Budderfly

^^ She wouldn't probably go to a tourney anyways. She only learnt it just for the series. I imagine she got private instruction on or off the set.

One thing I try to do is find oppertunities to stretch. For example, when I brush my teeth in the morning, I do it in horse stance for the full two minutes. While I am waiting for food to heat up in the microwave, I'll stretch my legs by putting my foot on the counter and touching my toes. While watching TV, I'll go in the splits. The possabilities are endless.

There are also different accents and ways of saying things in asia. Perhaps one is accustomed to saying Shifu in one part of the country when another says Sifu. Best to ask the person how they prefer to be called.

There's a few accented ways to say many words. Po-tay-to, Po-tah-to

I'm just saying I am proud of the students at our school for setting a personal goal and meeting it. Yes, being proud and meeting a goal is good. But do you have to use and rely on the black belt? Did you sell out the concept just to have the motivation and set goal? Why couldn’t you have used something else? If you are a good instructor, you, not the black belt, should be the motivator. The methods and their progressive levels alone should be the goal. Not ranking or a particular rank. Yes you raise a good point about a school using a black belt, grey belt whatever belt, as a motivator - but yes I agree, it does come down to the instructor. And who said that my school relys on this piece of dark fabric? Or do you mean schools in general? I wish they brought back the days of having two belts. White and Black... or even better... no belts at all. I think focusing on their personal development and character is more important in the training instead of the physical aspect. No, they are youths. They have youthful exuberance. They want the physical aspect. That is why they had joined. They did not join a cooking or painting class. One can develop character from other non-physical means. MA IS physical, no matter how you slice it. Of course martial arts is physical but I believe there is a huge mental aspect too. Self-Control, Confidence, Respect, Perseverence.. the list goes on. Most students walk in thinking they're going to learn to "kick *" but then soon find that that's not what martial arts is about. Perhaps I feel strongly about this cause I like the philosophy behind it. In most cases the younger students joined cause their parents signed them up. I've seen a few kids that really don't want to be there but they are cause their parents force them. Though we have tried to speak with the parent saying maybe they have another interest besides martial arts. Some agree, some want them to keep going. But that's another topic. It's quite rewarding seeing students achieve the goals they set as a person and as a martial artist. Yes, being proud of accomplishments is one thing. But, the rank is misunderstood by non-MA. Now please, I BESEECH, do not take this or anything else offensive. But, perhaps you had lived a “sheltered teen life”? Perhaps, the current environment or town you live in, youths do not have these peer troubles. But as a teen, and as I see my kids-teens, the environment that they and I (as a teen) are exposed to, is heavily peer-pressured. And the black belt and such age, causes more harm than reward. And, I do not have to rely on such a symbol, to motivate and use as a goal No, I have not led a sheltered teen life and I am not offended. In fact I had to grow up at an early age and see the world with a different set of eyes than other kids. I lived on my own since I was 16 but I'm not going to get into that story cause it is personal and has nothing to do with this post. I have seen and felt peer pressure myself, but I have a choice. Do I give in or walk away? Perhaps it is the environment we live in, who knows. I'm not debating that the kids I know are better then the ones you teach... I just think that with the physical and mental knowledge they have gained, they turned out into well rounded individuals with ethics and morals. Young people being a part of society and setting good examples. And by them setting and achieving goals, I don't just mean black belt. I mean the smaller things like executing a good side kick, doing a good throw and being able to do a sweep. You don't need a belt to do that. We're going way off topic now and perhaps this thread could be split by one of the moderators. I choose to walk away not to continue this discussion since it is going in circles. I agree with a lot of what you say 47, but I do have some different feelings about some points. Cheers.

Well, opinions are like belly buttons - everybody has them. Maybe all kids, like adults, act differently in a situation. I'm just saying I am proud of the students at our school for setting a personal goal and meeting it. They too, know that being a Black Belt doesn't mean that you have the right to start fights. It's self defense only. But they are wise enough to avoid conflict in the first place. They are quite humble for teenagers. I think focusing on their personal development and character is more important in the training instead of the physical aspect. It's quite rewarding seeing students acheive the goals they set as a person and as a martial artist.

I don't know how to answer your question the way you want to hear it. The kids in our school are very mature and even though I am confident they could handle themselves and not "freeze up", they still know that it is better to avoid situations instead of getting in them. They understand that fighting is a last resort. And if they did get in a fight, they're not going to beat their attacker senseless, they are going to stun them and run away. This is the best thing anyone could ask for. What are the kids like in your dojang/dojo? You seem pretty solid on your thoughts.

She did learn TKD for Buffy so she didn't look like a total ree-ree on the show.

Totallys. Boards were a big challange for me mentally. I used to get so nervous doing board breaks for my test and in public. I have to do a back kick and a spinning hook kick soon.

Pic of me two years ago breaking my board with a side kick: http://www.budderfly.net/gallery/albums/dojang/LeahBreakBoard.jpg The video of me a year ago breaking my board with a flying side kick (I love the little happy dance I did after): http://www.budderfly.net/clips/FlyingSideKick.AVI

3 boards ~ side kick 3 boards ~ axe kick 3 boards ~ flying side kick 3 boards ~ front kick 3 boards ~ double jumping front kick It's part of my test to break boards. I usually practice with re-breakable ones, but I always try one real board before I test. Then I have to do two board breaks to get my next belt. One in front of my testing instructor and one in front of Grandmaster. There's no set-ups or practice runs when we do our actual break.

I am so sending that to my MA friends.

We start with a warm-up where we do cycles of running in a circle, do jumping jacks, push-ups and suit-ups. We do a total of 50-55 of each. Then we stretch out our muscles. We'll practice some of our belt cirriculum and move on to something different. It could be drills, joint manipulations, throws, weapons, grappling, etc. Whatever the instructor has planned for the day. We also have designated sparring classes where we warm up the same way and spar for the rest of the class. We would also practice sparring drills, techniques and applications.

The White Zombie song, Reload, from the Matrix 2 soundtrack is one we used before and it worked well.

Our black belt test is basically everything we tested on from White to Brown, only by now we should perfectly display proper form, speed, accuracy and technique. It takes about 6 hours to go through the test. Then if we pass, we'll receive our Black Belts at a ceremony. We have two a year. The spring ceremony is a high energy demo show at a theatre and the fall we do a big banquet/dance. The ceremony itself, when we receive our BB, is very traditional and the belts are put on by Grandmaster himself. If all goes well, I'll receive my BB in Fall 2005. I can't believe how fast time has passed.

Agreed. It's hard to explain the techniques over a forum.

I'm not in Tae Kwon Do (but we learn TKD applications), but I find the back kick is the most challanging.

I was practicing grappling one day in class and I accidently grabbed my partner's (male) bum! I felt really embarrassed and so did he. Another time I was grappling and apparently my cleavage was showing. I guess my tank top got pulled down a little too far. This was during a test too, so everyone on the side got a bit of a show. I didn't know at first until someone told me.

I gave blood today and I am happy to find a way to help conquer my fear of needles by knowing I am doing something good for someone else.

I am a registered "Chartered Chili Head" through the International Chili Society (isn't that sad?). I've even competed in cook-offs. And even though I have made a lot of chili in my lifetime, I still forget that I just cut hot peppers and I stupidly rub my eyes. I know what you mean dude, it stings!!! http://www.budderfly.net/gallery/albums/snapshots/Cookoff.jpg

Tong Moo Do is a Korean based MMA school. We learn a combination of Aikido, Hapkido, Kung Fu, Jujitsu, Karate, Kick Boxing, Tae Kwon Do, Judo and Weapons Mastery. We call each other "Sir" or "Ma'am" and also to the Instructors. We also call our teachers "Instructor ". Master Joe is called "Master Joe" or "sir" and Grandmaster Pyong-Jin Jung is referred to as "Grandmaster" or "Sir". When you get your 4th dan you earn the title Master. Not sure exactly what dan you are to be called Grandmaster, but there is only one currently and that's Grandmaster Jung, who started the school. He had a Tae Kwon Do school before that, but he wanted to combine the martial arts as there was so many useful applications. He wasn't trying to create the "complete martial art", but rather the "complete martial artist". We really focus on personal development and self-defense. Our ranks go like this: White Yellow Green Blue Purple Red Brown Brown w/ Yellow Stripe Brown w/ Green Stripe Brown w/ Blue Stripe Brown w/ Red Stripe Brown w/ Black Stripe Black - 1st Dan + We test different parts of our belt cirriculum once a month and if we pass each tests during a minimum four month period, we can test for our next belt. It takes about 5 years to earn your black belt, and that's if you pass every test. Hope that helps with your question!

http://www.budderfly.net/forums This is my site so naturally I post here often. http://www.ninjagirl.ca/forums A friend of mine takes ninjitsu and she has her own site, mainly dedicated to the Kunoichi (female ninja), but it's open to all martial artists. http://www.truenuff.com/forums Online comic site. Threeboy (creator) is a good friend of mine. The crew has stopped making new comics, as they are working on launching the True Nuff book. You can still view the archives though. http://www.threeboy.net/forums Threeboy's personal site. We talk about gaming, life and computers here. I also post in my martial arts school's forum, but it is open to the students of Tong Moo Do only. I also go to Tung Fu Lounge, but I just read and rarely post.

Heh, I've had that happen before. I was changing into my uniform and I felt a "bunch" by my knee just before I walked out of the change room. I thought it was my pants, but there was a dryer sheet stuck in there.

I take a suppliment called Vegetal Silica. It is so great for hair and nails. I had a bad habit of biting my fingernails and when I was trying to grow them out I took Vegetal Silica as well. it really helped strengthened them.