Jiffy

BTW - What is a "Horse Bit"?

The first picture didn't work. I'm keen to see it.

Karate - Weak side forward.

Whoops, not "Ninja Cats", they were called "Sumuari Pizza Cats" http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/2/21/300px-Samurai_Pizza_Cats.jpg

The answers before me basically sum it up. Martial Arts is very political. It is generally about two things, one that was mentioned, one that wasn't. 1) Money. As mentioned, if you are teaching, you are challenging someone elses ability to teach. Many people feel this threat and some act upon it, even though it may not actually be so. 2) Ego. Many instructors want everything their way so they remain the big fish in the little pool. That is why many GMs only promote the one style, because they are the be all and end all of that style, but when it comes to MA in general, they are not.

Not a workout, but a couple of stretches will help. Stretches are best to do after excersize when your muscles are warm and fully oxygenated. Here's one to get you started. Sit on the ground with your legs bent infront of you (knees point up). Grab hold of the ball of your right foot with your right hand. DON'T LET GO. Straighten the leg slowly until you can't go any further. Hold it for 6 seconds. Slowly retract it. Repeat the process on the left side. Repeat the process with both legs together. Do this a couple of times, then leave it till the next day. Remember though, the best stretching to help your Karate is to do Karate. So don't put it off, just start.

As Shuri Tora beat me to saying, it depends on WHAT you are using it for. If you are doing it for the love of MA, I don't see how that could be a problem. If you were doing it for money or to get into fights, that's different. What have your religious leaders said?

Oh, ok. Have you tried to sit down and discuss the matter? Maybe see if you can go for a coffee somewhere and talk about it.

A_Train, well done on reading through so far!! That's an effort and a half. I often have adults that come into the class (we have about 80% adults) and they feel silly to start with. The key is to remind them that this is normal and it will get better.

That's a completely different scenario. In your scenario, they are building on from what they already had, not branching out into something they haven't done before. Also, the changes they are making haven't been done before, whereas in this weapons scenario, they have. For example, if Holden decided they were going to stick with vehicles, but now they are going to make Planes, it would be silly for them to go through all the trial and error of those who made planes before them. It would be in their best interest to research the topic from these people and start from there. True, which is why I said that if it's just for entertainment purposes, then fair enough, anything goes. But if it's for realistic educational purposes, that's different.

Internet and DVD's are your friend

For the same reason I don't try to fly a plane without training. Sure I could go through the years of trial and error of those before me, or I could just find out the best way and then take it from there. Also, what we would learn in todays society with these weapons is nothing compared to those before us that depended on these weapons on a daily basis just to keep them alive.

Sounds like a good plan to me. We started off teaching Shotokan Karate, so we called it SKA - Shotokan Karate-Do association Then we added names for each style as we started to teach it. Zanshin Kobudo - (Zanshin = awareness) Tenjin-Ryu Jiu Jitsu (I forget why Tenjin) ICHF Combat Hapkido (the name of the school it started from) Then we had to come up with a name for the whole association because it was too hard to just keep 4 names, so we kept it simple by way of location. AACD - Adelaide Academy of Combat and Defence Also what came into it for us is that AACD is very early in the alphabet, therefore, listed early in the phone book.

Depends on the lock. Some are transferrable, some are not.

Hmmm, interesting. I'm still not sure that I support the idea though, because although they may have acted in a bad manner, they still did once achieve what they did. If you were to strip someone of their rank though, how would you do it?

Pinan Shodan = Heian Shodan (close enough)

Welcome to KF Ian

Interesting to watch, but I have to admit that I don't really understand. Particularly the bit about putting the arm behined the back, what's the idea there??

Matt, Have a look here http://www.landsend.com/cd/imageviewerSizeChart/0,,0040573:compId=AD:action=IMAGE,00.html That's the size chart. Figure out which one you would be based on your size. Then, have a look at the jackets and decide which one you like the best (no-one can choose this for you). Once you have done that, simply follow the links to buy the Jacket.

Ah K, I see what you are getting at. Opening up the blood vessels thus allowing the best blood flow which would then increase the oxygen to the muscles therefore increasing their potential. Is that about right?

I guess that's the key point isn't it. It's whatever is comfortable for the person doing it.

What sort of limitations did she have at 80? I've told some old people, but not that old.

The main thing to remember is that working within your limitations is better than doing nothing at all!

I don't think as a student, you should flat out refuse, because this underminds the instructor, but you should mention it to your instructor who should flat out refuse them entry into the Dojo.

I think so.... let's start again... I've been wondering what style was used in the Karate Kid series. I think they do Goju-Ryu style karate because from research i learned that Goju-Ryu is not Japanese but Okinowan, and the creator of the art was Miyagi Chojun. In the movie Mr. Miyagi also has the same name and also is from Okinowan origin. So my guess is Goju-ryu, what does everyone else think? MWAHAHAHA