Melody

I can relate as a dumb a** bystander. I was sitting in my car outside of Burger King this past Friday, I was meeting a freind there. While I was waiting, a man and woman who worked there (I think they were seeing each other or something) came barging out the door. The man was trying to avoid her, and she was chasing him around the parking lot, using more obcenities in a sentence than I've ever heard in my life. But anyway, she got in her car, and seemedd to be digging under the passenger seat. Well, I thought she was looking for her smokes or something (as she seemed very stressed) but to my shock, the woman pulled out a gun. And by the way she was holding it, I knew she knew how to use the thing. But I can say, I just froze! I was stone still. Thank God she didn't shoot. She just cursed some more and jumped in her car and sped off. But as a bystander, I can honestly say, that I was so shocked as to what was going on that I couldn't move a muscle. The guy called the police after she left. I just felt so stupid afterward though. I;m just glad she was able to control herself

In my TKD class we keep our hands level with our chin, and close enough to our face that we can put our thumbs on our cheeks. And we keep our arms and elbows tucked in, protecting our ribs, chest and sternum. And the reson for keeping our hands so close to our head is well....duh...to protect it. It's a very effective position in sparring, because it is extremely difficult for another to strike you in one of the "point" areas. It's almost a boxing stance really.

I think the best thing you can have in a fight is the element of surprise. Only my very close friends know I take martial arts. That way if I get in a bad situation where I have to fight, I can use my element of surprise, and they'll never know what hit them.

Oh, don't get me wrong, If a loved one was in danger I would certainly use every skill I possesed to protect them. I may have came off kind of different, but I was simply impling that you shouldn't try to pick fights with someone for the " I'm better than you" effect. If you can find a good sparring partner, that agrees with possible consequences, but has good sportsmanship then great!! But don't just go shove around some John Doe one street just so you can kick some *.

looking for a fight is foolish. You should know your own skills. It seems you are in need to prove something...find out what it is and find another way to fill that emptiness. Because you hold martial arts training you have an advantage, when you have an advantage, you should never take advantage, especially on another person.

I don't really think it matters WHEN YOU BEGIN. But yes, I believe it plays a large role afterwards. As your sensei begins to expect more, and the combinations become more complicated you must keep up your Physical Fitness if you are truly serious about MA, and want to advance.

I agree with the others. I think men feel a need to prove their strength, so they sort of flip out. Each gender just has its own mindset. I am a female, and the first time I sparred I did great, and had a good time, and that was all that mattered. I dodn't want to make a fool out of myself, but I didn't feel a need to prove anything. I was more concerned with correct form than anything. I just relaxed and let my instincts and training carry me through. I think it really has something to do with the personalities of male and female And I also agree w/ M. Jules b/c I find the more graceful quality within the art, but it really helps. You get your power from your form....but I also used to take dance, so that could play a role.....

Definately Century and Macho

I don't want you to think i seriously injured my little brother. I would never just kick out at anything full force until I knew exactly what it was. It was more of a "get away" PUSH KICK, you know? But he fell and hit that wooden thing, thats what actually hurt. And hey! it wasn't all my fault! I mean what kind of weirdo just throws a wallet at someones face for no reason? I think the reason I went off like that was because he threw it at my head, in my TKD class, it is drilled into us to never let a blow get you in the head, because we practice its protection above all else. Maybe as I grow in my MA knowledge I will learn a better sense of control in awareness

Great advice people. I intend to have all the fun in the world. Martial Arts is the world to me now. It has become a lifestyle, and I want nothing more to become the best I possibly can and always give 110% But...about gouging peoples eyes out...erm, I don't think that would score well with the judges.

lol! I loved the stories But I didn't mean I knock peoples blocks off for coming up behind me and asking for a pencil, I'm talking about when people come up behind me and poke me or surprise me or something. Like my poor little brother yesterday, (I don't know why the little dumb butt did it) but he threw his wallet at me from behind, and I instinctivly turned and landed a side kick in his gut, and knocked him to the floor. He hit his head pretty hard on a wooden decoration thingy my mother has set up. And I just felt really bad because he was crying.

If they are trying to push kick you, you can give their foot a little push of your own. It's very simple to simply knock it out of the way, and it will throw them off balance giving you an opening for a kick or punch. I am a yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do, and I also am paired with green-black belts, but I love it. Play with their minds a little, and practice your decieving techniques.

Yes, at my dojo we are taught to fight from the ground, should we get knocked there. It's a very wonderful technique, that I believe should be learned at all schools, because everyone gets knocked on there a** sometimes

So you first start taking martial arts, and you go to your first few classes. It is implanted in your mind that you must always be alert to your surroundings and possible attacks right? Well I love practicing my alertness, but is anyone else down right paranoid? Some people in my TKD class (particularly the higher belts)...well lets just say, don't go tap them on the shoulder. Make sure your in front of them, preferably a few feet away, and wave your hands at them first to get their attention. Does martial arts have you behaving this way? I'm beginning to, and I both like my awarness and don't like it. My friends think theres something wrong with me because i'm so jumpy about people touching me, and I'm only a yellow belt, is this paranoia?

I hope you give it your all and come out on top!!! Make us proud!...just don't get hit let us know your results

I don't believe in percents really. It all depends on the person. If you have the desire, you will acheive your goal, otherwise you can forget about it. You can't really b.s your way to your blackbelt. In my class there are three black belts, including my sensei. And you can see why they made it. But you can also look around and see lower belts who will not make it. Me, I'm only a yellow belt right now, but i KNOW i will make it, because I DO have the desire, I WANT it. I never give less than 110% and thats all that matters I think, do you have the desire?

thanx That was very good advice. I'm just hoping I won't hurl from being nervous

I certainly agree w/ that. I don't think I could muster a smile if someone was coming at me with a knife.

It's not until May of 2005 but I'm already bubbling with excitement. It's 220 days away exactly (yes I counted) but I constantly have it on my mind. I will be competing in Females 15-17 Novice, and sweeping and grabbing is allowed, which is something I haven't yet learned, but my sensei said he would work with me starting now after class for about a half hour to help me. But i just wanted to know if you have any tips for a tournament newbie?...Besides of course "don't get hit"

I personally think sparring is a wonderful thing. It as taught me as an individual, the importance of control, self-discipline and form. It has also helped boost my confidence and has given me faith in myself and what I can acheive. But yes I agree that you should always keep somewhere in mind that it will not completely help you in real life, self defense occurances. But it can definately benifit you. But the most effective thing in a fight I believe is to walk away if at all possible (but don't turn your back to your offender) or to keep blocking and let them wear themselves out if their skill is lower than yours. You should only fight for real if your life is endangered. Because we train, and therefor have the advantage, we must not TAKE advantage.

My sensei says that in sparring, keeping a straight face or smiling at your opponent can lead them to lose. He said that keeping your cool and being a good sport is the most important thing, and can often infuriate or unnerve your opponent. Personally I believe every word of this. What do you guys think? Would you get P.O'd if your opponent was grinning at you? I can personally imagine my opponent losing it and beginning to flail their arms un-artfully with no form.

Thanks all for your wonderful helpful comments. I just wanted to spotlight though, that one person mentioned seeing a chiropracter, and I'm scared to because in my Human Anatomy class (I'm a highschool junior) we've seen some horrific results of going to a chiropractor periodically. The actual "popping" that you hear isn't your bones, but it is only built up acidic gases in the joints being released. It actually hurts you more than heals you....supposedly. I'm not saying its all true, only that I trust myself with my body more than anyone else, as it is I that must carry it around and make it perform. I may see a doctor about it though. thanks again everybody, I never expected SO MUCH helpful advice

PS- we always do side stretches at the begining of each class called step behind side streches, where you are in side stance, and you step behind the front leg with the rear leg, and then swing the front leg out beside you w/o bending the knee, and those have seemed to help a little bit, but I'm afraid of eventually damaging my hip if I can't make it quit doing that.

Those are very interesting approaches to stretching! I thank you, truly. I'm going to have to try some of those. But I really don't have any problem with flexibility just those darned hips! But I will certainly try what you suggested, anything to make the pain stop. I mean I try to block it out, but I know when its there. I May have to talk with my sensei and see if he can help me out w/ it as well. I still appreciate any more suggestions though.

Yeah we do alot of that, lifting the leg to the side, front and behind. They really are great