jmy77

Phil, If putting weight on/working out your shoulders hurt - go see a Dr. or a physical therapist and find out what is wrong - could be nothing - could be something... I have shoulder problems, I dislocated my shoulder in a lacrosse game a few years ago - just popped in and out - but i never let it heal and now I can't do and over head pressing without it popping... Some a very effective shoulder routine I did (for making your shoulders look like shelves) is as follows: Start with a few sets of tiger bend or knuckle push ups. Then using dumbbells (start with 5-10lbs.) do 3 sets of front raises, 3 sets lateral raises and 3 sets of reverse flyes (you can also mix upright rows in there if you want...) This worked for me.

More of a pick-up line...

Great to hear! Good luck with your new Dojang!

Ka0ticSH aren't those from "The Prince." I am about a quarter of the way through it, it is the most recognized work of Machiavelli and also the reason his name is so wrongfully associated with deceitful politics. I have not read "Discourse on Livy" as of yet (though I do plan to) but, from my understanding it is a better representation of Machiavelli's beliefs in politics and more about Republic rule and self governing.

Osu. God Bless.

Okay - First this is just my opinion - you do not need to work out until you can not hold a pencil, though you should be tight when done. If you want a nice physique you need to concentrate on one area more and leave the little things (wrist extenstions) out.... When I lifted weights a routine I used a lot was this: Monday: Bench Press 3/4 sets, Flat Dumbell Press 3 sets and flyes 3 sets, then biceps: bar curls 3 sets, dumbell curls 3 sets Tues: bent over row 3 sets, dead lift 3 sets, then shoulders: militrary press 3 sets, front raise 2 sets, lateral raise 2 sets Wed: squats 5 sets, lunges 2 sets and triceps push down (bar) 4 sets, pull down (rope) 2 sets, Thurs repeat monday Fri repest tues. Weekend off. If you don't have a lot of $$ and are really interested in exercising do a search for bodyweight calisthenics - that's what i do now and i feel much better then i did whe i was hittin' the weights! There is a Navy SEAL program on the web that is all body weight exercises. do a search and try to find it, if you can't pm me and i'll help you.

LOL!!! Yeah, Tylenol has that effect... Leg Raise: lay on the ground (on your back), hands at your sides, lift your feet (keeping your legs straight) and head (just your head, shoulders stay down) off the ground (so that you are looking at our toes), you are now in the leg raise position, keep your head of the ground for the duration of any leg raise exercise... For the Flutter kick: lift your feet about 5-6 inches off the ground, lower one foot almost to the floor while simultaneously raising the opposite foot the same distance, then lower the up foot and raise the low foot (now opposite foot up) and repeat - that's one flutter kick. **It is the same kicking motion that is used in swimming.**

Also how much do you eat and are you getting enough rest? If you are under 16 you are probably right around when the time you are going to get your growth spurt. You should be eating just about everything you can get your hands on! Expect of course for junk food and fast food - that does nothing for you! I worked out all through highschool and never broke 150lbs., I could was strong - benching 250 but my body just wasn't mature... after my first year in college i put on 25lbs. because my muscles were maturing. So give it time. I am 26 now and weigh 200lbs. but i think that has more to do with being a desk jockey than anything else. What I am getting at is give it time, don't get discouraged, also, don't compare yourself to other people - the factors are different for everyone.

That depends on a lot of things... What does your program look like? Keep this in mind - biceps are more for show than go! (What my old wrestling coach called "beach muscles") If you are worried about your arms: For biceps try preacher curls, concentration curls and when using dumbells remember to turn you wrist as you curl up. (ie. at rest your palm should be facing your hip/side when full curled your palm should be facing your shoulder.) For Triceps - Push ups and dips are good. There are a lot of weight exercise you can do also, I always liked push downs and rope pull downs.

You may not feel it for a day or two. Do the same work out again. If you still feel nothing up you reps. Try supersetting - push ups/chair dips (unless you have access to a dip stand then do real dips), crunches with leg raises or flutter kicks, pull ups and chin ups.... or do you exercises in succession I do, push-ups/crunches/pull-ups/chair dips in one set then rest and do a few sets. Works very well for me. You can also do this with lower body: squats/lunges or squat thrusts/mountain climbers. My lower work out is Squats/Flutter Kicks/Squat Thrusts as one set.

Do'h! I posted the same thing twice! See below....

General Tso's Chicken or Beef w/Broccoli Always a toss up...

I don't knwo much about wing chun other than my sensei has taken it and prefers kenpo.... I would reccomend kenpo because it's stirkes are simple and to the point. There is no set up, It's get inside, hurt'em and get out... Even in the low ranks the techniques are effective...

Ahh thank you ninjamaster for that intensely profound statement! It will take me a while to wrap my mind around such a well thought out and worded idea as the one you have laid before us. And again - as in your first post - you use all encompassing statements - and this time based on an assumption! Your wisdom is far reaching! As I am obviously inferior to your enlightened state, I will forevermore not waste my feeble time with endeavoring to read your posts. (Ps. You should be able to wipe the sarcasm off your screen by now...) ______ In response to the thread I love my school - I always look forward to class and when class ends i can't wait for the next one. The people in my classes are great, the higher ranks are immensely respectful to lower ranks and always willing help. The instructors make the class. They are all young but mature beyond their years and they take as much time as needed and answer any and all questions. My sensei spends as much time on why we do certain techniques and real world application as we do practicing forms and sparring. I couldn't ask for a better experience with MA.

Easy there - not all, you should never use all encompassing statements. I never said most of those things... Yes I know Kenpo Karate has weaknesses - and if you believe that there are no weaknesses to your system/style, then you need to open your eyes - everything has a weakness - and it much better to know what it is! I do karate for the defense and the fighting - not saying I run around picking fights, because that's plain stupid - but i enjoy the sparring. I don't do karate for the art, I am not after spiritual enlightenment, I am after an effective self defense system and doing something physically demanding (as i spend 12 hours day behind a desk and sitting on a train)And that is exactly what kenpo gives me. So i implore you to please be careful how you phrase your sentences.

have you sat in on the kenpo dojo? did you not like it? what kind of kenpo? what's the linage?

LOL. Thanks. (And thank you, Microsoft Word!)

Bet the pass line, double your pass bet when backing Place the six and eight (second best odds to seven) that's my game! Sometimes I'll throw in on the field or bet a hardway. yeah i am small bettor also - keeps it fun! I have all sorts of personal rules - like if you lose 3 consecutive hands at at blackjack/three card -get up!, NEVER CHASE!, and if you are up big walk away - don't get greedy! - all streaks end! I doubled my money at a three card table once and got up to leave, the other players were telling me I was crazy for walking away while hot! The dealer however said it was a smart move!

They added a surcharge for fuel to my plane tickets for the bahamas! It's also nice to see that JetBlue is finally doing non-stops from NY to Vegas, I have only heard good things about them and can't wait to give them a whirl.

Craps! I always go to craps when low on chips... if you stick around long enough someone always gets hot. Longest I have seen is one guy with the dice for a little over a half hour! The biggest win I have seen in any game was at craps, a guy started with a $100 and walked away with $700 - but he hit the horn numbers and hardways more then a few times... I prefer three card poker, but will always join a crowded game of craps! I always seem to lose at Blackjack, I can't get over how often the house gets aces, faces and tens! Also going to the Bahamas in May for my Honeymoon - so it's a good year for me! Any other gamblers out there?

I have been on the boards for about a month and never "formally" intoduced myself. My name is Jim, I'm 26 and I started taking Kenpo Karate in the fall of 2002 so I am still a rook. I was very happy to find this forum as almost all other MA forums I have come across are mindless drivel, name calling, style bashing, flaming and general idiocy! It nice to have a general open and understanding forum to have quality discussion! Thanks Patrick! Anyway - you may notice that I edit my posts a lot - that's because A) I absolutely - positively can not type! and B) I usually post at work and have to rush. Look forward to participating in some more threads!

It's an amuesment park for adults! You can't go just once! So much fun, such an awesome atmosphere!

In October - Vegas, baby, VEGAS!

I nominate Real Ultimate Power! http://www.realultimatepower.net/ I can't get enough of that website...

I am waaay late with this but, (and this is just an observation from the posts I read, if I missed something let me know) did your BF ever make an attempt to go to your new dojang? To branch out with you? Or did he just become unyielding? It is just that it seems like you are the only one that sacrificed here. One of the things I have learned is that while yes, Love makes you do crazy things and make great sacrifices - it has to be a 2 way street. It just didn't seem that way. I was very happy to read that you finally quit wasting your time at the McDojang. Here is a bit of wisdom that was passed on to me - You always have to look out for number one! Yourself. You have to make sure you are happy and you certainly did not seem happy for awhile there. Now, don't get me wrong - by no means - am I saying you should take on a "if it’s not my way, if not happy then "f" it and "f" you!" arrogant attitude. But you can not and should never have to sacrifice something that means so much to you - regardless of what it is or for whom. And your significant other should always (at least try to) understand. This is just my opinion - I am not passing judgment on you or your bf as I do not know either of you. Just giving my two cents on the observations I have made. Now that you looking for a new dojang I wish the best of luck! I humblely reccomend sitting in on a kenpo dojo...