Ant

I got handed my information sheet last night and my first grading will be on the 26th of June I am so excited.

Thanks for the replies. I'll get to icing it right away

No it's not a hernia sort of pain, more like an aching muscle sort of pain (like when you have done a lot of excersise) mayber thats all it is I am strengthening that area. And it's not that disgusting is it

Since last Thursday my groin has felt very tight, and even simple stretching is painful to start with. Once I start my stretches I can work back to my usual place, but is this normal or have I over stretched?

Thanks for the reply's I will ask my Sempai tonight about it but I'm pretty sure his answer will be you'll get used to it. There is no visible bruising (maybe a little yellow) onmy right forearm but I really don't want to block anything with it tonight

I'm a little shocked that you guys carry anything at all. I have a maglight in my car that could be used I suppose but whatever happened to good old fashoined avoiding areas of trouble, one good pre-emptive strike and running away?

not muscle mass but to stop the bruising after training. My forearms are taking abettering, is there any remedie to toughening them up?

I have thought of a reason to get a different belt. Mine is too small for me Can't wait for my grading so I can have a belt that fits

Thank you all for the warm welcome.

Hi my name is Ant and I'm from Orpington, Kent, UK. I'm 29 years old and study Shotokan Karate. I did some Karate when I was about 14/15 and was 8th kyu, I started again 3 weeks ago and am enjoying being a white belt again

Heian Nidan and overall flexability but mainly in my hips and hamstrings. I would like my knife hand blocks to be as good as the other hand techniques I can do well.

Shotokan white belt

Hi there first post for me. I've returned to Karate after a break of about 12 years. I am a white belt again but in our club we do the same training as the black and brown belts other than when they are doing the more advanced Kata we either do our own or jsut watch. For me there is no real incentive to get a different coloured belt.