Lasz

nice, congrats!

someone else just posted something just like this but it's really cool

I think it helped me improve my confidence, look at thing more relaxed and focused, definitely helped to curb aggression and anger building up inside, it was good for both the mind and the body. It's an important part of my life but not crucial, my thoughts don't revolve around martial arts all the time.

welcome, I'm new too, great website

thanks guys, great forums you got going on here

just a gi, belt, shin pads and groin protector.

congrats orion

cool! looks really crazy

we start sparring pretty early some students after 3-4 weeks, but everyone's just going easy (no contact or really light contact - just touching) the goal is not to beat the freshies up but to get them familiar with sparring, get them used to actually punching and kicking someone, and being attacked.

looks good in a ballet kind of way, not serious fight

nice read, I for one like my belt, apart from what you said I think it also earns you respect in the dojo and also after a certain rank it give you some authority so that you can deal with beginners to teach basic techniques.

I deal with the kids' group sometimes, it can get really frustrating, good read, thanks

Jet Li, hands down

interesting article, glad you moved on from the bad situation

hello from Calgary, AB I'm 32 with 2nd Kyu rank, been doing Kyo for about 5 years now with a couple years break and different dojos/continents between 7th and 6th Kyu