bushido_man96

That's a nice explanation, Justice. Good advise.

Weight lifting can help with conditioning the body, as well. Building muscle creates a good protective barrier around the body.

First off, I think you could continue with Aikido. What is important is that you work with your instructor on cases like you've mentioned, so you can get used to knowing when you should tap, since in your special situation you can't really rely on pain as feedback. You will have to be more self-conscious about your body.

Hello, chrissyp. We don't normally advertise tournaments, but if you do some checking on-line, you may be able to find some you can attend. What organization are you looking to compete in?

Sparring comfort comes with time and training. Take the opportunity to spar with the higher ranks whenever you can. You'll learn lots there.

We've got some recorded. I'll see if I can get some uploaded to share. Thanks for all the kind words, everyone. We're on a short break now, and probably won't do another meet until February. And I think next year we'll try to take him to some of the bigger tournaments, so he can get some experience with the kids who tend to qualify for state meets. He's also expressed interest in the free-style season coming up after folk style.

"Success is where preparation meets opportunity." "Battle does not favor the righteous or the just. It favors the prepared."

I've had the exact feelings you have listed here, and even the dreams where I couldn't hurt anyone. Those are so frustrating. I just try to use those times to motivate myself through, and every time there is something physical at work, I learn a bit more. I'm still far from getting past those feelings, though.

I knew that early on, Godan was the top rank in Japan. I think as time went on and there were more and more 5th degrees popping up, they saw a "need" to move to higher ranks. Probably for organizational control purposes more than anything.

I think this post just operates on the same flawed logic that Shizentai corrected me on: why not just have 500 ranks? Why not just two? Because length-to-rank-x is the problem, it can't be the solution. Again, thank you all for your excellent input and discussion. I don't think having 500 ranks fixes anything. What and how would you evaluate the difference between a 500th kyu and a 499th kyu? Award a rank after learning to bow? That doesn't fix anything in regards to the rank system. Learn a front kick, and earn a new rank? Why? What makes Martial Arts with rank systems different from those without, in my opinion, is the ability to judge the person achieving their rank in regards to their own past performances, seeing how they have improved within the system, and how they can transmit the system. The rank systems breaks the curriculum down into workable segments, learning blocks, if you will, that each student learns and tests on. Its achieving goals (ranks) through objectives (curriculum). Styles like Wrestling and Boxing don't have rank systems, because they are competition based, and the good ones that succeed in competition go on to do more competition, at higher levels. Other Martial Arts focus more on the development of the person through the system, thus preparing the person to pass on the system. Competition may or may not be a component part of the system, but the important thing is perpetuating the system through those who learn it. Therefore, in my opinion, its important to pay close attention to the ranks the students are learning, and to make sure they are displaying the skills and knowledge appropriate to those ranks, so the system doesn't get filtered into meaninglessness.

The only time you really have to fight is when you are cornered and have not other choice but to fight or suffer sever injury or death. Flight isn't always a bad thing.

I think this is the way to go. Look into what it takes to start your own association, if that's what you want to do. The problem is, if you are the head guy and high rank, you will have to find some way to get yourself ranked if you want to continue ranking up others. Or, you can just top things out at 3rd dan, if you like.

On the weekend of 1/12 and 1/13/2013, we did a double-header. We did an open tournament on Saturday, and it went well. He wrestled 3 matches. The first match, he won by technical fall, against a kid he hadn't competed against yet. Next match was against the same kid from that he had been slammed by previously, and he beat him again, but points. Third match was against the kid in our club, and was a win by points. On Sunday, we competed in the Novice tournament, and he won that one, as well. His first match was against a kid he wrestled in his first tournament, and that kid had improved quite a bit. He was able to be him by tech fall, and then he wrestled the same kid from his club again, winning by points, but it was pretty close. A good weekend, and he is just getting better every week. The coaches have also now pulled him into the advanced group, so his hard work is really paying off! So proud of him.

Any activity is going to be good for you to start with. As you go along, you may want to supplement other activities, like sensei8 mentioned. Time and dedication will help you the most.

Thanks, Harkon!

Welcome to KF!

Welcome to the Forums, Katileena!

Welcome aboard!

Instead of picking out a particular style, I'd recommend checking out the area schools, watch classes, and talk to instructors about you wants and needs, and see which fits the bill for you. Every instructor has a different method, and one may have what you're looking for.

Look at using angles to attack. Counters on kicks and strikes, along with footwork, can help you get inside and attack. Once you are inside, you've got to stay there and work them over. Make them run for cover. Those are the things I would focus on. Doing some agility work aside from class training, along with explosive work, will help.

I think that with your past training experience in Muay Thai and Boxing, then you should be able to learn Karate, and after a time, start tailoring things to train the way you want to for Kickboxing and MMA. You'll likely do some learning on the fly in competitions and what not, but I think you'll get to where you want to be. Best of luck to you!

Double-edged sword here. We can argue the meaning of the black belt along with how it should be interpreted as far as knowledge base goes for a long time. I think the whole "black belt is just the beginning" thing has to do with trying to keep people from thinking the black belt is the end goal. Then, what's left? So, kind of like the "no first strike in Karate" maxim, the "black belt is the beginning" maxim is often misinterpreted. I think the general idea is, "you shouldn't stop your training once you reach black belt." So, along with those lines, I think it is important to gauge skill and knowledge along with rank, so someone is representing their style and rank accordingly. Should see the differences in classes between beginner, intermediate, and advanced students. If there were 20 people in a class, doing basics and forms, but lined up in a random order, you should be able to get an idea of who is higher ranked and who is lower ranked by seeing how they move, and by the attitude they exude.

Yes, cell phones are daily use items, but there was a time when they didn't exist, either. My point is, contracts can be very beneficial to anyone involved in the school setting, and it shouldn't be the "auto shut off" that it tends to be when people are researching schools to attend. If the instructor is sincere, then if someone wants to quit, the instructor should work with them to get the contract taken care of. If its an issue from the beginning, then kids should sign up for 1 or 3 months at a time, and then re-assess when the time is up. There should be several contractual options to fit the needs of the student, and not just a one year and your stuck with it option.

What a cazy mess. If I was the chief instructor of that school, I'd have a serious chat with this fellow. Its one thing to be an active Godan, but to be a Godan in name only essentially after being out of training for so long is another thing. To assume command of a class like that is a bit brash. I'd make sure to let the head instructor know what happened, and how you felt about the whole thing. It sounds like you've got some support in the matter, as well, so bring everyone affected to discuss the matter. The head instructor should take some kind of action in the matter.

As with all things in life, budgeting is something to be concerned with when undertaking any activity. I hear from time to time complaints about the price of MA classes, but if you look at the second most popular kid activity around here, which is dance, it makes our TKD school look cheap. Yet, the dance studios are full. And aside from their fees, they have to pay for their outfits and all that for the competitions. More often than not, I'd say MA classes are pretty fairly priced. With that said, I don't think I would pay over $100 per month for classes. Anything getting close to that amount is shaky for me. I just can't justify that payment. If that's the case, then that's just the way it is. I find some other way to train, or some other school that meets my financial limitations. But I don't think its right for other Martial Artists to complain about what other schools are charging, either. Its like complaining that a Mercedes Benz doesn't cost the same as a Chevy Cavalier. There's a reason I don't drive a Benz.... But I don't complain to anyone about the cost of a Benz because I can't afford it. The other thing to consider in price evaluation of the school is if you are getting what you pay for. If you think the level of instruction is worth the price of admission, then by all means, keep with it if you can afford to. If its not, then looking around the area for other options is a good idea. Now, with all that said, you won't always be getting what you pay for. Some charge high prices because its what they are told or recommended to do by the organization they are a part of. Some organizations make it mandatory to follow their tiered programs, and pay for each new one. I'm not saying that it is right or wrong, but you probably won't be able to change it. So, its important to know what's available, and look to see if there is something else that better suits your budgetary needs.