Spirit At Choice

Can anyone offer any links to a good article. I found several using Google, but some contradict each other. I've never heard of Ibuki.

Our school owners walk the middle ground very well. They don't push students out, but they don't gab on about their personal lives. Training time is for training. I once got in hot water for gabbing with Sensei's mom in the dressing room and missing bow-in. Ooh, I hurt after that class! After class is often a coffee clatch atmosphere, and there are occassional Girls Nights Out, or snowboarding trips with teachers and students in the mix. I love my dojo!

If only... Every guy in my dojo is too young or married. Most of the adult students are parents of youngsters in the kids' program. It works out for me because I do go there to train, so there are no hormonal distractions. And right now we actually have a pretty high girl-boy ratio, so anyone who thinks they're going to meet Mr. Right at my dojo will surely be disappointed to discover the high estrogen levels at class.

I think my only qualm with bandanas is that they ruin the uniform, unlike a simple ponytailer or headband. There is one lady who wears a bandana at times, and she stands out as much as if she were wearing a hot pink gi. That's an observation, not a judgment. I love that gal.

I'll conceed the "his school, his rules" point, but... as a female, I can't imagine anyone mandating I cut my hair. It seems sexist to require males to have short hair. When I started karate, my hair was just barely long enough to be held back in a headband-- which fell off, and fell off, and fell off during class my first day. After that, since I was growing it, I pulled just the front hairs back in a ponytailer. It was smack on the top of my head and stuck straight up like a whale spout (my kids called it my Samurai topknot). It looked silly for several months, but now is long enough to look half-way decent. As long as you are not vain, there are lots of ways to keep hair out of your eyes while you are growing it. Those zig-zag stretchy headbands ROCK, even though they look goofy. And they are less than a dollar at your local Safeway. Talk to a girl. Bottom line, though: toe the line or find another school. I'll bet if you have a respectful discussion with your Sensei outlining how you will manage your hair, you will find a compromise. All the best!

That was pretty much what I was thinking. A lot of movies depict martial artists as nearly super-human, whereas boxing movies are a little easier to relate to. Boxers are often depicted as Jedermann and martial artists as Superman.

Hopefully you can find some help here... Your new computer did not come with an OS? Once you get that remedied you can move files and upload programs pretty simply. I'm a pretty savvy user, but without the OS I don't know how you'd do anything. Programs: As long as you have the CD, you should be able to just insert that sucker and a Wizard will guide you through Files: You need to put your files on a disk or flash drive, then you can put the flash drive or disk in the new 'puter and save them there. Though, I would actually recommend just keeping most of your files on your flash drive, period. Good luck!

I guess my thoughts on this are to look at it less as a gender issue and more as a strength and skill issue. Just use what it takes to win. If your opponent is a 5 and you're a 10, just go 6 or 7 on the guy (or gal!). You don't have to annihilate someone to win; you just have to be yea-much better. As a woman, I don't mind getting beaten by guys. (I don't spar yet, but we do grapple.) But I appreciate it if they let me work at it a bit before taking the pin.

Well, I have to admit I've revised my position on in-school dating since this thread began. In the beginning I would have posted "absolutely never," but now... I think if it stays outside the dojo... as in: no one would guess to look at them... it might work. Maybe. My teachers are a husband/wife team who met while training. He was her instructor I believe. I think you have to evaluate your maturity level, have a clear understanding with your date, and be realistic. I would discourage teens from dating in-school only because the liklihood of breaking up is 99%. It is the nature of that age to date many people and get a feel for life and socializing. The chances of ending up training with an "ex" are very high for teens. Adults... It can work. But be prepared to be very humble if it does not. Don't boo-hoo to others at the dojo. Keep it outside.

What an exciting experience. Make the most of it. I'm sure you are going to have a great time! Keep us posted.

My mom relates this story from time to time: She was 17 and her bf of the time took her shooting rifles. He showed her how to hold it, then he stood behind her really close so that is wouldn't knock her on her tushy. Well, she told him he could just move right on back and not get so familliar, mister. And though he protested it was for her own good, she felt he was speaking down to her AND trying to cop a feel. Needless to say, the bruise on her shoulder lasted nearly as long as the bruise on her butt.

Love the brown belt in the closet statement. A lot of guys tell me about their belts they've earned from other systems... but they don't like to brag so it's all kept low key and hush-hush. I made a comment to one of the men in my dojo that Guy X has a brown belt in another discipline, and he bust a gut laughing. So he says, "Yeah, and I have a Ferrari in my garage... but I don't like to take it out." I don't understand why anyone would lie about their martial arts experience. It seems so contrary to the ethics of the martial arts community as a whole.

Some quick research revealed that a Joe Theis was awarded Sandan from the AKKO headquarters. No other information on the web that I could find. Good luck! http://www.american-kyokushin.com/

My problem with push-ups: I can NOT go all the way down (except on my knees). So how do I get my body conditioned to go all the way down? I've been on a push-up program for a while now, but I don't sense that they are getting any deeper, even though I can do more half-way push-ups than when I started. Does it use a different muscle to go all the way chest-to-floor? Will doing knee-push-ups going chest-to-floor help?

A girl's perspective: I have a lot of softies in my white belt class. We use large padded targets for kicking, but I don't feel comfortable using full force on many of the younger kids (we are a 12 and up group) because many of them just REFUSE to try to take it (won't use a strong stance, are prepped to flee before I even raise my knee, complain or say "ow" if I knock them back a step or two.) We had a new guy in class, about my age (36), and we were practicing blocks. When I'd block his punch he'd rub his wrists and say things like, "Gosh, you can really feel that..." I haven't seen him since. It's hard to know whether or not to think, "Hey, I should be sensitive to these softies," or to think, "If they can't take tiny knocks, they're doomed anyway." In any event, I've learned to ASK my partner how they feel. If given the option some of the teenie-bopper girls will be firm about NOT wanting me to kick hard enough to make them step back from the impact, or NOT being willing to take a bruise in blocking exercises. And I feel very comfortable telling men to go full out, and assure them I will tap out, or verbalize if I'm being hurt excessively.

Definitely take a look at the quality of instruction as the primary factor in choosing a dojo/dojang in your area. My dojo is such a fantastic place that we have students who *commute* to attend classes. I feel very fortunate to have found this place. You might look at classes that are a little farther away, but where the quality is better than what's next door. Just as a suggestion. It's easy for me to say because I just moved and am only half a mile from my dojo.

Hi David! Welcome to the boards.

Hi Jason. I think you'll find you are in a great place for advice and feedback. My experience has been really terrific here. Welcome!

You make excellent points. You are absolutely correct in everything you've written. But... A good self-defense course does more than teach a few techniques. It also empowers a woman; it gives her permission to fight back-- effectively or not, granted. But that "false sense of security" might also be perceived as an increased sense of confidence, which in and of itself is a detterant to many attackers, who primarily seek out the easy victim. No, there is no substitute for martial arts training. And even having been at it for a whopping six months , as opposed to your six-week SD training, I know that up against a skilled fighter or determined attacker, I'm toast. No two ways about it.

Welcome! You will find this is a great place to be. I've learned loads here.

Way to go! We're so proud. *wipes tear from eye*

I read that as "governing body." I think it is the students responsibility to do the homework. If a black belt is not recognized by an existing governing body, then caveat emptor, my friend.

Welcome to the forums. Sounds like you have a full plate!

I suspect that you've come very close to the truth.

Her loss, my friend. Just remember that "you've been dumped" really means "you've been spared." (And "can't" is spellt W-O-N-T.) Blessings on you! Hold your head high; you've maintained honor when those around you did not.