G95champ

Yes and No.... LOL I don't carry a gun or anything like that but on any given day you can look in my backseat and find gear Im taking to and from class. Anything from Bo's to Swords for show. In Shotokan we don't teach weapons but I do like to teach some Bo staff. However we often use brooms, mops and pool sticks instead of real Bo's. Because I think you can come across a staff a lot in real life. The weapons work we do do involves common things like belts, pocketbooks, keys, combs, etc. I do a lot of SD work with what you have on you at any given time. So if you want to count my keys and belt as a weapon yeah. However I am not a strong supported of depending on something else. In the end you got you hands and feet. You better be able to use them. Because the bad guy may just take that weapon from you. BON Congrats on the red belt......

All the time. Anytime I go to watch a class for the first time I walk in like I know nothing about Martial Arts and see how I am treated. In fact I play dumb when they want to show me moves. Always humble as TR said, "walk softly and carry a big stick."

Well truth be known that is where we run into problems with karate teachers. Guidless need to be set up but it should not be a money making process. What makes me a good teacher may not make you one. Just like I may have a great front kick and you may not. You will know your a good teacher by the loyality of your students. Not by certificates, medals, awards, etc..... The one thing I made sure I done right is the first few times I tested students I had my Sensei there to watch me give the test and make sure I did it right. I will test my first blackbelt in less than a year I am guessing. In that case I will again bring him in to oversee this first for me.

Well truth be known that is where we run into problems with karate teachers. Too many of us start teaching before we are ready. I just went back and watched Star Wars II again. Remember Obi-Wan teaching before he was ready. Lets don't turn out another Darth Vader guys. LOL..... You will know if you are good enough to teach by how loyal your students are. "Do everything youself that you ask of thouse you train." General Geroge S. Patton Jr. WWII......

Tapes and Books are only to support your training. Don't expect to get great stuff from them alone. They should be used to reinforce what you learn in class. At the same time you can get new and sometimes good ideas from them but watching the tape does not mean you can do the moves. You still need to work them.

Thanks KK1975. The one thing I picked up is don't be affraid to let you students know you were wrong. None of us have all the answers and one thing that I hate to see is teachers that play God to their class. You will do fine. You are open minded to new ideas and you have been in 2 styles I know of TKD and TSD correct? You will learn so much more when you teach because you get to look at the art from a differant point of view.

Whats wrong with being a red neck? I can't help I sun burn eaisy. LOL. Oh yeah Im from West Virginia and I have been to Texas and they are the only people that talk like us Mountianeers. LOL. Look forward to talking some Shotokan with you.

My American TAO sensei took some Kama's and tied a string to the ends. Thus he could swing them. He made a really nice kata out of it from Demo's.

Good luck I would love to watch it.

When I wanted to start teaching I was worried about getting certification from one of the big shotokan groups the JKA, AJKA, ISKA, ASKA, etc. However at the time I could not afford the money or time to go and undergo the testing for it. I was at the time in teacher education in college. I got all the knowledge I needed to work with kids through it. I have never became offically certified by one of the big groups but I am confidnet in my ability and my students are as well. I put that on the table when people ask about it as well. I have a JKA and ASKA form laying in my desk at the dojo with my name filled in but I have yet to send it in. Mainly because I do not have the time to go off and do the testing. One day I hope to do so. To teach you need self confidence in you techinque and you ability. If you got that you will be fine a piece of paper in a frame don't mean a lot.

Welcome to the forums....

No need in rishing a injury or even possible failure by not being 100%. I would talk to my sensei and say because of this problem I have chosen to wait. Say something like I fell it would not be right for me to give you less than my best. LOL. Make him think you are really humble. LOL. Then when you get better come back ace the test and tell the class how much better off you were because you took your time and did it the right way. However if your like most of us guys you want to show everyone how tough you are and go on and test. LOL. Whatever you choose good luck. Let us know how it turns out.

For that first month offer womens self-defense. Go to the local schools and get the female teachers to sign up. Alos talk to church groups and other groups like that which females would be in. I run a womens SD course about every 6 months It last one month and I alwasy have 10-15 sign up. Along the same lines if you can teach something like aerobic kickboxing to women they really like that. Billy Blanks LOL..... Also look to a kids class. If your like me you hate teaching that class but kids bring more kids and if you need some money to keep the dojo open this is where you need to look. Its still early enough to go to little league baseball games and talk to some of them. Most kids will not stick with it but a few months anyhow but they are always new kids wanting in class. If you got the time you may want to look into offering private lessons to some people. You can charge a bit more for them. One thing I would stress to the 10 you got signed up already. If they want to train you need members and it is up to them to keep at least 2 people each in class for say 3 months. We give this duity to our advanced students later on. We sort of use the mentor and apprentice idea. Allows the advanced kids to get a taste of teaching becasue when you teach you learn so much more then it keeps us in businesss as well and takes pressure off of me. Make it the students dojo not yours..... Hope this helps.....

Well done Jack. Way to represent the Karatefourms staff. LOL....

Blade if Ice Ice Bady don't the get the party going your in touble LOL... You may have to find some MC Hammer to back it up LOL.... I teach 8th grade and went to several dances because teacher had to so oftern and I cut a rug. I have no clue what they played but I have found that the DJ makes the party more so than the music. Good luck.

We practice jerking our heads like someone is behind them. Hope they get nervouse. The key is to talk and be calm. Most people do not want to kill you they just want you money, car, etc. Now if its a deal where you think you are as good as dead anyhow go for it. Things to keep in mind. 1. Is there anyone arround? 2. Who will I put in danger if I act? 3. Is he or she look to be high or drunk? Im not a fan of running because I think that will make the gunman panic and shoot but if you can get to a wall or something to use as cover then thats differant. None of us can say what we would do but the one thing we all have to do is learn to be calm.

We use the Everlast bags. I have used the water filled bags (wavemaster) but we have busted them. We also had some of the free standing bags as well but we busted them as well. The Everlast bags are of good quality and are very popular so they should not be hard to find.

Sai when in Rome do as the Romans do. LOL..... Nothing wrong with using the photocopyer but never forget how to write because one day the power may go out. Thus never throw away you pencil and paper. We must always pass on the old knowledge because like I said one day the power may go out. However as long as its on make the best of it.

I am shocked this was never explained to you by your sensei. This is one of the most important things you will ever learn in karate IMO. First of all its not a screem it more of a grunt or letting out of air. Do not use you voice box or you will hurt you throat. You must learn to pull it from you diaphram. Reasons to Kai 1. As you guessed it is used to scare people. You Kia and they think my god this guy is nuts. 2. The Kia lets out more energy. If you ever watch guys lifting weights or or doing somthing that strains the body you hear them grunt. This air you release will allow the muscles to work more. You alos can punch faster and harder with the kia. 3. It prepars you to take a hit. When you Kia if you notice your stomach muscles tighten up. Thus you are ready to get hit. 4. Helps you relax and control you breathing. 5. Helps with cardio. If you wever watch a football team or other sport run though ropes or do other drills you often hear them shouting. If you talk while you are doing something aerobic you will get in shape a bit faster. You may want to look into the internal arts secetion for more info on the Kai. Look for things like developing Chi or Ki as well.

I will agree with your last statement that Tyson is the best guy in his camp. That IMO has been his biggest problem since Customotto died. He got people arround him who did not care for him as a person but cared about his money. Time will tell but as wild as he was before the fight and as calm as he was after is a big swing.

Wow Bitseach you know your Billy. I liked Midsummer Night Dream pretty well. I have only seen or ead the more popular plays in HS and College classes. I like Othello but I honestly can't recall much of the plot at this time I just know I liked it LOL. However Hamlet and MacBeth are by far my favorties plays or stories of anykind. "Out out brief candel life is but a walking figure a poor player who walk and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard from no more. It is a tale told by and idiot full of sound and furry signifing noting."

I don't know I not taking up for Tysons words by any means but in every interview I have saw after the fight he was a differant person. (did you see the one with his kids) Loosing has a way of humbeling us. However I swear I really think Tyson has been putting on a great act for the past few months. No question he has a short tempor and goes wild at times but I think he used that to make this pay day a bit bigger.

I'll agree I was and still am into that 80's hair bad stuff like KarateKid1975 said. ROCK ON!!!!!!! DUDE!!!! Nothing like some good Winger..... I mean uh Metallica yeah thats right. But the Ice man was a person in our lives we will never forget he infuenced us all. LOL. I have heard the new hard stuff as well. LOL. Poor guy has one hit song and in it he stole the beat from Queen's Under Pressure.

Yes I am a big fan of Sir Billy. Hamlet is my favorite play but MacBeth is the one I like to recite the lines from. Also a big can of J. Ceasar.

I wish I had that forsight when I pulled mine. I went from 265 to right at 300 in the 6 months I was out. Im now 315 so I never lost it after I got better. Hate to paint that pic of doom and gloom. Can you swim or ride a bike? That is two things I never tried by my brother said guys at WVU do that a lot when they pull hamstrings. Good luck...