aefibird

Try Tao Sport.

*blushes and tries to look all girly, but fails...*

Yes, Casualty is dire. For those who don't know, Casualty is a very long-running British TV series set in an A&E (ER) department of a hospital. If you've never seen it you havn't missed much...

The only trouble with hospitals for me these days is that I can't think of them without thinking of the TV series Green Wing...

My pc obviously thinks I have lots of important things to say... practically every message I've posted today has been a double post! Anyway, I don't find myself beginning to be obsessed with my art... I AM obsessed with my art(s)! Nothing wrong with a little (or a lot) of obsession IMO. As to your point about calling the 'nut house', maybe they could provide a specialist hospital wing for all of us who are obsessed with karate and other martial arts?? At least then we could all train together and be obsessed together!

Hi Evan, can you please give me some info about Eugue Ryu or some web links to info about Eugue Ryu; I've never heard of it before and I'd like to find out more! Thanks!

Jake, a good friend of mine teaches ITF style TKD. He's been asking me for ages (read: years!) to go and train with him at his club, but I've never had the time or opportunity to do so, until now. This Christmas he's running a "holiday club" type intensive course for his students. I think that it's so they don't just sit on their butts and each chocolate all holiday! The course is for a fortnight (the length of the UK school Christmas holiday) and is mostly aimed at beginners and lower grades. Now, for once, I've actually got time off over Christmas and I'm able to go and train at Jake's club on this course. However, I've never trained in TKD before and my knowledge of it is based on watching one session at Jake's club (which looked very interesting!) and also from reading about TKD on Karate Forums. So... (finally getting to the point!) can anyone give me any tips for starting in TKD? It's unlikely that I'll be able to carry on with it after the 2 week holiday course, but even though I'll probably not be training in TKD after Christmas I'd like to get it right for the short time that I do train. Also, can anyone point me to any links with video clips of ITF patterns? Thanks!

I wouldn't say it was my "trademark", but one technique that I like and use a lot is backfist. Delta, is your belt just grey with age, or is it a recognised belt colour (like red for example) within AK? Just curious!!

Your mum might mean Krav Maga, which is the official training system of the Israeli defence forces. For more information click here.

Well, if you want to be good at point fighting, then you need to put in lots of practice. Does your club concentrate mainly on sport karate/sport MA? If not, then you'd need to find a MA club that deals with sport martial art and concentrates on solely training for competitions. Also, you'll need to enter a lot of competitions - get your name known on the circuit. Well known (in the UK) point sparring fighters, such as Wayne Otto, Sonny Roberts and Leon Walters have only got to the top of their tree by sheer hard work and determination. They started at small comps and worked their way up to become international champions. If you really want to be a world-class points fighter, then good luck to you! I hope that you suceed with your dreams.

Looking round at all the dojo's in her local area would be the best thing for your friend to do. IF she tries out a lesson or two at the one's that she is interested in then she'll get a 'feel' of the place and of the instructor. I hope that she finds a dojo she likes!

I started because a friend of mine had recently started. She showed me her first kata that she'd just learned and I was hooked, so I went along to a training session with her. 5 years later I'm still training. It's an important part of my life - I couldn't imagine my life without MA training.

I'll "ditto" what Laurie said. It's more to me than a hobby, but it isn't just about fighting either. Martial Arts are so addictive. On a side note, do you think that maybe that is one of the reasons why people cross-train? As well as wanting to train in aspects of MA that their style is 'lacking' (eg training in a grappling art as well as a striking one), then maybe folk choose to train in more than one style because MA is so addictive? It's certainly one of the reasons why I train in more than one MA.

I'd say to go with what you feel. If you're being given conflicting advice then go with what you feel is the right thing to do. I hope that it all works out well for you, whatever you decide to do.

Stick to techniques that you know and are comfortable with. Even if you are losing, don't risk being disqualified by being rash. Although it is nice to win, it's not the end of the world if you don't. Use the tournament to think about what you need to work on so that you can improve for next time. Also, if you are serious about wanting to win tourneys then I'd suggest that you try and enter as many as possible. It will be good experience for you and will build your confidence. Good luck for the competition!

Good luck for your 8th Kyu test vertigo! I hope that you pass!!

Good luck for your grading!

Well, good luck! GO FOR IT!! If you get some pictures of you passing then it'd be great to see them.

I much prefer a heavyweight gi. Since I switched from a lightweight to a heavyweight gi I'd never wear a lightweight gi again - I fing heavyweight gi to be much more durable and practicle, especially if you're doing grappling techniques. Glad you like your new gi!

Hi Marion! Welcome to KF. Try these UK websites: Meijin Playwell Karate Kid I own a Tokaido gi and I bought mine from Meijin UK. They were very quick with shipping. Hope that helps!

If you have to wear them in your club, then I'd suggest that you go for the cloth type. See if someone at your club will lend you a pair of each type for you to try, that way you'll get an idea of which you prefer.

Side thrust kick and crescent kick are my two faves. A 'simple' front snap kick can also be very effective when used correctly. Me too. I like doing that with roundhouse kicks, although I need more practice at it!

No probs!!

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

Hi Evan! Welcome to Karate Forums. Good luck to you for your belt test! I hope you do well.