karate_woman

Then why would anyone want that particular certification?

Welcome

Some things you haven't mentioned that might fit the bill are chicken fajitas and stir fry (chicken or beef). You could also grill chicken breasts and eat them with whatever you want - baked potatoes, rice, brocolli, spinach, asparagus, squash, etc.

O Could you please give me some mm websites showing these self defence moves? I wasn't basing that on a website - I was basing that on the fact that many dojos I've encountered have such programs, so I figured TKD dojangs might as well. The easiest way to find them around my area is by looking in the local Parks and Recreation books, and the local YMCA book. Also, the Yellow Page ads sometimes state whether they offer self-defense courses.

As some of you know, I returned to the martial arts at the end of February this year. I don't think I've mentioned that one of the things I was looking forward to (besides training itself) was returning to competition. I enjoy competing, and enjoy the process of working my butt off to improve my techniques for them as well. I know I can improve my techniques for the sake of improving them (which I am doing), but I like the extra edge that I get when I'm preparing for competitions. Kata is one thing that I can compete in without my Sensei getting involved too much other than making suggestions he should be making anyway, so my main concern is sparring. We RARELY spar anymore (never on a night other than a Friday), and when Sensei dedicates time for sparring many of the other students just don't show up for those classes. Friday nights seem to be the "dedicated" nights for sparring and grappling, but Sensei is only at the dojo 1 out of every 4 Fridays and other people teach the other nights (I've avoided teaching those nights myself because I can't be there in time to teach the early classes and Sensei needs someone there all evening). The fact Sensei isn't there wouldn't be a big deal in and of itself, but the last few times I've gone on a Friday night it has just been me and the instructor (again - almost nobody else wants to spar/grapple), and these instructors are at the dojo so rarely (only for these Friday night classes in fact) we just work on kata so they can keep up at least some of their skills. The really sad thing is Sensei isn't against competition - he is hosting a shiai this weekend in fact - but from my understanding none of the adults are competing this weekend because we never practice for competition -there are only a few of us that like to compete . I talked to the other adults last night and nobody was competing. One is showing up to help judge, but that's about it. The other black belt in my class said "we never practice, I'm not going in there and making an ass of myself". I tend to agree with him - we're going to have members of Team Canada there to compete against! I really want to compete, but I want to be at MY BEST! Losing isn't a big deal, but losing because I'm not at my best is not acceptable. I've been seriously considering finding another dojo - at least while I'm still driven to compete. The members of Team Canada I referred to belong to a dojo about 1/2 an hour away, but they are from another style (a version of Kempo). I'm considering talking to the Sensei and seeing what she says; since I want to compete, I don't want to go back to white belt as I won't be able to compete for several years until I regain my black belt in their style (it obviously wouldn't be fair to compete as a kyu belt). I suppose I could still compete as a black belt but be whatever belt I am at her dojo - I wouldn't have a problem with that if she wouldn't. Oh, what to do? The main reason I have a problem with this is that I've always been loyal. My Sensei is a student of my former Sensei. Of course, my former Sensei has since retired, and my present Sensei is no longer meeting my needs. I enjoy what we actually DO in class, but I can't bring myself to give up sparring...training without sparring isn't training to me. I really think Goju is an amazing style, and would be sad to leave it, but the Kempo they practice includes hard and soft aspects as well. I'd rather not whine to Sensei about it since it won't do any good; he knows I love sparring, but he isn't willing to lose all these students he's acquired that hate sparring and competing; got to pay the bills you know! Any thoughts?

When you aren't trying to be historically or completely correct, it is rather misleading to use the word FACT: over and over again, followed by unsupported statement after unsupported statement.

Oh OK. I guess then it depends what kind of TKD school you find, and their focus; if their focus is flashy stuff for tournaments with disregard for self defense the answer may well be never. On the other hand, if they do have a focus on self defense, I don't get the impression that TKD is going and to help you achieve that quickly (like most martial arts including my own), so you are probably looking at years for that. Having said that, if they do focus on self defense they might have a self defense course you could take in addition to the TKD; those courses are generally designed for non-martial artists but give you a few good self defense moves (many of which are from higher belt levels) that you can keep practicing.

I always thought of myself as a kicker, since I like to use my legs not only to score but to keep my opponents at a comfortable distance. I'm also fairly flexible (though not quite at splits yet). Lately though I've learned that I'm considered to have "fast hands", and I've noticed I do score nicely with my hands - but often still using my legs to set up my hand combinations. I also use my legs constantly when I grapple Anyway, after all that, I still have to say - both!

Six of one, half a dozen of the other. Whether either fighter can do the above depends, among other things, on the skill level of the fighters. May the best fighter win

Yes they are karate kata. Unfortunately you'll find more than one version out there. For example, Okinawan Goju and Japanese Goju each have a slightly different version of those kata, and even within the style you'll find some differences depending on which association the stylist is with.

In my opinion, your third class is too early to be worrying about combinations. Each separate technique is important in its own right, and if I'm not mistaken you just learned the techniques you're combining so give yourself a break Teaching combinations from the beginning has its own benefits, though, since it helps you later; you'll be used to always using your techniques in combinations - even better if they mix up the combinations and don't always use the same ones. Follow along as best you can, and you WON'T be as fast as the others - especially without sacrificing good form. You may be having problems with the combination of the two stances because there is something wrong with the length and or width of the stances you're doing.

I think the longer you trained in Tae Kwon Do the less likely you'd want to go around looking for fights, but that's just my opinion. Many instructors wouldn't even teach you with that kind of attitude. One thing you would have to think about regardless of how long you train or in what art is this: never underestimate your opponent. So what if you know TKD, Muay Thai, Boxing, BJJ, Sambo and whatever else strikes your fancy - your opponent might STILL be better at fighting than you are - you just don't know. Just a thought.

I can't help either other than to say welcome

True, but as the posters above indicated, they have special considerations when exercising so they can avoid getting into either a hypo or hyperglycemic state. I'm a borderline hypoglycemic, and for me I have to make sure I eat regularly, I also generally avoid eating sweets (like we are all supposed to, frankly), and I notice that whenever my exercise levels increase, so do my food intake needs - so do everyone's, but I'm more apt to notice a low blood sugar feeling or even black out than someone who isn't hypoglycemic. The original poster (a_mind_like_water) seems to have been noticing hypoglycemic episodes when exercising, and as suggested above, needs help from their doctor, dietician, or both - to make some adjustments - especially (as noted) the snickers bar part .

I'm running with scissors! There's always the 'ol necktie in the paper shredder, and those huge paper cutters they have in the mailroom We wear lanyards around our necks at work and the latest ones have a breakaway part at the back so we can't be choked by them. Not sure if someone WAS choked or not, but makes you think, anyway. As everyone's mentioned, anything (pens, pencils, envelope openers, binders, staplers, briefcases, etc can be weapons with the right person and the right attitude.

Something that is helpful is practicing in front of a mirror, so you can see where you are leaving yourself wide open. Many people seem to drop their hands when they get tired or when they start kicking - remember to keep protecting yourself when you're attacking, and watch for this in your opponents. Also, combinations are very important - practice using several techniques together, both multiple strikes/kicks and block/strike combinations. Another good idea is to watch others spar while you're waiting for your turn. Often you can start predicting patterns and noticing telegraphing in your opponents. Something else people often do (and shouldn't) is look directly at the target they are aiming for. That can be used as a trick as well (so don't count on it too much when reading opponents), but it is better to see your whole opponent (with the aid of your peripheral vision) rather than just the target you're aiming for.

CAPTE LIMID SPP TERCEL OF Ortho 7/7/7

I've never viewed martial arts as a form of religion. Sure there are rituals and traditions that are followed in a lot of schools, but they aren't meant to be religious. As for the Buddha, not once has the Buddha been mentioned in our dojo, nor have I been in attendance at another dojo when the Buddha was mentioned. We bow out of respect to our teachers, past and present, and for respect to each other; anyone who has asked has been told the same - it has no religious undertones. No-one has had an issue with bowing in procedures in our dojo other than the odd question here and there. Having said that, I attended school with children whose religious beliefs made it unacceptable to stand for the playing of the National Anthem - they were given permission to sit in the hall outside the classroom. My point is that things don't have to be overtly religious for someone to object to participation in it based on religious grounds.

I had retired the belts before the incident, but I like keeping them and I wasn't keeping them in that state - that would have been the ultimate in disrespect.

I haven't washed a belt during the time I've worn it, though I have washed - or rather, soaked - all my other belts - they had a wee incident with the cat deciding they would be a good place to pee. Thank goodness I don't have to wear those belts anymore Since I have a black belt, there won't be anymore belts coming my way until I retire the belt, so I suppose if it gets stinky then I'll either retire it or do as SaifightsMS suggested and shower with it.

This was months ago; whatever happened?

Welcome

I checked out the responses in the other thread...they look good to me - what other answers were you looking for?

If you can only train 2 weeks a month, perhaps the instructor will accomodate you; we can pay daily.