scottnshelly

Every state in America has something to offer, some vacation destination. Name your state and at least one interesting, unique, (maybe even obscure) attraction about your state. This isn't limited to America, feel free to answer from abroad. I’ll start. Oklahoma: *Cow Chip Throwing Contest (Beaver) *Oldest Mountain Range in the area (Arbuckles) *Lots of lakes (Murray, Texoma and many more) *History includes Indians, cowboys and oil rigs *The Buffalo Roam *Indian reservations *Action Figure Museum (Paul’s Valley) *Excellent Martial Arts Schools

I agree that some training is better than no training. You could teach him the basics until you both can find a qualified instructor. Before you start teaching, you need to make sure that you are confident in your teaching ability, his ability to learn and his ability to not abuse his new knowledge. If you teach him how to do an armbar, then he teaches someone else how to do an armbar and that person teaches someone else how to do an armbar, eventually it will become sloppy and dangerous. Make sure that he understands that what he is learning is not for him to pass around to all of his friends. I’ve seen this happen; someone learns something fun and exciting and wants to share it with disastrous results. You should also emphasize the point that he should not use what he learns to rough up his brother or to wrestle with his friends as someone may get hurt. If you don’t know everything really really well, you may have difficulty teaching it in a way that he understands. Everyone learns things differently; this is why instructors do the same things repeatedly with slight variances. You may understand something well enough to explain it, but he may not understand everything as easily as you. If you decide to pass on your knowledge to him, be safe, lay down some rules and don’t let it get out of hand.

Have you visited any of the schools in your area? Have you done much research? Often it is better to seek a good Instructor rather than a good style. Visit some classes, talk with some Instructors/students, find out what is available (fits with your schedule and budget) and then make an assessment.

I've always worn Century 2" belts. Sure, the first couple months to a year can be awkward with tying and hanging and all that. I still prefer the 2" though. It doesn't have anything to do with trying to draw attention to the belt or to make me feel more important or any type of fashion statement. I just prefer the wider belt, it feels more like a "real" belt to me. It feels like a step up from an underbelt, I guess.

This post was originally published as an article in a dedicated KarateForums.com Articles section, which is no longer online. After the section was closed, this article was most to the most appropriate forum in our community. Frank worked all summer mowing lawns to save up money. One of the things he spent his hard earned money on was a new basketball. It was a top of the line basketball that was the envy of all of the kids in the neighborhood. Frank usually went over to Jared's house to meet the others to play basketball. Ever since he bought this ball, this was the one all the boys used. This made him proud. It was a typical Friday evening. The boys decided at school that they would meet at Jared's to play basketball again, as they had every free day they had. After an after-school snack, he put on his basketball shoes, grabbed his ball and headed down the street, bouncing his ball along the way. He was concentrating on his footwork, but was not too busy to notice Chris skateboarding in the middle of the road two blocks up. Chris was two grades ahead of Frank; he was the neighborhood bully. Chris had made a few remarks to Frank about his new basketball recently and made a rude gesture toward him at school earlier that day. He knew that Chris was going to give him a hard time, as he always does. He made a left at the corner; his plan was to avoid Chris by going around the block that Chris was skating on. He went down two blocks but he had to cut back across that street to get to Jared's. He looked back when he heard the bully skating toward him. Chris was headed toward him and fast. Frank picked up his ball and cut across a yard. Frank was doing everything he could to prevent Chris from catching up to him, but it was inevitable. Chris jumped the curb and ran up to Frank and hastily demanded Frank to relinquish his ball. Frank tried a number of methods to dissuade Chris from his malicious plans. First, he tried to ignore the bully. This only angered him; he started reaching for the basketball, trying to steal it away. Frank then turned to humor; he told Chris a joke and tried to befriend him if only temporarily. He tried to reason with the tormentor; he explained how he mowed lawns all summer to earn that ball and if he would do the same he could buy his own ball. He tried distraction; he pointed out that there was a flattened basketball a few blocks back, he could patch that ball and not have to worry about taking someone else's hard earned ball. After trying everything he could to dissuade this bully, Chris finally knocked the ball loose from Frank's hands. It was at this very moment that Frank lost control of the situation and now Chris had it. Frank had done well to maintain control up to this point, now he needed to regain control so he could be on his way. Chris was taller, stronger and faster than Frank. It seemed as though Frank would never see his precious basketball again. He wasn't going to give up that easily though. His first reaction was to try to grab the ball away, but Chris held the ball to his chest. Then Chris held the ball high above his head, Frank could not reach it so he reached down and grabbed a stick. He tried to swat the ball from Chris' hands, but his grip was too strong. He then tried to bargain with the tyrant by snatching his skateboard. Now Frank was in control of Chris' skateboard, but that wasn't what he wanted. He wanted his basketball back. As a last resort he kneed Chris in the groin, causing him to drop the ball. He finally had control of his ball again. He was also in control of Chris, for he was lying on the ground writhing in pain. Frank had a decision to make, but it wasn't a difficult one for him. A lot of kids his age would've taken the opportunity to beat up this tyrant. He had the opportunity for revenge. All the times that he was shoved, kicked and made fun of by this kid suddenly flashed through Frank's mind. Frank calmly and decisively picked up his basketball and went about his way. He knew that no one would benefit from a fist fight, he was sorry that he had to resort to violence to get his ball back. Frank arrived at Jared's house and immediately started shooting hoops. Neither Frank nor Chris ever spoke a word of this incident.

After my first Black Belt test, I didn’t do anything to celebrate. It was really late and I was more than tired. After my three subsequent Black Belt tests I think I went out to eat with my family or something small. I have participated in others’ Black Belt celebrations though. One student that passed his test a couple months after me brought in a nice juicy brisket and some side dishes for everyone to eat. That was a nice treat for everyone.

I remember playing some really fun Martial Arts based video games a lot time ago, before Mortal Kombat. As good as these games were, I can't remember the names. Does anyone remember/know any of the original Martial Arts video games? While we're on the subject, are there any modern Martial Arts video games that aren't all mystical powers and fictional characters? Thanks.

I usually get the "black belt from Walmart" and "so you can beat me up" ones. I also hear how they, or their brother, took some lessons when they were a kid or their uncle taught them some stuff. I also get silly references to Mr. Miyagi, Chuck Norris, "Kung Fu Master", "wax on wax off", "hiii ya" and all the others. Who is it out there that's teaching everyone the crane stance and judo chop anyway? There has to be an instructor somewhere that is handing out ranks based solely on the crane stance and judo chop, because I know a lot of people that know those two "deadly moves."

Try reading some of Dr. Haha Lung's books. I've found them to be quite insightful. Don't believe everything that you read about Ninja and Nijutsu, but it is at least interesting.

Moved to Humor/Jokes.

I've always been taught that the first stance of Jung Gun is a cat stance. Just like the back stance except the front leg is brought in a lot and up on the toes. This seems to help with that kick. I may be doing the form incorrectly or maybe it's just a difference in schools, but this is the way all of my previous instructors have taught me. Try with a cat stance and see if you still have the same problem. If you still have the problem, the problem lies in the kick. If that fixes the problem, the problem is the stance.

I have noticed two types of bowing. Some people tend to keep their neck straight and let their head move with their back as they bow while some tend to keep their head up as if to keep their eyes on the opponent Is there any difference in origin between these two types of bowing? Is it personal preference? What are the advantages and disadvantages? Which to you do? I do the former: keep my neck straight.

If Bruce Lee was somehow able to come back today, would he stand a chance at a fight in the UFC? While we're on the subject; what about any of the old legends: Oyama, Ueshiba, Funakoshi, etc? This is assuming that this person was brought back today in the same condition as they were at their peak and fought with the standard UFC rules against the reigning champions.

Moved to General Chat.

I'm not sure if his arm broke, but I don't think so. He may have been temporarily knocked out but he was up and walking around after the fight.

Moved to Humor/Jokes.

I remember in my Instructor’s class we had a brother-sister combo that always wanted to learn more. At intermediate rank, they wanted to learn black belt forms. At lower-advanced rank they wanted to learn advanced weapons forms. At first we chalked it up to them wanting to learn more. In hindsight I think they just wanted to get to black belt. As soon as they reached the rank, they quit. Are you sure of this student’s intentions? Is he/she wanting to progress entirely in the martial arts or is he/she chasing rank? If you are sure of his/her intention, I suggest private lessons where he/she can learn more and faster than the rest of the class.

I recently attended a BJJ school as a new student. Since I had no previous instruction in BJJ, I spent $5 on a new white belt and just told the Instructor of my previous experience. I made sure that he understood that I wasn’t there to challenge or anything, simply to learn more about a different style. He completely understood, probably because he too was a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. I agree that you should ask the Instructor, but don’t assume that wearing your black belt is okay. I wouldn’t even suggest it; merely mention that you have one and that you are willing to wear a white belt. Good luck.

Do you or your Instructor/Dojo have any terminable, unforgivable rules? I understand that everyone has some rules for their class/students, but do you have any rules that will get a student permanently expelled from the class?

Master has two definitions in this context, in my mind. Master could be a title bestowed upon a student after completing a predetermined task (rank, tenure, teaching, etc.) Master could also be a title bestowed upon a teacher by his/her students, peers or Instructor after they feel he has reached a level of mastery. In the first definition, it is entirely up to the organization doing the bestowing. It will vary between organizations and even within branches or schools in the organization. In the latter definition, it is determined by opinion which means that some people could consider the exponent a master while others do not. I am certainly at no point to where I could bestow someone with the rank of Master as in the first definition. I feel, though, that I have every right to call someone Master no matter what their rank if I believe him/her to be at a level of mastery worthy of the title.

The closest I have been to this situation was a female Instructor and a homosexual female student. We didn't do much grappling, but even when we did, neither one of them had anything sexual in mind. I think it's important to keep the two topics completely separate. No matter the sexual orientation, no one in class should be thinking about their libido. I would be just as upset about some teenage boys giggling about the word groin than someone trying to cop a feel during practice.

My dad and grandpa were Black Belts when I was born. I can't remember a time before martial arts.

As there is already a similar topic going in Martial Arts Entertainment, I'm going to close this thread and redirect everyone over there. http://www.karateforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=25074

Moved to Comparative Styles and Cross Training.

Congratulations.