CloudDragon

Wow, in the ATA, which is known as the McDojo of all styles, you have to have 300 hours to be an instructor.

That's what I call "brute-forcing".Actually, it is called: “Self-Actualization” I found this on the web, maybe it will help. Dr. Abraham Maslow coined the term “Self-Actualization” as the pinnacle in the hierarchy of human needs. Dr. Maslow summed up the concept as: "A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be at peace with himself. What a man can be, he must be. This is the need we may call self-actualization ... It refers to man's desire for fulfillment, namely to the tendency for him to become actually in what he is potentially: to become everything that one is capable of becoming ..." You are fully capable of reaching this stage, the most important thing, is that you have the desire. The hardest thing, is that you don't know how to get there. Unfortuantely, no one can detail the path that you must take. You must find it. Any number of people can offer advice, but until you venture forth on your own, you will never be able to reach this point. The first step is to decide that you will step onto the mat and train. No one can do this for you, it will be an act of desire to reach your goal. If you do this any other way it will be because someone has done it for you and you will never truly achieve it. I encourage you to do some research on self-actualization, I think it will help.

The best tip is to do this: Run, situps, run, pushups, run, chinups, run... Well, you get the idea. Right now, get in top physical shape, don't worry about fighting skills just yet. The USMC has a pretty decent MA program, learn it, not only will it help you for personal protection, it will look good on your record. Once you are out of the initial training for the Corps you will very likely find alot of choices in training in your off time. Many bases offer training at the gym or recreation centers, there are also alot of informal groups that train, just ask around and you will find something you like, I always did. As far as protecting yourself in KC, I recommend a Glock. BTW, do you know what you will be doing in the Corps?

I usually look wherever I think the threat will come from, the chest at punching range, and the abdomen at kicking range.

I see Black Belt magazine to martial arts, as Spin, or Rolling Stone is to music. They keep up with the latest trends, but don't have alot of deep information. The articles provide an overview of certain martial arts, or people in the MA. The interviews are pretty biographical in nature, not alot of depth. Overall, I would recommend it for a new martial artist as a good source of information, but, other sources will need to be found for more in- depth information.

You don't need to re-program yourself. All you need to do is get back in training. As a mental health nurse, it amazes me at how people can get lost in their current situation and never look to the future and see how they can improve themselves. They only see how bad of a condition they are in right now. Understand that you need to train, understand that you will need time to return to where you once were, understand that persevereance will be the only way you will reach your goal. Good luck.

I have always seen the Martial Arts as a personal journey. If someone takes another path, so be it. If they get some rank or recognition before I do, or with less effort than me, so be it. I am not a Martial Artist to prove anything to anyone, or be better than another. I am a Martial Artist to improve myself.

Good point WW, unlike martial arts, price and quality are directly related when dealing with cameras. The most important features like light metering systems and quality of the glass in the lenses are the ones that the public knows least about but will provide the best pictures, but unfortuantely, are reflected in the price. Therefore the public might not understand why one 5MP camera is more expensive than another, other than cosmetic issues. It is worth the time to do some research when buying a camera to find out what you need in terms of camera specs and what camera fills that niche the best.

I have a minolta z1, it is a fine camera and is a good value for the $$. The video isn't anything great, but if it is something you will use rarely and won't need alot of detail, it will suffice. The photo quality is good for posed or outdoor shots. If you want to get decent quality video of more than a couple of minutes, don't rely on a digital camera, just fork over the $$ for a video camera. On my camera at 640x480 res, with a 256MB card I will get about 2 min of video. Since I do photos for my school (tournaments and the like), I needed fast focus and sharp images. I bought the Nikon D70 and am extremely pleased with it. I would recommend it to anyone who might use their camera for anything other than posed shots. The real thing to consider is: How much will you use it? If you will use it at least a couple of times a month, it will be worth the investment to get a camera and separate video recorder. Especially if you will be giving the media to others to learn/enjoy from.

I pay $100 per month for classes up to 5 days a week, and up to 3 hours class time each day, with 2 hours of "open gym" time each day. We have a cardio class that is availible 2 times a day, five days a week, and will be adding Tai Chi to the schedule soon. I think it's a great deal. It breaks down to less than a buck an hour!

There used to be a Kung-Fu school in Rolla on Pine street, I don't remember the name, but it is in the first block on the left hand side. (Pine street is a one way street) I talked to the instructor a couple of times, he seemed pretty decent. Other than that, you are down to TKD in that area and not really anything else that I know of.

Hey if you have this style all written down in a word format, PM me and I'll give you my email. I will honestly review what you have and give you thoughts about what you have and how to teach it. I am not interested in criticizing you because of your age or the fact that you want to teach your own style, all I would like to do is see what you have, and if I can be of any help.

A CRNA named McComas? Oh no, I'm not even going there. Sorry for the bad joke, but being a nurse, I find morbid humor fascinating. Anyway, I think all of the replies have been great, but being from the midwest, I would think that some adjustments of the numbers would be needed. First, expand your "direct" and "secondary" competition radius to a much larger area. I personally look at the average drive in miles to a super Wal-mart. Then from talking to folks I kind of figure out who goes to what Wal-mart and roughly figure they will travel about that distance for training. Since there aren't that many schools in my area I didn't use a secondary radius. In my school, the average student drives 2-15 miles for lessons, with several that drive about 20. Second, really consider if the location is worth the $$$, in population dense areas, location is more important, as word of mouth is less abundant, but you can use word of mouth to save alot of money and find a place a little off of main street. The biggest caution is well lit parking close to the school. Parents don't like seeing little Johnny survive his first sparring match, only to bust his lip open because he tripped in a pothole on his way to the car! Third, Use local newspapers. They are a great marketing tool, and best of all, they are free! Everyone wants to see little Johnny and his friends in their uniforms with nice shiny trophies. Take a photo and send it in with a few words about them and your school! Fourth, consider local community centers, and churches. One of the nicest Dojangs I have been to as far as work out space, was a club that was in a church gym. The town had 7,000 people and a beautiful new church with a great gym that the instructor got for a song! So there you have it, if I can be of anymore assistance please let me know. CD

"Perfection is impossible, we as mortal beings can only strive to see it's glory" - CloudDragon. What is perfection? If someone comes at you with a sucker punch and you toss them to the ground and immobilize them with a wrist lock, is that perfection? If someone does a sidekick, and you block it, and step into a rear naked choke, is that perfection? Or, a person intent on harming you is convinced that, by your words, that a physical confrontation is pointless and then goes on his way. Is that perfection? I think so.

I wasted my time reading this?

HeHeHe, makes me think of my first sparring opponent. He had "POW!" written on the fist of each of his gloves, and he wasn't kidding!

Wayyyyy too much, especially with no insurance or gradings included. Another thing, never take a martial art because it is nearby, take it because it is a good school and you will benefit from it.

I think importance is relative to the school. I have been in schools where breaking is practiced at least once a month, and it is a major part of testing. In other schools breaking was never practiced, just explained the class before testing and we just went and broke the boards. The weird thing is that both schools did equally well in their board breaks in testing.

which ones?

Your situation is why I carry a collapsable baton, totally legal, (at least where I am) and has a wide variety of employment options. I would strike the arms, thigh, or shin at first, and then move on from there. Slashing folks just doesn't bode well in court. Not that breaking bones does, but at least you have more control of your impact. "Honestly judge, I didn't know he was a hemophilliac and was going to bleed out before the ambulance arrived!"

Minuteman missle. Well it is! I guess that is a little unaccesible. I would say any weapon in the hands, empty or not, of a skilled practicioner. For example: if you have a gun, but can't figure out how to take off the safety, you have an expensive club. Therefore, you would be dead meat facing a bojutsuist with a broken broomhandle.

From a medical standpoint, it seems that your classmate isn't the sharpest hammer in the tool shed. Anyone knows that if you have an INJURY, not discomfort, that you must rest that area. If she is still whining about it, she is getting attention that she wants, either from you or from others in the class. Whatever it is, don't let her steal your joy. Keep training and remember, to paraphrase your classmate, "its a part of what we do"

In my school, when we have a busy class schedule, we do a 3 minute warmup. The instructor will use a boxing ring timer, and it goes like this: 100 jumping jacks 50 pushups 50 leg lifts We finish with about 5 minutes of stretching and then basic punches, kicks and blocks. It is a total of about 13 minutes and the class is ready for anything we need to do.

I think that appropriate ettiquette is important, but in some cases it can be carried to extremes. Case in point: Saying "Yes Sir/Ma'am", now normally this is one of the most polite things that a person can say to another, whether it is junior to senior or vise versa, but, I trained at a school one time where it was so ingrained to shout "yes sir!" everytime the instructor said something that it was actually hampering the lesson. Whenever the instructor stopped speaking, the students would shout "yes sir!" It didn't matter if he asked a question or gave a command. Many times when they did this, it was in the middle of instruction and was actually disruptive. That is my reason for saying "don't take it too far"

Oops, I meant hanging, thanks!