Kanzashi

We usually get some behaviour challenged kids in class. As they are usually a junior class, they aren't really into sparring and usually do have other difficulties, of which the Sensei is made aware of from the parents. The student is shown the correct way to act by having praise given to another student who is doing the right thing. It's amazing how the others try to get that attention by doing what they're supposed to. For those students who vear off the track, we have "Mat Chat's" with them to help identify the wrong behaviour. It's done in a way so that it's not disciplining, but more of a self realization way; e.g. Hi Billy, you're trying very hard today, but do you know why I want to talk to you? Yes, you're talking is interrupting the other classmates and they can't learn when you're talking. What's the number one rule in the dojo, no talking when the instructor talks. O.k. Billy, what are you going to not do anymore? Great, you're looking awesome out there, keep trying hard."

Hello and welcome. Glad someone older has joined in the miracle of MA. All the people here are quite well informed, regardless of age or rank. Enjoy yourself.

I've enjoyed your posts and your outlook. You belong here. Welcome.

In Canada, there isn't any legislation that would allow you to ask about this. Only recently have emergency workers been told about possible contamination, before you couldn't say anything. I would hope that if anybody had such a condition, they would tell the Sensei at the least, but this is still very much voluntary in Canada. All you can do is protect yourself as best you can. Do they make latex gloves for sparring gear?

thanks guys.

I once swallowed an ant. My friend and I were at the beach when we were young, about 10 I think, and were drinking buckets of water. Mine had an ant in it. My guts were squirming for a week. Love most of what you've all said, except the blue eggs and fresh calfs afterbirth stuff. Can't get my head around that!

I'm a Fire Inspector for a large municipality. Sometimes I can read sprinkler designs, lol

I use Kanzashi because of it's historical origins. A kanzashi is a hairpin, one of those fancy ones, used by feudal japanese women to defend themselves. I hope one day to devise a kata with the motion of using the kanzashi as the final blow. Simple yet sophisticated.

Try some leg strengthening exercises, like doing some shiko or kiba dachi stances for several minutes. Aerobics for lung capacity and breathing, like running or even learning terminology.

Like supergroup7, it's the instructors and people in the dojo that make it. Ours is new, big, clean, airy and has a great area for spectators. The walls are a bit bland, but I understand it's a work in progress, like learning karate.

Pulled muscles, bruises and bumps. Got a pinched nerve in my arm/neck now, so can't feel too well in my right arm/thumb, but I think that's from something else. Limits me in doing some moves without a good warm up. Calluses, if that's an injury. Stiff muscles from doing too much without a warm up or for too long.

Oh yes, the memories. We must have been the last family to get a colour tv. Cable? Ya, we were last to do that too, lol It was the kid's job to change the channel, but slowly so as not to strip the knob contacts. TV now isn't as important, don't you think?

I guess my sense of humour needs more conditioning to poke fun at people. Sorry, didn't find it funny. I must be really boring, lol

O.k., all you brawling guys, how do you expect a girl to fare in a fight? We're talking one who knows how to do MA against another who may or may not be trained? I've only been in one fight, when I was in grade school. Basically a cat fight, lol. What's the flow on this? 1.) If we are up against some B, just because her boyfriend strayed and blames you, how could it be handled? Please avoid the hair pulling thing. Any girl with long hair can take the pulling part, just p's them off more. 2.) Second scenario, getting accosted at night? Best defenses to take against someone who really wants to do you harm? Besides all that avoidance, don't be there, what were you thinking about taking a short cut, etc. thing. Obviously, size and physical strength are at issue. Guys will instinctively protect their 'jewels', so just assume that's out of the question, unless he's really stupid. Give me your best advice.

Women don't want to spar because they don't know how to defend themselves. When I first started Karate, I didn't know the defenses, nevermind the attacks. I would just want to learn the defense part, then attack. Now you can't stop me, they say I'm a tiger, lol

Our classes are generally structured. Monday and Tuesday classes are for kata training, Wednesday and Thursday classes are for kumite. It saves on lugging out your equipment every time. The make up classes on Friday and Saturday are combined into one long class, half kata, half kumite. As for structure, I know that some of our instructors have a teaching outline, very roughly done and very flexible, usually on a sticky note. Other instructors shoot from the hip, but generally follow suit with the same type of class, with some variation. We are required to do one kata and one kumite class per week. We have over 200 members, so it makes for some structure but stays flexible.

I have to agree with the mainstream here, sparring is a learning excercise. Both Uke and Tori are there to learn and try things out in a controlled manner. As far as mercy goes, isn't that something like humility? After all, this is your PARTNER, not a thug on the street. Yes, you can spar to the level of your Partner, but always with control. Like last night's class, I showed a weakness and got my *ss kicked, but wasn't hurt by it all. I learned something.

Yes, excellent thread material. I started Karate to find myself again after a collapsed marriage. I needed to centre on something solid and tangible. I needed purpose. I got all these plus so much more from karate. New friends, new life lessons, regained focus, stamina, control, technique, fitness, it's all here. I've solidified my relationship with my daughter because she was taking it before me and given her strength. Yes, it's all good. The feeling of euphoria I get just entering the dojo is totally overwhelming. I'm so lucky. Mushy, but true.

battousai16, that's not what I said at all. I've been in all white Gi classes and mixed colours. It makes no difference to me what is worn, as long as it's acceptable to the Sensei. My entertainment value is not the issue here, nor are there pride issues. What I'm saying is that some variety makes for a change, I think, for the better.

Ya I hear you on that Aefibird! We have one guy, mid-30's, who had hit someone and I think broke a rib. Now, he's very easy to score on and doesn't really present a challenge. Lost his nerve or just doesn't want to do more damage. Maybe he feels guilty about it. He still has good technique but is really reserve when it comes to hits.

Our kyu testing criteria is fairly light. Show your kata(s), sparring combinations and self defense routines, answer some questions and show a lot of spirit. The Black Belt tests are more along the lines of the above, mentally and physically exhausting.

If you want to learn how to better yourself with humility, try this. Don't react but rather imagine what he'll do if you don't respond to the posturing. Just watch him. It'll enlighten you to a new level. Do it just once, then you'll learn the lesson. Either that or get a shot for too much testosterone.

I hate partners who are trying to make a point of conquering all who come before them. Those people who just want to hit something really, really hard. They don't use proper karate styles and don't try to incorporate the lesson of the class/day into their sparring. The freeky sparrers are also soooo weird, you know the ones, with the funny stances like a twisted pretzel.

WOW! Connecting with a partner. That's something like real CHI. I think that's we're are all trying to find. Cherish the memories and hope for someone else like them.

I like to wear the black gi top with black pants. We have the option of wearing all white or mixing the colours, but it's not usually done. We have different 'clubs' in the school, like the Black Belt Club, Master's Club, SWAT Team and Instructors Assistants. There are different colours for the uniforms in each of these ranging from red top w black pants w red stripes; blue slash top w black or blue pants; and of course the different patches sewn on the gi tops. It's actually quite cool and doesn't make the classes boring with all white gi's. The different coloured belts also add some colour. For outside tournaments, all white gi's are the norm. For Judo, I wore all white, with different colour belts.