CanuckMA

You are doing the absolute worse that you can do. You will permanentaly damage your shin. Just use the heavy bag.

Knife attack????? methinks you have been watching too much cheap knug-fu movies. You will never achieve a level of hardening sufficient to stop a blade.

I've had it for years. Wear the orthotics until the pain is gone, then you can train normally.

If it feels like it's actually moving out of place, or you have lost a good portion of your range of motion, you might want to see a doctor. Otherwise, rest and ice for a few days. If it doesn't improve, doctor.

NO. People who think that way have been watching waaayyy too many cheap Chinese MA movies.

If someone dishounoured your math teacher, would you issue them a challenge? Why is your Sensei any different?

Then what is the point. Anybody can break a 1/4" balsa. It can be snapped in two by just holding it. It ends up being for show only and of little value.

And the hand is a marvel of micro-engeneering. You really don't want to start building up calcium on and in your joints. Before following yet another stupid sensei advice, go see an orthopedic surgeon and ask him about it.

I'm sorry folks didn't get the sarcasm. My point is that your Sensei is NOT your concsience/god/all powerfull/or all knowing. I see too much posting about just about everything, including medical issues that turn into a 'ask your Sensei' answer. Your Sensei is no different than your Math teacher. He is anindivisual with a specific set of knowledge. He will attempt to transfer that knowledge to you, usually for a fee. Nothing wrong with that. I just dont' get the awe some people have of everything Sensei says. If I feel my belt is dirty, it's a question of personal hygiene. I'll wash it. If the Sensei disapproves, I'll let him know that his interference with my personal sense of hygiene is not apreciated. I'll propably let him know with my feet. I'll go train somewhere else. Keep in mind that the whole not washing the belt legend goes completely against everything I've read about the Japanese people. While deeply respectful of tradition, they are also an immensely proud people. Going around wearing a dirty attire is 180 degree away from that.

Ahhhhh, the ancient and venerable art of nike-do

24fightingchickens, I feel we are kindred spirits. As an observant Jew, I live by certain rules. I have been asked to leave clubs because I refused to bow to anything other than a real-live person in front of me. I will not bow to a Budhist altar, I will not bow to the picture of some dead guy. I can greatly respect the founder of the style for what he has done, but will not bow to his picture.

This is going back to doing whatever the instructor wants or don't want done. If the instructor wants you to wash your belt then you should wash it and if he doesn't want you to wash your belt, then you shouldn't. Doing what YOUR instructor tells you to do is practicing discipline and respect. And of couse if your instructor told not to shower for 2 days after training, you'd do that too I'll bet. Your instructor is deserving of respect inside the dojo. What you do to your gear and with your life after that is up to you, Your instructor is being paid to teach a skill. He is NOT your conscience.

PBI, It sounds like you are a full time instructor. Many of us have gone beyond the 'training is my life' stage. I'm 45. I have a job, a family, other interest. There are times I show up and train like my life depended on it. There are times where I give only 50%. As much as I try to leave the rest of my life behind, it may not always be possible. The instructor may not know about my day at the office, that I'm leaving on a business trip tomorrow, that a number of my servers just went down, that one of my many chronic injuries is flaring up. I pay good money to train, I train as a hobby. The fastest way for me to take my business elsewhere is for some instructor, or worse yet, some 20 something hot--shot who's never faced real professional pressure at work to tell me that I'm not training hard enough.

Be very carefull with blows to the knee. It is very easy to cause permanent injury. 3 years ago, I was playing ice hockey (goaltenter), while executing a semi-butterfly save with the left leg, I felt a little 'pop' to the inside of my right knee. It felt sore and tender to lateral motions. 2 weeks later I had a doc look at it. 2nd degree tear to the MCL. Took 6 months of therapy to make it better. To this day, I still cannot attempt repeated meneuvers that require pivoting on my right leg. That was a move I had done thousands of times before, and have done thousands of times since. Slightly different positioning and 'pop'. The knee is a truly badly designed joint.

Had a 2nd degree tear of my MCL a couple years back, playing hockey. Took 6 months of therapy to get back in 'game shape'. I still have to be careful doing side and round house kicks, or any move where I have to pivot on that knee. You learn to adapt. Make sure that your Senseis know of your condition, just in case you have to not do something.