Bitseach

Bloody hell - bowing to flags, symbols and photographs? Snapping to attention? What ungodly practices in some places!!! Sorry, but being brought up a Northern Irish Christian my gut reaction is that this is idolatry! In my old dojo we'd bow to the Sensei upon entering the dojo, casually warm-up, stretch, enquire after each other's health etc, then when when the Sensei asked us to line up we'd do so in (rough) grade order. Some people were really fussy about this; I was never one of them and didn't mind if beginners were all around me! The Sensei would begin the movements of getting into the kneeling position then we'd all bow from this position, he to us and we to him. Then he'd spring up and we'd begin the warm-up. At the end of class a similar line-up except there'd be a minute or so of meditation/getting one's breathing back to normal in the kneeling pos, bow, pay him, sign in then everyone went to the pub together. Sometimes some folk would ask more knowledgable students to go over kata with them at that point. In class we'd usually "oss" and "Sensei" him, but afterwards it was first names strictly (unless we were being sarcastic in the pub). A Japanese class-member was always trying to get everyone to be more militaristic in class and some people bought into this. To be honest, the more they did, the worse the atmosphere became in the class. I suspect empire-building from the studnet in question! Before anyone starts, I know it is inconsistant to bow to people but not the objects I mentioned but I was brought up only to bow in Church in certain circumstances. To bow to another person is not the same as it is not idolatry but respect for that person. I do not claim this is the right way, or even that it is logical or consistent, only that it is my upbringing and as a consequence affects my instinctive feeling towards such practices.

I think there is a certain gung-ho attitude in the US military. Occassionally they do not seem very disciplined. (sorry but I've done exercises with them when I was in the British Army - just an observation!)

Hmm, I am reminded of the super-realistic (supposedly) Microsoft flight simulator game that allows a person to fly into the WTC towers. Even the thought of that is enough to make me feel sick now! Rap? Nah mate, it's all been downhill since the late 70's Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five! (what an old fart I'm becoming!)

Don Gwinn - regarding choice of words, here in the UK it is regarded as a pejorative term when applied to describing a person's mental capacities. Clearly it is still acceptable when referring to other aspects of life or medicine where there is not the same implied value judgement, eg IUGR is a well known medical term for Intra-uterine growth ******ation. No problem at all with this use of the word or for use with inanimate object such as one's car engine or referring to something that is "tardy".

Autobiography of a hero of mine - Mo Mowlam. For the Americans, she was UK Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and helped broker the peace process, all whilst fighting a brain tumour and the barbaric treatment that goes with that. And Seamus Heaney's translation of the epic poem, "Beowulf". Cracking!

Accents: please, please please American directors just get English people to do English accents! I quite like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and occasionally watch "Frasier" - God but the accents are awful! (Spike's not TOO bad but the rest - phew!) Even more impassioned plea - NO Americans to ever attempt Irish accents from now on please. Ever. Never. Never ever. It's excruciating! And don't even think about trying a Northern Irish accent - it isn't going to work! Bits' (Northern Irish living in England!)

Martial Artist - LOL, well I'd hope you were just funnin'!! (although of course population health is more determined by the female - everything comes down to the price of eggs in the end!) [i was, of course, referring to OldRookie's comment about testosterone in my post!]

I quite fancy Aikido too. I've known a few people try it after being very good competition judoka though and they found it a hard transition. I'd also like to learn Tai Chi and Wing Chun style of Kung Fu in time.

Could you explain what you mean by Sanchin and why these ppl think it is harmful? Are you talking about the kata? Any odd type of breathing could make one pass out, but normally this would be from hyperventilation. Another thing they could be talking about is the "Valsalva effect" - to do with intrathoracic pressure affecting the vagus nerve which controls the cardiac cycle. (this is why in weight training one is encouraged to breath out upon the exertion of the lift) However I would need more detail from you to answer properly about risks to health! Bits' (ambulance attendant, Human Biology teacher, degrees in Biochemistry and Genetics, and YMCA gym instructor!)

Yeah but isn't it a pity he's such a bloody awful actor? Beaten into second place by the execrable acting skills of Steven Seagal.

Those Celtic knots are pretty nice. I know a few people who have those done and they DO look pretty good. A lot of people get them done because they have Irish ancestors and want to identify themselves visually with the culture, but many just because they look pretty! In fact there is even a bloke who has designed a downloadable program that draws knots for you! Personally (and being Irish myself!) I prefer to use thick paper, a soft pencil, a pair of compasses and a good ink pen but then I ain't tattooing! See http://www.abbott.demon.co.uk/knots.html for the program and examples - interesting!

LOL - glad to hear it old boy!

Van Damme - breathing exercises, come on! In with anger, out with love.... LOL Yeah Jade, what an obnoxious auld porker she's turned out to be!

ck - what was the name of that nutter who's just been released from the asylum, the one who went amok with the sharp "Samurai" sword? "Police liaison officers are now giving support to Strang's victims, many of whom were seriously injured in the attack with the 3ft sword. Strang told psychiatrists God ordered him to slaughter the congregation to save his wife Michelle, 26, and five-year-old daughter Olivia from eternal damnation. He stripped naked to be "clean and pure", the court heard. A psychiatrist at his trial said he was a full-blown paranoid schizophrenic: "You can't get much madder than this."" [from http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/england/newsid_2074000/2074494.stm] And this is why we don't like sharp weapons freely available! It's funny how all the nutters are so attracted to Eastern martial arts and their acoutrements - I mean you don't hear of men going amok with claymore swords or longbows too often. Testosterone! Sheesh!

Er yeah, but while we're being this idealistic and imagining that all trained people would be jolly decent sorts who would only ever use their weapon for powers of good, can we ask to tooth fairy for World Peace too?

I agree - I have some sympathy with the protestors' cause but absolutely none with their methods. They are an utter disgrace, hell-bent on destruction and yob-behaviour but trying to dress it up in a noble cause. They are the worst sorts of thug - the sort of people who pretend to be freedom-fighters just so they can rough people up. Ugh! (and it wouldn't hurt them to use soap once in a while)

Trouble is that Looney Toons &c are clearly not similar to reality so it is easier for the child to distinguish fantasy from reality. As for Mo, Curly et al, well lots of children DID try bashing each other over the head with things - and then wondered why their parents smacked them for it! Personally I think that casual, realistic violence that in any way glorifies the real thing is criminally irresponsible. As a teacher of inner-city teenagers in a deprived area I can see how much these kids imitate the actions of their musical heroes - usually rappers of the "gangsta" (horrid word!) variety! They see it as a thing that makes them cool and gives them power, a fashion along with the "bling-bling" jewellry and huge trousers. I think these games - if they must use sex and violence - should make them LESS realistic, as they cannot go the other way and show adequately the sight, shock and smell associated with gun-shot wounds. It they saw it in the flesh it wouldn't seem so entertaining, I'll warrant!

I agree with the ultimate judgement thing - they'll get their comeuppance in the end. Leaving aside the morality of capital punishment for a minute though, if it must be done, it must be done humanely, IMO - a quick dispatch. The Chinese at least usually do it swiftly - a quick bullet in the base of the skull, often as little as 15min after judgement has been passed. Or beheading - that must be pretty quick. The electric chair is an absolutely obscene instrument of torture and it beggars belief that any civilised nation could use it. Talk about "cruel and unusual". Psht! All these last-minute "stays" are also pretty cruel - you have (presumably) committed some horrible deed but now must meet your maker. However you might be saying your final prayers with the knowledge that this might not really be IT, you might be granted a stay, sometimes only for a few days or a week or so. Then it all (usually) starts again. This perhaps after waiting 10 or 20 years on "death row" - I don't know but the whole system seems a bit half-cocked to me. I wouldn't be as against it all if it was fool-proof and if the whole system didn't seem to be so institutionally racist, and so apparently affected by the wealth (and therefore quality of advocacy) of the defendent.

Lightweight karate trousers certainly are comfy - although I don't wear mine to work out in as it looks too much as if one is making a statement. Often I wear my old pair for kicking around the house in, or as pyjama bottoms! Only disadvantage is when you need to get up in the middle of the night for a pee and somehow make the bow in the drawstring into a big unsolvable knot.

Do what you like but a lot of people will see it as a challenge if it's public - there ARE some real morons out there. I suppose if you got a little one encircling your belly button it would look quite cute, but - as you'll have gathered - I'm simply not a fan of deliberately scarring one's skin. Take that as rude if you choose to! Also bear in mind that visible tattoos may make you ineligible for some jobs - eg in the UK Army officers (Commissioned) or police officers in some forces. Actually though, I can think of nothing tackier than a martial arts school or style tattooed on one's skin. Also you may well be saying to others more than you intend to (see "morons" comment, para 1!!) even if this is not your intention. But hey! It's your bod! (impressive record though, I have to add to the others who have said this - nice one!)

LOL - I've been known to bung my motorcycle jackets on over the top of mine and ride home, esp when it means having a nice shower at home instead of in this rancid building! Mind you, my gi is quite thick and quite long so a) would give me a little protection if I came off the bike, and b) just looks like rather tragic white trousers. Then it all goes straight into the wash! Maybe some of you don't "glow" as much as I do when exercising but I need to wash it each time! Damn fitness levels!!

When submitting would it be possible to tick boxes for all subjects you think that your definition might be relevant to, then these could be used as selection criteria when someone wants to browse rather than search? (I could be very naive here - I can't even get my web-site to have a private area yet - stupid blummin puter won't let me, blummin thing)

Jade is turning into such a porker! And why is everyone suddenly being so b1tchy towards Sophie? A shower of eejits, the whole lot!

Good God, what a horrid idea! What would you be trying to say (when naked, presumably) by having this done??! "I'm so tough" or "I'm in mourning" or "I permanently scar my own skin to try to look tough"?? Or other?

Take a look at the following: http://www.24fightingchickens.com/shotokan/101/20_uniform.html It gives a whole list of dos and don'ts. Also good for a read is the part of the site where he talks about his time in Japan training - could shatter a few Western ideas about Japan and karate!