oyamagal

rules will vary, but i participated in a tournament recently where judges seemed much more likely to award ippon for a kick to the head, even if it didn't connect cleanly or very hard. so watch your head especially (not that you wouldn't be already, right?), and if you're tall, you might want to reconsider the kick to the head thing - it's a distinct advantage over someone shorter who might have a tough time reaching. btw, i agree that judging is a tough job! they take alot of abuse and deserve much credit for taking on the role.

women's fitness might be more like it. before i started training, i was only doing yoga for fitness. while they might seem incompatible, i've found them to be really complementary. yoga stresses strength as well as flexibility and balance - if you interchange the two during the week you'll be able to explore whether you're favoring one side over the other, whether you're using a loose, comfortable fighting stance in sparring.....yoga is also a singular discipline, where you are responsible for pushing yourself, as well as showing respect for your teacher and the people around you and their varying levels of expertise. i began training for a tournament a few months ago, so had to sacrifice the yoga for a while, but i'm looking forward to getting back to it. if you try it, look for a very active yoga studio - otherwise you could get bored. you may need to experiment or try out classes at different places. hatha is very static and is about breathing and posture. vinyasa might be more appropriate - it's about flowing movement - there are even 'warrior' poses!

great job! i just did my first tournament as well. i've heard it was videotaped, so i'm looking forward to seeing how well my own memory and the reality of the fight match up. could be pretty amusing, i think..... i didn't win, but i was happy with how i did too. the fight was called after a round, and i really wanted to go another!

the tournament was a great experience. i did not place or anything, but i had almost no nerves, which surprised me. i had only one fight, but it was against a much bigger green belt who eventually took second, and i'm happy with how i did. i took a few good shots early, but i was feeling no pain when i was out there. after that, i was able to get inside and hold my own for the rest of the fight. thanks again everyone!

I think what we have going for us is the element of surprise. I wouldn't try to overpower an attacker. I think my training would prepare me to keep my wits, get one good shot in, and RUN.

30.

world oyama karate, which is a derivation of kyokushin.

i tend not to bring up karate easily either. when i have, there are two general responses - one is "wow, you must be a real bad-a$$" and the other is complete bewilderment. most people who haven't practiced a truly individual sport like martial arts don't get it - they don't understand where the inspiration comes from or how you challenge yourself to become better, or how it's not about how good you are how fast, but the getting there that counts. our culture and especially high school sports are much more geared toward team play. but it's best to be gracious to anyone who asks, even if they say something stupid or challenge you. the chances are good that what they REALLY are is curious, and they just don't know how to ask the right way.

thanks everyone for the great advice! it's greatly appreciated. it was so good to get that fear off my chest and start to move past it. in training this week i can already see i am stronger for it! you're right that anyone who has gone so far as to enter a tournament (just like me) knows exactly what s/he's getting into. i will be sure and post after the tourny. osu!

hello. i've been training for about a year and a half and just got my green belt. i'll be in my first tournament in a few weeks - i won't be fighting anyone i've sparred with before because it is at a far away dojo. i've become much stronger than i ever thought i could be, but i am fairly small (abt 115 pounds). i feel well prepared, but for some reason the thing that is making me most nervous right now is that i'm not comfortable with the idea of really hurting anyone. in class i've been sparring since i began, and i know who i can hit full strength and who i go lighter on, and we get in to a normal rhythm of knowing what eachother can take and pushing just to that limit. i know it's a tournament and if i don't go hard from the start, i could be taken out before i even begin. how do i push myself to go in as strong as i can when i won't know the level/strength of the person i am fighting? help greatly appreciated! hope it doesn't sound silly that a trained fighter doesn't want to hurt anyone.