jaymac

The only time I've really ever used martial arts was when I was 12 and my big mouth brother who was getting picked on by some older teenagers, yelled that I knew karate! So of course they turned to me. I just wanted to get the heck out of there, so I grabbed my brother and turned to walk away. I heard one of them running towards me while my back was turned. I just turned, stuck a great side kick out and the fool ran right into my foot. While he was bent over, I punched him in the nose and he yelped. The others just ran away and this guy followed. I was so scared I was going to get in trouble. I guess however, he didn't want to explain to his parents or friends, how a little 12 year old broke his nose. My mom wasn't mad, but glad that she was paying for MA lessons and that it worked for me.

Is he the head instructor? I really feel that children's classes and adult classes should be seperate, but if the head instructor is making the decisions (husband or not), then it should be followed. Changes will be made if the other adults in the class begin dropping out because they do not enjoy training with children or they actually address the head instructor with requests to have a seperate training for only adults. If you are going for black belt and the head instructor is your husband, in the future, the school can only become stronger if you support each other and not let marriage conflict with business.

That's awesome! I noticed in the really crappy Next Karate kid movie that Hillary Swank starred, that she was doing a tekki Kata. I agree though that it seemed it was a great mixture of different styles in all these movies. I practice Shotokan and have yet to see the famous kick from a crane stance that Macchio did performed at our school.

I would think Myth that any YMCA would have a gymnastics course.

Saw some capoiera in there too, but mostly gymnastics. You could learn this from someone who teaches XMA, but I think you have to have a strong MA background to begin with. It really does not show effective MA movements, but it looks like fun.

I agree with others here and you of course. Anyone can teach another person a movement with correct technique. But there is so much more behind a good instructor than just showing someone a movement. An instructor must pass on all that has been shown to him by others and guide his students and be their mentor. A good instructor may even be compared to being somewhat of a parent figure to his/her students in that he/she guides, cares, and nurtures students in the Do (way) of their art.

What a great opportunity for you. I think I might be a little jealous Wish there was a BJJ near us. Have a great journey!

I agree, it may get too confusing.

We are actually required to do this, only we have several essay questions we have to answer in regards to our rank and our deserving of the rank.

I do feel that I am a patriotic person, but admit I do not sport a stars and stripe gi.

I don't think shin gear or an instep pad will prevent head injury if the contact to the head should be hard, but it will protect the shin. If you get headgear, the warning on it basically states that contact to the head may still result in injury to the person wearing it.

Wow, that is awesome! Welcome Jacob!

We are not JKA and have been taught to pivot the ball of the foot with the yoko geri keage. Still an effective and very fast kick that gives an extra 1 -2" penetration on your opponent. Ever see someone knock over a bag with a side snap kick? I am sure you have, but it takes time and skill to do this. So I think our side snap kick (although not done JKA style) is quite powerful.

Have you tried putting it in google? I have found every kata that I looked for this way.

I can only guess shotokankez!

I don't know how you can get better at skills without practicing drills. Hey that rhymed!

I agree with many of the last posts. You are in Washington D.C now man. It is a whole different ballgame there. Yes, be conscience and alert about your surroundings, but if you chamber a kick everytime someone gets near, looks scary, or grabs you in Washington D.C. you are going to have to learn how to walk, hopping on one leg. If you can avoid a violent situation without fighting, do so. I don't care how fantastic any of us feel our Martial Arts skills are, you cannot out run, dodge quickly away, or out fight a bullet. Trust me, my sister has lived there for 2 years now, and the gang violence is crazy.

That is what I think elbowsandknees. The general non martial arts population really enjoys this show. It will boost interest in the local dojo's.

That was awesome RedJ. I wish I had thought of saying that, because I actually do that to someone I work with. Good comparison with the parents is a immediate flirt stopper!

I really bet you did better than you think. You know, you will always be the hardest on yourself. That is what will make you strive to always be better. I have always thought I could have done better at every belt testing. How could there be any room for improvement if we do everything absolutely perfect? Hope you knee is feeling better.

I wish we had a retreat for adults too!

I believe you should know and be able to perform all requirements up to that belt level for every testing and be knowledgable of the dojo manual.

Sometimes it is more of an issue for parents. They feel safer when little jimmy is wearing headgear. But honestly, nobody with headgear or without should be coming in and hitting another student so hard that you have to worry about whether the headgear will prevent them from getting a head injury.

Also, don't trip over your feet before you get to the judges to announce yourself. It just looks stupid and everyone laughs.

Shotokan kez they may think we are crazy, but hey if we get the technique we will be crazy and have perfect technique at the same time!