crash

two weeks and showing no signs of healing is not good, by all meens go see a doctor. this is a great example of what I was refering to in my responce to the "Iron palm/fist/forearm" thread in this forum (health training, fitness).

The reason I ask this question is a couple of weeks ago I was reminded of one of the reasons I honor higher ranks from other styles. I went to a tournament with a friend just to hang out for a while, meet ppl I only see every so often, etc...anyways, while on the floor I overheard an instructor telling a student (a blue belt I believe), not to feel bad, that the person who beat him has a black belt in another style. I find that to be very unfair to someone who is new (less than 1 1/2 years) in the m.a.'s, and has paid there $40 or so to compete with someone who they think is more at there level. what do you all think of situations like this?. right/wrong, or is it just me, my first instructor was very tournament oriented so I may be making something from nothing.

Does your dojo/dojang honor higher rank (brown/black) from other styles and allow new students to start at that level,(or maybe a belt or 2 lower).? why/why not?

I dunno, ask the bag. j/k... it will definately hurt YOU more if you hit a heavy bag wrong from this position.(miss and push the hand/fingers too far back and uhoh.) as far as hitting someone with the heel of the palm,there are strikes and certain parts of the body that are good targets for this.

go for it, weight training will compliment your martial arts training greatly.

sounds like your using your shoulders/arms instead of your chest, which is common when doing them from the wall. try doing them from the normal push-up position, but on your knees instead of the toes. try for at least 10 but dont worry if you cant get that, just do what you can, and try to increase on a weekly basis.

I have seen a few ppl who have seriously, and possibly permanently messed their hands up by doing foolish things to try to make them tuff, honestly there is really no need to strike walls, floors, bricks or anything that can cause serious injury. if you want to work your hands (in my opinion) a heavy bag is all you need.

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tang soo do and tae kwon do are very similar arts and usually (not always, but usually) american karate is based off of one of these two arts, its just been americanized a little.(not as traditional). so what you could do is find a tkd or tsd dojang and speak with the instructor, some will honor higher ranks from a previous style,(brown/black)(I will if the person shows knowlege of his claims.) if you have cert. of tests and rank it may help.but you will still be required to learn all thats needed by the new dojo/dojang before being able to test, so you may still be looking at a year or so before getting that b.b.

BKJ1216, kata/forms are a predetermined sequence of moves, (ex. bow, ready pos. look/ turn left, high block, middle punch, slide up, jab, front kick, look over shoulder, turn right, etc...) they're for practicing moves that you have learned in a combined way and for understanding how techniques fit together. that is the diff. from practicing say, front kicks only with kicking shields.

you should always visualize an opponent when doing kata, and try to have the intensity in each technique as though you're fighting a real person. visualizing an opponent is not just enough its almost mandatory for proper kata training, but actual sparring is just as important,but for many different reasons.

when you first start working out you will be very sore, and it can last for a few days. even remaining slightly sore for a week or so ,but it will go away. next time go a little lighter with the work out,but not by much. it's important not to quit. once your muscles get used to the new movements and exertion your body will adapt and the soreness will end.

dont give up so easily, sure, youre going to be sore and it may be a short while before you notice drastic improvements but if you stick with it,within a few weeks you will start to see definate changes. and believe it or not that soreness can be quite addictive, sometimes I love being sore after a good workout, lol. so stick with it, the soreness does get better. and it does get easier.

at any belt you really should avoid all confrontations as much as possible, but if you absolutely have to protect yourself then stick with the basics, things you have practiced over and over until they're almost second nature. BTW, the things you are learning now are what will become your skills later on.

when I first started my goal was to reach blackbelt, (as I'm sure everyones is). and it gave me something to strive for, something to keep practicing harder and harder for. once I reached it,( 3 years later) I realized I didnt need a piece of cloth to keep me going, I was going to continue for me, not for something that was tied around my waist, so I havent tested since receiveing my first blackbelt. does that meen I havent learned anything in the last 12 years?, no..it just meens I continue for myself, not for reward....I think that sometimes the testing for stripes is there as a goal for blackbelts just as higher belts are the goal for beginners. somtimes ppl need something to strive for, something to keep them interested. does that make sense?. plus its a good way for dojo's to continue test fees for ppl who have reached there blackbelt program.

my wife goes to the gym and does cardio and hits the weight machines with me 5 days a week,but as far as martial arts I'm the only one.

kickchick the cruise sounds like its going to be a lot of fun, when I was younger, single and had more time a lot of us from the dojo (25 or so ppl at times) would get together and hit the beaches in fla. at least twice a month. its great to have a dojo thats that close knit.

Go with the hard styles first, go to tournaments, have fun, get your black belt, and dont worry, sooner or later aikido will come to you.

I've been involved in the martial arts for about 15 years,(10 of those being primarily tsd). it took me about 4 years to reach the rank of blackbelt , I have'nt tested since then so I cant say how long it would have taken to get each degree after that.