monkeygirl

I'm still trying to keep the car ON the road...

Weight training can be good at your age, but only if you do it right. If you train too hard, your bones will beg for mercy and your joints will cry themselves to sleep. Right now, when it comes to weight training, you need to use light weights and focus more on repetitions. Ankle weights can be dangerous, and they're generally meant for jogging (I think). If you use them, make sure you don't extend your leg fully when you kick.

I've had a few students like that in the past. I found the best thing that works is the "freeze" method. If I'm teaching kata or something to kids who won't hold still, I'll make them do the move, and then once they're in position, I say "freeze!" with a lot of urgency. That usually helps...they get the feeling that they're playing Red Light, Green Light or something. As a last resort, you can just tell them to sit down and stay there. Tell them in a firm voice, not a Kindergarten Teacher "now, it's time for us to sit down...no...we don't sit on each other's heads..." Command authority and their respect. Sit down, facing them, and give them an evil stare any time they act up. You have to stay sitting down with them the whole time. Don't let them talk, get a drink, nothing...bathroom breaks are the only reason they can go. If you can instill some discipline in them, it might just work very well for you. These kids are just like puppies: you have to reward them when they're good, and punish them when they're bad. Like I said, this is a last resort only.

And a hearty howdy right back at ya! Final Fantasy VIII has consumed many a weekend of mine Right now I'm playing it through for the third time Welcome to the forums!

Took the words right out of my mouth. I can usually watch guy movies and not feel out of place, but this one... I could admire it for its coolness, but other than that...

ITF = International Tae Kwon Do Federation WTF = World Tae Kwon Do Federation MDK = Moo Duk Kwon Tae Kwon Do schools are usually members of one federation or another, or at the very least, hold some similarities to a federation. Moo Duk Kwon is like a sub-style of Tang Soo Do, if I remember correctly. I'm not familiar with MDK, so perhaps someone else can explain it?

:lol:

Welcome to the forums!

If you want to be super-prepared, then yes you could work out at home and do some conditioning. However, remember that every style has a beginning level for their students. Generally speaking, they will take you from whatever physical fitness level you have, and mold you into what will suit the style best. They're not going to say: "*GASP*! This boy can't run a marathon without breaking a sweat? Turn him away immediately." They'll build you up. My dojo has a few asthmatic students. (of the ones that I know of, one is a 17-year-old black belt, and the other is a 14-year-old junior black belt, about to test for 1st dan) At first, training was difficult, especially when it came to sparring. After several years of training, however, it's very rare that the 17-year-old has to run for his inhaler, even during/after sparring. When he does, it's usually because of some other factor: heavy pollen, bad air, fresh-cut grass outside, etc.

Century sells the Kicknastics video/dvd series in their video library. There's three tapes, I have the first two. I've learned some pretty good moves off of them. However, for safety's sake, you'll want to try to find a qualified gymanstics instructor for the more dangerous things like handsprings and flips.

Just relax! Take a few deep breaths. It's surprising how many people will forget to breathe when they get nervous. Like karate_woman said, the senior belt should realize that you are a lower belt and not beat the living snot out of you. If you are really worried, though, ask them to take it slow and help you with your sparring. If they refuse, then you can bow out and ask for a different partner.

Our "adult classes" actually consist of relatively few adults. The teenager-adult ratio is something like 5 to 1 if not more. Try going over and watching a class or two, and see how many teenagers there are. Even if there aren't that many, don't let that get in the way of training. If you really love the style, and everyone treats you with respect, what should it matter how old your classmates are?

Well, if you re-read Joshua's post, you'll see that the student was there to try out class, not just to watch. In some schools, students spar on their first night...apparently, Joshua's school is one of them. Not to mention a genius. Hmmm..how much did the anthropoid one pay you to say that? Maybe I'm just loved

http://www.karateforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=2396&highlight=mcdojo This thread shows many people's different views on what a McDojo is.

You mean they beat the fat out of you?

I could never stand the way Aku talks soooooo sllloooowwww..... I just want to punch him in the face and get it over with

This type of question goes in the actual Karate Forum.

Welcome to the forums!

Welcome to the forums!

I'd like to spar with Bill "Superfoot" Wallace...and will! He's coming to my dojo on June 7th So happy!

Wow! That is truly an inspirational article! I feel like I know Sai a little better now.

If the guy's drunk enough to not feel pain, he probably can't chase after you without falling on his face. If you can run away, that's probably the best option. However, if he's got you cornered...that's when you'll have to resort to blowing out his knee/choking him out. What about a good ol' tazer? What kind of effects would that have?

Hurray! Happy birthday, KarateForums!

Facial hair can be cool. I have a friend who has a really cool goatee. And then I have other friends who probably spray Miracle-Gro on their chins trying to get hair

Welcome to the forums!