lordtariel

Welcome to the forums.

What I've heard is that the lack will build up testosterone and aggression. I seem to recall seeing a show that talked about this and they said they couldn't prove or disprove it. Personally, I don't think it would make enough of a difference to worry about it.

Believe it or not, even someone with limited flexibility can get their kicks up there if they engage their hips correctly. It takes time and practice, that all.

I missed the brandishing the weapon portion of the starting post. I was going on just some woman coming up and starting hit me. Yeah, that's another story.

Woo! Got my requirements out of the way. I'll be able to test this month.

Get a full side of beef or a pork(like on Rocky). Kinda nasty, but you'll get a similar experience.

I'm amazed nobody in the class is laughing at him when he does this. Honestly, that's pretty tacky.

I read an article in black belt magazine that said it takes 1.5 seconds to raise a drawn gun to a center line and shoot. As ps1 said, it would probably take longer if the gun was holstered. If they go for a gun you have to take one of two options: attack or run away. I'd opt for the second if I had any choice whatsoever. Odds are the random punk on the street with a gun isn't going to be a marksman and will have a harder time shooting a target that is moving away than one that is close to him. Your best bet, try to avoid being in situations where you get confrontational enough to worry about a fight.

How can you throw a ball as hard as you can and have it come back to you, even if it doesn't hit anything, there is nothing attached to it, and no one else catches or throws it?

I agree more with this definition. I would define Self-protection is more situational awareness and conflict avoidance.

Sometimes we all get in a circle facing in and put our hands behind our heads. The first person round kicks the person to the left of them in the stomach just hard enough that they have to resist it. Then that person round kicks the next person. You're supposed to go as soon as you get kicked. About half way around the first person kicks again so you have two kicks going around the circle You don't want the second to catch up with the first. Then you do the other direction with the other foot. So you want to be careful. You hit too hard the first time and the other person will get their round with you. The purpose of this is more to get people used to taking hits than it is about technique.

So I borrowed Gymkata and am going to watch it. Sounds just like this. Racing, obstacle courses and pesky ninjas.

Sure you're weird... everybody's weird, so I suppose that makes you normal. As for the kicks, it sounds like it's easier to do them because you're getting more momentum behind them. That's fine, but it's also important to be able to do the more basic, static kicks. Just practice, practice, practice. The more you do them, the better you'll get. Start low, then work your strength and flexibility after you have technique down. I had to practice hook kicks to the hip for months before I could start to bring it up.

I agree that you should not act intimidated, but at the same time don't act like you're going to take them all on. Don't forget that in a jam there are weapons all around you if you know how to use them. A handful of dirt and gravel to the eyes, a piece of pipe on the ground, if you look you can find lots of options. Or take something with you... a roll of coins, a belt, something that you can learn to use but won't get you in trouble for having. Get to thoroughly know the route you walk. Are there places that are more defensible than others where they can only come at you a few at a time? Are there cuts and dodges you can take to loose them? Like people say, the odds of 15 to 1 are slim to none. Your best bet is to fight to get away.

I'd tell him you're here to train and when you train you make contact. If he's concerned then maybe he should find another opponent. If that doesn't work you should probably talk to your sensei about it.

Hey, you probably wouldn't be normal if you didn't have some nerves going into your first tournament. I still sometimes get a twinge or two when I'm performing at a demo or doing a tournament.

I got started when I hit community college. I grew up in a podunk community where the only MA training was a dojo that wanted to charge $52 per week for two classes a week training. When I got to community college I was finally able to afford going to MA classes. The only one that was offered was judo, and I wasn't too keen on it, but I knew I needed to know some grappling for self-defense. Figured I'd get it out of the way early. To my surprise, I found I actually liked it. Stuck with it for two years before I had to move for college.

This is a good point. I'm going to have someone go at me with a skateboard and some other improvised weapons and see if I can figure out what to do. But that being said, self-defense isn't the only reason people learn martial arts. Some people are interested in the historical aspect. Some just like the exercise. They shouldn't think that they know how to defend against modern weapons, but some of it crosses over. A knife's a knife and a stick's a stick.

I've had to miss the last two belt tests because I got sick and couldn't fill the requirements(I'm one of those people who won't come within 100 yards of the dojo when I'm sick) I've been sick three times in the last three months. I've been keeping up with practice from home but my endurance has slid downhill a bit. This time I'm going to do it though!

Nervous before, not during. I've learned to shut down my mind when I'm actually testing. All that testing is is a slightly more intense practice session. Relax and you should do fine. Good Luck.

You hit the nail on the head with that. Another option is to take up a musical instrument. You can learn alot about rythym and tempo from music.

Politics... the world would be better without it.

I've seen people mess up a kata and still take first place because they made it look like they knew what they were doing.

I'd second that. Go see the doc. It might be nothing, but better safe than sorry.

Are you talking about the pain from the bruises or the time it takes for the discoloration to go away?