pegasi

I think the primary concern is teaching the decision making skills to determine the appropriate level of force to use to deter an attacker, and at what point do you cross the line from seriously violent force such as breaking a limb, to the possibility of taking a life?

Rit's color remover works pretty well to remove dye from clothing that should not have been colored, like getting dye bleed from a belt to a dobok top. Double check the instructions, but I've used it once or twice on other clothing besides ma uniforms, don't see why it wouldn't work here to remove the dye bleed such as the purple, green, or red bleed over from the belt, and the color remover product only costs a few bucks, much cheaper than a new dobok.

if you something simple, such as the fabric skullcaps that are premade that tie in back that are worn under motorcycle helmets for sweat bands, that would work, if you picked a plain motif.

When I went to LSU they had a Karate Club that taught Shotokan Karate, and the university had a MA class for 3credits that a bunch of us from the club signed up to take for the phys ed credit for our degrees. The intstructor turned out to be a TKD instructor, and none of us from the Karate Club were beginners - orange and above, including a black belt, so the TKD instructor took us through a mid level TKD form and some similar instruction for the course, since we all had an MA background and were all in active training in another style, and just had to learn the differences between the Shotokan and TKD techniques and forms. Made for a very interesting semester.

In my previous post, I referenced "taking the person's belt away" aka "suspension." This would be a temporary removal of rank for repeated disrespect of the rank, and would be a disciplinary method of last resort. It would not be permanent, only until they mended their ways. I stress that this kind of action would be for someone who REPEATEDLY flaunted the rules and ignored corrective measures. I know of nothing that says that a sensei who has awarded a rank cannot "remove" it for discipline problems. It shows everyone that a high degree of responsibility and a certain amount of dignity and a lot of respect is required when one has a high rank and if you abuse the privileges of such a rank, then there is consequences. To me, having serious consequences for not following the rules, after multiple offenses of the same kind, makes it clear that the sensei takes personal conduct seriously. I too would advocate understanding if someone were merely having a bad day and it were a one-time thing. Its the students who have high rank who are causing issues every day that need to be dealt with a lot more harshly, which I think are the ones that were being pointed out in the original topic. Those are the ones for whom I would advocate something like a rank "suspension."

In cases like the one experienced by the initial poster, with the BB's acting out, I think it's well within the sensei's rights to admonish those students with a warning to shape up, and basically put them on "probation," and if they continue to act out, to take away their belts until they earn them back by showing the respect and responsibilty that having such rank requires. Busting them back to white temporarily (including requiring they go to white belt classes again until their behavior improves) in front of everyone for such unbecoming behavior would drive home a lesson unlike anything else. If you can't shape up after being warned, you deserve the consequences, especially if you're old enough to get the rank in the first place. My instructor has a "pink" belt (a white belt that had an accident in the laundry) as a punishment belt for the truly unrecalcitrant students. It was only given out after several warnings had been given for conduct unbecoming of one's rank. No one wanted to have to wear that belt to class in front of everyone!

I agree with most posts, if one treats the form as if one is simply "going through the motions" then it's as boring as watching paint dry. If one were to do even the beginning forms with the snap and precision and fire that one puts into the more complex advanced forms, it turns them into something to watch. Isn't the purpose of forms to demonstrate the techniques as if defending onself? So, even the most basic should be done with the spark and fire an imagined battle. Isn't that what one brings into play in one's mind when executing the more advanced techniques?

Well, after 5 knee surgeries and what I did to the left calf, and having had carpal tunnel surgery in both hands, plus having broke my left forearm, I've got quite the collection of orthopedic stuff, let me tell you! I've even added a couple of items, since I knew needing them would be in the future, and the way things are going, the insurance companies are passing on so many costs, I figured I'd pay 5 or 10 bucks now for what they'd try and charge me 200 bucks for, and save myself the misery later. It can sit in my closet, I've the space to store a couple of items I know I'll have to get eventually anyway.

It took me about 10 weeks to heal, and I've still a visible bulge to my calf on the inside, so I must've got it pretty nastily. I've an odd "knot and dent" to my medial calf muscle when you feel it when it's tensed, so I think I definitely did some damage. Leg still works, so I guess I can't complain too much about the money I spent on the walker boot the doc said to wear to keep the ankle flexed to keep the calf from healing with the foot dropped. (no insurance at the time) It worked, so I can't argue.

Sadly, a lot of schools, particularly the chain ones, are doing the contracts, like gym memberships. You have to pay whether you come or not.

I know this is a topic that's hitting hard in the US right now, and probably elsewhere too. My income isn't keeping pace with the rate at which the prices of everything else keep going up. I've been having to make adjust ments to cope among these: -not going out hardly at all, even fast food restaurants -using my motor scooter instead of my van whenever possible to save on gas -cost cutting in the grocery department, however I can, buying sale items, and adjusting what I make to what's available cheapest that week, buying at the "scratch and dent" stores, buying bread at the outlet stores for 1/3 the cost of the grocery stores, stuff like that. -scrapping cans or other junk metal I'd otherwise throw away to gain a few extra dollars. Anyone else having to adjust their lifestyle to cope with the economic issues?

If your class will be aimed toward parents of current students among others, having class fees on a similar schedule to what they pay for the kids lessons would be fair, I'd think. If you can offer classes at adjacent timeslots to classes with a lot of parents that bring kids, you may get a lot of attendees that way, given that if they're bringing the kids and thus are already there, its more motivation to attend their own class. If you have room to have classes at the same times, that could even work too, parents may like being able to squeeze in their own workout while their kids are in class. Poll the parents.. you might get a lot of takers if you can offer a class for the parents while the kids take theirs. Having fees both ways often works... charge say $40 a month for 2 classes a week, but if they want to pay per class, then charge $8 per class. Thus, they get a discount for paying monthly, but can pay per class, if they'd rather.

I'm 12 weeks out from knee surgery, and I still can't do any sort of crouching moves. I can't do the crouch/double uppercut move in taegeuk chil-jang, and it's frustrating. That's in the last form I tested, and I know I'll be seeing it again. I'm wanting to go back to classes, but I'm told to wait. Grrr... soo frustrtating! anyone else had a long recovery before they could return to classes after knee surgery?

One difficulty with stances other than horse stance is "linearity" or keeping the feet in line or too close which you do NOT want when in front stance for example. In front stance, you want the feet shoulder width (or hip width apart at the minumum). If you take an object you know very well... your shoe.. and use it as your measuring device... if your feet are one shoe length apart, or just a little more, you're at the minimum spacing for stability. I'm not that practiced in cat stance, so I can't comment there.

I think the general summary here is that some moderate degree of contact is expected while (free) sparring, but not while executing controlled techniques, such as step sparring, where more control ought to be expected because one's partner (aka the target) is deliberately not getting out of the way for training purposes. SO, to me, in a controlled situation like step sparring, the agressor is required to maintain proper technique and targeting, but to check the power in the technique at the final instant before any impact, so they don't damage their partner. Maybe putting a piece of lightweight tracing paper in front of a bag, and practicing hitting the paper and wrinkling it, without tearing it, would be a good lesson in control? Kind of like an old japanese story I vaguely recall about silent walking, stepping on pieces of rice paper without tearing them. Dunno where that thought came from... maybe some movie... but the idea seemed appropriate.

It's been 8 weeks since my knee surgery, and my 4th week of therapy, and my knee still hurts! It's frustrating, my mind wants to get back to classes, and my knee is still saying "are you nuts?!" I can barely do the basic moves without pain, and they hurt if I try to add much power. It stinks! I thought I'd be back at it by now, but my knee is not being accomodating. I am still having difficulty with any kind of movements with the knee bent, it screeches about any kind of moves like stepping down a step with my good leg leading, the bad one being bent with my weight though it as I step down makes it scream, for example. Grrrr.....I guess it just needs more time. I guess that shaving articular cartilage must be a pretty significant thing as knee parts go, this's been taking so much longer to recover than my other 4 knee surgeries. (this was #5) It's so hard to be patient...

If the "half belts" don't change the overall number of ranks between white and first dan, then I don't see a big deal, but if the number of "levels" to go through - and pay to test for - increases from 10 to 15 or more, I'd be worried about it being more of a money making change. Most styles seem to have 10 levels from white belt to first dan, regardless of the color scheme that the school uses. Some schools use a taped stripe on a solid color belt for "half ranks" when a person tests but manages to just barely pass, versus pass all requirements in full measure. The "half ranks" seem to be often used to indicate progress has been made, but not enough to be fully the next level. To me it seems to be more of a self-esteem thing versus a true rank.

I'd say that 10 min of a 1 hour class is the most that should be spent on pure warmup/stretching. Spending an additional 10 on basic techniques as additional warm up is simply good review, so I wouldn't complain if doing something actively ma related as part of a warm up, but wasting 20 min or more of a 1 hour class on purely stretching/strengthening type exercises would make me wonder what I'm paying for - ma or aerobics?

I started in the martial arts in my 1st year of college with the campus club. I chose the martial arts since they'd attracted me for a long time, but I'd never had the chance to take lessons. I also liked the idea of something athletic where the only competition is with oneself. I never did well with the team sports, due to lack of ability, so the martial arts were perfect - no complains and moans when I didn't score, my awkwardness physically didn't harm any "team" efforts, that sort of thing.

I had fun doing a 360 roundhouse kick at shoulder height to break a 12x12x1 pine board at my last testing. We don't usually practice breaking outside of the tests.

easiest way possible. Sautee in a pan, or bake in oven with some spices. Not hard to do.

Another alternative for endurance is to ride a stationary bike. You can ride a stationary bike while watching tv, so make yourself a rule that you have to bike while you watch your tv shows, then you exercise when you'd ordinarily just be sitting on your bum. You can probably pick up a used bike affordably, or buy one of those stands that lets you use your regular bike as a stationary bike.

The latest on my knee is that there was more damage than the mri showed, mostly wear and tear related, but not good all the same. So, I ended up getting the back of my kneecap shaved while the doc was in there. That explains why the postop pain's been so bad. Here it is, a bit more than 3 weeks out, and I'm still on painkillers. Not as much, but still needing them. I would like to be off them, have tried to discontinue, but still to much pain. Starting rehab this coming week. Been delays with that due to insurance, but that's normal these days. I've got my range of motion back anyways, as good as I had before. It'll never be "full" range, but at least it's in the "functional" category. Doc says I should be able to return to taekwondo, but not when. I guess that depends on me. At least he didn't say no.

I agree with DWx, getting a rib guard or other protector that you can wear under your gi top would be a safer way to allow you to continue to participate, after you heal up, of course. A rib guard is a wraparound shield that is about a foot or so wide, basically only covers the center of the torso (floating ribs area), and so I think it would suffice to cover the midsection where the spleen is. That way you're not having to wear a full chest protector, yet get that spleen area padded up some. Follow your doc's advice about time off before you resume even non-sparring class!

I agree, it's not easy, but what choice does one have when one is the sole wage-earner and has a kid to take care of? No, the dad's not in the picture, we're better off that way. I'm figuring that if I can do it for a few months, it'll make enough of a difference to have been worth it.