Aodhan

Do you have any studies for this, dok? The last studies I read for my thesis showed that overdeveloped musculature at a young age could cause premature closure of the epiphyseal plates. If that's been disproven, I've got some kids I train that I could start on a more advanced weight program. Drop me a PM if you have a lot of links for the studies. Thanks! Aodhan

Rollerblading, cycling, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, aerobics, etc. Anything you do that will keep your heartrate between 65% - 85% of your max for 20 minutes or more will constitute a cardio workout. However, the "shredded" look that you seen on bodybuilders at competitions, is the result of having less than 2% bodyfat (Usually around .5 - 1%), which is unhealthy for any extended period of time. Anything less than 5% bodyfat requires very strict diet and fluid maintenance regimens. Aodhan 2% for competition body building? I don't know about all that. I have seen at almost every show that I have been to, and that my uncle has told me about about 4-5%bf. That is shredded! Medically, a person with less than 3% BF would need to eat all the time to survive. under 2% is just not possible (borderline death), unless they're starving themselves. You're right. Those that get down to that level (Where you can see every muscle fiber...there was an Iraqi bodybuilder a few years ago that did this regularly) only do so for the length of the competition, and even then they have to hydrate during the competition. Mike...Matarazzo? I think his name was had arrythmia problems because he didn't do it properly a few years ago. Most competitive bodybuilders that I know go into a contest at around 3%, a little less if they can get there, but they only stay there for the length of the contest, then they jump back up by eating and sucking down water immediately after. Aodhan

You should only land on the balls of your feet if you are sprinting. A proper running gait will land somewhere on the heel, and "roll" towards the front of the foot. If you feel a jarring in your stride, you are either overstriding (Too long of a stride) or are landing flat footed. As far as how to land, that is individual to everyone, and can be aided by the correct footwear. Go to a good running store (Find out from your high school x-country team if you can where they go) and have the people there evaluate your stride. They can recommend shoes based on whether you pronate, supinate, etc. Aodhan

Because of the way the body stores/uses/converts energy. Short duration exercise energy needs can basically be taken care of by the energy "substance" (Adenosine TriPhosphate, or ATP) already contained in muscle cells, and replenished by sugars and nutrients present in the blood stream and cellular fluids. (This is a very, very basic description of the Cory and Krebs cycles.) This, however, won't touch the fat storage since there is no depletion of the energy available. Longer durations of exercise will start to require energy beyond the readily available, and fat storage will be utilized to help provide this energy. When you look at nutrition breakdown, it's always helpful to remember that carbohydrates and proteins break down at right around 4 calories per gram. Fat provides 9 calories per gram. This is the reason that fat storage is the preferred method of storage, since you can get over 2x the energy potential with fat vs. proteins or carbos. The human body can only process about 1000 calories at a time, so if you eat a 1500 calorie meal, 500 calories will in all likelihood be converted to fat storage. (Again, very simplified). You can also look at the energy expenditure in this way. Walking at 4 miles per hour (A little more than 5k per hour) will burn around 300-350 calories for an average, 185 lb male. (~ 83kilos) Your typical quarter pounder meal with fries and a coke is ~ 1500 calories. So, if you eat a large sized quarter pounder meal, you'd have to walk at 4 mph for about 5 hours to work it off. Hrm. I seem to have wandered off the main point again... Aodhan

Rollerblading, cycling, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, aerobics, etc. Anything you do that will keep your heartrate between 65% - 85% of your max for 20 minutes or more will constitute a cardio workout. However, the "shredded" look that you seen on bodybuilders at competitions, is the result of having less than 2% bodyfat (Usually around .5 - 1%), which is unhealthy for any extended period of time. Anything less than 5% bodyfat requires very strict diet and fluid maintenance regimens. Aodhan

CECIL KARATE & ATA BBA 1752A APPLETON RD. ELKTON, MD EDGEWOOD BLACK BELT ACADEMY 2216D HANSON RD., EDGEWOOD PLAZA EDGEWOOD, MD ELKTON TAEKWONDO 8 COMMERCIAL PLAZA ELKTON, MD All of these look to be near the Northeastern part of the state. Aodhan

Actually, to you, then, that art would be "Ultimate". To me, martial arts is an expression, and I feel I can be best expressed through ATA TKD. So, for me, ATA TKD is the ultimate martial art. If I felt otherwise, I would be in something different. Aodhan

Here's the question: How much has he improved over the point he was when he started? If he has shown enough imrpovement over his handicap, then he should be awarded his BB. Obviously if he is still coming after 10 years, he is dedicated. I've thought about this (Since I have yet to promote a student to a black belt, I just started teaching on a regular basis recently), and my question before I award a black belt to someone will be "Is this earned, or is this a gift?" Oh, and what law is there that says if he does achieve black belt, that he has to teach in your studio? Your studio, you make the rules. Aodhan

Aaron - how old are you? If you are still growing, I wouldn't worry too much about adding muscle mass, it's REALLY difficult to do while still going through growth spurts. As far as not wanting to lift heavy, sorry, but you will have to lift heavier than you are used to if you want to add mass. You can add minimal mass by staying at a static weight, but to add it you have to stress the muscles beyond what they are used to. As far as the acrobatics go, I would join a local gymnastics club. Most of them have beginner adult classes, and this will give you a really safe environment to practice in with a knowledgable coach. Show them some of the videos of what you want to do and work with them to tailor your program. Aodhan

Hey all- While I was nowhere near fat, I hit the scales at 5'11", 202 lbs last Christmas. I decided that I wanted to get my weight down for competitions again, so I changed my diet and added a little cardio to my normal MA hours. It's been about a year, and I am down to between 177 and 182 lbs (Depending on when I weigh), and I recently got fat pinched at 14% BF. Since I do better with public goals and statements, I'm aiming to get down to 10% BF by our spring nationals in March, and hopefully still be right around 180. Gonna be hard with Christmas, New Years, and my wedding/honeymoon, but we'll see how it goes! Aodhan

Just make sure that before the run, you are doing some very light, active type stretching. Don't do static stretching when you are cold, you run a pretty high risk of tearing/injuring things. I'd do active stretches (Arm swings, knee lifts, leg kicks, etc) before you run, then after you run do the static stretching on all the major muscle groups. Oh, and 5k is 3.1 miles, a 10k is 6.2 miles, so 7k would be approx. 4 1/4 miles. Aodhan

I did skip the tournament. I went and judged (Always need more judges!) but I didn't compete. Man, it was harder than I thought. I would have walked away with the forms competition. However, I was rested enough to start back before T-giving, and attended a joint lock seminar this weekend that was really sweet, and no pain! Things are good again. Aodhan

This is really not a good method to try and develop strength for forms for several reasons: 1) You can't practice the explosive techniques that give a form its "snap". If you do, you really run the risk of injury with the weight on your extremity at extension 2) You develop different balance due to the weight. If you put 5 lb weights on each ankle and try to do some side/round kicks, you will have to adjust your balance to compensate. Then when you don't have the weights, you feel off balance. 3) The backpack can place serious strain on the abs and lower back muscles without much compensation. I would train in sport specific movements (Reverse/front punch - Bench press, knifehand - rear shoulder/lats, ridgehand - chest, front shoulder, etc). That way you can train the motion with weight without the risk of injury. For explosiveness, use rebound techniques such as plyometrics, resistance bands, things of that nature. Aodhan

If you are continually sparring people better than yourself, then you will be continually learning. Compare yourself to yourself, not to those around you. Be honest with your instructor. They may have had experience with other students that came from your original style, and might have good training/transition tips, etc. Also, if the instructor is worth anything and you have any remnants of your old style still in your system, they will be able to spot it just by the way you stand/punch, etc. unless you grossly overexaggerate acting as a beginner. Which could be bad in and of itself, by leading you to develop sloppy habits. Just be honest, learn, and have fun!! Aodhan

Nope, they don't have to be done at the same time. Also, many people have the misconception that MA classes will suffice as a cardio workout. While there is some cardio benefit, most MA classes will either not work you intensively enough to keep you in a cardio zone consistently, or will be anaerobic type workouts. Cardio workouts should be between 65% and 85% of your Maximum Heart Rate (Take 220 - age for your theoretical max), and sustained for 20 minutes or more, 3 times per week. MA classes may get you in that range, but not sustain for a long enough time. Also realize that your body will take fat off in the reverse order it puts it on. So, if you put on fat around your middle first, it will be the last to come off. Most males that you can see their six pack have body fat percentages between 7-15% or so, females 12-20%. Aodhan

Not the majority, but ALL ATA tournaments are point sparring. Punch/kick to legal body target areas, 1 point. Kick to legal head areas or jump kick to body areas, 2 points. Jump kick to head areas, 3 points. Matches to 5 points, 3 in ring judges, two minute matches. Tied at the end of a match, next point wins. Aodhan

As we said, no we wouldn't compete. All it sounds like is an opportunity to get hurt. Also, what guarantee that even if you do win, that they would pay you? They sound like the kind of people that would weasel out of paying you as well. Aodhan

Do you have an option? Colored belts in our school get exposure to all weapons, and we have colored belt forms for them. They have no restrictions (At least in our school) on which of the weapons they use at a tournament. It's only when you get to 1st degree and up that we start limiting the options of what they can compete with. Aodhan

Well, amongst the squabbles, discussions, "You're school is a McDojo", questions on tourneys, fights, training, I just wanted to take a moment and wish everyone a peaceful, happy, Thanksgiving. Enjoy the day, take some time off from training and stuff yourself silly with turkey or whatever ersatz main dish you use in its place. Watch football, take a walk with your loved ones, play the piano, whatever. Have a fun, great, safe holiday everyone!! Aodhan

I started in shotokan, and moved to TKD. The styles do complement each other well. Shotokan has much deeper stances, and there is more emphasis in the beginning on doing not much more than stances, basic kicks and blocks for long periods of time. TKD doesn't spend quite as long drilling on stances. I found shotokan to be a little bit more rigid than TKD, but they have enough different emphases that they do end up merging quite nicely. Aodhan

Belts are a measure of achievement, not skill. Hence the perennial arguements about which schools are better than others, and the relative worth of a black belt. Aodhan

Generally each school will structure it differently, it's something you should ask your instructor. Aodhan

ATA TKD does weapons, we have a standardized curriculum, certification courses and prescribed methods of teaching. We do ssangh jeol bangh (Nunchaku), bangh mangh ee (Escrima), Jang Bangh (Long staff), sam dang bangh (3 sectional staff), ssangh Nat (Kama), jee pangh ee (Cane). Our high ranks at HQ are also taking instruction in the sword and developing an ATA curriculum for that. It should be completed in a few years. Aodhan

Yep. When you are first starting out, try as many styles as you can. You might find something surprising that you like more than TKD. If you aren't happy, you won't stay no matter how good the art is. Aodhan

Heh. I didn't even get that much, I've never heard of it. Aodhan