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Martial Arts is a way of conditioning your body to be able to fight. While a high roundhouse kick is likely a bad choice in a real fight, by practicing your roundhouse kick you work on flexibility, and the ability to do the kick. A roundhouse in a real fight would best be done to the side of the legs, or in that area. A high kick could lead to loss of balance or opening up your guard which your opponent could take advantage of. When practicing forms (katas) chances are you won't get attacked the way they are set up. But the purpose of the form is to show you how moves can flow together, and how they can be used with each other. So I would say yes, Martial Arts does help. While chances are you won't be landing that axe kick to a collarbone, it can be adapted to the fight at hand.

Today was a good day, one more and we learn the last moves of the creative form. I'm being rushed as I have drivers ed 20 minutes after the test is aimed to end. Aimed being the keyword. So during grappling, I rush to get things started, but I by no means rush the actual match. I get caught in the teeth by a fellow students head. It was quite shocking, and it feels loose. It didn't bleed a lot at all, so gum damage wasn't very evident if there was any, and although it feels loose when I prod it gently with my finger and tongue it doesn't seem to move at at. Assuming it's loose, my instructor said it should seize up and get back to normal I made the assumption that it will do so if I don't do something stupid such as eat a good steak or hit it again. So assuming the worse and it is loose, what precautions should I take? Should it be fine tomorrow or in a day or two? This isn't a dental forum but I figure somebody here may have a suggestion. Otherwise, so far things are going very well.

Thanks guys, by day 4 I'm feeling a bit sore but have managed thus far. Yes, our test takes 21 days to complete for red to black belt. The reason is that it's developing our bodies and conditioning them. Our instructor is hoping we take this test to heart, and continue to work hard and challenge ourselves afterwards, whether its simply running or doing form. For instance, the first day we did a series of exercises, ab work and upper body. We will continue to do upper body and abs until the last day. Some days we'll do the work differently, but the same work is getting done to the body. He's got the test split up into Flexibility, Strength and Conditioning, Technique, Contact, Form (Katas), Accuracy, Speed, Grappling/Self-Defense, and Concentration. We have different exercises in each category everyday, but it gets done. Not to mention we have to learn his creative form he created in the nineties. This form takes more energy and focus for me than any other form. I might be able to get some video up when we've learned the last bits. The last day is like the tests I read about here. We take 2-3 hours to do the 'normal' stuff, but at the last hour he breaks out the video camcorder, and on this day parents and relatives are allowed to come and watch. We do our forms for the camera, have wooden sticks broken over our bodies to symbolize our conditioning, and we do some breaks on the patio blocks. We don't touch much on sparring during the test as that is something we do in class a lot. Overall, this is day 4 of 21. I'm feeling sore, yet pretty good right now. I'm having a steady intake of protein and whatnot to try to build my body up a little bit around the muscle area in place of the waistline.

Today was my first day of testing for my black belt. At 16 years of age and being the first martial artist I can remember in my family I consider it quite an accomplishment. We worked on speed drills, accuracy, reviewed form, learned the first 5 moves of a creative form our instructor created years ago, and reviewed some grappling/self-defense exercises I've since forgotten. All in all I have a new uniform waiting upstairs in its package. Its a uniform that our black belts wear, and I hope by August I can go to class wearing that uniform and my new belt. I'm 5'7" and 180 lbs roughly, so I have some extra baggage. But I'm taking this as a great opportunity to fix that. I'm glad I got to start testing before I graduate high school, now I just need to pass.

Is it so wrong to want to give her credentials of some sort and motivating her / rewarding her for her hard work? I don't know what your rank is, but imagine someone just stripped you of your rank. Should that mean anything to you if the sole goal of your training was simply gaining useful knowledge and experience? How about if someone took away your high school diploma or college degree? Why do we compete or grade students on anything but a pass/fail scale or put little gold stars on elementary school students' tests? While it is true, a lot of people get too caught up in rank. The study of martial arts is supposed to be founded in honor and respect, I understand that. But to deny that it's human nature to want to be rewarded for our work is idealistic. I think it's a way of recognizing your accomplishments. While people do tend to get caught up in the idea of a prize, if the training truly is going well I don't see a problem with her being awarded a rank. Its the young inexperienced people that think rank means a level of skill which although is generally true cannot be assumed for all people.

I also live in New York and am testing for black in Tae-Kwon-Do in a couple weeks. Best of luck to you and maybe we can spar one day.

Time and date and I'll contribute.

Hmmm... Video games. What an odd combination? I don't really do much else really. I have a decent coin collection but nothing like those hardcore collectors.

Another iFroggy anniversary flying by. These come way too quickly. All I have to say is that this is a great community, and I hope to increase my activity here as the martial arts has recently become a much bigger part of my life.

Wow, your tests seem short compared to ours. Then again your schools may focus on harder sparring and the like. I'll be testing for my black belt in Tae-Kwon-Do this July. The test is 21 days long, about 2 hours a day. Throughout the 21 days we will be doing technique to heavy bags quickly, and and with a lot of focus. We do all our forms including a creative form our instructor made up years ago, and we practice different grappling techniques. We also build up physical strength, and everyday we do various exercises ranging from simply hanging to a steel bar, or push-ups at odd angles. The last day we are required to do some breaks on patio blocks, perform our form, and have wooden sticks broken over a few muscle areas on our body. When I was testing for my red belt I joined for the last 13 days of the 21 days when the last group of black belts came through, and students going from green to blue jump in the last 5 days. After all that, I guess you could say the actual test is the last day which lasts about 3 hours when we actually have to perform our forms and actually do the breaks. The previous 20 days are more of a build up and an attempt to perfect technique. However in our school we consider the entire 21 days a test, because if you drop out and can't take the heat you've failed. So it really depends on how you want to look at our way of testing. You could consider the entire 21 days a test, or you could say the last day for 3 hours is the test. Personally? The 21 days can get excruciating, especially in the last few days. So I consider the entire thing the actual test.

Thank you all, and thanks to everyone who gave their support in this thread. This has certainly been a great experience.

Definitely. Class yesterday with my new belt was awesome, we already started working on form. I've got about 6 moves down pat and hope to learn more. Getting my red belt has renewed my love for TKD, it makes me want to go everyday now. Having my blue belt for three years put me on the same thing everyday, and learning new things add some excitement. Not to get ahead of myself but one of the black belts said I may be testing for my Junior Black in a year if I work hard enough. I think I'll concentrate on getting red belt things in my mind first. As much as I'd like to start working towards my Junior Black, I don't think I'm quite ready for it. I'm very happy, I'm able to assist in Little Ninjas a bit more than I did. Although one day doesn't constitute being active in leadership. It's been fun, and I can't wait to go to class every Monday and Wednesday. I've been thinking of going everyday.

Well everyone, I have some news... I passed. We had a brunch banquet where I received my red belt, and three others received there black belts. It was great, and the food was awesome. I can't wait to learn red belt form.

The only thing I have against the Wii is its name. "I'm bored." "Want to go play on my Wii?" Not a conversation I'd feel comfortable with. They really could have reconsidered some names, but who knows? Maybe it will work out.

Good luck!

Yes! Last day was a success I'd say. We did form one at a time, them got 5 foot long sticks broken over us, then breaking with patio blocks. I didn't have to do the jump turning axe yet, but the descending elbow was a success. It's finally over, and it's quite a relief. I hope that I can be a good red belt.

That is one to share with our school. We were cracking Chuck Norris jokes while we were testing.

Very good deal.

4 more days. And may I say my 20 pound overweight figure has been looking better lately.

The blue belt blues? I am actually getting over that. A few months ago I struggled getting to the dojo. But now that I am testing for red, I feel much more enthusiastic about going.

Day three, and it's only getting tougher. However I've greatly improved on my take downs and the fear of being taken down.

Excellent post. This has helped some with my fear of hip throws. Can't stand them. They scare the daylights out of me. Luckily we only do two or three. I can see why you refused to spar. We were doing bag kicks one day, and I went with one of the black belts. We were doing hook kicks and I did something wrong because the next thing I know I as on the ground gasping for air. I wouldn't be laughing then but nowadays we all joke about it. It's nice to see a leader came out of yourself.

Day one was certainly tough. I'm not used to that kind of workout. But hey, they keep telling me day five will be better. My good areas were form, contact, and speed. My tough areas were self defense. We did scissor takedowns and hip throws. I have to get over the initial impact as I've only done these before once. Day two starts in less than two hours. I'll need to poor it all out again after seeing myself walk this morning.

It's mainly physical stuff form what I've heard. Here's the best I can compile: Breathing Form Push ups Sit ups Hanging Pull ups Breaking (;. Self defense (yay....) Sparring Everything to test me physically and some form and technique. I start in 3 hours and thirty minutes. Day 1, out of 13.

Well, I'm not too worried about the hanging anymore, yesterday I tried it off the record and got 30 seconds without trying. I'm sure I would be able to hang for 2 minutes, however I am still waiting for my little fear of pull ups.