red dawn

We usually don't have too much of a problem with intros not showing up. Sometimes they come late, but a lot of the time they get to the dojo before I do! But it's usally not a two week waiting period before a lesson, it's normally not more than a week. But we usually give them a call the day before they are set to come in to remind them.

I don't believe one month is short, of course, depending on what's required of you for the next belt, but usually it's just understanding the basics, maybe not being able to do them perfectly yet, but to have a rough idea. I would say at least a month to go from white to the next belt, assumming the length of time to get each belt after that becomes longer. btw, congrats on you and your son's promotion!

that's awsome! I would love to train in japan. My dojo goes to train in aikido there every year. (Or at least for the past two). I want to go with them this year, but it's right in the middle of my school semester and job. So, maybe next year.... I don't imagine it would be hard to find something to train in. Probably a good selection of Japanese arts..judo, jujitsu, aikido, okinawa, ect. and a bet a few of those school are run by masters who have been doing it their whole life.

You also have to remember that getting a black belt isn't 100% about skill, it also takes experience, and experience cannot be rushed.

I've never heard of that art. It sounds very interesting. If you can't find anything on it, you might just have to switch to another style similiar to that, or contuine the art by starting your own school.

Usually when you punch you want to make contact with your first two nuckles, so I think as long as your technique is okay, there shouldn't be a problem.

I think that all depends on the context in which she told you. I've had other higher belts tell me things not because they think they have the power, but just to give me a heads up so I don't get in trouble about it with the instructor. But if she just came up and told you not to do that because she felt she had power to or whatever, I think she was a little out of line. Though in any case, judging by what you said, she seemed kind of rude.

You have definatly choosen all the right reason to start MA. Now, to answer your question, on weightlifting, it all depends on which MA you choose to practice. If you choose an art that stresses speed and power then you will probably being doing strength exercises of some type there (but i don't know if it will replace your weights), but if you choose an art that doesn't stress power as much you probably wont. Now as for days, that also depends on the dojo you pick. I've trained in two different dojos and at both dojos I usually only went 2 to 3 days a week. Some dojos will have classes 5 to 6 days a week and let you pick which days you will to attened and some dojos might only have 2 classes for a certain rank. Your just going to have to see what's in your area and see if you can manage it. I hope you find something!

Ok I see what you mean. Well we do have a beginner program which beginners enter to learn basic kihon and such. I thought of your intro as a speech towards the class, interesting enough though. haha, ahh.. i see. Well we do give a small speech to tell them what we teach and rules and such, but mostly it's just learning some basic stuff so they can keep up with the class when they join.

yea, whenever someone is interested in joining our school we set them up for a free intro lesson to teach them some basics so when they do a class they are not totally lost to what is happening.

I really couldn't put it any better myself. TKD is great for kicking if that's what you want. Also, and like aefibird said a lot of arts are mixing techniques now, so you just have to see what's in your area. I hope it works out for you.

hey there and welcome to the forum! I don't think you'll have a problem finding info about any style here.

haha, yes very much so. I'm glad we don't to mass intros everyday.

I hate to say it, but in some way this guy deserves to get hit. He just seemed like a show off. I don't usually tell people I'm in the MA let alone a black belt, I've noticed that leads to confrontation because people don't have respect for what the the MA truly is...just because your a black belt doesn't mean you can't lose a fight to someone who isn't a black belt. MA goes a little deeper than that.

hmm.....I would have guessed that tonfas on that one...but I guess I am mistaken...

this is just my opinion, but I don't think any ONE MA is the best for what your looking for. Your just going to have to see what's aviable in your area pick one and give it a try, if it doesn't work for you move on. You might even have to combine more than one MA into your training to get what your looking for what you feel is right for you.

I myself have never promoted anyone to black belt, but i have promoted students to other belts and it's always a great feeling to see a student progress. It always makes me proud especially when I know as student has worked hard.

Well, children are somewhat different to teach than adult classes. Teaching kid classes depend also a lot on age group. At my dojo we teach agas 4-7 then 8-14 and those two classes run very differently. The 4-7 you just set up the class to work on basic techniques. And don't worry to much about detail, it's mostly motor skills your trying to get from them. At about 8 and up you can be a little harder on them, get them to show more detail and harder techniques. But all in all, you want to make the class fun, make up some games. There is really a lot you can do with kids. You just alway have to keep in mind, that a lot of the kids aren't in MA because they have a real passion (Though many are), some of your students might be inbetween with sports and other activities as well as school events so you want to make your classes as flexiable as possible. -take care

I agree, if he had some power that would be jaw dropping, but I still think he exercises an awsome degree of control while doing that.

I agree with Andrew, if you are already training in the art, you have a better chance of learning something from a book or video and doing it right.

I think that practicality of a weapon all depends on the situation.

It looks real to me but hard to do!

Do you mean are they taught in Karate or have styles of their own? I do believe, and correct me if I'm wrong, but the animal styles are more common in Chinese martial arts, such as Kung Fu. Those arts mimic tigers, snakes, hawks, and other animals. I don't think you'll find to many of that in Japanese arts.

Today we had a group of intros who came into our dojo to learn some basic karate techniques and maybe join up. They told me it would be no more than 10 students, but it ended up being over 15 and they were all small children (4yrs to 9 yrs)...it was one of the craziest class I've ever done. Some kids were crying and others were so lost on techniques and some caught on really well...but after class I can't help but think to myself, I love being an instructor.

That happened real close to me. I remember hearing about it on the local news, it's an awsome story and I'm glad the store clerk got to show that robber what he was made of!