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tkdkarategirl That is an awesome idea I have been thinking about doing the same thing at my church, did you run into any insurance problems??

There is a bill, House Bill No. 735, pending before the Commerce Committee of the State House of Representatives that, in its present form, would subject karate, tae kwon do and other martial arts disciplines to the regulatory authority of the State Boxing and Wrestling Commission. The bill, intorduced by Rep. Mert Smiley (Livingston & Ascension Parishes) may be downloaded at the following website: http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/byinst.asp?sessionid=05RS&billid=hb735 The bill is set for hearing before the House Commerce committee this coming Tuesday, May 10, at 9:30 am. We need to show up and be counted. Come to the State Capitol building, House of Representatives, committee room 1. Meanwhile, email the sponsor of the bill, Representative Smiley and the Committee. To find their web pages & email addresses, go to: http://house.legis.state.la.us/H-Reps/members.asp?ID=88 The consensus of legal opinion is that the bill would definitely include us under the commission's authority. The consensus of cynical opinion is that, since there is no need to regulate us - since there's no evidence of any problem that needs to be addressed - the probable intent is to broaden the commission's authority so as to increase its reason for existence and sources of revenue. As I hope most of you are aware, there is a bill pending before the state house of representatives (House Bill No. 735) that would make karate and other traditional martial arts "exhibitions" and competitions subject to the regulatory authority of the State Boxing and Wrestling Commission. The bill will be considered by the House Commerce Committee on Tuesday, May 10, at 9:30 am in House of Rep. Committee Room no. 1, in the State Capitol building. We're hoping to have a good crowd there, but that's not why I'm writing you. Three of the members of the Commerce Committee are from St. Tammany Parish: Mike Strain and Diane Winston of Covington, and A.G. Crowe of Slidell. People with experience working the legislature have told us that telephone calls and other messages from constituents to their representatives on a committee considering a bill are very effective. You are in a position to be have a big impact in defeating this needless and destructive bill in committee, before it goes any further. Call the St. Tammany Parish members of the Commerce Committee, whether you're in their district or not, and tell them your connection to karate and that you are concerned with and oppose the bill. A list of the members appears at the bottom of this message. Call them at home this weekend (look up their home numbers if not in the list.) Or no later than Monday at their offices. Send them email also, but call them. Go the max. And get other karate people in the parish to do the same. The obvious reason for opposition is that there is simply no need for government regulation of traditional martial arts training and competitions, and certainly no need has been demonstrated by the proponents of the bill (whoever they are). For example, our karate organizaton, ASKF, has been holding annual, regional competitions in New Orleans for 41 years, and no one has shown evidence of any need for its regulation by a state commission. As to what's really behind the bill, Steve Robichaux has been unable to get a straight answer. He's spoken to the sponsor, Rep. Mert Smiley (Livingston & Ascencion Parishes)., who claimed not to know much about the bill; he was asked to introduce it by the chairman of the boxing commission. Steve spoke to the chairman of the commission, who also claimed not to know much and referred Steve to the lawyer who drafted the bill. Last I talked to Steve, he was waiting for a call-back from the lawyer. The general opinion is that, whatever the purported purpose, the real intent is to bring the martial arts under the jurisdiction of the boxing commission so as to increase the commission's reason for existence (boxing's very weak in La) and to increase its revenue base (commissioners salaries come from the revenues of the commission's licencing and taxing authority. Ten years ago we beat back an open attempt to bring us under the boxing commission. This is a replay, but less straight-forward. I'm not going to analze the bill here. It speaks mostly of "mixed martial arts." Of the 3 lawyers that have reviewed it for us, the opinion is unanimous that it would bring us under the boxing commission's regulatory authority. The bill is House Bill No. 735. It may be downloaded at: http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/byinst.asp?sessionid=05RS&billid=hb735 Look at the definition of "mixed martial arts" in section 85(5), and the definition of "amateur" in section 85(1)(b), which serves to make clear that the bill would include us under the boxing commission, although in the "amateur" category. Here's the list of all members, including St. Tammany Parish members, of the House of Rep Commerce Committee: Acadiana:Gillis Pinac, Chairman (Acadia & Lafayette) (337) 783-7963 Crowley larep042@legis.state.la.usMickey Frith (Cameron & Vermillion) (337) 893-5035 Abbeville larep047@legis.state.la.usBrett Frank Geymann (Beauregard & Calcasieu) (337) 491-2315 Lake Charles larep035@legis.state.la.usChuck Kleckley (Calcasieu) (337) 475-3016 Lake Charles larep036@legis.state.la.usDon Trahan (Lafayette & Vermillion) (337) 984-0175 Lafayette larep031@legis.state.la.us Baton Rouge:Bodi White (E. Baton Rouge & Livingston) (225) 791-2199 Denham Springs larep064@legis.state.la.us Shreveport/N. Louisiana:Jean Doerge, Vice-chair (Webster) (318) 371-3092 Minden larep010@legis.state.la.usBeverly Bruce (Caddo & DeSoto) (318) 872-1666 Mansfield larep007@legis.state.la.usWayne Waddell (Caddo) (318) 219-9000 Shreveport larep005@legis.state.la.usMichael Walsworth (West Monroe) (318) 340-6453 larep015@legis.state.la.us St. TammanyA. G. Crowe (St. Tammany) (985) 643-3600. Res: (985) 863-2926. Slidell larep076@legis.state.la.usMichael Strain (St. Tammany, Tangipahoa & Washington) (985) 893-6246 Covington larep074@legis.state.la.usDiane Winston (St. Tammany & Tangipahoa) (985) 893-6262 Covington larep077@legis.state.la.us Greater New Orleans Area:Juan LaFonta (Orleans) (504) 942-7991 New Orleans larep096@legis.state.la.usTank Powell (Tangipahoa) (985) 386-2910 Ponchatoula larep073@legis.state.la.usHarold Ritchie (St. Tammany & Washington) (985) 730-2147 Bogalusa larep075@legis.state.la.usDerrick Shepherd (Jefferson) (504) 371-0263 Marrero larep087@legis.state.la.usGary Smith (St. Charles & St. John) (985) 764-9122 Norco larep56@legis.state.la.us When the Representatives are in their offices in the Capitol, they can be reached by phone at (225) 342-6945.

Mandeville Karate Training Center Mandeville, La Joe Dupaquier The quote on my signature is from him

As a Christian I applaud your article, God bless you for speaking out on our behalf. "When the devil reminds you of your past remind him of his future" A quote from my wife...

I don't know your age but do take your time. If you make it a part of your daily routine you will get there eventually. I do a middle split for 10 minutes each night while I watch the news religiously and it has done wonders. I do not stretch to hard just let it hurt a little and I find each week I get closer to my goal.

That is a wise teacher, we do give out Peewee and Jr. Black belts but once you turn 17 you must re-test for your 1st DAN if you fail you are a 1st brown again.

Amen, could not have said it better myself

I go to a traditional TKD school and find it closly resembles Shotokan.

My five year old son started around 3 months ago. My three year old son cant wait, but I will hold him off till five also. I find it easier to get your kids involved at a young age when they see a parent doing it. My wife also takes but can not spar due to a past neck injury so she is just in it for the health benefits (which are many).

We start everyone with no belt even a white belt has to be earned

This is a sample of our Yellow belt test Forms: Kuk Mu I, II, III (H-Forms 1-3) One-step Techniques: 10 (3-technique) combinations against right arm attack 5 (3-tech.3.2e) Free-style sparring combination Free-style Sparring: Experience Basic Techniques... Hand Techniques: Low block, upper block, outside middle block, inside middle block, straight punch, vertical punch, reverse punch, knife-hand strike, back-hand strike, back-fist strike, ridge-hand strike, elbow strike. Leg Techniques: Front snap kick, side kick, front roundhouse kick, back kick, roundhouse kick, spin thrust kick, front thrust kick. Stance: Attention stance, ready position, front stance, straddle leg stance, side stance, back stance. And this is a 1st Black belt test Forms: Kuk MuI-VI, Pyong An I-V (Advanced Form 1-5), Chul Gi I, Pal Sek, weapon form (Bo, Sai, etc...), one form of choice (Iron Claw, Yun Bee) One-step Techniques: 15 (6-technique) combinations 10 (5-technique) Free-style sparring combinations. Free-style Sparring: Tournament experience, three on one or four on one, advanced ability. Basic Techniques... Hand Techniques: Low block, upper block, outside middle block, inside middle block, knife-hand block, box block, cross block, straight punch, vertical punch, reverse punch, knife-hand strike, back-hand strike, back-fist strike, ridge-hand strike, elbow strike, palm-heel strike, spear-hand thrust, hammer-fist strike, lunge punch. Leg Techniques: Front snap kick, side kick, front roundhouse kick, back kick, roundhouse kick, spin thrust kick, front thrust kick, spin back kick, skip-in side kick, skip-in front roundhouse kick, skip in roundhouse kick, skip in spin thrust kick, skip-in spin back kick, flying front snap kick, flying side kick, flying spin back kick, flying roundhouse kick, jumping side kick, jumping front snap kick, jumping roundhouse kick, jumping spin back kick, side take down, leg sweep. Stance: Attention stance, ready position, front stance, straddle leg stance, side stance, back stance, cat stance, cross stance Assistant Teaching Experience: 1 1/2 years. At each level from Yellow to Black Forms and Techniques are added in and all have to be performed on each test.

Spinning Back Kick...

sorry.. length

Class lenth 1 1/2 hours Stretchs/crunches/pushups about 20 minutes Fighting combonations about 15 minutes One steps about 15 minutes Forms about 15 minutes Sparring 25 minutes

USKA (United States Karate Alliance) it is open to all styles