White Warlock

Yeppers, sounds like a little bit of ego on your part there Coco. Keep it in check, because that's what's creating the problem with your judgement calls.

Whoa! Let's not get carried away here. Take away our technology and opposable thumb, and we're actually some of the wimpiest pack animals around. Evolution gave us a bipedal stance so that we can see farther down the horizon, and above tall grasses. This is a defensive characteristic, not an offensive one. Evolution gave us the ability to climb. Again, another defensive characteristic. I could go on, but you get my point.

If you're looking for resistance while practicing, practice in the pool. What you propose is not new, unfortunately. It is, however, loaded with potential problems. In order for such an outfit to fit and not have the weight moving all over the place, it would need to be relatively tight, which could impede circulation, not to mention the skin burns you would get. Increasing your overall weight puts undue strain on the muscles that align your spine. Joint damage is imminent.

It would help to know everything you intend on using it for, and how often. I.e., do you just need a printer, or are you also in the market for a fax, scanner, copy machine? Are your main uses to be color photo prints, or 30 page dissertations on stem-cell research? Based on what little info you provided, my best recommendation would be to own two printers. One for standard print use, and the other for special graphics work. For standard print use, i recommend an older model printer. The best for this niche would be the Hewlett Packard series that uses the HP45 inkjet cartridge (black). These offer quality inkjet print, gives a good amount of print for the buck, and the cartridges can be 'refilled' for just a few dollars. Also, you can find one of these older model HP printers most anywhere... for less than $10. In fact, just last week i bought two of them for $2.50 each, including printer cables (and one of them is also USB capable). Hell, the printer cables themselves sell for $20 each. Last, maintenance on these HP printers is a breeze. For a photo-printer, i have mixed feelings on this. So far, the best photo-printer i've seen has been the HP photo-printer, which provides as much as 150 - 8.5"x11" photo prints on one photo cartridge and one black cartridge. This is actually a very large amount of photo prints for a 'set' of cartridges, and the quality is up there. And, if you want just color prints (as opposed to photo prints), you can use the standard color cartridge, with an output somewhere around 450 prints per. Photo-printers should not be wasted on standard print jobs. And, if you use it only occasionally, i recommend removing the cartridges and parking them in plastic bags... so they don't dry out, leak into the printer, or gum-up. Whatever you do, avoid most of those modern $30-$80 inkjet printers out there. As you seem to show some awareness on this, they do indeed get you on the 'unrefillable,' compressed-air, low output, inkjet cartridges. That's where they make their money and not, as so many clueless consumers assume, on the printer sales. That's all, and good luck.

Also, Samurai Shotokan, if you see nunchakus in your school, or any other schools, then they are not illegal, only restricted. In California, nunchakus (and similar restricted weapons) can only be used in dojos or similar. The nice thing is, dojo is a foreign word and refers to a 'training area,' and it has been 'foolishly' entered into the laws pertaining to such weapons. Thus, if you designate an area as a training area (or dojo), such as your home, then you are full authorized to own them within the confines of your home. And, since there is no law requiring you to register your dojo... loophole. Also, in California, transportation of nunchakus, from one training area to another is also legal, as long as they are placed in the trunk, locked in a chest, or made otherwise inaccessible.

Talking about dogs, i used to have this doberman that was just the smartest creature i ever met. I remember her fondly, and with sadness. Interestingly enough, i gloss right over the fact i had to wash that stinky dog quite a bit, that i had to run around the lawn picking up her poops, that i was allergic to her, and even about the fleas she occasionally fostered. Just like any relationship, i forget the bad... remember the good... and feel the ping of pain in my heart if i dwell too long in memory lane. Go figure, eh?

I do not recommend sole use of the foam nunchakus, especially without formal training. That is because the foam (or light) nunchakus do not behave the same and you may end up learning some very 'painful' habits. What i mean by this is, if/when you upgrade to 'real' nunchakus, you'll find some of the things you've been doing with the foam nunchakus were critically wrong... and you'll spend a helluva time trying to 'untrain' yourself from smacking your forehead. *smack* *wake up* *smack* *wake up* *smack* Also, foam nunchakus encourages flash over function, due to the facts they are so friggin' light (thus allowing you to swing them around really fast) and because there is no concern over hurting yourself, so what you end up with will serve you little. In fact, likely the opposite would be the result, whereby you pull out your 'real' nunchaku in a confrontation and... *smack* *you don't wake up*

Without getting into the initial reasons for me getting into the arts, i'll focus on the reasons i continue to study. The arts exist, for me, as a means to have the skills and awareness required to 'avoid' confrontations. I use my knowledge and skills to decrease the likelihood of being placed in a dangerous situation, or on being able to extricate myself from a dangerous situation should i find myself in one. As a side, it serves well for me when i help others out of their predicaments. I am very often asked for advice on how to deal with this or that situation. The arts, if you study them well and with an open mind, can help you with as simple a dealing as a disgruntled client on the phone, to as complex a dealing as being in a hostage situation. Here's the itch. We live in a civilized world, which pampers us and brings us to a degree of complacency. The vast majority of people simply do not know how to handle a 'shift' of this state, from that of civilized to that of uncivilized. And while we may never, ever be exposed to an uncivilized (or barbaric) act, it is still no excuse not to at least prepare for it. Victims are victims, by complacency... by choice. This may be a hard and cruel statement, it is also a hard and true statement. Predators aim for the easiest of prey, and it is those who fail to think about dangers, who pose themselves in harm's way, who do not make an effort to protect themselves or their loved ones... that essentially turn themselves into targets. So while some of you may be saying, "since i've been studying the arts, i haven't had to use the physical skills taught..." did it ever occur to you that it may just be BECAUSE you have been studying the arts that you haven't had to get physical? To a predator, you may no longer look like easy prey, and thus... you make yourself a much smaller, less enticing, target. As for me, i've had plenty of opportunities to apply my arts, on a physical level. Partly due to the jobs I took, partly due to my stupid-* heroics of saving silly prey from the grasp of predators (rather than ignoring), and partly because of choice. The truth of the matter is, if you wish for an opportunity to apply your skills, you can find it. But, what's the real goal here?

Word.

Hollywoo Do

In most cases, home exercise equipment just ends up taking space, or getting stored in the garage. The trick to taking advantage of home exercise equipment is to park it in a place that in the house that you frequent often, such as in front of the television. That's what i do with my row/bicycle. I park it in front of the tv, with the remote velcroed to the handle. When i want to just sit down and watch tv, there's the remote... and it reminds me to not park my butt on the couch, but instead do some exercise. Oh, and yes. A lot of home exercise equipment is garbage. Choose exercise-type equipment that you see at the gyms, not some infomercial magic exercise equipment. The magic isn't in the equipment, it's in the person and how much 'effort' they put into it, so don't be fooled by sales propaganda. Also, you don't need to spend a lot of money. Buy good equipment, but don't overdo it and don't insist upon a complete gym set. Pick the exercise equipment that you'll somewhat enjoy exercising with while sitting there watching stupid shows on the television. Last, the more moving parts, the more likely for something to break. Keep it simple, when it comes to home exercise equipment. Unlike a gym, you end up with the problem of having to fix it.

Geez, how did age fall into this discussion? In an effort to bring this discussion back on track, I brag about myself. If you were to look at me, i seem rather fit, although just a 'tad' heavy about the midsection (complacency in relationships can do that to you). However, in two days i moved all the furnishings of a four-bedroom home. In addition I painted, repaired cabinets, drilled, hammered, sawed, did plumbing, replaced doors, repaired electronics, etc etc etc. All of this, i did in just two days... alone... and in 120 degree weather. A few of my muscles are complaining, but nothing significant. What i did surprised even me. I thought i was out of shape, but the only thing that caused me to break a sweat, was the temperature (drank aplenty, let me tell you). So, even though someone may 'look' not quite in shape, don't be fooled by appearances. In this day and age, media and magazines sell you the waif woman and the sixpack-ab men. But, just look at some of the best 'fighters.' Except for specimens of uberish physique such as Ken Shamrock, most are actually a tad imperfect, slightly overweight or underweight. So, it's not necessarily complacency, just different diets and metabolisms.

*throws ripe tomato*

Or... we could go ronin on their *.

For a year I missed my first true love when she ran off with a marine, who later dumped her with two kids in the middle of Florida. Luckily i got run over, and the head injury i received pretty much wiped away most of the relationship from my memory. For many years i missed a woman who mysteriously ended our relationship. She didn't want to open her bedroom door after coming back from a trip to Mexico. I joined the military shortly thereafter, and for years i wondered if she had been pregnant with my child. A good many years later, i found out she met this guy in Mexico... and got all confused as to what she wanted, so she decided to dump me and go marry the father of her first child. Others i have missed, for short periods... but life goes on, and so do the lives of those you used to know. Nobody waits around for you... so move on.

Reminds me of the time, some years back, a guy went into the standard guard position when it was clear i dominated him with wrestling skills. Problem was, we were on asphalt... and i proceeded to slide him around.

Hehe, yeppers. And that makes us bad too. Then again, we could always adopt the Bushido code, and start hacking heads off of peasants we deem slighted us, because they failed to bow quick enough.

Insufficient information Krunchy. Do you have a history of lower back problems, hip problems? Are you taking glucosamine? Are they cramps, dull pains? Any other 'possibly' related symptoms?

I used to love to watch Sugar Ray Leonard. My dad used to point out how much of a 'boxer' he was, and would use SRL as a reference to various ring concepts. Many of the boxers then, and now, are brawlers and not boxers.

Spin, did your site go down? I'm unable to access any of your vids.

Or, you can rationalize that it would have been politically impractical to kill off the American weapons expert, sent over by an American General to show them (and not the samurais he was hangin' with) how to use western weapons. Would have probably been bad for future dealings to have had him killed off. Besides, the battle was already over. If he weren't gaijin (barbarian), Tom Cruise's character would have committed seppeku. But, because he is gaijin, such is not expected. I.e., they have no honor, family, or tradition to uphold.

The noise of the crack is actually a quick release of trapped fluids between your joints, which could otherwise pose pressure on nerves or interfere with the motion of the joints themselves. The main problem with 'cracking' is that you are causing the cartilage of your joints to impact themselves with force (sudden change in pressure). if you have your weight on one or more of these joints when performing such an action, you also add that to the factor. It could damage your cartilage and possibly even aggravate the area to the point that calcium deposits begin to form. Calcium deposits act as sandpaper to cartilage and bones, therein inducing arthritis. Another problem with 'cracking,' if done regularly, is that you are stretching your tendons when doing such. This could cause your joints to become loose, which could encourage the trapping of fluids, as well as pose the threat for dislocation or a herniated disc. Etc etc etc...

Depends on where your opponent is, how far away he is, and what posture he maintains. The idea is to not expose yourself, to keep your defenses up, to not lose sight of your opponent, and to go on the offense if possible. With the kip-up, you expose your groin and a few other ripe targets, you occupy all of your limbs that could otherwise be used for defense, you lose sight of your opponent as you flip up, and you do not commit to any action whatsoever that could be deemed as offensive (well, except to my sensibilities). Additionally, the kip-up is a complete and committed action that does not lend itself well to transitioning to other actions.

I took on my sister's teddy bear once. Beat the stuffing out of it.

10' away does not provide you a melee attack option, only a defense option, so martial arts (as we have come to refer to all this melee hitting stuff) isn't really much of a factor. Also, at that range the gun isn't the threat and neither is the bearer of the gun. It is the bullet. At 10' away, running away isn't much of an option, other than giving the shooter a slowly shrinking, but otherwise stationary target. If you want to try and run, do so perpendicular to the shooter, and towards the nearest cover (not concealment... cover). Cover is any object that would provide full or partial physical protection. An object that would act as a barrier between you and the bullet. Get something between the shooter and you. A tree, an ugly person, a mother-in-law, something. If cover is not available, pose your right side forward, knees bent, and keep an eye on the angle of the barrel. The right side forward adds just a little more protection for your heart, although it exposes your liver. The knees bent allows you the option of kissing your * goodbye, should such an opportunity arise.