Kanzashi

I've never been in a karate tournament, but in class, I fight with men all the time. They are a lot less sneaky about it, and if my techniques were better, would have no problem with them, excepting, of course for a few of them, like my Sensei and Sempai's. Always a welcome challenge. We spar with no contact to the head, and light contact to the body, according to the rules. We wear protective gear as well. Some men will be quite shy about sparring with a female, but I'm sure they don't feel shy with me. I'm 5' 10" and about 200 lbs. When I get a point on a guy they usually conceed, but usually don't let me get the next point. It's fair and fun. If I do hit a guy in the privates, apologies are immediate, but most of the guys in our club do wear cups. No sympathy for the ones who don't. We usually practice the move to be either better aimed or better defended. Some guys are actually there to learn, not just to be macho, and don't have problems with agressive women.

In our Dojo, the Sensei didn't make us wear chest protectors at first, but now he does. Also, head gear, no cage tg!, mouth guard, mitts and foam feet. Shin pads are optional. He's not particular of the style of protection, so long as it does it's job. The helmet sucks big time because you can't really hear too well, and when the Sempais say YAME!, and you keep going, well, lets just say a lot of red faces and downward looks are the norm! The chest protectors were brought in because the younger kids didn't have the necessary control and were holding back from completing the technique. I find it a detriment as I feel I must hit the protection to know if I scored. We are not allowed any head contact and just light chest contact, even though we're protected to the hilt! OH ya, guys are to wear a cup, girls don't have to.

It's been over 30 years since I took Judo, and I'm not saying the GI is not important, however, I always thought that it was for holding onto the person, so you wouldn't fling them across the room after a throw. True, some throws require you to grasp the front of the jacket, but you can do this with a karate gi, it just won't last as long. A heavy weight karate gi will last somewhat longer. As far as grappling goes, it's like wrestling and they don't wear much for it at all. The Gi Jacket seems like an aid for the practitioners, not a requirement for doing Judo. Just my opinion.

Well, If the Sensei has granted you the BB, and it's the association guy who's stirring up the fuss, who's school is it anyways? Sensei is the boss. You may want to ask him if anyone has questioned your right to wear the BB. If Sensei is comfortable with it, so should you be. You may offer to be a probationary BB upon learning the weapons, at Sensei's discretion. As far as I'm concerned, Sensei's opinion is all that matters. You have the humility to endure this and the techniques to support your position, but don't have to be bullied by some bureaucrat. Trust in your Sensei, he is your guide.

Welcome and enjoy your stay.

Welcome, I hope you find these forums as entertaining and informative as I do.

Hello and welcome. Hope you find the information you're looking for.

Hello and welcome. I've read some of your posts and enjoy your thoughts.

Welcome to the forums. I hope you do find a school to learn in. Meanwhile, may I suggest some cardio work for the weight problem? I've read it's the only way to work it off. Try some jogging or just hitting and kicking a punching bag. Good Luck,

I thank you all for the warm welcomes and hope they continue.

Too late? Only when you're dead.

How about some truths as this is supposed to be a positive experience, and all this talk about diets is depressing. Myth: Older people can't learn new styles. Truth: Older people can learn new styles, just take longer to get it. Something about muscle memory. Myth: Older people can't win at sparring. Truth: No so, our cunning and guile will overcome any opponent. Myth: Older people can't keep up with younger trainees. Truth: Can so, see the first myth/truth. Myth: Older people just want to do katas. Truth: Suit up kid, I'll take you on and I don't have fear at my age! Sorry not to be scientific, but my sensei makes some slight gestures about age related functions. I'm not really old, just the oldest in the dojo, most are teenagers, that think they know everything.

o.k. here it is I'm 5' 10" ish, and am 30 lbs overweight. I'm very strong and muscular, except for the hip and belly area. It's o.k., me and Florine are best buddies. I'd like to be about 175 lbs, like when I was in high school, but I bet that's wishful thinking. I've never really been very flexible, but we're working on that! I think weight is a definate factor in training. How can you get your hip to lock in doing a reverse punch in zenkutsu dachi when you're belly is jiggling like a bowl full of jello? As far as being overdeveloped, ya, that stinks too. Too many bulky muscles slow you down, but you can hold sheiko dachi for like forever.

Well, I was shown Judo back in high school and thought, WHOA! That's AWESOME, even before it became a common word in teen lingo I took that for three years and was thoroughly enthralled with it. The physical, scientific, mental, and the pure joy. What exhilariation! ( I wish this site had spell check ) I enrolled my daughter in Karate, to foster some discipline, conditioning and some fortitude. She was encountering a bully at school, and although not a pushover, she didn't have the skills to deal with it. I knew martial arts was the gentle persuasion to use to teach her some life skills, so, after about 3 years, I cleared my schedule and joined up too. It was to keep her interested and I've always been interested. A separation and impending divorce after 19 years gave me some extra energy, shall we say. I needed to find myself again, centre and focus. I knew martial arts could do that for me. I'll be forever eternally in it's gratitude. Domo Arigato Gozaimasu Karate-do!

I'll say elastic because the tied ones come undone, even with the flat straps that are flat to hold better. Round shoe laces look pretty, but don't work sh*t. One of the worst things that can happen during sparring, etc. is to say, "Wait, gotta tie up my pants again"! Sensei's don't usually laugh, but everyone else does. If you wear elastic and they fall or get pulled off, try a smaller size or tighter elastic. If it's uncomfortable, use a fabric softener when you do laundry.

I've got my Judo gi from 1973. This is when I first took judo, it was at my high school, in the gym, twice a week. I took it for 3 years. The gi top still fits, but add 30 lbs on my hips and the pants are really tight My green striped belt is just long enough to tie up, but with no extra room for flopping. I have the certificates, in a box too and a trophy from a shiai I was in. Ah, the memories.....

Very Interesting Question, I agree. ar tist n. one who practises one of the fine arts; one who makes his craft a fine art; devotee. So, put Martial in front and you have a fine art in MA's. So the questions is really at what point does one think they're doing this? When are you devoted? Is that like being hooked, like me, a karate junkie? A mindset is part of it, so is ability but not absolute ability. How much devotion do you have to have? Is it quantifiable? I believe I am a martial artist as I am committed to learn the art of karate as much as I can. This forum is proof of all our comittments to learn and our devotion. We craft our arts as finely as we can to suit ourselves, the beauty of the art is in the eye of the beholder. The same is true when seeing a kata performed with precision, or the seemingly non-effort of exact sparring. True beauty indeed.

You don't mention in what context you are enduring this 'push'. Is this during kumite and the opponent you're sparring with uses a kekomi (thrusting) type of kick or are we talking street fight bullies? Walking away, parries, stepping away or to the side, not being there are all good, but it seems you want some form of retaliation, but not to make it look like retaliation. The arm locks, traps, bars and take downs are the simplest, quickest and least lethal, plus they don't make you out to be a bully yourself, and yes, they hurt. If during a kumite kick, shuffle sideways and come at them with a roundhouse, more than likely they'll still be trying to find their balance.

Amen, Akima! The interaction during class should never be interpreted as coming on to someone. Women are not in MA to 'get a guy', but most likely to kick their butts! Just Kidding. Strength, flexibility and ability are powerful weapons, especially if you are strong willed to use them correctly. I think men are attracted to not only physically appealing women, but ones who are self sufficient and able to take care of themselves. Well, guess what you're gonna find in the dojo...? DUH!!! 2 + 2 = 4. Get your minds out of our GI's and back to training. It's what we're all there for, to learn from each other. If that's sexy, then so be it.

I'm from near Barrie, Ontario, Canada and my name is Gina. I've been roaming around your excellent site for about a week now and find a very knowledgeable and keen group of MA's. I don't know how long it'll take me to get a black belt here, but I've been studying karate since May 2003 but have previously taken Judo, like a long time ago. Sorry, not telling my age, just the wiser for it. lol I have a keen interest in all things, being the well rounded person I am , so just ask me if you've got any questions. I tend to 'talk' seriously most of the time, but don't let that fool you, I love to laugh and find my positive nature a true comfort. Let me share it with you on these pages. To my new found friends, Domo Arigato Gozaimasu. Kanzashi

Delta1 has a good point and one that I share. The basis for all karate come from the basics. Without them, you don't have good karate or any MA for that matter. You can apply your theory in basics to katas and kumite. Personally, I tend to stress the basics, particularly little foot movements and hand positions during katas, and am still working on techniques for kumite, and probably always will. Bunkai are the basics and so mesh perfectly with Delta1's theory on how everything relates to the other, kinda like a universal theory. Isn't that the true meaning of MA?

Early on in my Judo training, way before street-proofing became common, self defense training included being vigilant and wary in all situations. Great training for a cop! Too bad I'm not one. Anyways, now, when we do self defense in class, my sempai helps us to envision situations when an attacker might do something that would require the learned technique. If he's not around, then I do it myself, that's what question period is for at the end of class, gives you time to think. In the fire service, Emergency preparedness is a common sense approach. You must always be ready to respond to any situation. This isn't to say be paranoid, but mindful. There's a whole Zen aspect to mindfulness that you can discover on your own. Just practice the different situations and prepare for them the best way you can.

I would ask someone you trust to analyze your style. Have some one else look at your opponent to see any openings you may have missed. I agree with most posts that you could be leaving yourself open if he continually grabs and holds your foot. Not really a fair play, but then what is in sparring? Analyze your self and your partner to see the openings and opportunities. You could be in too much of a rush to "Get this guy" and thus make mistakes. Breathe to control your emotions and your actions. Good luck!

Well, this is certainly a very hot topic, like who doesn't make mistakes, we're all human, except maybe Muay Thai Fighter. I've been sparring for just over 6 months, at this time of writing, and have achieved orange kyu. I love sparring, but until I developed a defence, got beaten every time. It's a learning process, that probably doesn't stop. Katas and sparring combinations are good in tournaments and when you don't know what to do, like being a beginner, like me! Anon is partially right, practice makes perfect. More sparring practice will develop your skills, strategy and proficiency, along with a lot of other stuff, like stamina. I too, did all the mistakes listed in these posts, but am trying to overcome them. I'm definately more wary. Sparring is a mindset, you against your opponent. I don't think I have as an intense concentration when doing katas as I do in sparring. Hell, if you don't, you get hit. Who wants that?? I still make mistakes, short memory, I guess. OH, did we just practice that move last lesson?.....Hmmmm...... What I do do is when a kick or combination is performed at me, and I don't counter it well, I ask my uke to repeat the move and develop my strategy for countering. I find this way the best way to learn as there is always a counter move, it's just the mind doesn't think of it fast enough. I guess that's where practice comes in, doesn't it?

The training aspect in any dojo is commanded by the amount of respect you have for your instructors, fellow students and the shomen, but this doesn't mesh with the natural attraction between men and women. Close contact, lots of heat and some killing stares just do me. The intelligence factor must be there as well. Do I feel sexy after sparring practice, hell no, but some guys see it this way. To each his/her own.