Jade

Well...i have to agree because i experienced situations like that. Imagine if its your Instructor to make fun of some of his "less good" students? I started training shotokan in a dojo where the Sensei was respected as "karate teacher"...i mean, he was one of the best karateka around...but as person sometime he was an *. For example, there was a kinda fat boy that he tried to make his best to learn karate and the instructor sometime made fun of him for what he was...what the hell, with time i discovered that in that dojo respect didn't exist. Several students didn't respect the sensei and vice versa. Now i find a dojo where the teacher is a great person...and even if he can't answer all my questions, i respect him because i see he make his best to teach his students with passion. Ti, if that girs you talk about think that your instructor doesn't teach her...tell her she have to respect him first...and not talking or bothering while your're training.

Paintings, drawing, playing soccer with friends, making/editing videogames, doing various stuff with pc...

lol...The Rooster..."live and let live"...exactly my motto...

Female: Angelina Jolie Male: Can't choose between Johnny Depp and George Clooney!

Frequently happen with me too. ..I'm 23...and people say i look alot younger...

I agree deeply with Drunken Monkey......it's not the perfection of the pic that make the good artist... Btw...i've other two pics: This wallpaper ispired to a famous videogame... http://www.sharemation.com/jadedragon/Maxfanart2.jpg And a fanfic character i did to a friend http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/art/images/1131.jpg Com'on guys and gals...post also your works!

Nothing special??? They look really good! The face is not an easy particular to draw and you painted them so realistic!

Since i'm a great drawing and painting lover...i wanna know if there're any artists around that would like to share and discuss their works. Feel free to post it here! Here something handle sketched and coloured/modified with Paint shop pro... http://www.sharemation.com/jadedragon/Nem.jpg

I practiced this kata rarely...actually i always see it performed by other higher ranks...but in my point of view...if you think about the movement you do with the staff....to me, it's more reasonable the second application of the kata.... I don't know...that's only my opinion...i might be wrong and probably we never know what's the true application of it since katas are true mysteries...

Yes...probably because we had only 10-15 mins to show...and our instructor menaged to do a bit of basic kihon, kata, kihon for kumite and fee combat. Well...being in a music bar there were at best one hundred of people...not many if you aim to recruit students...but i'm happy they enjoyed it.

I agree Heian...i really started LOVING karate after my blue belt...it's something that become more and more strong month after month in my adventure in Shotokan. Oh btw...some weeks ago we did that demo i was talking about... The funny thing is that i was talking to the gym owners that watched the entire show(including other martial arts and gymnastic ones) and they said to me that they were happy to have seen a entertaining demostration because usually the karate ones are "boring". Now...may it be that karate(even in demos) often looks boring???

It depends....when i don't concetrate correctly the enrgy it's only a loud "Hey!!!"....and when i'm in a right tension is somethink like "DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

Well...someone said "it's not the art that make the man...but man that make the art"...or something like... ...i agree with him...

I think Czech Rep. is one of the few teams that deserve to win this tournement...i watched the match of yesterday and they are really good.

Well...in Italy you have to wait alot to get high ranks. I had an istructor that was 5th dan and he said he needed almost 30 years of training to get this grade. After you got first dan(usually 5 years needed)...from 1st to 2nd you have to train for three years,; from 2nd to 3rd you need 4 years; from 3rd to 4th you need 5 years and from 4th to 5th you have to train for 6 years. All depending on your skills of course...if you not pass every test by its time you will need alot more.

WTF....Denmark vs Sweden ended 2-2...poor Italy

I think we are making confusion... You have to consider that martial arts are seen as " extremely violent" by people that are not into them...that's why some "pacifists" may not be interested in it...BUT this doesn't mean they are "sissies" or something like shy and sweet guys/gals.

As you said it yourself; we are just discussing each others point of views. I am not trying to change other peoples minds; I am just trying to clarify my point of view. Why do you ask this? Do you want me to shut up because I have another point of view? Shut up because of your point of view? No...i was not saing that...probably i meant it regardless how you often say..."Jade said that"..."Jade stated something not proved..."...it looks like you're accusing me for certain comments... And now...since we are serious people...i say...let's shut up(BOTH) with this discussion of our different point of views and back on topic please.

Mmm....drawing and painting is one of my passions...but actually i never made karate inspired pictures...that would be a good subject...

Ripper....you're going on with your discussion...if you find that MA did not change you or is not because Karate that someone change positively...then why you still go on? You already said your point of view...why are you tring to change other people mind?

I watched only the second half of the match...Englad played good but not at its best(see for example Beckam... )...and France has a genious like Zidane that is very rare... *watching at italian_guy comment*.........

-The Lord Of The Ring Trilogy -The Killer -Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon -The Last Samurai -Die Hard Serie -Letal Weapon 1 and 4 -Anna & The King -Matrix 1 -Face/Off -Pirates Of The Caribbean -The Rock -Silence of the Lambs -The Bone Collector -Red Dragon ...and many others....

I hope Italy will play better in the next match...the first one was boring.

I think this site has some of the best kata videos... http://www.shotojukukai.com/kata/kata.htm

Interesting...i've the same opinion....ki is often described as some special power....an unknown energy that can be pulled out with a strong meditation....but i believe that it's rather a mechanical combination of our body at its best....or something like you said.