trekmann

Congrats Ant.

Do any of the students at that school work? Do they have financial responsibilities like mortgagees, rent and bills? I f people want to do full contact Karate with no protective equipment at all then that is fine with me. But wing when you sustain a serious injury and then fall behind in your mortgage payments because you are unfit for work. Just my opinion.

Definitely stay at it my friend. Let me tell you a bit about my experience with Karate. When I first joined I trained really hard in and out of the dojo. Because of this my first few gradings were passed fairly easily. But then I entered my first club tournament, and boy did I get an * walloping. I was not just physically injured, but I experienced a reality trip in terms of my limited knowledge and courage. Sufficit to say I was almost going to hang up my Gi when I decided that I was not going to give up like a lot of students do early in the piece, I was going to keep training and pushing through the barriers. Now I have just passed my Purple belt grading and I have a new determination to try even harder and just keep aiming for my goals. Any way, the moral of the story is that a lot of students reach an impass at some stage early in their training. It is once you push through this doubt and self-judgment that you reach a more determined state and develop the courage, skills and drive to keep going.

Welcome to KF. Maybe you could write an article for the post on your perpsective on the differences between TKD and Karate.

Welcome to KF dude. This site rocks

$40 - $45 dollars for Kyu gradings (Not including belt if changing) Unsure black belt gradings, Will have to get back to you on that one.

I will use the KISS principle. I think Karate has (HELPED) to build and strengthen my character to a degree.

Congrats dude You must be very proud of your achievement. just out of interest what kata did you perform in tournament?

I did not go to class before my last grading. I wanted to have full energy for the test, as some of the techniques we have to go through are quite arduous and tiresome.

Congrats dude What did you have to do to pass the grading?

Something else I thought of. Since I started Karate training eight months ago I have seen a number of people come and watch one lesson, then wolla they buy a Gi and think they will become Karate experts in one month. People should spend more time evaluating a style of MA by doing a few lessons first before jumping in and buying all the gear. I checked out three Dojo’s and trained for four lessons before I bought a Gi.

Congrats dude What did you have to do for your grading? What is your next belt/kyu?

In Taikudo after we learn Heian Shodan and Neidan we move onto a kata called Torino Kata.

Welcome to KF dude

Welcome to the forums

Welocme to KF Steve. I would like to take up Ju-Jitsu training one day. Which MA do you have a preference for more, Striking or Grappling arts?

For the next six months I am going to really try hard at improving my confidence in Kumite.

Taikudo karate 7th Kyu

I really enjoy learning and practicing kata's. I am not sure if anybody has heard of this one, but in Taikudo we have a green belt kata called Chino Kata. I cannot wait to start learning that one. I also have a liking for Heian Neidan.

Thanks for your advise everyone. I will try out some of these tatics on my usual sparring partner at the dojo who is failry tall.

I participated in my first club tournament last Sunday, and myself and a few other students had to fight this rather tall stocky guy. To give you an idea I am 5ft 10in tall and this guy would have been about 6ft 3in. off course he also had long arms that could reach nearly anywhere your face happened to be. Can anyone give me some advise on how to work around his height/reach and score a point. I tried to come in low, but he was right on top of that trick.

Hi Kate, Welcome to KF. I am 8th Kyu as well in Taikudo.

It is my first club tournament on Sunday as well. Hope we both come home with some medals and not too many brusies.

I agree with the others that the money side sounds a bit weird. But training at a dojo that incorporates some groundwork and weapons can be good from amodern day self dfence ponit of view. Try a few free lessons if they are offering.

I would love to train four times a week at the dojo. But my school only runs two classes a week. Offcourse having to work 11 hour shifts does not make it easy also.