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

Don't worry about it, and remember you can't win them all. Everyone has a different style and being huge is a part of some peoples' "style". Just look at Sumo, I know some people don't consider it a "real" martial art, but to roll with the big guys in Sumo you gotta be big, I've seen some musclemen enter, who are big, but not big enough. Anyways you can't blame the guy for being big, he's got to use his advantages, and you have to use yours or discover more. All the best, Tom

Ok, it is obvious to 98% of all people that skills are more important, but they are not everything. There are people who seem to think that a skilled fighter can take on a man of any size, and there may be a few people who think that huge guys can take on anybody. If every fight between a skilled martial artist and a really big person was redone, the results could change for each fight. There is luck involved, or whatever you may choose to call it. Also a lot of people do seem to think that "big guys" have no skills whatsoever in fighting and rely on strength alone, which is a bad assumption to have in life. Just like assuming that all small guys are cowards, or cannot fight whatsoever. But anyways, there are so many variables to consider that it is difficult to truthfully answer the question, because we are not considering a specific instance. In general, skills are more important, but like I said they are not everything. If you took a 250 pound prototypical body builder (no real martial arts experience), and put him up against a 150 pound black belt, in lets say karate, I would be willing to bet lots of money that sometimes the black belt would win and sometimes the bodybuilder would win, if there were like 5-10 rematches or so. But, I think it is foolish to get in a fight, like the others have said, if you are a black belt vs the body builder. Even if the other guy instigates a fight you obviously have the speed to get away. You don't have to prove yourself to every jerk who insults you. But by all means defend yourself if you have to. Anyways, like a few others have said, being a big guy does not imply a lack of martial arts skills, even if they are high school wrestling experience or western style boxing, and being a martial artist does not necessarily imply being small. And try to stay out of fights! All the best Tom Edit/ps.: And I guarantee that there are body building message boards out there where the same question has been asked, and 10 replies have been in favor of the bodybuilder and one for the martial artist. Most of us in this thread are assuming were taking a black belt vs random joe who lifts weights, and they are assuming that they are taking their biggest and hugest bodybuilder vs one of our McBlackbelts. So in essence I agree with all you guys, but to get good results we would have to have a narrowly focused question.

I am not certain if there are "styles" in martial arts other than Chinese in origin. However, there are definitely groups of moves in other arts that mimic animals, or at least individual moves that do so. Or, they could be based off of the Chinese styles and moves, and not directly after the animals themselves. There are a lot of leapard paw strikes and Viper style attacks I've seen that appear to be similar to Chinese styles. all the best, Tom

I think it is wrong to say "yeah Tae Kwon Do has a lot of kicks but will they do anything if you're mugged? "Insert style here" has a lot of strong kicks, this style is good instead!". Many martial arts share some of the same kicks, and second, you can know all the kicks in the book and still not have a strong kick. It doesn't come magically once you are in style A or style B, you produce the power from your muscles and movements. You could know the greatest style in the world and if you don't make it strong yourself, it will do no good against a mugger or in any situation except demonstrations and kata. Moral of my story, you are not taught strong kicks, you are taught kicks, and you develop strong kicks yourself from what you are taught. And to answer the orginal question about which style to learn the kicks in, I would recommend either Tae Kwon Do, or possibly Wushu. I am not extremely familar with Wushu but I know that today, many schools teach "demonstration" Wushu. It is not necessarily a "real" martial arts style, but you will learn to do some crazy kicks. All the best, Tom

Just to clarify what I meant about the creatine: It is made in the kidneys, and theoretically your kidneys might stop production or slow it down a lot if you are taking too much creatine from external sources. How possible is this? I really have no info on that, it's just a theory I've heard on the internet and from a few guys who work out a lot, but I'm personally a scaredy-cat about some stuff like that. For instance some people have no qualms about taking steroids when it is known that it can reduce the amount of testosterine you produce naturally, and I would never do that. I know it is a leap to compare the two but just don't like to take chances with my body. all the best, Tom

As for supplements the only one I take is a multivitamin now and then and whey protein. I used to take creatine but now I think it can be dangerous, I am not sure but I believe it may lower your natural production of it, much like steroids, etc. can make your body do funny things. Anyways, I also feel "bad" if I don't work out every day but in reality I do not believe you lose any muscle if you don't work out for a while, it would probably take a month or 2 or 3 to start losing real muscle if you don't work out. As for weighing in just remember that water weight is key. You will want to have water in you for the competition itself but I beleive they weigh you a while before, so you could not drink for a while (or just a little bit) to make the weight requirement. And if you don't want to take that route, do like double or triple the amount of cardio you normally do starting about 3 days before the tournament, but eat normally. Just guessing, at your weight you would probably lose 1-3 pounds. The remaining time until the tournament is not enough to make "big" gains in strength, so just lift normally until then, maybe taking the day before (or 2) off. Good luck and all the best, tom edit: as for feeling increases in just days, or weakness from not doing it, it is kind of "all in your mind". I would say it is due to tired muscles, muscle memory, etc. It's possible but I kind of doubt actual strength is going up and down in a matter of days.

As for your question on if you should use gloves when using a punching bag, I highly reccomend not using gloves, or at least only using them sometimes. You can use gloves sometimes, or a type of shoe or "kick" for when you are kicking, but I would use these only when you are really getting sore or getting blisters or torn skin on your hands and feet. The reason is simple, working on the bag with bare skin will basically "toughen" you up. Sounds stupid and simple, yes, but it works, just ask the muay thai guys, among many other martial artists. You might not think you really need to toughen up your feet (by you I don't mean just the poster of this thread but a lot of people), because in a "street fight" you will most likely be wearing shoes. However, you can still hurt your feet with shoes on. If you do a really powerful kick on a bag or something even with shoes on, if you do not have practice you may still feel pain. Train your feet and the pain will lessen. good luck and all the best, Tom

I for one, do not carry a weapon with me. Not because I don't like them or am not into them, I just do not need one where I currently live. If the time comes when I feel I needed one, depending on what I thought I may run into, I would either carry a knife, gun, or nunchaku or a combination of those. I don't think many people that frequent this board carry weapons for ego.... but if they do I agree that is a poor reason. But it is better to have it and not need it, than to not have it when you need it. And I just want to jump on the bandwagon and say if you are one of the people who think "the only weapons I need are these four guns (your arms and legs)" you are either joking yourself, or one of the greatest masters of all time, up there with Bruce Lee. Or you could just be in a very safe area. I have a huge respect for almost everybody in martial arts, but to think you can either take on armed assailants or escape from them every time is just wrong. You don't need to carry a weapon, but you should be prepared to hand over your wallet or run, if you don't carry one, in certain areas at least. Not that that is the wrong decision, because sometimes it probably is the right decision, just go get away as fast as possible. All the best, Tom

Hello, all. I was Shukokai practicioner for a while, before I got out of martial arts for a time. I will tell you what I know. Shukokai karate, as I understand and understood it, was based in Kobe Japan, and it has a following there I believe. Then, it is also big in England and Scotland, and maybe other parts of UK, not quite sure. It also has a following in South Africa, and then, in the United States, it has strong bases in Michigan and New Jersey. All the best, Tom

Most likely my older brother.... He works out like every day, and has been I think probably since about high school. Which was like 9 years ago for him roughly... He knows a lot of martial arts as well, Aikido, Karate, for sure, and I think he knows some more as well. I would definitely be the weak link in the operation though, I'm bigger than him, and maybe slightly stronger, but not as flexible and not as skilled at martial arts. all the best, Tom