steveb

Yes there is. Unfortunately they are unwieldy, bulky and uncomfortable. Strange, the men's versions are a delight to wear at all times. I even wear mine to work just in case.

Mardi Gras starts on my birthday! Woohoo!

I also got a new digital camera which was the main thing on my list. Funniest gift - a little plastic reindeer that poops brown jellybeans

Why don't you tell us what is available in your area?

To be able to do full splits by the end of the year!

Since our head instructor/school owner is a 5th degree black belt we are expected to address him as "Master Smith". The assistant instructors are addressed as "Mister Smith" or "Mrs Smith".

Well since I don't have any experience (yet) with either weapon I couldn't say which would have the advantage, however I'd love to watch the match!

Dips are pushups done hanging in between two bars so that your body is vertical instead of horizontal. They are a killer exercise for your triceps, lats, and lower chest.

How would the Vikings know about these projections if they were microscopic? They didn't have microscopes. Not doubting that a piece of a sword that happened to break off in a wound would cause infection, just doubting that they would have designed it that way since they didn't even know what caused infection at that time in history. Seems like an exaggerated story, imho.

Practice doesn't make perfect! Perfect practice makes perfect. Also, I'm not conviced that speeding up your form to simulate stress is the right way to approach this problem. Your problem is the same problem that singers, musicians, etc face when in front of a live audience. They get nervous about making a mistake and looking foolish. In my experience the best way to overcome this type of performance anxiety is to perform in front of non-judgemental crowds (family, friends, etc). They will not laugh or ridicule you for any mistakes and you will gain confidence that you can survive the experience. This worked for me in the past when I had to do public speaking, hopefully it will help you as well. Good luck.

Try an expandable baton. They collapse down to pocket size, spring open at a touch, and are non-lethal. Check your w/ your local police for concealed carry laws.

You might want to read up on Bill "Superfoot" Wallace. He also had a bad leg and became an excellent kicker, for both high and low kicks. Perhaps you could gain some info and/or inspiration from his story. I'm glad though that you have found a way to adapt.

The sword that pirates use is the cutlass. An example of a sabre would be a cavalry sword.

Ouch! Looks like he passed out off camera too.

I only have 1 tip for you...keep practicing. You get better at sparring by sparring. Trying a fancy trick to get noticed will probably work, since you will most likely mess it up and get pounded. For now just try to learn how to hit a moving target. Good luck.

The hockey tape is a good idea. We were doing 6-count drills one night when one of my sticks broke. It flew across the room and onto the other floor where there was a kata class. Our instructor now requires the tape on all our sticks.

My tonfa's finally arrived! Yay!

This is starting to sound like the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game

You'll shoot your eye out!!!

Good for you!

For the record, Dlopez's list was correct except for #5 as Battousai noted. Battousai also got #15 and Monkeygirl #11. Hope everyone had fun

Yes it is, Lady Mayor

Can you guess the alternate titles for these well-know Christmas songs? 1. Quadruped with crimson proboscis 2. 5 p.m. to 6 a.m. without noise 3. Miniscule hamlet in the far east 4. Ancient benevolent despot 5. Adorn the vestibule 6. Exuberance directed to the planet 7. Listen, aerial spirits harmonizing 8. Monarchial trio 9. Yonder in the haystack 10. Assemble, everyone who believes 11. Hallowed post meridian 12. Colorless December 25th 13. Tin tintinnabulums 14. A dozen 24-hour Yule periods 15. Befell during the transparent bewitching hour 16. Homo sapien of crystallized vapor 17. I merely desire a pair of incisors 18. I spied my maternal parent osculating a fat man in red 19. Perambulating through a December solstice fantasy 20. Aloft on the acme of the abode 0-5 correct - Total Grinch! 6-10 correct - Bit of a Scrooge 11-15 correct - Elf wanna-be 16-19 correct - Santa's helper 20 correct - Mayor of Who-ville!

So if you blow off class then they won't allow you to test, thereby taking the decision out of your hands. Very passive / aggresive. C'mon, make a decision and stand by it and quit trying to tiptoe around everyone elses thought / feelings. You'll feel a hundred times better by making up your own mind and sticking to it.

I like the heart of the first one.