Spirit At Choice

Welcome aboard!

My mistake. I think there is one of you who is beltless (karatekid?) and that made me think you all were. (How would you keep your pants up???) But, hey, check it out... I think this post makes me a yellow belt! What did Mr. Miyagi say about his belt in Karate Kid? "JC Penney. $3.95. Do you like it?" I laughed for a full five minutes when I heard that.

I fell into Cuong Nhu. I feel fortunate that it is such a good fit for me. My primary reason for choosing it was as a continuation of my self-defense skills. My suggestion to you is to go visit the dojos. Just sit in on some classes. Get a feel for the instruction and the senseis as much as for the style. Be sure you know what you're getting into. Some senseis are emotionally brutal in class, but very pleasant out side of class, so don't just go on an interview basis-- watch the classes. Get an idea for what you want. My dojo fits me to a T. They are serious about their art and about their school, but they are not drill sergeants. I've been there five months and I only ever see upper ranks get yelled at. But I figure that's part of the curriculum. If you are going to learn how to be a very dangerous person, you better be able to control your ego and emotions under stress. Best of luck to you! I am out of shape too, but enjoying getting stronger, leaner and faster. Keep us informed on your progress.

Welcome! Yes, KF belts are earned by posting. Mods don't seem to have belts... they're special. Enjoy the formus. I've learned a lot here already.

By "full gear" I do not mean the big foam body suit. I just mean standard sparring gear: hands, feet, head, mouth and groin protection. No matter what style someone studies, you will always find folks who don't pull their strikes well (or at all), which may be a skill issue or may be a character issue-- who knows. Still other dojos don't practice pulling strikes at all-- or so I've heard. As for training in another dojo, how would asking my sensei suggest not respecting other styles of Martial Arts? The concern may be the dojo, not the Art practiced. We can respect something and still choose to disagree with it, or choose not to endorse it. We might say, "I believe xyz style is dangerous," and we have made our point while maintaining respect. We didn't say, "XYZ sucks. They're morons who can't pull punches."

This is a real help wanted ad! Cracked me up. "Kickboxing Instructor, Martial Arts, Karate, Fitness Axxxxx Martial Arts in Gxxxxxxxx is seeking fun, friendly and fit individuals to join our team of instructors. Applicants must be responsible, dependable and have good people skills. Previous kickboxing or martial arts experience is a plus, as is previous teaching or personal training experience, but not required. Training will be provided"

Some days it's there, and some days the cracks on the wall are just way more interesting than what the sensei is saying. Then everyone is moving in unison except me... I'm a split second behind because I just wasn't paying attention. It's frustrating because I spend only one hour a day in the dojo. You'd think that for one hour I could laser in on karate and not think about my ex-husband, or my shopping list, or the fact that taxes are still a bit of a jumble. At first it was easy. It's odd that even though my passion for karate is as high as when I started in October, my focus is not always at that same level as when I started. I often wish the opening meditation lasted just a bit longer so I could really get in that karate-zone in my head, but often just as I'm letting go of the day's adventures, the meditaiton is over and I'm still thinking about whether or not I need to stop by the Safeway for milk on the way home. I wrote some affirmations to read through before class or whenever I have a spare moment (as if!) but I was wondering if you more experienced martial artists have any other suggestions.

In my short time on this forum I have learned much! I am overwhelmed by the support and courtesy shown by all the members here, dispite some clear contrasts in philosophy and personalities. I am intrigued by all the different styles of martial arts! I really had only a limited perspective prior to really looking at the martial arts community closely. Is there a way to search the member lists for practitioners of different styles? Or by geographic location? Also, I was not successful in searching for a particular thread that discussed belt-washing mythos. I was told that was a huge discussion recently, and it intrigues me. Can some one help me find it?

You have to consider things like test fees, association dues, etc as well. The following are all US$. I'm just starting in Cuong Nhu. The Dojo fees are: $95 per mo (discounts for paying one year in full, or for having multiple family members enrolled) The dojo is open 6 days per week and offers Aikido, Judo, Muay Thai, Open Gym and Kata-specific classes in addition to regular Cuong Nhu instruction. $15 drop-in rate $20 test fee (compare to 60$+ in area) $35 annual association dues (CNOMA) required for rank testing. $3 patch to make gi regulation for testing. My uniform was a gift from the owner; rank belts and stripes are bestowed gratis when tests are passed... [edited to correct association dues price]

PowerofOne, No offense taken. Sparring in Cuong Nhu is done with punches pulled. I know that is not the case in some other styles. I'm a newbie, so I haven't done anything more than pre-arranged sparring, but I've watched the higher ranks spar, and it's pretty controlled: full gear, pulled strikes. If "full contact" has a variety of meanings, I guess the best approach would be to just ask the sensei of the other dojo what he means, or to give the link to my senseis and let them determine whether or not it's suitable in their eyes. Being new to all this I'm not entirely sure what the point is in asking my sensei about visiting another dojo. I don't know if it is something that is just a courtesy, or if they might actually suggest I *not* go, or what. Cuong Nhu has a clear code of ethics, maybe they like to make sure the other dojo jives on a philosophical level...

When I go on vacation to my aunt's I would like to train at the nearby dojo. I wrote to the sensei and he said I am welcome to come during my vacation. Later, when I was researching his dojo more, I took note of his description of his style as "full contact." What does this mean? He advertises Japanese Shorinji Kempo, Okinawan Shorin-ryu Karate, Toraken-ryu Ju-jutsu, Japanese and Okinawan Weapons, and Unconventional Personal Combat. I have never heard my sensei use the term "full contact" about our style (Cuong Nhu), and since I will need my sensei's blessing to use this other dojo I'd like to know what I'm asking before I actually ask.

Hee hee. I went to the right instead of the left on first form. It's amazing what nerves will do to you.

I've learned to use the "bleach pen" by Clorox for spot stains from mystery goo on the dojo floor and iron mishaps. For blood (and other organic stains like sweat, grass, juice) cold water rinse to get as much as possible out, then an enzyme treatment like Shout, let sit for 15 mins, then wash in cold. I try to wash and iron my gi for every class, but it is getting to be a hardship with only one gi. After light workouts I hang it to air out and dry over night and give it a light iron. Good undergarments and a decent anti-persperant/deoderant are musts too. Staying hydrated will help keep sweat dilluted as well if you find washing the gi after each class impossible. My sensei suggested that a small amount of bleach is necessary to kill microorganisms that cause odor even in a freshly washed gi. I notice my pre-teen's clothes still smell kind of funky even when I've just washed them, so I believe her. I found out I can starch my gi on my own by running it in a mini-load with a small bottle of starch dumped in. It looked really nice when I pressed it.

I think instructors have an obligation not to take advantage (in any way, shape or form-- including different treatment of any kind like extra-hard grappling) of student crushes. This applies in any unequal relationship, not just MA classes. Teachers, therapists, (some) bosses, etc., all have a peculiar draw because they are in a position of knowing more, and of being nurturers to those under them. Absolutely you should NOT engage the boy in any conversation about his crush. If he were to bring it up you give the "I'm flattered, but..." speech. I've been on the giving and receiving end of this speech, and it is really effective. It goes something like this: "I'm flattered, but... I am engaged and very much in love, furthermore I do not date my students, as policy. You are a wonderful young man with great potential. Any gal would be lucky to have you in her life. I like you way too much to do anything that might risk our relationship here in the dojo. I really believe in you, and I know you have what it takes to go as far as you want in MA. I'm really glad you trust me enough to be this honest with me; it really warms me. You have a tremendous strenght of character that makes you a real asset to this dojo. I hope to see you here for a long time to come." Basically, you tell him you aren't interested because of reasons that have nothing to do with who he is as a person, then you tell him what a great guy he is. But only if he comes to you. You don't go to him. He must travel his own path, and maybe what he needs is to work this through on his own. FURTHERMORE: you better nip the gossiping in the bud!!! You need to let those other students know that it is not acceptable. There is no honor in it at all. None. There is only torment and pain, as you have discovered. Next time someone gossips to you you need to say, "That is not your information to share," or something similar.

1) I'll search for other threads on belt-washing since it seems to have already been discussed. 2) I will definitely invest in another gi or two. It gets too hard to maintain just one when I train 3 - 5 times per week. 3) Interestingly enough, the subject of bleaching gis came up in an oblique way today after class. According to my sensei we should add at least enough bleach to kill any microorganisms. It's a body odor issue that seems to have come up in one of the classes. The recomendation was 1/4 Cup bleach each wash. Thanks for all the input, especially about good gis. Being a newbie is hard, and being able to rely on more experienced martial artists really helps pave the way.

I sort of fell into it. I took a self-defense class at the local dojo. The sensei there really pressured me to try the Muay Thai or Cuong Nhu. They gave me a 2 mos free and a gi so I would be able to sample it. I am now crazy about Cuong Nhu. I absolutely love it.

b3n, I do understand the idea behind not washing the obi. It was prior to the implementation of the colored belt system that by merely wearing the belt it was turned from white to black by the sweat and dust of the training. The darker the belt, the more training one had done. The only reason not to wash the belt is to honor the old tradition. As it stands today, no white belt will ever go to black, because we are graduated to a colored rank periodically. Even in Cuong Nhu where students stay at the white belt level for 9 month to a year, there is only enough wear on the belt to make it look dingy.

The best responses to ridiculous and provocative words are silence and non-answer answers like, "Hmm," "Oh," and "That's interesting." If you feel like "them's fighting words," it's time to take an honest look at how much you are ruled by your ego. We should be masters of our egos, not our egos masters of us.

Stretching as a means of increasing flexibility is different from stretching to decrease injury. Stretching should be done both before and after working out. The dynamic stretching described above is an excellent routine for pre-work out. Holding stretches for 10 seconds will help decrease work out injuries. However, to increase flexibility: stretch when you are really warm, like right after your workout. And hold stretches for at least a minute. A full 60 seconds. I notice that I can *almost* do the splits when stretching before class, but I need my hands to keep me from sinking too far into it. But, AFTER class, I can just drop into the splits-- look Ma, no hands!

Slightly off topic, but relevent nonetheless: A teacher of mine once observed to me, "You will know you are enlightened when your family thinks you are." Enlightenment is one of those things you find when you stop looking for it. If your goal is enlightenment, it is bound to elude you. The idea of non-attachment is one that is easy to entrap you in a circular pattern of thinking, because yes you can get attached to non-attachment. Times to pull back and observe yourself are pretty much any time you have an emotion. All emotions are symptoms of attachment. (Fear is an attachment to health and life, love and hate are attachment to people, etc.) Absolute detachment would mean not caring if you live, die, or ail and not caring if others live, die or ail. The balance lies in accepting your ego as an inherent part of yourself. Love you ego! It keeps you alive. It allows you to connect to other people. But control your ego-- or at the very least admit when you let it rule you. To go down this path successfully I think there has to be an embracing of a Higher Power. (I call my Higher Power "God," but that is my truth not the Ultimate Truth.) By accepting that there is a God (or whatever you call your Higher Power), I can live less from Ego and more from Spirit. Meaning, I believe God meant for me to have an attachment to my children. I embrace that attachment as healthy and good. I am attached to doing my utmost to assure their well being. I feed, clothe, bathe, protect, hug, compliment, praise, admonish, guide and love, love, love them. But I release attachment to their superficial happinesses (e.g. I would not facilitate them switching teachers just because they got a cranky old geiser-- they must stay and learn how to deal with cranky old geisers!) This is a big subject, and one I have given much thought to. I am really enjoying this thread.

I learned (too late) that we are not supposed to wash our obis. I guess I am wondering if this is still a reasonable tradition since the implementation of a colored belt system. I understand the symbolism of not washing the belt, but it just looks nasty to have a dingy belt wrapped around a spanking white gi. Also wondering how others maintain their uniforms. I only own the gi my sensei gifted me when I joined in October. I expect it will last quite a while even though I tend to bleach it often (once a week). But, I am taking my first rank test tonight and will now have to affix an association patch in order to have a regulation gi. Bleaching will no longer be an option or the patch will be ruined. Since I wash it several times per week, I notice it is getting really soft and doesn't "swish" as nicely as it used to. Is it ok to starch it to give it a little pep and snap? Do most people own more than one gi? If so what is a good brand for a student (economy) gi? Thanks, Spirit

I mentioned to someone that I do MA and got the, "Can you beat *me* up," response. Well, I guess I failed to mention that I'm a relative beginner, so I said, "Only if you hold as still as a Wavemaster; if so then FEAR ME!"

It seems to me that many people who know tessenjutsu do not advertise classes. If you are interested in learning tessenjutsu with your fighting fan, you might just like to call around some dojos and see whom you can find. It might help to call or email major martial arts associations (especially Japanese styles) and see if they can help you find an instructor. This is something that intrigues me that I would love to investigate further. Spirit