karate_woman

Cute. It really does sound like a way to make an extra buck, doesn't it? {sigh} Sadly, I can see it quickly becoming a trend Fortunately from what I could see, a good number of schools are actually advertising NO BELTS as a plus side...I'd rather the trend stay that way; I seriously doubt obtaining a "belt level" is even a goal for the participants.

As a woman in the situation you described, being dragged off somewhere with a guy approaching me from the front I'd be thinking he'd be after something other than my money, but anyway. What hobbitbob did sounds great. I might have elbowed at the same time as the shin scraping stomp (I seem to have combined them as a reflexive combination), but realistically, I'd do whatever instinctively came to mind - he had a split second to decide what to do, did it and it worked. I'm a believer in eye gouges too; if they can't see me, they can't chase me. Hobbitbob, remind me not to follow you around...you seem to attract trouble!

Well here's an article about it. http://www.gluckman.com/Matrix.htm It apparently is (some form of) kung fu, (Reeves even states in the film "I know kung fu") though in the article it states that the choreographer developed a different style for each character.

Can't wait to see it!

Wow, 13 and already "haven't been on a date in a while". I didn't even date until I was almost 15! Well, no matter. Have fun, don't get too serious, but be open and honest about that. I mean come on, you're 13 for crying out loud!! Ask her questions about herself. Do something fun together...rollerblade, see a movie, go to dinner, etc.

Hmm. Enjoyment. Which for me is being challenging, learning new things, and being able to work on improving my techniques.

Not initially, but there are lots of choices now, and have been lots since I've lived in the city I'm now in (about 10 years).

Here's a reference page listing a number of them for you. http://winstonstableford.com/Indian.html Just because they aren't popular where you are (or where I am either for that matter) doesn't mean there aren't any

I don't take it but couldn't find any references to belts in the search I did, other than the occasional "no belts" comment. It seems from the outside there is no standard, and that numerous forms of it exist. I think KICKCHICK teaches some form of it; perhaps she could enlighten us?

Here, here! Agreed. If there is one thing I hate, it is being stereotyped. "Oh you do martial arts so you must be....(pick): strong, fit, athletic, tough, crazy, a feminist, flexible ,...":roll: My ex-husband eventually started jui jitsu, and I had fun going through all his syllabus with him up to blue belt, taking turns being uke, and grappling with him (it helps grappling a 200 lb+ guy when you're put back with the under 130lb women:D), but my present husband doesn't do martial arts at all (except for horsing around with me) and that's cool too.

I'd do something more along the lines of a basic self defense course; my Sensei goes to schools all over the city and does that. He talks about other aspects of self defense (eg. awareness, prevention, avoidance, etc) as well as teaching the actual techniques.

That's a tough one. It is hard to leave a style you are fond of, but without adequate instruction you aren't learning Muay Thai anymore, are you? It is ultimately up to you and your parents, but if you aren't getting adequate instruction it isn't worth the money in my opinion. If you decide to stop training at that club and your parents won't drive you to the other city to continue your training in Muay Thai, you could certainly look at taking another martial art in the interim (until you are able to make that decision independently), while trying to keep what you've already learned fresh by doing a few things at home (there are probably lots of things you guys can still do without partners...bag work, weights, etc). The Muay Thai people on here should be able to offer more wisdom on that. Will they let you get your money back and pay on a day by day basis (when C is teaching?). It might be nice to get some occasional Muay Thai workouts in at the club if Muay Thai is what you really want to do. As for what other style to choose, I think you should go with what fits best for you. I'd be a bit surprised if you chose fitness kickboxing after muay thai, but hey, maybe I'm wrong. BJJ might be a nice addition to your striking skills. Since you've lumped the karate schools into 7 or 8 different schools, I'm not sure you're even considering them, but depending on the style and the instructor they might have something that appeals to you too. The TKD/Hapkido place might as well - check out the ones that appeal to you

I'd agree with NOT telling a street fighter you practice martial arts. If there is time, you could certainly warn them to back off, or whatever you like, but don't say..."hey I know martial arts!". Hell, it might even ENCOURAGE them to fight (ego thing)

Well, I'm an average sized woman (5'4", 127 lbs), and I think size does matter. That's what weight classes are for, when we're talking organized competitions, with rules. Now that doesn't mean if I'm attacked by a big person that I'm going to see a 200+ lb man has attacked me and figure I should just give up; I've resolved to do whatever is necessary, and I'm going to do my best to make it so I can get away and he's not physically able to follow me. Of course, if the guy was my size, I wouldn't be any less severe - the guy attacked me, after all and therefore he deserves what he gets - BUT I might have a few more options open to me than with the bigger guy.

Oh I know, it just isn't the end of the world, that's all. Now that he's changed to kungfu/wushu or whatever it is he's doing, if they can just manage to be civil to each other when talking about martial arts instead of trying to prove which style is better all the time maybe they can learn from each other? I think that Chinese arts are complimentary to japanese/okinawan arts(too bad the sifu disagrees). My Senseis studied and taught T'ai Chi in addition to jujitsu and karate, as did their Senseis before them. It works well with Goju, anyway.

Well, wu-shu isn't the end of his competition days if he doesn't want it to be; I've seen lots of wu-shu practioners kick butt in tournaments I like watching their forms when they fly through the air with their swords. Very cool

I'm confused too.

It is apparently a myth . Check here at Legal Beagles. http://www.tafkac.org/faq2k/legal_2007.html There is also a theory I found on this website: http://www.eemaworld.com/herrmanthesis.htm that says the myth may have started because black belts in Japan are registered so no-one can claim to be a black belt when they aren't. Really makes you wonder exactly who was coming to your dojo and getting the black belts to sign these papers...a buddy of the dojo owner perhaps, as a way to emphasize that the skills shouldn't be taken lightly?

Do and jutsu are not mutually exclusive, though you seem to believe it is so. I direct you to an article discussing the subject http://www.shotokankata.com/Articles/Jutsu.htm, though I doubt you'll read it, or if you do, whether it will change your mind as you're obviously biased against "do". I practice Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate Do, and I must say, we certainly practice the jutsu as well, even if you think - without even going into my dojo - that we don't. 'nuff said. As for the blatant style bashing of TKD..though I don't practice TKD, I find that offensive. Need I remind you that Goju was also created in the 20th century? Oh that's right...you study "jutsu", you may not have learned about the history, like we do when we study "do" Yes, Goju draws upon older traditions, but the fact remains that it was founded in the 20th century. Does that make it invalid? Since you study it I doubt you think so, nor do I.

The only thing I could find pertaining to martial arts on ibuki is the same as what hobbitbob mentioned...a form of hard breathing. Ibuki is incorporated into karate as a breathing style.......is the full contact fighting really just knocking people out with bad breath? Interesting choice of name if that is the case. I also found a quote for ibukido in a reference of japanese literature..."Ibukido Nushi [the master of the spurting-out place], who dwells in Ibukido"...http://www.lily.sannet.ne.jp/s_noriko/Aston_01.htm Makes you wonder..in that reference, Ibukido appears to be the "spurting out place". That's kind of a funny name for a dojo too As for the instructor being a bit vague and cagey on his answers for the style and his personal history...that would set alarm bells off for me.

Congratulations to both

Nice video

For starters: http://members.tripod.com/~HappyCloud/ http://www.martialarts-int.com.au/PreviousNewsletters/1The%20PhysofPunching.pdf http://www.mvhs.fuhsd.org/i-heng_mccomb/physics/proj0203/sports/martialarts_files/frame.htm

There are lots of places to go. Much of the reasoning behind the moves in martial arts is explained by science, and calculated therefore using mathematical equations. You can go anywhere from the angles we use in some of our stances, to the differences in force required to block versus redirect a punch/kick, to the mechanics of the punch, to why it is physically possible for a smaller person to throw a larger person, to why we have augmented blocks...wherever you want to go there's bound to be some science/math behind it. If you're going theoretical, you could get into the Chinese fascination(for lack of a better word) with the number "3" and how it plays out in Chinese martial arts and how it has transferred over into Okinawan/Japanese martial arts as well. Have fun!

Hi and welcome