karatekid1975

I was the opposite. I hated doing the student oath when I'm the class senior. I was pararoid (and I'm an adult) of messing it up. Now I laugh when I mess it up. In my school, when you become a red belt, you have to lead the warm-ups (if there's more than one red belt helping out each night, they'll get rotated. We'll each get a turn). The first time I did it, I was nervous, but I taught at one of my previous schools, so it wasn't too bad for me. What I do is make jokes related to the exercise I'm calling out. It loosens everyone up including myself with a good giggle. Then I work them hard (I usely get "gggrrrrr's" then LOL). I'll involve everyone into helping me warm them up. Like I will say get ready for push-ups, then I will ask someone how many they like to do (we usually do 15 for interm. students). Someone will give a number, then I'd say ok, then add five to that number hehehehe. This usually helps me (keeps me and the students too busy to think LOL).

Me too Traz LOL. Anyways, osuperu, try to clear your head before class. You said your class meditates before class? This is the time to do so. Leave your outside life at the door to the dojo, and focus on class. You can go back to life later. For the time you are at the dojo, listen to your instructor, not your head After class is the time to go back to worrying about stuff Martial arts is actually a "release" for me. That's where I get my "break" from life. Find a kata (form) or technique that you need work on. I know that will keep you busy for a while

Last night I was thinking "Yay!!! I got a good partner" (for one steps). Him and I, we do one steps for real, just short of pounding each other. We actually hit each other (except in the face) with light contact. So if one of us misses a block, we get hit in the tummy. Well, I missed and he thumped me in the tummy (he went a little harder than light contact on accident) and I wasn't expecting it. I didn't have my tummy tightened. Then I was thinking, "I'm not missing anymore blocks." LOL

I train three hours in the dojang a week. I assist in two classes, and I regularly try to train at home (lately I've been training a lot at home). Probably 4 hours a week at home ... somewhere around there.

LOL G95 (LTNS by the way ... How are ya? ). I too believe that a home study course is a joke. I mean, it does make it easier to have a live person to train with, but I think the home study thing is just for reference, nothing more. I train at a real dojang (testing for BB in the fall) and I'm having a heck of a time with it. So I can just picture how hard it is learning from a video. Just my humble opinion, though

LOL I like that answer. I'm 30, but I feel 20 ( and I still get carded for alcohol ).

Actually I didn't train under GM Yi, but my instructor was his student. I have talked with GM Yi once or twice. He is a nice guy and very smart when it comes to TSD. Check out his website https://www.imahq.net . Go to the bottom and click on East Coast Karate. That was my old school (I'm actually in the adult class pic .... that site needs to be updated LOL). If I didn't have to move, I'd still train there

I agree. I learned some tricks, and I KNOW it's not ment for combat. But it's doesn't mean I can't do it just for fun.

KarateChick, it's the same at my dojang (except orange is before yellow, and only red as two ranks). The belts you mentioned doesn't make it a McDojo. But the year to brown belt does. I do TKD, and I've been training three and a half years (just in TKD) and I'm just a 2nd gup/kyu red belt. And I have had training in two other arts. I have a question though. Did your friend have previous experience in another art? If so, that explains the quick advancement. But if your friend didn't, then a year to brown is way to fast.

A bit off topic here .... tsdshep, are you talking about Grandmaster Ki Yun Yi? If so, that was my old TSD grandmaster. Ok, back on topic ..... I'm not much into the history (or just didn't research it enough), but I heard the same as tufrthanu. But then again, everywhere you go to read history, they all have their own version. So, I really didn't get into that part (history) of MA.

Yea, but you are still hard to spar, Heidi My boyfriend is 51 and he has just recieved his prob. black belt. When he did the run (fitness part of the test), he was the fastest adult. He was beat by only two teenagers. When he first started, he was concerned about his age, but with a young girlfriend (me) to kick him in the butt, he kept plugging along. Now look at him I'm really proud of him He is a perfect example that age doesn't have to hold you back, unless you let it. Heidi is another example. She has knee problems, but she doesn't let that hold her back (other than healing time) They are both inspirations for me.

I totally agree with ya I'm only 30, by the way But I grew up with the classics, thanks to my dad.

Yea, it is. I had one year training when I started learning tricks. So it's very possible. I haven't tried lately (after almost 5 years training), but I also wanna get back into it

Hey Kicks, Actually we did good. Our events were point sparring, and most of the TKD guys weren't used to it (except the ITF folks), so we would win a lot (the TSD folks). Now that I do TKD, I had to get used to the rules for TKD. So I see why most of the TKD guys were confused about the rules. I still get both set of rules mixed up

swooshfinn, you named some old tunes (you are making me feel old LOL). Cool. I'm also into the classics, not just hard stuff. I like most of those tunes. Authority Song rocks I played that with one of my previous bands when I played drums And of course, ol' skool Metallica I love sparring to Metallica hehehehehe

I agree. I have had a hip problem. I KNOW I can do high kicks, ect, but at the moment , I can't (left side). It is a bummer. BUT like Muaythaiboxer said, train as hard as you can. That's what matters.

I've been into Japanese drumming lately. I listen to Soh Daiko (Japanese drum band) while doing forms. But before a breaking or sparring clinic, I listen to Limp Bizkits "Break stuff" Or something similar (heavy stuff). I like S.O.D new song. I need to get it for home workouts

We both train together I got him into it after we met (I created a MA Monster!!! LOL).

I heard that Shitoryu has a lot of kata. Is that true? Anyways, as far as how many kata is too many? I have to agree with Sauzin, "Less is more." There's a saying in TKD (some other styles as well), K.I.S.S. "Keep it simple stupid." I didn't agree with this at first (because I love doing forms), but the longer I train the more I do agree with it. I'd rather learn a few kata and get good at them, than learn many sloppy ones. We have one form per belt level till 2nd gup/kyu (about every three months you learn a new one). At this level, we learn a bo form, and a TKD form. 1st kyu is two forms, also (At 2nd and 1st kyu's, it takes longer to grade than previous grades). I think this is ok, but any more than that is too much.

I have my standard TKD sparring gear B.O.B punching bag makiwara various weapons Air shield Target mitt Thai pad target mats tread mill and weights (but they are getting dusty LOL).

Yea, that's what it was in my old TSD dojang, isshinryu5toforever. In TKD, we don't use "codes." We say the student oath (which the last three are the same as the TSD student oath), of course, but we learn about the tenets.

Yes, it's true. We learn the 8 Taegeuks. My instructor does show us "basic" bunkai. But I study them deeper on my own. We also learn a bo form all before BB.

The answers here are very good ones. I have to agree that I learned all of these through MA. The biggest one would have to be patience and modesty. Another thing that finally sunk in my thick head lately (LOL) is what I learned in Tang Soo Do (that I still work on) is "Finish what you start."

I wash mine in Tide and Oxy-Clean (one scoop for each wash load). I tumble dry on low. I fold my uniforms right out of the dryer, so they don't get wrinkled. If I get blood on them, (which as happened twice in the past two weeks) I rinse it in cold water, treat with Oxy-clean and/or dish soap, then wash as normal. Works like a charm

Wow! This thread is like 2 years old. Thanks for answering, but since I posted that, I went to another school (TKD), then came back to this one. I found that there's nothing wrong with TKD. There was something wrong with me. I was close-minded back then. I do miss TSD at times, but my instructor is very well respected here in this area.