cathal

I agree

Clever, but lucky the other guy just didn't take a run at him I think.

In my area it would mostly be weaponless combat.

So the producers influenced the judge's decisions...or they chose bad judges, or really bad martial artists.

*sigh* No comment.

The good thing about having over-inflated egos is how easy it is to burst their bubble.

I tend to be agressive, and favour in-close techniques. So far it has proven quite effective especially against taller and/or heavier opponents. I'm told by previous opponents that I am quite good at psyching them out, but sometimes it can definitely feel the other way around..

"Why can't we be friends?" by War. LOL

LOL I remember that show now.

I do agree on the politics aspect I think. There are too many petty arguments.

Good info

Here is a link to our katas, which should give you a pretty good introduction. http://home7.swipnet.se/~w-72482/page3.html

I agree

Ha ha, don't know if I can afford it. LOL

While I do not completely disagree with your opinion on training, I do respect it. I personally do not agree with training to kill, nor could I condone the training's use in real life. My morals do not preclude the necessary of lethal training for military and police, but I definitely don't agree with them. Nor do I agree that what I do is a martial art in the militaristic and lethal sense. I do not train to kill, I train to defend myself and if need be to subdue the attacker.

Eye exercises are for strengthening the tendons around the eyes, the muscles which help you to move them. The exercises themselves are moot, they merely help you become more aware of your peripheral vision. People can confuse this with "improvement" of vision rather than just paying more attention to your senses. In cases where eyes have been damaged, or the visual cortex itself, there are a few eye "exercises" that are prescripted by an opthamologist. But only very few have been clinically proven to actually improve vision...that is, to strengthen and re-coordinate the eye tendons. If the eyeball has been damged (white area, cornea, etc.) then the exercises aren't done.

The other guy's taunts and ribbing will only hurt your feelings if you *want* them to. Try to be more stoic about it, and just realize that they are all young, and this is part of life. Its easy for me to say "shrug it off" and "ignore it" because I'm not there hearing them say those things. But I was, when I was younger, so I know how you feel. I got through it by just forgetting about it, and laughing when they laugh...it really isn't that important in the grand scheme of life.

I think there are three main branches, and they have their own derivatives.

That's good though! You should not consider breaking a person's neck. Period.

My dojo doesn't use coloured stripes on the Dan belts, they are all just black.

One of the things we sometimes do, are katas in completely different stances. It helps us to analyze why it is "offically" done in a particular stance. It also helps us learn some applications, and adaptations given how life isn't always predictable. Maybe I'll try it in the stances you've outlined, and have a little fun with it.

Yes, that is the handguard. On the katana, directly above it is the Seppa, and directly below the tsuba is the Fuchigane.

The best instructor is the one who will help you hide the body! Er, nevermind... I said the loud part quiet and the quiet part loud again

Everyone goes through plateaus. Its part of the process I think. I'd hate to be constantly improving, I wouldn't get a chance to stop and enjoy it.

Going to try; I'll let you know soon as I can.