HongKongFooey

I totally agree. Specially if I don't do the cleaning thing, it WILL cost me my BB (I won't get it). That's total crap. Technique should count, not the cleaning requirement. HongKongFooey, I have eye-balled another school. But I feel like "whatever." If I switch schools, will the passion really come back? The school I looked at is much cheaper, but I didn't watch any classes yet, so I donno. Is it really worth it? This school isn't bad training-wise, it's the extra crap that technique takes a back seat to. Or, at least, that's what it feels like. I have good technique, but I know if I don't do this extra stuff, I won't get my BB. I think it's pointless. Plus if I leave, I will have to buy-out the contract. I feel "stuck." .... again (I left this school once before, but came back). Could it be that you are bored with the style that you now practice? Maybe a change of pace is in order. I think it is wrong for your instructor to force his students to clean in order to be able to test for Blackbelt. You are paying him to teach you Tae Kwon Do, not paying him for the priviledge to clean his dojang. How about the Jujitsu? Do you still practice that? Of the two which piques your interest more? I think your passion for martial arts is still there, otherwise you wouldn't be here asking us what to do? Hang in there, Laurie.

Hey! I am a Parker Kenpoist! I am in Baltimore. I train at a Parker/ Planas lineage school. Noticable difference in the material that I had learned years ago( I studied for a few years in the 90's) from a student of Joe Palanzo, compared to what I am relearning now. Now I feel that I am being taught the correct way, learning the why and the how. Mr. Parker was right..feeling is believing!

You said that she likes to watch television and drink. So, buy her a TV guide and a twelve pack. Then you can go and workout.

Laurie, Having two or more hobbies is hard. I have my Kenpo training, which I love doing, and the hobby of metal detecting, which I also love. I end up doing Kenpo a few times a week and metal detecting on the weekend. I feel guilty(weird I know) if I don't get to devote much time to either hobby. But, then again Kenpo and metal detecting don't pay the bills. HKF

If you want to work on mass attacks, then get a couple of guys and go at it. Working a Kata is fine, but having 3 guys attack you will open your eyes.

I use a Proforce middle weight and a light weight gi. Kickboxing headgear Masterline cobra gloves 12oz boxing gloves Shock Doctor mouth guard

Just remember that the dipped foam sparring gear is for NO TO LIGHT CONTACT It will not absorb a hard blow to any great degree. If you want good sparring gear made for hard contact then you need to get a good leather boxing headset. They are expensive, but worth the investment. HKF

I watched the same program. Dillman really looked like a fool when he stated to have moved an entire line of people at Starbuck's. It's funny how only Dillman's students can be knocked out by him. While Dillman's base system of Ryukyu Kempo is sound and practical, the chi blast nonsense is just that...nonsense. Too much Street Fighter and Dragon Ball Z. Just wait until Dillman starts to say KAMEHAMEHA!! HKF

Sticks and stones. HKF

This statement reminds me of a guy that works where I do. He was going for his black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and was up to the breaking portion of the test. He had to break a few boards with a handsword in order to proceed to the next part of the test. Well he attempts to break the boards, and ends up breaking his hand. His teacher tells him to try again. And he does, with the same broken hand!. Now his teacher tells him to try and break with the other side. So he obeys his teacher and attempts to break the boards. This time he breaks his other hand! I guess sometimes the boards do hit back. HKF

Don't forget about putting the pine boards in a kiln to remove any extra moisture before breaking them. Oh, and don't forget to salt the ice.

Thanks for the replies everyone. It would have to be all or nothing. I don't want any "large" females being reminded that they are bigger than the skinny little girls by the fact that they have to wear men's cross overs while the smaller girls get the v-neck uniforms. This is an issue with one of my private students. She is a teenager and is about 250 pounds. She dresses like she is 100 pounds less than she is and is TERRIBLY self-conscious of her size. Anyway, I am still flipping a coin on this one.... lk If she is a private student, what is there to be worried about. Just buy a larger size top and have it tailored to fit. Or have her wear something like a sweatshirt or a tee until she can fit into a smaller size. Afterall, a gi is just a gi. The knowledge that is transfered to her from you will occur even if you are both wearing Santa Claus suits. You're the teacher. It's your decision.

Balsa wood? Pre-scored for a effortless break? Chi or Ki nonsense? Most likely a parlor trick. If you want to be impressed ask this guy to break an oak board with a tight grain, NOT a 12" square pine board with a .750" grain line.

Just have some school T-shirts printed up, for use as a alternative to the Gi top. HKF

I agree with you 100%. People will talk about how master so and so went to the mountains to watch a monkey pick it's butt, so they could learn new deadly fighting techniques, but turn around and call a guy who is trying to supplement his training with a video a phoney. Truth is a lot of the stuff being called martial arts today is so watered down and geared towards children, that their really isn't much of a difference between that and learning from a video.

Try a Google search. I have no clue.

What is even sadder is the parents actually believe their little master can kick *.

CAN I GET N AMEN!!!!

Deadly serious. Here is a sample from the Red Dragon website. "Sensei Christopher DiNatale was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the year of the dragon, 1976. He began his martial art training at the age of 20 under Sifu Rick Gil, whom he had met through a close friend in New Orleans during the summer of 1997. Sifu Gil taught Chris the art of Lee Kune Do, a new eclectic system of fighting and defense developed in 1975 by a man named Edward J. Lee, who we refer to as "Master Lee". After four years of training in the Lee Kune Do Martial Arts System, Sifu Rick Gil, with the blessings of Master Lee, awarded Sensei Chris a Black Belt Instructor Certification in June of 2001" http://www.reddragondojo.com/bio.html

I concur.

Did you notice that he learned from world famous Master Lee, the founder of Lee Kune Do.

I feel schools that cater to children have ruined the martial arts in America. Greedy instructors and pushy overbearing parents help to produce these 10 year old "masters"

I tend to agree, Monkey. Many still can't accept the fact that he was human and wasn't perfect. I understand he had quite a arrogant attitude, and a huge ego. Though, I may be wrong.

1 Romanian SKS Carbine 1 Yugoslavian SKS Carbine 1 Russian M-44 Mosin Nagant Carbine 1 Polish M-44 Mosin Nagant Carbine 1 Yugoslavian M-48 1 Turk T-38 1 .22 Marlin Semi-auto 1 16 Ga. Shotgun 1 .410 Shotgun 1 CZ-52 3 Escrima sticks 3 pairs Of "chucks" About 40-50 assorted knives 1 straight sword 1 aluminum baseball bat 1 ASP baton Pepper spray Thats about all I can remember at this point.

A 5 year old with a knife is dangerous. A person doesn't need to trained in how to use a knife to kill you with a knife. I don't know about you, but I don't want to be standing near the untrained person flailing about with a bladed weapon. If you face a person with a knife you are going to get cut, period.