daeinwolf

Ok, I have tried various advice from trainers and weightlifters. I have been on creatine for about two months while working out with an alternating lifting schedule. I have increased my calorie intake to about 3500 per day, consisting mainly of protein and minor everything else. While my max bench has gone up and I feel stronger, I have lost 5lbs and I have gained NO size. I spoke to a friend of mine who works as a trainer and his only comment was: "What the f*#$ is wrong with you" Now I do have a high metabolism, but this is ridiculous. Does anybody have anymore advice? While i understand that the main part is getting stronger, I would like to get rid of the "twig boy" look. Thanks---Joshua

I drink mead everynow and again, mainly at religious functions(kind of required). But I never get drunk. I grew up in an alcoholic environment so I have my reservations. Besides, it costs too much to get me drunk. In Frith---Joshua

I use ankle weights while doing swift leg raises(knee to chest), so no extension. I have found that this has vastly improved my kicking speed. The whole point is to do it quickly and gently. I think what you could be doing is hyperextending the leg because of the weights. Sastimos---Joshua

Yes, he is much slower than many of the beginners that we have. He does ride with his father who has just started as well, but they sit through the kids class, which is composed of 12-15 yrs) and just wait for the adult. He is about 5 ft. even in height and has not shown the ability to pick up on the basic kamae. Sastimos---Joshua

If most of your students are in the 25-45 range, with two exceptions(two 20 yr) would you allow a 14 yr old to take the adult class? And there is a children's class available. This has recently happened at my dojo. It is painfully obvious that the child has a hard time with learning some of the techniques from various ryu, not to mention the size difference. I feel that his presence could be hindering to the class. What do you people think? Sastimos--Joshua PS--My art is Bujinkan.

I feel that we as martial artists should have a basic knowledge of firearms. But as someone said, knowing a martial art gives one a choice of how much damage to inflict. As far as street weapons go, I always have a pair of throwing knives on me. Sastimos--Joshua

Physically, I will be 20 years of age this Sunday(6-22-03). But mentally, I have been about 40 something for the longest...responsibilities and all that. I would not have changed my childhood in anyway though. I may have missed out on some of the typical teen things, but I have a lot more real life experience than most my age and some older. Sastimos---Joshua

What Neo did was remarkably like an EMF bomb that the ships are equiped with. Also, the man(Bane) that Agent Smith is in was in the same state that Neo was in. It was said that there was an EMF discharged during the attack and everyone was suspecting Bane/Smith to be the culprit. Could Bane/Smith have the same ability as Neo in the "real world"? I feel that the Matrix within a Matrix scenario is the most plausible. Besides, would the star of the movie really give away such a hint? That nulls one of the major theories that people developed after that cliffhanger of an ending. Sastimos---Joshua

In the calorie department, I consume healthy carbs and proteins. I eat about 60-80 grams of protein in a day. I hate junk food and I do not drink soft drinks. I am working out pretty much everyday(different muscles). Oh and yeah, I am a bean pole...very high metabolism. Thanks for the tips Thuggish. Here's hoping. I have heard good things about the supplement Celltech. Has anyone tried this? Sastimos---Joshua

I do not know. I heal rather quickly. I mean, the soreness and everything is gone. But I will look it up and see if I can find a better workout plan. Thanks again. Sastimos---Joshua

I have been on the 3000 calorie diet and taking supplements for about a year now. I train my upper body(incline bench, decline bench, curls, flys, pushups, and weighted pull ups) every other day. On the in between days, I do lower body(leg curls, squats, weighted calf raises, crunches). On weights, I do heavy, slow, low-reps. Any advice would be great. At least you are trying.

I have tried that. My calorie count per day is about 3000-3500. And I do no cardio. Sastimos---Joshua

I looked on the first page and could not find anything on this subject so here it goes. Up until recently I have not really worried about my weight. But in my dojo, I have noticed that the bigger guys have a lot easier of a time with some of the grappling and throws than I do even though my technique is on the money. Currently, I am 6'0 and weigh 145lbs. My speed and flexibility are awsome, and my strength is pretty good as well. It is just that I do not have a great deal of mass. I have tried soy/whey protien and creatine supplements in my weightlifting routine and I have not had any results. I was wondering if anyone had any advice. Thanks in advance---Joshua

I have only been in this style for a brief time, but I would say Budo Taijutsu. Thus far, it has proven(IMO) formidable on all these fronts. While some of the stances are a bit long for my tastes, it still seems like a very effective and well rounded art. Sastimos--Joshua

No, I do not think that they can do qigong for 16 hours straight and not feel a strain. I said that they feel that when one tires, it is not because one has used up their chi. They feel that it is because the "mental muscles" that we use to direct the chi grow tired from over-exertion. As far as my usage of "scientific", I was referring to the lack of hard core provable data on the subject. As of yet, I have seen no scientific/ medical studies that have proven the existence of chi. Therefore, what you and I are basing are belief/knowledge on is our own experiences/perceptions...which are individualistic. Sastimos---Joshua

I am extremely offended by this post, among many of your others. I respect everyone's religious choice, but this is a grand case of bigotry. Members have repeatedly stated that it is not religious, merely respectful. If there is a problem with this then do not practice a martial art. Sastimos---Joshua

I am not an expert at by any means, but I have some measure of skill and expeience. I have spoken with a few others who are proficient in qigong and they feel the same. It should be noted that two of these are over 60 years of age. When I reach that point, I am still very vaguely aware of the "Chi" but I am unable to apply it. I equate this feeling to doing one's maximum amount of pushups and the trying for one more. The muscles just do not want to work, even though you may feel that you should be able to do that last one. In essence, you strain the proverbial "muscles" that one uses to apply "Chi". Again, this is just based on my own experience and the experience of a few others. Chi has not even been scientifically proven to exist so there is no way to prove which is right or wrong. Sastimos et Kaos---Joshua

I have never run across this problem before. I have always felt that it is not "Chi reservation" that is used up. It is merely the mind of the practitioner that tires and can no longer apply the "Chi". Again, this has only been my experience. Sastimos et Kaos----Joshua

I have been in a situation where I put the drunken guy on the ground and beganto walk away, when he grabbed a limb and decided to come at me again. At that point, I shattered his knee with a kick. Once he hit the ground I left. So, I agree that breaking the opponent down is a good plan. Sastimos--Joshua

When you examine other dojo's, you are right. But I am very cheap... Sastimos---Joshua

At my school(Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu), I pay $33 a month and testing is $50 each. I find this to be a bit steep. I also feel that the belt system is a little much. If you wish to have a way of distinguishing how "good" you are, get on the mat and go at it. Let your knowledge speak for itself. There are no belts on the street. Sastimos---Joshua

I have just recently started Budo Taijutsu. In this style, some of the stances(kamae) are somewhat deep. I have found that after practice and sometimes during, my knee joints are killing me. Bad knees run in my family, so I can understand why. My question is, are the kamae bad for the joints? I need to be in a somewhat deeper posture to get my balance correct in a few, so....

Telephone---Kusari Fundo Pencil/Pen---Bo shriken Bent Paperclips---tetsubishi(caltrops) Broom/Mop---Bo, Yari, Naginata, Bi-Sento Bent paperclips---shuko(hand spikes) Canned air, hot coffee, snuff---metsubushi(sight removers) Umm...thats all I can think of at the moment. Sastimos---Joshua

It depends on how dogmatic one is. Personally, my religious beliefs do not conflict with my practices. In fact my beliefs are structured around my religious beliefs. But even when I was a Christian, my beliefs did interfere. As I said, it depends on how dogmatic the individual is. Sastimos---Joshua

Panther walk---Get you body in a push up position, hands in close to the center, body very low to the ground. Now propel ypurself forward, backward, side to side by "hopping"(using arms to lift the body up about 3 inches max andd the feet to propel). Very fun. Beginning of class, we do 300 deep squats, and then 100 jumping squats. Sastimos---Joshua