Jeffrey

Congrats!

Train for my 10km in September. Hike/climb up Edith Cavell mtn. Do a of bit of camping with the kids and head down south to Tennessee for the last 2 weeks of August. With any luck I will be able to slide in a few games of golf (hopefully durning work hours).

Welcome

Welcome

I agree with the both of you on the exchange of a MA class for yoga. It was a one time deal just to do something different. I was more on the line of maybe hitting the yoga place one time a week. Just to stretch which I never seemed to make time for. The idea of yoga, crossfit or running will make you better at MA is myth IMO also. I run 3 times a week but it doesn't make me better in my MA class other than add a bit of extra enduance to certian skills and not all.

Last night we did a little bit of a different class. One of the instructors had a hot yoga teacher come in a conduct the class. I have never really been exposed to yoga before so I was very interested in what it had to offer. They cranked up the heat and began the class. It was 1 hour and 40 mins. I have never sweated like that every. My Gi was drenched from top to bottom. Going through the various poses and holding them became quiet the challenge. The focus was on breathing and calm of mind. I would have to admit this was a great work out. Not only did it focus on different muscle groups but also on flexibility. I would be interested to hear from others who may do Yoga or have tried it. I may just make this part of my weekly routine. Thoughts??

Hhhhmmm... I wonder how my son would feel if I bored his collection of light sabre one night. I might have to bring this one up. You know, for the last 15mins of class one night. Very geeky but it might be fun.

I disagree. This type of sparring doesn't teach you to move in and out...just stay out. There's nothing of value in that. It doesn't teach good footwork, distance, properly reading the opponent, or timing. That depends on who is the agressor. If I move in that forces you to move out and vice vesa. I would consider this like shadow boxing only I can have the invisible partner right in front of me. To be honest I can see pro's and con's to this type of sparring.

I'm pretty happy where I am. Sure it gets very cold in the winter but all my close frinds are right around the corner. I have the Rocky Mountians close by and I enjoy hiking through them (always a new adventure). Friends have kept us were we are. No reason to leave or want to be any place else.

To add to Sokusen post. I think there is impotant lesson in distance here.

Plus one vote.

Our grading is done at the end of each semester. It is a 2 hour class for the kids. They run through all the techniques after a brutal work out and then by belt rank the perform their Kata or all they know depending on what is asked. Kata is done with all black belts sitting watching as a panel. Adult grading is a little bit more involved. It is done over 2 classes with a big work out the first night. 2nd night is more on technique and sparring different belt levels. Kata by belt rank in front of the panel. Everyone can participate in the grading nights. So even if you not up for grading you can still come and do it. It is a great deal of fun. I like grading nights as they are the best work all term and good opportunity to show your stuff.

Thanks mr_obvious, Those are some great ideas. I really like the idea of "family night". I sure that would be great. We already have a fun night after grading which the kids can bring thier friends but getting the parents involed a bit more sound better.

Congrats GeoGiant!

Paying for a Black Belt up front is simply ridicules. My last school had contracts that were in place from white to orange and than from orange to brown. Never Black. A Black Belt in MHO is something you earn on all your own. You have shown commitment to your art and the school by trying to master the techniques required and becoming more than an individual that shows up for training.

In our house they get one hour of screen time a day. This can be used for computer, games, or watching TV. They can save up an hour to watch a 2 hour movie if they like. Works well. They normally have a choice durning the week. Screen time or park? Thank goodness they choose park. My oldest still likes to practice her karate kata for a bit every other day. Big relief there. With other peoples houses I'm not affraid to let them know that this show or that game is not for our kids. I make it a point of saying just E rated games.

Normally we rent our movies or buy them. This way we can pre-screen anything that might not be suitable. The concern with son is not that something may be fearful but that he will begin to act out in a violent way. He is fearless to all sorts of graphic violence but tend to act them out. A behavior example is smacking mom in the head with a toy light saber and telling her he just cut off her head. These are the things we are trying to avoid. Of course we are guilty for purchasing him the toy to begin with. What we were thinking who knows. I think most boys love the action stuff and thinking back he just would have found a stick and used his imagination. Better to be hit with plastic than a stick. Weather there is blood or not kids view things differently. To them it is still a game. They don’t gasp the real life part. Just watching the news some nights I can tell they don’t quite get it yet. My oldest being 8 has a good understanding of things. She is very mature for her age. She understands things in the way a adult would regarding violent movies. She chooses not to watch as they are not really her thing. She does like Jackie Chan movies though and these are good fun to watch with the kids. I think we plan on going to the new Karate Kid movie together as a family.

Not to date myself but I can remember when we were told that Bugs Bunny cartoons were to violent for us. I let my 5 year old watch transformers 1 and he loved it. I didn't let him watch the 2nd one after I pre-screened it. My 8 year old has no interest in war movies and would rather watch her barbie and fairy movies. I don't worry so much about the movies as I do the video games. Star Wars lego is good where WWE wrestling is bad. Movies I can pre-screen but sometimes the boy plays at a friends house and comes home with a super charged aggression from something he played on Xbox or PS3. Even Wii I have to buy carefully. My wife and I make the rules and try to explain things that maybe they don't grasp or understand how bad it is.

Example: 15 hours to learn Pinan Shodan (just the moves) 1 year 80 hours just to refine the techniques. And I'm still working on it. 15 hours is rubbish to learn anything teachable.

Welcome Tim

That's a tough call without knowing all the facts. But I will say how times have changed.

After a bit of thought I would have to go with Party Hard by Andrew W K. Just becuase when I work I work hard.

Congratulations Patrick!

It could be fun, or not. It could be about setting up your very own McDojo. Dispite how much I disapprove of these, they do make money for the owners if run correctly.

Ninjanurse good luck with that 3 section staff. I tried it out for a couple of weeks back in the day and considered it an epic fail for me. I was clumsy kid back than. No fine motor skills. Maybe the instructor wasn't a good teacher or maybe I just got frustrated. I might try it again after I dig it out of the big box of dust covered stuff.