innocui

It happens all the time at my tournaments. Recently a win was awarded when the two black belts had two points each- that means extra time. The ref tried to justify himself by saying that the girl who lost was overly aggressive. But, he only ever gave her one warning, and it wasn't recorded on the score sheets, so it doesn't count towards the final scores

As long as you don't get down and dirty in the middle of the class, there shouldn't be a problem...One of my instructors is married to a black belt he met in class. He treats her like the rest of us

i have never encountered racism. Wasn't Bruce Lee boycotted by chinese masters when he started teaching non-chinese n the U.S.

In britain, no martial arts or combat sports are allowed in schools- nothing. They're scared all us kids will attack the teachers

escrima, bo and kama

i really like bo, but i don't know of anywhere that teaches it. What styles use bo?

Very true, at the last tournament i went to, a kid in the black belt division had one arm and came 2nd

Everyone has the potentail to become a great blackbelt, its whether they want it that matter

I'm a tradionalist, but i belive tournaments can show you the level you are at within your own grade...you may by the best brown belt in your class, but regionally, or nationally, you may only be mediocre

We also had a problem with bullying in the dojo, we sorted it now, but it was messy...anyone got any ideas, for future reference

We also had a problem with bullying in the dojo, we sorted it now, but it was messy...anyone got any ideas, for future reference

I had a problem with a kid bullying a friends brother. We were year 8, he was year 6, we confronted him (non-violently) he tried to justify himself by saying he was the hardest in year 6(???). Bout a month later he turned up at my karate class. In my style, you can't spar until your're a yellow belt, which takes about 4 or 5 months. He stuck at it, got his yellow belt, some mits and pads, and my instructor put him with me to see how he was doing (i was a 5th kyu). He came in hard on me, so i went out hard on him...never came back. The propa solid charv got beaten by an uber-smart skater. Now he just gives me glances of doom.

snap your opposite hip into it, shape your foot correctly and go for the knees(only if your have to...seriously, the damge it causes isn't funny, even if they hit you first) or the ribs

I train in Go-Kan-Ryu. My two favourite katas are probably Seiunchin and Empi

Its not a kiai if it comes from the throat, it should just be a noise, which totally empties your body of air. An good indication of a kiai from the throat is a pronounced constanant sound, or a change in sound (e.g. TTTTIIIIYYYAAAH, or HHHHIIIIIYYYYAAA!) Two favourites from my class. Also, do the new starters/low grades/kids at your class shout KIAI. I mean, imagine defending yourself against some yob screaming at the top of your voice "SHOUT OF SPIRIT"