bushido_man96

I might start watching baseball if instead of having to tag the runner with the ball, you instead had to make them tap out. That would be interesting!!

Wow, that is some serious stuff, Menjo! Nice!

The more you compete, the more you will get used to it. That will help your nerves out. However, you will probably always have some of the jitters. It just comes with the territory. Best of luck at your next tourney!

When black belts test at our school, they have to spar a higher dan rank. In this scenario, the tester has to try to "earn the rank," and the other has to "defend their rank." This makes it kind of fun.

It tends to be, cross, when the Olympic style sparring rules are invoked. I personally don't like to see the hands dangling down at the sides. I prefer to keep mine up for blocking and punching. Head punches are typically not allowed, either. If I were you, I would get the hands up, jam more and punch more. But that is my style; I like to punch.

Here is an older thread that may give you some ideas: http://www.karateforums.com/what-can-tkd-learn-from-karate-and-vise-versa-vt26924.html

Sweet!

Honestly, I think there are far further injuries from martial arts practice than there are from many other sports, like football and baseball. However, with our activities, we are putting ourselves in line to get punched/kicked/wrenched, etc., which will tend to result in more direct injuries. I think it is just a perception that we will have to deal with. It separates us from the rest.

I would have to agree with you here, USCMAAI. Many people believe in the adage "turn the other cheek." However, you only have two cheeks. The context of everything that went down here may not have been right, but the fact of the matter is that many of us, and myself for sure, don't like to get popped, and when we do, we want to retaliate. It is natural.

You are being a touch hard on yourself, aren't you?

You will find people like this in all walks of life. Martial Arts doesn't get an exemption. When dealing with people like this, it is best to just stay away from them, and let them bring themselves down. As for being "registered," as in registering your hands and feet (if I understand you right), that is really a bunch of malarky. There is no state in the U.S. (if that is where you are posting from) that requires such a thing to take place. I have seen many students get so close to black belt, and then quit. It happens a lot. Many of them think that it is an ending point, and don't see much beyond it. It takes very special people to go beyond, and keep the fire going. If it were easy, then everyone would do it.

Ps1 is right on the money here. These politics can be found just about anywhere. Worry about how you feel about your training and abilities, along with your instructor, and not someone who may see you once or twice a year. When the time comes to have to defend yourself, it won't matter if you are a black belt, or if someone else thinks you are or not. What matters is if you defend yourself. As for the pain, I would have to agree with everyone else up to this point. Stop training for a time, and get it checked out and healed up. Better to miss 6 months now, then to be finished before you are 20. If there is anything you can do, training wise, that doesn't affect the injured areas, then focus on those things until you can get healed, and then include your whole body again. Your passion is great. However, don't let it drag you down by being bull-headed, and thinking you have to prove something to everyone else. The only person you have to prove anything to is yourself. Remember, enjoy the journey!

I am experiencing this more and more myself! The wife is good at finding projects to do around the house!

Ah, yes, I do recall that scene. I worked out at the pool a few weeks ago, and it felt kind of nice. I should do it more often.

I have been working on a 360 degree round kick, and trying not to over spin, and get it to go forward and in more than around. I have trouble stopping the momentum, and I am not sure on the footwork. Any thoughts?

6-22-07 Today was a catch-all, kind of fun day. Upper body Dumbbell bench, pressing with one arm at a time while the other arm holds the weight up: 3x30 lbs, each arm doing the weight, and then holding the weight. Dips: 3x5 Lower body Sumo squats: 55x10, 65x10, 65x10 Swiss ball curls: 2x10...very nice...I like this one! The above exercises, except for the dips, were taken from Loren W. Christensen's book Solo Training 2. Abs Roman chair crunches: 20, 10 and then 10 with a 15 lb. medicine ball. Side raises: 2x20x30 lbs. I enjoyed this style of workout today, and I think I will do this more in the future. I like trying new things, and switching things up. Keeping it fun makes it easier to do, for sure.

Ok, I have an update, and it isn't particularly good. My mom went back to the nuerologist a week after her initial attack. They had a different doctor this time, and they took an enhanced CAT scan of her head. They found out that the tumor is actually the size of a golf ball , and they are going to have to operate and remove it. The operation is going to happen on July 6th. My family and I will be going to meet my dad and mom in Denver on the 5th, and most likely stay through the 8th. She will be kept in ICU for a few days after the surgery, and then kept a while longer after that. I just hope everything goes ok.

Congrats!

I agree, lortariel. Ed I think that the pressure would be spread out enough that it wouldn't, but I can't be for sure. Also, the way it is situated may have some effects on the result, as well.

If you do choose to learn something from a book, just try to learn the basics. If you can do that, then other things will come more easily to you. Everything will stem from the basics. Also, with the wonderful World Wide Web, you can find tons of tutorials online, many through YouTube. Just type in a subject, and begin surfing around. A good book, supplemented by visual aids available via the internet might be able to get you the start that you want. Then, I recommend pursuing an instructor, if at all possible.

I definitely think that a set-up like this is a good idea, even for lower ranked students. I have seen so many students forget their lower ranking material, just because they never do it in class, and don't usually think about it until it is about 2 months before their scheduled testing. Something like this will at least keep students on their toes.

Yes, I agree. I have recently re-organized my entire library, and I have a book case with one shelf for my Black Belt Magazines alone. It isn't full yet, and I don't have as many issues as some others that I have heard and read about, but it is well on its way.

Yes, I believe that handling a firearm is a skill, and it must be practiced to be good at it.

However, Bruce Lee never competed. He didn't really have any use for competitions.

Striking a punching bag is great for punching. If it was not, the boxers wouldn't spend as much time as they do on them. They will help your power, as long as you work them properly.