Jack

Hey, Thanks for the picture, but we already have a thread in this section called "Post your pictures". Feel free to post it there. Thanks.

shoto, and if you needed the toilet while being forced to sit in seiza for two hours?

47.5% I must admit some of the available answers had me laughing my head off.

Slider, your mum could be worse. I wanted to start a different art and stop TKD, and my dad called me a quitter, said I'd have wasted the last year, and said if I want to study a different art I'm paying for it. And he knows I can't afford lessons. That Association doesn't look so good, "Call or stop by today now for a free trial!" "new state-of-the-art martial arts fitness programs." It looks like it could be good for fun or stress relief, but it generally looks a bit weak for my likings. If I were you, I would probably stick with the TKD. But I'm not you, so.

LOL, I try to stand in splits against the wall and see how far it'll go before it tightens.

Yes No - Horseriding Yep - I remember in the little changing booth when I was buying my last trousers. Of course these were tracksuit bottoms for my training so I'm excused

Keep with the heavy bag. The old addage 'No pain no gain' applies here. Just don't go kicking banana trees now! Thats really dumb.

Makes perfect sense. Its a fine line to figure out how they sell so well; some people will like it because they like the music, others will like it because other people like the music, some people will like it because they're unaware of other music types... all very complex, really.

To my eye that looks like a very good place to train in Aikido.

Taokara - you like to Side kick the fridge door closed as well, then? You are not alone. [ This Message was edited by: Jack on 2002-04-20 02:50 ]

I'm fozzie too.

Ad, a lot of people get into that music because it is promoted so much on TV and the radio, and in every part of life so that when you're a kid its very likely you'll get into that music because other sorts of music aren't publicised everywhere. Sort of "Brainwashing" but less menacing, lol. I won't diss anybody, or anybody's music taste - Its just how I feel about some of this music - that people are simply born into listening to it and a lot are too narrow minded to broaden their horizons.

YODA - Is that the case? That is completely ridiculous. Surely they know that with this physical ability comes the mental attitude of remaining peaceful? My god the government can be bone-headed. Thanks for the warning, though.

Ah yes Ad, I know what you mean.

Hehe, commercialisation has nothing to do with quality.

A black belt would certainly help you get a job, since it shows determination, the ability to learn, alongside many of the personality types associated with the martial arts. It may be the same with a college but I am not sure.

Happy birthday Ad! I'm not quite familiar with what a speed ball is. If it is one of those large balls you hold and throw into the air, then catch again, then I believe it works explosive strength, a pylometric exercise of sorts. Correct?

Solution to that ad.. Don't kick and punch the air full power or full enlengthening of the limb. And don't crack your knuckles.

Chi is real, but it is no 'mysterious supernatural force' it is always made out to be. Its a lifeforce of sorts, and is very useful in developing coordination of movement, balance, and fluidity. Moving from your Itten(Tanden) can produce grace and power... but it is nothing magical.

True Step Sparring and Free Sparring are different, but you cannot say one is definitely better than the other. Both are needed, and compliment each other well.

Everybody can use ki in their training. It is not a mystical energy, there is no mystery around it. It is simply a way of centering your body and moving from the itten/tanden for strong, fluid motion. I'd recommend practicing your haragei to cultivated ki. Its not mystical like many make it out to be, but it is an excelent way of improving coordination, balance, and fluidity.

Ah sorry yes, I completely misunderstood. Body-weight exercises, like pullups. Hmm I'm not sure on this, it depends entirely upon the strength of the individual. If you have again, the 300 pound guy and the 200 pound guy of same strength, the 200 pound guy would do these exercises more easily, since he has less weight to push or pull against yes.

Not at all, since weight has nothing to do with it really. The difficulty is proportional to the strength of the individual and the amount of weight used. You could both have a 200 pound man, and a 300 pound man, both benching 200 pounds - it is equally difficult for the both of them if they are the same strength. On average though, a smaller person would probably have to start at a lighter weight than the larger person - only due to muscle strength however, not weight. Hope this makes sence.

Thank you very much for your post, but there are already many discussions on chi/ki in the Internal Arts area, if you would like to view and join in with those. _________________ Jack Waspe 5th Kyu Taekwondo Karateforums.com Sensei [ This Message was edited by: Jack on 2002-04-17 12:11 ]

Hi dafabe, There a large number of posts already present under the Internal Arts section of the forums. Feel free to contribute to those! Thanks.