RaidenTB

At our place we have a minimal training time before one can test for a higher belt. When this time elapses there are two options: - if you're an adult you have to test. No excuses here. If you fail, you have to test again next time (and so on...) The instructor explains why you failed, what are your flaws - so you can fix them until next time. It could be understood as a sort of an evaluation of your work over the last semester. It's also easier to take a look at someone's technique individually rather than during the training, when you have to deal with a group of people. And if you haven't reached the required level in the given ammount of time, well, it's nice to know if you're doing something wrong. I guess the alternative would be to talk to your sensei after class, but as I said, he's not focusing only on you during the class. - if you're a kid, the instructor tells you whether you're ready or not. He also explains to the parents, so that they understand if their kid isn't allowed to test. Gradings are twice a year. The system seems to be working.

Massaging with ice is supposed to help and the doctor could prescribe you some sort of anti-inflammatory gel that would keep the swelling and the pain down. Resting also helps Since the doctor hasn't prescribed you anything, I think you'll just have get used to it and start predicting the weather

Theoretically: increase in humidity occurring at the same time as a decrease in barometric pressure (= bad weather) could exert an effect on fluid in joints. Meaning that any existing inflamed tissue in and around joints will expand and cause increased pain. That's theory, it's never been scientifically proven tough.

It takes minimum 6 years of training in our school. You can shorten this time by attending seminars tough. Then it would take you 4 - 5 years. There are no black belts under 18 at our place either. I'm testing in june 2006...

:D

You should find what you're looking for here (lots of useful links and "how to"): http://labmice.techtarget.com/windowsxp/Backup/default.htm To access the Recovery Console: Press F8 after rebooting the PC should Windows freeze while booting up. You can select "Last Known Good Configuration" after rebooting to allow the computer to boot the last backed up files. And you can choose "Safe Mode" to remove any files you know caused the operating system to hang up. To run the Recovery Console from CD, boot with the Windows XP CD (or with the optional 6 floppy disk set) and select "R" at the Welcome Screen. If nothing works, try taking it to a professional. And next time, "before experimenting with your box" make a system restore point and backups of your data... Otherwise, you will If you somehow manage to boot up your system and access your data, copy it to a cd or to the other partition (no you don't need another program for that) and make a new install: You've said you have to two partitons on your hard disk. Windows is installed only on one partition. Insert WindowsXP cd and reboot. You will get a promt that will ask you to press any key to boot from cd If this doesn't work, restart again and enter bios (hit [del] when it prompts you). Look for boot options and set cd-rom as your primary boot device. Save changes and exit bios. If you accidentally make any other changes - exit without saving and try again. When you boot from cd, you will enter a dos based utility. Nothing fancy but it's simple, so you should be able to figure it out. Here're links with screenshots you will see during the install procedure (however keep in mind you don't want to format your disk completly, follow the instructions and take your time): http://www.blackviper.com/Articles/OS/InstallXPPro/installxppro1.htm http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winxppro/installxpcdoldhdd/index.htm Setup will display your hard drive configuration information. You should see two partitions on the list. Choose the partition on which you want to install windows. Once you're done, files will be copied and at some point it will reboot. When installation is complete, don't forget to again change your bios settings (primary boot device would then be HDD 0) and before you start downloading drivers and stuff - install an antivirus program. Here's another link with tips on how to install: http://windows.radified.com/ For more questions you can send me a pm.

Move the data you don't want to lose to the second partition then reinstall windows. It will prompt you to specify the partition to which you want to make the install. That partiton will be formatted, the other will be left intact. How did you screw up your drivers? Otherwise... Service pack 2: Different opinions out there, but I wouldn't recommend it. It's not worth the hassle. The boot up time is longer, the processing time is longer, overall it doesn't exactly boost up the performance of your comp. And the new security center, well, it messes things up. You just don't need it if you have a good utility, something like Norton System Works from Symantec. I would hold off the SP2, until Microsoft clears the bugs.. Somebody advised cleaning your internet cache every 3 months or so. If you browse pages with lots of graphic content you need to do that a lot more often than that. Personally, I completly delete all cookies, temp internet files, history and empty the recycle bin every day before I shut down the system. Save interesting sites in favourites, don't blog your comp with unneccesary data. With time - and it doesn't matter how well you treat your comp - it will get slow. Defragmenting data and optimizing the performance helps, but you'll notice that more and more data becomes unmovable and scattered around the disk. So when it gets painfully slow, back up your data, format the disk and reinstall windows.

I guess all sorts of issues would come up because of all the different styles of karate. It's politics at the end... I don't like politics..

Taekwondo on the olymipics didn't impress me much either. I grasp every chance I get to watch martial arts on tv, competitions, documentaries, whatever. I hope to learn something new. Sometimes it motivates and inspires me. Yes, I would watch kata and sparring competitons if karate was an olympic sport. But that doesn't mean I want it to be one. If you wanna compete, well, feel free to do so. But to me, karate is a martial art. I don't practice to win medals. Competitions are a tool that shows you which techniques you are actually able to use (in a fight) and which still need more practice. You don't need olympics for that. Jedimc: You want to be entertained??? Or are you just saying that if taekwondo made it to the olympics, well, so should karate? Why? Because you think it's better, superiour? Or you you just want it to become recognized as a sport..? Again why? Just asking...

Exactly. and as everyone said... Just breathe - it will help you to relax and save energy before and during the testing. Adrenaline is the hormone to prepare your body for the 'fight or flight' reaction. Just consciously steer all that energy to fight and do your best Believe in yourself and let us know, how it went.

For those of you who want to do it on your own, well, don't read this. Rhino, here you go: (First wall is the first from the left) 1. First mirror reflects the beam to the right, trough the bottom bulb. 2. Use a refractor to get the beam trough the opening in the first wall. 3. Place the next mirror so that the beam goes trough the upper opening in the second wall. Two more bulbs light up. 4. Now, use a splitter. One beam will light one of the bulbs behind the third wall. Use another mirror to light the second bulb. 5. Now use the other beam from the splitter, the one that is pointing to the bottom left. Place the last mirror to reflect the beam trough the bottom opening of the second wall and the opening in the first wall. Hope this helps.

I make notes after practice when something was explained in detail or if anything new and interesting what I'd otherwise forget was said. Once I took time and put down the principles of the techniques, drills, kumite that we do and I update that regularly. Also interpretation and details of katas. It really helps. I read trough the notes from time to time and I always find something I forgot about, something I should work on. The only down thing for me is, that I sometimes feel that I will never be able to include all what is written in these notes - into practice. But that's not really what MA are about, right? We should keep trying

I made it to the end, but please (I'm begging here) don't send the link... Just kidding Send the link, I think that a lot of others will be pleased with that too... I love games like that, but I won't be touching this one until next week. I've got some studying to do here!!

My first question to you was - does she chat up only you or other people in the class as well? But it might not even matter. In any case she obviously thinks, that it's ok for her to do that. And that's because nobody made it clear for her that what she does is actually very annoying and disturbing for other people in the class. If you noticed that it annoys others too, your instructor should be the first in line to warn her about it. Next obvious question would be - why hasn't he done that...? A nice point would also be, that changing your partner for pair work is actually a good thing. For her and for you. I don't think you've been doing her a favour with being quiet about the issue. Sensitive or not - if you're her friend, well, take a deep breath and tell her about what's bothering you. It's bad enough you've waited this long. I think it's better she hears it from you, than from someone else. If you send the instructor to talk to her about it - well, who do you think she'll come crying to? At some point, you'll have to talk to her. The sooner the better. Be nice, but also be honest. If she's really your friend, she'll understand and make an effort...

I'm sooo good :D I made it to the end.. Really, no cheating. But I am gonna flunk an exam or two because of this game...

Restraining from answering the buttcheeks question Combovers are a big no no... If you're bald, don't try to hide it. It looks ridicilous and everyone can tell. Otherwise, I like the hair short... And all the long haired dudes I knew looked better when they were more closely trimmed Besides, the feeling of running the fingers trough short hair is sooooo cool

Good thing the pianos are usually on wheels...

Grrrrr... These warnings never work! Couriosity killed the cat... Good thing it's noon here, so I won't waste the entire day.

Piano, for about 10 years. I was taking lessons for 3 years as a part of other program I was in. After that I continued by myself. I'd really like to learn to play chello. It has such a great sound... By the way: Does anyone sing under the shower?

I agree with Ronnryu; he wrote: So if I have to point out just one, well - I have a love/hate relationship with Seienchin. It's such a strong kata. I love the breathing, the rythm, the movements. But it's quite physically demanding. It's sort of challenging me, saying: Can you do me? Can you make it to the end and keep all the movements strong?

I agree! *drools along with angelica* Yeah, he's the man I say all the men out there should be aging his way...

Male - Sean Connery Female - Halle Berry

'tis a brave man who wears the kilt in January. - Scottish saying If you can't break your nose at it, it ain't a sport. - Tim Wilson There's a fine line between fishing and standing on the shore looking like an idiot. A man generally has two reasons for doing a thing. One that sounds good, and a real one. A man is like a fine wine. He starts out raw as grapes and it's a woman's job to stomp on him and keep him in the dark until he matures into something she'd like to have dinner with. Bigamy is having one wife too many. Monogamy is the same. - Oscar Wilde By all means marry. If you get a good wife, you'll be happy. If you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher... and that is a good thing for any man. - Socrates (I don't necessarily agree with all of them, but some are quite amusing)

Goat Earth element. Really confusing by the way - because the goat is this dreamy imaginative person with head high in the clouds and the earth element is just the opposite of that. Anyway - the goat is prevailing Here's a nice link: http://chinese.astrology.com/?ice=ast,tabchi,sign

Photography Saving money for digital SLR camera.. Probably a Canon EOS 10D Pencil drawing Birdwatching Playing the piano Reading books Teasing and bantering my tortoise I really love to drive, but that doesn't count as a hobby, does it? I'll be getting my hands (my mouse ) on Photoshop soon, so I'll be spending even more time behind the computer than I already do. Really looking forward to that