aefibird

*blushes* well, I try my best... Ah, I'm still working on that one - it's a project for my 2nd Dan, along with being able to walk up walls and have x-ray vision.

I agree Ti - I always think that medium and heavy weight gi's keep their shape better than lightweight ones.

luke, do you mean you passed the grading without even being there?

Well, if a lot of people in a particular club are unfit it could be that that particular club does not have a good fitness regime. However, if it is that the most people in a club are lower grades, then it is likely that there will be more out of shape people than not. Most people who start a martial art without having trained in one before are likely to be in need of training to get in shape - that's probably one of the reasons they started martial arts in the first place (to get fitter). Generally, the most people in a martial arts club are the beginners and lower grades, so these are most likely to be the people who are wanting to get fit and train.

Keep going with your training! It's only natural for you to feel a little confused by certain aspects of training in martial arts, especially as a beginner. Your Sensei is probably trying to see how much you can handle. If you keep on trying, even if you're not sure what you're doing (or even not sure what the heck is going on) then he'll respect that. If you give up at the first hurdle then he's more likely not to want to challenge you and push you in your training later on. It's quite normal to feel that you're worse at a technique than others in your class. However, don't be tempted to compare yourself to other students, even if they are the same grade as you. Instead, keep on going and concentrate on being the best that you can be. Good luck with your training!

Karate square dancing moves, eh? I'll have to ask my instructor about that when I train tomorrow - it must be a secret high dan grade technique!

Thanks for sharing the pics! Great to see your hard work being rewarded.

I got... God/Goddess type: God of Law Worshippers: Superheroes They show devotion by: Blowing up followers of other faiths

Yes, that is an excellent short story. I read it several times before going to climb Kilimajaro and even took a book of his with me to read whilst there.

Spin, where did you get your avatar from? It's very cool!

If you've bruised the bone it can take ages to get right again. Sorry to be a partypooper here, but I bruised the joint in one of my fingers last October (I was attempting to catch a 5kg medicine ball, but with my usual grace and elegance I missed it, damaged my finger and ended up dropping the darn thing on my foot too ). It's still a bit sore when I bend it or if I squeeze the joint between my fingers. I went to the doctor about it and he said it'd just settle down naturally over time and that there was nothing much I could do for it. I know what you feel like about being a right sicknote since taking up karate - I'm the same. My work colleagues call me Mr Bump!

Well, I'd offer to teach you if ya like, but South Yorkshire is a bit far from Wales for me to get on a regular basis... Yes, unfortunately, as in many areas of life, the martial arts are beset with people out to make as much £££ as possible with little regard to their students. Try to find a club that has a long history or is well know in the area. Also, when visiting clubs, enquire roughly how long it takes to get to black belt. If they 'garuantee' that you will get to black belt then that is a bit suspect, as is any assertations that you can get your black belt in 2 years (or even less). Also, check out whether a potential club is registered with any governing body or parent organisation. If they're not, it's not a bad thing - some instructors prefer not to be registered with any organisation - but if a club is, then it gives you an opportunity to check out credentials and instructor grades etc. When thinking of joining a club beware of hidden charges, such as the fact that they may wish you to buy a uniform from them or that their testing fees may cost the earth. Check also how much you'd have to pay to be registered to any parent organisation that the club belongs to, and if you have to pay to register every time you get another grade (I know of one scam school that charges for grading, charges for belts, charges for registration of the grade and still expects a big tip for the examiner if a person passes). Plus, be wary of any school offering a free gift or free uniform to join. Such a martial arts club isn't necessarily bad - their instruction may be excellent - but you can be certain that the 'free gift' won't be free at all; the cost will be met by bumping up other charges elsewhere. I don't know if it's the same in your area, but round where I live I've tended to find that the "McDojo's" and "belt factory" type clubs are the ones that have the biggest and flashiest advertising. Generally (in South Yorkshire, anyway) the better MA clubs are the ones that are quietly run out of small, cramped places with little advertising, except by word of mouth. My own karate instructor does not advertise (except the website, which isn't advertising anyway - it's there more for the benefit of current members) but yet has a waiting list of new people wanting to join the beginners classes. My Aikido instructor will not take people exept on personal recommendation of current or respectable past members, yet his club is always packed to the rafters. Sheesh, it's another essay again!

lol, I must be a boring fart too... I read that not long back. Enjoyed it too.

Gichin Funakoshi is the founder of Shotokan Karate. Morihei Ueshiba is the founder of Aikido.

Tis' a woman. I'm not a woman!! I am a man!! Ramymensa was meaning that she's a woman...

Well, I still think you'd be better off going to some classes, even if you have private lessons as well. You're missing out on a lot by only training with one person. As a beginner you could really do with exposure to other beginners and other martial artists. Try and find a small martial arts club - you'll probably be happier with less people in a class. Even if you learn from someone who is just starting out as a teacher (which isn't necessarily a bad thing) it'd do you good to mix with other students. Plus, if the person who would be teaching you becomes sucessful in teaching they may not want to or have time to give you private lessons anymore and may insist that you join in with the regular class. I'd really urge you to conquor your fears of training with other people and give it a go. Everyone has to start out as a beginner, so people will most probably be sympathetic and understanding if you make mistakes. Plus, as I said before, the other people in the class will be far too busy concentrating on what they are doing to be gawping at the new guy. Good luck in your search for a club!

Red Triangle Student, there is no need to be like that. Informer did not say that you were a Shodan - he simply stated that you should go back and find out what it means. Most people have answered your question by telling you about their black belt gradings and wishing you luck and sucess for yours. Please keep your posts reseptful and free from bad language. Thankyou. To clarify karate dan gradings: Shodan=1st Dan Nidan=2nd Dan Sandan=3rd Dan Yondan=4th Dan Godan=5th Dan Rokudan=6th Dan

Good luck with the job interview Monkey!

pengwyn, how often (roughly) in your school do you test for a new belt or grade?

I'm working my way through the complete works of Bill Bryson at the moment. I've read them all before but they're so good that they're worth more than one reading. I'm reading Mother Tongue at the moment, it's about the history and development of the English language. I've also been reading various nf books to help me write my University dissertation (12,000 words, eek!!)

I just finished reading A Hatful of Sky by Terry Prachett and now I'm reading The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. Good thread, BlueDragon!

Oh yes, I know that well (said with feeling). I'm fairly new to nunchaku training too and I keep klunking myself with my wooden ones. Still, if I keep hitting myself round the head with them, I should soon learn not to do that!

How did you get this... is this the standard AMA insurance or a private policy as an aside to the normal insurance? It's a private policy, but you can get insurance cover through the EKGB (or so I heard). Students at my club are also covered by insurance though the FSK (which I *think* get's its insurance cover through the EKGB, but I could be wrong about that), but my private policy is very cheap and also has a higher payout than the regular club insurance. For less than a tenner a month I'm personally covered for up to £6million.

Hi bigtymer! Welcome to Karate Forums, glad to have you on board.

Congratulations on your appointment granmasterchen!