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Hi Kenpo-Sloth! Great name... Welcome to Karate Forums! I hope that you will enjoy it here.

Hi Bobs Deli. I hope that you find who you are looking for and enjoy it here on Karate Forums.

I'm very very fed up today. It's because of a combination of reasons including, but not limited to: broken washing machines, mean-spirited members of a department at work, my local council employers, the weather, car MOTs, lack of transport (see previous reason), computers, painful knees, dodgy prawn sandwiches, dissertations, leaking biro's, scratched CDs and overdue library books. And that's just the tip of the iceberg... Anyway, what do you all do to cheer yourself up when you're fed up? I bought myself a bumper slab of chocolate and a bottle of alcopops and watched Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. I still have the aforementioned problems (and then some!) but at least I feel better after my 'treat'. It's a bit of a girly treat, but hey, I like it!

Yup, I'm a dedicated cream-egger. I love 'em!

I don't have an Apple iBook, but I do have an Apple Powerbook. Best little machine I've ever owned. If the iBook more suits your needs / budget, go for it. But if you can get a Powerbook, that's the route I'd go. I've gotten some friends to buy one, and they're all very happy about the switch to the different platform. Well, I was perhaps getting the iBook because I know of a second hand one for sale that is in excellent condition. However, if I could stretch to it I'd get a Powerbook. I use Macs at work and I prefer them to PC's. I ended up getting a PC for home because it was a reconditioned secondhand one that my brother jigged up for me. If I'd been able to afford it I would have had a Mac.

Happy Easter everyone!

See if you can find a school with "Little Ninjas" or similar type of class. These often tend to atake children from an earlier age and also emphasise fun, rather than the more formal training that can be found in other MA classes. Make sure that you go and have a look round several different MA schools before you choose one. If any instructor or owner refuses to let you watch or won't answer your questions, then leave. if they've got something to hide, then you don't wanna be there. Also, make sure that there will a good enough adult-to-child ratio and that all the adults are police checked (or the equivalent for where you are). Watch at least 2 classes so that you can get a feel of what goes on there. If you just watch one, then it will be Murphy's Law that you go on the one night that they decide to do something totally different. Good luck with your search; I hope that you find a place both you and your children are happy at.

Good luck! I hope you find an instructor.

Sorry to hear about your bad experience. Many instructional DVDs and videos can be very helpful - alongside instruction from a qualified teacher. I hope that others will read your story and not waste their time or money on such schemes.

No! Don't give up - if you want to learn Monkey Kung Fu then keep at it - I'm sure that if you search hard enough you will find a teacher. However, I know that you say that you don't want to learn anything else but Monkey... but have you considered even trying other animal styles? Youy never know, you might love it. It just seems a pity to me that you're going to bupass other great training just because you can't train in your chosen art. Personally, I'd love to train in Kendo - it's a MA that has always fascinated me. However, I can't find a Kendo school closer than 200 miles away. Still, it doesn't mean that I shoul discount all other MAs just because I can't train in Kendo. I love all my other MA training - it may not be Kendo but it is still great, even though it is nothing like my 'dream' choice.

It sounds like a great dojo! I hope that you enjoy it - let us know how you get on when you try it out.

It is creepy at first, but it's surprising how quickly you learn to respond and sense that someone or something is there.

We tend to do that too. I prefer ShikoDatchi to KibaDatchi, but that's because, personally, I find it to be a stronger stance for me.

Yes, I learned a lot. It was good to train with other people from my association too, especially those from clubs at the other end of the country to me. Summer camps can be a great experience and learning opportunity. I'm hoping to attend one run by Ticky Donovan (famous Isshinryu karateka and head of the England Karate Squad) this summer. A couple of friends from my dojo went to his camp last year and they had a blast (aside from the pre-brekfast 'fun' run!).

I went to a summer weekend training session last year. It was good fun! Aside from the nightmare train journey there and back... Gah, I hate Virgin Trains! We trained Friday night, all Saturday and Sunday morning. On Sunday afternoon we had a mini-competition for all the people who had attended. We did a lot of kata and bunkai and we had a guest Bo instructor. Some people also graded. Beer and barbecued sausages flowed well on the Saturday night and I ended up managing to get sunburn on a cloudy day...

I practice kata both at home and at the dojo with ankle and wrist weights. They're 1 and 1/2 kg each. Yes, I have done kata with my eyes shut - never in the dark, though. I'll have to give that one a go... it feels wierd, but is great for awareness and sensitivity training - especially when your instructor is moving around the dojo and you have to 'sense' he is there and move out of the way!

Well, the three age-uke blocks in heian Shodan don't necessarily have to be used in sucession. One application of it is that they may be used together, or as separate applications. Anyway, I agree with you - I prefer to think of them as strikes that also happen to be able to block or parry (or whatever else you happen to throw in there!).

I'm 26. 1st dan blackbelt in Karate. 5th kyu in Aikido. 2nd level in Wing Chun. I also train in Kobudo, Tai Chi and FSD but don't hold grades in those, just have training experience. mindsedgeblade - good luck to you for your greenbelt test!

Excellent post Venrix! I'll remember what a compliment it is to me the next time I can't move my arms after a demonstration on me... Seriously, though, you make a good point. I teach the beginners/lower grades at my dojo and I tend to use the same couple of students to demonstrate on. I do try and demonstrate on each student at some pont, as it's good to be used for a demo once in a while. However, I tend to stick with the same few people for more difficult demo's as I know that they will be able to "take it" and will respond appropriately.

No harm in looking...at least if you go and visit the place you'll make a definate decision about the place and whether or not you want to train there. Let us know what it's like if you do go.

I'm moving this over to the karate forum. First of all, welcome to Karate Forums Yenrab! Good to have you on board. Karate classes will vary immensely according to location, venue, instructor and the style taught. There are traditional karate schools and there are modern/freestyle schools. I'd suggest that you decide which you like to train in. Remember, though, the quality of the instructor is more important than the style! Find out what's in your area, and ask each school if you can go and visit. Then try out a couple of lessons (not just one because you may train on the one time they do something totally different!). Consider each school on how much it costs, how far it is from where you live and if you'd be happy training there. Good luck!

Revenge of the Fish - that's a great name. it conjures up all sorts of possibilities!

I have a blackbelt in karate.

Glad that you enjoyed it! Nice photo's. What drills did you do?

Good tip Grenadier - thanks for sharing!