Orion

As its children in need on friday our company has done a few things to raise money, not all will apply. 1. Do a raffle, try and get some prizes (I spoke to our company suppliers and got MP3 player, DVD player and some fleeces. Have a word with the suppliers of your equipment and see if you can get anything. 2. Shave or wax something, always a winner and theres nothing better than seeing a grown man cry, imagine what it would be like if it was a black belt!!!! 3. We had a baby photo thing, again you'll need a prize. But get baby photos from people and charge people to enter and guess who's who. (This is the one that might not apply)

Hi All I thought i'd just create one post with 2 questions, saves everyone looking at two different posts. Firstly, after sparring I have found out that my roundhouse kicks are just short of normal peoples heads by about 4 inches, in sparring a controlled kick to the head is three points, at 6'7" I should be able to kick to peoples head's with no problems. My legs are quite muscly(sp?) which restricts my reach, what stretches would be best for allowing my Mawashageri (roundhouse kicks) to get those few extra inches. I managed it on a slightly smaller person and it gave me a confidence boost so even if I didn't score the points from it, knowing I could do it would help. Wow after all that babble i'll try and make this one a short question! I went to the gym on sunday, i'd had a very restful weekend, and had been eating correctly, I sat on the rowing machine for my 5 minute warm up and after 30 seconds I could feel the pain in my muscles, it was sort of a achy pain you get after doing a bench press super set. Thanks in advance Russell

Holy Cow!! Tell me you are not serious! I may be exagerrating slightly.... http://www.claxtonfruitcake.com/ With respect, Sohan Wow I want some, stupid thing living in the UK.

Cheers guys loads of different views, I will however make sure that my techniques are more controlled when I do them.

Jeet, I had the same problem I was always really skinny as a kid and always wanted to get bigger. Now im 23 and finally the weight is starting to go on but I have to eat the right food. Also I now have the problem that I contantly want to be bigger, just remember one day you'll fill out just make sure its muscle.

Sorry to join the band wagon, but our black belts don't slack off and do everything with the rest of us. They get less room for mistakes as they are expected to know everything. Like everyone else has said they also join in teaching the classes although are not expected to, at our dojo.

Well after about 2 weeks since I did my last sparring session we did it again. I absolutely love it, although I do have a slight problem, as i'm so big people don't want to spar with me and they hold back. When I go against the 2 senior black belts in the group I get a proper sparring session even though I know they will beat me they are also teaching me things, like the best places to attack and guard etc. However our class is small about 8-9 of us, and when we swap round I can feel people backing off and leaving themselves open. Since im the lowest grade I cant tell them to block higher and I try and encourage them but it doesn't seem to work, does any one have any hints? I also find it difficult to spar against the ladies in the class. This isn't a women aren't as strong debate its just I have been brought up to never hit a woman so been taught that for 23 years and then suddenly been told to kick them is hard to deal with, even harder when your girlfriend is in the same class. I got a cheeky backfist in and caught her in the face and felt really bad. Sorry about babbling on, I was just hoping for some input from you guys and gals. Regards

Hi Black Crane and welcome. The only thing i can really suggest it weights. Its not the only way but probably the best. I'm not quite sure how to harden your upper body! Probably take some hits, to get your body used to it.

Thanks and why is it only a tip for women men can have pedicure's as well.

I tried counting calories before i went to the gym, wanted to look good for my holiday. It got so boring and time consuming that i got fed up. It just takes the will power not to eat that chocolate bar and eat the small meals. I'm starting to slip again and have had some personal problems that means i have not been to the gym in a week.

Thanks for all the tips, it wasn't so much the stepping, but more on the kicks and twisting the supporting foot to get the extra distance and make the technique move powerful etc. Its now 3 days after and my feet aren't hurting now and my hips are allowing me to walk again. The missus who did it as well loved it and she has some really impressive bruises. I'm quite lucky and don't bruise

Thanks Bushido, I just wish i'd known that before, I did quite well at defence but he came in will some impressive kicks. Held my own against a brown belt. Hi havoc It does come in time, quite worrying when you first do it. I thought I was quite good against the brown but when I got slaughtered by the black belt I knew I had miles to go. Regards

I heard from a reliable source (Sohan) that for best results you shouldn't mix your protein and creatine. However i take my creatine with a bit of orange juice and that masks the taste.

I found it was lack of water consumption, I have to have alot to stop myself from cramping up, also have to keep warm as well. Can't say i've had any problems with creatine but then again i've only been taking it for a short time.

I would like to agree but it cost me about £30 a month and even my missus has said that she's noticed a difference. So to me its worth it. Although you are training for totally different thing to me and good luck as well.

I had my first ever attempt at sparring on sunday, it was excellent fun and i learn't quite a bit, especially don't leave your rib cage open when your sparring against a black belt. However I am now feeling the pain, not from been punched and kicked but sparring bear foot on a horrible floor and have bad blisters and friction burn. Is there anything I can do to toughen my feet up?

Hi Pat Thanks for that

Thanks for the replies. I didn't know to take it after cardio or MA i thought I had to take it before. Thanks i'll have to change when i take it.

I have read the instructions on the box and it says take 30minutes before training or at the same time everyday when your not training. I train at lots of different times. So when should I take it when im not training. I swim 8pm on monday Gym 7pm on tuesday and thursday wednesday 8:30pm karate friday and sunday off saturday could be anytime for training at the gym. I know its not a life and death thing but i want to make the most of everything. Thanks in advance Russell

Well said, I hate it when someones coughing and sneezing and then wants to throw a technique at you. I also agree about the work thing aswell lots of people come into work still ill because for the first year you don't get paid sick leave. Which unfortunately makes everyone ill.

Hi Pat If you could use my hotmail one russell_ping@hotmail.com that would be great. Zapatista I live in the UK and can't use the phone method yet.

I get up at 5am so i leave my workouts till evening.

Well I have a dab lizard which is slightly exotic but not dangerous, although he does have an attitude problem and I have to cats. I have no problem with people having exotic animals one of the guys at work has about 30 snakes but they are all looked after properly. Talking of animal cruelty some ***** shot my cat with a pellet gun. I think the same laws should apply if you harm an animal as a human.

Bit of a follow up for you all. I took your advice and just got on with my lesson last night (didn't go last week as I was ill). To cut a long and not very interesting story short. My sensei didn't just allow me to learn the next kata but since i had already learn't it he asked if I wanted to join the 'big boys' and learn bassi dai(sp?) which is our brown belt kata. So all in all I was just a little impatient.

Is there anything you don't know Sohan, you could have a "Ask Sohan" section on the forum where we can just ask you questions, cause your full of great information.