CloudDragon

I use Rit on my uniforms, its in the detergent aisle, its like a dye that really makes the whites look good.

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard! What weapons do you study?

Welcome aboard!

I find that that particlar distraction works well when simultaneously doing a low level attack.

: Agreed...now, if I could find my walker and my laxative, I'd shuffle over your way and kick you with my orthopedic shoes! Well, you better hurry! medicare just paid for my new Rascal electric chair! har! har! cough!cough!

I totally agree with you on this, but I think, and I feel Shorinryu Sensei and some of the other old guys, (Sorry SS, no disrespect intended! ) will agree with me when I say: It's not about fighting. I got over that around green belt, when I realized that the brown belt I had running all over the floor avoiding me, the next week was, the guy that pounded me into dust. Its NOT about the shoes... err, belt.

As others have said, black belt is just the beginning. I truly believe that with GOOD instruction, anyone who is in REASONABLY good health, can be a black belt. See my sig, that's what it is all about.

Speaking from an instructor standpoint, I totally agree with Shorinryu Sensei, (as usual). A good instructor will know beforehand if a student is ready for the next belt. I totally agree with my current instructor when he says: "Belt testing is not to show that you are ready for the next belt, that is done before test day, it is a chance for you to shine." I think that 2 or 3 day testing for black belt is excessive. After all, if you have the ability you would have made that obvious before testing. As far as a rite of passage, it is a nice concept, kind of like "jumping in" a gang. But for me, I am looking for dedication to their art in a black belt. As an instructor, I will see this long before black belt test day has come.

Breathe in, breathe out, if you can do that, the rest is a bonus! Good Luck!

Well there are a couple of different answers. Once when I was younger, and too cocky, I was humbled. Another time when I was discouraged, I was allowed to score a hit or two. And then there was the time I left my back hand a little too low and... I have never been injured by any of my instructors, I have been put in the "hurt locker" many times, but never injured. I have been fortunate enough to train with instructors with control. An instructor should never intentionally harm a student, it would be like a rancher using his cattle for target practice!

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!

Side kick, move left or right Round kick and sweep, move forward or back

A. Self defense B. I enjoy the journey

I haven't heard of the school, but they are listed on the KM website, so I would go there with confidence. The KM folks in America are still pretty well regulated and legit if they are on the site.

Dude, you are in school, with people around, block and move until security or a teacher breaks it up. Trust me, if you act in self-defense and mess someone up badly, you will be the one the cops haul away.

I use century punches and kicks with macho headgear, IMHO, you can't go wrong with either.

You need to check them all out and go with your gut. If you want to learn self-defense, I would stay away from the weapons for now and look at the other places.

OMG!!! I just got back from a trivia night where my team from my TKD school won 2nd place and those got me!

I think it could be a good thing to have an insturctor of his age. There could be a great exchange of knowledge between him and an older student He could teach them a new form, and they could teach him how to drive!!!

Sparring is a test of skills, it doesn't detemine who will win in a street fight, but rather, if that person can perfom what is expected of someone of their rank in a sparring session.

Height is not the concern here, she is fit, and without a picture to compare the two, she seems stronger than you. Dude, hit the gym, start MA training, and watch what you eat, in no time, you will be able to kick her butt! OMG, I think this thread has gone awry with this post.

Puzzle mats are great for short term use, like tournaments and such. They are hell in the school though. I would talk to the instructor about your concerns and if they didn't offer a suitable solution, kindly move on. An interesting solution to offer would be the cheap 1/8" carpeting to cover the mats until a better solution could be found.