krunchyfrogg

I've got to ask my Sensei to teach me to move stuff without touching it, and to get drunk off of a water fountain!

RE: Mart That's an old Satchel Paige quote (Mr. Paige was a great pitcher for the negro leagues, and didn't make it into integrated major league baseball until he was near the end of a long career). Age is mind over matter If you don't mind, it doesn't matter

Every girl is different, just like every guy is different. Everyone looks for different things.

Maybe I should just tell people I go by "krunchyfrogg" online! Seriously though, thanks for all the help everybody. White Warlock, thanks for putting things in perspective.

I usually try to fight as if me or a family member were to be hurt if I don't win this match. I try to beat the other person. BTW, my dojo never uses any points, we've never entered any competitions, and the Sensei doesn't appoint a winner or a loser. You just kind of know, that if that fight were to happen on the street, who would have walked away.

Just a minor nitpick. A handshake was originally used by knights/bodyguards to actually shake free a concealed weapon up someone's sleeve, and usually done to everyone upon entering certain areas or events (where an assassination attempt seemed possible). It's lived on as a greeting.

What is R/D/F? I can tell you that I know part of my problem to be psychological. My fiancée is a therapist (no, not mine) and says that I lack a "killer instinct." Last night I lost to a guy I always thought I could beat (he's the same rank as I am), and that really killed some confidence. I typed the original post above shortly before class, and I'm typing now after having come home. When I got called up for kumite tonight (against a brown belt), the first thing that went through my mind was "I'm going to lose" -- another psychological factor, and I've never felt that way before. We bow to the Sensei, and then to each other before starting the kumite, and right in that instant, I cleared my mind, and shut out that losing feeling I had. I told myself that I CAN beat this guy, and ya know what? -- I'd say it was a draw tonight. Not bad for a White Belt sparring a Brown Belt. I can't say for sure what happened tonight, but hopefully I've turned a corner and my sparring will get better. On the other hand, maybe this guy was just having a bad night, and I took advantage. Whatever the reason, I'd still love some advice on how to improve myself.

All you need to know about ninjas: http://realultimatepower.net/ Haha, just kidding. I don't claim to know much about the real historical versions of either of these guys, but I can tell you my impressions: It seems like ninja are sneaky assassins, spies, and generally people who do "the dirty work." Samurai seem to live by a code of honor (bushido), and tend to be the soldier-type. I tend to admire (my version of) the Samurai more than I could ever admire a ninja, as I myself (try to) live my life with honor.

I need some advice and help with my sparring. I don't know what it is, but it seems like I lose a whole lot. Granted, I'm a white belt (I'll be promoted two ranks in a week!), but I'd figure after 9 months of training hard, that I'd be a better fighter than I am. I know nothing beats hard work, and showing up to class. I show up in my dojo more than most (3 or 4 classes a week), and I don't know what else I can do to improve my sparring. Any and all advice is welcome. Thanks in advance.

WTF is a 1th and a 3th dan? I know what a 1st and 3rd are... What's up with the "honorary" black belt for Mr. Connery? Did he EARN a black belt?

I'm sure there are sites about the South Beach diet, but to be honest, I don't know if I'd do it again if I had to. Those first two weeks (I know two weeks isn't a long time), the diet basically is the same as Atkins. And I don't think that's a safe diet. Cut out sugar and simple carbohydrates from your diet, and you'll be fine. Nobody needs sugar. And you're better off eating whole grain, wheat, or rye bread than white bread. Instead of a regular potato, get a sweet potato. Cut out any and all junk food, and eat veggies or fruit instead. Most importantly, increase your physical activity, whether it be martial arts, swimming, hiking, walking, or just about anything other than surfing the 'net or watching TV all day!!!

I used to be overweight. I did the South Beach diet, and it's helped me get to where I wanted, along with intense karate training. You've already taken the first step in the right direction by becoming more active, and DO NOT let up! The diet is basically an atkins-type diet, but only for two weeks (I can't see anybody doing atkins long term, eating all that junk has got to do more damage than good), and then it allows you to add back (slowly) most of the things you cut out. The only things I avoid now are sugar (I have a little bit), and very simple carbohydrates (white breat and white potatoes). Any of these low-carb diets can be dangerous (IMHO), but I think that cutting most of the sugar and simple carbs from your diet will result in weight loss.

Do others call their promotion ceremonies shiai's? I'm just curious, because sometimes my dojo seems so traditional, and at other times, it seems like they do things like no other school. Anyway, wish me luck. I'm testing to go from white to green belt, and advancing two belts (my dojo goes white, yellow, green) is something that has only been done once before in this dojo's 25 year history!

If fat guys ain't feeling it in their back, they probably will one day. If not there, it's in the knees. I work with orthropedists all day. I see who needs fusions and discectomies, and I see who needs knee replacements. And I'll be darned if 99.9 percent of these people aren't either: a)Overweight b)Lifting too much c)a combination of both

Bowing is a japanese style handshake. Nothing more, nothing less. Heck, I bow to my sensei and fellow karate-ka outside of the dojo!

Never wore any pads or armor.

Are you drinking enough water? Cramps can be caused by dehydration (I don't know if glucosomine or chondroitin can have that side effect or not), but I've had cramp problems in my feet before, and drinking lots of water cured the problem.

Depends on what you plan on accomplishing.

Block their attack. Hit their openings.

Sounds like you would end up with herniated discs in your back.

Empi kata. I asked my Sensei about this (I got quite a reaction after revealing this kata in another thread!), and he told me that it's a toned-down version of the actual empi kata (commonly taught to black belts). He also told me that he never really understood why it's our first kata, it's just the way it's always been done in this dojo!

Sounds cool, thanks for all the replies. I'm definitely going to check out this dojo. It's only about 20 minutes from where I'm going to live. How does this school look to you Isshinryu practitioners?

Thanks, stl. I know all schools are different, but do you find a isshinryu school to be very physically intensive? Also, how does one pronounce "isshinryu"? How many syllables? Is it ishin-ryu? Is-shin-ryu?

I'd like to know more about this style of karate. I found a dojo close to where I plan on moving, and would like some outside opinions on the style. I currently practice a blend of shotokan, shorin-ryu and goju. How would my skills (roughly green belt level, I test soon) translate into isshinryu? Thanks a lot

Great movie, one of my favorites!