Blackbeltblonde

The wonderful thing that I've discovered teaching teens is we get to be the "cool" people in their lives unlike (no offence) teachers or parents they are choosing to come and learn from us (at least in most cases). And with that it makes teaching them what we deem important (and WHY it's important) all that much easier. I've found that teaching teens (and anyone really) the why behind everything makes them that much more willing to listen.. and adopt for themselves. ~BBB

So far I think elbows and knees and Sohan. They just seem to be well rounded and interesting people ~BBB

Thanks Sohan. I guess I don't really think about how "far we've come" in terms of what I'm allowed and not allowed to do as a woman. In terms of the martial arts it was such a family thing (not forced) to do martial arts that I've never really thought about doing anything differently ~BBB

Cute Mine would be: ~Christian ~6ft or taller (I'm tall) ~Athletic at least a little bit ~Nice (not to just me but everyone) ~ And you know.. someone who is interesting and not annoying ~BBB

LOL thanks ebff Yeah, at my college a couple of my good friends spread it around cause they think it's great.. Which is fine now that most of them are my students! But either way I think it's an interesting topic on how people handle MA.. whether they're in it, or have only seen it in movies. ~BBB

Not many people will grab you from behind if they have a gun... They are usually aware of the upperhand of being able to maintain distance. (Although stupidity runs rapid) Glad she's ok. ~BBB

true true ~BBB

lol Obviously after the fight it's a totally different story... and if you've been cut.. GO TO THE HOSPITAL! And yeah I know that the adrenaline rush won't always last the through the whole fight. But, I also know that a lot of people when training in the martial arts expect it (for some uknown reason) to keep them from any injury at all. Which is not always the case.. especially if there is more than one opponent. (hence why we do lots and lots of multiple attackers drills) The biggest part of training them to think in that manner is to do drills with either rubber knives or steele knives that aren't sharp and drill over and over and over. I realize your immediate response it to point out it's different and simply being aware of the knife cutting you is different than it actually cutting you. But, there's only so much we can do to try and help prepare a student for the millions of situations they could find themselves in. It's sorta like a muscle memory thing as well though, if you drill it into their heads not to stop (or more importantly freak out) when they've been injured they have a much higher chance of surviving the encounter. ~BBB

I didn't create my own, but my dad and another instructor did. They combined several systems (that they both had black belts in) and they call it Kalkinodo Kal-the way of Kin-proper Odo-movement Pretty sweet if you ask me ~BBB

elbows_and_knees, the thought process behind expecting to get cut is not to freak out when you do get hurt. Not that you are actually sitting there trying to feel it. Expecting to get cut also applies to getting stabbed. And of course the FIRST thing and the thing we stress the most is to get out of the situation in any manner possible.. including running, shouting (situation permitting) etc..etc.. Knowing the situation and being able to determine the correct path to take is one of the reasons I think it's more important to either not be trained at all.. or continue training for a long period of time (none of this couple week self defense junk). But I definately hear what you're saying. ~BBB

It depends on what you mean by demo I guess. When I think of demo I think of standing there showing the technique that you are looking for in slow motion, sometimes with a partner, and sometimes without. I also think of when I see a student do a technique of if I can pinpoint exactly what they are doing, show them, then show them how I want them to change it... But, none of that actually means I have to do the entire thing exactly like I want them to (i.e. full speed, or getting throw, or throwing etc..etc..). ~BBB

I've never been in a real fight.. and I hope to never be in one. The closest I've come is breaking up a couple fights in high school ~BBB

I don't know! It's so hard, and I haven't been around long enough to feel a huge connection with anyone in particular... We'll have to wait and see ~BBB

So far everyone sounds good.. But I also know that there are things that I can teach people that I myself cannot do correctly. I think that is a good instructor. My reason for not being able to do some of the techniques is because of my physical make-up (my hips won't allow it and it causes major pain and dislocation) but I still know all the technique involved and can teach anyone how to correctly perform it. I also think that being able to explain the "why" behind the technique is important. I can't count the number of times my students have asked "what possible reason would I ever use this, or would this be effective?" And of course patients.. and a sense of humor.. I always find enjoyment when a student does something incorrectly a totally new way! but it also helps them when they get upset or frustraited. ~BBB

One thing that was left out that we always teach is EXPECT TO GET CUT meaning if you are expecting to get hurt it won't come as a surprise and cause shock or a freak out in the middle.. And good job in teaching the women how to correctly defend themselves! That is always so hard because us women naturally don't want to hurt people.. and we forget when we're getting attacked the person attacking doesn't care about us. ~BBB