aefibird

I'd say stick with Martial Arts and try and find another club in your area. You obviously have a passion for MA, so you'll soon settle into a new club and a new style. If you have to choose a new style, then don't worry about it - at least you are training. Plus, a good instructor is the most important thing to look for, not what style it is. Good luck!

Is that the Telford in Shropshire, UK?

Congratualtions!

That is an excellent tip Kicks. I often get competition jitters. I'll have to try that routine (or one similar) and see how I go.

Which home-study course are you taking?

Welcome to Karate Forums.

Hi Tom! Welcome to Karate Forums.

I'm going to lock this thread as it is so old.

Hi Jane! Glad to have you on board! Welcome to Karate Forums.

I think that some people wouldn't like it, but there will always be objectors to anything. Plenty of people were opposed to women boxing (and some still are). I think that some men are threatened by that sort of woman, but on the whole the MA community can be pretty tolerant and she would most likely be accepted within it. A female ISKA/bloodsport/etc fighter would probably get more 'stick' outside of the MA community than within it.

I've noticed this. Even though there are many women in martial arts these days (not just in Kung Fu) there still seems to be far less female instructors than male. Hopefully, as more women enter MA the male dominance will disappear and it will even itself out. MA is for all, not just guys, but unfortunately there's still some men out there who can't seem to grasp this. I've had a couple of people look at me funny when I tell them I'm the Assistant Instructor for my karate club. I've also had some of the parents of new students completely ignore me and go and speak to one of the other adults (male) as they thought that he must be 'in charge' (even though I'm the highest grade at the club!) Once I was on a course with quite a famous karate instructor. There was a blackbelt guy there from his organisation who told me (and a group of other women) that he thought that women shouldn't be allowed to grade above brown belt because we 'couldn't cope with the demands of physical training'. Bah! Several of the women there walked out in disgust after hearing that.

Hi PatC! Welcome to Karate Forums! Good to have you on board.

Nothing wrong with being young! Just think of all those years and years of MA training ahead of you! That's gotta be a good thing, surely?? That's one thing I like about this board - there's people of all ages here and we can all have good, respectful discussions about MA here without age being a factor.

So... cherry rum then!

Hi Ashley! Welcome to Karate Forums.

Cmon, does it have a web address or a telphone number from where to get tickets? I went to SENI yesterday, anyone else go? I was very imporessed with some of the demonstrations and I even got to have a go at Capoeira! Rockin'!

Excellent article Kicks. Martial Arts can be for everyone, regardless of age, race, sex, ability/disability etc. Your only limit is yourself!

Excellent! I look forward to 10,000!

Hope you get it all sorted out soon Patrick.

Great! Karate is full of cool moments like that. It's a journey for life and that is one of the important steps along the way. Good luck in your training journey.

Good luck! Let us know how you get on.

Anything loud and heavy. Metallica and Iron Maiden are my two current favourites.

I always worry about it but a leak has only happened to me once, though. I don't think anyone saw it - I managed to be able to go to Sensei and explain quietly that I needed to use the bathroom. Those cup things look pretty scary - I'm not sure that I could wear one of those...

be honest.....you watch them for the women... Well...June1 is female... Yes, I like Bollywood movies too. The songs are just great!

26 in a month! (20th May in case anyone is taking notes... )