jaymac

I am guessing the notch looks like a single belt loop? I tie my gi pants by putting each end of the strings through the loop and then tie a knot over the top of it. I do not tie a bow ( like tying a shoe). I make a knot. It will not come undone during class and you will still be able to get the knot out after practice. If this doesnt help, really just have him talk to the head instructor. It would be more embarrassing to have your gi pants fall down around your ankles in class then to just ask for help.

Nice site shui tora. Obviously the best way to really get good at something is to practice. It is very hard to get advice from all of us in the forum because we cannot see your kata, and every kata has some variations in it from school to school. My best advice would be to go directly to your instructor and have them work with you on the kata.

I know that if I had the opportunity to try capoeria, I would. I mean, I have seen some people who do this art, and they are in the best shape. I can't even do a cartwheel.

I have great respect for the Martial Arts ranking system. In fact, if you think about it, people deal daily in lives at the work place with ranks. In a factory, you have the foreman, the plant manager, the CEO... in the police force, fire dept. and military, all have a ranking system. People are promoted by those of higher ranking and not by self promotion. I do not hold much respect for a style that self promotes or allows the student to promote the instructor. It makes me wonder where that individuals head instructor fits into the realm of things. Did they break away from their instructor on bad terms or are they developing a style made up of a hodge podge of moves taken from other styles after minimal years of training.

I thought that it was a very good post. As for which style is better than the other...? I believe that unless you have taken every style of MA, then it is not possible to comment on which is better. I mean (for example) how would I know if Hapkido is better than Shotokan. I don't know because I have never done Hapkido. I do know that I love Shotokan and choose to exclusively practice that style only. I believe that if a person is getting up off the couch daily to practice a Martial Art and bettering themself and their life, then that MA is working for them just fine.

Wow, you get to choose your kata for grading? We had to do all of them and sometimes more than once if our instructor was not impressed. I was very tired afterward As for jion, I have been working it for 6 months. I am just now starting to feel more comfortable with it.

I think that I may have remarked on this website somewhere else in the forum. Too much color! Need to wear shades to look at that site

I thought the form looked good. What a job to hike and then do kata. My only advice would be to make the strikes look a little more powerful. I think I will take my own advice and go practice too.

I have seen them, and I never underestimate their abilities

A break is good. Have a blast! You will return one day to train in a dojo again, but for now- enjoy!

If you are adament about checking your feet as a diabetic, you should still be able to train in a clean dojo without wearing shoes. If you are training on a dojo floor that is littered with sharp objects ( pebbles, debris), you may want to consider wearing protective shoes.

Just think of what an awesome yellow belt you must be! Hope you can stick with this school to achieve your black belt. Good luck!

I get dry feet even on wood floors. I just use a nice heel moisturizer twice daily.

Ok, you got great advice on the gi part, but havent we done the "wash the belt" topic to death already on other posts. Do what you want with your belt---> its yours.

Wow, it has been awhile since I saw this thread. To answer your question Martial Arthur, I would not know whether his instructor allowed him to wear his uniform outside of the dojo, but every dojo has rules to follow and I am betting this guy has been obviouse to not go along with the rules most of his MA training. I guess he can explain himself to his instructor as to why he got his rump kicked.

Ranked themselves...? Hmmm?

I don't have MTV 2 so I appreciate the link. I did watch it, and I think it is honestly hard to judge the show based on the limitations that MTV 2 and Ernie R. has placed on the kumite. The only one in the ring that I thought showed good fighting ability was Matt and he was sent home. I am glad that someone is trying to promote martial arts through a show, but what does everyone expect, to have a huge network for young kids allow people to get into a ring and kick and punch the living daylights out of each other? That is UFC and you can find it on Spike TV. You all know what you can do in the ring in your own dojo and that is great. I think that we really aren't seeing the most these fighters can do. I was however surprised to see how many of them drop their guards during their matches, and the showboating makes me a little ill. Hey, it's TV and that is what people (who do not practice MA) want.

Actually, I found the yoseikan2 to be very interesting. Beautiful dojo and the instructors have been there a long time! Not your typical received a black belt in 3 years type of deal. As for the kempo school, I nearly had a seizure just looking at that site. One thing I can tell you about that place, the instructor is all about money$$$$$! Just notice how many things he is selling right on the first page. By the way, I take shotokan and we do not tournament.

My Instructor does know and teach many weapon kata; however, it is not part of the curriculem. If you are interested on learning a weapon, it is apart from the traditional program and you do not receive ranking for any weapons learned.

Just some info on injuries: Strains and sprains take much longer to heal than breaks because it can involve muscle, tendon, ligaments. Fractures are the same as breaking a bone. There is no difference. So when someone says, "I fractured it, but it is not broken" he/she is greatly misinformed of their injury. Never wrap your torso when you have a broken rib(s). Instead, take it easy and stop training for awhile. Constant aggrevation of the upper torso will not allow the ribs to heal in an adequate time.

I have all but given up on tournaments (as I have mentioned in previous post ), but I too noticed when I used to attend and judge, alot of kiaing coming from all ages of competitors. In younger students and lower ranked individuals, I think they were nervous and all but ignored it. In black belts who kiai'ed everywhere, I just saw arrogance. I tended to rate the individual with a great kata, good breath, minimal kiai's, and did not run up to me and SCREAM who they are, what they are doing... higher in scoring.

You got it!

You got it!

Bruce Lee was so fast and unpredictable that I don't know if anyone would actually get him to the ground before he hit them a few times about the head and neck.

I do think that many schools emphasise achieving a black belt and ultimatelely that becomes ones only goal. My instructor has always made a point of saying that you really begin to learn at black belt and you should strive for higher. However, he does not have a strong black belt following. He offers black belt classes only every few months. He expects his black belts to attend classes regularly and assist with teaching, which I feel is great, but would really love a more regular advanced class offered. I am not trying to complain about my instructor, because I feel he is fantastic at what he does and how he teaches, and I do not want to second guess him at all, but just commenting out loud to my forum friends.