jaymac

I'll tell you that I would give anything to train in Aikido. What a magnificent ART. You know you should just try out each style. Most places offer a trial membership. Let us know how it goes for you. Good luck.

I think the foam gear from Century does not last long enough. The C-gear from Century is not bad. Last long and really delivers a blow in that it doesnt give like the foam gear.

Pro force is good. Why do you need a face guard? The only ones who use them in our school are the people who spar while wearing their glasses and those training in chanbara.

Some of the JKD systems do use belts as a ranking system. It depends on the individual instructor. Bruce Lee did not, but it doesnt mean that a qualified JKD instructor could not or should not. Ranks are really just a reward system and a way to keep track of time and experience in an instructors view of training. I hope it doesn't sound like I am putting down the belt system, because actually I promote it.

A good instructor should never embarrass a student in front of an entire class, but this shouldn't give you the thoughts to turn and run. Talk to your instructor and let him know that you need help. You are paying for his services. I don't know how old you are, but have you ever thought of being tested for ADD. I found out as an adult that I have adult attention deficit. Instead of using it as an excuse, I worked harder, took great notes, attended private lessons, and oh yes, I let my instructor know. I refuse to take medication for this as I feel it is not bad enough that I can't manage it on my own. So far, Martial Arts in itself has helped my focus in the dojo and out of the dojo. This experience is challenging you, so do not buckle under it. Challenge yourself to get better. If your instructor continues to belittle you instead of encourage and support, then leave.

I do not like the chest protectors seen worn by Olympic style TKD. I would prefer not to wear them, but we are required. However, we are allowed to wear rib gaurds instead of the full chest protector. I like this better and feel that moving around and kicking is alot easier.

I wish you good luck but feel bad that you felt you needed to sever ties with this organization (unless you have had a string of events similar to this one.) What was your instructors response when you talked with him about this?

Quoting the famous NIKE sloga - JUST DO IT! You will love it and you will benefit in all aspects of your life.

I have to say, I enjoy the teen to young adult class more than the adult classes. I like to be aggressive and try new things. The teens are ready to jump right in with me. I notice however, in the adult class 30 and up, things are slower, which surprises me because I do not think 30's and 40's is an old age.

Century has a uniform that is one of the most comfortable. It is medium heavyweight, 100% brushed cotten - #0439 I think. It washes nice and doesn't need to be ironed and it is inexpensive.

In our dojo, we address all instructors outside of the dojo as we would inside. Of course, if I see an instructor across a parking lot, I don't yell "SENSEI", but we do have strict rules to follow and I don't mind them at all.

Those videos were fantastic. What a great representation of Shotokan Karate! Thank you for that link.

We too train with mixed ranks in our classes. We do have classes set aside for higher ranks, but lately our instructor has not held them too much. However, I think he is trying to get everyone uniform in the techniques from white to black. We have had a large amount of new students all of a sudden and have noticed from some of the higher ranking students, that they are not always showing technique as it has been shown to them. So this may be why we havent had too many advanced classes lately.

You have to read the books. The movies are good, but the they do not do the books justice. The 4th movie "the Goblet of Fire" is missing so much that is from the book. Understandingly though, cause the movie would have to be 8 hours long to cover it accurately.

When is the big day!!! Save some cake for all your KF friends.

What do you think of that Troy Vincent incident? Rebuilding=bad for you. I am not sure what to think of it right now. We will have to see after tomorrow's game. Maybe this new guy will do a better job. I pay pretty close attention to what they are doing and never heard any football camp or preseason comments about T.Vincent not playing up to his ability. I just hope Takeo will be playing. He's awesome!

Ours is only $40 - $50 USD a month and a belt grading fee that is very reasonable.

The other day I finally got to see fight science and the Karate individual was doing a side kick to the chest of that dummy (I don't know what else to call it) and I rewound it and slowed it down (dvr) to see him pivot his base foot while doing the kick.

You have an amazing ability to tell a story. You should write professionally. I started Kung Fu as a child when I was being a nosy little kid and followed my teenage babysitter to class. She quit and I earned my black belt after several years. My instructor unfortunately passed away and I did not start MA again until I was an adult. I am now a Nidan in Shotokan and absolutely love it.

It would be a great disservice to not teach wrist grabs, even if most people think they are useless. Did you ever see the video of the child who was abducted in ( I think Florida ) by a man. He grabbed her wrist and dragged her with him. They later found her body. Children and women should learn these techniques and everyone should learn them so they can continue to be taught correctly. That is what learning self defense is supposed to be about.

I do think even if you have a dan rank in one style and you switch to a new style, you should start over. It will be fun anyways. I disagree with the rank stripping though. If someone has done something they shouldn't have, expell them from your organization, even if it is for a short time and hold off on any future testings for awhile. I mean come on, even O.J. Simpson didn't lose his Hall of Fame and Heisman trophy recognition (he did lose the trophy ), he even still has his name on the wall of fame at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

In our Kata, we do a double front kick coming off the floor, both feet in air at one time. Obviously the left foot lands first but they are both off the ground at one point.

I am not sure how you can over hydrate while working out. I work in a ER and only once have I ever met someone who was overhydrated to the point where they had a sodium imbalance causing severe hyponatremia and needed hospitalization. This individual was an elderly woman with previous condition of electrolyte imbalances. If you drink too much of water you will know because you will feel like you are going to throw up.

Boy that is a long kata Are all the kata that long?

You shouldn't be too worried to not go to someone and ask. If you feel uncomfortable asking a black belt or a head instructor, talk to one of the other higher ranks. I am sure that they would be more than willing to help you get famaliarized with what they are doing. Good luck.