telsun

I've started something here haven't I

You can read the bible, but when you have finished it does not make you a Christian. To be a Christian you must follow a Christian life......all your life. I think that this is the analogy granmasterchen was using, or close to it. The baseball player? Well he won the world series, quits, then what? He could have gone onto become a legend. I don't know much, indeed, anything about baseball. I think MA is a bit different as you never stop learning. Giving up when you reach your blackbelt goal is like giving up driving after you have learnt to pull away.

My instructor and I are close. I am his number 1 and we have travelled together to seminars, gashaku's, etc. I have only ever attended one social event with him outside of MA's and obviously he has invited me to his party. I would say that we have a strong student, sensei bond. He has been an influence on my karate via his superb instruction and skill. He has also influenced my life with his Christian values.

Still undecided........

So when people to the micky out of me for running around a hall in a pair of pyjamas they might not be far from the truth Okay. So does anybody know the history of a Judo gi? I prefer the TKD tops myself. Although I have never worn one. But the idea of the sides being sewn rather than open appeals to me.

My sensei sold me a new Tokaido suit for £10 I didn't ask questions. Best suit I have ever had. I also have a Tokaido embroidered BB. I only have one other suit at the mo and that is a 14oz Hayashi, which I am pretty pleased with. Although I had the arms and legs cut shorter when I got it because I like it that way. My Jujitsu suit is just a student quality black Blitz suit. Suits my needs fine for now. The worst suit I ever had was a Blitz Japan 16oz. It was just too heavy. Okay for special occasions, when you don't have to train much. Or for those instructors that just like to walk up a down and chuck out a kick every now and then.

Here: http://www.karateforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=8858&highlight=

Has anybody ever heard of tiger push ups? You may know them by a different name: Start in a jack knife position (upside down 'V') Lower yourself until your nose nearly touches the ground. Now move your body forward until your back is parallel to the ground. Whilst lowering yourself down you would take a deep breath. Now at the bottom point look forward and make a harsh breath out, look left harsh breath, look right harsh breath. now push back the way you came so you return back to the jack knife position, taking another deep breath. Once there drop your bum down so that your in a cat stretch position and realease the breath.Return to the start position. Hard to describe really. Do you understand that? These are very hard to perform. This should be done at a medium pace with a smooth action. Also lowering yourself in a normal pushup in 3 stages holding each stage for 3 seconds and then raise in 3 stages holding each for 3 seconds. I like the holding bottom position for increasing amount of time I'll be giving that a go. You can also try pyramiding your reps as I have described in another thread.

You could move to England then you wouldn't have to worry about the hot weather so much

Alright then some of the things I have found: The environment should be relaxed but disciplined. No talking in the ranks. The instructor should be able to answer your questions in a positive believable way. People should be attentive. If he does not have an answer then he should admit it. The instructor should be humble and admit his own shortfalls. Making you aware of them so you do not imitate him. The instructor should be able to perform what he is asking you to do. And perform it very well. You should be able to see the difference between the grades a blue belt should be performing better than an orange belt. The class should be a constructive lesson. Not just a bit of this and that. Come on guys help me out here..........

I get mild forms of them nothing too bad. I don't get the shakes though. I didn't answer the other part of the question. How much do I exercise? Well I do bits every day. A run. Some bagwork. Etc. I exercise extremely hard (extremely by my standards) 2 or 3 times a week depending on my shift.

Does your instructor offer alot of praise or just once in a blue moon? Do you like his/her approach or would you rather it was the alternative? Instructors; what is your approach and why?

Does anybody know about the history of the karate uniform?

Check this thread for how to tell a Mcdojo. http://www.karateforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=7594 That's what not to look for but what should people look for when joining a new club?

I study Goju-ryu karate and have just started JJ to compliment it. Since Goju is a close fighting style (although not strictly) the JJ works extremely well with it. Are you intending to give up Shotokan in favour of the other art?

Okay wise ones. Let's help out the Martial Arts wannabes How do you tell you have found a good club?

When I started I just went to my closest club and done it. I was fortunate in the fact that the club turned out to be very professional and not a Mcdojo (I love that terminology ) Try the clubs in your local area. If there are lots then try them all. It's not going to be much good to you if you decide you want to do Coparia (how do you spell that?) but there is not a club within 100 miles You can look into an art as much as you like but until you experiance it you can't tell for sure. It's a bit like buying a car. You can read about them all you like. People can suggest which one to buy, etc. But until you have driven them you don't really know. And when you find *that* car you just know that that is the car for you. Not by reading about it but by experiancing it. Perhaps a good question to ask would be: How can I tell a good dojo/instructor? Tell you what I'll do it for you. It'll be interesting to see what everyone thinks anyway. Of course this is just my humble opinion. Follow the course you belive to be right.

Well a bit difficult to answer that accurately. I work shifts so my eating times vary drastically. But I generally eat: when I get up, then about every 3 hours there after. BUt like I said it does very immensley. I also find my eating habits are better the days that I am at work as the times are scheduled for me. At home I tend to be too busy and forget to eat As far as what I eat. Mmm....I like fruit, eat loadsa bananas. I also like sweets and cakes, but I do try to control my intake. I get some veg in but not as much as I should. Drink quite a bit of milk. I don't know what else to put general sort of everyday stuff really. I am not super healthy but I do have awareness as to what I put into my body. Incidentally, when I was younger (so much younger than today, didn't need anybodies help in any way.....) I was diagnosed by the doctor as having low sugar levels. His advice? Eat a Mars bar a day! Could this be relevant. Also I recently had a blood test and my phospate came out as being low. What does phosphate do???

I agree with superfighter. Allow me to rephrase my initial response: Master of 1, jack of 1 or 2 more. Or maybe master of 2. Or maybe.......

I have used and suggested 2 tried and tested methods for improving your push up rep count. 1. Do push ups every other day increasing the rep count by two each time. When it gets real hard increase by just 1. Do it for about 6 weeks or until you just can't make any progress. Then take a week off and start again. Don't carry on from where you left off though. Drop ten-twenty reps and start the cycle again. If you can already comfortably do 65 then I would say start at about 50. 2. Pyramid your push ups. Do 1 pushup, rest 10secs, do 2, rest 10, do 3, rest 10, etc, etc. When you reach 10 drop back down. Do 9, rest 10, do 8, rest 10 until you reach back down to one. Thats 110 push ups. Believe me this is harder than it sounds. If you do find it easy increase the reps and shorten your rest period.

I would like to be master of 1 and jack of others!!!! I presume you are debating cross training. I think that it is good to have a firm footing in a style, it will form a foundation for you. Then spread your wings and explore other areas and arts. But then if you master 1 art then you will probably be phenominal. Think of the Masters of the arts. I would probably not stand a chance against any of them......... Like you say pros and cons

Why do I feel so lethargic? I'm also feeling moody. If it is my diet (likely) what am I lacking? Carbs? How do you/ can I combat feeling this way

Hey beer-monster. Diss you may because I surely deserve to be As you say it is more accurate to say that I use JJ techniques in my karate lesson. Although we do try to redirect the blow rather than meet it head on. This I believe is the essence of the soft side of our style. We do not always finish our opponenets by striking them. Looking at our bunkai there are quite a few locks involved so introducing them to sparring is something that is expected from us. Sensei also likes us to finish the fight with our opponent on the floor. The other thing I like to do is lock the opponent up then strike him to finish. Also please bare in mind I am a relative beginner to JJ.

And when did you start granmasterchen?

granmasterchen when you was a coloured belt you were probably equal (if not better) to me in quality of technique. That is why I think it would be nice if standards would be the same through out the world!!!!