Aodhan

Most of that is from repetitive injuries/head shots, or pre-existing defects. Of all the deaths in the ring, I think only one or two were not due to one of those two factors, and both were considered aberrations. As far as the world tournament, there are already many organizations that do it. You've got Goodwill games (Although now defunct), Pan American Games, the Collegiate games, Worlds in several different disciplines. I don't think you'll ever get a homogenized tournament with different practitioners, it would just be UFC on a bigger scale. You would have to impose too many limits otherwise. Judo vs. TKD/Karate for example. You'd have to really limit the judoka in throws, clinching, or else the TKD practitioner would have to have trained in judo, and then you're just getting into MMA again. Aodhan

Looks like it. I'm actually a little disappointed they don't allow over 30's to apply. Might be kind of fun for a few days or whatever. It's point fighting, so I wouldn't have to worry about the MMA aspect of most of these. Aodhan

Don't worry, she'll pay you back after you're married. Oh, marriage isn't that part I'm worried about. In about a year, she takes her Irish Dance teaching certification test, which I think is harder than what I had to do. And, being a woman, she's naturally more high strung. Aodhan (Who is thankful she doesn't read MA message boards)

Incredible, i didn't realize tkd had so many arts, or is it a hydra-type thing? Ok, since you seem to want to not understand, I meant head of "my" style (Guess that's a better word than art), the ATA. Yes, TKD is similar across the board, but there are differences in each style, I was giving the way it is in mine. Aodhan Hehe, i was being facetious mainly because i've seen at least 10 tkd schools indicating they have a grandmaster teaching. As far as i know there are only 3 major associations, with ATA being one of them, so to find that many tkd grandmasters gives me the impression there are many more 'heads' per body (or style). Ah, now I get it! Heh. Ok, note to self. More caffeine in the morning. Yes, I agree, although a "grandmaster" can also be construed to be the originator of an art, so if joe schmoe TKD guy changes one kick and calls it moo duck tae hap kwon do, he can make himself a GM. Aodhan

James - You missed the point of my post. I know about some guy spitting on your girlfriend, and I've already responded in that thread about your actions and the results thereof. In THIS thread, I was asking how these items of wisdom have meaning for you? Have they changed anything in how you look at life or martial arts? If so, how? Just spouting out words that you have memorized only tells me you either have a book open or a good memory. If you associate it with a growth experience, then it becomes meaningful. As an example: One of my favorite quotes is from Tae te Ching - "He Who Knows Others Is Wise. He Who Knows Himself Is Enlightened." The way I interpret that is that for me to know how others will react to a given situation or thought means that I have a wisdom about the world around me, can understand it. If I know how I react to given things and situations, then I can use that knowledge to CHANGE the events around me, or even prevent them from happening. THAT is enlightenment, and a great awareness of your own place in the world. So, back to the original subject, how have these two sayings you've given us changed you as a person and/or a martial artist? If they haven't, then all you are doing is memorizing, and not thinking for yourself. Aodhan

Heh, you have no idea! I've been stressed out for about 6 weeks prior to this, driving my fiancee absolutely nuts. Aodhan

At least you have an open mind about it. A lot of times when I mention that I am ATA, I get a rabid anti-ATA response. We use contracts in our school, we have a 6 month intro contract, and then 1, 2 and 3 year (Depending on goals, intentions, etc). If you move more than 30 miles away from the school, you can get out of the contract, and you can "freeze" your contract as well. We also offer a 30 day free introduction, or if they take a couple classes and really like it, then they can apply that 30 day free value towards the contract. And, it does depend on the school. I know some ATA black belts I wouldn't trust with a foam pillow, and there are others I would run screaming in fear from. (I hope I fall somewhere in the middle ) I am a 2nd degree, and just finished my instructor certification, so if you have any questions, feel free to fire away! (I've been away for a while concentrating on getting said certificaiton, so that's why I'm late to this thread). Oh, and as far as the sparring, our tournament sparring is a very "tag" styled point sparring, but our school also teaches a more agressive sparring (street style) as well as the joint locks and some basic ground fighting skills. Aodhan

Sounds like you have a good handle on it. Make sure you coordinate things with the other instructor, such as testings, etc. It would be bad to schedule testings on the day they have a seminar, etc. Also, there could be some crossover in getting people in to teach seminars, etc. There is a school in Scottsdale, Az near me that has 5 rooms and teaches about 9 different arts at various times. Aodhan

Any of the kinesiology courses at a decent college will help, as well as whatever they call their analysis and movement classes. These are classes that take specific sports, break down their motor skills and show you how to break it down/refine/teach it. While they were sports specific, the knowledge of how to dissect a movement comes in really handy when I'm tearing someones form apart (In a nice way! ) Aodhan

Are there any benefits to belonging other than the tips and seminars? Is there a group insurance available under the MAIA/NAPMA umbrella? Are there other advantages to being a member? Aodhan

Just make sure that you are on the right side of things legally, there are certain laws governing raffles and giveaways depending on what state you are in. Aodhan

Nicely put, MasterH. Aodhan

SenseiKeith- I'd like that information as well, I'm putting my business plan together. Aodhan

That's a new term for me...what is dit da jow? Aodhan

Well, yeah, since a bullet loses almost all momentum after about 3 feet of water. The movie seens where you see bullets whipping by someone 20 feet underwater are just that, movie fantasy. If you ever get the chance to tour a forensics facility, you'll see the bullet chamber where they test fire to get example bullets is a tank of water about 4 feet long. Aodhan

Don't be too sure. The only way you can know for sure at that age is to have an x-ray done of the epiphyseal plates at the ends of your bones. I grew about 7" over my first two years of college (Thank god!!), and I was 19/20ish at the time. Aodhan

Yeah, oddly enough, I find that taller competitors tend to slouch, a lot of times it is subconscious because they slouch in regular life. Very few of the really tall people I meet actually stand up straight. Aodhan

Incredible, i didn't realize tkd had so many arts, or is it a hydra-type thing? Ok, since you seem to want to not understand, I meant head of "my" style (Guess that's a better word than art), the ATA. Yes, TKD is similar across the board, but there are differences in each style, I was giving the way it is in mine. Aodhan

Well, it's all well and good to spout out "wisdom" that you have memorized, but what does it mean to you? If you give an adage such as yours, meanfighter, it's meaningless without context. How have you assimilated it into your life and into your martial arts? Have you changed your practice/methods because of it? If not, then it's just words you have memorized, good for not much more than impressing the uninformed and unaware. Aodhan

I would too, but unfortunately, the courts don't see it that way. If it ends up going to court, you are allowed to use "reasonable tactics" to remove yourself from the situation. What's reasonable? Well, that's up to whoever judges the case and how they feel that day. Sad, but true. Be glad your hooking kick (And who told you to use that on the street?!?) didn't break an eye socket or something similar, or you could have been in real trouble legally speaking. "Well, he spit on my girlfriend so I fractured his face" won't go too far with a judge or jury, most times. As far as what we all think is immaterial. You have already evaluated your actions, and placed shame upon them, which means you will be less likely to do it again in the future, and more likely to find a different method. Welcome to personal growth. Aodhan

I have one bag, and it holds sparring gear (Chest, head, hands, feet, shins), a pair of sai, two escrima, two nunchucks, 2 sets of kama. I also bring a dry shirt for after class (I sweat gallons). I usually wear my dobok, or else I have the dobok top in my bag as well. Aodhan

Actually, the camo belt goes along with the belt philosophy. When HU Lee designed the Songahm forms in the mid 80's, he created 9 belts with attendant philosphies. Songahm itself means "Pine Tree and Rock", and the belt philosphies reflect the growth of the tree. Camo belt philosophy is "The sapling is hidden amongst the taller pines, and must now begin to fight its way upwards". Camo belt is also the first belt where students are introduced to free sparring. Just because you think it looks funny, doesn't mean there isn't a reason behind it. Aodhan

Well... where does it go I can vouch for this. When I first got into weight training, I would eat 20 minutes before working out. Ever heard of the term "Burp, and taste it"... yeah... yeah............. The term "Technicolor yawn" comes to mind There's also another good reason for eating minimally, or very easily digested foods before a workout. Your stomach gets a rush of blood to it to help carry away the initial nutrients from digestion, which deprives some of the rest of your body of blood. This can slow you down and make you feel slightly lethargic. On tournament days, I generally eat very little, but I will occasionally eat jars of baby food. Nutritionally sound, incredibly quick to digest, and extremely easy on the stomach. When I was swimming competitively and doing triathlons, I used to almost live on that during competitions. Aodhan

Please, PLEASE tell me you are finished growing!! Your bones have a covering called the periosteum, that thickens the bones as you grow. A hard enough impact will kill the periosteum in a small area, resulting in a "dent" in the bone. You want the nerves in the skin to be used to impact, not the bone itself, so get a heavy bag or similar and whack your legs against that. The whole Van Damme kicking a tree thing is just movie fantasy. Aodhan

Check your plant foot position. Try this for a drill. Stand leaning slightly against a wall, both feet pointing forward. Lift your knee straight up as high as you can, and have someone hold their hand as high as you can go. Then, turn your plant foot out 90 degrees, and lift your knee again. I generally get about 6-7" higher with my knee when I have the foot turned. It has to do with the hip structure, and how the femur fits into the socket in the pelvis. Side kicks are the same way, but I generally turn my foot almost 180 degrees when I do side kicks, as opposed to 90 for front/round kicks. Aodhan