Bart the Lover

Gloi wrote: I couldn't stop laughing at this. It's hilarious! Sounds like the kind of thing I would do. Has anyone tripped over their own feet? I have!

Two people live inside me. One which agrees with this: And this: But then I read this: And I think: yeah! You go! It would be easier to be humble and non-violent if there weren't so many idiots in the world. Sigh... Does anyone else react this way, or am I abnormal? I think I need to lie down in a darkened room now...

CheekyMusician wrote: What a pillock! Hmmm. A pleasant persona can hide all kinds of unpleasant attitudes and prejudices. Still, if he isn't often there, I think your best bet is to simply avoid him as much as possible. But if you do spar with him, confront him when his behaviour is unacceptable. If his is patronising, tell him. If he is going too hard, give him a couple of warnings, and if he persists, hit him hard. Alternatively, you could fake an episode and 'accidently' kick him in the Balzacs...froth at the mouth for added realism... Regards, Bart the Lover

"Man! Who farted? Was it you?" (Sound of student being pummeled)

major_motoko wrote: I love stories like this. It's terrible she was attacked, but I would love to have seen the looks on their faces! I don't love stories like this. How depressing. Did they win?

Apologies: I should have mentioned that the car is stationary. Stupid me. delta1 wrote: That's the kind of thing I was thinking of. Sorry for the confusion. Regards, Bart the Lover

Hello, folks. I've been wondering about defending yourself whilst in a car. I don't mean an attack from outside, but from someone sitting next to you. How would you deal with this situation? Assume the attacker does not have a weapon, and you cannot immediately get out of the car. Any thoughts? Thanks for your time. Regards, Bart the Lover

CheekyMusician wrote: How does this lack of respect manifest itself? Is it just a feeling you get? Your instructor(s) should not allow the men to treat the women with disrespect. You have the right to be treated as an equal. The club does not belong to the men. As far as knee-on-shin goes, shinpads will only protect you from light contact. I would suggest conditioning your shins. I remember from one of your posts that you own a heavy bag; try kicking this as hard as you can, regularly, using bare legs. Maybe someone could de-spider your loft first?! Regards, Bart the Lover

AnonymousCoward wrote: recommends...using a bucket full of beans (not baked beans) This image gave me a laugh! It would be very messy...you could always stick in some sausages and have a snack afterwards...

Shorin Ryuu wrote: When captured by those who do not follow the Geneva Convention and do not care about the treatment of prisoners, women may face an extremely horrific ordeal. I think we all know what I mean by that. Yes, female prisoners are tortured and raped. So are male prisoners. If a person of either sex is willing to face this risk, and they meet all the necessary qualifications, let them. Quote: There is also the fear that although men may not talk under torture of themselves or male comrades, they may feel inclined to do so if a women is threatened. Then the problem is with them, not the woman. Regards, Bart the Lover

Have you considered boxing?

G95champ wrote: there are certin jobs that men need to do just because of the risk of capature such as Sp Forces work. Why do you think this? Why is the risk of capture greater for women?

Hi Mike. Please, please, don't give this club any more money! It's wonderful that your daughter wants to participate in martial arts, and that you are so supportive of her. I'm amazed that many parents still think martial arts are appropriate for boys only. I agree with Martial_Artist's excellent points. I would like to point out that the fee you paid isn't in itself outrageous. It depends on the size of the club, location (city overheads clearly more expensive than a village hall), and how many classes are on offer. If I read your post correctly, your daughter attends two half hour classes a week. By my calculation, this works out at twenty-three dollars an hour. Eeek! By way of comparison, I pay approximately (it's approximate because I pay a set amount a month for unlimited classes) three dollars per hour for six to eight hours a week. I am also an adult. And there are weights and heavy bags I can use. So even if you were completely satisfied with the tuition, this would be a very poor deal. The existence of a contract is not a problem in my view. Some clubs don't have them; some have three monthly, or yearly contracts. Contracts help clubs plan finances and provide stability. This is important in a professional club with full-time staff. The contract you were asked to sign sounds alarming, though. An adult can be expected to plan a year ahead, but not two and a half years ahead. To expect a child to do this is ridiculous. I'm sorry I can't comment on Karate America specifically, as I am not American. Quote: A second thing I have noticed is that there doesn't seem to be a strong correllation between a student's belt and how good they appear to be. There will always be variation between students. Broadly, a black belt is quicker, with more control, and knows more techniques than the lower ranks. However, the range within ranks can be quite considerable. I have encountered people whose performance led me to believe they were higher or lower ranked than they actually are (you can't tell by looking at my club). Again, in itself this isn't something to worry about. Taking your observations into consideration--automatic promotion, lack of feedback from instructors, guaranteed black belt--it is something to worry about. If no-one fails, it isn't a true test. The progression to black belt: it all depends. Sorry for such a nebulous answer! The are too many factors involved to give a definite answer. Certainly, willingness to work hard and tenacity will help your daughter achieve her goal. Most people who start martial arts drop out. This is partly why there are so few black belts. The ability to attend classes when things are hard is half the battle. This is one of the benefits of martial arts for children, I think. On a cautionary note, I would like to suggest that perhaps venerating the aquisition of a black belt maybe isn't a terribly good idea. There is a risk that once your daughter has her black belt, her interest wanes. The challenge has gone. Perhaps you could emphasise other aspects of training to her, to minimize this risk. After all, once you stop training, you lose your skills. On a final note, I would like to say that the most worrying thing about these clubs is that they give their members a false sense of confidence. This could even be dangerous, if it leads your daughter to believe she can take care of herself when she cannot. Sorry if this sounds alarmist. I don't want to scare you. In short: please don't go back to this club. I'm sure you'll find good lessons for your daughter. Take your time choosing. Visit clubs, ask questions, watch classes and ask to see credentials if they are not on the walls. Let us know what you decide. I hope my post has been of help to you. If you have any questions relating to my post, feel free send me a personal message. Good luck! Regards, Bart the Lover

Hi everyone. I have been wondering how instructors assess their students' abilities. I don't mean ranks or belts, but how good a student is relative to all students, past and present. Do you know when someone, with dedicated training, will prove to be exceptional? If yes, at what point? Weeks? Months? Years? Do you encounter people who initially make great progress, but then seem to plateau (assuming they invest the same effort)? And what is it that makes a martial artist talented, instead of merely proficient? These questions are aimed not just at instructors, but also any senior students who have observed other people and their progression. Any insights you may have will be very welcome. Thanks for your time. Regards, Bart the Lover

Hello all. I have some questions about bag work. Firstly, does anyone believe bag work to be unnecessary? If so, why? Does your club encorage it? Make it part of the lesson? For those who do it: How often do you do it (per week, and hours)? Do you think it has produced any changes in your power, form, or timing? Have you noticed any disparity between men and women in attitude to bag work? (I ask this because at my club, women rarely use them.) Do you use bag gloves, hand wraps, or nothing? Thanks for your time.