AikiGuy

The "towel" gi is probably heavy or super-heavy from the sound of it. And at that point you do start to feel the difference. My middleweight gi doesn't feel heavy to me personally so I think it would be okay. But if you are looking for a really light feel, the light weight sounds like it might be what you're looking for. I would still avoid the super light weight because it is really cheap fabric. Of course it is up to you based on why you want it. I guess some people would not mind replacing them a little more often if it gets you what you want. Happy shopping.

I would not recommend the super light weight gi unless you are on a budget and don't want to invest much just yet. It is REALLY thin material and tears easily. I have the middle weight gi (8 to 9 oz.) and the fabric is fairly durable. So far, I have only torn one tie string off in the year I had it. The heavy weight and super-heavy weight fabric (10 oz. and up - feels almost like denim) is recommended for styles with a lot of grabbing like Judo where you grab your opponent's clothing to lift and throw him. Or if you just want to get something that will last forever. If it's something like Karate or TKD with mostly striking, you should be OK with the middle (or even light) weight material. Oh and one more thing: If you are allowed to choose, get pants with a draw string and elastic. The elastic eventually wears out and the draw string can come loose easily. Better to have both.

This is one of the best things you can do when you start. Have a few simple combos in mind to try out in sparring. Practice them in advance in the air or on a bag to get used to the rythm. Then experiment doing different things for different situations. Don't worry about getting clobbered at first. Most schools don't do hard contact for new students. Especially if you spar a much higher rank. It may seem scarier with high ranks, but they know the drill by now so they go softer with new students. They are also better at pulling punches than beginners. Good luck.

If you are pretty good at flipping them already, then just keep going. Speed comes with coordination which comes with more practice. Also, flipping while moving your hand/arm gives the illusion of flipping faster. So on the movements where you move and flip together (example: moving the sai from your left side to your right side while flipping it from pointing in to pointing out) will be more of a speedy blur to an observer even if you are not going any faster than you would when flipping it in one place.

The previous posts are all correct on this one. I especially agree with the last post from Lordtariel. The instructor may be trying to calm an easily offended student from making waves later. However, it is still not your fault. I would hesitate to punch a girl in the chest without a chest protector. But your opponent had one on. The whole point for this is so you do not have to fight differently with her. I think she's a big baby and will not do well in sparring if she does not change her attitude. Also, I would tell the instructor (very soon) that you fought her as you would a guy since she had the protector and explain that you did not know the shot was not allowed. Then ask for an explanation of any rules he may have on sparring girls (or kids or lower ranks, etc.). This will keep you out of trouble plus it will let the teacher know this was just a mistake and not something mean or intentional toward the girl.

If you are fairly new to MA or returning after a long absence, it may be that you just aren't stretched enough to see your flexibility potential yet. So you can't tell which area of the leg is more limber. If you are really trying to speed up the results, stretch for long periods of time at home. When I was in P.T. after a leg injury and couldn't straighten my leg at all, I stretched for 30 to 60 minutes at a time almost every day. That was on the advise of my doctor and it sure did work! I was forced to do that since I could not walk until I did. Therefore, I was at home all day with nothing better to do. That may be a bit drastic for your purpose, but I bet if you held a stretch for 10 to 15 minutes, every other day, you would see results a bit faster. I don't know how busy you are but try it if you can carve out the time. Just increase the stretch very gradually and don't try to stretch very far. It is more important (and safer) that you focus on holding it for an extended period of time, as long as you don't have any physical conditions preventing this. Keep plugging away.

USPS, I agree with everything others here have mentioned here about the instructor, personal interest, physical ability, etc being factors. However, I will ignore all of that (since everyone has touched on it pretty accurately already) and offer the other side of this issue. This may not be a popular answer since so many martial artists consider is disrespectful to compare arts and say one is better than another. But I'm going to give you my very realistic response any way since I'm not one to beat around the bush or dwell on political correctness, etc. Plus I think it is really good info for someone trying to choose an art. I am an instructor in Goshin Jutsu which combines Karate and Aikijutsu. The latter style is like a blend of Aikido and Jujutsu. I also know from watching and a little cross training with a Hapkido practitioner, that Jujutsu and Hapkido are very similar styles. Many of their movements are identical. So I feel qualified to respond. Karate is probably simpler to learn as it is primarily striking and blocking from some distance. Most of it is done while standing upright which is a natural position. However, it is harder in its physical demands. After leaning how to strike, you then must learn how to do it with power and focus, then learn to do all of this at the same time. All of that takes a lot of energy so it helps if you are in shape and it can be very devastating. Hapkido and other "locking" type arts are designed to be less demanding on the body meaning you can do this even if you less than average size, weight, or strength. Of course if you are bigger or stronger, it is a clear advantage as in any art, but it is not the only way to be successful. I have seen in myself, my peers, and my students, that the Aikijutsu side of my style may be easier on the body when executing, but a lot more difficult to learn. All the twisting and tangling in various directions for different results can be confusing. But it is well worth it when you get it! Some of the movements are not natural so it is a very conscious action at first. It is not something you will or should do at full speed when you begin. So if you prefer something that is a little easier to grasp, then I recommend Karate or a similar striking art (Karate, TKD, Boxing, Muay Thai, etc.) assuming you are in at least decent shape. If you are into really learning the more complex (and probably less commonly known) movements, then do a grappling art (Hapkido, Aikijutsu, Jujutsu, MMA, Wrestling, etc.) assuming you prefer falling and rolling around on the floor over being punched and kicked. Good luck choosing.

Ooooh, now I see. I thought it was just a parent of a student. Well, in that case, I am a little surprised that your instructor did not work out the schedule with this person before he left. It sounds like it should really be between the two of them and not involve you at all. It also sounds like she is in charge of scheduling and even your instructor could not change the times without her approval. If that is so, then just accept whatever scheduling she makes and muddle through until your sensei returns. However, I think you are right about the curriculum. Unless, she is a martial artist, she has no place telling you what or how to teach your students. However, since she is in a position of authority, it may cause problems later on if you protest too much. Just suffer through it and inform your instructor of her changes. If he wants to dispute the changes, he will have enough pull to make the point. As a fellow kids' instructor, I completely agree with you on all counts. But Ps1 is right. Your hands are tied for now. All you can do now is practice your fake smile and pretend to agree. Good luck and welcome to the instructors' club.

I agree with Bearich. I don't know why a parent would insist on changing the time of your class. That's like my next door neighbor deciding what time I should go to work. Perhaps I just need a little more info here. Maybe you are saying the parent simply stated that she would change the time that she would arrive without expecting everyone else to change their schedule accordingly. If that is the case, then put your foot down quickly before this gets out of hand. Explain to this parent that she is welcome to come for only part of the class, but that you must maintain the schedule that works for the vast majority so you cannot change the time. If she protests, just shift responsibility to your sensei by saying that this is the schedule approved by the head instructor and you are not authorized to change it (whether you really are or not). It is possible this parent is trying to use your inexperience to get her way in your instructor's absence. Especially if you are young and not a full instructor rank yet (as your screenname implies). Don't be used like that! Also, I have taught kids classes for years and my classes were between 1 hour and 1.5 hours. This range seems to work but I know some people go a little less with kids especially younger ones. It is up to you and you should decide based on the abilites and attention of your students and also based on how much stuff you have planned for a typical class. If you have a longer class (1 hour or more), try to switch activities often and make about half of them more fun rather than structured techniques. It sounds like you're already doing this so you should be ok. When a parent questions the "fun" activities, just explain that this is the way kids are taught because of their shorter attention span. They become bored or even resentful if a class seems too much like school. Your instructor believes you are qualified to run this class, so trust yourself enough to simply explain things as you have learned them when someone asks a question. If someone hits you with a really tough request or question, just say you will suggest it to your sensei and let him decide. This teaching gig is tough when you start, but hang in there. It is worth it.

Soryu, I hope that thing heals completely. It sounds painful. I have never broken a bone but I did get a black eye from sparring once. The other guy had a bloody nose too. We were going full contact with standard headgear which of course does not protect the front of the face. I have also bruised a shin bone in sparring so badly that I was on crutches for 3 weeks. Needless to say, I now own a full-face headgear with a cage and shin pads. As for choosing a headgear, I recommend at least getting a full-face headgear that covers the chin and part of the cheeks, similar to a boxer's headgear. The closer it comes to the nose, the better. Here's something to consider if you are tall: A very tall student in my class (6'3") says the pads that come more forward on the cheeks block his vision of low kicks unless he tilts his head. I am average height (5'9") and don't have this problem at all. I have used this for a while and love it. It's very good even without a cage because any shot that even partially touches the padding will be softened. I suppose a straight shot to the center of the nose could possibly still bruise or even break it. I've never had that happen yet but that fear is why I got the face cage. My son has a standard headgear with no cheek/chin protection but with a detachable plastic face shield with chin pad. Either one of these combos will do fine in hard sparring. The metal cage is heavier but visibility is pretty good and it seems very durable. Probably the strongest I have seen. They make plastic cages too if you want to go lighter. The clear plastic face shield is very light and they say it contains something that prevents fogging up. My son has not had any problem with his shield yet after sparring about a dozen times with it. I don't know how durable they are but I have sparred with him at about 70 percent of the strength I would use in full contact with an adult and there's not a scratch on it. I hope it stays that way but it's still too new to say for sure. I hope some of this helps. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

I completely agree with you, Elbows. Books are good at clarifying the finer points assuming you already know the basics of a particular art. But starting out with just books or videos is just too overwhelming IMO. If you can't find anything close, I suggest going to a farther place a few times (or even just once) just to get the basics. Explain to the instructor, that you will not be able to attend often so he can give you a "crash course" with a variety of drills to do at home. Then practice on your own even if you do not go back to the school very often. I did this when I wanted to try Muay Thai. I drove an hour one way to the nearest school I could find and attended for two months. I haven't been back for almost a year. But I do some of the drills at home to supplement my Karate training. Good luck and let us know if you find something.

Wow what a stretch between first and second place. Robin 67% Superman 65% Go figure.

Believe it or not, my fave is Yu-gi-oh! My son introduced me to it and now I can't stop. It is a very involved, thinking game of strategy that blows away any other I have ever played. I even go to tournaments with him now. If you have the time to get into a very complicated game, I recommend it. Adults play this a lot more than I expected.

Aaahh, now I see the misunderstanding. Bushido, believe it or not, I think we are actually saying the same thing but in different ways. Let me clarify. I agree 100 percent with you that if you tweek my generalization, then it may not be true. However, if you tweek it, then it's no longer a generalization. Now it's a specific comparison between 2 people (real or hypothetical) so now their specific attributes come into play. Which is what I think you are pointing out. See, we agree. (Perhaps generalize is not even the best word to use here.) Don't forget, I said before that I offer a generalized answer assuming all other factors are equal, that is unless we compare specific stats, etc. That's what you did. You introduced a new specific variable: the workout habits. So now all other things are not equal. And in that case, I agree with you that the outcome is unknown and all preconceived notions are out the door. See, we agree again. We're just having 2 different conversations at the same time and I think they are getting confused. Sorry if I was not clear on any of that. A better example of what I'm getting at is if we compare a group of 50 people who are 5'-5", 130 lbs to a group of 50 people who are 6'-4", 230 lbs. Now, without knowing anything else about them (not even how they look), someone asks: "Which group's average speed do you think is faster?" And "Which group's average strength do you think is greater?" Who would you bet on? In this scenario, the odds are in favor of my original statement: Big guys stronger, little guys quicker. But as you said, if you single out individuals in each group and examine them, of course you will find some pairings that defy the expected results. See, nothing but agreement today.

Bushido, I agree with you about the twitch factor being very relevant as well. I'm not sure if it is more or less relevant than size/weight stats but I'm sure for some it can be the biggest influence in performance. I also agree with the reality of pretty much all the exceptions everyone mentioned. However I was, as you pointed out, being very general on purpose. I was also assuming that all other factors not mentioned between various athletes were equal or negligibly close. In other words, if an big tall athlete with a high ratio of fast twitch fibers competes against a short slim athlete with a high ratio of fast twitch fibers, the twitch factors cancel out. So the outcomes are determined by everything else. Very high on this list of remaining factors would be the physical build of each person. This would make each person good at different things. Again, this is a huge generalization. But unless we are comparing specific persons or statistics, I'm not sure if I can give a more specific response. I agree there are exceptions to the whole "little guys are faster" idea. But I hope we are all accepting the fact that there are just as many exceptions to the whole "big guys are stronger" idea too, just to be fair to all. There are many exceptions to any rule. But I am not attempting to site all exceptions, only the (general) rule. It's like saying men are taller than women. Anyone can come up with an exception (I can think of many: Lucy Lawless is taller than me), but the rule is generally true: The average man is taller than the average woman. The tallest man ever recorded is taller than the tallest woman, etc. And similarly, (all other things being equal) bigger guys are stronger (on average), and smaller guys are quicker (on average). That's really all I was saying.

To answer your question TigerDude, the laws of physics I am referring to are (as I stated in my first reply way back when) 1. being lighter which causes less momentum which leads to increased maneuverability 2. being proportionately lighter (in relation to height) so jumps are often higher and acceleration from standstill is faster (think about the most powerful pickup you know in a sprint race with the most powerful sports car). 3. being smaller gives a smaller target plus makes us more aerodynamic 4. having a lower center of gravity makes us slightly more balanced and stable I'm not trying to insult bigger people here. I'm just pointing out facts. It's like saying tall guys are better suited for basketball than me. That's not an insult to me, it's just true since they are about a foot closer to the basket than me and can take longer steps when stepping around other people. And to answer your question about small people being the top "something" in a sport, there are examples of that. Horse jockeys, soccer players, gymnasts, dancers are good examples. All top experts in these fields will tell you that smaller (shorter as well as lighter) people have an easier time becoming very good at these activities. Bigger or taller people have done it too, but it is rare plus they have to work harder at it to get to the same level. Again, please don't take this as an insult. I also acknowlege the fact that bigger people have advantages that I have to really work for. Some of them, I have never reached. For instance, I would not want to wrestle a big guy, because his weight and reach will give him advantages I just don't have. Plus most o them are probably stronger than me.

Elbowsandknees, don't take this the wrong way but we little guys assume we are faster because we ARE faster. Of course there are exceptions but according to the laws of physics, we are made for speed. However there is a down side. It is also true that bigger guys (and gals) are stronger. That's not an insult, it's just naturally true. If you are not built for something (speed, strength, agility, etc.) you can always catch up to those who are naturally gifted in that area, but you will have to work at it a bit more. I am slightly stronger that the average guy but I lift weight twice as much as most people. My brother who never lifts weights is stronger than me, all because he is 3 inches taller and about 80 pounds heavier. He has a natural advantage in strength but I can always out-run him. So each person has to accept his assets and shortcomings and learn to overcome them with extra effort or find ways around them. That's what we are talking about. Hope this clear thing up. I was really not trying to be mean.

I have this same problem with the side kicks. Since my leg injury, my lateral flexibility is almost nothing. I do Karate but I learned a cool adjustment from some TKD guys I know. First, turn your base foot so it is pointing away from your target. This puts the tension of stretching on a different area of the leg/hip which may be more flexible. Second, lean your body back away from your target instead of keeping your torso upright. Practice this while holding a chair in front of you to see what I mean. Without leaning, raise you leg as far as it will go and hold it. Then lean your body down and back away from your extended foot and watch your foot rise. I get about an extra 20 degrees from this if I do both tricks together. Just don't raise up onto the ball of the foot if you are doing a hard kick. It may make your kick just a bit higher but it also is less stable since only half your foot is gripping the floor. Very easy to slip or be knocked off balance by just a little force from the opponent. Trust me, I know from experience. Good luck.

Actually Sohan, my information comes directly from a rather large maker of creatine supplements. It DOES cause you to retain more protein, or in their words, it "aids in the upsweep" of protein into the muscle cells. It does help you train longer too as you mentioned. But you are incorrect in saying it is only good "during high intensity contractions such as a 5 rep bench or squat set". A set of light weight, high rep exercises counts as high intensity too. A good example is a set of pushups, maybe 50 or so until failure. Endurance exercises can be very intense. As far as being a "waste of money" as you say, that is also not true. As I stated, I have actually done this very successfully. And I was not exactly a beginner at the time. I tracked my progress before and after starting the supplementation. It sounds as if you possibly tried this product without success. I don't know that, but if you did, remember I also pointed out that the makers advertise the fact that not every person will respond to creatine. So if it does nothing for you, that does not mean, it is a waste of money for everyone. Let me assure you, this stuff does exactly what it says if you have the right physiology. I was stronger, had more endurance, and recovered faster after taking it. So aside from all the theories on both sides, I have already proven it. It does work, at least for most people. Also, most serious weightlifters agree that protein is a good supplement with or without creatine. Your muscles are largely made from protein so if you want more muscle, you need more protein. That's fairly common knowlege. I do agree that taking carbs instead can help though. The only drawback is if you are on a diet. You help your muscles grow but you also help your waistline grow. Dazed and Confused, I suggest you try it and see for yourself, but be prepared for the possibility that you are a "non-responder" as they call it. About 20 percent of users' systems do not respond. Good luck!

I have used creatine and protein supplements for a while and they both work. Firstly, let me point out that creatine makers say that it works for most people but not every one's body responds to it. About 20 percent of people will have no effect from creatine. Of course, if you are in the other 80 percent you will see results if you use it right. Creatine makes you retain more of the protein you eat. So you should take a protein supplement whenever you take creatine to get full results. Also, this whole process only works if you are doing muscle training regularly. (That's what drains your body's protein supply.) Get a good workout plan and keep at it for a couple of weeks along with the supplements and you should see results. A few years ago, when I first started using creatine monohydrate, I noticed a strength increase in one week. That may not be common but I know this stuff works (for most). If it helps, the protein supplement I use is whey protein. I have used different brands and they all work about the same for me. Just pick a flavor you can tolerate daily and go for it. Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

S.K., Glad to see you back in action! This is inspirational since I too had a long absence from MA. It was not nearly as long as yours though. I took 5 or 6 years off due to a leg injury. Then returned to the same teacher. I was fortunate to keep my green belt (7th kyu) since the teacher's policy reserved his right to demote returning students as he sees fit. Sometimes they would drop one belt if they were a little rusty. Other times they would go back to white belt. He knew my situation was unavoidable and also that I was very dedicated to practicing. I assume this is why he did not drop my rank since I was sure to get back into studying at an obsessed pace just as always and return to my former skill level. I was however a bit embarrassed that other green belts (and even some lower belts) were doing things better than I was. I almost felt silly for claiming that rank. This is why most teachers drop ranks: because every rank is an example and source of knowlege to lower ranks. Although I wore green, I could not offer much help to yellow belts trying to remember a kata or correct a movement. So I completely understand this policy. (Still sucks though.) On the up side, I did progress through my "review" period rather quickly and started testing with the other greens. There was also a student who was a Brown belt back even before I left (same school, different instructor). Since his absence was much longer, plus it was a different teacher, he dropped back to white belt. But he was so good before that he zoomed through the ranks and was back at brown belt (3rd kyu) in under 2 years). He is now a 4th dan and I am only a 1st dan. So he did fine after almost 10 years off. My whole point for this story is that you may get off to a slow start but as things come back, you will find that some things you recall after only a few repetitions while others will need to practice for weeks to get it. Soon you will zoom past the other ranks and be on your way. Let us know how it goes. Good luck!

Have to go with a spear. It has enough length to fight from a distance plus a point to end a fight quickly. Second choice would be a Katana.

I'm glad you asked that. I am not a big guy either. So I love talking about this. I'm just under average height (almost 5'-9"). As I always explain to my students, each person must learn to use what she or he has. Tall fighters have greater reach and a bit more strength. Big (heavy) fighters have a whole lot more power. But what do smaller fighters have? Speed! We are generally faster at moving in and out, can jump higher, and because of less momentum and being more aerodynamic, we can stop and change directions more easily. All of this might seem like only a slight advantage that would not even be noticeable. But in sparring, the difference between scoring and being a target can be 1/4 of a second. So that small advantage works wonders. Of course, this is all after you practice your basics and become comfortable with moving, punching form, balance, etc. Someone mentioned practicing aiming techniques for solid punching (aim 1 to 2 inches past the target). This is great practice but before you do it in a sparring situation, make sure your dojo allows hard strikes. Some schools practice touch-sparring only. Others do both depending on your rank, experience, etc. And of course some like the real thing and prefer contact sparring. Just make sure you know your school's rules before knocking someone around. Good luck!

It sounds like you know which type of fighting you want to do. You sound really eager to get into some grappling. One of the biggest factors in choosing a style is picking something you will enjoy. If you want to grapple, then grapple. I am an instructor of Goshin Jutsu, which is actually two styles taught simultaneously: (Karate and Aikijutsu). I love the Aikijutsu but I really got into the arts to learn Karate. And doing what I enjoy has kept me going for many years. If you really like grappling, take the Jujutsu (BJJ). Judo has some grappling applications too but it is really more throws and takedowns than anything. I say try to enjoy the arts as much as possible. If you ever decide to go into competition or tournaments, then it may be helpful to take several styles to become well-rounded. Actually, that is helpful even for a street fight, class sparring, or anything else. But if competition is not in your near future, there is no rush (unless you frequent violence-prone areas for some reason). BJJ has a lot of locks and pins similar to wrestling but many of them are initiated from standing. As long as you are ready for a good workout and don't have any injuries, you will learn a lot. And your strength and conditioning will increase as you practice so don't worry about that. Good luck and let us know what you pick.

I saw it and was pleasantly surprised. She's actually a very good fighter. I also like it when a M.A. movie adds a little fantasy or something to make it more than just a bunch of fighting. Very entertaining.