parkerlineage

I've wondered this before, but do you throw the shots at all, or not even think of it as a target? We always throw, usually controlled - and that hopefully is enough.

6'6'' ! Cool Sometimes. Fighting, specifically. Having a best friend who's 4'11" or 5'...not so convienient, usually. And don't even get me started on trying to kiss girls...

This is American Kenpo, under its proper name. A little history lesson: Kenpo started in the 40's, in Hawaii. When did Hawaii become a state? 1957. Parker always called it Chinese Karate or Chinese Kenpo, because its roots are in Chinese arts. I like it. Can't say anything about how they move, or what they know, as I haven't seen them, but they've got everything right, so far.

The directors of his fimls, no doubt.

Height: 78" or 6'6" Span: 78" or 6'6" Reach: 30" or 2'6"

I'm 6'6", and 180 pounds. My instructor is about 6'1", and about 185 pounds, so we're both the opposite of you and your brother - light and fast. We were dancing one day (not really dancing, in case the imagery was confusing you), and both came in at the same time with axe kicks using our rear legs (kick straight up as high as you can, then drop it on your opponent). Mine started a split second before his, and he saw it, turned his hips, and knife-edged (side kick) the back of my knee that was in the air. I fell rather hard and very amusingly on the ground with a lound crash that made everybody in the dojo stop their sparring and turn and look. It was a good reminder that, no matter how good I get, somebody taught me my tricks.

Maybe it's 'cause I'm young, but I got my rib cracked in kumite a few years ago, and it healed in a matter of a month or so. I sprained my ankle rather badly and was on crutches two months ago, and last week I was throwing 720 heel hooks in sparring and landing butterfly kicks. So maybe the answer is...become younger?

I agree very much. At the last tourney I judged, there was this girl who stood six feet away from me and literally screamed her name, instructor, etc. into my face. Her form was pretty good, but she screamed the whooole time. I think she ended up getting second or something...I put her down for third or fourth. I tend to just focus on letting out breaths at the proper time, or tightening my body just as a kiai would, but minus the yelling. Although, I must admit to a bit of drama myself in tournaments - unfortunately, that's usually what wins, though.

I like it...white-off white-cream-yellow-gold-yellowish orange-light orange-orange-dark orange-orangish green-light green-green-forest green-turquoise-sky blue-blue-royal blue-purple-pink-red-crimson-burgandy-tan-brown-dark brown-gray-blackish-black-rainbow That's twenty something...I'm totally doing that....

Fogot about that, actually...

Thanks, guys!

I wish I had that problem. The louder I go, the more stomach support I give it, and, being a tenor, the higher and less threatening my kiai becomes. Although, after the last tourney, several parents who had never actually seen me really moving told me that I have a very scary look on my face when I do my kata, so that can counter it, I suppose.

On the other hand, Kara-te used to mean "Hands of China..."

We keep our eyes on our partner as a sign of respect. Other than that, I don't think it matters - most people on the street don't actually bow to one anotehr before they fight.

I'm getting a custom made white oak staff. Heavy, but not cumbersome, and durable - also domestic, so not as expensive.

There are probably as many styles of karate as there have ever been masters or people who deemed themselves masters. American Kenpo, a sixty something year old art, has so many branches and substyles, you'd think it was ancient. How much more so with other styles!

I love it! I'm totally doing it! Landlubbers beware, Pi Rat Do is here!

I've heard some insane screams in my time...can't call any specific instance to mind, but there's some crazy stuff out there. People go overboard in tourneys, sometimes.

See, that's what I'd like to go to. White-Yellow-Blue-Brown-Black, or something. If we Americans weren't so needy and always seeking a pat on the back, I'd go to white-brown-black.

I'm pretty sure the thing I addressed was the envelope with directions and stuff. I'll send you my e-mail address. Let's see...at the school that you would recognize that you trained with back then...sheesh...Ryein comes every once in a while - he may have been a teenager when you left...other than him, I'm the second longest-training student still with Mr. Halsey. Grossen is still around, somewhere, but he doesn't come to class, the Nelsons and Livingstons moved....a long time ago...I'm pretty sure everyone you'd be familiar with has, tragically, moved on. You may know some of the newer black belts, like Lutz, Pierce...hm... Good to hear that you're still working out. As far as I know, we've got a fairly good turn out for camp - and there's going to be several schools involved - both Eppersons, Randy...whatever his last name is, I think Kacyla...so we should have a lot of peoples.

Commiting muscle motion to muscle memory, and then drilling it over and over and over and over until it's reflexive, then working on making it even faster reflexively. Or get a camera and use an editing program to speed yourself up (I'M NOT SAYING BRUCE LEE WAS SPED UP SO PLEASE DON'T YELL AT ME )

I think it's because people set the goal of reaching shodan, then get it, and think they know all there is to know. Granted the learning curve changes once you get your shodan, but I find it different, not less.

Nope, we've still got our lovely facade. And yes, I'll see you at Camp - at least Saturday night and Sunday. I'll be the 6' 6" teenage black belt. Bound to not be too many options, there. Yeah, I don't even know where Mr. C went. What exactly happened?

I agree with your observations, bat. Usually after a few months, and then right before black. We also seem to have a lot of people who aren't motivated after they get their black belts, and so they don't show up a lot anymore.

And if so, how do you do it? Does a regular knife sharpener work? I've got a broadsword that's rapidly going dull, and I want to spice it up a wee bit - last time I hit myself in the foot, I only cut myself a little bit...didn't even need any stitches...