angelica d

Couldn't agree more! The first session back after Christmas with the chief instructor was an hour of basic combinations with no breaks at all. After about ten mins I couldn't actually feel my legs I was so tired. It was obvious that everyone was feeling the same but everybody was too proud to admit it so we all just battled on. Boy did I ache after that!

Why doesn't my quote thingy work? *sighs* Computers hate me!

That's how its worked out for me. Coming from North Yorkshire (where there is a distinct lack of multiculturalism IMO) I have found loads of good friends at my dojo in the city, many of whom are of different races. I haven't detected any racism of any kind though, every one gets on fine.

Hey there!

I'm 168.4 cm tall exactly!!! Don't worry I didn't measure myself, the doctor did it last time I went and I doubt I've grown since then. My fiance is shorter than me, it doesn't bother me at all...although it does sometimes limit my choice of footwear when we go out. Any high heels over 2 inches and I tower over him!

I actually enjoy stretching! It can get annoying when people think you're showing off by doing the splits though. I only do it after training because thats when my muscles are most tired and so its easier to do. Otherwise, I stretch whenever I'm bored...I can't ever just sit still, I have to fidget at the same time - it drives my family crazy!

Yeah, I can get worn out after just five or so kata if I really put everything into it...and I would say I'm quite fit. I guess you could go to a traditional MA class and not get worn out - if you didn't try! Having never tried MMA I can't really comment on those tho.

I don't really know why I started, I just thought 'Yeah, Why not? that looks cool' and I've never looked back!

We have three levels of pass - 1st class, 2nd class and third. The third class passes are usually just provisional passes, and students are expected to improve alot in order to keep the new grade.

Yeah, sorry, but I'm struggling to follow this! Punctuation would be helpful as well! Cheers!

That is so cute! There was a funny incident at my dojo the other week, but it should really be catagorised as 'Things Your Instructor Shouldn't Say To Students'!!! After a long session of basics, we were all getting tired, including the instructor, evidently. He meant to yell 'Tuck your thumbs in!' but unfortunately it didn't quite come out right....let's just say that many of the Ts in the sentence had been replaced by the letter F... He carried on, probably hoping that no one had noticed (yeah right) but I think that everyone was intentionally making very bad fists, just to see if he'd say it again!

Pulp are the best! My family and friends mostly think I'm a bit daft tho, my music collection is very random! Recently I've been listening to Macy Gray, Evanescense (can't spell that!) and the Beatles....oh yeah and my Monty Python Soundtrack!!!!

That is awesome! My favourite is 'spider hands'

GrrrArg, when I was a little girl my dad used to tell me a similar thing, that the sheep on the hills where I live have 2 legs shorter so that walking around the hills was easier! Until I was about 7 I was really puzzled aas to what happened when the sheep wanted to go round the hill the other way!!! When I eventually found out I was so embarrassed as I had told everyone at school about it!!!

Don't be deceived by 'traditional' MAs that appear to be not very physically demanding, its often the opposite. Whereas when you start an MA it might involve standing around as techniques are explained, as you progress much more is expected of you. If you put your best into every technique, you can get exhausted after just 20 mins of basics.

Thats the same as ours, Tal, except our system starts off: red, orange yellow...

Ten years from now, I'd just like to be better at karate than I am now. Maybe by then I will be able to do a decent kekomi-geri?????

battousai16, you can stay curious then, cos I aint tellin ya!

I just chose to use my name...I have a non-existant imagination and the only nickname I ever had is too embarrassing to mention!

The black belts in our organisation had a kata judging course a few weeks back, and they kindly let me tag along too. It was really difficult, we got shown different kata (they were all wonderful) and had to judge them. I found it impossible, and that was all within one organisation. Can't imagine how hard it must be for mixed style competitions!

Art, history and French (Why oh why oh why???) Just finished my exams for the moment, so I've got some spare time...

Hehehehehehe........how slow was I???!!!

He he I know I only said 'doing MA every day' I didn't say what I'd be doing at other times...

Yay, sushi is my fave food! How do you know that some of us are Brits from the food we like? I thought everyone liked smoked salmon and kippers. If not, why not???!!!???

True, mayonnaise isn't Scottish. But unfortunately it doesn't contradict monkeygirl, cos mayonnaise IS crap!