Fenris-wolf

A bit late, but congratulations anyway. As others said, there's nothing better than earning a reward you worked really hard for. Good on ya!

Well, it's not a matter of fees so much as that they're "handing out" belts. True that the only person who can really push yourself is you, but it's so good with someone you have confidence in to encourage and challenge you. Finally, how can you know the quality of the training you're getting if they're selling belts? That's just depressing.

Good on you for making an effort - and being strong enough to survive your experiences in the first place! Pretty much what everyone else said. Personally I really think it's important a woman learns how to take a punch (other kind of assault). It's amazing how even a "tough" guy flinches when they are first hit properly. And as SubGrappler said, a resisting partner! It's scary how many women take "self-defence" courses and then try and demonstrate... "No, not like that, grab me like THIS!" *fear* Good luck - the fact you're taking this first step is a great sign!

The whole thing, to me at least, just says what I've seen demonstrated. If you get any (stand up!) MAists and get them doing full-contact, it all looks pretty much the same.That said, if it was a MMA rules fight it would be a little different...

I haven't trained in karate for ages, but I think it's fair enough to make someone go back to white belt. If your style recognises other styles' belts that's fine, but I don't see wearing the white belt as disrespecting your style but rather just representing your skill level in the style you are currently training in. Although I can see the logic in wearing your BB for kumite... Really I think feeling disrespected because you don't get to wear your BB seems ridiculous. But then MT doesn't have belts and I'm quite happy to let someones style speak for itself.

I think you just haven't found the right style. And I agree with others here - you need to train for a long time before you could take a step like that. If you're not willing to make that sacrifice, how could you create your own style and[/i] teach it? Moreover, if none of them feel right for you, there's nothing wrong with mixing up styles in competition (at least in Muay Thai)... Obviously obey the rules, but find what works for you. And in "real life"... It's whatever works! Noone's going to critique your style then!

There probably are a bunch of millionaires running around who started this course... By sucking in and using people who would believe that stuff. Look at pyramid schemes.

Well, my boyfriend is Super Hearing Man - and he can drink 15 Red Bull & vodka and not die! He insists I am Super Eating Woman - often I'll eat twice as much as him and still be hungry when he's stuffed! (He even has a high metabolism: what's with that?!)

Oo, really? Ha, that will be interesting! Don't really watch TV full stop, so I'll have to keep an eye out for that

Oo, reading the hatemail at realultimatepower.net cracked me up - I'm sure the guys from the ninjitsu club near us take themselves that seriously. (We spar with them sometimes) I commented on someone having a "Ninja - masters of the night" (or something like that) t-shirt... He was all like "What? That's what we are!" :lol: Oo, recently saw Tongan Ninja (if you like stupid, satirical humour, look that movie up)... Makes me want to go to sparring with those dudes and make fun of them. How can anyone take themselves that seriously?!

:lol: I think you'll know when you're training too much. 2am is probably a bit much. I personally think the obsession part's not so bad - so long as you get enough sleep, and rest time (to build those muscles!). Although when you're right into it, you don't want rest time... Anyway, I don't know if I can offer any advice - it depends entirely on your personal and work relationships - if you're lucky enough to go out with another (obsessive!) practitioner it helps!

Oo! Front kick is really good, not many people (in NZ MT, anyway) use it well - if you want to win, that's all you need to do to me! But my favourite to throw is a whip (um, roundhouse is the same theory I think - straight leg, hip turned over into it?) right across the gut. Mmm. Accidentally winded a visitor in sparring once when she turned into my kick... Felt mean, but was funny. (She fell to the floor and gasped: I was shocked!) She came back aggressive though, not hesitant, so that's good.

I've only had one "full" fight (we have novice fights with shin pads, heavier gloves, and shorter rounds), and I lost. It was very close, a split decision, and quite a few people thought I should have won. Now, I think it was a reasonable decision (I landed more good shots but she threw more and when it's that close that's all it takes to win) but knowing the above makes me feel better! Plus I gave her a bleeding nose and 2 blacks eyes and I walked away just fine. Anyway, I was happy - better to lose a close fight than win against someone who gives up (a lot of women do, unfortunately) Also, I've never been in a "real" fight, but there have been a couple of times where, in retrospect, I regret holding back. Some people really deserve it.

Yeah, pretty much same here. I like that he's obviously intelligent... Sometimes I don't like that some of what he says may be taken literally - but that's partially my issue where I believe what with all rap being so derogatory about women, tongue-in-cheek or no, it starts to sink into the mass conciousness of younger people. *shrug* I'd rather be stuck on a desert island with him than a conservative preacher!

Haha, go Australia. I like football but can't really say I actually bother to watch it (I'm a NZer and you pretty much have to pay to watch it, plus I'm too lazy to wait till 3 in the morning). Pretty much just couldn't resist commenting on the Australia comment. It's so unfair, I was in England about a month ago and the people we were staying with had premier league tickets they were giving away... We were leaving the day it was on! Oh god, so unfair