Kaminari

I agree. You can work abs every day and still be OK. I also agree that you should pair up your lifts and give yourself a day inbetween lifts to rest and allow muscle repair. For example, still take the protein that you usually do, even on the rest days, but pair up the lifts, like chest with biceps, shoulders and back, then legs, etc., but your muscles need a break to repair themselves. Also, by giving yourself a rest inbetween lifts, your body will be able to store more glycogen in the muscles to give you more energy for your next lift. I, too, am not an expert, this is just my opinion. Also, lifting heavy doesn't always mean bulk: by decreasing your body fat, the muscles will be easier to see, creating that "cut" look. Lifting lighter weights with higher repitition creates more muscle endurance than strength, though.

Amount of protein depends on what your goals and training regimines are. If you're trying to bulk up/lift weights, you're gonna need to eat about the same number of grams of protein as pounds you weigh. Eggs are good for protein, although the yoke is mainly fat. Egg whites, though, are pure protein. Again, it depends on your goals, etc.

Without a basic outline, I wouldn't know where to start. It depends on what your characters are like, your plot/how it progresses/how quickly it progresses, the location the story takes place in, etc. There are several general options to starting, though. You can describe the world or place the character lives in, or the beginning of their day. You can also open with dialogue that quickly introduces the reader to what's happening, or you can even start it with some action. It all depends on what you want to do with it and where you want it to go.

A big part of any kind of training is nutrition. You want to eat the right amounts of food, and the rightkinds of food. Start by cutting sugars and unnecessary fats/starches (potato chips, other junk foods). Also, try to eat 5-6 smaller meals a day, high in protein and high in carbs (the good kind, from wheat bread and such. Carbs from healthy things, etc.). This will raise your metabolism, and if you're looking to lose fat, that's a good idea. However, it sounds like you've got pretty good cardio with the rowing. Weight training will be most beneficial to gaining size and weight in muscle, but if you don't have equipment like that, or don't have access to any, you have to intensify your workout each time to shock the muscles into getting stronger. Try doing those pushups on your feet, not your knees, or elevate your feet, or do them with only one leg, etc. This is rough advice, only knowing what I do about your situation. The side kick: Try forming the knife edge without the kick. If you can, then try the kick slowly, and work on it until you can get it faster. If you can't, try stretching out that foot for a while, and hopefully you'll get the needed flexibility. Try switching up the daily stretches for a greater effect. Don't do the same ones every day, or every day for more than a week or two. Hope this helps with your situation.

Yep, I can do it.

From what I know, it does not cover ground fighting.

It depends on what you want. Eagle Claw is a more rigid, hard style than Taiji. Taiji is often depicted by slow, fluid movements, and can be effective in self-defense situations. My advice would be to check out each school, maybe watch a couple lessons, and decide which you would like better. If you're looking at effectiveness, check to see if the Taiji offered is a "western" style of taiji or the actual Chinese fighting art. America, and the west in general, has made Taiji into something different from what it originally was. Usually in the west(we'll use America as an example) Taiji is shown not as a fighting art, but something akin to Yoga. It's done more for physical reasons than for combat. Again, I would say check each place out and decide which one you would like more, and the one you would be more likely to stick with.

Everybody deals with loss and grieves in their own way. Find out what helps you the most and do that, as what works for you might not for someone else. Maybe your poetry is your outlet. Continue to do that, as putting your feelings on paper is, for many people, a good outlet.

I agree. The belt doesn't make the martial artist good, it's the ability of the fighter. I've met black belts in this style and that that weren't as good as I would have expected, and others were better than what I would have expected. It depends on the school, the instructor, but mostly on the student him/herself.

I think having a strong core is vital to being a martial artist, as it decreases chances of injuries. Awesome exercises for the core muscles include planks, which I like a lot. That's the only one I can think of at the moment, but I'm sure that as I start to wake up I'll remember more.

I think they should give you an amount of money that would equal a million bucks after taxes, so you actually get the million dollars.

Is it the bone or the muscle that hurts?

Not true. TKD does have head kicks, but they aren't the only thing focused on. There are strikes to the face, and only some schools practice with light contact. It might be like this at a few schools, but I've never seen them.

Weight training is essential to building size and strength. In addition, you need to inhale protein. Eat lots of carbs before a workout, lots of protein after a workout. Over the course of the day, you probably want to eat the same number of grams of protein as the number of pounds you weigh. This will build size, and with proper weight training will build strength. That's the most general description I can give. If you guys have more specific questions, feel free to pm me and I'd be happy to offer what advice I can.

Plyometrics involve jumping onto and off of things. Maybe a chair or some sort of object with a platform that can support your weight, etc. Over time, you'll be able to jump onto taller and taller things. A google search should get you more info, too. Squat jumps are really good, as well. Try this link: http://www.home.no/slominski/Air%20Alert%20III.htm . I know it's been posted before, but it has the calf exercises you were looking for.

Our Sensei calls you up, takes off your old belt, puts your new one on, shakes your hand and bows, and the other students clap.

i agree. establish what genre your film is going to be and decide whether martial arts is going to be an accessory or the main focus to your film. Personally, i would love to see a suspense or mystery genred film using the martial arts get through the story. write a plot so solid and drenched in mystery & suspense and use martial arts to fill in the holes. just my opinion. Hmmm....I'm planning on it including a bit of suspense, although I don't know if that'll carry through. Good idea, though, and for all those wondering, martial arts are there as an accessory, like Skeptic noted. No wire-fu will be included (that would take away from the seriousness of it, which is something I really don't want). Thanks for everybody's comments, keep 'em coming! It's good to hear everybody's opinions on this.

Welcome to KF.

I don't think it's overrated at all. The curling of your fingers keeps your fingers safer than if they were extended, and I find very effective. I think I know what you're doing: it sounds like you're hitting with the whole hand instead of the heel of the palm only, or you aren't pulling your fingers back enough. I've used it against a hard target, and didn't have any problems with it. Ask your sensei/sifu/instructor about how you could be applying it incorrectly. I have also heard of people not being able to fully form fists due to some problems with their fingers, keeping them from delivering the punch correctly. Maybe your fingers don't have the capability to pull back that far? I know mine didn't when I was younger, but practicing often eventually fixed things for me in time.

It is. You train for real-life situations, you'll be more effective at them. You train for tournaments and such, you'll be more effective at them. Train hard, you'll become better than someone who trains at 50%, slacking, etc. It all depends on what you train for and how you train.

Yep. You have to remember that the traditional martial arts were created a long time ago, and they were created for situations that came up in battle then. Nowadays, you won't see many of your enemies on horses, but back then they did.

Don't know. Plyometric exercises are the best for increasing your vertical. If you want to jump higher, jump onto things. Hindu squats might help your vertical, but the best would be plyometrics.[/i]

Welcome.

Good to have you here.

It is. It's what people see in the majority: those sport oriented schools, stuff on the Olympics, etc. They're referring to this majority, but you're right. It is too often generalized as being inneffective.