Kicks

Actually it was Electra who did the hanging sandbags thing. So...how do you look in skin tight leather? http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/MMPH-E/254428.jpg

Since I don't compete in your style I won't go into strategy, but instead some other preparations. Let's talk hydration and nutrition. Be sure to be well hydrated. The day before the tournament you should drink enough water that your urine is clear. Bring water to the tournament, not sports drinks. If you want a sports drink, save it till after you're finished competing. Eat a good breakfast of complex carbs. I like whole wheat pancakes the morning of a tournament. Bring some healthy snack to snack on during the day to help maintain your blood sugar level. You don't want to eat a candy bar to get that sugar rush and then crash as you enter the ring. You will probably feel butterflies in your stomach, you might get a dry mouth (cotton-mouth) and your legs will feel like they are made of cement. I've been competing and winning for seven years now and I still get that way. It's natural. It sometimes helps to distract yourself from the competition by talking to and getting to know the people in your division. I've made friendships with several guys I normally compete against. It helps you realize that they are just normal folks like yourself. If your legs feel heavy, lay on your back with your feet up against a wall. This has helped me before. Get a good warm up if you can. When I am judging it's hard to break away to warm up before I compete, but as a green belt you shouldn't have any problem. Try to break a sweat. Get your second wind before competing. And yes, it's very important….HAVE FUN

I was at a tournament when a fight broke out. No, that's not a joke. I ws judgeing a match between two rival schools. The guy in 'red' punched 'blue' in the face twice during the match. Remember, in WTF we fight bare knuckled and punches to the head are illegal. Well, red got disqualified. After the match the girl friend of 'red' started shouting at 'blue'. He shouted back across the crowd and eventually threw something at her. Next thing I know the stands cleared, the security guards we in there, and it was a mess. It was like a hockey game, or little league baseball!

Patrick, Glad we're back up!

Back on the subject of kicks to the face. WTF rules state that adults are allowed to kick to "Head and neck area at the front and sides but not at the back." Two points are awarded for a kick to the head. And you can kick to knock out your opponent. In fact, if you knock your opponent down and he gets a standing 8 count, you are awarded an additional point. Remember, to score a point you have to hit with "trembling shock" (even to the body), that is, you have to make his body tremble or move. The USTU has a set of Junior Safety rules that fliped-floped a few times over the past few years. This is probably what is causing confusion. There was a time where, under junior safety rules, you could kick to the face, then it was taken away, then reinstated, etc. These are the offical rules as posted on the USTU website: Ages 6 - 11 year olds, all belts: any attack to the head that does not cause injury will result in a warning. An injury will result in a 1 point deduction. If the injured competitor can not continue due to the injury, the attacker is disqualified. For 12 - 13 year old black belts and 12 - 17 year old color belts: kick to face is allowed, but must be light and controlled. If the kick causes a minor injury the attacker will be isued a one point deduction. If the injured competitor can not continue due to the injury, the attacker is disqualified. For 14 - 17 year old black belts: two points are awarded for a kick to the head if it is light contact. No bonus points for a knock down with a count. Excessive contact will be receive the appropriate penalty. Hope this helps, Kicks

I thought about that too, but suspect it could encourage posting just for the sake of running up numbers. The threads would be filled with jibberish. Not that 47MM would do that. lol 47MM, just yaking ya chain.

Red J wrote: LOL, you just had to Tee-Off on the puns.

Amen

Last year when I competed in the USTU SR Nationals I was told something by one of my competitors that surprised me. I had beaten him in the semi-finals and then went on to win the finals. He told me that he had a feeling before the matches even started that I was going to win. Huh??? He said he was last year's division winner and had an easy win before facing me. He said the way I carried myself and was acting before the matches lead him to start thinking that. Then during my fight with him he said I just wanted it more, had more heart. The match was actually a tie and the decision went to me. I won the finals by a large margin. I thought about what he told me and just can't see what he was talking about. At least, I don't think I acted in a way that I would have come to that conclusion. This is what I did: When everyone (many divisions waiting to go out) was in the holding area I studied my bracket. I then walked around and read people's name tags and knew who was who. When the officials called out my division and when I saw those guys not responding I called them out by name to come line up. My coach and I kept a fairly light-hearted attitude as we went out on the mat. At ringside everyone sat, but I went to the corner and stood and warmed up a little (this was allowed since it wasn't crowded there). My coach and I also stood there and analyzed the other fighters as they competed. During my matches I was the only one in my division that would reach over and shake hands with my opponent before the match and before the announcement of winner. When I was sparring I did smile, I never attacked in anger or a violent manner, and I even told my opponents "good hit" a few times. I known, you're not supposed to talk, but that's the instructor in me coming out. I guess this may have been interpreted as confidence, and could be intimidating too.

I was reading some of the "stories" on this thread and thought I'd add mine. I was a novice at golf and trying to play a round with a friend. He was teaching me all the tricks to improving my score. A couple of rude guys caught up to us and started making fun of me. Of course a battle of words insued. Them one took a club out and shook it at me. So I shook one of mine at him. He swung. I swung and swung and swung. When the police got there the guy was laid out on the ground. The cops asked what had happened and I told them. They looked again at that guy and asked me "How many time did you strike him?". I said, "7, but put me down for 4".

Thanks y'all. As MOM (?) I'd like to proclaim free doughnuts for all, and supplied by the KF moderators.

Dean, got photos? We'd like to see.

I knew you were near antique age, but don't you consider yourself a child, or "kid" at heart? I know I do. Even my kids think I'm just a big kid. And last week my son and daughter told me that their classmates consider me "the cool dad". So grab a soda and bag of chips and sit and enjoy a few episodes of Scooby Doo!

dude...did ya survive?!

Hey thanks guys! I never did see an announcement on the website about the move. Do you think they're trying to tell me something?

Yea, and I would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for you medeling kids. (Shorinryu Sensei!!!)

Sure, sweep me under the rug.

Does anybody know what happened to the USTU's website. It has been down a couple of weeks now. Did the URL change? Are they doing maintenance? Are they ka-put? http://www.ustu.com/ ps: now watch that I posted this it will start working! ha ha.

Yep, we all give you "Thumbs Up", uh, all except that bully. He has to wait till his hand heals first.

Our 3rd dans train in using a walking cane as the weapon of self defense in the Hapkido part of our training. It's a requirement for 4th dan testing.

I hope you did well. Let us know. We want photos! When I was 2nd Dan I did Keumgang in competition. I really did not like that form. I felt it too repetitive and I would lose focus. Once in competition I was coming to the final moves when I hesitated for an instant and thought “do I go left or right? Where am I?” So I went right. After I went to ring side I told an instructor friend of mine “I almost screwed up by going left but I caught myself and went right”. A few minutes later I realized I shouldn’t have brought attention to myself because I really should have gone left and NOT right. Ughhhhhh!

Congratulations!!! You done good. You made us proud.

My son (The One) did this: http://www.livaudaisnet.com/monkey.jpg

Anybody here from Texas? I saw one the other day day that said "Let's Mess with Texas"

Yep. You hit the nail on the head!