ninjanurse

Welcome! (3 dogs-Jaeger, Ubu, and Peach/2 cats-Migosh and Vinnie)

Bowing is not exclusive to martial arts...it exists in many cultures as a part of societal norms for greeting, etc. If i visit another country it is respectful to acknowledge this just it is in another's dojo/dojang. I bow to parents out of respect for the culture of my style not because I want them to bow back-they are not my students-but because I want them to appreciate the lineage of the style I am teaching their children and hope that they in turn learn to pay respect to it too.

Most students I have come across (myself included) who have studied a different art/style are able to make new patterns in addition to the old ones-it just takes practice. I tell them that we are not changing what they know just adding more ways to do the same thing, i.e., another way to punch, another way to do a side kick, etc.

I think Matt is talking about a way to train not creating a new style of martial arts...possibly looking for drills and ideas to work on the concepts he has identified....?

Welcome Matt!

The new contact lenses are very comfortable-if you haven't tried them in a while you might give it a go. I myself tried them years ago-always felt like something was in my eye....now I have the latest extended wear lens and I sleep in them...it's great to wake up with clear vision!

Congratulations!

Good luck-let us know how it goes!

Welcome back!

Wow, a little surprised here. I have always been taught, in each of the arts I have studied, that one takes on the life style of the art in and out of the dojo. This includes the etiquette of the school and therefore bowing to sensei at the gas station is not only appropriate but expected of all students.

Welcome Jeff! Trust in your teacher. Train hard. Enjoy the moment. Remember that no one is perfect.

Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome Lukin! You'll enjoy it I am sure-just remember that everyone there was a beginner once too!

I teach both style of roundhouse at my school which is TKD based but has a strong karate influence. The difference is in the angle at which the kicking leg is chambered and the position of the hips prior to executing the kick itself-"open" for TKD, "closed" for traditional (by this I am talking about the angle of the thigh in relation to the hip-such as sitting in a chair the angle would be "closed", standing it would be "open"). Of course their are other subtleties, including the foot shape, but this is the largest "gross" movement pattern to identify and the easiest to see. You have to develop a new "muscle memory" by repetition of the chamber-the rest will follow suit.

I teach a lot using mirror image and train my students to do the same when instructing individuals or small groups. It really blows their minds at first but after a while they appreciate the value of it-for just this reason. I think that the impact of it is more than physical-it brings them to a better understanding of their own bodies and the importance of muscle memory and patterning on developing reflex, etc. As they progress in the ranks they are expected to train both sides equally but I still get puzzled looks when we do a class entirely from the "left" side!

I agree here. The key is patterning the body/mind connection through consistent repetition...it becomes second nature.

IMO, it is not about little fear you have, but how much-and how you deal with your ego's need to express it that fosters humility.

Do-rag...keeps the hair contained, absorbs the sweat (especially under sparring gear), and available in many fashionable colors!

I think think that respect and humility are more related than fear and humility, but do you have something in mind relating the latter, Heidi? Fear involves the thought of either losing or not getting something desired...this is driven by our self-centered ego. Humility involves learning to let ego go...and while seemingly opposed, you can't have one without the other.

Do fear and humility go hand in hand?

In our school it goes Rank, Time in grade, Age (under 16/over 16), Portfolio (experience). Experience can be interpreted in many ways but generally implies previous shodan ranking in another or similar style. In most cases all the other rules must be satisfied before experience applies. The only sorting within a rank that relates to skill is traditionally reserved for the position of "the" sempai (as opposed to the highest ranking person of the day).

I too get cramps in my feet on occasion-and I have been a practitioner for many years. Often it can be attributed to adequate hydration before class-8 to 10 glasses a day of water plus adequate potassium in the diet can help.

Welcome!

Welcome!