SaiFightsMS

That sounds like a good comment to end the thread on.

Actually I think many of us do both. A martial arts class and extra work in the gym. That topic might make an interesting survey.

In the lower level is was the technique and doing it correctly that was stressed. How it was applied and more uses for it began in the intermediate grades.

We used iron on stipes for kobudo ranking on our belts for different weapons. I had no problem with mine coming off the way I rinsed my belt in the shower.

My primary style is shotokan. In that I am nidan. In bojitutsu and shito ryu I am shodan.

I got a good laugh out of that shotochem. I have had belts that I have worn for a long period of time. And being someone who sweats a lot in class they did develope and odor. So yes, there has been some times I took a shower with my belt in the water with me. Not wearing it but with it spread out around the bottom of the tub so that it got a good rinse. Then it was drip dried. .

Congratulations Monkeygirl.

Welcome to the forum. Better late than never introducing yourself.

Welcome to the forum. You are in no way too old for karate. You will probably even find that the stretches help you out. By the way I wear shoes in class too.

Yes duck, bobbing and weaving to avoid punches is a very valid part of training in boxing. Why should martial artist's not also duck. When thier punch sails over your head they tend to loose their balance.

If it persists get it checked by a doctor. It still sounds like shinsplints to me. Either that or irritated nerve pathways. Ice massage.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/womeninshotokan/?yguid=92912845 There is a yahoo club Women in Shotokan. I realize you do goju, but them might have some information for you.

It is one of the three major internal styles: tai chi, pa kua and hsing-i. It is indeed a very valid style. It relies on technique rather than bulk strength.

Notice that you said she blocked the kick the wrong way. Most accidents that occur in the dojo are as a result of incorrect technique. Makes you take a second thought about wether or not you really want to get started doesn't it? You would be strange if you didn't have a second thought after seeing that. I remember another one of your threads were you wanted to know about what kind of gear you would need to spar full contact with one of your friends. This incident may help you see why people were advising you to wait a bit to try that. There should be a process to sparring enabling students to learn control. An important part of training for students as they progress in rank is do help a junior student do things like learn to spar. By sparring with them making sure contact is controlled and that they limit the techniques they use on them to ones that the juniour student has been taught. There have been studies done about the incidence of injuries in the martial arts. Actual martial arts rank fairly low in the incindence of injuries as compared to other sports.

When I began training it was my status as a person with a physical handicap not a female that somehow brought me to everyones attention. As time passed and my skills improved I blendend in more. And then the difference people remembered me for was the one who wears shoes. Up until brown belt level there was another female student about my age I got paired up with come test time for sparring purposes. There is much less attention payed to the sex of the participant is martial arts activities now than there were the first time I took a lesson in 75 or 76.

White belt is a beginner rank. In some schools you put on your gi and white belt from the day you get your gi. In other schools you have to test your knowledge of some basics to earn the right to wear your white belt.

How about Rudy?

Classic rock mostly. Although depending on my mood I will listen to most any type of music except rap and opera.

Welcome to the forum. Hope you come often.

Welcome to the forum.

Welcome to the forum.

Welcome to the forum. Do you share Monkeygirls dislike of stuffed ducks?

Welcome to the forum.

Not to us, but to them it may very well be.

Training in water is a different experience. For those of us who are not exactly as mobile as others it is a good place to experiment with new kicking techniques.