NidanWarrior

Anyone know anything about when this "Black Belt TV" channel is supposed to come on? I've read in the past about it coming on cable sometime soon.

Absolutely! Remember, that black belt instructor know more about what he/she is teaching than the person coming through the door to sign up (you'd hope). If you are a good instructor and are confident in what you know you'll do great and retain students. Rank doesn't have much to do with getting people in the door to sign up for classes. It's the advertising and promotions that get them in the door. The rest is up to how well you can sell your product. Good luck!

"Silent leaping" those are good burners!

I like the Juka brand gi's from Dragon International. I have one (Jukado) from them that I love. The top is longer than traditional cuts and is made for cross training in karate and jujitsu/judo with more stitching on the lapel and is sewn differntly on the shoulders (there is no seam like regular gi to get torn off while grapling). Check 'em out. I'm sure you'll like 'em. They are all brushed-cotton canvas. If you are getting a gi that will be your primary gi, spend the extra bucks 9up to $120 US and get one that will last many years. Dragon International: https://www.juka.com Aslo try: https://www.kamikazeusa.com

Ooh, yes. I forgot the horse stances! While watching tv or playing games (playstation, etc.) try it from a deep horse stance or cat, back, front, whatever. When your nice and comfy, get lower in the stance.

Hey Big Orange, I can relate. I'm six foot and about 300 lbs. I teach and study kenpo, a brown belt in juijitsu and okinawan weapons (only started those after black belt in karate). I see a lot of adults come into our dojo, most are not in the best of shape or have the flexability, but after about 8 months or so, they tell me how much they've lost and how good they feel. I also notice their progression of flexability getting better and better through the ranks - even the lower ranks. My suggestion is to take some form of karate. In a martial art like karate you move your entire body, much like an aerobic workout except you actually get to learn something. If you really like the juijistu I would incorporate that but not until you have a black belt in karate first. The two of these arts combined make for a pretty well rounded martial artist. I surprise a lot of people in self defense and sparing because they expect a big person to be slower. My many years of training have made me quicker on my feet. Now I have size and speed, not to mention power. Also, portion size and what you eat are very importan keys to wight loss, not just exercising. Good luck!

So are you going to quit karate or do both? Good luck on those falls!

Lunges are always good. What i like to do, both in class and at home are simple excersies without weights ('cause I have none): Calves: calf raises - start out flat-footed, rais as high as you can onto the balls of your feet, come down slow. It's important to go slow and not to rush through exercises. Start out with 25 to 50. If you don't feel the burn then do more. Quads: Here I like to get in a fighting stance with the back foot is on the ball, bend my knees (keeping my upper body straight) and going straight down about half way to the ground. Do ten. Then start in same position but start at the "half-way" down position and go down as far as you can (remember not to bend, keep back straight). When you come back up, only come back up to the half-way position. After ten like this, switch stances and do the other side. Thant's about all I can give you right now. After that it's a mish-mash of exercises.

Thanks Pacificshore! I'll check into those sites.

There are some pretty good answers here. As far as your question on how to judge a "kyungfu" form against that of basically any other style, I've always had the same problem. But I think it comes down to how well you can perfomr your basics. Is one fluid in thier motion/transitions? How are thier stances? And does it look like they are actually doing something (does it look like the techniques could work?) or are they just waiving thier arms around, making lound noises and doing crazy jumps? It most cases you can seperate the better practicioners from the "not-so-good" ones. I find it difficult when you get good forms from different styles (say it's down to 2-3 for the finals and one is Kung Fu, one Japanese and one TKD style for the finals).If any of you have suggestions on judging that I'm open to your thoughts. Maybe a topic for another subject.

There are some pretty good answers here. As far as your question on how to judge a "kyungfu" form against that of basically any other style, I've always had the same problem. But I think it comes down to how well you can perfomr your basics. Is one fluid in thier motion/transitions? How are thier stances? And does it look like they are actually doing something (does it look like the techniques could work?) or are they just waiving thier arms around, making lound noises and doing crazy jumps? It most cases you can seperate the better practicioners from the "not-so-good" ones. I find it difficult when you get good forms from different styles (say it's down to 2-3 for the finals and one is Kung Fu, one Japanese and one TKD style for the finals).If any of you have suggestions on judging that I'm open to your thoughts. Maybe a topic for another subject.

How'd you do? Hope all went well. I was pretty nrvous at my first tournament too, but then it okk so long that I was more tired of waiting than nervous about competing. Just do your best! If you can give 100% throughout the entire kata, then that's all anyone can ask of you and I'm sure it will show.

Omnifinite: wow! that's expensive but I'm sure worth the price in the long run. Tobias: Kata: (Bo) Shihonuke, Chounokon, Suiyoshi Nokun Ichi, Tsuken Akochono Nunte Bo, Suiyoshi Nokun Ni, Shimi Igiri Bo Ichi, (Tonfa) Matayoshi No Tonfa Ichi, (Sai) Chotoku Kyan No Sai, nad Nakamura No Sai.

Congratulations! They say that your toughest belt tests are your White Belt and first Black Belt tests. Congrats again!

Welcome! I'm new at this too and already hooked.

Actually I don't have a nunte bo, I have to borrow my instructors. I saw the ones in Kamakaze. Pretty expensive. But I don't see anywhere else to buy. Oar too. I may have gotten a little excited with the message. Our style uses all those weapons, I've only got 5 bo forms, 2 sai one tonfa (Matayoshi) and starting on kama. Not sure I have a favorite right now.

I've been training in traditional Okinawan weapons for the past 12-13 months. When I first started I just picked up the cheap ($) weapons (bo, tonfa, sai, kama, nunte, oar, etc.). Now that I have had some practice with these and know that I will be sticking with it, I would like to replace the cheap stuff with "quality" made weapons. Do any of you know where I can get some? People who make them? Companies? Web sites?

Any of you know of any Good karate films? I know that's a broad subject so let's narrow it down. I like the 7 Samurai, I'm also anxious to see Shanghai Knights (I know - not a true MA flic but funny). Two different spectrums here. I don't really care for the KungFu theatre styl movies. I was on this web site the other day (https://www.kungfucinema.com) that has a movie called "Musa". It's a Korean film with English subtitles - Looks awsome but is a region 3 dvd wich means I can't watch it on my dvd player. Any GOOD films I should watch for?

That's right. Good call Pacificshore!

First of all I don't think "practice makes perfect". Practice makes better! I also think we are missing something here. How long does one read books, watch videos before he/she decides they are a black belt? And does this person have other martial arts training and if so, is it similar to the style they are trying to study from books? A lot of you have some good points. I agree with SubmissionFighter in that you need someone there who knows the art to teach/show you all the little things that make the techniques work. I also agree that you should be tested by someone in that style to see if you really are black blet quality in that style. I don't feel that getting in the ring proves you are a black belt. I once saw a guy (a BB) who was a great point fighter get his but kicked in a parking lot by someone without martial arts training. Maybe he had bad training or the wrong training for real life. I have checked books out at the library and bought a few books and tried a few drills and techniques but without constant practice with others in the same style I don't think you can get any better with the techniques or the style. Bottom line for me. No. I don't think you could consider yourself a BB from just reading books and watching videos. But if you already have several years of training, I think you can learn a few things to add to you knowledge.

Rank promotion is important, at least up to black belt. Promotion gives the student a sense of accomplishment, something to achieve, goals to reach. I don't have a problem with people promoting themselves anymore. It will eventually catch up with them. As far as people like Mr. Mackey declareing himself a "master" and the rank of seventh dgree, hey I'm not going to argue one bit. He's been in the martial arts long enough to know where he stands. Those names you speak of, and I do know who they are, are not the level of martial artist I was refering to. I was talking more about those first and second degree black belts, and remember in some styles black belts are a dime-a-dozen and you can get one in about 2 years. (Not at my school you won't) Let's look at it from another perspective. Look at it from inside your own organization. Say one person gets a black belt, goes out on his/her own and opens a school while you continue to train at the main school. After about two years the first person, who left to start a school, is sudenly no longer associated with the main school and is now say a 3rd or fourth degree. Myself, I don't care. But don't you think there is a slight loss of RESPECT for that person. Just a thought.

I'm not a huge fan/supporter of tournaments, not even when our school is the host of one (although I will compete in all events to show support for my school), but I do like to watch them when I can. I guess my question for you all is how many of you go to or would rather go to a seminar for a day/half day/whatever vs. a tournament? Maybe I've had more fun a seminars, but my take on the subject is that I would rather spend $30-$60 to go learn something else, expand on my martial arts, meet some people and have fun than go and pay the same amount to compete for a piece of plastic or points. What are the majority you out there into? Does anyone know of some great seminars in the midwest coming up this year?

Iv'e seen it or heard of it far too often in the martial arts community, people getting promoted faster than McDonalds can open a new drive through. But what really gets me is when a black belter goes out on his/her own and either promotes himself to a higher (sometimes much higher) degree or that person finds group of other black belts and they promote him. What does one get from this? Does it make you/them feel superior just because of the rank? Pretty sad if you need that kind of boost. Myself, I'd rather work hard, enjoy my training and comradery of the martial arts and when my instructor wants to promote me, fine. What do you all think about this? Have you ro do you know of someone like this? Just curious, maybe I'm missing something.

Too many colors and your training hall will look like a cicrus instead of a dojo (ha ha). No, my first place wore all black all the time. We even had to have our last names put on the back of the gi top. Now, new students are given the traditional white gi from century (lightweight and cheap). Once you make yellow belt you are allowed to wear white or black gi's, but w'll poke fun at you if you mix 'em (black top, white bottoms, etc.) Black is especially important to the women (you know - the monthly visitor). Anyway, it's white or black gi and only one patch, the organization patch. I have 5 gi's (3 white and 2 black). I like to wear the black ones for self defens and jujitsu classes due to hitting the floor and getting dirty. White gi's for kata class and when I teach. Our system requires EVERYONE to wear a white gi with the one patch for Black Belt test. Looks very traditional and sharp! if you want a great gi, check out Dragon Internationals Juka Gi line. 100% brushed cotton. Last long time and great quality. Once, in my young days I did have a black and red tie-dyed gi that ordered from somewhere on the West coast. It was pretty cool but I felt goofy wearing it anywhere outside the bedroom. Now I put it on for halloween.

When I first started training in the martial arts I paid something like $35.00 per month plus test fees. Then I went off to college, found a place to train and the instructor only charged me $15 per month (enough to cover renting a gymnasium). Now I pay $75.00 per month at one dojo and a $5.00 "mat fee" at another (plus test fees - but those are far and few between nowadays). I don't think you can really put a price on good instruction (key word: Good Instruction). I don't like paying a lot of money for lessons but at the same time I'm getting what I pay for.