I always loved about running… me fighting against myself to keep going. Well I lurked on this forum for awhile and thought it was about time to throw my hat into the ring!