KarateDave

Tournament sparing and kumite will ALWAYS be bias (regardless if it's open or one style). It's just human nature and sometimes bad Judging. I've seen a judge watching a hot girl walk by when he should be watching a fight, and then the center judge called a point and he just througha flag up...

Isn't the build you need to develop for Sumo wrestling very unhealthy. I think I remember reading somewhere that most serious sumo competitors die at a very young age due to their unhealthy size.

White Warlock summed up my feelings on the matter in words much better than I was able to

I agree 100%, I think we're defining intimidation differently.

We don't have a rank between 1st Kyu and 1st Dan, however there are three "levels" so to speak of Brown belt training before testing for a 1st Dan

There are some minimum time requirements for my Dojo. However, that's now how it usually goes down. It depends on the skill and improvement the individual student makes. For instance, one student in our club had been training for 9 months as of our last grading (January) attending two classes a week and just received a Yellow belt. Another student who has been training for 3 months (but goes to four classes a week) also went from white to yellow. Finally a third student who has been training for 3 months at two classes a week but has previous training advanced from white to yellow.

Well that goes without saying, however when practicing in the dojo, (be it two line drills, or free style kumite) there needs to be an intensity and feirceness, otherwise you won't benefit from it. If you ever get in a position where you have to use your training, your assailant will be fierce and will be trying to hurt you, and will possibly try to intimidate you. Drills and sparring should emulate an actual confrontation as much as possible (without putting the participants in danger of injury obviously) So you can prepare yourself should you ever need to use your training.

In dojo sparring is my time to practice new techniques and get better at them. I view intimidation as a technique that can help you win. Sparring is as much a mental exercise as it is a physical one. When it comes to intesity, I'm not out to hurt anyone, but I will match my fierceness with that of my oponent. (i.e. if he wants to come in with full contact, I'm going to return the favor)

Personally, I do four two hour classes a week. I find that it has really helped me advance my abilities quickly.

I started training last year in September. I totally fell in love with the training, It's great exercise and I'm probably in better shape than I have ever been in my life. I can't seem to get enough training, I go to four, sometimes five classes a week (and I'd probably do more if they were offered I'm content, but I am always looking to improve

My yellow belt grading was pretty demanding physically. It went for two hours. There was about 15 minutes of talking at the end, but practicallly the rest of the hour and forty-five minutes (excluding the odd 30 second to 1 minute break and a few minutes of light sparing at the end) was spent in the horse stance throwing basic techniques over and over and over.