isshinryu5toforever

I am definitely a tea drinker. It isn't weird for a teenage guy to drink tea, I have forever. I like Green tea, jasmine tea, and I got some teas from my Friend Bronte that she bought in Hong Kong that are really good. I can't read Chinese though, so I don't know what they are.

I was just a kid, I got my black belt when I was 11.

Thank you. I'd like to think I've learned a thing or two after being in the martial arts world for going on 14 years.

In case you haven't checked the post you put up on the Korean Martial arts forum, I posted a reply for you there.

Are you sure you're getting the right gear for TKD? Shouldn't you be looking for a hogu, some shin and instep pads, some forearm pads, and head gear? If you are looking for TKD gear that is for Olympic style sparring, then Adidas and Tekno Q21 gear are the two types I have heard good things about. From the ones I've worn the Adidas ones feel lighter, the Tekno ones are thicker. I would guess this would mean if you are looking for a mainly offensive hogu and can evade well Adidas is your choice. If you like a little more padding Tekno is the way to go. Putting together a set of Adidas or Tekno equipment might get a little more costly than the other stuff, but it's what I've seen a lot more of the good players wearing.

My sensei had the habit of buying the wrong sized belts come belt testing time. When I was growing up I was a whole size 1 for most of my beginning and intermediate belt ranks. Right up through purple belt actually. Here are the belt sizes I have. I cut each one so it fit of course. Yellow- Size 4 Orange- Size 3 (gettin closer) Green- Size 1 (YES! Right size) Purple- Size 4 (so, we're back here again) Brown belt- size 2, this time we made sure it was the right size, because I was going to be wearing it for more than a few months.

unless those are the bladed throwing cards they sell, I don't think you're sticking those things into white oak or mahogany. Besides getting killed by whoever you live with, I don't think a regular playing card will stick into any real solid wood. It might give someone a papercut, but you aren't going to be maiming anyone with a card.

There are far too many things to look at when getting into this discussion. First off you have the questions. Is this a match, or a real get down and brawl fight? What style karate does the karateka do? What weight class are we talking? Then you have the rules if it's a match. What size gloves, if any, are used? Are takedowns permitted? Are leg kicks legal? In a match, you have two sides. If you called it just a hands only match, a boxer has a good chance of winning, but then again so does someone who studies Kenpo. If you call it a full-contact match with takedowns involved, this is where the boxer may have a disadvantage. The leg strikes and throws may eventually get to a boxer. In a full get down, drag out fight, then who knows? That all depends on circumstance, experience, etc. The boxers that I have sparred with have had trouble keeping up. Even though I am on the short end generally, I'm 5'8". This is because I fight big 185lbs. When you go full contact rules, the boxer didn't expect the leg kicks from me. He didn't like them either. He didn't expect me to "catch" his punch, throw him to the ground, and score. He didn't expect a lot of things. Is this true with all boxer? Of course not. That is just the experience I have had with the four that I have sparred with.

we know you would have kicks

Stretch after your workout, and push your stretch to its limit, to where it hurts and you can't go any farther. It takes a very long time to regain flexibility or to gain flexibility. Find the stretches that you see work best for you. The only way to help your split is to try to do them. You go down a bit farther each time, and over time you will be able to work your way down.

Martial arts has been part of my life for nearly all of it. When you start at 5 years old, and enjoy massive success throughout your career, it tends to grow on you. Martial arts is not just something I do to stay in shape, or for the fun of it. It is part of my life. It has affected the way I deal with people, the way I view the world, the way I react to things. It has infiltrated everything, in a very positive way. For my entire life I have been slow to anger, and quick to forgive. I have had patience where others have lacked it. Because of the martial arts I have been a student for a very long time, a teacher for some time, and hopefully a good person forever.

All you got is that wimpy .38 special? Check out this .357 mag. Hey! Aren't you that guy from the Village People?! You know, I was thinking about being a cop. I decided to finish high school instead. Why do you have to ask if I've been drinking? You're supposed to be the trained professional here.

I didn't move, but how does this prove you're brave again?

nothing really happen if you turn on your lights. The speed of the photons would be the same speed you are traveling, thus negating their movement. That is unless you ponder whether or not the speed of light is constant, which is currently under questioning. However, if you were to effectively prove that the speed of light is not constant, then all of E=MC^2 would be effectively null and void, thus turning the idea of modern physics upside down.

I'm not dead solid on that question. But I think it's around 17 or so.

Valentine's Day does tend to suck since I am single, but it was ok this year. I bought my friends a bunch of yellow roses. They all enjoyed them, so that was good. I didn't get anything though. Oh well, I am a guy.

you could write about your general experience as a young black belt. You will have a different insight on being a black belt than an adult will. You can also talk about difficult times you had while training. Everyone loves to hear about how someone was once exactly where they are now.

What happened to respect and discipline in the martial arts? This is what happens when you turn it into a sport. There is little art left at some tournaments. I saw a guy protest a judge's call by sitting down in the middle of the ring and refusing to leave even though the decision eliminated him from the competition. He took up one of the three remaining rings, and delayed the competition. I have heard guys get upset because the crowd isn't cheering for their kid when they win. It is an annoyance, and something completely new to me in competition. I will admit that it has been a good 4 or 5 years since I competed last, before joining NYU's TKD team, but I didn't expect it to degenerate this much. Self-control is part of the martial arts is it not? You shouldn't get upset. Is that little plastic trophy really worth it? Even if you're in it for money, it's just money. Is it worth your dignity? sorry for ranting, I have just been annoyed by what I have seen and heard at the latest tournaments I have gone to.

This is where terminology gets in the way. When we talk about a hook kick, it's a kick executed with the heel of the foot. Some use a backward spin, or turn. Other use the front leg and use the snap bck motion to create the speed and power.

Kata is my absolute favorite thing in the world. I love to look at bunkai for what you're doing in a kata.

I am the proud new wearer of a Satori size 4 1/2 traditional cut gi. I also use Century Heavy weight surprisingly comfortable for a relatively cheap gi. I use Adidas and Honda equipment for the Great Northeast Ivy League's sport TKD tournaments. In the IsshinRyu dojo nothing. In open karate tourney's Adidas.

It is true that you train not to fight. If you're concerned about realism though, I wouldn't worry about kicking someone in the head. Think about the target the head presents. It's small and mobile. It is very difficult to hit someone in the head. So, first you must get out of your brain the notion that you would be able to kick someone in the head in a street situation. That should make some of your worry go away. In TKD sparring you and the other person are both expecting to kick eachother, and maybe punch to the body once in a while. On the street that person isn't going to stand back in a fight they are going to get as close to you as possible. They are going to try to take you to the ground. A debilitating leg kick is much more effective than trying to kick someone in the head. I don't know why everyone practices head kicks, they are impractical. They are pretty and score points, but they are impractical and dangerous in a real situation.

That's hillarious.

Do you know who Miyamoto Musashi was? Google him or something. He's a famous Japanese samurai.

Oh, never mind my statement then. She isn't going to feel sorry for you. She might even cheer her dad on. If she had no martial arts experience and she just felt like her dad anhialated you for no reason, she might feel sorry. Since she has a green belt, she'll probably just laugh.