zuluking

Background: I am 1st Dan, my Sensei is 3rd Dan. I'm attending a biker rally with one of my Sensei's who loves Harleys. We're standing near the "cool" bikes, you know, the ones that are tricked out, admiring the bikes. Behind me there are bikini clad babes throwing T-shirts into the crowd. My back is to the main crowd because I'm checking out the bikes and could care less about a free Harley T-shirt. Some wanna-be biker dude is backing up quickly to catch an airborne T-shirt, and he backs right into my back, rather forcefully. I automatically, without even thinking-just reacting, throw an elbow and catch him flush in the nose as he is spinning around. The blood starts to gush and he starts to moan as a bunch of "real" bikers are now like, "What the hell is going on here?" I'm already into a defense stance, moving to put the entire crowd in front of me. Sensei is quickly explaining what happened. Meanwhile, the broke nose dude has run away. What's my play here?

One of these guys tonight came at me like a freaking freight train. Legs and arms flying with real nice form and finding their mark. I HATE to go toe to toe, but I found that backing off, circling, etc., had no effect. He was QUICK and on me wailing away like it was by Black Belt test all over again.

This is getting so frustrating. Tonight I sparred several 20 somethings and got my butt throughly kicked. I'm not hurt, or even bruised thanks to the pads, but my ego is taking a real blow. One guy in praticular was so all over me that I actually turned my back on him, something I haven't done since, well since white belt. I'm frustrated, saddened, unhappy, depressed, etc., over this. I'm starting, no, I AM doubting my abilities. Its like I'm a orange belt again fighting some brown belt who is just toying with me. Its really really affecting me mentally. Sorry, I ramble sometimes, especially when frustrated. One more thing. I've taken some advice here and backed off a bit on the daytime training. I do upper body on Monday and Thursday, and lower body on Tuesday and Saturday. This has allowed me to add more treadmill/running time. Thanks for listening. zulu

Now that I spar other Black Belts all the time instead of Brown and below, I feel so damn old (44 years) and slow. Its getting more and more difficult to keep up with a 20 or early 30 something for 3 rounds. I've added a lunchtime weight lifting regime to my workouts, 5-6 days a week for 1 hour, and I added more heavy bag work, 1/2 hour 5-6 days a week. This is in addition to regular classes 6 nights a week. Any advice?

What site(s) online would you recommend for Gold Embroidered Black Belts?

I've obtained my 1st Dan but do to recent events (too long to go into here) I'm having "issues" with my Shihan. I'll be training in some form of Martial Arts the rest of my life...its the best thing that ever happened to me and I'm paid up through September. I will be moving on to another Dojo my question is this: Should I move on now or wait until September?

The test began last night with the 1-mile run. I had 8 minutes and did it in 7:45. This was followed by push ups and sit ups. 50 each in a minute each. No problem. Then was stand-up self defense. Grabs, chokes, take downs, etc. Smooth sailing for me. Then came grappling, or Ju-Jitsu to some people. I breezed through the positions of advantage and their submissions, but then came my moment to grapple Sensei David, a 2nd degree black belt. We had 2-3 minute rounds. He basically gave me a butt kicking on the ground. But I survived, even holding my own at times and we moved on to sparring. 3-2 minute rounds, full contact. My first opponent was Sensi Pablo, a 3rd degree black belt. We were about 30-45 seconds into the round, and I was holding my own, if you call getting kicked in the stomach a few times holding your own. But I did manage to get a few strikes in, until "the kick". My hands were already starting to feel heavy from the 16 ounce gloves and I dropped my left hand just a bit. WHAM! He caught me with a roundhouse kick to the temple sending me to the floor out cold. I don't know how long I was out, but the next thing I know my Shihan (Master) is asking me where I was, my name, etc. I somehow convinced him I was okay (I wasn't) and the round continued. The whole dojo was a whrilling, spinning, blurry mess. Sensei Pablo knocked me around and down to the mat 3 more times before the round ended. I had 1 minute to recover and get my head straight for round 2. Sempi Sebastian a 2nd degree Black Belt. This time I was up against speed, not power. My head was still spinning, but I managed to smack or kick him 1-2 times for every 10 he hit me. The round ended and I almost threw up (really). 1 more minute to recover and the final round. Sensei Robert a 2nd degree Black Belt. A big, brusing, hulk of a man. I'm 6'1", 225, he easily outweighs me by 40 pounds standing 6 feet tall. I don't remember much of round 3, I did manage a few well placed side kicks and knee strikes on Sensei Robert, but of course, I hit the mat 3 or 4 times as he smacked me around. The round ended, the Black Belts cheered for me, and a doctor came over to check me out. He said I probably had a mild concussion (mild?!?!) and I told him I didn't care. Sparring in a Black Belt test is more about character, not quitting, not saying "I give" more than anything else, and I didn't quit. This morning was the 2 hour written test and I nailed it, only missing 2 questions. Then came Katas, which I aced. Techniques followed, and I aced those too. Then came falls and rolls, board breaking, and the test was over. During board breaking I tore some tendions in my elbow, but at the point I didn't care, and its nothing a sling and some bourbon can't take care of. I'll recieve my belt Wednesday night. Thanks for listening.

The test began last night with the 1-mile run. I had 8 minutes and did it in 7:45. This was followed by push ups and sit ups. 50 each in a minute each. No problem. Then was stand-up self defense. Grabs, chokes, take downs, etc. Smooth sailing for me. Then came grappling, or Ju-Jitsu to some people. I breezed through the positions of advantage and their submissions, but then came my moment to grapple Sensei David, a 2nd degree black belt. We had 2-3 minute rounds. He basically gave me a butt kicking on the ground. But I survived, even holding my own at times and we moved on to sparring. 3-2 minute rounds, full contact. My first opponent was Sensi Pablo, a 3rd degree black belt. We were about 30-45 seconds into the round, and I was holding my own, if you call getting kicked in the stomach a few times holding your own. But I did manage to get a few strikes in, until "the kick". My hands were already starting to feel heavy from the 16 ounce gloves and I dropped my left hand just a bit. WHAM! He caught me with a roundhouse kick to the temple sending me to the floor out cold. I don't know how long I was out, but the next thing I know my Shihan (Master) is asking me where I was, my name, etc. I somehow convinced him I was okay (I wasn't) and the round continued. The whole dojo was a whrilling, spinning, blurry mess. Sensei Pablo knocked me around and down to the mat 3 more times before the round ended. I had 1 minute to recover and get my head straight for round 2. Sempi Sebastian a 2nd degree Black Belt. This time I was up against speed, not power. My head was still spinning, but I managed to smack or kick him 1-2 times for every 10 he hit me. The round ended and I almost threw up (really). 1 more minute to recover and the final round. Sensei Robert a 2nd degree Black Belt. A big, brusing, hulk of a man. I'm 6'1", 225, he easily outweighs me by 40 pounds standing 6 feet tall. I don't remember much of round 3, I did manage a few well placed side kicks and knee strikes on Sensei Robert, but of course, I hit the mat 3 or 4 times as he smacked me around. The round ended, the Black Belts cheered for me, and a doctor came over to check me out. He said I probably had a mild concussion (mild?!?!) and I told him I didn't care. Sparring in a Black Belt test is more about character, not quitting, not saying "I give" more than anything else, and I didn't quit. This morning was the 2 hour written test and I nailed it, only missing 2 questions. Then came Katas, which I aced. Techniques followed, and I aced those too. Then came falls and rolls, board breaking, and the test was over. During board breaking I tore some tendions in my elbow, but at the point I didn't care, and its nothing a sling and some bourbon can't take care of. I'll recieve my belt Wednesday night. Thanks for listening.

I'll be testing for 1st Dan in October and would appreciate some opinions on "ramping up" for the test. My idea (not set in stone) is this: I'll continue to train normally 6 nights a week until the week after July 4th. I'm on vacation that week and I'm thinking I'll start to slowly ramp up after that. It'll give me 90 days or so. I'll begin some serious weight training 4 days a week. Not lifting for bulk, but for strength. Running....ugh....I'll admit I HATE it, but I've GOT to do it to build the stamina. What would you suggest? 1 mile a day, building to 3 miles? Run every other day? I'm clueless here but I HAVE to build up more stamina, this test is 6-8 hours long! Diet: Another "ugh". Less fat, more protien, anything else? Between NOW and October (I don't want to wait until July for this part) I NEED to drop 25 pounds. I'm currently 6' 1", 245. Perhaps more running now would help? A mile a day? A mile every other day? I'm sure there's more, but this is enough for now as I tend to ramble...

That is the obvious reason ranks are given out so fast in this day and age IMHO.

Old way: You learn 1-2 katas a year, you receive 1-2 belts per year. New way: You learn 1 kata every belt, you receive a new belt every 3-6 months. Which is better? Discuss.

Friday night after class, Shihan asked me to stay for graduation and do a board-breaking demonstration. I could break 5 boards anyway I choose. What I didn't do was inspect the boards prior to the breaking, or I would have seen that one of the boards was Grrrrrrreen! The sequence on the 5 boards went like this: Lunge punch, reverse elbow strike, over-the-top lunge hammer fist, reverse palm-heel strike, head-butt. OOPS! Guess which one I hit the green board on? TONG! That's the only sound I could hear, save the ---gasps--- from the audience. But I did what any good warrior would do, I re-grabbed the board and smacked it on my forehead again, to resounding applause from the crowd as the board shattered. The rest...you don't want to know...

I just wanted to say THANK YOU to all who gave me moral support when I failed my Brown Belt test last month. I re-tested today and passed! I'm going to bed now.....I'm VERY sore! Thank you again.

I spoke with Sensei James yesterday. He was very nice and told me I could workout with them.

I'll be in Las Vegas and would love to get a couple of workouts in at Las Vegas Shotokan at 2929 Sahara Blvd. What is the protocal? Should I call, send an email (so impersonal I think), or just show up? Is there anyone on this board who goes to that school? Thanks in advance!