LLLEARNER

I hope the plan works for you. I also hope you will succeed in your testing.

Wow. I am surprised. I get to start hanbo with the rest of the class.

Yellow

I recently picked up the ultimate stretching guide

I am sorry about my lack of participation lately. School recently start for both of us and my free time has been shortened. I am still training though along with my job and family. I did not leave the MA or the site.

I have started my MA library. Now that I have my yellow belt I was thinking that my library is looking a bit thin. Here is my start. I am focusing more on the practical at first, then I will move to the more esoteric. On Order. Kodokan Judo: The Essential Guide to Judo by Its Founder Jigoro Kano Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere: An Illustrated Introduction Dynamic Karate Masatoshi Nakayama Fluid BJJ: Scrawny "Middle Aged" Guy's Guide to Getting Submissions Small-Circle Jujitsu Jay, Wally Own. Karate-Do Kyohan: The Master Text Planned. Karate-Do: My Way of Life A good one for kids karate games. A good one on stretching Tao Te Ching The Art of War A good one on Wing Chung A good one on Tai Chi. I would like to do Tai Chi for some exercise and the range of motion involved. I am not sure of a good DVD series available. There is no Sifu near me that I can find.

Thank you very much.

I tested and passed. I know i am older than most students, or at least starting later. I knew i had to tweak my kata. So.... I showed up at the dojo 3 hours early and i had the floor to myself. It felt weird. But i got in a good 3 hours of kata, bag work, and stretching. I felt so loose by the time testing started. It was great. I was not sure what to expect, because my sensei is also on of my work supervisors. But it was fun. I was a sweaty mess from the drills, kata, sparring, grappeling, and pre-class workout.

I thought a little update is in order. My Daughter is 5 years old. She is in a mixed class of adults and older kids. It is not a Little Dragons class specifically. She is graded and had has the same expectations of Little Dragons though. My intention when I started my Daughter in karate was that she be involved in something which rewarded effort. I have told her that if she follows sensei's instructions, and put in the effort her reward would reflect that. My Daughter has earned a yellow stripe. She was so proud when she earned her yellow stripe. She came running up to me and said "I did the work!!!" She has gotten multiple compliments on how well she takes direction. She is learning the first half of her kata and has most of that portion down without direction. She does the grappling, sparring, and drills. She gets a little bored with the warm ups though. I do practice with her at home by making up games. Mawashi geri, and pivoting moves are difficult for her, but she is 5. She gets mounts and escapes well. One night when sensei was expressing his disappointment that none of the other students were confident enough to demonstrate a kata for the rest of the class she marched up front and center and showed her kicks and punches. We had not been taught our katas at that point. I was proud of her.

Read "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin de Becker. https://www.amazon.com/Other-Survival-Signals-Protect-Violence/dp/0440508835/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472064654&sr=8-1&keywords=the+gift+of+fear+by+gavin+de+becker It incorporates a lot of the subconscious (What Massad Ayob would call our lizard brain) recognizing threats our conscious cannot yet.

I bet it is Jimmy Hoffa.

WAIT...yes I have!! My Kudan; it was offered to me by our Hombu when I was voted to be the current Kaicho. I believe that I've written about how it came about here at KF... http://www.karateforums.com/a-testing-that-i-ve-never-wanted-vt45133.html There might be other posts I've written speaking about this darn thing. Dai-Soke understood why I refused to comply to what's written in our By-Laws. So much so that he told the Hombu to back off. They did, but they continued to press me shortly after Dai-Soke passed away...our Hombu was trying to force me to accept the Kudan per our By-Laws, but I refused them time and time again until I tried to call their bluff by telling them to test me...and they did...my bluff backfired. sensei8 will not be voluntold. Again, not sure if my opinion is valid, but I offer it anyway. I do not mind when long standing, contributing, members of a group are awarded higher ranks without testing. That being said, they should have mastered the skills, spirit, and ethics of the group to reach mastery. Beyond mastery where new skills, techniques, etc. are not typically taught then the award should be based on contribution (leadership, promoting, management, etc.) It could be by being a great example, or by promoting the art to such a degree that there is cultural impact. This could be to someone like Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, Fumio Demura, etc. Their lives were huge inspirations to many thousands of people both in and out of MA and they helped break down cultural barriers in a time where it was very difficult. If someone down the road decided to promote Chuck Norris another Dan or 2 in TKD, I would find that acceptable and probably deserved. If someone decided to promote him in Wing Chung, then I might question that. I do not believe that one should promote themselves at all or use someone to promote their own fiefdom. In the case of someone starting their own organization they should just stick with plain old black belt for life. To me it is a mark of humility and art promotion rather than self-promotion. The MA or any group really should be bigger than the individuals leading or founding it.

From my perspective. I am new. I am testing for Yellow on Tuesday. I am fortunate enough that we have 3 BB all 2nd Dan or higher teaching class. From time to time (for instance last night) one of the green belts was asked to guide the class through Kata. He is testing for Brown next week. This type of instruction I do not mind. It has little chance of being a contributing factor in injury and it helps the person instructing learn their kata. There is little that teaches a person how little they know than having to teach another. I have found that to be true in many aspects of my life. Now if he was asked to teach full contact aspects like throws and such then there is a huge problem.

Great job. Hope those ribs heal up quickly. Next step is your dan ratings.

Somewhere I read that there is a list of 90 Kata for them to choose from and they will have to have a separate one for each stage of the competition. I have also read there will be 3 weight classes for Kumite but saw 5 listed in the article. Of course I cannot find it now or I would post the link.

I find that I am really enjoying the newer Kung Fu films but I do not get to watch them often because I am usually to busy to keep up with the subtitles.

Self taught anything takes much more concentrated effort that guided learning. The consequences can be vastly different depending on what is being learned. Self teaching algebra probably won't have many negative consequences unless your building a skyscraper, but self-teaching martial arts never really lets you get hit or thrown. Incorrect form or posture might be subtle but can have huge long term impact. Joint problems/injury or inefficient strikes or throws. However; I have supplemented my instruction with other resources, written, pictures, and video. Especially when trying to learn the movements of kata. We all have to do what is necessary to learn and there are some excellent resources available for minimal cost or free. While the resources can be of great quality and be a big help I still take my instruction to be more value. Teaching yourself boxing will help you get the combinations, fitness, etc. down, but you still don't get hit. That is a big part of boxing. But; every discipline MA or other started with someone teaching themselves.

Stalking can escalate when the predator grows comfortable enough to move forward. My best advise would be to notify the police with their name if known and description if known. Collect and evidence (communication, physical) when it is safe to do so. Locking their doors and windows. Probably the best option is to be proactive in their daily life and observation of their surroundings. Park close to buildings in well-lighted areas. Carry their keys in their hands to unlock their car. Pay attention to nearby vehicles. A panel van next to your car when it is not a normal occurrence could be suspicious. If workplace security is an option then having them escort to and from their vehicle when alone (that is what we are there for, and would gladly help out). Maybe a closer more well lit parking space can be arranged. Even when it is not at work, but another facility (like a mall) use the security options available. The next best option is to use the buddy system. Walk in groups to and from vehicles. Staying in contact with trusted friends and family about day to day movements and activities. Try to do more group activities. If the stalked is willing and able to use self defense tools, then there is that option.

That is great! I wish you success in your endeavor. I know it is a lot of work. I am 38 and my body tells my brain I am not 32 any longer. My brain does not agree.

Having Karate in the Olympics would actually spur my interest in watching them. I am trying to convince my Sensei to try out. Not sure that will be successful.

Ask them when they will give up beer and tv.

She is in a mixed class. there are a few her age but most are considerably older. There are also usually 3-4 senseis with a class up to about a dozen.

I have my 5 year old daughter in Karate. I don't have her there to fight, but more for the focus and discipline as well as being involved in something that rewards hard work, not participation.

Have you tried visualizing a target at the same distance you kick correctly during kumite? I know it may be trite but the difference I see is having a target and lacking one.

This can be the hardest part to get down. But turning that pivot is extremely vital to many aspects of not only karate but other martial arts. Practice is the only cure.