LittleW

Welcome to the forum and congratulations!

No way I want anything that bad!

My congratulations!

This ^. But, imo...Training a few hours a day, and few days a week, under a solid instructor really shouldn't take less than 2 years. But there are even exceptions to that. However, it usually takes 4 or 5 years to attain shodan. 2 years to shodan is impossible in Germany. The rules from our assosiation require 3 months waiting between the kyu-grades, which makes at least 27 months to 1st kyu, and then one year to the black belt. So, if you are very good and tested as soon as possible, it takes you a bit more than three years to shodan.

That's a very nice quote. To me, belt ranks are nothing I have to achieve but a visible pay-off for my efforts. I know, I'm only on the beginning of my Karate-training, but even today I'm better than I ever would have imagined becoming.

I know, Ueshirokarate. I'm not that talented anyway, so I'd never have reached high Dan-Grades. And we have a rather long time between our tests at my dojo, not just the required minimum time. So probably a 7th kyu at our dojo could mean much more than a 6th at the dojos where they do.

Seems like I started far too late to reach the highest ranks of Karate.

I become pretty nervous the day of the test. And conveniently it ends the very minute I enter the gym. But I am quite shaking afterwards when the tension lifts.

My congratulations!

Letting Bruce Lee aside, what would be a normal reaction time and speed for an average MAist?

Nearly the same, but we have two blue belts and no purple one. No distinction on the belts.

Good luck, Kiaikid! Perhaps one thing my trainer always tell us: He doesn't wish us good luck for a test, for we know all we need to know and thus don't need luck at all!

Nice to hear when someone finds something that fits him so much! I'd love to learn judo, but in my town there's no class for it (except one for children, and I don't always like to fight with somebody half a meter smaller than me).

If I understand you correct, your friends where graded to yellow belt in their first test, instead of white belt. I've heard, that in some dojos they do it like this, because they where gi and white belt from the first lesson and pupils why they have to do a test after a few weeks and wear the same belt afterwards.

In preparation for the sidekicks we swing our legs to the side several times. Might also help.

I wont ever climb the Mt. Everest and for the same reason, I wont ever fight anybody as good as that. No way I could win.

We don't have music in our classes and I don't miss it at all.

Welcome to the forum, Solipsil! I think it wont take too long for you to make up the years.

My Sensei always says: It's the beginners way to fight, the advanced way to get out just in time and the masters way not to be there.

If I should ever come into such a situation, I can manage to get out of it without having to fight (as I wouldn't trust my MA or strength as far) or having somebody follow me (for, running is neither an option for me, I can't run fast or long). And as to fighting just to look good? For whom? If you have to fight to impress your friends, you should choose your friends more carefully.

Never abuse somebody, sure. But you can attack a bit faster when someone gets too exited. Just touch him, not hit him.

A black belt is just a goal for itsself for me, just to show me I managed getting there. I set that goal to gain it 20 years after starting karate. but it's not like I would take any consequenses if I don't get it than.

Wow, that's a hard form of training! My sensei would just touch me, but that's still enough.

Self-defense has never been my initial reason to practise Karate. But if I train a MA, it shouldn't be complete useless in such a situation. And I think, no matter if you react like you trained it, you will react better.

Beating somebody up, who is just insulting you is not exactly self-defence. Legally, you may only do what you need, to get out of that situation, nothing more.