SaiFightsMS

Yes Joe many weapons can be used in more than one application.

Joe I think what you are referring to is removal of the loose style of chothing from one shoulder so that the bow string cannot get entangled with the clothing on release. Oh, and women practicing that art do not remove the clothing. So don't get excited about that possibility.

I have a link to what may be the article Gloi was referring to: http://www.aka.com.au/article7.htm

That is an interesting point of view Shotochem. I think Black Belt writes for a wide range of readers. And some of what they write reflects a change in the interests of their readers. I have noticed that in the past few years they have written more things oriented towards those allready in law enforcement.

:blush: Thank you Rushman. Believe it or not this issue is a real one and did come up in another site. _________________ KarateForums Sempei Shotokan Karate Shodan, Bojitsu Shodan, Sai 5th kyu [ This Message was edited by: SaiFightsMS on 2002-01-18 17:56 ]

Not sure what you are looking for. But if it a uniform, equipment, and a lot of stuff check out http://www.MartiaArtsSurpermarket.com. They carry a lot of stuff. And even carry stuff made by other companies at a lower price.

Well yeah in a bit of fantasy. But I am very attatched to electricity and running water with hot water heaters and indoor bathrooms. Oh and I have been in Japan and Korea. I spent a year in Korea 1976-77. And I have to say I much prefer the western style of toilets. I think I would like to be sent back in time, temporarily, and be able to observe their training without actually being their.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. And I am sure Joe that many agree with you. Remembering from the news reports that so much had/has to be flown in to Afghanistan they had razors and shaving cream, but not all the extra gallons of water proper treatment of the lice would have required. If a yarmulka worn by an Orhodox Jew contained lice I would ask that it be removed for treatment. And then returned after proper disenfection had taken place. In the same matter if their beards are so precious they to will return.

I thought about asking this in general in general Karate and martial arts but I think it might fit better here. What are the traits of the best martial arts students? If you are a teacher what do you like to see in your students? What traits do you like to see in you classmates?

Joe, weapons can be so very interesting. And there are so many of them. :karate: Once you are bitten by the weapons bug you will find and see pictures of some of of the strangest looking and some of the most interesting looking weapons imaginable.

You also need to be aware of the laws in your area. Some states outlaw them completely. Catalogue sites will not even ship to you if you live in one of those areas. And yes there is a difference between having a weapon to train with. Having a weapon to use. And having a weapon for display purposes.

I find that much we do with weapons training gives a good deal of internal pleasure. There are very few "traditional" weapons one can walk down the street with today. I think much of why we continue to study them is because of the way we feel when we are training. Of course there is always the possibility that having learned weapons techniques with a real weapon in a real life situation any common object at hand can be used with similar motions. Everyday things like telephones can be used as a weapon if you know how to swing a nunchaku. And there have to be so many other examples out there.

I have honestly never seen a sai sold as a single. I have 3 because I have 2 pairs. My first pair were steel and 19". Last year I got a pair of aluminum 18" ones that I really love. When I got my first pair I got them from my sensei and the only sizes he could get that year were 15" and 19". Sounds like I better get san cho zai out. :nod:

Gloi if maybe your friend could email me "privately". I aint about to tackle that in an open forum. But I may really have some ideas.

Well the way I do cat stance hasn't changed. I have done it the same way in Shi-to ryu, Shotokan, and Shorin ryu. I really didn't find the transition and relearning the katas that difficult really. We had not done kokutsu dachi in Shi-to ryu. But, somehow it felt natural to me right away. A few of the guys didn't like it at first though. Actually at that point I was the only one who had allready learned all 5 Heians. They didn't have to relearn all of them. Maybe it is the depth of the cat stance that looks different to you?

I think if I were in your situation with healthy joints I would go with the judo. But then right now my opinion might be held in a bit of suspicion after the female issue I started.

Kickchick I had a really hard time stopping my laughter at that one. :spitlaugh: At least some of us have a sense of humor. I have to say the range in responses is interesting. Some of them really did make me stop and think.

No problem Jiggy others have made the same mistake. I find that much of the time in the world of cyber karate the state of ones gender is irrelevant. Until someone starts a thread like this one. There are times in class when for whatever reason individuals (of both sexes) get things (body fluids) on their gi's. It is just a fact of life. And usually an indicator of a persons ability to handle stress with humor. Some times things are embarrassing, funny, and deadly serious all at the same time. I do stay in contact with a womens karate club online. And from time to time I may bring things in here for comments. (I also relay comments from here to them and encouraged and posted links to this site.) I think the new world of cyber karate is great. We can share information, and even humor with all sorts of people. Sometimes it is really hard to tell what will help someone else out. Equally, it is hard to tell what will offend someone.

Intelligent discussion of the pros and cons of different types of martial arts, such as happen here, have probably gone on for ages. I am thinking though; that we are now more willing to see things we can learn and should learn than in the past when it was - my system is best end of discussion.

Here is a story someone told in another club during a dicussion of this topic. At a grading when the first group of white belts got up there was one adult male. Someone noticed a brown spot on the seat of his pants. No one said anything they just thought okay it is his first test and it is scary, but is it that scary? They sat down and the next group got up. There was another adult with a brown spot on the seat of the pants. As the grading went on more and more people got up with brown spots on there seat. Those who were sweating the most had the biggest spots. It turned out that a water soluble brown finish had been applied to the floor. Just something some of you may get a kick out of.

:spitlaugh: :spitlaugh: Back From the Grave An old man and woman were married for years, even though they hated each other. When they had a confrontation, screaming and yelling could be heard deep into the night. The old man would shout, "When I die, I will dig my way up and out of the grave and come back and haunt you for the rest of your life!" Neighbors feared him. They believed he practiced black magic because of the many strange occurrences that took place in their neighborhood. The old man liked the fact he was feared. To everyone's relief, he died of a heart attack when he was 68. His wife had a closed casket at the wake. After the burial, she went straight to the local bar and began to party as if there was no tomorrow. Her neighbours, concerned for her safety, asked, "Aren't you afraid that he may indeed be able to dig his way up and out of the grave and come back and haunt you for the rest of your life?" The wife put down her drink and said, "Let the old ******* dig. I had him buried upside down.

Willie Wilson whistled while writing witticisms.

Piastre I know exactly what you mean. I am the same way.

I am at a bit of a loss to understand why some are complaining about Taliban prisoners who had lice were shaved head and face to help control the problem. These violent men who were members of a deadly organization and waging war against women and children seem to have rather bizzare ideas of what should be done to them. They have been cleaned up, given clean clothes, fed, given medical care. Should they be given back their lice? Is having lice preferable to having a beard? I am confused again.

Another interesting story Jiggy. I enjoy them. The more I read about Master Itosu the more it seems that he had a very significant effect on the Okinawan/Japanese martial arts of the 20th century. Many of his students went on to become founders of their own styles.