Master Jules

......sighs...... Im not famous at all........ .....but my mommy loves me very much.....lol......

Bear meat is delicious.....yeah....it does taste like Elk (moose)......so much better than any steak.....its awesome !!!.....and really good for you....very high in protein.

Thats it ????? Man.....sounds like you need to start working out a little.

So I'm assuming you mean after you get your black belt that means you understand and have mastery of only the basics of the MA? I have a looong way to go! lol Thats what I mean.....but no matter who you are, no matter what Dan rank you are.....even a ninth degree.....we all have a long way to go....and always will. I say this because we strive to achieve a level of perfection we can never attain.

Welcome to KF

Yep......there is no such thing as a "stupid question".......a question shows that you are interested in learning about something you dont know, so you can further your knowledge........and thats ALWAYS a good thing.

Exaaaaaaaaactly...........

Depends on the dojo, and the frequency and intensity level of training......a student who goes to 2 classes a day 6 days a week is gonna progress much faster than someone whos in class 2 nights a week.......It really is irrelevant though, considering that black belt is just the beginning.

Ramy......no offense taken......your post is an excellent one......the point you made concerning the "true" sign of achievement.....the way you move, and your knowledge.....is also my point......I couldnt ever bring myself to wash my belt......If people feel they need to because they dont want it to be "dirty"......I still disagree, but thats a whole lot better excuse than washing it to make it prematurely grey........Cause thats just like lying about what you know by misrepresenting yourself.....in fact.....its almost like wearing a belt that shows you to be a higher rank than you really are.

Yeah......like the old Chuck Norris movie "The Octagon" with Tadashi Yamashita.

Solar......I would never tell you to disrespect your Sensei and go against his wishes for you. If he has chosen to instruct you to wash your belts.....then that is your obligation as a student.....I personnally cant conceive of washing or "pre greying" a belt, and I dont really think Ive met anyone who condones that action in the 31 years Ive been training. Again though....your Sensei has his rules, and it would be disrespectfull for you to do otherwise.

Again.......NEVER WASH YOUR BELT.....NEVER !!!! If its a "stiffy" when you get it.....too bad.....be honored to accept what your teacher gives you.....It just means you have to get on the mat more and train....every time you tie your belt...it "wears"......thats why its FRAUDULANT TO "GREY" YOUR BELT BY ANY MEANS OTHER THAN TYING IT.......Its totally disrespectful to those who have spent years....and decades....tying their belt yet another time, and training yet another day. The funny thing is........and Ive said it before....."belt hold up pants.....get on mat and train".........for all you youngsters guilty of "premature greying"......If you think that those of us who've spent 10, 20, 30 years training every day think that YOU have because your belt is grey......NEWSFLASH.......we know better.....because when you step out on the mat ......your performance of techniques doesnt even REMOTELY resemble the skill level of someone whos belt is "genuinely" greyed and freyed......and when you start talking......you prove even more how little you know. Wash your Gi all you want......thats fine.....but YOU NEVER WASH YOUR BELT. The blood, sweat, and tears that have gone into the "making" of that belt should never be removed from that belt.....NO MATTER WHAT.....PERIOD. If one of my students ever washed their belt I would cut it off them and make them retest for the belt.

Cake ?????......wheres the cake ????? I WANT CAKE !!!!!!!! HAPPY B-DAY

Contact me privately and Ill give you a long list of excellent resources.

NEVER WASH YOUR BELT.......PERIOD. Sometimes, you will see youngsters wearing a greyed belt......the most honorable thing is if their teacher has given them one of his/her belts, which is totally acceptable, and it is an honor to receive one of your teacher's belts.....but its a shame that most kids fray and grey their belts by some artificial method......they just dont get the point..... You start out at white belt, work your way up to black and beyond, and as the years go by, the greying of the belt through constant training brings you full circle back to white again.

Good news !!!!! I started at the tender age of 7....way back in 1973.....I just had my 31st anniversary in the arts, and Im 38 years old.......JUST GET ON THE MAT AND TRAIN !!!!! Professor Wally Jay was still able to back up his 10th Degree black belt at the age of 80+.........Im sure he has Gi's and belts that are older than both of us put together....As far as being "stiff".....just keep stretching properly and youll be fine......like the commercial says....."just do it" !!!

Jackie's hefty bag commercial was AWESOME !!!!

To keep this answer as basic as possible, I wont even get into the breathing techniques which are found in the multitudes of chi gung excercises. Your breathing pattern should be in through the nose, and out through the mouth. You want to envision the air entering your nose, and following the path of the governing meridian line, which runs up the top of the skull, down the spine, under the genital area, and finally ending in the tandien. You do not breathe by expanding the chest, but rather, by expanding the stomach. This pulls the diaphram down and fills the lungs. There is also purpose to breathing in through the nose. The hair in the nostril gently warms the air, and helps filter out airborne contaminents. Again.....thats the short version.

As much as Id like to.....I just cant.......I had to meditate in a cave for 3 years just to be worthy of learning the first and most basic form.....and then I was sworn to secrecy by the Head Abbot of the Temple of the Pillow......sorry......

Your muscles work on fuel sources.....when you burn those fuels, you are left with a waste product....that is lactic acid....it is the "burn"..... Like your car....it burns air and gasoline.....the waste product that comes out of your tailpipe is carbon monoxide...... You sometimes vomit because youve pushed your body so hard....it happens.....just keep training and your fitness level will increase, and your recovery time will decrease. Good luck !!!

As simple as it sounds......jumping jacks......work your way up to being able to do 1000 in 15 minutes......youll be amazed at the cardio workout you get......doesnt take hardly any space at all.....but boy o boy.....you will be dripping with sweat......along with the cardio aspect of it, youll be working your shoulders, hips, glutes, calves.......lots more going on in a jumping jack than most folks realize......

I have been training since 1973, since I was 7, so I know what its like to train as a child, teen, and adult. At the end of 2003, I took my 5th Dan test. Part of the requirement for this test was to create my own system, and demonstrate it thoroughly to the board of masters who were grading me. The assignment was given to me almost 4 years earlier, when I was tested for my 4th Dan. Meaning.....The masters felt that I was qualified to create a system of my own after 25+ years of training....Im not trying to "knock" you, but with only 11 years of experience, most of which you were a child or pre-teen, do you really think you are qualified to create a system of your own ? You said youve been training yourself for 4-5 years (since youve been 12). That means that your last "formal" instruction was during the time you were 7-12 years old......5 years of training as a child or pre teen....... I really think you should concentrate on getting a formal education first, then take it from there.....many years from now.

I think Ill just sit back and see how this one unwinds.....lol

Goju Ryu is an extremely "complete" system, as Italian Guy said.