orion82698

If you weren't nervous, then it wouldn't be a challenge, or anything that concerned you. Good luck, you'll do fine. Come home and let us know first. Don't go out with your friends and get a pizza!

Check out Rex Kwon Do! Just kidding! With so many styles of karate, and a break of JJ to Brazilian JJ... keep in mind, Karate is a striking art, and JJ is a grappling art. You won't do much kicking/punching JJ, and you won't do much ground and locks in certain Karate styles

I agree with what everyone here is saying. Figure out why you started, and what has made you stay for so long. We all do things that we really don't want to do (work, visit inlaws ) but you work to get money. Make sure your in this for the right reason. Self defense, stay inshape. In the end, after you have broken all your boards, and hung up your black belt, what really matters is that you have learned an art, passed down from generations (hopefully), and that you know how to defend yourself. Perhaps, you just need to try a different MA. I know that you're already in JJ, maybe you should concentrate on that for a little while. A chance in style might be what you need to fire things back up! Good luck KK!

Doesn't look too bad. Try to eat every 3 hours at the latest. Remember to have a go source of fat in every meal too. 40/40/20 is what you need. Make sure the peanut butter is 100% all natural. I do about 3 tablespoons of that stuff (I LOVE PEANUT BUTTER). Make sure all your bread is 100% whole grain. Also, it wouldn't hurt to add up all your carlories, protein, carbs and fat for the day. Remember, carbs don't make you gain weight, only your calorie intake does. Forget about what the scale says, go by what you look like in the mirror! Good luck!

Well, I got the chance to meet with the head sensei today. They do full contact sparring. They do not compete. He said there reasoning behind this is, it doesn't get you anywhere on the street. They train for self defense. He said that I will not be looked down on if I go to a competition, but that they do not carry themselves that way. It's $80 a month. They train for an hour, but I can come in early and participate in other classes if I wish to. I'm going to keep this place in mind, but also shop around. I want to make sure that I find the right place when I get out of TKD. This place did leave me with a good feeling, I just want time to think before jumping. I made that mistake before

Yup, not too shabby! I'm looking forward to it

Excellent advice! Thanks for your input!

I'm no master at any martial art, but just because you cannot do a full split, doesn't mean your kick is not powerful. Power doesn't come just from your hips, it's generated by yours hips, and core body strength (ABS). I personally would be more affraid of taking a kick from a well condition/trained Muay Tai fighter, then a out of shape purple belt who can do a full split. If you want more power, focus on doing squats, hindu squats, ab training, and dead lifts.

I'm not sure. I'm going back tomorrow to start my free two weeks lesson. I'll ask then.

No contract The head instructor is a 5th Dan. Been in for over 30 years. They have 5 senior students, 2 a 1st dan black belts. The other students are nearing black belt, but have been there for over 4 years. I'm very excited, but I want to give it some time to think on this as well. Last time I jumped into someting, I made a pretty big mistake! , and I'm still dealing with it. I'll keep you all up to date

I have listed my recommendations on a couple other posts; such as the Martial Arts research library Sticky in General Martial Arts. I think that reading is the second most important facet of training. I stopped attending a Dojang/Dojo (not by choice) almost five years ago. Since then, I have started reading and I think I have progressed more in these five years as a Black Belt than I did the first 10 years. When you go to one Dojang/Dojo, you only focus on that material. When you pick up a book, you can read about another style. As with videos, I tend to stay away from instructional themed books. I like to read about Martial Arts, but I prefer not to read about how to do them. I prefer books regarding the histories, philosophies and theories of the Martial Arts. Exactly! I could care less about how to do them (I know that sounds odd saying that in this forum) but I want to read the history, the philosophical side to the art. I have always been fascinated by Japan and the many arts. Is there a great book out there that will discuss some good Okinawan styles?

Nice! Great info dude! Thanks man!

Congrats! I'm very happy for you! Keep pushing. It's so hard to find a school, that not only respects you as a person, and your opinion, but as a MA too. Again, congrats, and good luck on your future teachings and tests!

I wouldn't worry about a MA. If I saw someone that was 6'3 and looked over 250lbs, I would run I have looked into Hapkido, my Uncle (Now in Aikido) recommended Hapkido to me. Worth looking into. Good luck to you!

I can see why an instructor would get upset. I look at it from a parents point of view. You would want to teach your child the very best of discipline, respect, and love. You wouldn't want some other parent trying to teach your child the opposite, or a shortcut to it. Being an instructor (not that I am one, just putting myself in their shoes) is much like being a parent. Students come to you empty, unknowing, but much like a sponge, ready to soak up information. I plan on cross training one day, but never a striking/striking art. I would do a striking/grappling art. So many styles have different stances, and I don't want to disrupt my current teachings. My 0.2 cents

Ok, what are some of you doing to lower your bodyfat? I know a bunch of things that you can do, but I want to hear your opinion. A boxer/kickboxer needs to have his cardiovascular up to speed to withstand a 3-4 minute beating. What are some of you guys/girls doing? I have tried wind sprints, jumping rope, shadow boxing, HIIT Cardio sessions on the Elliptical, and stair running.

Well, with the books though. Are they just like videos? I know everyone complains about videos not being the way to go. I knwo they don't teach the style, but rather talk about it. Are they still a great source of info?

I'm not sure. I'm meeting with them again tonight. Can some give me a list of questions that will better help my choice? What I have asked so far. How much? How often can I train? Weapons? Do you train hard? Do you promote easily? What do you expect from me? What else are some great questions?

Yeah, I practice/stretch with my Wife. She used to dance, and is very flexable and has tones of balance. I sometimes get jealous I have asked her to try MA, but she doesn't have the time with school, and laughs at the though of yelling when punching. I'll get her into it

Maybe someone else can explain that one... Also, if the school offers weapons classes, that would be a plus as well. I've taken classes in short staff, arnis, sai, and I'm currently taking a bokken sword class, and I've enjoyed them all. I'd agree with AndrewGreen...IMO what you get out of MA classes is more important than what style you are studying. I also agreed that it looked similar! They do offer weapons (Bo, Kama's, Sai). They also don't preach to getting blackbelt in 3 years. He says that it depends on the individual, but it's longer than 3 years, because he tests hard.

Always a pleasure to hear from you AG! Thanks for the advice!

Yup. Plus, it's on the same street as my house. Less than 3 minutes away. The price is 3/4 of what I'm paying for TKD now, and it's a small based class, so more attention to me. I'm not saying I don't like TKD, but I thought about it last night, and I realized that I was in it just for the kicks, and workout. I realized that I can learn any of these kicks in any style, whether it's teached in my style or not. I'm still going to give it lots of thought, and I have a free week of class to attend. I'll keep you up to date. Thanks for the input! Keep it coming!

Definition from TKD tutor Shorei-Ryu Shorei-ryu is an Okinawan hard style. Known for its heavy, powerful techniques, body toughening training, and its numerous stances. It is more suitable for a person of heavy body structure. It strives to emulate the actions of the 5 traditional animals and teaches all the traditional Okinawan weapons, such as the bo, tonfa, and sai. Some characteristics of Shorei-ryu are: * Stances exceptionally low in kata form. * Seiken thrust: is slightly downward and in center of body. The rear leg moves slightly forward at the completion of the punch. The moving of the rear leg is automatic and is caused by the power generated by the force of the punch and the forward movement of the hips. * Fist: index finger under curled thumb. * Hips: rotate with a definite forward movement. * Blocks: all start spiraling at wrists and spiral until completion of block. * Head snap when turning. * Thousand hand, five and six-count rice exercises, and sun fist. * High rising block, executed from thigh up. * Teeth clenched. * Wide-eyed stare. * Eight faces: the art of looking or expression (hyojo do): Confidence, Friendly, Solemn, Unconcerned, Contempt, Shock, Fear, and Anger. * All kicks, blocks, and strikes are 90% circular. * Kicks: for every forward one there is a reverse one. * Te-katana and te-uke covers are very obvious in all Shuri-ryu techniques and katas. * Body: always relaxed until exact moment of completing technique.

Nice! I'll check some of these out!