Archimoto

I completely agree. This reminds me, one of the methods we use with students over eager to be promoted is sparring - it can be quite humbling. Thoughts?

Great question!!! I started young and never took a break - except once for about a year due to a family crisis. In this regard I've been reaping the rewards of constant training: great flexibility, agility, strength, and good cardio. At the same time, from years of sparring, hard training, and competition I do have a couple of nagging injuries. From Muay Thai, having checked many baseball bat like kicks my shins can get a little sore or sensitive every now and then. And from a neck crank at a grappling tournament - my opponent got carried away - I have occasional soreness in my neck. The neck pain can sometimes be severe and in the past I would wonder if the training was worth it. I always concluded YES and continue training to this day and no longer ask the question when the pain rears it's ugly head. As the proud father of three budding martial artists I intend to teach moderation in training. Of course, I expect they'll do exactly what I did when I was younger - ignore thoughts of moderation and simply go for it !!!

There are lines that when taken out of context can be......HILARIOUS !!! I think this qualifies! Sorry couldn't resist - if I've broken a user guideline I'm very very sorry !!!

Yep! Yep! Yep!

Haha!! Awesome, a master indeed !!! Yes...she is!! I'm in stitches !!!

Him ??? Yes !!!

Haha!! Awesome, a master indeed !!!

DWx's hat idea for pliometric workout selection = brilliant! It's posts like this, as well as many others, that remind me why I love this message board!

Hello and welcome!!! Karate classes might be too tough - but that's the point in my opinion !!! As the old saying goes, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. And if the instructor is any good he'll push you at a rate that is appropriate for you. One of the most beautiful aspects of any martial art is personal transformation - and from your post it sounds like transformation is what you seek. I say go for it !!! Please report back !!!

^ I can appreciate that !

You just dropped some knowledge sir!!! Jedi Knight level!!!

...I'm going through a similar experience with my current CI, so I'm right there with you... Thanks!!! Ok, you've piqued my interest! This venue may be too public, but if not, I'm dying to hear more !!! Well, all I can say right now is that my CI and I are at odds regarding the future of our dojo, as well as the future of our MA journeys. The path I believe I should follow seems to be in a different direction than the one my CI wants to go down. I've been with my CI for 15+ years, so this decision is a tough one. But, I have to go with what's in my heart and mind; I have to stick to my values in order to remain honest with myself. If I don't, I will end up breaking and deceiving myself, as well as deceiving others in the future. After all, if I cannot be honest with myself, how can I be honest with others? If I did that, how could I properly seek the truth in anything? Wow. Sounds like a similar situation to the one I was in. On the one hand the decision is easy - and ultimately it's the one that you'll make. But on the other hand, it's the relationship that makes it so difficult. Breaking up is hard to do, but living with yourself if you don't is harder. Does that make sense ?

Haha! I beg my wife permission to go I promise to make it up to her Naturally she say yes I go Then I make it up to her tenfold !!! What do you do?!?

Agree 100% !!!

HBD !!!

Absolutely. You've shown that you understand your art well enough to begin making it your own and making your own decisions for your MA journey. I'm going through a similar experience with my current CI, so I'm right there with you... Thanks!!! Ok, you've piqued my interest! This venue may be too public, but if not, I'm dying to hear more !!!

Very well said !!! Interestingly I also think there are some instructors that can be far too academic. But back to your point, it boils down to an instructor's ability to impart knowledge AND inspire. Consider this however, let's say you have two gifted instructors, one with ring experience and one without. Which do you pick? There is a huge difference between sparring (even if you go hard) with your schoolmates compared to stepping in a ring with someone that wants to physically harm you as quickly and as violently as they can. I have found that instructors with an ability to pass on knowledge AND who have ring experience tend to focus their curriculum moreso on efficacy and efficiency when compared to their counterpart. Then again maybe it's just the instructors that I've had...I don't say any of this with any misguided assumption that I'm right. It's simply my observation. Curious to hear more!

This is true at any age but more so at 7 years old, the belt color is insignificant. The goal should be to find him the best teacher that you reasonably can. Then, with hard work and perseverance the belts will come.

Can you give me an example? Do you drill the ground techniques you learn in the kata and use them in sparring too? And you just hit the nail on the head. It may be in the kata, but it must be drilled with a partner and tried while sparring otherwise you won't get it. As mentioned on other posts, kata is great but only part of your training. If it's ground game you seek it's ground game you must train in my opinion!

Great post !!!

I hear you, a little paranoia goes a long way. Just don't lose sight of the fact that the world is full of good people. The good guys largely outnumber the bad guys !!!

Excellent post thanks for sharing ! I liked the eye poke before the neck chop - his hands were sooooooo FAST !!!