TaeKwonDo Afficianado

the animal, what movie is that from? thanks, tom

Hello... I was the guy who replied "why do wear black belt...." etc. I think some of you misunderstood my post. I was replying to the person who said "WHY?". He was questioning your motives for wanting the gi, and I was saying that it didn't matter what you needed it for, that you wanted it. People can wear whatever uniforms you want, is the point of my post there. I was saying that I doubt long ago that people cared if you learned wearing a gi, a loincloth, shorts and a shirt, or a gi with stripes, if they existed. all the best, Tom

Congratulations.... right choice. You've made the decision most people can't even seem to make when they are much older. I can understand drinking and smoking.... personally I hate both but I don't mind of other people do them. But I consider drinking and drugs as a tool for people who don't know how to have fun or do much productive with their lives. I understand they are addictive but I've known people who have quit both drinking and other drugs completely cold turkey and be O.K.....so "addiction" is in some cases an excuse to keep having fun and ruining your life. all the best, Tom

Sit it out! In 5 weeks you will lose nothing.... muscle won't deteriorate in 5 weeks and I doubt youll lose any skills or technique. Better safe than sorry in a case like this. All the best, Tom

As was said, the very simple solution is to continue lifting weights and eat lots of food. Specifically, eat lots of protein. But carbs and fat don't hurt either. To really gain muscle what I do is I eat as much as possible, and weight train. Then, diet down to lose excess fat, and continue working out to keep the muscle. It takes time but its really a simple process. all the best, Tom

I don't plan on doing that. I do realize it's a dumb idea and did when I thought of it actually haha. But yeah I don't think she has anything against me personally.... it's just that shes that way to the world (aka anyone below red belt). In sparring, I go very light on everyone, I'm not saying I'm better than anyone, It's just that I have a couple of really powerful kicks, and overall good punches. But if I did ever have to spar her and knew she was going hardcore, I'd still think about unleasing a powerful side kick or front snap... those are my 2 strongest right now. all the best, Tom

Why does he need one?..... Why do you wear a black belt if you are a black belt? Why wear a gi at all? It's not required to know karate.... It's not required to be in a fight.... I doubt if the earliest masters cared if you wore a gi or had a belt. That being said, go for it and try karatedepot.com. all the best, Tom

Hello all. Thanks for all the input. Personally I had already pretty much decided to not do anything about it, I was just wondering what you guys thought of her attitude and has anything similar happened, etc. I'm a pretty laid back person 99% of the time, and don't get worked up easily. I'm not really "offended" by her, and it's not as if she purposely TRIES to be a snob. But rest assured, she is a snob. But she is the only one in the entire class who has ever acted like that to me, and only about 2 or 3 times or so. I don't think she even "gets it", that she is being really rude, and yes the way she said it was sooo bad. There were 2 other red belts on each side of me too, and she walked like 3 lines over just so say it. But anyways, no I don't plan on trying to "retaliate" by correcting her for anything. I mainly just wanted to relate my story, and state my point of view that we go to the dojo to learn, not be be scolded, like some others have said here. So anyways, I'm not really mad at her, I can accept her attitude, just find her personality to be like sandpaper. Anyways, once again thanks for all the input I do appreciate it. Who knows, I probably could get back at her in sparring.... We're supposed to go heavy contact, and she is way higher rank than me and older than me, but I'm definitely way stronger than her, and maybe have a few moves that I can unleash faster than some of hers. So I probably could teach her a lesson If I wanted to in sparring (maybe maybe not) but I plan on just letting it go as if nothing happened, like I already decided. I just wish everyone in martial arts could relax a little bit more, or just say "Hey could you please not lean on the wall?". Because this dojang, to me at least, is not that "traditionalist".... we pay our respect but our Master likes to have fun and he likes us to have fun. all the best, Tom

2 thumbs up here for Jade Empire. I played that game nonstop after I first put it in my xbox. Shenmue eh? Ill have to check that out. Dynasty warriors series is also good, but theyre not really MA oriented, mainly they use weapons in the game, and , then again its not really an RPG either. But if you like Jade Empire you might possibly like it. all the best, Tom

Yes I actually am looking for crazy MA films. I love films that have so much action and stuff that you laugh at some of the fight scenes.... I like wire fighting scenes. I also like "real" fights but I prefer them to be insane. For anyone else looking for some really crazy stuff check out: Iron Monkey 2 Ninja Death Series Shaolin Invincibles If you have any more movies that are so insane the fights are hilarious, please post here, I am somewhat of a collector. Or just some movies with really good fight scenes. all the best, Tom

At TKD practice today a red belt girl came up to me. We were doing kicking drills and I was in the second line that was about to start off down the floor. My back was touching the wall. It was a really small class tonight and only one blackbelt was there. Anyways, she says "uhh excuse me. Don't lean on the wall. Ever." Then left. How crazy are some people? I bow and say yes maam or sir, and follow all the traditions, but that was uncalled for I say. I just mention this because I don't want you to think that I do not follow the traditions. What do you think, and do you have any stories like this of self absorbed people? All the best, Tom

I'm the first guy to agree that Bruce Lee has a huge amount of "overhype" about him after his death. Don't get me wrong because I love Bruce Lee, but he definitely "caught on" after his death. Anyways, I just wanted to say that yeah Bruce Lee went ahead and pioneered "the system" or whatever you like to call JKD, a style, without really perfecting other styles, but.... Every style in existence came from somewhere. If no one was ever willing to try something new, we would either have 1 or 0 martial arts. Someone wouldve created one style, and then everyone wouldve followed it to master it. Who's to say that more, better, and effective styles won't be discovered in the future? There were, total past and present, probably around 3,000 Kung Fu styles. Maybe more, maybe a few less. And some of them are lost every decade, is my understanding. If no one tries anything new, someday we will have a Karate style, a Tae Kwon Do style, a Kung Fu style, Kickboxing, and Jiu Jutsu. Sometimes completely learning one style is great, but we also need to innovate and adapt. all the best, tom

Hello and thanks for the help guys. I actually have a set from Century almost exactly like that but they are black, thanks for the recommendation. Anyways, I actually got a purpleheart set.... and they are awesome. They are from Murasaki Kobudo and I recommend them to people looking for Kobudo gear. They got my order slightly wrong, but the quality is awesome, and I would still order from them again. All the best, Tom

There is always someone that can beat anyone, even though there may be in fact one best fighter, even still I would guarantee that there is at least one person who would be able to defeat their style, although in turn be defeated by more others. But anyways, I would pick Bob Sapp. I just cannot imagine facing down a guy like that. All the best, Tom

Just from what I heard from you I would do the Judo, at least try it for a month and see what happens. Pay the 25 dollars and see how it works out, if it doesn't thats not too much dough down the drain, and only a month away from your family and stuff. Anyways, I bet your daughter would be willing to try an art with a little convincing, maybe not but just a guess . Does your son want to try either? Maybe see which he would prefer, if either, and then do that one with him, and maybe your daughter would go too eventually. Anyways good luck, all the best, Tom