karatekid1975

Hey all. I don't know where to put this. I had a dream last night that is martial arts related, but it was just a dream. Ok, let me explain. I had a dream that I failed my test, which is true. But my instructor made me go back to white belt, not true. But in the dream, I had to. I was like, "Na I'm not wearing no freaking white belt!" But I did. And I hated every minute of it. I woke up shaking my head. This was a very vivid dream, too. It was almost real ... scary I don't uderstand the dream, really. Because I know if I started another style, I would have no problem with it. Or would I?!?!?! I'm totally confused. Help me out here, please?

Yea, it was awsome. I totally agree. My old school is the same way

How cool is that! Ok, let me explain. My sister called today. She put my nephew into a "sidekicks" class for wee ones at my old dojang (he earned his first belt today ). She called me from there today after his class. My old instructor knew who she was talking to, and stole the phone (She was on her cell phone). Mind you, I haven't trained there in 4 years, other than the one day thing here and there when I visited NJ. He told me to bring my uniform (I still have my TSD uniform )and train when I come down (he never charges me for a few days training). He sounded like he was excited that I was coming down. So yea, I think that is so cool! Did anyone else experience this from their previous instructor? I'm just thrilled, so I had to share it with the KF gang

Since I do WTF TKD, kicks mainly. But I do shin blocks (Thai style ... which is what my old style was mixed with) which throws everyone off. I don't block kicks with my arms cause I have skinny arms, but shin blocks work well When I did TSD (the art that was mixed with Thai boxing), we were allowed to do the whole nine yards (takedowns, punching, kicks, ect). That was so much fun. It was also mixed with jujitsu, but during sparring, no "throws" were allowed. Just takedowns. Weird LOL

It's funny (well bad choice of a word), but I tested for 1st gup on the one year date from my dad's passing, and failed. I think it had something to do with it. It rained like mad like it did for his memorial. I happened to be outside cleaning (throwing broken boards away, ect) after the test and I was soaked (full dobok and all) .... I just had to share that. It's kind of depressing, but I was ok with it, though.

I feel the same way

Thanks shotochem. I can kind of see your point. I few months ago, I was asked to test. But I didn't know any of my red belt requirements (even though I was a red belt for sometime), except my empty hand form. I kind of "forced" my brain to learn this stuff. It kind of felt like I was under some pressure to learn this stuff (I didn't realize it till I read your post and thought about it for a few minutes). Now that I know I didn't pass, I'm like "Ah, whatever. Maybe next time." It's like a weight was lifted off of me I can take my time now and, like you said, just enjoy training. I'll work on my stuff, but at my own pace And you're right, I'm not hung up on rank. My attitude is that I have been a red belt (in November will be a year as a red belt in this dojang) forever. Ah so what *shrugs* I rather be a great 2nd gup/kyu than a "half-baked" black belt

I found out the "result" of my test today. I had a chat with my instructor. I have to re-test in November. He didn't use the word "fail." He just told me (amoung other things we chatted about) to retest. I actually don't feel "bad" about it. It was more of a sigh of "relief." It's weird, but I agree with his decision. I'm totally cool with it.

I did a tourny last weekend and it was way hot in there, too. So I know how ya feel.

I always wondered what you guys pay in PY. Anyways, I train at the main school and we just pay for the belt ($5) for color belt testing. But I pay a lot more in tuition than Heidi does The BB's have to pay more for tests, but I don't know what it is. I'm not a BB yet LOL.

niel0092, good luck on your test. I may be testing in November for my prob. BB so I won't be far behind We also make up our own self defense stuff during the BB test. I can't wait for that. Because I am also going to take stuff from the other arts I studied That will be fun hehehehe

LOL. Well, if a 3rd dan says so ... hehehehehe. Seriously, thanks Heidi. You would murder me in sparring LOL Are you coming this friday to the black belt graduation?

Just don't eat fried food before hand or you will puke LOL Seriously, I know how you feel. In TSD, I knew stuff past my rank. But this school, I think I'm "lagging" LOL

Good to hear you guys were happy with your tests. fallen_milkman, I'm not a big fan of sparring, and I'm not all that good at it. But at my test, I sparred A LOT, and I didn't even feel winded (which isn't normal for me, cause I have athsma LOL). I guess something just "clicked" that day, so I don't think you will have any problems

Hiya all, The week of tip testing, I feel I did really well. I tested four times (we go through the testing routine all week even if you are testing or not). I got my final tip the second day (the first day, my instructor said it was a "practice run" LOL). I wasn't nervous, and I breezed through everything. When I tested for senior red (high red). I don't feel I did so well. I think I did 2 out of maybe 6 or 7 forms correctly (I had to repeat a few of them). For those WTF'ers out there, I know I did Taegeuk 4 perfect. I butchered Taegeuk 1, 2, and 6. Taegeuk 7, I did ok, but I think my stances were off. I did my bo form to the "T." I was happy about that. The breaking portion was awful. I did a reverse punch first. Didn't break the boards, but nearly broke my hand I tried a jumping front kick ... also a no-go. I blasted the boards apart with an elbow strike. And I did a front leg hook kick. Took me two tries. I had to break two boards for every station. My self defense stuff wasn't all that great. My technique went out the window on those But I did my one-steps good. I actually had to show someone else the right ones to do (I kinda helped them "cheat" I think ). But I feel I did great on the sparring. I thought I had to spar maybe 3 times at the most for my portion of the test, but my instructor kept calling me back up to do 2 on 1's with the black belts that were testing (I was the second person). I did give them a run for the money Anyways, I thought I could "redeem" myself at the tourny last week for what I did wrong on my test (forms and breaking), but that story is in the competition forum. Tell me the story of some of your tests and how you felt about it. Did you pass/fail and didn't/did agree with it? Let me hear it, folks

When my father died, I just continued training (something he would have wanted me to do). I trained a bit more than I usually would. I also played video games (it sounds weird, but it worked). I was addicted to my gameboy for months. I did drink heavy for a few months (bad idea), but I found other "outlets" (playing on the computer, gardening, writing articles, ect). Now I just go about my daily life. My dad was never one of those that wanted to be the "center of attention," so I just don't make a big deal out of it. It's when I make a big "fuss" over him that it gets hard on me. So I just don't. Works for me, anyways.

Here's how I did .... I got 2nd in breaking by "default." There was no one breaking at my age and rank, so they put me up against someone half my age. She did all her breaks, but some took her a couple of tries. I did two out of three breaks. I used a backward elbow strike, which I never did for breaking before (I always used the regular elbow strike). It took me three tries to do it. My elbow is all purple LOL. I did a front kick that took me a couple of tries. And I tried a flying side kick, but couldn't do it. Part of it was because I did have bad holders. And I had the smallest guys (I couldn't pick my holders) to hold for the flying side kick on top of my timing being off I did get 3rd for forms, though

Right now, I go 20 minutes and I'm there. But I went as far as almost an hour for one dojang (MCdojang). So it depends on the dojo/dojang, and what you want out of MA. Ask yourself if this dojo is worth the drive, or is it not? It's up to you. You have been in MA before so you know what to look for. Shop around, and try a few classes. Let us know how you do.

I used to be those ones to not wash their belt. But, if it's dirty or it smells, wash it. Just don't dry it. Hang it to dry or it will get stiff. If it's a white belt, treat it with dish soap, scrub it with a good scrub brush or tooth brush, then wash it in Oxy-clean. It works for me. Others might have better ideas, though.

That is actually not a bad idea. I'm adding that one to the list

I wasn't going to reply to this thread, but here goes. I have an article here on KF about starting over (if you have done MA's before). But if you are new to MA's all together, I don't believe in double promotion. Even if you are REALLY good. I was the type to pick up stuff quick when I was in TSD. I new stuff past my rank. But I had to wait like everyone else. When I started TKD, I was told that I can advance faster than usual to my current (TSD) rank (which was 5th gup). But by the time I got to 8th gup (maybe 7th ... somewhere around there LOL) in TKD, I wanted to slow down. TKD was so much different as far as some techniques, the forms, and the sparring was totally different. I chose to slow down to learn this stuff right, instead of just learning the "motions" and going for the next rank. Just my humble opinion

I tested this past saturday for my 1st gup/kyu, and I could have sworn that my master instructor put me up against black belt males on purpose .... Anyways, it was so much fun to be able to just "let loose" on these guys. I was fired up and nervous. So it kind of helped my nerves to just go at it with them. But I also sparred a female that came from another school that was all sparring (sport). I read her like a book There was another female that was mad cause I hit her during sparring ... go figure. I wish I sparred one of our female instructors, who is awsome (she would have whooped on me though). Anyways, I'm just rambling about the sparring part of my test .... I'll shut up now LOL

I thought about doing that. That is easy with one board as a speed kick, but I have to break two. That might hurt a bit if my timing is off LOL. I'm also "coaching" in sparring afterwards, so I can't hurt myself LOL.

I totally agree CapitalKarate. We have couples that train together at my dojang, but they were already married or whatever before they started training. There is another couple that met each other there, but one trains at a sister school. And there is a "student/instructor" couple there also. The senior instructor (not the master instructor) is dating a student. Well, she is an instructor herself now, but they also met there years ago.But all of us keep it (our relationships) outside the dojang. We train as students. There as never been a "couple" problem there ever. I remember maybe once that I "snapped" at my boyfriend for something, but it wasn't on the training floor, and I caught myself, and waited till we left to continue our arguement LOL.

I totally agree about the holders. That's how I hurt my hand. I was trying to do a reverse punch through two boards at my test, and he (the holder) flinched. I know I can break two boards with a punch (I did it twice in the past with my boyfriend holding). Anyway, that combo is cool. I'll put that down on my list of combos to use (except the spear finger thing LOL)