mandy003

Grade doesnt determine whether you win or not, just because you are a black belt does not mean that you have to be able to beat someone. I mean im a black belt and im 4 foot 8inches and 7 stone, so does that mean i shouldnt be a black belt because of my physical build? Of course theres always going to be someone better than you, someone bigger and stronger than you, the same as there will always be someone of a lower grade to be able to beat you. A black belt isn't just about the fighting, i dont fight anymore and i have been a black belt for two years i only fought for my black belt because it was a neccessity. So because of my build i may not have the physical ability to win, so that means i shouldnt be a black belt? Karate is more than fighting, personally i prefer kata maybes because im only small i dunno. People have their own views and judgements on things and to be honest i don't think that physical ability should be one you base your judgement on. This is just being ridiculous, but yeah i do think that people should pay the same prices for things irrespective of age, but unfortuantely it doesnt happen. So surely you should know what it is like to be discriminated against because of your age???? You get charged more because the trend is people in their late 20s 30s are generally thought to be more affluent and children and senior citizens are less able or unable to work therefore less affluent, so surely you could relate to that more than abled 10 year old who would make a quality black belt?? Both of you are being discriminated against because of age and what people steroetype you as. I'm sure you are well in deserving of your grade, i don't doubt that, but so is that 10 year old he has amazing talent and can go far but if he is held back for another six years then that isn't fair. I know some kids shouldnt be able to go for black belts because they arent mature enough or what not, but there are some out there that are good enough, so i dont think that they should be denied that opportunity. Gaining a black belt is a great gift that has to be worked hard for, if the person is willing and able i do not think that they shouldn't be able to.

there has to be a term to describe the discrimination agains tpeople because of their age, as stupid as it may sound it has been called ageism, same as sexism, is that petty too? The point of it was is that people should not discriminate or be discrimintated against because of age.

I got my black belt at the age of 15, in April 2002. I trained 5 nights aweek solidly for 6 months, i ended up in hospital because i over did it, but as soon as i was out i was back training again. I then had to re-take my Shodan grading in the December of 2002 as i was then 16. I spent my 16th birthday at karate (some people call it sad, but i was doing what i love). Some people may argue that there should be no balck belts under 16, but being oe of those who was a under 16 black belt, i beg to differ. I graded with two men, we had to go up individually though, and i was given the same things to do as they were given, i earne my balck belt the same as they did, i had to fight men who had a significant size advantage over me, but i gave it my all. A student should be able to grade for black belt irrespective of age, if they have the ability then why not, but as long as they also have the discipline that a black belt should attain. I have one student a 1st Kyu and he has so much spirit and is so eager to learn new things, and the effort he puts inb for a 10 year old is amazing. He si quiet studious and very hard working, so why should he be denied the chance to grade because he is 10? that means hes got to spend the next 6 years on 1st Kyu, to me thats a little bit ageist. In my association you have to re-take your Shodan grading as soon as you hit 16. But until 16 you cant progress any further with the Dan grades.

i pay each time i go £2 a lesson, but when im teaching it costs me nothing.

i started Shotokan karate at the age of 12, simply because my friends did it and i have never looked back since. They dropped out about 6 month after we started together, but i loved it so much that i stuck with it. At the time i started i was getting bullied and it just made me feel better being there as if it was somewhere that i didnt have to shy away from doing something because i was scared that i was going to be ridiculed for it. Just being in my dojo made me feel better it was as if it was somewhere that i could escape to. I noticed that i became alot more fitter and more energetic, but i was still getting bullied, and i was suffering from an eating disorder by the age of 13 and a half. To be honest i wasn't aware of what i was doing to myself and i didnt notice the change in me, but my friends at karate my instructo-my friend noticed and helped me through it all. So to me, its not just the physical side to it or the discipline that makes it an attractive sport, its also the support you gain from your fellow students- your friends. My instructor has became like a father to me over the last 5 years, helping me through allsorts of problems. Now i enjoy karate because of the people who are there and the fact that i can help them learn and understand what they are doing etc. But i also enjoy the physical aspect of it, i luv the feeling after a hard work out (may not be liking i the next day like when im all aching) but the feelings just great. And also just my sheer love for the sport!

i started Shotokan karate at the age of 12, simply because my friends did it and i have never looke back since. They dropped out about 6 month after we started together, but i loved it so much that i stuck with it. At the time i started i was getting bullied and it just made me feel better being there as if it was somewhere that i didnt have to shy away from doing something because i was scared that i was going to be ridiculed for it. Just being in my dojo made me feel better it was as if it was somewhere that i could escape to. I noticed that i became alot more fitter and more energetic, but i was still getting bullied, and i was suffering from an eating disorder by the age of 13 and a half. To be honest i wasn't aware of what i was doing to myself and i didnt notice the change in me, but my friends at karate my instructo-my friend noticed and helped me through it all. So to me, its not just the physical side to it or the discipline that makes it an attractive sport, its also the support you gain from your fellow students- your friends. My instructor has became like a father to me over the last 5 years, helping me through allsorts of problems. Now i enjoy karate because of the people who are there and the fact that i can help them learn and understand what they are doing etc. But i also enjoy the physical aspect of it, i luv the feeling after a hard work out (may not be liking i the next day like when im all aching) but the feelings just great. And also just my sheer love for the sport!

I usually train Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights for 2 hours, then on a Sunday for 3hours at my dojo. I do an hours worth of exercises to increase my flexibility when i get in from college everynight, and after karate (usually finishes at i go to the gym for 2 hours and just use treadmills, and light weights. If im training for a competition i will usually train at home in my garage (got a punch bag, few weights etc) in most of my spare time. I try and make as many lessons as possible because i luv the sport and the people who i train with, i think its a better use of my time than going out and just hanging round the streets achieving nothing, or going out and getting drunk (also its a cheaper option lol )

Wouldn't you resent being treat differently because of your age??? And the point where you say you look in your 20s is a bit off the point there don't you think? I do not hold disrespect to adults, i treat them with the respect they deserve as i have always been taught that to respect my elders. I do not resent being treat my age, but i am mature for a 17 year old, i have to be; i live by myself and i have a child so i had to grow up fast. The fact that some adults take the mick to some extent and question what i know because i am still a teenager, angers me greatly. Fair enough you are entitled to your own opinion and you can interpret what i said previously to whatever extent you wish, but the point i was trying to make, is that it is harder for a young Sensei to try and teach a group of adults when they still treat you like a child, when it is blaitantly obvious that i know what i am doing or else i wouldnt be in the position to teach that i am, that is what i was trying to say. Also, i treat every person with the same amount of respect irrespective of age, when i join in a lesson and have one of my Cadet black belts take any part of the lesson, i treat them with the same respect as they have shown me. To me age isn't a thing that you can base the amount of respect of a person about, to me every age deserves the same amount. But thats just me and i dont know if thats because ive had to go through so much in my life that, its just the way that i now think

For my Cadet Shodan Grading i started with an intense course and warm up, through that my examiner was watching what i did, and to see my stamina and to see if i gave it my all or if i did it half heartedly, and so he could see my ability etc. Then i was called onto the mat on my own , i was so scared! Then i did half an hour of basics, including combinations of 8 or 9 moves in, i did this going up and down the hall. Occassionally i would be stopped and asked the application of the move, and why would i use it and what effect would it have and in what situation. My advice would be learn your Bunkai, as not only will it help if you are asked but also helps you understand what you are doing. Then i demonstrated kata, i had to do two dan grade katas, then one which my Sensei chose, then i was given three Heian katas to demonstrate. Then i was asked to demontrate a kata, and break it down move-by-move and explain the application of each move, using another student to demonstrate the moves on, for this one i chose Bassai Dai as it has variation and is a really good kata to demontrate application with. Then i had to demonstrate a wrist, arm and leg take down, and a three knife attack and counter attacks. I then got onto kumitie. Firstly i did Jyu Ippon Kumitie, then freestyle sparring, with my Sensei, a student from my club, then three other random opponents. i was so tired after this. Then i was asked to demonstrate break falls (which i hate doing). Then it was over, my advice would be just go in and give it your all, no-one can fault you for that. And if you do make a mistake just bow, step back and start again, don't get all flustered and panicy. The examiner isn't there to fail you, only you can do that! So just train hard, learn your stuff and give it your all, thats all that can be asked!!

i find teaching both adults and kids fulfilling. Fair enough, to teach an adult can seem easier because they appear to give 100% attention, but i thought one of the principles of martial arts was to offer a certain type of discipline. So surely kids must adopt this in time and they do begin to give more attention. I noticed with my white belts that even the adults dont give 100% but my 3rd Kyu kids give 110%. Adults may seem to give 100+% because they don't act in the same manner as kids do, i know kids mess about when bored or when they cant be bothered, adults dont tend to do this so how do we know when they arent paying the full 100%? But to me, to see one of my kids win at a competition or pass a grading, that feeling is unreal, the satisfaction that you helped do that is amazing. For some reason it feels better than seeing an adult succeed. Im not sure why like, might just be me. But if we ignore the kids then who is going to carry on MA into the future? Will it be the end of it if we ignore kids, or give adult students preferencial treatment? Fair enough it can be stressful to teach the kids, but just think, if you started MA as a child then how would you of felt if your instructor thought the same? Or imagine you are a parent and you see your child being neglected, how would it make you feel. Karate is about more than the teaching, its the passing on of wisdom etc. I may only be 17, but i have been instructing since i was 15 and i havew found that i get the most respect off the kids, as adults treat me as if i am a child stil, i find it quite amazing that people can behave in such a manner to their Sensei, so called adults who pay attention more, they aren't any better than kids, in my opinion i prefer to teach the kids because i can relate to them as i can remember that it was not so long ago that i was their age

1st Dan Shotokan Karate San-Gai S-K-C

im still 16, not stuck in school anymore though!! YeY!!!Have to work now though HIYA VICKI!!!!!!!

i have made some great mates in the four years of studying MA from all over England. One of the girls that i have became really good friends with goes to my school, but before she started i didn't even know she went to my school. But now we are really good friends and hang out at school, at karate and outside of school and karate. I also have another good friend but she lives out of my area so i can only really talk to her via phone or when i go training at her club. But i can honestly say that i get on with most people but, i have never had an argument with my friends from karate because we are so alike and have alot in common. Before i met them i never had anyone to talk to that would understand what i was talking about, but now i do and its great!!!!!!!!!

i dont think that by a lad doing a martial art does anything for him. to me its the person that counts not the ability to break some ones arm. ironically my boyfriend has started karate, but it doesnt make a difference to me. out of the 2 of us i am the higher grade as he is only a beginner n i have just passed my senior 1st dan grading. and of course people make silly noises but that just shows the immaturity of them ot having the brains about them to accept that karate is not the same as u see in films. we dont all go around makinf=g daft noises and breaking wood.

in my club there are several black belts but none have quit. however a few of the students are saying that once they have reached there black beklt they are going to quit. i have been ablack belt for about a year now and i have never thought of quitting. i dont believe that some people can work so hard and then say forget it. a black belt is only worth having if you are still going to train. what is thepoint in aving one if all your going to do with it is keep it on a shelf. im not sure whether people think that once they have reached that grade they are supreme. as one of my senior instructors told me you only begin to truly learn once you have reached your black belt. to begin with i was like you are joking, but now i know it is true. i have learned more in the one year of being a dan grade than the 3 being a kyu grade. any one who thinks that once they have their black belt and are thinking of quitting ask yourself this: "what is the point of getting this far if all your going to do is quit?" why waste the energy and money and hard work that you put in toget it. surely if allyou are wanting is a trophy belt, why not go to a shop and buy one, it is obviously easier.