AngelaG

Well personally I think it is a waste of money. And how much image can you get from a top of the range orange belt (for example) anyway?

AND Ah the beauty of living of Britain with the NHS. We may knock it but it's comments like this that really bring it home how lucky we are. Aefiebird is in England and therefore has free access to a General Practioner, physiotherapists, radiologists etc. It's there, it's free, go along and check it out. Nothing is too trivial if you have genuine concerns. A couple of weeks ago I went along for an inflamed tendon running up the palm of my hands. I had been putting up with it for over a year, and it was painful and meant I had pretty much lost all mobility in the middle finger of my left hand. I didn't want to bother my doctor. Eventually I lost my temper after jamming it and having excruciating pain, and also it was affecting my training, so I couldn't make proper fists etc. He looked at it and immediately suggested a steroid injection. He took me seriously and treated the problem. Within two days the problem I had been stoically nursing for over a year had been solved and my finger is as good as new!!

Surely it's better to do 50 'girl' push-ups than 10 poorly executed full push-ups? Whether you like it or not it is harder for women to do push ups as they *usually* don't have the chest and shoulder strength of a guy... and we have a much larger chest to push up as well. I once turned around to the guys in my dojo and told them to try doing push ups with 2 bags of sugar attached to the front of their chests. Their faces were priceless. I think instructors give females the options of 'girl' push-ups because some women really can't do full push up and have no intention of training to be able to do so. They are there to do karate not to train a whole new fitness level. Also it would really slow the class down waiting for most females to finish their 10. Finally some women would be so tired after doing any large amount of full push-ups that it would affect their training. However, I am training myself to do full press ups, because I would like more upper body strength. Currently I do a few every night at home; at first I couldn't do 1, now I can struggle my way to 10 (and it is a struggle). The other thing you can do is to find a lowish box or foot rest or something and place your feet up and it and try push ups from there. Good luck!

I agree with people that say get a good quality belt when it comes to a black belt, but I find the idea of buying an expensive kyu rank belt absurd. Once you get your black belt you 'may' not want to change it again so get a really nice one but kyu ranks come and go, why waste your money? JMHO

At our dojo we are told not to smile. My instructor says that it presents a target for them to hit. Suddently they see these big white teeth and instinctively... *blam!*

Well there's nowt long with learning about PPs as long as it's done in a sensible fashion and alongside other training. PPs can give you that little extra in a fight, but you wouldn't want to rely solely on them.

Basically it's still down to the specific dojo. Go along and see whether it is * or not. My mate does the traditional okinawan kata. He also does bunkai, kihon and kata. If there are pressure points, meridians and 5 element theory mentioned don't be put off straight away. Researched properly these things can really enhance your art. If they start talking about no touch KOs etc. probably best to make a run for it.

ERRR last time I checked Europe was not a country. I'm just yanking your chain my friend!

I'm sorry but RyuKyu Kempo is not Dillman's and there is nothing wrong with studying PPs in relation to MA's if done in the proper manner. In self defence you don't want to rely on a no touch KO, but study 5 element theory and a small guy can easily floor a large guy.

Anything to do with Dillman...RUN!!! Is RyuKyu kempo Dillman's system? Ryu Kyu Kempo is Dillmans system ERRRR not necessarily!!!!

A good mate of mine is a 4th Dan in RyuKyu Kempo. I occasionally travel up to do some cross training at his club, and he comes down to our club for the same. Of course it will depend on the instructor again but from what I have seen it is a very good MA.

Seems about equal in my club. Girls tend to go earlier because they notice boys before boys notice girls!

Yeah, but that's because some people have taken these terms and distorted them for their own McDojoish ends, and therefore have given a bad name to other people that use them in a proper sense.

I'm nearly down there in side splits, but I can't do front splits. It's a a psychological thing though. I get scared doing front splits as I feel I have less control and I bottle out.

Well as long as they didn't wash it!

The thing is, your daughter may give up and then when she is 25 start again, look back and say... "Hey, why did you let me give up? I could have been really good by now!". That's the fantastic thing with hindsight, because if you make her keep going she may get to 25 and say, "I really resent you pushing me in to all these things I didn't want to do!". So unless you have a crystal ball I guess at 11 she's old enough to know her own mind, so maybe start cutting down on her schedule a bit. (It's quite intense for a child), and hopefully she'll start missing the training, and hr dojo buddies and want to step up of her own accord! Good luck!!

That is the DIFFERENCE Yeah but some dojos call is 1 touch KO, when in reality they mean a blow, not a poke with the finger. (Which is more "1 touch irritation technique).

He has to run that many cars? Think of that poor guy's petrol bill! And he bought you a soda pop machine? I hope he makes enough on the sales to reimburse himself, I think £2 per can should be adequate. Still nothing beats my black belt vending machine. £3000 for a black belt, extra £1000 if you get it embroidered. Japanese Kanji straight from the local take-away. My top student Mr. SweetandSourPork will explain it all to you!

For a start Judo is ranked completely differently. It's done more on how many of your fights you've won.

Lagging a bit aren't you? Hey, did you have to join the plaid, triple stripped, 7 star, polyester belt club in order to test? What does your school charge for that? I thought my school was pretty resonable... after I got the second mortgage, and picked up a second job it was a piece of cake... Jeez dude.. I'm the owner of the joint. You know, this is a labour of love for me. All the money is ploughed straight back into the club, and I'm living from hand to mouth. I do it for the love of the job and the faces on the wee little children. Anyway, gotta go, my Jet is waiting to take me back to my winter home in the Bahamas. It's ok, I've left my highest ranking 2nd in command in charge, 13th Dan Great Grandmaster Ruler Mystique Smith, he'll be back right after his mum's changed his nappy!

I'd say 7.25 is lightweight, not medium. And I wouldn't get trousers that light if I was doing grappling, or in fact in karate.... to many kiba-dachi and...... ****rip****

Researching ki does not make you a McDojo... dismissing it out of hand makes you closed-minded. 1 touch KO... yeah *... 1 STRIKE KO... c'mere and let me show you!

Lagging a bit aren't you?

There are several McDojos in my area. They are a certain school that does "karate kickboxing". iIwon't mention names because any members from the school here may feel insulted, but they are truly awful. Oh and if you buy a franchise you can become a BB instructor after a couple of weekends training!

If you have Olympic Karate you will get even more McDojos springing up everywhere. I say keep karate well and truely out of the karate, and keep it pure!