angelica d

I started almost a year ago, but of course I wish I'd started younger. Then again, I might not have liked it the way I do now, and given up or something

What a cool idea! Hopefully one day I'll have enough cash to do something similar. So far I got a heavy bag for Christmas and want to put it in the garage along with my trampoline (!) but the garage is full of mess so I guess I'll have to wait a bit. As for your karate room, how much space have you got? IMHO the bigger the better!

As an ex-employee of a fast food 'restaurant' I can safely say that working in such places is seriously bad for your health! I don't think there was anyone who worked there that wasn't totally stressed to the point of breaking! But as far as food is concerned I think everything in moderation is the best way to approach the subject. I used to suffer from an eating disorder, and despite the fact that I'm fully recovered, I now know way too much about food than is healthy! I'm sure nothing in small quantities ever did anyone any harm...except frogs legs and black seaweed - still havn't recovered from that dodgy Chinese last week!

In Summer before a grading, we taped ourselves almost every lesson and watched them afterwards. It was useful to see your weak points and strong points in kata and basics, but it was often quite disheartening. I think there's no substitute for mirrors. When you can analyse your movements as they're going along you can correct yourself immediatelt after spotting a mistake, as opposed to sitting in front of the tv an hour later saying 'oh, i wish i'd done that instead...' But for keeping a record of your progress, I might try recording a video. I never feel I'm making any progress, despite what my senseis say, so it would be a good confidence boost. Or, it could just confirm what I guessed all along...!

20 years old to late to start MAs??????!!!!! I hope not, I started at 17 and I reckon there's hope for me yet, so I can't see any problem. At least you're old enough to know what learning methods work for you, and you'll be able to appreciate the finer points of techniques, body mechanics etc. Plus, your legs will have stopped growing so it'll be easier for you to judge distances when kicking!

Going back to the original question, I don't see why not. IMHO, anything becomes a religion if you let it take over your life, including MAs. If your religion is your prioeity in life then there is no harm in practising a MA. I guess ppl see the problem as being that if you learn a martial art you are going to use it in the street and pick fights. This is definitely not the case for me and most of my fellow karate students, so there is no conflict with Christian teachings. I do karate because its a beautiful and elegant art, it gives me confidence, keeps me fit, and would be useful if I ever needed to defend myself. I don't believe that if ppl are Christians they should 'turn the other cheek' so to say. Christianity teaches you to respect yourself as well as others, and that includes defending yourself if necessary. BTW I am a Christian and practise MA if you hadn't already guessed!

Happy New Year to everyone! My main new years resolutions are to improve my kicks (or maybe that should just be - Learn to Kick!!! ), and to generally get fitter. Oh, and to stop having so much salt on my dinner (failed that one already)

Congratulations! I'm sure you'l b very happy together.

I love shotokan for loads of reasons. First, its a challenge for me (this is also infuriating at times!) and when I've finally got something right its the best feeling! Its also got some amazing kata, and there is no part of it that i dislike (expect the spinning kicks that we did last night...ok everybody else did them except me who fell on the floor ). The people at my club are great as well, i've made some really good friends. Oh yeah - last but not least, I met my fiance there!

For Christmas someone gave me a 'Grow Your Own Haggis' set as a joke (of course)!!! I haven't yet figured it out but I think you grow the filling and have to buy your own haggis. Weird, I wonder where she got it from. Well, next week my lovely boyfriend is taking me to Paris (yay!) and we've decided to try some snails

Well on Friday I discovered that playing the saxophone non-stop for a whole day really makes it leak. Especially when you're playing carols outside in the freezing cold...

7...intellectual - moi! hahaha i must b an anomally!

Happy Birthday Kung Fu Hippy! And merry Christmas everyone! Hope its a good one for you all. As for what I hope to get present-wise, what DON'T I want!!!?! I've asked for a punchbag and a new sports bag (amongst other things) What about the rest of you?

Yeah it sounds a fantastic idea! Go for it! I also know someone who is dating their instructor (actually dating is not a strong enough word, they are completely and utterly in love, its so obvious). But it never interferes with training, and no one works any less hard because of it. My advice is, go for it, but don't flirt whilst training. why not invite her for a drink after class? If it doesn't work out, theres no reason why you cant stay friends. if it does work out, let me kno when the wedding is!!!

squirell doesn't sound too repulsive I suppose. But people often say I'm quite adventurous when it comes to food. but i draw the line at blue cheese. Seriously, how can people eat mould for pleasure!!??!

I was playing in a band last week and there was a trumpet player next to me who just would not stop emptying the spit valve. By the end of the show there was a huge puddle on the floor - which a clarinet player stood in and skidded across the room.

What about left over crispy beef in OK sauce from the takeaway with dark chocolate in a sandwich?!! Mmmmmmm....sandwiches

Being a saxophone player myself, I have so sit near the percusionists in our jazz band...thus I am deaf every Friday afternoon without fail!

Calamari rings must be the most gorgeous food ever! Hmm...I'm pretty open minded when it comes to food so I'd probably try most stuff. Black pudding freaks me out though. I'll eat a little bit and then realise what it is and suddenly feel very very ill! When I was younger I used to invent my own sandwich fillings tho, such as: Frozen peas, banana and lemon curd; marmalade, pringles and chocolate. Still cant' understand why people get so grossed out about it all!

Congratulations!

Wow, a person as clumsy as me! This summer I managed to fall out of a tree(!), go over the handlebars on my bike and loads of other stupid things. I worked at a fastfood place for a time, and one day when I was in the storeroom I accidently managed to skid right across the floor on a puddle of oil. Duh! But anyway, the English weather certainly doesn't help it. Its raining right now....

We hold grading sessions every three or four months, and most people are allowed to grade if they've been training at the dojo at least twice a week. That's for coloured belts though, mind you, it takes longer of course for brown and black belts. Everywhere's different though...why not ask your instructor?

Hey there

Ahhhhhhh I get it now............I think

Either I'm just dense, or Yorkshire is a bit behind the times, but no one I know uses pounds to measure weight here. We use kilos....for someone who dropped maths at school as soon aspossible its all very very confusing...