Bulltahr

We use it mostly before class. There is a class of using proper technique to the bags as an actual dummy of sorts. Other times when we had a few kids we used freestanding as kind of a "fun time" for the kid to keep interest type things. I wish we had more time and could put a regular time for using the bags. I personally like using them to work on proper technique and actually hitting something. Yet I am weird. For now they are every so often class time (after kihon, kata, and kumite or in place of kumite). I'm kind of mixed on whether I want to hit a heavy bag or not during class (not counting a formal/scheduled conditioning class). I don't go to the dojo to "workout." Yes, I get a good workout through kumite, kihon, etc., but I go to learn. I wouldn't join a dojo that did a lot of cardio or even strengthening stuff. I want to learn. I'd join a group exercise class like Crossfit if I wanted the group workout. I look at it as class time is learning time, and open floor time can be hitting a bag time. Maybe I'm just weird. I have no problem with anyone thinking differently than I do. I'm with you JR, our dojo is a high school gym, we (our karate club) have a heavy bag there, but it doesn't get used during class, maybe a play around beforehand while waiting for everyone to finish their stretching. I have my own at home for those sorts of sessions.

I would think that since martial arts in general is viewed as a positive activity, involving discipline, moral code etc that people would view it as an indication of your dedication. Probably better to say "I do martial arts" than to leave people thinking your a wife beater type or pub brawler..............

Do you practice controlling your breathing at all? When you are puffed out concentrate on very deep longer breathes, that break the rhythm of those shallow fast ones. A start anyway, then you can work on adding them to your exercise.

Wow, that is a great idea, must be strong bolts into the ceiling............. Love the trad makiwara also.

As a father of 2 young daughters (age 2 and 4), I don't think your view is tainted at all. We may suffer from the same affliction though. Somewhere in my internet scouring I came across a blog by a police officer that teaches BJJ. Every time his teenaged daughter leaves to go out with her friends, she has to escape his mount and get him to tap. When his younger daughter goes out, she needs to escape an arm or wrist grab. His wife and friends criticize him for it. His response "if you've seen what I see almost every day, you'd do the same." Food for thought. I train with my 10 yr old daughter, she loves it and I feel that she will, in the future, have a few techniques available if she needs them. It's all good and she loves that she does something like this with dad every week.

We have a mid-winter beach training as well, this tradition goes all the way back to the Kyokushin days also. I would be washing everything including belts after being in sea water.....

Try here: http://store.steampowered.com/about/ Pretty much all the new stuff ends up here, plus sales, pre-releases, Betas, etc

Hahahaha, yeap watched it last night, looks like there will be a few more episodes yet!

Great photo! one to treasure for sure....................... Yeah I really should try and get in and train at Honbu, it's just that I'm allergic to cities.................... Would love to get to the Go-En week, wrong time of year for me tho.......

I would have to fly in and out, max 3 days in the area...... will have to see closer to the time. Would be awesome to train with Kaicho! And the obligatory "Student and teacher" dojo photo....

I do travel to the US each January, actually was in NY state this past January, but my "ride" was too nervous to take me into the Honbu. I may have an opportunity this coming January as I may spend a few nights at Long Island. Big problem is getting in or out of that area at that time of year...............

Are you "stepping" or "sliding" as you go forward?

Just watched it on You tube, cool film and quite a neat historic piece on that period...... Loved the soundtrack, "chika wah wah".........

I've had lower back problems most of my adult life (Prolasped L4/L5), inactivity is the worst things for it. Spell it when it flares up from time to time, but in general core strengthening will help ALOT. Trust me when I say that since getting back into MA, I have had a lot less problems with my back. Pilates, and plenty of daily stretching also will do you wonders. Running is not good for your back in general, so look to other cardio options for weight loss.

The only game I am playing these days is a very good PC free to play shooter; Planetside 2 (Briggs server) , I believe they have just released a PS4 version. Steam name: Bulltahr

I'm pretty much with Kusotare on this one. My thoughts here: *Just what will this prize provide for me? A personal momento of the seminar *Will it open any closed doors for me? No, I don't think so *Will it be accepted to be something of value? Possibly, but more as an indication of your enthusiasm and commitment to your MA *Is it worth the paper it's written upon? Yes, but this is a relative thing, a certificate from a recognized Honbu carries a lot more weight than from some sort of McDojo

I'd like to know as well. I hate these threads that leave me hanging. Yeah, this "Peter" sounds like something you would find in a toolbox........... I hope he's gone for everyone's sake!

Welcome Charlotte, good to hear that you're back into it.

It's an interesting subject. I have done YouTube searches to find certain katas to confirm what a book with 20 photos and an uncorresponding numbered description fail to explain clearly. Now any one can go and order just about any style's books and manuals on Amazon or whatever, so keeping it "in house" doesn't wash with me. If organizations got themselves together with an "official" You tube page/channel, disabling comments would solve the "troll" problems, and anyway, you can set you tube videos to "private" and only provide to "approved" users for use as a reference, Syllabus, dojo promos, sparring etc , the poster would need to consider which is suitable for public access and which for members only. To me, if the technique is sound then why not? I do cringe a bit when I see youtube videos of belt gradings tho, especially of shodans and above.

Very sound advice above. Keep in mind that just when you think everything is going well, watch out for the curve balls.......... Us guys sometimes aren't the quickest to read the situation. (From my personal experience anyway!) Good luck.

Good on you mate!

I remember those ads, jeans for kickin' or some such pitch. You would need the big sideburns for maximum effect.....

Who do they get to practice the "Death touch" on?? Can't be too many volunteers. Just wondering.............

We are in winter here right now, but in Summer I train more at home, more daylight, warmer outside, and for work reasons I am home a lot more. I try not to take much of a break at any time, although it can me difficult when traveling. TBH I am really looking forward to warmer weather so I can hang my heavy bag outside on it's tree and get stuck into it. Being older, I feel that I am not as flexible in the cooler months, well I feel that way at least!

Good to see you here Foxxy.............