BlackFlag

do you know if the manga is licensed yet? Because I'd like to read it, but don't want to have to resort to reading them online if I don't have to.

I don't know if any of you are into anime, but I thought this would be of interest to the people of this forum. Kenichi is about this kid who gets bullied everyday in school. Although he's a member of the karate club, the club members do not teach him anything and instead beat him up. Then he goes to a dojo, Ryozanpaku, and learns martial arts from a bunch of different masters who teach him Karate, Jujitsu, Muay thai, Chinese Martial Arts, and other useful stuff. It's a very funny show, but it's also cool for martial arts fans because of the techniques that kenichi learns although admittedly as the show goes on, it gets a tad bit more silly and less realistic, but still fun to watch. Just thought I'd throw this recommendation out there.

Buddhism, in practice, does not worship any deities, so I think your good. edit: wow I didn't realize how old this thread was when I replied.

Hello again everyone. So far, so good. I'm really getting into it. I practice my strikes and kicks and even the one kata they showed me everyday since I started. It's a lot of fun, and who knows maybe I'll even lose my gut. I especially can't wait to start sparring. I'm hoping one day I can take what I've learn into amateur matches after cross training in jujitsu maybe. The biggest issues I seem to be having as far as my techniques go was initially my stance which, although I had it fine at first, my feet would grow further and further lined up instead of spaced out as they should be. However, with practice I'm getting better with it. Flexibility is a big issue for me. I'm a heavy set guy and the kicks don't come easy. But I'm sure when I lose weight, things will work itself out. Anyways, thanks for the helpful advice everyone and I will keep you posted on how my journey into martial arts is going.

Wow Josh Waitzkin! I knew him as a chess player. Didn't know he practiced martial arts as well.

Hello again everyone. My first karate lesson, frankly, sucked. The black belt who was teaching me the stances and techniques, although obviously very talented, did not seem to be interested at all in helping me learn and merely stood there while I tried my best to learn basic punches and kicks. However, I decided that since a second and third free class was offered, that I should try it again. I went to my second class and this time I had a much better experience. Obviously, the reasons for my bad experience the first class was because of the lack of attendance and the disinterest of the black belt which I put off as an isolated incident. This time, one of the black belts there helped me and was very helpful. I felt like I was indeed getting something out of my experience there. So all in all, I have decided that I will try this dojo for a month since I can pay month by month anyways, and if after awhile I decide I don't like it, I'll simply leave. No harm done. And btw, the style is Chinese Goju, which is developed by this guy named Ron Van Cleef. I read a thread on this forum that was archived and the people on it didn't seem to have very good things to say about that particular style but I still feel it's worth trying out. I'm very excited to be finally taking a martial art.

Hey all. I'm going to my first karate class tomorrow. I'm very excited. The school was recommended to me by a close friend and, seeing as how hes been going to that particular school for the past three years, I trust his judgement. It's also a free lesson so I don't lose anything out of it except time. But anyways, I need something to hold me over until tomorrow. Can anybody recommend any good reading on karate that is available via the internet? I want to learn as much as possible. Thanks in advance.