aefibird

Great post ramy, well said. There are no "wonder" styles or "magic" techniques - only "wonder students" who work hard to get the best out of what they are training in and have "magic instructors" who help them to achieve that best. Still, there are a lot of people out there who think that "If I train with Master X" or "If I learn Style Y" that they're gonna be invincible and automatically superior to anyone else on 'the streets'. We had a guy like that at my Wing Chun club a while back. Before new students start, Sifu gives them a little talk about how Wing Chun is a very practical and accessible style, BUT that it won't turn you into Bruce Lee overnight - a WC practicioner has to work hard on their training if they want to be good (just like any other MAist). So, this guy got the little chat from Sifu and started training with us, but ended up quitting in disgust after about a month because he could do moves like Jackie Chan. Now he keeps sending harassing emails to Sifu complaining that our Kwoon is a fraud and that we don't teach 'real' (whatever that is) Kung Fu. Sifu has threatened to report him to the police for harassment if he sends him one more email.

Welcome back UsagiYojimbo! Good luck in your training.

Congratulations kk101! June1 - good luck to you for when you grade!

I love watching Judoka fight, but I was brought up in a "Judo household", so I'm used to it. I also like watching K1 and UFC. As for watching forms, rather than fighing, WuShu is very nice to watch - very acrobatic and impressive.

I used https://www.karate-kid.co.uk when I had my gi embroidered. I used https://www.meijin.co.uk when I bought my embroidered black belt, but that was because they had a special offer on at the time!

Yes, their "customer service" department is a joke. I now tend to get all my MA gear from https://www.karate-kid.co.uk - far better service than Blitz could even imagine.

I've trained in both Japanese and Chinese arts and I have to say that I like them both equally. It's a bit of a "cop out" answer, I know, but I do. Maybe it's because the instructors that i've had in my MA 'career' have all been excellent individuals with a real desire to teach their art, rather than just to make money from it. Plus, I've learned differing things from Chinese MA than I have from Japanese MA and vice versa. It's not that those aspects wern't in Japanese MA and only in Chinese MA, it's just that various systems and styles have ways of emphasising certain aspects of their training. However, I'd consider training in any style of MA from any origin. There's always something you can learn - even if it is only how not to do it! lol I'm just a martial arts junkie....

I love anything by Monty Python. "He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy" is a line that I have printed on a MP t-shirt. I also like Robin Hood:Men In Tights and Robin Hood:Prince of Thieves. What, you mean that Prince of Thieves isn't meant to be funny????? I also like Shaun of the Dead - classic British movie. Ali G Indahouse and Kevin & Perry Go Large are two other Brit comedy films that I love. Airplane, The Naked Gun, Hot Shots! and Dragnet are funny too IMO. As for funny MA films, Kung Pow and Tongan Ninja are must-see's.

I do that too, but I live in a drug-riddled, crime-filled neighbourhood whose only redeeming feature is that it has cheap house prices...

I looove RHPS - one of my favourite films and shows. Richard O'Brian is one top-class bloke. I went to see the show in the West End of London once - that was an 'interesting' experience, walking aroung London late at night with a group of lads all dressed in fishnet tights, high heels and make up. I was dressed up too, but fishnets tend to look more apropriate on a woman...

great! Thanks for sharing! It reminds me of one of my favourite MA jokes: Q:How many karateka (or other style of your choice!) does it take to change a lightbulb? A:1,000,000 - One to change the bulb and the rest to stand around saying "Well, we don't do it like that in MY dojo!"

It cost me £95, which is about (I think) US$170. Pay-as-you-go phones always cost more in the UK than pre-pay (contract) phones. If I'd had the same phone on a contract it would only have cost me £40 (about US$75).

lol, good story! I've been know to grab a kitchen knife before if I've ever had to investigate a spooky noise. It usually turns out to be one of my animals (I have several pets) bumbling about the house. Hey, congratulations to you Isshinryu5toforever on your 1000th post - welcome to the KF blackbelt club!

Please keep this thread on topic and respectful of other posters and their opinions. Thank you.

We keep the same black belt for each dan grading - my instructor has had his current belt for about 10 years. The one before fell apart completely (he'd had it about 18 years) so he decided it was time to get another. We don't use stripes to differentiate between dan ranks and all dan grades wear a black belt.

It was me that was "espousing" a magazine that my instructor writes for. Firstly, let me say that I am entitled to have an opinion about BB magazine. I don't particularly like it - but other people do. That's fine with me. I'm not saying that everyone should stop reading BB and buy MAI instead. However, I was listing titles of other MA magazines which I read - one of which just happens to be a mag that my Sifu occasionally contributes to. I would read it anyway, with or without Sifu's writing being present in it. Secondly, how is recommending a magazine that my Sifu sometimes writes articles for a conflict of interest? I'm sorry if my comments about MAI upset you - I wasn't promoting the magazine because my instructor happens to write for it - I was suggesting it as an alternative to the (many) people who have said on KF that they think that BB magazine is of very poor quality.

Congratulations Pineapple! You're an excellent choice for Member of the Month.

To hammer and TSD Y049: Good luck for your Cho Dan tests!

Good luck for it 7*.

Good luck for when you go to the competition! Let us know how you get on.

How about this? The website shows a pic of someone holding it, but it says that it can be wall-mounted or attached (velcro-ed) to a heavy bag.

These days, many people don't. I'm only 5'2" tall, but have long legs in proportion to the length of my arms. So, my gi pants generally fit OK in the legs, but the jacket is usually miles to long in the sleeves.

Your best bet would probably be to contact Century and ask them how much a single purple/green uniform would be.

Leather ropes are much better than plastic ones. I started with a plastic 'speed' rope and it ended up in the bin after a week.

I use Ace (similar to Tide) on my gi with no ill effects. Ordinary chlorine bleach is too harsh. If you're wanting a good cleaning product for your gi then try an oxygen-based cleaner, such as Oxy Magic granules. You just add them to the wash cycle along with regular detergent.