SaiFightsMS

:spitlaugh:Oh did I ever have trouble the first time I tried a spinning kick. :dead:I kept trying and trying. :bigwink:One day I finally did one right. And it was great. I still get really dizzy very quickly. No apologies aside that I can blame directly on the ms. The disease did really mess up my balance. In a way though it is kind of nice to know other people have problems as well.

:kaioken:And some of them got very heated. Better atmosphere in here though. :???:For a bit of trivia: one of the stories I have been told about the origin of the gi. I was told it is like underwear. When training had to be done in secret the outer clothes would be removed and training would be conducted in underwear. (Hey, have you ever seen pics of old time boxers in long johns?) So now when I see someone in full traditional Japanese dress I look a bit more carefully. Sometimes you can see the white on the inner layer under all the fancy outer stuff. Has anyone else ever noticed that?

I was 37 when i started formal training. You are very definately not starting to late. Very few :bawling:had the terrific lack of coordition I did when I first started. I used to knock my glasses off trying to headblock Just keep at it. We don't all progress at the same speed. :spitlaugh:The biggest mistake you can make in your training would be to stop. When I was a white belt I never even thought that one day I would be doing Rohai with the black belts but one day I did. :grin: No one is hopeless.

These :kiss: smileys are really great. :spitlaugh:I like this one. You all seem to be friendly folk. I think this will quickly become one of my favorite sites to visit. :wave:

hello, The only way to get started is to enter a class. And the martial arts are great :smile: . There is so much diversity, there is something out there to fit everybody.

Hi Nat, I like the enthusiasm of the youth in here. It goes well with the still passionate middle-agers. I have enjoyed reading your postings. Sai :pony:

Hi Carmel, I'm new too. I meet a lot of people in cat chat who use their cat's name as part of their screen identity. I also maintain another screen identity with my cats name included. :bdaybiggrin:But, Sshadowsmom doesn't go well in martial arts areas. See you in the postings, :pony:Sai

Hi Tobias My school has a very strong weapons program. To begin kobudo training each student has to be at least 8th kyu(out of 10 kyu's) and be approved by sensei. Hey I like these icons. :smile: I have done some extra work with video and a book. I do a lot of hojundo work too.

Winterkarate I like your attitude. Just be sure to spend enough time with your katas so that they feel natural when you do them. It can be a mistake to learn to many to soon. :pony:Sai [ This Message was edited by: SaiFightsMS on 2001-11-05 15:44 ]

My favorite kata? I like Rohai and Jiin. My favorite Heian is Yondan.

The speed at which the kick recoils is important as everyone has said. :kaioken:But, there will be times when you face a sparring partner who is extremely adept at catching kicks going to a certain location. When facing this opponent kick at another target area. Unless of course, you enjoy getting off the floor.

Yes starting on a new style is hard when you can't keep the old rank. I have this strange idea that as part of mental training the humility of starting over as a white belt has some sort of value.

:???:I have seen some interesting opinions on this topic. :karate:I think the best weapon is the one you are most comfortable using. :uhoh:Oh, and if you mean a weapon you can carry one that is not illegal.

In respnse to tapes on tonfa I really like the Nishiuchi tape on sai and I know he also does one on tonfa. :pony:SaiFightsMS

Hello AngieWinter I was reading posts and after I went off line your post was the one that stuck in my mind. When I first started using nunchaku I was more uncoordinated than most. Hey, I do have multiple sclerosis. I would make sure I took off my everyday glasses and put on my sport goggles. And then, when practicing alone I would put on my helmet. :pony:You are far from alone. SaiFightsMS :pony:

I have 2 favorite weapons. I like the bo maybe because it is the first weapon I worked with and gained skill with. And I really like the Sai :idea:My Karate style is Shotokan and when the sai are moving well in my hands flipping in and out with speed and accuracy they sort of feel like the claws of the tiger.

You think nunchaku have a mind of their own sometimes. :idea:I was standing in my living room with my nunchaku not long ago and looked at my heavy bag and had this idea . So I took a swing at the bag I learned something very important. The work we have done at my school with nunchaku allways involve a deceleration loop before catching them. :idea:Wow is there ever a good reason for that. :wave:

I have been studying Kobudo for about five and a half years. Working with Bo the whole time. I know 2 versions of Sushi no Kon, Choun No Kon, and Sakagawa No Kon. I have also worked with Tokomine No kon. :dead:Nunchaku was the next weapon I worked with. Sorry to say it is not one of my favorites although I realize many people enjoy them. On to the Sai. I have been working with them about 4 years and really enjoy them. I know Ni Cho Sai and Tsukenshita Haku. When I get up the ambition I will start San Cho Sai. Tonfa are very challanging to work with. I have worked with them off and on for about 3 years. I find them enjoyable and very challanging.

Hello again and thanks for the warm welcom. :pony:Sorry to burst your bubble Tobias but I happen to be a middle aged girl who likes bo and Sai. Hope you don't think me to over the hill. I did come to karate later in life than many of you but I am still passionate about it.

:bawling:Striker I do understand a bit of what you mean. Sometimes things do just fall apart. My martial arts have helped me deal with the bad times much more easily. I work kata hard and fast sometimes until I just can't do another one properly. :karate:My newest coping tool is this. Exploring the world of martial arts with my computer. I have met people all over the world. It is a whole new perspective. Hope your slump ends soon.

: wave: I began my training in Matsubyashi Shorin Ryu. Since beginning I have trained in Hayashi hai ****o Ryu and Shotokan. I enjoy working with my Bo and my Sai. I enjoy my training and as I learn more and more about the great things available on the internet training is one of the few things I leave my computer for. I would dearly love to hear from any physically handicapped martial arts practitioners.

Hello Bagpuss, If I may resond to your question about a bo kata with an overhead helicopter twirl. I believe the kata you are referring to is Tokumine No Kon, a bo kata commonly practiced by Isshinryu karateka. [ This Message was edited by: SaiFightsMS on 2001-10-29 03:15 ]