JWLuiza

Intensity does not always = McDojo McFlip Kata. My school runs an open tournament every April where you can do any type of form you want and about 90% of the time it is someone doing a traditional form who takes Grand Champion in BB forms. Our most recent GC is the type of guy who will quiet 1000 people in a gym because his kata are so crisp and intense. No screaming, no flips, just solid karate presented well. If I get a chance I'll post some video once I get our 40th anniversary DVD back...

Good questions to ask at age 14. But do not forget to REST. The harder you train the more you have to rest. Ever consider a career in fitness?

Tang Soo Do CAN (not always will though) look like shotokan (Depending upon lineage), so Goju can be a fun way to cross train. Learning more is always good. There are only so many ways to beat someone up

I practice Tang Soo Do in Maryland with Tompkins Karate. Tompkins started with Tang Soo Do with Kim (of Kim's Karate TKD fame) before he switched to TKD. He then stayed with Dick Kern. No world organization, but we are big enough that we really don't need one... or ARE one (over 40+ different classes a week at different locations in 3 counties).

In my school once you reach shodan you can wear black gi or Tang Soo Do trimmed gi (black trim on lapel of gi top) as well as any combination of Top/Bottom. Nidan you can wear any combination including red tops/bottoms but formally wear full black. Samdan you add blue to the mix but wear full blue formally. Our founder gives you a blue gi when you pass your 3rd exam.

Cuong Nhu, You are very welcome. Using that as a template, you can probably figure out a few other throws to practice. Explosive lifting techniques (squats) can help high amplitude throws as well.

Take a belt, wrapt it around a sturdy tree and practice your hip throw against an immovable object. Seriously!

I typically use Nijushiho (for about 3-4 years now) Trying to pick up Unsu for competition. Otherwise Sa Bang Kwan.

I received a size 7 white tokaido and a size 6.5 Pro Force Ultra Heavyweight Black. I know have 4 uniforms that fit! Now I need to figure out who to bestow my old size 6 white tokaido on...

Taegot 1-3 Pinan 1-5 Kiboon 4 Naihanchi 1-2 And we test with Chinte plus one other "black belt form" Kanku Dai, Bassai Dai, Jion, Chinto (Gankaku), Shihoken So 13 total gets you your bb.

I'm shelving Nijyushiho for awhile, picking up Unsu, Gojyushiho Dai. In my style we do in order of what you learn by what belt: White: Taegot 1-3 Yellow: Pinan 1, Pinan 2 Green: Pinan 3, Pinan 4 Blue: Kibon 4, Pinan 5 Brown: Naihanchi 1, Naihanchi 2 First Black: Chinte Plus one of the Following Second Black: All First Dan forms known, perform 6 with choice between first degree and second degree list which includes: [list=]Bassai Sho Kanku Sho Tenchi Naihanchi 3 Kae Bek Empi Sip SooFor Second degree you can do non-school katas as well. Several include Hangetsu, Unsu, Nijyushiho, Kururunfa, Hwarang, Gojyushiho sho and dai