karatekid1975

A couple of people at my dojang watch it. Mostly the last 5 minutes, just to see the fights. I watched the whole thing a couple of times, but it gave me the impression that it was a soap opera for men. So, I watch just the fight scenes As far as those fighters hangin' with the pros, I wouldn't know. My grappling skills are limited, so it would be hard for me to answer that.

I use Oxyclean, and regular Tide. We have hard water, so if we used bleach, it would turn our uniforms "yellow." It was kinda gross, so that's when I started using Oxyclean. It works. It keeps our uniforms looking like new.

MY TSD uniform was the karate style gi. It fit great. But like Pacificshore said, the TKD uniforms are a bit different. They are roomier, but just too big length-wise (the bottoms, for me anyways).

Yea, I agree. I was in a MA chat room last night. And this BJJ person was bashing all arts BUT BJJ. But yet this person has never taken any other MA. All they have done is BJJ and watched UFC. It's a shame when people are this ignorant. I can understand their point of view and/or opinion if they actually took another art, but people like this never have. It's disappointing to see someone bash another art that they have no clue about

In my TSD school, we learned the techniques by the Korean names. In my TKD school now, not much, except for bowing, ect. BUT I am just starting to learn the Korean language. It's not an easy language to learn though LOL.

I got into two fights in grade school, and one in high school, but it was to defend someone else. My sister and my brother .... both of which couldn't fight at all. My dad taught me a few things from the army, so I had a better chance than them. So I basically backed them up and won (I still think I was very lucky all three times). I used just a punch all three times. I guess they (the attackers) didn't expect me to fight back. My sister is pretty small from being sick when she was a baby, so I definitely had to jump in there. I'm youger, but bigger. And I didn't want someone my size to take advantage of her ... I just couldn't stand back and watch. I did have one self defense situation after MA, but that's another thread LOL

I agree, Pacificshore. And thanks Heidi for helping me out here. Yes, that's what I was trying to ask. Eventhough, there were a lot of good answers, it wasn't what I was looking for. But Heidi nailed it on the head. She knows me better than anyone (we're from the same school). Thanks again, Heidi

I never washed my belts when I was in TSD. But since I got into TKD, when I first get a new belt, I wash it. A few of them turned my uniform colors Specially my red belt. My uniform turned pink I washed my red belt with the darks, and had to use oxyclean to get my uniform back to white LOL. I don't wash it after that, unless it gets smelly, but I take a shower before class, so I usually don't have that problem.

My first proforce uniform (size 4) fit perfect (still does). But I can't find a TKD style uniform that fits right either. The shirts generally fit, but the pants are always too big. I have a low waist, so I have to roll up the waist so the waist band is low enough, and the pant legs don't drag on the floor.

Congrads And thanks, Pineapple

Hey shotokankid. When I first joined this site, I liked the fact that there were no flame wars. Everyone gave their opinions, but it wasn't to the point of bashing anyone. Of course, it is well moderated Now that I am a mod on here, I want to carry that on. I thank Patrick also for starting this site. Good job, dude

Same here, Shotokankid. We meditate, before and after class. We also do "breathing" exercises. To me, it's to clear my mind ... I read someone on here say that it is time for them to tell their brain to shut up and start listening. I thought that was a perfect quote LOL. I think it was Hudson, I believe. It's basically what I do for the meditation at the beginning of class. The after class one, I reflect on what we did.

Ok, maybe I should be more clear on this .... By my post, I was refering to the mental side of BB. Not the "belt." If you read the articles I posted, it would shed some light on what I was getting at. I know BB is a goal for some and/or just the beginning, which I agree with. But I was trying to go a little deeper into the mental part. The physical part, I don't have a problem with. It's the mental part. Ok, here's a new question ... How should a black belt be or act? Should they live by the tenets and creed of their art? Should they be good people, ect? What is important to you as a BB (other than the physical stuff, belt, ect)? Think about the mental stuff before you answer, not the physical stuff. Sorry if I seem rude, but I seriously need advice about this. I wanna know your opinions (without flaming, that is ... thanks). Thanks in advance.

Ok, folks. As of right now, my boyfriend is taking the first part of his BB test (the 8 hours of h..... I mean, power camp). The 2nd part is in three weeks. He wasn't actually going to test. He was worried about some of the physical requirements that he knew he had trouble with (mainly just some kicks and a few other techniques). But our instructor talked him into it. He basically told him, mentally he is a BB already. Then there is me. I can do all the physical stuff easily (except the running part LOL). But I heard that I don't have the mental part down. Not that I'm testing anytime soon. I'm just wondering about this. Anyways, for instructors, what do you look for before you consider someone for a BB test? Is it mental attitude? Physical? Both? For everyone, what does BB mean to you? I did a google search and came up with these two articles (I could have found more, but these will do for now). This one is about being a BB: http://uechi-ryu.com/oldsite/bryan_lowe.htm This one is a emotional one (I thought) from a kid: http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/kids_korner/113655 Opinions?

Not really. Not from my experience. Like I said, it's barely powerful enough to break a board with. So, I don't think so. They make it look good in movies though LOL.

Ok, I'll jump in here. I'm not an instructor, but I'll answer you anyways. In my TSD dojang, it was required for all BB's to get certified in CPR. I was certified anyways, just because I wanted to be. As far as I go (when I do get to that point), I do want to be a Certified Fitness Trainer. I can't answer your other two guestions, though. As me when I open my dojang in a few years LOL.

That sounds like our front stretch kick (TKD). When I do it, I knee myself in the face if I don't move my face to the side LOL. I seen people (I tried also) break with it. The holder would hold the board behind my head (or who ever is trying it) and that kick is used to break the board. But it's not an easy break. As far as flexibility goes, you would have to be able to do a front split (with what ever leg you will use for the kick out in front). Here's a good thread on stretching: http://www.karateforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=6186 I hope this helps.

I had a gift subscription to BB mag. But I rarely even read it. Once in a while a decent article would appear, and I read that, but then i'd forget the magazine was even there LOL. aefibird, I'm also going to check out those links. I hope they ship to the US. I'll find out.

That's a matter of debate too. When sparring, you feel that you are not hitting hard, but to the other person it is hard. So he starts to hit back harder. So you take it up a knotch. It just continues to escalate. I see it happen all the time. And no one wants to be the one to say its getting too rough. They feel they would look like a whimp if they did. Thy don't want others talking about them and calling them sissy. The instructor, or assistant instructors, should be watching any contact drills or free sparring and managing it. Our instructor likes to spar, so often he doesn't monitor whats going on and people (especially kids) get hurt or injured. I agree with this. I sparred two people today, both high red belts. One was timid and I went easy on her. Nice lady, too. I am actually buddies with her. The other was a guy who is about to test for black. I have two more years of experience on him, and I know he traded shot for shot with my boyfriend (who is testing for black in April) a few times, so I went at him. We were trading some pretty good hits, no holding back. It was a good match. He put up a good fight, specially since I had more experience. I think my instructor was impressed with both of us It was a good class. Oh, I did spar a 3rd degree, too (one of the instructors from a sister school). He killed me LOL. But I didn't let up. He knows I spar hard (depending on my partner that is). He put a hurtin' on me but I'm not the type to back off even if I get my butt whooped. So, I basically spar how my partner spars. Like the first one. I knew she was timid, so I let up. But the other two were hard-hitting, and a lot of fun

I still have all of mine from all three schools. But I should get rid of the ones from the "not-so-good" school. I'm not too proud of those (they basically "given" to me ... ggggrrrr).

I agree, Shorin Ryuu. When I get a new belt, the first thing I do is take off the label. I am like your wife, but I don't want it to whack me in the eyes, though LOL.

Here's a good thread on tieing your belt: http://www.karateforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=8542 I do the same as the link cathal posted, also.

_you put on the wrong "colored" underwear under a white dobok (gi) and it happened to be "flowered" or poke-a-dot panties .... eeeeekkkkkk!!!

Yea, I almost did once. My red belt it a good length, but it's too broken in. I still get whacked with it when I do front kicks. Just not in the eyes anymore, thank goodness LOL

There's one in the KF photo album of me doing a hook kick on the BOB. That came out cool. But I wanna do one with a split or a high side kick