three60roundhouse

[color=indigo]I have been in a unique situation for some time...I practice both one of the most respected arts (BJJ) and one of the most misunderstood arts )TKD). I understand what it is like to see people talking smack about your art and it's effectiveness. I ask you, does it really matter? No. As far as Aikido, my knowledge of it is extremely limited. I have read a bit online and I saw a demonstration once. It seems like a very valid principle, however it also seems like na art that takes a long time to master and be able to perform the techniques as fluidly as would be needed to really defend yourself. There is no Aikido school near enough to me for a trip down there to "check it out", but I would really be interested in learning a few of the seemingly devastating wrist locks. Some of the moves look complicated and very intricate; peerhaps these online bozos aren't smart enough to learn the technique! [/color]

[color=indigo]New Jersey's ok, but who wants to come here for vacation !? Just kidding, have fun....it's good to get off the net for a while! I wish I could get away! Oh, and have fun at your old dojang. Make sure to train there at least ince to bring back fond memories! [/color]

[color=indigo]http://www.wellwin.u-net.com/mad/az.htm http://www.dojos.com/directory.htm http://www.karatetournaments.com/ http://bigbreak.8k.com/corkboard/ http://www.romatron.com/search.html http://www.jiu-jitsu.net/listings.shtml Some of those are better than others - many of the directories are only for certian states or certain MA styles. Is there any state and style in particular you are looking for? That would turn up loads more stuff! [/color]

[color=indigo]Actually, I don't know what a yellow belt is equivalent to. Neither does my instructor. Or his. Or his. This team has never had a kids program! I think we are NJ's first Royler Gracie affiliate kids team! As far as your tip requirements, I am pretty sure I have all those down. However, no tip. I think it's because I'm being taught in a more informal setting. I believe we will have a black belt visit us sometime in the fall for evaluation. Perhaps I will be awarded a stripe or something there! I can't see the yellow belt being equal to a blue belt....then what is orange and green equal to? Remember Rockson Gracie? He could beat many adult purples when he was a 15 year old green belt. Anyway, I was just curious - I turned 15 in June and will probably not be ready for a new belt before I turn 16, and by then I will be eligable for a blue belt Thanks for your halp, everybody. Good luck on your gradings, moobrack and Kensai![/color]

[color=indigo]chh, as a female martial artist, I was sharing my point of view. And sorry to bag on all the "women in MA's", but I agree with the guys. Women are treated "special" in a lot of things, in a lot of hobbies, places, and professions. Will we someday be equal? Perhaps. It's just that men usually don't see the need to seperate themselves, and women think that since there are so few of us, we should share the experience. I think that if there was a "men only" forum, it might be concidered "sexist" but most women don't see a "women's only" forum as anything out of the norm. Sure, we get our periods, but don't you think men might have something to talk about as well? I think that training in a martial art is one thing (there are very few) where men and women get treated the same. I don't know about you, but I've never done a girly pushup. I don't know about you, but I can hold my own in the ring with guys. And I don't know about you, but I have a mean armbar. I can discuss this stuff with guys just as well as with girls. [/color]

[color=indigo]You'll do fine moobrack! Break a leg! ...Or an arm ...Or since this is aiki-jutsu, um, break someone else's arm ?[/color]

[color=indigo]Thanks for your help moobrack - however, there are no punches and kicks in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu! Also, my class never went over breakfalls because we were all well-versed in tae kwon do and had to know breakfalls! [/color]

[color=indigo]Does anyone know know if certain academies have a list of requirements for attaining the yellow belt? This is the first belt after white for those BJJ practitioners under 16.[/color]

[color=indigo]For anyone interested in grappling, Royce and Royler Gracie's book : "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu - Theory and Technique" is a good base, with some of the best photography I have ever seen in a book. Some wasted space, a little bit confusingt on the layout, one move that stinks, but otherwise, a great and very detailed introduction to grappling method.[/color]

[color=indigo] There's an effective way to spark extreme jealousy If you like Dream Theater, check out a band called "Iced Earth" - they aren't as big as Dream Theater, and their albums are a little too thematic for me, but the music is similar to Dream Theater and the guitar work is great![/color]

[color=indigo] Well, there are double standards everywhere, like G95 said. I have an AIM account - and when I "look for a buddy" which is an option that allows you to search for an AIM member with whom to chat, I can look under the intrests "African American Community", "Hispanic Community", but no "European Descent Community" or "Caucasian Community". I wonder why? I think it is because the minorities usually feel themselves a seperate group only because there are less of them and their experience - whether it be through life or the martial arts - is somewhat different than "most" people's. The above probably made no sense, but I tried to explain my view . As for that thread Sai shared with us, I think all the guys on the board should read it and see just one of the extras females have to deal with at practice! I feel no need for an extra forum, either. I think we should all hear each other's whines ![/color]

[color=indigo]That's one of my favorite quotes . I'm at an all girls school LeaF, and to tell you the truth pretty much everyone is appalled whenever I show up with a large bruise on my face, or a splint on my fingers, limping, whimpering, eating aspirin like M&M's, whatever the injury of the day is.... and I tell them one of two things: 1. I got kicked in the head. 2. I was wrestling with this guy.....enough said. People, adults especially, sisters/nuns even more than that, usually grimace, like "you do kung fu?" ( Bad enough that that isn't one of my arts.....it's good enough to just nod politely and walk away! )[/color] [color=red]EDIT: Speaking of religion LOOK AT MY POST COUNT! [/color]

[color=indigo]My school has pretty much a kids class on every level every day, they are from 3:30 starting time to 6:30 starting time. Adult Classes are on Mon-Thurs at 7:15, Saturday Mornings at 9. My Jiu-Jitsu is Monday nights at 6:30 and Saturdays at 9.[/color]

[color=indigo]I like TKD because it requires a lot of stamina and athleticism, it is a tremendous workout! I also like the quickness of sparring, the way it helps my agility (I have become so much more coordinated!!).The forms leave a lot for personal interpretation (as far as how fast, strong, loud, etc.) I like proving people who say "TKD STINKS!" wrong because we learn a lot of self defense at my school. BJJ is a whole new world. I guess starting it is like being re-born. First the world seemed so small, but every move we learn, we realize there are variations, defenses, everything is so big and confusing! BJJ is like chess; it requires soooo much thinking and strength, especially in the legs and abdominals! I also love how close I have become with my teammates due to constant sparring![/color]

[color=indigo]My brother Sean was about 7 and my teacher suggested he do something on his own for space (he was the middle child of 5 kids at the time; now there are 6 of us). He chose martial arts. But the "by himself" thing couldn't last too long once he showed us his white belt form . Within two weeks my brothers joined (they were 9 and 5) and after their first grading my parents finally gave in and let me (I was 11). I wanted to do it mainly because there were so few girls! I wanted to show that I could kick butt too! I was kind of "the freak" in class...I was always the oldest. A few big kids joined I think because they saw me in there. Some of the parents used to point at me like I was a sideshow, a head abive all the other kids. But the trouble with pre-pubescents is that they don't stay that way for long and now a lot of them are bigger than I am. After almost 4 years of training, I have taken up a new art , BJJ. I'm teaching TKD now and see a SURGE of females joining. I think it's great!! [/color]

I am a Christian, I am a martial artist, but I don't allow nor want these two things to cross paths at this point in training. I go to a Catholic school, I go to my academy, but I don't "hit the heavy bag for Jesus" because I never had religion as one of the motivations for training. In fact, many of the religion teachers in school aren't too fond of the idea of me letting myself get beaten up a few days a week... And besides, I have a hard time believing "the guy upstairs" really approves of all the time I spend with guys in my guard

[color=indigo]No more sneaking around to big tourneys without my instructor knowing ! Tonight in class he mentioned both the tourneys I wanted to enter and he wants to bring me and maybe a few of the guys to check it out! One of them is without the gi, and allows leg submissions so I will have to start working without the gi (which I haven't done yet ) and working on leg subs and defending them. The other one only allows ankle locks I think. As far as standup, it's hard to do it because we practice in a small room. We have only had a few classes devoted to it, and I usually only work hip toss, double leg, and osoto gari....my brother is a wrestler and has been teaching me a little. Come tournament time I am sure my instructor will focus more on takedowns. [/color]

[color=indigo]The following article was written for MA-Wired by Kristie Leider. http://www.ma-wired.com/iteach.html[/color] [color=#444444]I never intended to become a teacher of any sort. Speaking publicly for any reason was a surefire way to make me want to melt into my shoes and die on the spot. I've never even been good at general conversation. I'm more of a listener, not a talker. So when I started taking classes in TSD, it was not with the thought that someday I would get a black belt and then begin teaching it to other people. My only expectations were that I would get fit, learn something new and fun, and with any luck I'd have a fair idea how to defend myself if the issue ever presented itself. If you've ever experienced chronic shyness, you can imagine how I felt the day my own instructor casually said "I need you to teach this class today, I have another student who needs to talk to me." It wasn't a question, even. He just told me I was teaching, and that was that. It took about 2 seconds for my legs to turn to rubber and for my hands to start tingling in what looked to be a first class panic attack. I wanted to blurt out "Oh hell no!" but someone had super glued my lips shut and I'm pretty sure I had begun to swallow my tongue. With all these people staring at me, waiting to begin, I did the only thing that came to mind: I imitated as best I could the warm up routine usually used. During jumping jacks and stretching my mind was filled with the single mantra of "Why me?" Looking back I know that days warm up was much longer than usual, just because I was stalling and hoping the floor would open up and swallow me whole. At some point the warm up ended and the class actually began, but it's honestly a blur to me now. I don't remember what I taught, if I really taught at all. I'm sure what I did was parrot the last class I had attended. Since that day I have taught many classes, and am more comfortable in the role of teacher that I ever could have imagined. It's true, you do learn much more when you have to figure out how to teach something than you do just imitating it. Having to present information in an understandable format, without injuring other people, has made everything that much more clear to me; teaching has honed my skills better than having stayed in the safe, anonymous role of "just a student." I've learned more than just the martial art, though. In teaching I've learned a whole lot about other people too. The things that worked best for me to learn aren't necessarily the best for other people to learn. Some people are visual; you show them and it clicks with them. Some people are verbal; you explain technique, what it should feel like and what it should look like, and they get it. Others need individualized attention, even in the middle of a crowded class. Pushups as discipline work with most students, others it's just humiliating and degrading and might chase them away from the school. Every time I stand in front of a class--even if it's the same students I've had before--it's a brand new class with differing needs. Still, for whatever good these students might get from me, what I get in return is, to me, much more valuable. It goes beyond the feeling of satisfaction you get when someone who has been struggling suddenly gets it. It's deeper than knowing that I'm part of the chain that will keep the art alive. Teaching has let me know in no uncertain terms that I don't have to be the wallflower I always thought I was. I can be assertive and not be mean about it; I can voice my opinion and be respected for it, not made fun of. It has stripped away the boundaries of what I thought was safe and shown me that I'm more than I ever thought I was. I am still more of a listener than a talker; I always will be, but it's not necessarily a bad thing. Teaching has given me myself. What more could I ask for? [/color] [color=indigo]So what's your story? How did you get into teaching? Were you very enthusiastic, or more apprehensive, like the woman above?[/color]

[color=indigo]Why might that be sad?? Training in TKD is fun!![/color]

[color=indigo]I can kick way over my head in pajamas, but wearing jeans I can barely get up to my head, and on my favorite pair I don't want to chance a rip going for someone's head. IMHO certain kinds of punches can be just as devastating to your opponent without ripping your pants or more importantly wasting the time it takes for your foot to get up there. If anyone here watches NHB (prepares self for slams), Frank Shamrock once had this UFC bout with a very lanky BJJ guy, Jeremy Horn (it was his debut)....anyway, Shamrock won, but early in the fight he went for this high kick and SLAM Horn caught it and dropped Shamrock like a rock. I would need to perfect my high kicks MUCH more to be confident that I wouldn't get slammed.[/color]

[color=indigo]Ah! How un-Sempai-ish of me I didn't realize that I had posted it here...that must be because I've been asking every person I've come in contact with on the internet for help! Thanks LeaF! Senseis can close this thread if you see it![/color]

[color=indigo]I was thinking of one at the end of October and one at the end of November. I will fight with the gi in both. They are pretty big competitions; all the good ones are in the fall. However, I don't know if my instructor wants us competing yet; he mentioned bringing us together to one (I am the only "real person" who has trained long enough, the rest are younger kids/teens). I am still deciding whether to fight in the women's division or the kids (under 17) division. The women's weight classes are bigger, and they sometimes have women of all experiences fighting each other. The kids they try to keep more divided, but really I'd be fighting guys probably a year or two younger because of my size, which I suppose isn't so bad since I roll with a lot of teenage guys so I'm used to it . Anyway, I'm still debating whether I should compete or watch.[/color]

[color=indigo]XpOiSoN FrEeX, I was thinking: on the other side of the coin, if you are grappling and wish to wear shoes, it can be harder to sink an anklelock/heelhook. I was watching some of the Ken Shamrock highlights....he always seems to get foot subs to work better on people who are barefoot. Maybe it is tighter with shoes....[/color]

[color=indigo]Would that be a "no"? Because I was just researching this art, I believe it may be well-marketed hokey. Thomas Patire is "Grandmaster of the World" or some other crazy title, but has no credentials to back it up. My instructor has trained in his self defense system before it became so overly-marketed and says Patire was a good fighter. Anyone who has seen this brought up or knows anything about "Hom Do", "Ham Do" or "CDT Training" could help settle my headache! Thanks!![/color]

[color=indigo]Moobrack, perhaps if you have some free time you can ask your instructor about the art, perhaps before/after class. Maybe he can even suggest some literature for you to check out!![/color]