aruder

At my school, after belt tests Sensai will go outside for 20 minutes or so while all the students hold a horse stance and wait for him to come back. Sometimes we have to do jungle stance instead- think going down on one knee, but then keeping that knee one inch off the ground while making a 90 degree angle.That hurts.

XMA isn't taught for fighting applications at all (as I mentioned before). It is NOT self defense! It is for performance. Performance is a legitimate use of the martial arts. BTW, there is not actually belts in XMA. Anyone who is a blackbelt and does XMA earned that blackbelt in a traditional style. XMA is divided into various levels- beginner, intermediate, advanced, elite, and several higher.

Well, this denotes Okinawan karate, if that is what you mean

Lost is the first show in recent years that has actually been able to hold my attention enough to watch it each week. I missed a good number of episodes last season for work... I need to buy the DVD. My Dad is going to play the numbers in the lottery... I'll freak out if he wins... then immediately cancel my students loans and prepay the next three years of college....

A good friend and fellow martial artist is double majoring in Criminal Justice and Computer Science at Western Illinois University, hoping to someday join the FBI. WIU has a very good Criminal Justice program. Look for Criminal Justice, or something along those lines

I have a friend who actually did carry his chain whip on him for a while... I would say chuks. A chain whip might be too long and you hit a wall or something. I personally would carry something much smaller for self defense like a spike keychain then of course you could be like my grandfather and carry a 9MM wherever you go....

Hello to everyone on the boards... My name is Aaron Ruder. I'm a college student at a small college in Central Illinois, studying to be a High school teacher. I've been training for several years now, and I think that the martial arts is one of the best things I have ever done. I hope to be always learning and seeking new knowledge, both in the martial arts and life. About my school: I think my school is rather unique as far as dojos go. Several years ago, when I was a freshman in highscool, a new English teacher, Mr. Chianakas, began the Martial Arts club. There are only a few Highschool martial arts clubs in existance, and of those that we have contacted, ours is the most active. Sensei Chianakas is a third degree blackbelt in Okinawan Shuri Ryu Karate, first degree in Tae Kwon Do, and I believe a brown belt in Judo. Sensei left his old Shuri Ryu school (the largest school in the area with several locations, including right here in town) for many reasons. Our main instruction then is about 90% Shuri Ryu Karate, with several Judo techniques at each rank, and extra TKD kicks and drills. A black belt from Sensei Chianakas is everything that it would be at another Shuri Ryu school and more. We also have the the XMA program, and have had a seminar with Mike Chat, as well as Wu Shu and Pressure point seminars. We were allowed weapons training when the club began, but after complaints from some overly concerned parents, the school board asked us to discontinue weapons training. Recently, Sensei was able to convince the school board to allow the bo through the XMA program, but as a "performance tool" only. Our martial arts program has now gone school district wide, with classes held at the three area grade schools. It is entirely possible that someday Karate will be more popular that Football in my home town, and Metamora is one of those towns where highschool football is more important than church. The highschool club has about forty active members, and many more at the gradeschools. Belt order goes :white yellow green blue purple brown red red/black black. I am currently red, most likely testing for red/black this month or next. Sensei has promoted four students to Shodan. For brief period, Sensei ran a dojo, sharing a building with a gymnastics school in Washington. During that time we first attracted children and adults, some of which still train at the highschool or gradeschools. We took the name "Extreme Kumi-Taku" meaning "a combination of many." The school closed due to a strained bussiness relationship with the gymnastics school owner Over the years we have had several other instructors. Sensei Livingston also taught karate as well as Iaido/kendo at the Washington school. Sau Bum Nim Beaver(7th Dan WTF TKD) began learning Karate at the washington school and worked with Sensei to begin TKD at the highschool. Master Stevens(I believe 3rd Dan ITF TKD) also helped with TKD. Sensei Hawkey (6th Dan Shuri Ryu) also left Sensei Chianakas' old school for many of the same reasons and teaches advanced traditional karate. About me: I'm eighteen and a Freshman at Eureka College, a small school in central Illinois. I was lucky to find the perfect school for me only a few minutes from my old highschool so I can still train. My major is Secondary Education(English) with a minor in writing and Theatre (and possibly a minor in history{I know, I'll be in school forever}) Besides the martial arts, I love acting and writing, and photography. When I am an English teacher someday, I hope to direct, coach speech team, and write on the side ( and maybe have a school martial arts club) I've never been out of the country, but I hope to got to Japan or England sometime in the next four years with Study Abroad. The martial arts has doen more positive things for me than I can count. I hope to be ready to test for Shodan next summer. I am also interested in learning more Judo, TKD, Kubudo, and possibly Kendo, Iaido, cane, and western fencing. That's a little about me....

I've taken my bow at curtain call after plays and such karate style, covered fist and everything. My school trains in the highschool wrestling room. Sensei wants to scream at the wrestlers when they just saunter on and off the mats like they own the place... wait...

Anyone ever used one? Is is more similar to the bo or to a polearm?

It is true... it is performance based (claiming the bo as a performance only prop was the only way Sensei could get bo training through the school board) It's not intend to be self defense in any way shape or form. I really don't care for the forms either. The flash that it adds to our demos is nice, because people round here are rather jaded and hard to impress.

At my club we have: Sensei Chianakas, Third Degree, Club Founder Sensei Hawkey, Sixth Degree, (Teaches a few advanced rank classes) All first Degree Joshu Adam Joshu Jason (Went to college, I think he's learning Shotokan as well) Joshu Amanda Joshu Jessica

What do you know of Mike Chat's Xtreme Martial Arts program? Comments, compliments, grips, rants?

Give an introduction... even if it's not required. Especially if it's not required, so you stand out among all the other competitors. And speak up. When I do see people give introductions, they practaically whisper to the judges. Show that confidence that the martial arts has taught you. You don't have to be wordy. "Honorable judges my name is___. With your permission I will be performing the kata/poomse/tae guek/form ____ " And that's good enough.

At my school: White yellow green blue purple brown red red/black and black a combination of my Sensei's old Karate and TKD ranking systems

About Jujitsu/ Jujutsu.... What I've been told (don't shoot the messenger if I'm wrong) is that -jitsu and -jutsu are suffixes meaning "fighting" and "art" respectively, just as -do means "way". Therefore, jujutsu would mean "Gentle Art" and jujitsu would mean "Gentle Fighting" and Judo would mean "Gentle way" I assume Jujitsu is used to refer to the Brazilian style because it is rather combat oriented, or at least more so than Judo. For example, in Judo the sweep Ouchi-gari (Large Inner Reap) you break an opponents balance left rear corner and sweep his left leg from the inside with your right leg so he falls backward. In BJJ, you break an opponents balance left rear corner, slam your right knee into his groin, and sweep his left leg from the inside with your right leg so he falls backward, writhing in pain. In terms of techniques shared between Jujitsu and Karate... Karate is a striking art. Judo and Jujitsu are grappling arts. Karate does occasionally have some sweeps, trips, and throws, but does not out much of an emphsis on off-balancing. Judo does include strikes at very advanced level, but they are not a primary focus. For Judo, at least, Dr. Kano said that the ultimate goal was "perfection of character" , and character development is common in the martials arts and ways, so in that sense Judo and Karate do share ideals.