Zaine

ROFL!! I know that must've been quite an embarrassment for him!! Only after he woke up.

I didn't take one! Which was unfortunate because we train outside and Arlington was freezing for almost all of those. One or two days was just pretty cold which was a nice break.

This sentiment basically takes the cake for me. Definitely check out your options though. I've come across a few "self defense" courses that have stuck around for years. Also, every once in a while a traditional martial arts instructor will teach a "self defense" series of a couple of classes as a way to get more students and those are always great to attend so that you can get a rough idea of the school. I would start looking out for those classes being that it's new years resolution time and a few schools will be doing seminars to get interest from the people whose resolutions line up with martial arts.

I always forget how many muscles I have when I take a lengthy break. Instructors are always more than happy to remind you though. They're such nice people.

I prefer rope as well for the same reason.

That seems as good as a suggestion as any. Other than that, make sure you don't keep it in extreme weather for too long.

We practice Anunku for the sai for the system that I learned.

Mentally I don't remember how I prepared for my first class. I was 12 so it didn't really sink in how important this journey would be to me later in life. I think I just wore regular cloths.

Shorin Ryu teaches empty hand and weapons and also I do a Western Martial Arts which, unlike the Eastern Martial Arts that I have taken, focus on weapons and not so much on empty hand.

I haven't framed any of mine. I know where my Black Belt Cert is in a closet but I have long since lost any of the kyu certs.

I really liked my Meijin Gi, it was worth every penny. I ended up losing it a few moves back and haven't had the disposable income for another. I miss it sorely.

For the Shorin Ryu I took (in order): Pinan Shodan Pinan Nidan Bo Shodan Seisan Wonsu Nihanchi Shodan Nihanchi Nidan Bo Nidan Anunku Nihanchi Sandan Anunku Sai Nunchaku Training Form Pai Sai Sho Pinan Sandan I think that's the correct order at least, I get fuzzy on some of it, but the grand total is 14.

I chose my style because the we knew the instructor and he was teaching it for free. After joining I liked that we sparred a lot because part of the motivation of me saying "yes" to going was I was getting beat up and I needed a way to defend myself. It evolved into so much more after that and now my favorite part is the philosophy that goes into Martial Arts. However, that wasn't really talked about in class so that was something I thought could have changed.

I don't really remember my first class. I do remember the first year, however. I remember struggling to understand and working hard to get it and feeling that joyous feeling when the Sensei looked at me and said something to the effect of "I can tell that you've been working on that because it looks good now." I loved my first year of Karate and you will too.

Chishi meaning the stick with a stone at the end? (Inelegant explanation I know).

Merry Christmas!

That's an awesome idea. Don't fancy gift shopping on Christmas eve though! We rarely have our Christmas on Christmas so we never shop on Christmas Eve. This year our shopping day will be the 28th.

We do something different. My father gets a generous bonus every Christmas and gives everyone $25 dollars for each person (i.e. I have $25 for my wife, my brother etc). We go out and buy the presents the day before (being that we're all anxious balls of curiosity, although we generally show everybody what we want them to buy us) and we wrap it that night (we are able to do this because we have Christmas when everyone can make it and that is rarely on the day of). After wrapping we make clues to where we are going to hide them and in the morning and every one goes on a scavenging hunt getting one present at a time, we open it as a family, and then get the second one. So the answer to the original question is that it depends on whose clue I grab first.

Great job! Congrats!

Schola Saint George is a system that is based of manuscripts written by Fiore Dei Liberi the main one being Flors Di Battaglia (The Flower of Battle). It is one of the earliest surviving manuscripts for swordplay in the western world and many consider Fiore as a base for which all Italian sword play evolved (I find that difficult to believe but as I have only just started reading the history I can't make any definitive claims). We use the Longsword, Daga, Poleaxe, Sword and Buckler, Rapier, Spear and there is unarmed combat. Just like the Martial Arts that you are used to it is a belted system but I think there are only 5 belts ending in red. Instead of Kata there are plays which is essentially step drills that are made to give us scenarios where if opponent does "X" you can do this. Right now at my level (the base and everyone starts out as unbelted) I am learning the longsword plays (called the Largo plays) although my instructor likes to get ahead a little and so I know so Daga stuff as well. What I can say the most about it is that it is a lot of fun and I enjoy every second of it. If you have anymore questions ask me, this is just a general overview and I'm at work so I'm distracted so specific questions are welcome. I added the link to the website for the school below. https://www.scholasaintgeorge.com

Your hesitation is understandable and from what I can infer from what you say I don't think that he would refund you. Sit on it for a time and think about it and make sure to keep us updated.

To claim that something is the "WORLD'S STRONGEST KARATE" is puffery. I don't think any karate is the world's strongest (although I have some opinions as to which is the weakest but that is neither here nor there). That being said, Kyokushin is a legit system and I have never been disappointed by it's performance. Just like any system it will have bad instructors and good ones and I urge you to try it out so that you can see what you think. Afterwards post your thoughts here.

This is generally the advice that I give. Try it out and tell us what you think. What you liked and didn't like.

You do. A lot of more traditional Dojo/Dojangs have time requirements such as the ones that sensei8 listed. Gaining your Judan (something that many never obtain) is quite literally a life long journey that is earned through one's devotion to not only the martial aspects but to the philosophical and sometimes spiritual aspects as well. I mirror sensei8's sentiment when he says that he cannot respect a mid-30s Judan.

Wow, great story. It's awesome when a student who is as loyal as your friend gets to see how loyal the school is to him.