bushido_man96

Yeah, in some schools, Kerry. It is that way in the ATA, but in the TTA, there isn't one. We have 3 levels of brown, instead.

I understand where your arguements are coming from, AikiGuy, but I think that they are a bit general, overall. Speed has more to do, I believe, with muscle structure, as it pertains to slow twitch and fast twitch muscle fibers. This will have more to do with speed than with height/weight. Take Lance Armstrong, for instance. Phenomenal athlete, however, I don't think I would consider him a "fast" athlete. He was built for endurance. Now, take some NFL running backs. Larry Johnson is 6' 1", 230 lbs. Not a small boy, in my opinion. However, he runs a sub 4.4 40 yard dash. I don't think Lance Armstrong could hang with him in the 40. However, I would take Lance in a marathon. It has more to do with size when it comes to speed and power.

That may be true, songofkanga, it won't really develop the muscles as much as some weight resisted movements through crunches and other abdominal exercises. I am proof of this. I have the old spare tire, and 13 years of just martial arts training hasn't changed that, and it hasn't improved my ability to do crunches or other abdominal exercises.

Man, that looks like quite the deal. It looks like they offer just about anything for anyone's interest. Very cool. Maybe someday, I can talk the wife into a vacation to England!

I've got a notebook with my colored belt certificates from the ATA, TTA, and ICHF. My mom has my first black belt certificate framed back at her home, and I am kind of proud of that. It's cool to flip back through those certificates, and look at the dates and all that stuff. I think about all the people that were with me when I did those testings, and now, I am the only one left....

Here, it just sounds like he was pushing you. Nothing really wrong with that...maybe he thought that you were really talented, and wanted to see how far he could take you.

I agree with you here, for the most part. There should be some level of technical proficiency that should be observed at each level. I don't mean that everyone should be able to run 5 miles, and then spar 14 people, though. Someone may not be able to do a head level side kick. However, what I care about is that they can do a knee level side kick the right way. I am not an athlete by any stretch of the imagination. However, I know athletes who coast on their abilities, and I know individuals that don't possess a drop of raw talent, but they work their tails' off. In my book, that makes a difference. I like the way you state your thoughts, here. I have made the analogy before of professional football coaches. Not many of them could go out and play with the pros they coach. Actually, many of them have not had pro careers, either. However, they do have the knowledge and the ability to teach others, and help them understand. I didn't realize this was the case in Japan. That is new to me, and very interesting.

This is a very good point. It is kind of a double standard in the martial arts. I guess it is because a belt means so many things to so many people. Is it supposed to show knowledge gained? Skill in combat? Time and effort spent? A combination of those? Those are good questions. Some of the answers should hold for most arts, regardless of what their philosophies and methodologies are. In our school, if a lower ranked student asks you for help on something, as far as knowledge goes, you should be well prepared to help them. For the most part, this is limited to material like forms, etc. Having a colored belt try to teach another how to do a new technique is not the same, and they should not be held to that standard, until they are closer to the black belt level. However, there are always exceptions. Some have a knack for teaching; others have to learn it.

I hope you to do not have the same wife Congratulations BM Tom That is cool, Sohan!

I should have been more clear. He told me he's NEVER done self defense. He doesn't know basic escapes from grabs or anything!! It's great that he recognized that and began researching it. But woah!!! For him everything was about competition. I competed for a long time but it was never the top priority of the school. I see what you are saying, now. I think you may have a point here. Although, I would think that his athletic ability may be able to help him if he got into a situation. This is true. I have just never been shown, "hey, this is why we do it like this in the form." I do have some self-defense experience though, through Ho Sin Sul and Combat Hapkido.

I think that the styles are based more on personal preference here. I'm not really sure that circular has that much advantage over linear, or vise versa. I think that footwork and overall body movement would play a stronger role as opposed to linear/circular movement.

There are lots of people who do this, especially with their first break. It is a memorable moment.

Just think of it as being "lower maintenence!"

How do you mean??? I began to even take a liking to him as well, there. He is kind of the reluctant hero.

Well, after several long years of part-time college, full-time work, full-time mom, and a wonderful full-time wife (yeoman's task, there!), my wife finally graduated from college with a degree in Accounting! She is so happy; she got her degree in the mail on Thursday, and she will be framing it up soon. I am so proud of her. Now she wants to get some more classes in so she can sit for her CPA exam.

Never been, so can't help you there, Kerry. I hope you have a good time, though!

It was crazy, jaymac. As Chris Berman would say: "That's why they play the game!" I don't know about the T.O. thing. Jerry Jones wants him back, but who knows.

Congrats! Welcome to the KF Black Belt Club!

I have heard good things about Bas, so I think you got a good deal there.

Me, too! When I was younger, I could play these games for hours. Sometimes I would put in 1, play and clear it on hard, then do 2, then 3, just to burn off some RAGE!!! I loved it so!!!

I agree with this. I have seen a couple of Don Wilson movies and the acting is awful. Yeah, but it is like watching a Segal movie....you don't watch it for the acting.

That is an interesting perspective. Thanks for sharing, Soo Min! It definetely gives us food for thought.

How have you done so far, Sohan? I haven't gotten to it, yet. I get back to regular training tomorrow, so I'll see what I can do. I am not expecting too much, though. But, it will be a place to start.

I rather liked that book, baron. Sorry to hear you didn't. It really is a lot of common sense...I think it is just that many older practitioners want a magic pill, so to speak. There just isn't one, though.

I always liked it. After you do 20, follow it with boxer kicks until failure. Let me know how that goes!