tessone

Some Christians do (Catholics, Lutherans in church), but others don't (Russian Orthodox, for example). Most Muslims do, if I recall correctly. I'm not sure about other religions.

Congrats to your mum!

As far as I can tell, Japan is the single brightest spot. Of course, that doesn't necessarily correlate to power usage.

Even though Carlin didn't write this, it's so true. Voters are supposed to be weighing the pros and cons of each candidate's platform and deciding what you think is best for the nation when voting for president. If you can't figure out how to vote, I'd venture to say you shouldn't be voting. At least ask or something.

In KSW, we're taught to execute front kicks with the ball of the foot, too. I'd think kicking with the top of the foot would hurt rather a lot. And doing a front kick with your heel...you'd have to have a lot of flexibility or risk losing your balance...

Welcome to the forums, Eye of the Tiger. You'll find there are lots of experienced people around the forums--even those who know a lot can learn something.

I missed this first time around. Thanks for the link, KickChick!

In your school, what happens after a junior black belt reaches 16? Do they receive an adult black belt then? That's what happens in our schools. Junior black belts become regular black belts when the master feels they're ready to join the adult class.

Hi flash. There's a thread about karategis in the Karate forum at http://www.karateforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=2732&forum=13&12

Welcome to the boards!

One of my favorite Zen koans: One day Tokusan told his student Gantô, “I have two monks who have been here for many years. Go and examine them.” Gantô picked up an ax and went to the hut where the two monks were meditating. He raised the ax, saying, “If you say a word, I will cut off your heads; and if you do not say a word, I will also cut off your heads.” Both monks continued their meditation as if he had not spoken. Gantô dropped the ax and said, “You are true Zen students.” He returned to Tokusan and related the incident well,” Tokusan agreed, “but tell me, how is their side?” “Tôzan may admit them,” replied Gantô, “but they should not be admitted under Tokusan.”

I think someone showed me this a few months ago, but I'd forgotten all about it. Thanks for the post, KickChick! Looking at all the lights in Russia really makes me miss it. I lived there for three and a half months last year, and I think I can spot Krasnodar, where I lived...

Look at it this way, ad. If you say "He hit me. I didn't think about what I was doing and just hit back. What I did was wrong, etc., I'm sorry I did it, etc." and are respectful with the headmaster, he'll believe you. Why lie about the provocation if you admit you were wrong and that you did what you did? However, if you say he provoked you and make up some story to cover the truth, it'll look like you're lying about all of it. The truth will set you free--trust me. By the way, did you know that your username, "ad", means "Hades" in Russian?

I teach as well (Russian) and would never use this method in that context. However, I think it works very well in the context of martial arts. Different strokes, y'know?

I like the back-turning side kick a lot.

You can buy it at http://www.kuksoolwon.com/ under Gaya won. You can also probably get it at tournaments and stuff.

I think what stonecrusher was saying is that America (and Western countries in general) has not produced a truly pure American martial art. Everything we have in the non-Eastern world is a synthesis of several Eastern arts or modified versions of Eastern systems. I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing, though.

I'd pick Wing Chun, just for a real change of pace.

In a dobok, the top is open, v-necked and is a pull over. the lapels of a karategi are either tied or rely on the belt to be held together, so basically they have a collar that extends all the way to the skirt of the jacket. The pants are the same. Weird. We call our uniforms Doh Bohks, but they're as you describe karategis.

If you try learning from a video, there's so much you're going to miss. You won't have anyone there to suggest improvements to the things you're doing, and you won't have anyone to practice techniques on, etc. Unless you're really dead-set on kung fu, I'd suggesting finding an art with a studio nearby.

I'm curious about the difference between the two as well. I will say that I really felt the difference between training in t-shirt and shorts and training in my KSW uniform when it came in. I can only imagine what the workout must be like if gis tend to be heavier...

Reading up on the art (on the Web or elsewhere) is also a good idea. You might go to one class and be impressed with something, only to find out that the art is limited in some other way.

Yes, it is.

I think martial arts are fairly closely tied in with Eastern philosophy and history in that part of the world. So it doesn't surprise me that there is no truly American martial art (just as there is no German or Russian or French martial art). We have baseball, they have martial arts--it's just a cultural thing.

My only complaint with Kuk Sool so far is that it's too addictive.