fangshi

Several. I suppose it depends on your interest and the availability of styles in your area as to which one is best . Qigong is solely devoted to it , but many many styles teach it as a regular part of the ciriculum. Aikido and Tai Chi are ussually availalable just about every where. Alot of Karate schools have specific training in certain aspects of it , and is very available just about everywhere. And several other styles as well . I would suggest to do a search on a few arts and see what application you are most interested in . I think you will find it very rewarding .

Just a guess but TKD is up there . Tai Chi is VERY big too . Go to china you will see what I mean .

You can say that again. The skill level of the "star" was very lacking. Liked the movies though. Kind of partial to #2 . Didn't even know there was a #4. What was the story line in that one ? Maybe if you jog my memory it will come back to me.

Best of luck on your test. Nerves are normal but just relax and focus . You'll do great.

Agreed . Also balance is important. Try training at various speeds ranging from very fast to very slow . The flexability , strength and balance gained from slow training can be very helpful. Works on improoving technique too.

I assume you mean the long form . Took me about a year to learn the form correctly and another five to pass my exam. Totally worth it and would do it again in a second (or six years ) :lol:

Better not to fight . If your technique is better , if you train harder , if you are in better condition ( both physically and mentally ) Than you are in a better position to win regardless of style . And yet it is still better not to fight.

I agree. I know of three schools of this form . Not sure which one was first but am also not sure that it matters. The shaolin form that I have seen is from Ti Tang (earth boxing) . Very cool to watch. Sort of a fall down and ground fight form. There is also a pure taoist art . It is internal and provides the most basic principals of the internal arts without the precise discipline of the other internal arts. Often taught to children and young teenagers as well as beginers of the internal arts. Recently there have also been some wushu forms ascociated with the the name the eight drunken immortals. Not brand new like yesterday or anything but within the last 50 years or so (not sure how long exactly but these versions are not considered to be the origin of the eight drunken immoortals.

I think that the suitable amount of class time varies from person to person. Free time , commitment , class availability and may other out side factors may effect the time you have. The key is to make the most of the time you do have in class . Home training is great , so is cross training . It just depends on what you want out of your training. The more effort in the better results out!

I think you explained it perfectly. As for the fun part I am not too sure.

If some one is swinging wildly I move. Move in , to the side , step or pivot or back . which one depends on the specific situation. Wild punches have a very limited area where they deliver max. power . So which ever movement I choose timing is key.

Just a quick thought . Are your shoes new ? Sometimes if your shoes are worn they will cause shin pain when running.

Sounds like you are off to a good start. Exersize is very important. The biggest misconception about weight loss is that you need to eat like a rabbit or jump on some crazy fad diet . If you starve yourself your metabolism will slow , you will loose muscle which burns fat and loose energy which will take away from work outs. Your best bet is to choose food choices that will make the most of your calorie intake. Low fat , low sugar , low sodium . Think of a diet as a life style change . A perminate one , so you have to do things that make sense or you will not keep it up . Choose lean meat , poultry or fish with as much fat removed as possible . Choose high fibre low sugar carbs . Veggies are great but if your not big on that than don't over do it or force yourself to choke down anything because it is good for you. Make sure you have good variety in the foods you eat as to not get board with your food . Don't go too long without eating or you may eat too much or go for qiuck and easy which is usually not the best . My sifu used to say to eat until you are 3/4 full . Works for me anyways. If you have any health problems what so ever see a doctor. The biggest thing is not to give up! It is said that 3500 calories makes up 1 lb so do not get discouraged if it takes a while to loose a lot of weight. If you want specifics on a diet geared to you I will need to know more. I can set something up for you just send me a private message . I would be happy to help . I am not a profesional dietition but I did take the course. I would wish you luck but it is not about that.

The good machines are used in physio some times but have not heard anything good about the machines you can buy on the open market.

Could be nerve too. Hard to say. A doctor could tell you better. Accupucnture may help. Ask your doctor. Typically they stick with pyhsio , but, I have had success with Accupunture.

Not a doctor but have suffered through shin splits before. One time I was just weeks before a marrithon. Plenty of ice Two or three times a day . And stretching. While sitting straight legged on the ground have someone stretch the foot down and hold and then back and hold. If it gets worse go see a doctor. Anti inflamitories are perscribed often. If it gets better than advil may be enough. Any worse be SURE to get medical attention. Shin splints suck but you probably won't die.

I agree . If that does not help than you may want to see a doctor. Do you have any pain in your upper leg or butt?

I think that even though there may not be an over emphasis on kicks that TCC can improove the kicks in his first art.

Personally I have trained in aikido for 13 yrs. Aikido can be very effective as a combative style . This is where the BUT comes in . But in order for the techniques of aikido to be effective Against trained figthers The Aikidoka must be VERY proficient. Basically to the point of perfection. While training with my sensei's sensei I had the honour to meet a great guy (a liitle strange but thats why he is so great) No matter what technique the sensei would instruct us in this guy would only do one particular technique. All direction throw (advanced) . After many many push ups the sensei finally just let this guy do his one techniqe over and over again . It go to the point where he was so proficient at the one technique that many including my sensei felt that he had perfected it. Well one night after recieving the results from senior level promotions a large group of us went out to celebrate. Sure enough some chuckle head with a group of friends all wearing the local boxing gym jackets over heard our conversations and chalenged any member of our group . After listening to a great deal of ego and insult my friend accepted the challenge . The boxer threw two punches , the first was a jab that landed to the nose and mouth area . The second was a cross. Well guess what? My friend applied the one technique he had practiced for year after year and sure enough the boxer was thrown and slamed to the ground in a pin. The moved resulted in the boxers arm being dislocated which ended the discussion quickly. Aikido in the begining and intermediate stages is probably not a overly useful tool in street self defense but a mastery of it is very viable. You just have to decide if the commitment is something you are in to. Applied with other arts knowledge of aikido at any level is useful. Well thats my two cents . It may not be worth two cents but there it is none the less.

I know this is totally opposite of almost everything that everyone is saying but Tai Chi can bring great benefits to martial artists of any style. Many of the people I know and respect have studied Tai Chi as a second or third art and have found it to help greatly in improoving their primary art skills.

Just be glad you don't do Sumo LOL!

If you want a tattoo go for it . Just make sure you don't cheap out on it . Get the exact one you want. No matter what it cost (within reason) . Make sure to find a great artist. Should be plenty for you to choose from. If you go cheap and it does not turn out you are kind of stuck.

Hey wingedsoldier , not to hi jack the thread but what is mental ninjutsu ? I would love to here about some of the basic concepts of it.

I have heard that as well. Were the ninja schools primarily the first budddist martial artists in Japan?

Protien supplements are better used as supplements not meal replacements . You need proper food nutrition . Low fat , whole grain is better. Protien supplements are better used in between meals and for after work outs.