karatekid1975

I agree, Monkeygirl.

Hiya and Welcome

It took me 2 and a half years to do a split from not being flexible at all. BUT I still can't get more than neck level (for a 5'8 person) with my side kicks. And it's been almost three years since I started martial arts. Some people it takes a LONG time. Others, it doesn't take long, specially for a younger person. Black Dragon has good advice Here's something that might also help: http://www.karateforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=6186 I'll move this to Health, so you will get more help on stretching

My TKD school isn't much different than Hapkido. We learn some of the same stuff. Throws, take-downs, joint locks, grappling, ect. And a lot of the same kicks. It's probably not EXACTLY the same techniques, but close. The only differance I see are the forms.

Doing forms in the dark is fun. My TSD instructor made us do that, or close our eyes. It definitely helps with balance As for your friend, it just takes practice. I have brain farts when I first learn forms. But the more I do them, the better it is.

Congrads on your test. Sorry I didn't see this post sooner. But I hear that some people run (about three times a week) to prepare for their BB tests. It helps with enderance (SP?)

Hey, welcome to KF

That's the smartest thing I've read here in awhile Thank you

Hey, welcome

I wasn't effected by it, but my school was. That was a bummer .... no class

You have a point here. We learn grappling, and one day we worked on defenses against kicks. The only ones that got through were the ones we use for sweeps (like round kick to the ankle or something similar).

What I think of mediocre blackbelts? I don't wanna be one Sorry, I had to say it.

I listen to anything upbeat. I listen to Limp Bizkit's Break Stuff before a breaking clinic or test. For sparring, I think Linkin Park or Disturbed works well. Or Metallica (old school) works well, too. But I failed my test (for blue belt) so Limp Bizkit didn't work ggggrrrrrrrr

I tripped on a dobok (pants) that was too long before. I can relate. Not fun

In a real fight, kicks should stay low. Eventhough I can do the fancy kicks, they are just for fun. I don't even do them sparring. I like to learn them just to say "I can do that."

We all get a turn being uke. I don't mind it, because like it has been said already, it's a good (but painful) way to learn. You know the stuff works

Try https://www.martialinfo.com . Click on "styles" at the top of the page. You can learn/research many styles there. I hope this helps.

That's a shame. When I did TSD and attended tournies, there were kungfu guys competing. A few of them actually got first place. And this wasn't a kungfu tourny. It was mostly Tang Soo Do (but it was an open tourny). It sounds like you got stiffed

I agree with Super. And they ........ na I won't get into that.

Tell us about yourself/art. Welcome to KF

Hiya

I have good flexibility and I have pretty good power. So yea, you can have both.

Hey

I agree Sai

Nope. Reddragon is right. It is from Centry (my school has little dragons).